This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and in no way did it disappoint. T.J. Klune has a way with writing realistic characters and making sure you're laughing throughout the whole novel. This story took the infamous Pinocchio story and turned it on it's head. I wish I hadn't known that before going into this because as much as it is a retelling, it's 100% it's own thing, taking the story and changing crutial aspects and making it better? The main character is asexual, which is a group of people that is seriously lacking in popular representation, but the whole story isn't ABOUT that and that's my favorite way to have representation in the books I read. T.J. Klune is definitely a master of his craft and I will absolutely pick up anything he writes. This novel solidified him as an all time favorite author.

It's possible I just love anything TJ Klune writes, but I really enjoyed this book. I never thought I'd be calling robots vibrant characters, but it definitely applies here. I fell in love with all of them and they absolutely come off of the page as you're reading.

This was such a fun and quirky read. Very enjoyable. Nurse Ratched stole the show for me. The dynamic between Vic and the robots was so wholesome too.

“Everything deserves a chance.”

This is the second book that I have read by TJ Klune and it is even more clear to me that his voice is strongest with it's whimsical and humorous approach to heavy themes. The characters more than anything else are the true stars of this story and shine thanks to Klune's humor and wit and willingness to lean into comedy and emotion in equal measures.

In the Lives of Puppets follows Victor Lawson, the lone human amongst a group of eccentric robots. We travel along with Victor as he struggles to come to grips with the world that he lives in and what humanity, loyalty, and friendship truly mean. It is on its surface a reimagining of Pinocchio, though for me this comparison was more a guiding thread in a story that is so much more than that.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this. It took me a long time to get through it, but all of the characters were quirky and wonderful. Where I struggled with this book was truly just in terms of connection. The characters and plot felt almost to be in war with each other -- the characters were so whimsical and the overarching plot was a polar opposite to it and the two never felt they merged satisfactorily for me. I commend Klune on his unwillingness to turn to the grim-dark that would be the natural approach to a story such as this, but I do think that many of the emotional moments would have truly sung had they been met with a touch less levity.

Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read and I will continue looking into Klune's other works as well!

Another TJ Klune story and Daniel Henning performance that make the reader care for a fantastical cast of characters, all of whom are impossible to forget!

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The story is a retelling of Pinocchio. I loved the cast of characters. Vic was wonderful and drew me in. The robotic friends, Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and Hap, were energetic and lively. I constantly found myself laughing out loud due to the dialogue, especially because I was listening to the audiobook and the narrator was doing a great job. Another thing I liked seeing was the Ace main character who also managed to have a relationship.
I definitely plan on rereading this book more than once.

There is so much goodness about this book that comes through with every page you read. It is a breath of fresh air in a world gone mad. I can smell the pine trees and feel the forest around me with the author's descriptive writing. It is about love, loneliness, and found family. The characters and their personalities will have you laughing. Most importantly it is about humanity. This book is going to always be one of my favorites.

Ok. Don’t come for me, but I thought this one was just okay. I honestly kept getting bored while reading it. I loved the personalities of the robots, and the banter between them. But it just wasn’t enough to keep me engaged in the story. If I hadn’t gotten this one through NetGalley, I might have DNF it. It does start picking up after the first section, but my goodness it felt like wading through molasses there for a while. It wasn’t a bad story, just slow.

Vic is human, with a found family of robots. He lives in the woods, and goes to the Scrap Yards to salvage things that could be useful. What he doesn’t know is that humans were eradicated by a collective of robots, and every trip to the Scrap Yards he is in danger of being discovered and hunted down.

This may be my favorite book of 2023 so far. TJ Klune blew me away with In the Lives of Puppets and it's right up there with The House in the Cerulean Sea. I love how he writes characters and makes us really feel what they're feeling and experience what they're going through. Vic, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, Hap and Gio will live in my mind forever. In the Lives of Puppets is a story of found family, love, staying true to yourself and saving the world. I alternated from e-book and audio and I have to say, the audio was absolutely fantastic. The narrator's voices gave such dimension to the characters and I felt like I was watching a movie. I absolutely loved this sweet book and recommend it to everyone!

I love love loved this book! As a big fan of House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I knew I’d love this one. With themes of chosen family, humor, and discovery, this book gave me all the fuzzy vibes that are typical of Klune. Nurse Ratched and Rambo were the STARS of the show and I honestly don’t think I’ve laughed so hard at characters in a fantasy/sci-fi novel. I couldn’t recommend this one enough!

I absolutely loved the House by the Cerulean Sea and so I had high hopes for this story. It seemed like the story they were trying to tell didn’t quite fit the retelling they were going for. I just didn’t really work for me.

It is a Pinocchio re-telling! I enjoyed the premise and definitely the writing.This story was a charming examination of humanity. I wasn't sure I would even like a book about robots, because it's so far from what I usually read but I'm so glad I had the chance to read it. I loved it. It has all the emotional depth and character development, something to be expected from this author.

n The Lives of Puppets is the first book I’ve read by TJ Klune, which is probably a little shocking considering the buzz generated by his previous books, particularly The House On the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. I’m going to remedy that going forward, as I absolutely loved this novel.

