Love can transcend boundaries of time and memory.

Victor Lawson was raised in a happy home in the forest with his father Giovanni Lawson, who was not a human at all. Vic's best friends are Nurse Ratched and Rambo, two robots that he restored and brought to life. Vic and his father Gio are inventors and creators, turning scrap metal and junk into wonderful new inventions. Giovanni is an android, but his unique heart helps him be able to have love and affection for his son and his friends. When Giovanni is taken away one day by unknown forces, Vic must travel outside of his home for the first time to get him back. With his best friends and a new friend Hap by his side, he sets out on the adventure of his life.

This was a story that really moved me to tears. Found family is the family you choose for yourself, even if they aren't the same as you. The love between Vic and his friends and family who are robots was really heartwarming to see, and the first half was very wholesome. The second half was a bit hard to get through, due to the revelations of Giovanni and Hap's participation in the extermination of all humans, and I really felt for Vic, learning he is the last of his race. The other robots Vic encountered during his journey really showed how terrifying it would be to be in his position, and how alone you would feel as the last of a race. I definitely needed a day to recover from all of the despondent thoughts this book evoked in me. It made me think, and that is always something I appreciate in a book.

Vic is happy with his simple life. His days are filled with scavenging and inventing. When he stumbles apron a HAP and chooses to resurrect it, his entire life will be changed. Klune is a masterful with creating characters that will never leave you. The rag tag bunch in "In the Lives of Puppets" made this story come alive and questions what it takes to be a family. Vic as a leader allows for compassion and love as well as questioning a parents past. The reader will immediately become attached to the characters and need to find out how their journey ends. While Klune can craft gorgeous worlds and character interactions, in some parts it feels too drawn out and slows the pace considerably.

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

In the Lives of Puppets is best described as reverse Pinocchio meets I, Robot and Terminator. I've only read one other book by TJ Klune and I bawled like a baby reading it. This book left me with mixed feelings. The overall story of Gio and Vic was heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. Vic and HAP's relationship though made me slightly uncomfortable. There were times when I was cringing heavily even with Nurse Ratchet. I guess I just wasn't expecting sexualized or sexually aware robots. I don't know I guess I'm just not at a stage in my life where I'm prepared to think of my vacuum having sex or if any of that was genuinely necessary for plot. Perhaps I'll reread it at a later date and it will resonate differently, but right now this one just wasn't really for me.

TJ Klune is quickly becoming a must buy author. Although this book didn't live up to Cerulean Sea or Whispering Door, it was still wonderful and heartfelt.

This felt very different from the last few TJ Klune books I've read. We have moved into a futuristic world loosely based on Pinocchio. Here there are no traditional puppets, but a found family (like so many in Klune's works) of various robots and androids. Our human boy is very human but also has a lot to learn as he tinkers with his "father" and inventor, and with his machine friends that he has rescued and repaired.

I thought the voices in this were hilarious and overall it was a touching meditation on what it means to have free will and cut our own strings. Good sci fi makes us think about our world, and this does that beautifully. Four and a half stars, with a special nod to the inclusion of a whale, a blue fairy, and many other Pinocchio elements in a new and inventive way.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this one. TJ Klune has a simplistic magic quality to his writing.

Klune is one of my favorite authors. They have been on my auto buy list for awhile. This one was amazing. Well Written, enthralling. Beautiful.

TJ Klune’s latest is set in a dystopian future where robots have taken over. Vic is a human raised in isolation in the woods by a robot father with two robot best friends, but when he finds another robot in the junk heap and tries to repair it, everything in his life changes.

This book is nominally a Pinocchio retelling, though it has elements of Frankenstein and Wizard of Oz too. It’s funnier than Klune’s other two books I’ve read (House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door), but touches on many of the same themes of found family, LGBTQ+ representation and positivity, mental health, capacity for change and forgiveness, etc. It’s very weird, and definitely not for everyone - indeed, for everyone I know who loved it, I also know people who didn’t like it and/or DNFed it because they just couldn’t deal with the weirdness. However, I enjoyed it in its own weird way, especially the hilarious antics of the robot vacuum and nurse robot. I did like his other two books better though.

3.75 stars

Ok so robots are not my favorite to read about, but I really enjoyed this story. No one writes found family like TJ Klune. The comedic relief of Rambo and Nurse Ratched were perfection and they were easily my favorite part of the story.

TJ Klunes captivating story telling skills is no doubt evident again in this book. Did not realize It was a Pinocchio retelling when i started but i was pleasantly surprised, as It didn’t do anything for me as a kid but i was still entrapped in the story. His good light hearted humor and lovable characters can once again be found in this. The house on the cerulean sea is still my favorite, but this now takes second place before under the whispering door.

