DNFd around 33%

I hated this book. I was bored from the very beginning and unfortunately it didn't get any better for me. It was just dragging without going anywhere.

"Hope grew, thorny, painful hope only found in those who dared to believe in impossible things. It tore at him, but he refused to let it go."

This is the third book by TJ Klune I have read, and once again I really enjoyed it. This book has story elements similar to Pinocchio and Frankenstein, I'd also throw in a Matrix element as well. I don't want to go into spoilers, but I do find all the characters unique and interesting to evaluate. I'm not the expert, but I do think there is something to be said about different disabilities represented by the robotic characters. Hap has a stutter, Nurse Ratched almost seems to have a sort of Asperger's, and Gio eventually exhibits what can be compared to dementia that an Alzheimer's patient may experience.

In this world we live in where Ai get more and more intelligent, I always wonder when I'll fail the Turing Test. Although I guess it's more that the machine would pass it. Nurse Ratched is my favorite character, she's just so great.

If this book has changed my life in at least once significant way, it's that I've renamed my rumba 'Rambo' and plan to attach soldering arms to him (we had already put eyes on our rumba after we got it) I even find myself talking to it nicer, as though it's listening to me. I was watching WALL-E with my daughter yesterday and just kept thinking about how much he reminded me of Rambo, though instead of Top Hat we get Hello, Dolly!

"And above all else be brave!"

TJ Klune will always be an author I pick up, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is not my favorite TJ Klune. Its a Pinocchio inspired story about androids taking over the planet but sweet and wholesome. Our characters live in the woods as a found family. Victor, the human child of the Android Gio and two robots victor has repaired over the years. A nurse bot and a vacuum.

There is queer representation, our MC is ace.

This is the kind of story you read slowly over a few days absorbing all the cuddly feels. Don't read it for a readathon like I did

Victor Lawson is a human man on a land full of robots. His father, Giovanni, a robot himself, moved to the forest to be away from the big city, and then Victor came along. As Victor grew, he stated combing through the local scrap yard to find new things to tinker with. There, he found Nurse Ratched (yes, really. She's a medical droid!) and a little vacuum droid he names Rambo... And then they find Hap. And everything begins to fall apart. Robots come and take Gio away, and Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and Hap go after Gio to bring him home.

Okay, so I love Disney/fairytale connections as much as the next girl, but the ties here to Pinocchio (the original by Carlo Collodi) are super faint, until they're aggressively obvious. And frankly, I'm not a "journey book" person. This was... fine. I didn't love it like I did Under the Whispering Door. I had been looking forward to this... until I no longer did. I had to make the NetGalley app read to me so that I actually finished it, and that's less than ideal.

I appreciate the character building. I can see the connections that were trying to be made between the robots and Pinocchio. I just... didn't love it. Which is disappointing. I'm sure there are others that will love it, though.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

TJ Klune never fails to serve quirky, loveable characters. A Pinocchio retelling in a world of robots where the "real boy", is, well... a real boy. Found family stories always pull at my heartstrings and this book was no different!

Also, I just really enjoyed all the sci-fi robot references. Like naming a city after Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? might be a bit niche, but it's those little details that are fun to pick out!

Gio the android, who was created to invent lives in the woods with his adopted Human son Victor. They live in a house built into the trees along with two robots that Victor salvaged from the scrap yards. Nurse Ratched, a sociopathic sarcastic robot that may be slightly crazy enough to do more harm than good if not kept on a tight leash, and Rambo and adorable anxiety ridden clueless vacuum. Victor, Rambo and Nurse Ratched frequently wander the scrap yards in search of salvageable goods that they can use. The trio stumble across an Android that is still functioning who they name HAP but in the process Victor cuts his hand. Victor returns with HAP to his workshop where he restores the new robot to working order. Gio finds what Victor has done and events are set in motion that will change all of their secluded lives.

Victor's blood that he left in the scrap yard from when he cut his hand is tracked back to their secular home by a group of robots. Gio is kidnapped by the group of robots and taken to the city of electric dreams. Victor, HAP, Nurse Ratched and Rambo go after him on a rescue mission, but Victor quickly learns that the world he was told of doesn't really exist.

I really loved this book, the characters were very rich and well rounded. The interaction between Victor and the androids is delightfully comedic and essentially made the book. Nurse Ratched is perhaps my favourite due to her Sarcastic nature and I loved how she 'bounced off' the character Rambo. I adored how the author included Asexual representation in the book, and it was well done! It really felt like the author had a good understanding of what Asexual's feel and can experience, and it is the first time I’ve ever seen this represented in a Main character. The interaction between Victor and Hap was very sweet and I loved it but it really didn’t feel like a 'gay' love story as I didn’t feel that Gender actually played a role in the story at all.

If you want a perfect happy ending then this book is not for you! The ending whilst it is rounded off does not leave one feeling 'warm and fuzzy', nor does it leave you with a big open end. The ending is a great representation of life itself and doesn’t Skirt over some of the harsher points. I would Highly recommend this book, and gives me very much House in the Cerulean sea vibes, that made me fall in love with this author to begin with.

I received an e-ARC for one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and I'm so happy to say that I loved it!! This book follows Victor, a human, and his family of robots who live in the forest. It's a queer retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio and it will defintily make you cry, laugh, and smile just like T) Klune's other books.

3 Stars

There is no doubt that Tj Klune is a talented author. His books have filled me with every single emotion. Ranging from happiness to sad in a single chapter. But In the Lives of Puppets, this one didn't do it for me. There was something missing from it. And I cannot pin point exactly what it was.

The story itself was great, human boy surrounded by robots is a great story. The robots were honestly my favorite aspect. Nurse Ratched and Rambo were delightful and had me laughing every time they talked. Even Hap grew on me with his grumpy self. But these characters just felt like remnants of already existing Klune characters. The humor felt very much like the Extraordinaries. The emotional parts felt like Under the Whispering Door, and the joyous parts felt like Cerulean Sea. It just felt like one giant mashup of all his work.

So I think if I had read this book first, I would have loved it. But since I have read all the others, it just felt like reading the same book again. And while I am no opposed to rereading books, I didn't sign up for that with Puppets. I was hoping for something a little different this time around.

The saving grace of this book was the found family aspect. Which Klune includes in all his books and I am glad he does. He does it very well. Nothing tops a beautiful found family coming together in the end for me.

While I didn't love this book, I know many people out there will. Klune knows how to tell a great story.

I walked into this book, not entirely knowing what to expect. I knew the cover was beautiful, that it was written by TJ Klune so, of course, I was going to read it. I kind of knew that it was being marketed as a Pinnochio retelling. I certainly thought the book would involve more puppets, in the traditional sense. Instead, I got a bunch of robots! Which is not a bad thing at all.

I fell in love Gio from the start and Vic came shortly after. Nurse Ratched holds a special place in my heart. She is hilarious and super helpful, just what Vic needs at all times, even if she’s quite embarrassing with regards to his human processes like going to the bathroom, or experiencing sexual attraction. I was getting serious Wall-E vibes from Rambo, except Rambo’s voice is stronger and he’s more outspoken, the robot embodiment of ADHD. This little family Gio has assembled, with Vic finding the two bots, is perfection from the start. I can understand why Vic might want a little more, why he pushes at boundaries and wants to explore beyond his little tree house (aka gigantic amazing tree house). He’s a very curious and intelligent man who is discovering what it means to be human in a world where he’s probably the last of the human race. HAP also deserves special mention. Not only is his redesign super cool (wood melded with metal!), he overcomes his programming and builds himself from the ground up, with Vic’s help, as well as the other bots.

The story was very emotional and I enjoyed it very much. It felt like a bedtime snack for me, a nice quiet enjoyment at the end of a long day. It features Vic, who is asexual, and is overall a very cozy read that focuses on hope for humanity, even after humanity has been eradicated from the planet. It’s about found family and quirky robots and how, even when all seems lost, you can still reclaim at least a little of what was gone. And that has to be enough because you have to keep going even if it’s not going to be what it was before. And that’s okay. Things change and that’s okay.

TJ Klune continues to break my heart with found families and warm fuzzy feelings. I was initially nervous going into this because science fiction isn't my preferred genre, but TJ Klune is a favorite of mine, so I had all the faith in the world he would pull me into his vision. He crafts characters with such care and love that they could be in any setting, in any genre and I would be hooked.

This book was a delight from the beginning to the end. A beautiful self discovery story with layers of redemption and forgiveness.
As in all TJ Klune’s books, the characters are the quirkiest. We’ve got Nurse Ratchet, and an anxiety filled Roomba called Rambo.
Queer retelling of Pinocchio but with some Wizard of Oz vibes throughout.

