Sometimes a book is just extremely catered toward my very specific interests, and this is one of those gems that was truly made for me!

What do you get when you have a Pinocchio retelling and a cast that consists of: an anxious yet cheerful roomba with arms, a sassy medical robot who would like to drill into you as much as she would like to flirt with you, and a human young man who is sweet and brave, AND the mysterious android the three of them find and fix up? You get found family story full of great banter and a lot of heart and a journey into the mysteries of the world inside and outside the forest on that gorgeous cover.

In the Lives of Puppets was such a fun read, but also fun in the way that pulled at my real human emotions (I shed at least one tear!) and had me rooting for the crew the entire time even when I like any person watching an adventure tale was going "nooo....!"

I have such a soft spot for robots with feelings and there were so many feelings in every robot we met, and so many laugh-aloud moments (including waiting for the two love interests to notice that fact! Just like the rest of the group were!).

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley, TJ Klune, and Tor for approving my ARC request.

TJ Klune is back again with another quirky, beautiful found family story that happens to involve mostly robots and androids. In a dystopian world after the age of humans, we meet Victor, a human, Gio, his android father, and their merry band of misfit robots including a bot vacuum named Rambo, and a medical bot named Nurse Rached.

They all live happily in the forest of what used to be Oregon until they find a new, decommissioned android in the scrap heap. Rescuing him sets off a series of events that threaten their family and sends them on an adventure.

Klune is a master at creating unbelievably lovable characters that pull at our heartstrings. This book starts slowly as we get to know these characters but really picks up pace after about the 30% mark. Be patient! The story and characters are worth it.

This book felt like if Frankenstein’s monster, WALL-E, Nebula, and a human went on a Wizard of Oz/Pinocchio style journey. It was a gloriously character-forward, sci-fi adventure and I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

In the Lives of Puppets releases April, 25, 2023.

TJ Klune has such a talent for writing about identity and choices. Regardless of what you start off as you can always choose to change and become your true self. ‘In the Lives of Puppets’ is about just that—choosing for yourself. Our main character Victor goes on a bit of a hero’s journey, on a mission to save his father, reunite their little found family and maybe also fall in love. Facing danger at every turn, Victor leads with his heart. He’s lovely, one of my favorite characters of Klune’s. Described by the author as a queer retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, there’s plenty of familiar references, just also with robots. It’s delightful. Even when the stakes were high and I had no idea what to expect next, the tone of the story felt gentle and loving. Klune gives so much space and time for readers to really fall in love with his characters.

The rest of our cast of characters is so good and funny and lovable. Klune writes family dynamics so well! I loved Nurse Ratchet and Rambo from the moment they appeared on the page, Rambo especially has my heart.

I adored this and it of course leaves me wanting more from TJ Klune!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A little home built in the trees filled with the most interesting characters. A fatherly android (Giovanni) , a sarcastic sociopathic nurse robot (Nurse Ratched) a nervous little vacuum (Rambo) and a sweet and curious human (Victor) . All is well until Victor salvages and repairs an android named HAP. The story then uncovers a dark past and shatters the safety of their family. Victor discovers terrible truths about his father, his world and himself.

I enjoyed this novel and all of its characters. The characters were so well formed and I had all the feels. I did find myself often laughing out loud . I love how the author explored the complexities of life and emotions. Although it is often called a queer re-telling of Pinocchio I felt that it was pretty original. It is inclusive of course. It had a bit of a slow burn but ultimately as I read on I was completely captivated.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where robots have destroyed humanity Victor lives in the forest with his father, Gio, and friends Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Vic doesn’t realize he is unique, he is human. One day while looking for scraps he comes upon an android, Hap, who joins their family. One day the authorities are alerted to their whereabouts and they are no longer safe and hidden. Gio is taken and Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and Hap must travel to the City of Electric Dreams to get him back.

TJ Klune does it again! I’m convinced I need to read his entire catalogue. His characters are always amazing. This book was a bit different for me than Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door in that I didn’t feel super connected to Vic or Hap but I LOVE Nurse Ratched and Rambo. I have not laughed out loud so much while reading a book in a long time and it was great to have that lightness in a book that is actually really heavy. There is great discussion about humanity, our treatment of each other and the machines we create and use. I absolutely loved the Pinocchio aspects (even monstro the whale is here) with some heavy I, Robot vibes. This one will stick with me for a very long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Victor and his father fix machines and live happily in the woods with their companions, an anxious robot vacuum and a sarcastic robot nurse. When Victor finds and repairs another machine from the scrap yards, secrets are dragged from the past and Victor and his friends must face a larger, harsher reality outside of the woods they call home.

