I absolutely loved "The House in the Cerulean Sea," so I approached this book warily. How could it measure up to such a heartwarming, touching book? Well, I have to say TJ Klune is now one of my favorite authors. This novel is a take on a mixture of "Pinocchio" and "The Wizard of Oz" but with robots and AI. Somehow Klune was able to create the most lovable characters, while also touching on some pretty serious (and terrifying) issues. I really appreciated the blend of lightheartedness and dark vibes (my favorite combination!). My only critique is that it was a bit too long, but overall, I just fell in love all over again with his writing (especially his ability to represent LGBTQ characters and anyone who might be considered a bit different by society's standards). I can't wait to recommend this to people and to read more of Klune's work.

Klune does it again. This book was whimsical, emotional and everything I’ve come to expect from TJ Klune. With lovable characters and a unique plot and premise this book is an easy 5 stars.

This is so different from Tj Klune’s other books that I have read. It was originally hard to get into but as you go it becomes more charming and easy to read. The characters are fully fleshed out (as much as an almost all robot cast can be) and it was overall very compelling.
The plot of this is essentially just comparing robots and humans. It explores how human emotion and actions cannot be replicated in robots and how many of the human qualities are desired by those who cannot have it. The conversation of the difference between machine and humans was interesting and seeing the development of Hap was wonderful. This book was sad at times but overall had a “cute” tone. I definitely recommend this book.

TJ Klune is an auto-read author for me and this book is another example of why. His writing is funny. magical, charming and heartwarming and I always finish his work with more hope than when I started.

Thanks to Tor for the copy to review.

There is a very Wizard of Oz feel to the story as Vic and his friends progress through the countryside on their way to the City of Electric Dreams. The characters they meet went a bit beyond my imaginative capabilities, especially the Blue Fairy. Eventually though the little band of travelers reach their destination and achieve a satisfactory conclusion.

I have found my new favorite character. If you've read this book, you know. TJ Klune knows how to pull on the heartstrings and play with the reader's emotions. I adored the character relationships, especially the relationship between Rambo and Nurse RATCHED. I could have done without the sexual innuendos that cropped up a few times which is the only thing that kept this from a five star. (I've rated it five stars here due to lack of stars but my actual rating is 4.5 stars.) Even though robots make up almost all of the characters in this book, Klune uses this narrative to show what it means to be human.

Personal Review : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enchanting, just like TJ Klune’s other novels! Magical with Pinocchio and Wizard of Oz themes. The dynamics of the characters and their banter was witty and highly readable! These characters are well developed and relatable, which is TJ Klunes trademark! And can we talk about the sexual innuendos?!

Synopsis: In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Actual rating 4.5

I really loved so much of this book.

It had elements that I have grown to love from TJ Klune's work: unique characters, found family, humor. And I seriously fell in love with all of these aspects.

However, there were 2 things that made me not give it a full 5 stars.
1) I loved the fact that Victor was asexual and that representation was on page. But I (being on the ace spectrum myself) didn't like how the Blue Fairy displayed their gender identity. It felt like it focused too much on sex and genitalia for me.
2) Out of all of the TJ Klune adult novels I have read, this felt the most depressing near the end. Don't get me wrong, a lot of his books are heartwrenching, and this one did make me cry, which I love, but it kept the depressing tone too long near the end. Whereas other of his books turn very hopeful much sooner.

Literally, that is it. I loved everything else. I loved that this was a Pinocchio retelling, but so loosely. I liked being able to see the connections, but not know the whole story.

Another great book by TJ Klune!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As usual, I adored TJ Klune. His books have such whimsy and heart. I'll definitely continue to devour his stories in the future.

Thank you NetGalley!
The way TJ Klune writes characters is so heartwarming. I fell in love with his found family dynamic with House in the Cerulean Sea, and he’s done the same here with a completely different story. A spin on Pinocchio with robots. The stakes felt higher and not everything was wrapped up perfectly, which is occasionally pretty nice. Klune reminds us about the ups and downs of life in such creative ways. And his writing is so clever. The banter in this book, especially with our amazing nurse, was truly fun to read.

3.5 stars.
I wanted to be hooked by this as I was with The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. I kept losing interest. I even paused 10% in to reread Cerulean Sea, thinking I needed a reset and to return with fresh eyes. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I were a bigger fan of and more familiar with Pinocchio.

Around 60%, it switched from more character driven to more plot driven.

It tells a lovely story about what it is to exist and to love.

CW: It has a lot more profanity and sexual innuendo than the aforementioned titles by this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for access to the eARC. The audiobook is also excellently performed.

Unexpected would be an understatement when describing this book. In a hidden home, a human named Victor lives with three robots—a fatherly inventor android, a sadistic nurse machine, and a desperate vacuum seeking love. When Victor repairs an unfamiliar android with a dark past, their safe life is threatened, and he must lead a journey to rescue the inventor from his former life, facing conflicting emotions along the way.

