TJ Klune truly is a master with words. He creates such immersive worlds and characters that you want to call your friends, looking at you Nurse Ratched. “In the Lives of Puppets” is a story of found family, love, loss, and fighting for what you love most. A perfect blend of sci-fi and whimsy, but with heart in the center of the story.
If you’re familiar with Klune’s previous work, you will absolutely love this addition to his ever growing body of work. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

TJ Klune certainly knows how to write characters that will melt your heart and reside within your soul for all of time. I absolutely adored this cast of characters. I felt equally attached to them as I did to the characters in The House in the Cerulean Sea.

What I found done so well done in this book was the relationships between Victor, Giovanni, Hap, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo. Also the humor that was injected in Nurse Ratched’s personality had me actually laughing out loud at various points. Rambo was equally funny in his own unique way. I never thought I could love a vacuum but here we are.

I appreciated the different themes that Klune tackled. He never shies away from hard topics. Though he handles them with such care and weaves them into the story seamlessly. It feel authentic and not preachy in any way. I will say the plot got a little bogged down in the middle for me. That tends to be the pattern for the books of Klune’s I have read. However, the ending always makes up for it. An emotional gut punch is always expected when reading books by this author and I’m never disappointed. I can’t wait to read whatever he releases next.

This book was an interesting mishmash of genres and ideas. I would pitch it as Pinocchio meets Terminator as weird as that sounds. I think my biggest issue with the book was the writing style and particularly the dialogue and humour. It felt like 2/4 main characters were Olaf from Frozen. The first half of the book really dragged and felt like a one-liner filled stand out comedy set from Rambo and Nurse Ratched. I really wish this was toned down a bit then maybe there wouldn't be such a big disconnect between the first and second half of the book. Something which I did really like was the exploration of themes such as purpose, belonging, destiny etc. Overall I'd recommend it if you don't mind the corny and childish humour.

A book about family that you choose, humanity, choices and love.

Victor lives with his family in the forest. His family consists of his father Giovanni, who is a robot. Then they have a sadistic nurse who is called nurse Ratched. And last but not least, a vacuum who needs affirmation and love at every second: Rambo.

When Rambo, Nurse Ratched and Vic find a broken robot in the scrap yards, they resolve to fix him. He then becomes one of their best friends. But at the same time, he destroys life as they know it.

Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo and HAP (the new robot) go on a journey together to rescue Gio. They need to go to the City of Lights, but it will not be an easy journey. During this journey, there are awful things that happen, and feelings that need to be addressed.

I loved the conversations in this book. They were light, and a lot of fun. The characters were well-described and all of it added to the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan who provided me with an Arc in exchange for my opinion. All opinions are honest and my own.

I started reading this a few months back, and every time I had to put it down. It’s one of the books you want to finish asap to know what happens next, and at the same time wish it wouldn’t end so soon.

TJ Klune has done it again! I thought he can’t top how The House in the Cerulean Sea made me feel, but I am glad to report I was proven wrong. This book is all ❤️!

Giovanni Lawson (aka Gio aka General Information Operative) escapes to the forest and there he makes a home among the trees. When a baby is left in his care, he brings him up as his own son and names him Victor/Vic. Along the way, Vic fixes a sociopathic nursing machine, Nurse Rached and an neurotic Vacuum, Rambo, and together they make a motley family, living in the jungle. Everything changes when Vic rescues a decommissioned Robot, Hap- Hysterically Angry Puppet and gives him a heart. When Hap unwittingly leads the authorities to them and Gio is taken away, Vic decides to go to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue Gio, and along came Nurse Rached, Rambo, and Hap.
Their adventures along the way, meeting people he had never heard of, and learning the truth, his own truth is what the story is all about. Can Vic find forgiveness and enough love in his heart to move on from what people he loved had done?

This is such a hopeful and endearing story. And that regardless of how we are programmed, there is always a choice. All the characters are very well fleshed out. Even the transient ones, where you get a good sense of what the character is about within a few pages.

Highly recommended!

Let the adventure begin! And as with all adventures, these are the rules:

“Stick together.
Run of you have to.
No dallying.
No drilling (Nurse Rached disagrees).
And above all else,
Be brave!”