A science fiction re-imagining of the Pinocchio story, In the Lives of Puppets is full of vivid imagery, high-stakes adventure, raw emotion, and beautiful friendships. I loved this book! How did a book about robots have me feeling my humanity so deeply? T.J. Klune is a master at tapping into our shared human experience and emotion. I fell in love with these characters, and the found family aspect of this book. There is definitely an adventure and suspense side, but overall it still has the wholesome quality of a hug in book form. If you cried watching the movie A.I., this is the book for you. Even if you didn’t, you will likely enjoy following this man and his robot friends on their adventure.

My book taste has gravitated towards fairytale retellings and sci-fi robot books this year. But that is not why I picked up this book. I got it because I loved reading Klune’s The House on the Cerulean Sea. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this had both! It is a beautiful and heartwarming Pinocchio retelling that’s full of adventure, love, and of course robots.
What I love about stories with robots is that they usually involve a robot that breaks from its hardwired programming to find heart and humanity. And this was no exception! My favorite was the hilarious banter between Nurse Ratched, where it wasn’t always clear if her function is to heal or murder you, and Rambo, the anxious robot vacuum.
I loved it so much, I bought a copy for myself and a friend.

Happy Publication Day!

Favorite quote: "I think he is a MILF.
Victor had never heard that before. 'What's that mean?'
'Machine I'd like to fornicate...Just kidding. I do not wish to fornicate with anything as I do not feel lust or attraction. That was a joke. However, given my knowledge of faces, I would say his is the best I have ever seen. Why is your face not as symmetrical?"

In the Lives of Puppets is a queer retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio featuring an inventor named Victor, an anxiety-ridden Roomba vacuum named Rambo, a sociopathic nursing robot named Nurse Ratchet, and an android with a mysterious past named Hap (Hysterically Angry Puppet).

This cast of characters were so fun to follow, each very unique, and their ridiculous conversations added so much joy to my reading experience. Klune created a brilliant world filled with amazing banter, heartwarming moments, and a beautiful story that examined what being human and humanity really means.

My favorite aspects of all of Klune's books is his humor and the banter between his characters. This one had me cackling and cry laughing several times. I just loved this book. Highly recommend it and I can't wait to meet TJ Klune at an event at my work next month!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

A truly original story using one of the oldest stories as inspiration, Klune has written a heart-warming tale about what it means to be human. The world building is incredible, and the characters are memorable. Making robots seem human is no small task and Klune excels at giving all the android characters complex personalities and emotions. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Where's the damn #Klunex???
TJ Klune has done it again. He's left me with puffy eyes and a red nose, from all the tears!

I loved, loved, loved this book! I didn't really know what to expect- a book about robots and androids and talking vacuums??? But In the Lives of Puppets exceeded anything I could have possibly imagined. Honestly, with Klune's imagination, it's best to expect the unexpected. And then be prepared to be surprised in the very best ways.

Like, how was I to know I'd fall in love with a vacuum? What does that say about me?!? Oh yeah, I'm a #Klunatic, that's what it says about me. And an unapologetic one at that.

This review is a complete rambling mess. I guess I'm just trying to say "Go read this book.". Go experience all that Vic and Gio, Rambo and Nurse Ratched, are and do, and prepare to fall hard for this utterly charming little family. And don't forget the tissues.

Three robots and a human, Victor—an unlikely family, joined by heart, if not by blood, in the truest sense of the word, made their home in a forest, hidden from others, caring for and protecting each other. When Victor brings home another android, that one action wreaks havoc in his safe little world and pushes him to reevaluate everything he thought he knew.

What a marvelous cast of characters this story held! I loved Nurse Ratched and Rambo. The author wrote them so well, at times they felt so human you wouldn’t believe they were robots. Victor was as unique as they were and kudos to the author for the emphasis on mental health. And Hap? Just my type of grouchy lol. I truly enjoyed all the characters and their quirks.

The plot-line was intriguing and kept me hooked from the first to the last page. The only jarring note for me was that Victor is supposed to be twenty-one in the story but his portrayal was more that of a seventeen-year-old. In the Lives of Puppets was my first book by T.J. Klune and oh, the writing alone was a pleasure to read.

