DNF @ 31%

this one hurts, but unfortunately, this book was doing nothing for me. the house on the cerulean sea is one of my favourite books, under the whispering door felt like a huge step down, and unfortunately i feel the same way about in the lives of puppets. it feels like tj klune is trying to recreate the magic of cerulean sea by creating similar characters and jokes and themes and it's just not working. i can see where this story is going and i'm sure it has a beautiful message but i don't care enough about the characters to continue. i also have a bad feeling about the direction the story is going with the ace character (is he really gonna fall for a robot? are we really gonna lean into that stereotype?). i just have no interest in continuing and i'm very sad about it.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy of this book.

I was really excited for another TJ Klune novel but I just could not get into this one. It was so slow and while I loved the side characters, it dragged for me.

Looking forward to the next one though!

I never thought I would care for robots but here I am loving the two robots that help the main character develop and complete his mission. There were so many twists and revelations that I loved, it’s not common that I can’t guess an ending, the ending in this book made me happy and sad, although I wasn’t as enticed with “Hap” as the other characters. I did enjoy the retelling and of course Nurse.

This is now my fifth Klune book and unfortunately I think this is my least favorite of what I’ve read of his so far.

Playing off of the fable of Pinocchio, we live in a world of robots where humanity is now mostly extinct. Giovanni, a master inventor, creates a human with a real heart but must conceal him from the government. However, after tragedy strikes, human Victor must take robot sidekicks, and murderous robot HAP to the City of Electric Dreams to grant them an impossible wish.

The elements of In The Lives of Puppets that are original are GREAT, but the parts that are adapted from Pinocchio are laughably awkward. Ideas like The Blue Fairy underground society and The Blue Whale transit are so weird in how forced they feel.

I also thought that sometimes the characters were hit and sometimes they were a miss. It just felt like some of his least authentic characters, who sometimes were just trying to make the audience laugh or cry but not realistically.

I’ll keep reading Klune, but this just felt so unlike the author I’ve come to love.

TJ Klune! Wow, this was my first book by this author and I absolutely loved reading it back in April. It was my first dystopian novel I'd read for a few years, and gave me similar energy to the Blade Runner movie (which I loved). I thought the premise was absolutely fantastic, and would honestly recommend this to so many people.

The book has tropes of found family, asexuality, queer love, and adventurous self-confidence. I absolutely loved it and it's a 5 star. Thank you to TJ Klune and Tor Publishing for this ARC!

TJ Klune has done it again. Just when I think an author can’t top themselves, here comes Klune. The Lives of Puppets is everything you’d expect from this author and more. If you’re thinking about picking this book up, just do it.

4.5 rounded up.

This book, like all other has a way of tugging at your heart and bringing all my feelings out! I don’t think I’ve read a Pinnochio inspired book before and I’m so glad TJ Klune was the one to do it. Seriously nothing to not love about this book

Overall I loved this story. It had all the elements I’ve come to expect in a Klune book, including one of my favorite tropes, found family. I loved that it also had ace rep and the nods to the wizard of oz story. I laughed a lot and got a bit teary eyed at parts of the story too. I will say this is also his most adult book and some of the sexual innuendo threw me off. I just wasn’t expecting it based on the previous two books I read. Still loved the book overall but just a note for anyone who might not expect it and be surprised like I was.

I personally didn’t enjoy this as much as the other TJ Klune books I’ve read, and I’m struggling to put the reason why into words. I’m really not sure what my problem was. It took almost half the book for me to feel interested, and while I’m glad I stuck with it and made it to the end, it shouldn’t have taken THAT long…

T.J. Klune has written another good one, again about the meaning of family, love, acceptance, and perseverance.

In the Lives of Puppets is inspired by the tale of Pinocchio, but set in the future where a variety of robots/androids run the world. Gio Lawson, an inventor android, lives in the remote woods with his adopted son, Vic Lawson, who is actually a human; Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill); and Rambo, a rumba; the latter two were salvaged by Vic. This found family is witty, and constantly tease and bicker, but love each other deeply.

One day in the scrap yards, Vic finds another human-like android to salvage, and eventually he does so, naming it HAP. But preserving and reanimating HAP has devastating consequences--and the book is off to the races from there.

I really enjoyed the dialogue, the family dynamic, and the storytelling. I laughed, I cried, I thought.

The House on the Cerulean Sea is still my favorite T.J. Klune book, but this one isn't too far behind.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free ARC.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit slow at the start and I wasn't sure that I was going to stick with it but as I kept reading it I realized that it was what I wanted! It was emotional and heart wrenching if a bit dense and bogged down with details at times. I kept getting worried that it would make me sad beyond repair but it did not! I liked the ending and how it was not all tied up neatly.

3 stars.

I haven’t read anything by TJ Klune that I didn’t love and this was no exception. I am also a sucker for fiction that centers on robots, androids and AI in general. I appreciate that Klune’s books focus on relationships and celebrate the diversity that can be one’s family.

“Humanity is awful, angry, and violent. But we are also magical and musical. We dance. We sing. We create. We live and laugh and rage and cry and despair and hope. We are a bundle of contradictions without rhyme or reason. And there is no one like us in all the universe.”

I absolutely adore TJ Klunes writing style and this book was no different. It was like a warm hug and an emotional discussion all in one. I somehow find myself a puddle after reading anything by him. I haven't read another author that seemingly encapsulates his writing style and voice which I find to be really unique. Overall I would read anything by him as I consistently love his worlds, words, characters and overall messages.