What a magical cozy sci-fi book. All of the characters were enjoyable and amusing, especially Nurse Ratched. Wasn't able to finish the book completely due to some personal health issues, however I fully plan to finish it. This is my first introduction to Klune and what a wonderful introduction to the worlds that he crafts. I look forward to finishing this book and delving into the rest of Klune's backlist.

Pinocchio meets The Wizard of Oz meets Frankenstein in this fantastical, post- climate change disaster/ post robot revolution world. TJ Klune has done it again with creating such a beautiful found family story. This is a heart warming cozy read of love, finding where you come from and where you belong, and discovering that family doesn’t just mean blood. This book has some great character development, and not just with one character. I feel we really saw how each character helps the others grow and change even in small ways. The main cast of characters are funny and lovable but we also meet some very interesting people/creatures along the way on Vic’s journey to save his dad. My absolute favorite characters were the 2 main side characters, Nurse Ratchet and Rambo. They were hilarious and their personalities were truly a joy to read. I feel this story captures the beauty of adolescent and wanting to be on your own yet realizing you will always need your family. It also shows how even with good intentions things can still go wrong.
I did feel the dialogue was a little repetitive at parts and the story felt a little too drawn out. But even with that it was still a beautiful story and a fun read. I definitely recommend this book to people who love cozy fantasies and found family.
A great 4 ✨ read for me🤍

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with an Ebook arc for this novel!
I’m been meaning to post my review for months but honestly life got in the way and I fell behind so I am deeply sorry about that.

This is the third book by T.J. Klune that I have read and enjoyed. In the Lives of Puppets is a very intriguing title for this book about a group of robots and one boy, that are living as a found family. In a series of tree houses lives fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine named Nurse Ratchet (Registered Automation to Care, Heal, Educate and Drill), and a small vacuum, Rambo, desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. Victor is the last human on the planet after humans built robots so advanced that they hunted and killed the human race. They're a family, hidden and safe. When the little group, sans Gio, find a pile of discarded android parts, they find one that is still operational, but in need of repair. They take it back to their little community and Vic repairs it, gives it a heart and a drop of human blood. This enables the HARP to bypass it's programming and become another part of the family. They call him HAP, Hysterically Angry Puppet, as only the HAP were visible on his body. The problem is that once her was reactivated, the evil robots were able to track him, destroy their homes and take Gio to the City of Electric Dreams. Vic, HAP, Rambo and Nurse Ratchet head off to save him and bring him home.

Wow, this was quite the story. First I want to say, that it is scary. With the way AI is going, self driving cars and more, could this actually happen?? I love stories of found family and this is one strange, but loving found family. It is a take from Pinnochio with the father figure being Gio, similar to Gepetto, the blue fairy plays a role in assisting him to bring Vic to life and then there are the other sidekicks. There are also some Wizard of Oz vibes with the travel to The City of Electric Dreams the happenings once they get there. Although this book is a bit longer than what I normally read, I listened to it and finished it in one day, perhaps because I just didn't stop for much. In the Lives of Puppets had me laughing out loud at times, crying at others and feeling joyful as well. It is an imaginative story, set in a unique and fascinating world, including an exciting adventure filled with danger and suspense. The characters were well developed and I loved getting to know each of them. It is a story of found family, friendship, love for everyone, seeing what humanity is all about and making choices and facing the consequences. I highly recommend this book

An absolutely beautiful book with wonderful characters. TJ Klune has a real gift for writing stories that really suck you in and wrap you up to make you a part of it from start to finish. You will fall in love with his characters- root for them, cry for them and so much more.

This Pinocchio retelling is so incredibly unique and layered where every character could be considered Pinocchio in one way or another. A human boy out of place in a world of robots and a robot cut free from his programming (strings) and hoping to be more. In a single standalone Klune takes the reader on a very large adventure that has just the right details without over complicating the world building. Enough is left to the imagination for you as the reader to be able to form your own connections to it all and I think thats what always pulls me in to Klune's books.

Victor is a wonderful main character with so much heart and goodness that brings him the strength he needs for the struggles he faces.

Nurse Ratchet and Gio are incredible companions. They are hilarious but heartwarming and its so easy to forget they are robots because they have so much love for each other and Victor that is shown through their actions and words.