TJ Klune did it again. Another queer story I just did not stop swooning over from the first to the very last page.
The House In The Cerulean Sea stays my favorite, but In The Lives of Puppets is a close second.
I was a bit worried starting this book since it is a Pinocchio retelling and Pinocchio is a story I really don't enjoy.
But this book ended being a nice surprise
It was well written, the characters were endearing and the story line was interesting.
The Pinocchio part of the story was in details here and there but it wasn't to the point it was all I could compare it to.
I'll definitely read this book again in the future.

What happens when Asimov’s “I, Robot” meets “Pinocchio,” “Star Wars,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Top Hat,” to travel the yellow brick road? T.J. Klune’s “In the Lives of Puppets” is a classic hero’s journey, a tale of self-discovery told with humor, suspense and warmth.

Readers meet Vic, who has been raised apart from other folks by Giovani Lawson (Gio), a “man who wasn’t a man at all.” Vic is an inventor like his robotic “father.” He’s content with his sidekicks, an anxious Roomba named “Rambo” and Nurse Ratched, a “sociopathic” healing unit. He loves his dad as if Gio were human and has even crafted a new heart, for when his father’s current one fails. Then Vic finds another decommissioned humanoid and discovers longing. When Vic secretly brings “HAP” online, he creates a third pal, but endangers Gio. The four companions must travel to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue Gio. In so doing, they surmount their limitations by depending on one another’s strengths.

If “The Wizard of Oz” summarized mankind’s essence as courage, love and intellect, Mr. Klune’s view is both simpler and more complex. Creatures are bound together by love, exclusively. His characters mature as they learn how to apply love to forgiveness, hope, free will, connection, choice, empathy, family and human weaknesses.

Here is a short interchange when Gio indicates people probably developed artificial intelligence because we felt disconnected. Confused, Vic asks ”Why did they not just speak to each other if they were lonely?” The answer? “They tried, but they hated as much as they loved. They feared what they didn’t understand.” If love saves, Mr. Klune indicates hatred is our downfall.

Again and again, these insights brought chills, building a more dystopian mood than Mr. Klune’s standard fare. But he is an accomplished artist who doesn’t need philosophical yammering to drive a point. Through words and action, Vic’s adorable chums ignite his admirable qualities, while soothing his doubts. Their banter lightens dire predicaments, as they find ever more creative ways to reach their goal, despite the sacrifices entailed. Each time I read Mr. Klune, I wonder if he finds living with his imagination a pleasure, a burden, or both!!

Mr. Klune creates an sparkling odyssey of maturation, redemption and rebirth. His expertly constructed fantasy world is developed with cinematic precision. Like Dorothy of Oz, Mr. Klune masterfully pulled my heartstrings, evoking all manner of feelings and yet the tone remained restrained and his characters seemed achingly genuine.

Are people flawed Gods who make artificial intelligence in our image, and if so, how could robots ever be free of our defects? Or are “defects” merely diversity, which makes humanity stronger? “In the Lives of Puppets” is prescient when I read that some A.I. development executives quote a 10% chance robots will exterminate mankind. Today, robotics serve us, but will we become their puppets? Read T.J. Klune’s tender, kind view of humanity to find a “middle path” of solace – in each moment, each act of kindness.

One of my favorite books is The House in the Cerulean Sea so I’m always excited to read another TJ Klune book. I adored this one too!

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

In a dystopian world set in some far away trees are 3 robots. The father, an inventor, named Gio. Nurse Ratched, a nurse machine who is sarcastic and slightly sociopathic. Rambo, the Roomba, who is precious. They all live with Victor, a human, who may be the last of his kind. When Victor saves a robot named Hap, or Hysterically Angry Puppet, they find themselves on a journey to the City of Electric Dreams to save Gio and find out about the past.

“What are the rules?
Stick together.
Run if we have to.
No dallying.
No drilling.
And above all else, be brave.”

This one is sort of Pinocchio and Wizard of Oz with lots of laughs and lots of heart. I love the banter and the unique characters. Nurse Ratched was absolutely my favorite character ‼️ It was quirky and imaginative with creative world building. I love a found family troupe. It’s knowing you have been programmed to hate but choosing to love and be who you want to be. I teared up yall. Over ROBOTS! 🥹

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an arc for review!

“Simple, isn’t it? We were thinking too big, too grand. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that can change everything when you least expect it.”

In a strange little home built into the branches of trees live three robots. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. Within this peculiar forest lives a family assembled from spare parts and, together, they embark on an incredible journey.