This was a cool reimagining of Pinocchio meets The Wizard of Oz meets Wall-E. The story takes place in the far future when robots have taken over the world. The story begins when Gio, who is running away from something, ends up in a forest in the middle of nowhere and builds his home on the ruins of an abandoned home. One day a couple appearing to flee something dangerous brings their child and abandons him to Gio's care. The boy, Viktor, ends up being adopted and raised by Gio.

I loved the cast of characters, but it took me some time to become invested in Viktor and Hap. It wasn't until they were in the city and a few traumatic things occurred that I really felt connected to them. There were moments when I lost the thread of what was happening and had to go back and reread passages. By the time they got to the city, I ended up bingeing the rest of the book. I loved Rambo and Nurse Ratchet--they were awesome. In every one of Klune's books that I've read, there's always a loveable ADHD character, and while I don't know the author, I suspect it's the character that represents himself. That was Rambo and I loved him! Nurse Ratchet was just as hilarious but in a very dry and matter-of-fact way.

I loved Klune's messages in this book, about living life to the fullest, never giving up on your loved ones, treasuring every moment with them, and getting to choose who you are, regardless of what others say. I also loved the concept of the heart and blood giving life. As usual, his stories give LGBTQ+ voices space, and I enjoyed the conversations Viktor had with his friends about asexuality as well as what Viktor considered private, and Hap trying to understand it. This was Klune's usual quirky story with a lot of heart. I didn't like it quite as much as some of his other stories, but I love it all the same. If you're already a Klune fan, you should not miss this one!

I received an advance review copy from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Robots were not as relatable as other characters from previous books. I almost gave up at the half of the book. I was glad that I stick with iy and still stand it will become a classic for long time. Like previous book ot send us a message for interpratation. What qe get from it - it is up tto us. AI is a big topic nowdays and this can be seen as it is. Also it can be seen as metaphor to world that we live. Another modern classic from T.J. Klune

Cerulean Sea + Whispering Door are both so adorable and this was no different. Unfortunately it is impossible not to compare them, and Cerulean Sea was so good and well received that it is going to be hard to top! I thought puppets was cute but not nearly as good as the other two. Its advertised as a Pinocchio-esque story which does make sense, but there are actually no puppets, just robots 😂 Overall it’s a good read and would reccommend it if you liked the other two. The characters are amazing

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE ERIE READER MAY 2023 EDITION

In the age of technology and the rise of artificial intelligence, sometimes it feels like the science fiction genre hits a bit too close to home. But in TJ Klune’s latest novel, In the Lives of Puppets, there may be some hope yet.

In the middle of a secluded forest in a home built into the trees lives Victor Lawson, a human, alongside three robots – Gio, his father; Nurse Ratched, a sadistic yet caring nurse machine; and Rambo, a small vacuum who is naïve but adorably lovable. Together, they have built a family home that, while small, has been enough for them and has kept them safe.

As he grows, Victor he becomes more adventurous, consistently visiting the scrap yards where discarded machines and other pieces are discarded after decommissioning, hoping to find something to salvage for parts. Along with Nurse Ratched and Rambo, this is where Victor discovers an android labeled “HAP,” whose battery is weak but still there.

Victor rescues Hap from the pile of other androids, all of whom are lifeless, and repairs him in his workshop, bringing him back to life, but with very little memory. When Hap unknowingly alerts robots from the City of Electric Dreams of Gio’s whereabouts, the family finds themselves in danger. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City, leaving the remaining family members to journey to save him.

Victor, alongside Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and their newest team member Hap, make the journey to the city to try and save Gio, the only father Victor has ever known, and learn a lot about the relationship between robots and humans along the way.

One of the most fantastic aspects of TJ Klune novels is how each character is so unapologetically unique and themselves throughout their character arch. Whether it is Victor the human who experiences a whole range of emotion he is not used to, or Rambo the small vacuum who learns to be brave even when he is scared, each character displays such incredible characteristics that it is difficult not to grow fond of each of them.

Klune’s writing is also unapologetically his, allowing readers a view into whole worlds he has built alongside emotions, problems, and solutions that each of his characters faces and overcomes. The strength of each character and their likability is evidence of Klune’s dedication to his writing and his creations – even Nurse Ratched, with her deadpan delivery and brutal nature, becomes one of the most loveable characters by the end solely because of these characteristics.