What exactly is In The Lives of Puppets about? Glad you asked! In broad strokes, it’s about a human boy, Vic, who lives in a remote forest in a collection of eccentric treehouses with three robots—a nurse machine whose words are sharper than the drill she’s aching to use; a vacuum machine who is seeking love and acceptance with alarming enthusiasm; and an inventor android who is a father figure for Vic. This group spends their time living, inventing, and scavenging useful things, including another robot, from a massive, mysterious salvage yard. Then the robot overlords who rule the land discover their secret existence, sending them on a perilous journey of survival and discovery.

Did I mention In The Lives of Puppets is an imaginative, heartfelt reimagining of Pinocchio, with a little bit of Wall-E thrown in for good measure?

If that’s all the story was, it would be an excellent read. However, it’s in the small strokes, the fine details, that In The Lives of Puppets truly sings. It’s about the importance of found family, and the power of loyalty and love. It’s a tender, sensitive exploration of Ace and LGBTQ representation. Perhaps most surprisingly to me, it’s laugh-out-loud funny. The robots, particularly the nurse machine, are hilariously sarcastic.

Klune is a wonderful writer—evocative and playful, yet with a surprising edge. In The Lives of Puppets tugged at my heartstrings and pulled me forward on waves of emotion and excitement. I was happy to be along for the ride every step of the way.

TJ Klune knows how to tell a story filled with humor and so much heart. Robots really aren't my thing and I personally struggled with their human actions and responses while also being reminded they are machines without emotions. As my husband likes to say "that sounds like a you problem, April" and it definitely is. LOL This might not be my favorite Klune book however it is still a really good story and worth the read.

I'm really disappointed, but this book was just not for me. I read it for a book challenge prompt "A modern retelling of a classic" (Pinocchio) I did like the vacuum robot and the nurse robot reminded me of a darker version of Baymax from Big Hero Six. But I must admit, I was glad when the book was over 😬 The characters didn't pull at my heart strings. I wasn't super invested in the outcome. And it was unnecessarily vulgar. I also wasn't the biggest fan of House in the Cerulean Sea, which I also listened to, so it might just be that this author/narrator aren't for me.

I have been loving TJ Klune’s work lately, and this one did not disappoint!
I got hooked on his stories after reading the extraordinaries, and then house on the cerulean sea… and honestly, the stories are what draw me in. Each one of TJ’s stories have a new element of magical realism that feels so fresh and original, He is partially good at cozy fantasy, and though this is still quite different from his other stories, it still holds that same story telling abilities.
TJ also has a special ability to write found family stories, and I really felt that with Gio and the robots in this one as well.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-found family ⁣
-hysterically funny at times ⁣
-LGBTQIA+ representation⁣
-magical realism meets sci-fi meets dystopian future⁣
⁣
Thoughts ⁣
Well, as you can see above I adored this book. This book is perfect for anyone who loved the sci-fi films of the 80s or who fondly remembers Rosie from The Jetsons. It’s clever, witty, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time, in other words, it’s what we’ve come to expect from Klune. I am a fan girl for sure and will read whatever he writes, but I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you enjoyed Under the Whispering Door you’ll enjoy this as there are similar themes. Life, death, relationships, self-discovery, and grief all play a role in this novel, so don’t be fooled by the many one-liners. It packs a big punch! I think this is my second fav after Cerulean Sea, which says a lot because I loved Under the Whispering Door. Read it and let me know what you think!

Victor Lawson, a human, lives with his father, Giovanni, and his two robot sidekicks. When Victor uncovers a robot called “HAP”, it sets in motion events from the past and leads to the kidnapping of his father. Victor vows to save his father, even if it means exposing himself to the Authority and risking his life.

This was a whimsical, philosophical book that centres around human vs machine conflict and the found family trope. It was emotional and hopeful, while also funny and ridiculous. I particularly enjoyed the banter between Rambo and Nurse Ratched. There were some parts that were a bit slow or sort of repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I rated this a 3 star only because of Nurse Ratched and Rambo, also the audiobook narrator. Otherwise I would have rated it lower.

This book I had high hopes for but it honestly was a big fat reminder of WHY I do not like the original or spin offs of Pinocchio. At times I just felt ick.

We’re there good messages at time? Yes, but other than that I just could not get past a lot of the sexual insinuation going on, just like the characters I felt utterly uncomfortable. It was like at times we were making things from Pinocchio that was disturbing okay? When it’s definitely not. I was grateful the characters were “smart enough” to pull the consent card or you can’t trick me. (Someone trying to get you to see their genitals or no consent to watch fornication)

This book had so much potential but it was not it for me. As I said at the beginning I really liked/loved the characters of Nurse Ratched and Rambo, their characters just were so fun. And the narrator for the audio did such a fantastic job with each character and their personalities. However that was all I liked personally.

In the Lives of Puppets is TJ Klune's futuristic rendition of Pinocchio. This is the 3 book I have read by Klune and while this is not my favorite one of the 3 (maybe because I never really like Pinocchio) Klune has peppered in such beautiful quotes about life, humanity, love and that is what makes this book worth the read. His writing flows so well, I will always be a fan. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC.