I’m struggling writing a review for this one because I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. I thought it was a very creative and imaginative story. There were times when I was loving the story and then there were times, I was so bored I didn’t want to pick it up. I loved the characters, their banter, and I thought Rambo was hilarious. I also enjoyed the overall themes of love and friendship, but there was just something missing with this book. Maybe because I LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea so much that I had high expectations for this one, but overall I felt the book was just okay and the ending fell flat.

Blog:
This is a loving and detailed send-up to Pinocchio. I hadn’t seen the movie in years, and it still stirred up memories for me. When I went to look up the original book version’s plot to compare to this retelling, I found even more details I hadn’t realized or remembered. It’s obvious the author loves Pinocchio, and if you do too, I’m expecting you’ll likely love this retelling. For me, the problem is, I was so excited about a new T.J. Klune book that I sort of…forgot I don’t like Pinocchio. (“Don’t like” is a gentle remembrance. In fact, the movie absolutely terrified me as a child.) Even so, I found myself able to appreciate this loving rendition of the story.

I absolutely adored the character of Rambo – the tiny robot vacuum who’s clearly supposed to be a later generation of roombas. As always, I liked the narrative style the author uses – it reads as sing-songy in my head and feels like someone telling me a fairy tale, which is perfect for this book. I liked the wide variety of robots inhabiting the world, and I really enjoyed the robot substitute for the traveling circus character. I also appreciated that this isn’t an exact retelling of Pinocchio. The story is sometimes restrained, with simple allusions to the original. For example, Victor is never turned into a donkey, but he does stay the night in a hotel like room that is decorated with donkeys at about the right point in the story.

I appreciated the flipping of Pinocchio (Victor in this telling) as being human with his father being a “puppet” (a robot). But I felt like the ending really lets that inversion down, not taking it to its full and complete conclusion. I think there’s supposed to be humor in this book, but it wasn’t funny to me. You will know within the first few chapters if it’s tickling your funny bone or not.

I also found myself unable to root for anyone in this book, save for the small, innocent Rambo. Everyone else has something so wrong with them that it soured me to like them. The one I can talk about without spoilers, as the episode happens in the first chapter, is Nurse Ratched. She is a robot companion of Victor’s who was designed to nurse humans. She’s described as sociopathic, in a way that I think is supposed to read as comedic. As in, she acts like she enjoys inflicting pain but doesn’t really. Yet in the first chapter she chases down a squirrel (off-screen) and kills it by rolling over it again and again. I almost stopped reading the book, I was so horrified. But it was an advanced copy, so I decided to give it another chance. She never does anything like this ever again, but it is actually not uncommon for characters in this book to have something they have done in the past that is truly horrific that is brushed off as their programming. I’m all for plots where characters have to overcome their own tendency toward being bad, and redemption and forgiveness are both very important. But I need for that not to be the plot for almost every single character. It, at the very least, is distressing to read about.

The romance did not move me, which was surprising given what strong feelings I had for the couple in The House in the Cerulean Sea! I also have complicated feelings about how the book depicts what freedom means, how robots pursue freedom, the offerings of the “freedom fighter” character, etc… This, in fact, is a reflection of how I feel the overarching messages tended to get muddled. The only message that I felt was clear and consistent was “be brave!” but no clear reason as to why was ever given. To borrow from an American fairy tale – the overarching story needed a heart. I think, perhaps, the romance was supposed to be the heart, but it didn’t work as one for me.

This is also an incredibly sad book. It’s not uplifting in the slightest. There’s nothing wrong with sad books, but it is a departure from the author’s other books, and so I think the warning is warranted.

Overall, this is an imaginative and loving retelling of Pinocchio that should appeal to fans of that fairy tale. Readers should be aware that the darkness of the original story remains in this retelling.

GoodReads:
I found myself unable to root for anyone in this except for Rambo, the small robot vacuum.

I really think you need two things for this book to work for you: 1) enjoy the original Pinocchio 2) the sense of humor in the book works for you. I could tell when I was reading that I was supposed to find this funny within the first few pages, but I never did. You'll know right away if the humor is working for you or not and don't expect it to change.