The audio of this one! 👏🏻😍 superb! So so good! I highly recommend. The voices for the robots are *chefs kiss*. I may have fallen in love a little bit.

This is being touted as a Pinocchio retelling and I can certainly see why. What an absolutely precious and heartfelt story. It almost reads like a children’s fairytale at times with the robots and fantasy elements. But there is also some very funny adult humor that had me laughing out loud. Case in point…

“‘Oh. My. Goodness. You’re a vacuum. Just like me! Hello, cousin!’ He waved his arms in front of the bigger vacuum. ‘My name is Rambo. I’m a vacuum too!…I’m pretty sure I’m the only vacuum in history too—wow. Look at the size of your brush. I’m feeling strangely inadequate at the moment.’” I can’t. Fabulous. 🤣🤣

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for allowing me to review In the Lives of Puppets in exchange for a review and my opinion.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book but unfortunately the execution wasn't to my liking. The story seemed to be a mash up of the Wizard of Oz meets Pinocchio meets Alita:Battle Angel meets 80s pop culture.
I spent the first 4 or 5 chapters trying to figure out who was human and who was a robot. It was a bit confusing.
I feel like this story could be great for middle school ages but the awkward and weird sexual/genital references aren't needed. They weren't irrelevant to anything story related.
I think the author is trying to hard to bring acknowledgement to the LGTBQ+ community. If you want to write stories with gay characters go ahead and do it. It's 2023. You don't have to make it subtle and weird. I do feel it needs to be relevant though. That had nothing to do with the storyline so it felt forced.
This seems to be a thing with his writing.

I just finished In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune and here is my review.

Victor Lawson has no ordinary human life. He lives with his “father”, an android inventor called Giovanni. His two friends, Nurse Ratched and Rambo, make his little life complete.

That is, until the day they are in the scrap yard and they find a decommissioned android they call HAP and take him home to repair him.

These actions caused an unforeseen sequence of events to occur with Gio having to face his dark past and when HAP accidentally alerts the robots Gio has been hiding Victor from their location, Victor has to make a decision… Does he try and rescue his father before they decommission him or does he do as his father says and live his life? Vic sets out to find his father with little regard for the consequences that will ultimately follow.

This is my first book by Klune so I had no idea what to expect but I was over the moon with how clever this book was. It’s done in a wild reimagining of Pinocchio and I found the whole reversal of the characters a nice change of pace for this fairytale.

Nurse Ratched was my favorite robot. She had me giggling so many times. You can tell that even though she is borderline psychotic, underneath it all she has a heart of gold and rambo… I need a rambo in my life. I really enjoyed the writing and the dark humorous undertones that weave its way through the whole book. Loved the plot and how it was a truly original story even from a retelling stand point. Character development was on point and I loved how every single character grows on you. The writing was expansive and entertaining with some really detailed descriptions of the more sci-fi elements.

Definitely added all Klunes work to my shopping cart!

5 stars! If you love a solid retelling with a dash of sci-fi, this has to be your next read! OUT NOW!

I wanted to love this but there was too much agenda and sexual innuendo for my taste.

I loved the narration, though. The narrator brought each character to life. Rambo captured my heart. I would have loved a full book of Rambo’s life.

I went into this story wary, as the description did not appeal to me the same way Klune’s previous two books have. I trusted he would write a good story, and I am glad to have read this. This book was so delightful.

In a world with ChatGPT and Snapchat AI and new innovations daily, this book tells the story of a future that doesn’t feel so unlikely or far off.

The characters, as with all of Klune’s books, were all spectacular and loveable. Fans of Chauncey in The House in the Cerulean Sea (or Olaf from Frozen) will instantly fall in love with Rambo. Nurse Rached is witty and so entertaining. I would read a full book about her life before this book.

This is such a great story of family, adventure, and humanity. A must read, even if you think you won’t like it.

Big thanks to Tor Books, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5

Victor has spent his life surrounded by androids and robots - Gio an android and the only father he has ever known, a nurse robot, and a vacuum. They live deep in the forest away from where anyone can find them. When he stumbles across a new android and repairs him it sends their entire life that they have known into jeopardy.

Alright this is one of those quirky wonderful books that you absolutely cannot describe in any way that does it justice. But it is amazing! The robots will make you laugh. They will make you cry. It is a beautiful story about forgiveness and guilt. In typical TJ Klune fashion you will adore every character by the time this one is done. Highly recommended!