HAP is equally fantastic. A robot made for a specific purpose that has broken away from his designation to find a new life and heart for himself.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of them through this story and only wish there would be a book two where I could check in on them again. I really hate when a great book ends and I have to say goodbye to the characters i've grown so fond of but this book is so incredible I will definitely be rereading it again and again.

“You are as you’re supposed to be…If there was ever perfection in this world, it would be you.”

To absolutely no one’s surprise, TJ Klune has done it again. I absolutely loved In the Lives of Puppets…honestly, I’m having trouble verbalizing just how much I loved it.

This is a poignant and inspired reimagining of Pinocchio - it’s similar enough to feel instantly nostalgic and familiar, but never overly complicated. It blends Klune’s quintessential humor and charm with intense emotional connections to these fantastic characters. This is, ultimately, a deep character study and within minutes, I was hooked on this crew. Each of them brought a different dynamic that balanced each other out and I couldn’t have loved them more. It was incredible how much life these robots brought to the story - Nurse Ratched (a sociopathic nurse machine) and Rambo (a sweet, anxious little Roomba - my sweet boy) were clear standouts and favorites. Telling this story through Victor’s eyes, however, allowed us connect to his humanity and the desolation of this world.

This took me through every emotion possible - I laughed harder than I have in a while, and then sobbed in the next chapter. It made me question and think deeply about humanity and its role in this world (and what it actually means to be *alive*) With deliciously gorgeous prose, lovable characters, and thrilling (and stressful) sequences, I couldn’t stop thinking about this story.

My ONLY complaint is that I felt that some of the middle section dragged a bit - specifically the section with the Coachman - I didn’t fully understand his role in this story, but he added a lot of humor that I appreciated.

I ended up listening to this on audio and I truly believe that is the way to consume this story. Daniel Henning is a phenomenal narrator and gives life to all of these characters - I don’t know if I would have enjoyed it the same way without his interpretation. But this is definitely a story that I need to reread soon to highlight my favorite passages and commit them to my heart. Could not love this more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the advanced copy.

This was not my favorite TJ Klune. At first I was a little thrown off by the talking machines, but I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and really liked Under the Whispering Door, so I powered through. This one just wasn’t for me.

Gio is an inventor robot who has built an incredible treehouse paradise deep in the woods but is very lonely – until one night, a human mom runs through and leaves her baby boy, begging Gio to take care of him. Gio names the boy Victor and raises him along with two other robots: Nurse Ratched, a nurse robot who’s motherly but blunt, and Rambo, an adorable little Roomba who’s adorable and will do anything to be loved. The story really begins when Victor is 22 and secretly exploring the forbidden scrapyards for parts, only to discover something that upends all of their lives and sets them off on an epic quest to find the City of Electric Dreams. The story was a little bit slow at first, but then I got really into it and found it hard to put down. It’s a pretty dark and foreboding story, but even though it’s sci fi, it has some good parallels to real life and by the end is actually rather believable as a future world. The characters and world are amazingly well developed, and this made me both laugh out loud and cry at alternate points in the story. A beautiful must-read!

A boy raised by an android and has only robots for companions doesn’t realize he might be the only human left. This story came through a little like Pinocchio if it was told by Morpheus from The Matrix! In a world where humans were hunted Gio is a robot who ends up with a conscience and realizes killing off humans has done more harm than good. He ends up running away to start a new life in the woods and ends up with Victor- a human child he does everything in his power to keep alive. When Gio’s old human hunting android partner shows up everything comes to light and he will do anything to save Victor. The cast of characters are sometimes delightful and frustrating (they are robots after all) but they are very “human”. While I usually instantly love Klune’s books I firmly only liked this one.

Vic, his father Gio and two robots, Nurse Ratchet and Rambo, a roomba type vacuum, live together in the woods, after Victor was abandoned by his parents to Gio as they were fleeing... well it was never really defined what they were running from (though there is a better explanation later). When Vic finds a new robot, Hap, and fixes him up, it draws some unfortunate attention and sends them out of the woods on an adventure into a world Vic hadn't expected to reunite their family.

Despite a slow start, "In the Lives of Puppets," was a sweet story of a unique family that never gave up on one another. There was a lot of cute banter between the two original robots, Nurse Ratchet and Rambo , though sometimes a bit too much.

Special thanks to NetGalley for and e-ARC me in exchange honest feedback.