This is a loving and detailed send-up to Pinocchio. I appreciated how much care went into the original story. The problem is that I don't actually like the story of Pinocchio, something I forgot when I picked this up because I was so excited for a new Klune book. Pinocchio is dire, sad, and disturbing. This is dire, sad, and disturbing. Don't expect uplifting like previous Klune books!

Check out my full review.

*I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Instagram:
In the Lives of Puppets is a science fantasy retelling of Pinocchio where Pinocchio is a “real boy” surrounded by robots (puppets) with a m/m (or rather male, male robot) romance. Full review on my blog opinionsofawolf.
*I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*
#bookalicious #sciencefantasy #pinocchio #fairytaleretelling #queerbookstagram

TJ Klune books are always a delight, and this one doesn't disappoint. The stories are always so imaginative and the characters jump off the page. In a world where so many authors recycle ideas, TJ Klune creates unique and endearing characters and unforgettable tales. Don't miss this one!

This is my first TJ Klune and I absolutely loved it. She is a master. The story is about freedom to be yourself, love and humanity. The story is a crossover of Pinocchio and Swiss Family Robinson. I would love to see this in Studio Ghibli aesthetic.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book. It took a bunch of machines to properly tell the story of humanity. My favorite characters were Rambo and Nurse Ratched.

This one didn't do it for me. There was something missing. It felt like a mash up of his previous books.

The story was good and the robots were fun. Nurse Ratchet and Rambo were hilarious.

While Klune knows how to tell a great story, I didn't love this one.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

So... sadly this one wasn´t for me. I really enjoyed Klune´s two previous books, but this one completely missed the spot for me.
For one, the cosy atmosphere didn´t really mesh with the plot where all humans (apart from one) have been executed. The humour was okay in parts, but at some point the jokes got repetitive. They also focussed a lot of sex and bodily functions, in a way that make me feel quite icky. I didn't care for most of the characters, and quite a few really annoyed me.
I ended up not caring about any of it. There were moments that were supposed to make me emotional, and it is really easy to make me cry. But no, didn't care. I guess the retelling was incorporated cleverly into the plot (I am a sucker for retellings), but that was not nearly enough for me to make this book enjoyable. I took this book with me on two 12hr flights, so I guess it helped that I didn't have anything else to do... because even 85% through I was considering DNF'ing it.
Sorry not sorry... I am sure there will be loads of people who do love this book. But it really just wasn't for me.

Having previously loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under The Whispering Door, I was so excited to check out this new release. I am not a huge Pinocchio fan, but as a fan of Klune’s writing and storytelling, I was still really excited for this one.

As expected, I loved most of the characters. Vic was a fascinating character and I fell for, Gio, and Hap quickly. While I liked the idea of the robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo, I mostly found myself frustrated with them and their dialogue. I think they had some great scenes especially later in the book, but unlike others who were huge fans, I found them to be irritating (and it hurts my heart to ever write that about these poor fictional robots).

I really wanted to like this story but I found myself daydreaming/not focusing. Even with having characters I enjoyed, I just did not enjoy the journey. The setting in the woods was so fun and beautiful. Once the story left that, I found myself losing more interest.

I took a risk with this book because I wanted Klune to rip my heart out again, but even with loving Vic and Gio as much as I did, this one just did not work for me.

Deep in the forest live Victor Lawson, the last human on earth. He lives with his father, the android Giovanni Lawson, their vacuum Rambo and nursing machine Nurse Ratched. Life in their tree house is peaceful- tinkering in their workshop by day and watching old movies by night. Though Giovanni warns Victor not to stray too far from the tree house. Victor can’t help but explore the Scarp Yard, looking for spare parts. One day he finds more than he bargained for—an android thrown out like trash. Victor brings the android home and repairs him, not knowing that the android’s presence will change his life forever.

In the Lives of Puppets is a queer retelling of Pinocchio that explores what it means to be human and the measures we will go to for the ones we love.