A delightful standalone by TJ Klune. In his true fashion, TJ gives us a rich world with plenty of strange and interesting side characters. It is based on Pinocchio, and I can see where it inspired the author in some parts, but this rendition is entirely new. Though there were some hard moments, there was a lot of hope in this book. I almost want to say it was cute, but I don't know if that fits exactly.

Victor was a likeable MC. The story revolved around him and his relationships. Though this is categorized as a romance, I have to be honest and say that is probably not a good representation of the book. The romance was very minor, with the majority of the book focusing on other things. TJ definitely has created some wild robots for sure. Fans of his newer releases are sure to love In the Lives of Puppets.

TJ Klune, you have my heart. ALL OF IT. It’s yours!! TJ Klune is at the TIP TOP of my auto buy authors. Epic storytelling that is all kinds of magical and inspiring. In the Lives of Puppets is this dystopian / sci-fi story is about family and LOVE. Oh and don’t let me forget … how to be a better human. The world building and characters within this story is simply crafted so beautifully. This book was full of everything I love. Smart banter between characters was awesome. I didn’t want this one to end. Go in blind and enjoy this masterpiece.

The BIGGEST Thank YOU to NetGalley, Tor Books and MacMillan Audio for this e-arc & listening copy in exchange for my honest review. I HIGHLY recommend. The narration is simply fantastic. The narrator, Daniel Henning, truly brought this story to life. My heart is FULL after listening to this book. It will stay with me LONG after I stop listening.. This story will tug at your heartstrings and change your life. You’ll be a better person after reading this one. Happy Reading!1

actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

klune has always been a master of storytelling, reeling readers in with his captivating tales and unforgettable characters. with each new release, fans like myself eagerly await another dive into his imaginative worlds. however, i have to admit that this one isn't my personal favorite, but that doesn't mean it isn't a solid addition to his repertoire.

here's the thing that caught my attention in this novel—there's a touch of repetitiveness. being a die-hard fan of klune's previous works, i couldn't help but notice some familiar elements that seemed to follow a predictable pattern. now, don't get me wrong, this repetition didn't ruin the whole shebang. klune's talent for crafting engaging characters and his signature writing style still managed to shine through.

speaking of characters, they're undoubtedly the highlights of this book. klune has this extraordinary gift of breathing life into his creations, and this book is no exception. each character, with their own quirks and motivations, grabbed my attention and got me emotionally invested in their journey. and even though the writing style didn't break new ground, it was still enjoyable and had its moments of tugging at my heartstrings.

but here's the twist: this book took a bit of an adventurous turn, which isn't what i usually expect from t.j. klune. now, i totally get the author's desire to explore new territories and dabble in different genres, but i can't deny that this diversion from his usual style didn't resonate with me as much. personally, i'm drawn to klune's ability to dive deep into the complexities of human emotions and relationships, and while the adventurous aspect was executed well, it didn't quite capture that essence i crave.

that being said, let's give credit where it's due. this book still carries that undeniable charm that t.j. klune brings to his storytelling. he can create engaging characters and deliver heartfelt moments like nobody's business. so, even with my reservations about the repetitiveness and the adventurous theme, i have to acknowledge the book's strengths. it managed to keep me invested, and i'm sure readers will find moments of joy and connection throughout the narrative.

in conclusion, this may not be my top pick from t.j. klune, but it's still a good book in its own right. sure, the repetitive formula and the adventurous aspect may not have hit home for me, but the characters and the writing kept me engaged. if you're a fan of klune's previous works, this novel might offer a slightly different experience, but fear not, it still retains the author's unique voice and his knack for crafting memorable stories. despite its minor shortcomings, it stands as a testament to klune's talent and leaves us eagerly awaiting what he has in store for us next.

“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.”

Took me a little while to get into this one, but once the characters clicked, I loved it. Nothing will probably ever top THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA, but this one made a Herculean effort. I ended up loving and connecting with every character, and though I was slightly underwhelmed by the ending, this was the feel-good story that I needed.

This was my second Klune novel and he is quickly becoming a favorite author. While I did not enjoy it as much as Cerulean Sea, I still loved it.

This is advertised as a Pinocchio retelling, but for me it was very subtle and had notes of Wizard of Oz throwed in as well. It felt original and new. I also was under the impression it was going to fantasy, but ended up being more Sci-Fi, which was a nice surprise and helped the story feel like its own. I loved all the characters. They all had their own personality and there was never any confusion about who was who. You easily fall in love will all of them, but end up still having a favorite.

I can't wait to see what Klune writes next. :)

*Arc provided by Netgalley and Tor in exchange for an honest review.*

It took me a while to really get into this story about a human raised by an android and other robots. However, once it clicked I couldn’t stop reading. The unusual concept - a retelling of Pinocchio - has TJ Klune’s trademark warmth and humor (I loved when Nurse Ratched engaged her empathy protocol one minute, then unleashed her true thoughts the next), along with messages of love and acceptance. I rooted for Victor and HAP and Gio and, for a while, I didn’t even think about it as fiction - that’s how engrossed I was. Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

🤖 BOOK REVIEW 🤖

REVIEW ⬇️
TJ Klune has created another magical world and invited us in with his latest, In the Lives of Puppets. He does this beautiful blend of fantasy and fairy tale but with an air of the familiar, always grounded in real-world dilemmas, emotions, problems, and relationships. I fell in love with these characters. They made me chuckle and root for them. My only small gripe is that the ending was a little drawn out, but overall, I loved it.

Recommended for a magical adventure with a warm slice of bread and a soft blanket for company.

RATING ⬇️
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5

SUMMARY ⬇️
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?

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