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.

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+ 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.

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- 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.

I adore TJ Klune's books. His stories are so imaginative and his characters endearing. This is a thought-provoking clever retelling of Pinnochio. While I enjoyed this novel, it didn't quite hit me the way Under the Whispering Door did, which to me personally was his most impactful book since I was dealing with grief at the time, and the book really helped my perspective at one of the most difficult times in my life. I look forward to what he writes next, he brings such life to his characters, Rambo and Nurse Ratched will forever make me smile when I recall this reading experience.

In the lives of puppets is of course a Pinocchio retelling. However, I was not prepared for the world building, the concept of labels and how they do not actually define anything, how propose is important but we can always change our purpose in an ever changing world, existence and how we choose to exist, being different and being special but also being out casted because of it, and so much more. You cannot put this book in one box. And honestly, I was mostly not prepared for my baby Rambo (the rumba like robot who is loveable and ignorant of negativity), I loved him. Here's the thing; klune just gets it. I will say this, his works would be different if he were straight. It is because of his special lense that readers get these large human concepts molded within the writing, and they are not hidden, they are there in full found family color. And I will continue to be a reader.

I really enjoyed In The Lives of Puppets. I mean, it had robots with anxiety! What is not to love? Also, the twist retelling of Pinocchio was fun - but I really liked it for the rep. And the robots. You can’t forget them.

Look, the story and writing were fine. Cute and well done, if not groundbreaking, with an ending I saw coming before the book got out of the prologue. But the asexual “romance” jokes that I actually found funny - that was something special. Even just seeing it talked about so openly.

The anxiety rep in a little vacuum robot was probably cliche, but some cliches are worth sticking around. I’m a little torn on the psychopath robot as that is a real psychological disorder that I’m not sure worked or not. I don’t have enough frame of reference to say either way.

But Victor was neurodivergent. Dare I say autistic? I normally hate unnamed autism rep. It is usually so poorly done. But this rep was amazing. I would be surprised if sensitivity readers were not used in this book, which is awesome.

TJ Klune is an automatic buy author for me, and this book was no exception. It took the heartwarming and amazing found family aspects from his other books and seamlessly combined it with fantasy adventure that made this book one of my favorite reads this year. I can’t wait to read what Klune writes next!

I ended up listening to this one on audio and what a fantastic story! At first I didn’t know what to think of this odd world but I quickly fell in love with these characters and found myself sucked in, I laughed with them and felt such deep emotion right along with them. Rambo was my favorite character-I just wanted to hug him!!

I didn't think I could love a book as much as I love Klune's Cerulean Sea. But Puppets was just as wonderful, just as heart-warming, and just as beautiful. And it's about robots. Yes, a book that teaches about family and humanity is about robots. And it. is. perfect. I laughed. I cried. And I will hold this book deep in my soul, just as I continue to do with Cerulean Sea. TJ Klune can do no wrong.

3.5 stars

Okay so I loved so many parts of this book and found that others dragged on and I was reading with my eyes crossed. At its core it was a beautiful story of humanity. I loved the characters especially nurse ratched. If the book was a little shorter I think I would have enjoyed it more. I loved the parts in the woods and with Victor and his dad.

Thank you netgalley and Tor Publishing for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

TJ Klune never disappoints! He always creates such vivid characters in such a lush setting. I always find it hard to pick a favourite character in his books. It's not my favourite from his, but I still enjoyed reading this nevertheless.

“A real boy and his wooden heart. No strings attached.”

As with Klune’s previous novels, In the Lives of Puppets was also filled with charm, heart and wonder. Deep in the heart of a peculiar forest, we meet inventor and android, Giovanni Lawson and his human son, Vic. We also meet the hilarious robots Nurse Ratched and Rambo. They are all a family, hidden and safe.
Vic enjoys salvaging and repairing robots, much to his father’s chagrin. One day he repairs an android named HAP, not realizing that HAP shares a dark past with Giovanni—a past spent hunting humans. This alerts the authorities of Giovanni’s hiding place in the forest, and he is taken away to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. Now Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo and HAP have to save his father and embark on a grand and dangerous adventure.
The banter between the robots is just hilarious. Rambo has become one of my favorite book characters, and I could see this translating to such a great movie one day. I will say, Cerulean Sea remains my favorite Klune novel, and honestly I think it always will be. But this take on Pinocchio mixed with the Wizard of Oz, and a touch of Swiss Family Robinson is a delightful and heartwarming read. I look forward to anything Klune writes in the future.

Klune is the master of cozy. He writes relationships in the most beautiful and thought provoking way. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one when I read the premise, but I shouldn't have doubted Klune's ability to take any scenario and make it heartwarming. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book about three-fourths of the time reading. I loved Rambo and Ratched (two robots of the main cast) and the relationship they had with Victor (the human main character). I also appreciated the inclusion of an asexual main character and the consistent way the book addresses sexuality as a spectrum. I also felt that Victor’s asexuality was handled well, including the fact that he was not aromantic. The beginning half of the book, which takes place in the forest as shown on the cover, was my favorite part. It focuses on interesting characters and relationships and still managed to discuss some deeper aspects.

For me, everything went downhill in Part 3 (once they reached the City of Electric Dreams.) I liked the Blue Fairy’s presentation as a non-gendered being and a proponent of free will – but it didn’t make sense to me that they’d oversee a robot brothel. Or that a robot brothel would even exist. It just felt like an odd choice. The romance between Victor and HAP likewise felt ratcheted up in this section, but in a way that felt weird compared to the slower, gentler movements earlier in the book.

The longer they were in the city and away from the isolated forest, the less I was invested. I think I missed the character depth and intimacy. The action in the city was predictable and didn’t have as much focus on the characters’ growth. I did like the last fourth of the book and the resolution, which were more like the first half of the book.