In the Lives of Puppets follows Vic, a human living in a world full of robots. His father made him and together with two of the coolest robots around, they lived in the woods in their self made joke. They found happiness together but one day everything takes a turn for the worst. The robots find traces of a human and track down Vic’s home where they take his father. As readers we follow Vic and his trusty robots as they try to get his father back home.

This book was so good. Klune is the master at cozy fantasy and pulling at your heartstrings. This book was tender, full of heart, and amazingly written. I like to say Klune’s books feel like someone holding you while you cry and this one did not disappoint. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

I sadly wasn't able to finish reading this book in time, but from what I did I read, I can say this is TJ Klune at his best.
The relationships between the characters are fragile and beautiful, with just the right dabs of sci fi description and social reflection, and I will be eager to finish this read once our library has a copy.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

In the same vein of TJ Klune’s other more recent novels; The House in the Cerulean Sea, and Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets is a very heartwarming, cozy fantasy story with loveable characters and some great queer representation. It differentiates itself from the two aforementioned books by following a more traditional quest storyline, in a loose retelling of Pinnochio. Now I’ll be honest, I’m not the most familiar with the story of Pinnochio, I’ve seen the original Disney version technically about 15 years ago but that’s the extent of my knowledge (and I barely remember that). So I can’t judge this book on how good of a retelling it is, so my review is solely based on how it stands as its own work.

In the Lives of Puppets follows Victor ‘Vic’, the son of an inventor named Gio who live in treehouses in the forest with two robots, the loveable yet sadistic Nurse Ratched and the adorable vacuum Rambo. One day while exploring the forest and foraging through the old junk piles they find a new robot in need of repairs named Hap, and their lives are then drastically changed for good. It is a very enjoyable, and as I said before, heartwarming story that I think will be enjoyed by TJ Klune fans and new readers alike. The characters are charming, the romance is sweet, the adventure is fun, and the book altogether will pull on your heartstrings (no pun intended).

In the Lives of Puppets definitely has much higher stakes than the previous two books (these are the only two books of his that I’ve yet to read and also his most popular which is why I am constantly comparing), however I found it surprisingly much slower to read than the others. It was only about 40% through that the actual plot, the quest, began, while I did actually enjoy the low stakes opening of the book, I just thought it went on way longer than it should have. Once the quest did begin, I actually found a lot of it to be very repetitive. Though it was following the Pinnochio story, I wish it had chosen to add some new ideas to it to make it more exciting because the story began to drag a bit for me. It wasn’t until the ending that I felt my attention being completely drawn again. The story became more intriguing by adding more stakes and I found myself not able to put the book down because I needed to find out what was going to happen next.

When it comes to its characters, I really loved them, they were charming and sweet and full of personality and I’m sure anyone else who has read In the Lives of Puppets would agree. Rambo is definitely my favourite, if you’ve seen Adventure Time the character is almost comparable to BMO (who I absolutely love). I do have one thing however, though it is a bit of a spoiler so if you don’t want to know skip this paragraph, although I do think going in this book you will likely guess that this is to come. Okay skip now, the human/robot romance, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I guess Hap is humanistic, but it just felt very weird to me. Maybe it was just me but every time Victor started describing him (in a way that was clear he had a bit of a crush) it was so strange to me, describing his flat wooden chest and stuff. Also, Hap has basically no memories of anything from before he met Vic so while he was actually very old and Vic was an adult it just was uncomfortable. Like I could get on board with a human/ghost relationship in Under the Whispering Door but I don’t know about this one it might be a step too far for me because at least the ghost was also once a human and not even that long ago lol, but if you’ve read this one please let me know what you thought!!

Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was, a heartwarming adventure story, and I think most readers will too, but it didn’t particularly stand out to me and had its issues, it was just a bit disappointing as a big fan of his other books. I’d still give it 4 stars though and definitely recommend checking it out.

This was nothing short of delightful! TJ Klune is now 3 for 3 on the found family o-meter hall of fame and he is now an auto read author for me.