Brilliance!!! Simply utter brilliant. TJ Klune can do no wrong. This Pinocchio retelling was simply amazing. I loved the adventure we went on together. I felt I was a long for the ride the entire time.

Victors found family! Chefs kiss!

His "ensemble" in robotic form were.everything. I was laughing so hard I cried at times.

Top it off with Klune's captivating lyrical prose. Yes, and thank you!

Tor, this is a good one. Thanks for the readers copy!

In the Lives of Puppets is a testament to TJ Klune's unparalleled storytelling prowess. Klune effortlessly blends elements of fantasy, adventure, and profound emotion, transporting readers to a world that is simultaneously whimsical and poignant. Klune's masterful characterization breathes life into each member of the Lawson family, infusing them with unique personalities, quirks, and vulnerabilities that make their journey all the more compelling.

Like the author’s previous books, In the Lives of Puppets is an enchanting and immersive reading experience that will capture your imagination from the first page and hold you captive until the very last page!

If I had to sum In the Lives of Puppets up in one word it would be quirky! In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees- three robots live with a human named Victor. The robots- father inventor android- Giovanni, a sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum and Victor consider themselves family. They live in a dystopian future where robots take over. Their cozy existence is upended when Vic finds another robot in the junk pile and tries to restore it.

My favorite part of this book was Nurse Ratched and the vacuum named Rambo. Overall- this was a strange book that reminded me a bit of Pinocchio, the Wizard of Oz, and Wall-e. It wasn’t always the easiest to follow and I never quite got sucked into the story.

This book explores what being a human means, love & friendship, and has a great queer representation. Unfortunately, this was no House in the Cerulean Sea and was missing that extra sparkle for me. I’m giving it three stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest feedback.

A beautiful, very imaginative retelling of the classic. Not my usual genre! Prose was beautiful, characters were full and charming. Would recommend.

TJ Klune did it again. He found a way to create such a moving, emotional and bittersweet story that leaves you emotionally wrung out at the end. I especially loved Nurse Ratched and Rambo, and think that their interactions really MADE the story. I think that the romance was a bit forced at times but did really enjoy the character's overall growth. This was a very creative Pinnochio retelling that I definitely think hit the mark.

This book was so well written that it felt like I was watching a movie as I was reading it. I was so connected to the plot and the characters, it was a top notch read.

This is the third book I’ve read by TJ Klune, the other two being Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. I think this was by far the funniest one. I LOVED the first 35% of the book, and if the rest had stayed a cozy fantasy with no romance, it would have been a 5⭐. But as is, the adventure and especially the romance detracted from my experience.

👍
+ I LOVED Rambo and Nurse Ratched. They were some of the best characters I’ve read in books. I could just read their banter for a thousand pages and still not get sick of it. The author did such a great job giving these robots human-like qualities to really have you bond with them.
+ I could write a whole review of just Nurse Ratched, its balance of psychopathy, humor and sympathy was perfect.
+ As always Klune shines at giving the reader a beautiful found family story. Not just because of how great the characters are. But also how they really form a strong unit that will always be there for one another.
+ There are also other great themes in this book about home, humanity, connection, mortality, memory…
+ This book is based on Pinocchio and there are many little references to it. Beyond that I found so many nods to other fairy tales as well, especially Wizard of Oz and even a bit of Snow White.

👎
- I could NOT get into the romance. I could not look past that a robot couldn’t have true sentience. And even if I ignored that, the MC gives him life, in a way. So I found the LI’s obsession with the MC more as programming/conditioning rather than actual infatuation or consent.
- Once the love interest comes in, the other characters kinda stop being as much a part of the story. They’re still there, but more in the background. But those characters were my favorite part of the story!

Rating: 3.8⭐

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Klune's writing is a work of art, filled with rich imagery and lyrical prose that immerses readers in a vivid and fantastical world. The author's ability to evoke emotions with his words is unparalleled, allowing readers to feel the joys and sorrows of the characters as they navigate the intricate tapestry of their lives. The storytelling is masterful, and each page is infused with a sense of wonder and magic.

The thematic depth in In the Lives of Puppets is remarkable. The novel delves into profound themes of love, loss, and the choices we make in the face of adversity. Klune tackles these themes with sensitivity and nuance, exploring the profound impact of grief and the search for redemption. The story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness and acceptance.

I have loved all of TJ Klune’s other books, I felt like the synopsis seemed so promising, but this one was really just not for me.

This is my first TJ Klune book after seeing their books all over Instagram. I thought I would try this one and unfortunately I couldn't get into it. It took me months to finish. I felt the story was a bit slow.

The only thing that kept me coming back were Viv, Nurse Ratched and Rambo. They were hilarious and I loved them as characters.