Another masterful creation by TJ Klune, this captivating novel embraces his signature writing style, leaving fans like me utterly enthralled. With its fictional yet thought-provoking narrative, the story delves into profound life questions and beautifully portrays the complexities of love and family. If you're craving a unique and unforgettable read, this is the book for you.

This book had me hooked from start to finish and was so unique from anything I’ve read. It’s a little bit of finding oneself, adventure, and the true meaning of family, while having feel-good/heartwarming vibes.

Vic is a human living with a robot family and when his father is taken he chooses to find and save him no matter the cost.

I was so intrigued by the blurb for this book and it fully delivered. The characters were great—I think my favorite was Nurse Ratched—and the story kept moving at a brilliant pace. I also adored the underlying messages.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and TJ Klune for an ARC copy of this book!

“The heart, it’s…” He shook his head. “It’s something special. It will lift you up. It will ache without reason. If you response to it is the same as mine, you’ll find yourself feeling things you never thought possible.”

After reading Under the Whispering Door last summer — and after the book hangover it left me with — I knew I had to check out TJ Klune’s latest release. I’m not usually the biggest fan of fantasy/sci-fi, but Klune’s books usually know how to pull at my heartstrings. This time was no different.

In the Lives of Puppets is a retelling of Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, but it’s not quite what you might expect. (I also got Wall-E, Brave Little Toaster, and The Wizard of Oz vibes.)

Quick synopsis: Giovanni Lawson, android and inventor, built a home in the forest with his human son, Victor, and their two salvaged machines, Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate and Drill) and Rambo, a Roomba vacuum.

While exploring the nearby scrap yard, Victor and his android friends find HAP (Hilariously Angry Puppet), a decommissioned android. Victor restores HAP, before discovering that the android & Gio share a dark past. Their quiet life in the forest destroyed, Vic and his androids journey to the City of Electric Dreams to save Gio…and their futures.

My thoughts: At times, the book felt slow, and I found myself waiting for action. But, on the other hand, Klune does a wonderful job of world-building (enough that my non-sci-fi brain can understand/picture robots). And the characters! I loved every single one, and most of all loved Rambo, the anxiety-riddled, goofy vacuum.

I’m saying it again, but Klune always finds a way to tug at my heartstrings. This book is hilarious, sad, heart-warming… If you’re a fan of his previous novels (I’ve only read House in the Cerulean Sea & Under the Whispering Door), then you’ll likely enjoy his latest.

And the most relatable quote: “I don’t know how not to be weird,” Rambo said. “That’s like asking the birds to stop flying.”

Final verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to TOR Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This book releases April 25.

TJ Kline does it again! For a book filled almost entirely with non-human characters, this is a story full of love, family, and humanity. I know he just released this one, but I can’t wait for his next!

Didn't get into this quite as fast as his other books, but grew to love the characters. I love the artwork on the cover. I'll read anything he writes. He knows just how to write about found families.

Another amazing book by TJ Klune! I read this one a lot later than I had hoped to, but I was roped in from the beginning. The witty, hilarious banter had me hook, line, and sinker. It was so refreshing to read. I’m convinced Klune can do no wrong in his work.

Let's be honest, I would read anything that TJ Klune writes. House on the Cerulean Sea was my Best Book of 2020 and Under the Whispering Door was my Best of 2021. It is safe to say that you will find this book from the list of spring 2023 book releases on a best-of-post!

In a forest, safe and hidden, live a human and three robots. When an unfamiliar android reveals a dark shared past of hunting humans, they are no longer safe. This book is a lot sadder than Klune's other adult books but has his signature sense of humanity in this sci-fi book.

I'm starting to believe that I'm just a TJ Klune fan because I receive an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher (thank you Netgalley and publisher by the way), and I end up devouring and loving the ARC which leads to me buying the books (typically a special edition version with stenciled/sprayed edges). 𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒔 is such a phenomenal book and one that I truly didn't want to stop reading. I know for a fact that it will be a re-read as I've done with Klune's previous novels. The characters were so well developed and "real" in an authentic way that made them relatable, which speaks volumes considering that they're robots. The world building was amazing and felt so alive (again "real"), which added to the enjoyment of reading this book. There were quite a few times where my heartstrings were tugged on, and it always feels amazing when any book is able to do that.

If you are a TJ Klune fan, this book will not disappoint. The most absolutely charming cast of characters. Lots of humor, a little drama, and tons of heart. If I am honest, after about 2/3 of the way through, I felt that this dragged on a bit. It probably could have ended a few times before it did (or at least some of the middle-end taken out) but I still enjoyed the time I spent with these characters!