This little family of a human and four robots was everything to me! Getting to know them and getting to see them get to know each other was so heartwarming. They seem so dysfunctional at a glance but they just fit together so well.

This may be a science fiction novel but it was so accessible and cozy and low key a romance???? I was LIVING for the romance. There was a small bit of action, lots of adventure and many robots but so much heart. This story tugged at my heart strings, made me laugh, made me cry, made me think and i am just so happy with the way this book ended.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my PUPPETS. I loved this book so so so much. Rambo and Hap and Nurse Ratched!! TJ Klune has always always done found family really well and this was definitely one of his best. There were so many profound moments that were so beautifully shared and so many moments where I laughed out loud. I finished the book in public and it took everything in me to not cry. Another winner!

This is my very first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. It is a heartwarming book. This book gave me a lot of different emotions. What a roller coaster ride. Definitely worth reading.

Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Something happened to this book. I've read both "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and "Under the Whisper Door" and loved both of them. I was so honored when I was able to get the ARC from Macmillan, and went into it so excited. I know TJ Klune has been getting a lot of bad press recently, but I decided I would try this final book, try to disconnect the author from the work, and then call it quits on his books.

Well, In The Lives of Puppets was a major let down. Nothing in the book grabbed my attention. The characters were boring and flat. I tried multiple times to get into this book, and nothing worked. The whimsy that was in his other works was just not in this one, along with really unlikeable characters. After a few attempts, I knew I just needed to stop reading it. Unfortunately this was my final experience with the author. I hated to leave on such a bad note.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this book for a free review.

Expressing my thoughts on this one is a bit of a challenge because while I did enjoy it, it didn't captivate me to the same extent as it did for many others. The story itself is good, offering a mix of romance and humor set in an incredibly imaginative world. However, I found that the characters never truly connected with me on a deep level.

Vic takes center stage as the main character, the sole human amidst a cast of machines whose original purpose was to hunt down humans. The unconventional family dynamic includes his "father" and his love interest, alongside Nurse Ratched, a restored medical machine, and Rambo, an unexpected addition in the form of a vacuum cleaner. Out of the bunch, Nurse Ratched stood out as the most enjoyable character, as her presence sparked most of the humorous exchanges.

As Vic and his companions venture through the countryside on their way to the City of Electric Dreams, there's an unmistakable Wizard of Oz vibe to their journey. The encounters with various characters pushed the boundaries of my imagination, especially when it came to the enigmatic Blue Fairy. Eventually, the motley group reaches their destination, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.

While I did appreciate the elements at play in this imaginative tale, it fell just short of fully captivating me. Nevertheless, the story offers an enjoyable blend of romance, humor, and adventure that will likely resonate with readers seeking a unique and whimsical reading experience.

It should come as no surprise that I loved this book. TJ Klune just has a knack for writing interesting tales with some serious heart. This adorably queer Pinocchio retelling with bits of other sprinkled in pop culture references had me hooked right away and I adored Klune's lovely characters. The snarky wit in his prose is incredibly humorous and his plot moved so incredibly well. I could not put this book down.

Ugh, I want to like Klune's books so much. But I just don't. I finished the Cerulean Sea, but I've barely made it 1/3 into his other works. I do still and will still purchase them for my library because his books are loved by many. Being neurodiverent and queer myself, I just do not like most of his main characters.

A very interesting and engaging read. I wanted to discover the world of T. J. Klune as I've been hearing about his books everywhere! But I went into this book completely blind as I have yet to read his other stories.

In In the Life of Puppets, I especially loved the fact that the characters here are not common in the sense that none of them really fit any stereotypical fantasy or sci-fi figure (except Gio as the heroic father maybe but even him has a little something that makes him real and less of just a character on the page). I think here of Nurse Ratched for example and her cynicism and lack of empathy that always destabilize the reader even after pages to get accustomed to her.

A really, really good book to make sci-fi evolve, knowing how popular T.J. Klune's work is, I know that it is probably already optioned by an amazing publishing house but I would love to work on a text like this one!