In the Lives of Puppets is a testament to the future, to knowing that it is not too late for us as humans to put more kindness into the world, and that even the hardest of hearts can learn to embrace emotion.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Many have, over the years, recommended that I read T. J. Klune's novels, insisting that I would love them wholeheartedly. <i>In the Lives of Puppets</i> was the first chance I had to do just that, and I can now say that they were absolutely right. This novel is charming, heartwarming, hilarious, and tragic. As I read, I would find myself giggling or beaming with joy. If I couldn't read it at a given moment, it was all I could think about. <i>In the Lives of Puppets</i> reminded me why I loved reading so voraciously when I was younger, and made me yearn to do the same again now.

All of the characters are so lovingly written, and so beautifully unique. Victor is headstrong, easily embarassed, but so determined to do what he believes to be right. Gio is gentle, but firm in his guidance, and reads as one of the most comforting father figures I've come across in a long time. Nurse Ratched, with her sardonic wit, reminds me so much of Glados from <i>Portal</i>, while Rambo has all of the anxiety and endearing earnestness of Claptrap from the <i>Borderlands</i> series, but without any of the arrogance or irritation. Hap (or Hilariously Angry Puppet) is so sincere in his awkward fascination of the world that he can't help but be charming.

The only thing that I struggled with was the pacing. The first 50% of this book is perfect. We are introduced to the world and the characters, and follow along as their world is forever changed in s brilliantly-paced narrative that never feels lagging, but always gives room for important moments to breathe. Following that, however, the pace grinds to a crawl between the 50-80% mark, then gallops towards the finish in the last chunk. That being said, while the second half of the book didn't quite have the vibrancy of the first half, I never regretted my time reading it. It is at once a solemn meditation on the ways humans can hurt each other and the world around us, and a joyous celebration of the way that love can bring even the most disparate of people together. I would happily return to this world and these wonderful characters for another 3 novels or more.

If you are looking to for a spirited, endearing, and unforgettable read, <i>In the Lives of Puppets</i> contains all of that and more. It's easily earned it's place in my list of favourite novels to recommend to others. If they're anything like this one, then I can't wait to explore more of T.J. Klune's works.

In the Lives of Puppets was an impulse pick for me, primarily chosen because I liked the cover and had heard good things about Klune's previous couple of books, and it left me asking myself 'why has it taken me so long to read one of TJ Klune's books?'. If In the Lives of Puppets is any indication of his storytelling capabilities then I am absolutely going to need to tear through his previous works.

In the Lives of Puppets was a heartwarming story about a found family comprised of an anxiety riddled Roomba named Rambo, a rather sociopathic nurse robot named Nurse Ratched (because of course the nurse robot's acronym was named Ratched XD), an inventor android Giovanni, and Victor, the only human in the group. Together they spend their days in the forest, living in a Swiss Family Robinson inspired treehouse, salvaging scraps, tinkering and creating new things, listening to music, and watching old movies.

Everything seems perfect for the group until the day Vic repairs a a second android who is dubbed Hap, or Hysterically Angry Puppet, by the group. Shortly after Hap is introduced to the family, Gio is taken captive by agents of the Authority, and the others set off on a journey to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue him.

"...happiness isn't something that can be sustained continuously, not without something to keep the fire burning."

I absolutely adored Rambo and Nurse Ratched! The pair of them were so well developed, with very distinct personalities, and they had me constantly cracking up. And watching the relationship between Vic and Hap develope had me alternating between grinning and crying. If I had to pick a least favorite character it would probably be Gio, only because I didn't connect with him as much as I did the rest of the main group.

Packed with humor and an overall theme that makes you question so many things about what makes us human, In the Lives of Puppets will probably be one of my top reads of the year.

I don't know how TJ Klune does it. He manages to build the most colorful worlds with thoughtful characters and the purest messages every time he puts pen to paper. In the Lives of Puppets is yet another success. Heart warming, sweet, and a sly yet timely commentary on today's society, I couldn't put the novel down, and was devastated as soon as I finished.

This story had my heart - in a kind of reverse Pinocchio a humanoid robot, Gio, assisted by a robotic nurse and a cute and harmless vacuum who doubles as a friend raise a human child, Victor, far away from other sentient lifeforms. They live in their happy little bubble until this bubble is ruptured by their finding a lifeform that shakes things up that Victor repairs. This sets events in motion that lead to Gio‘s abduction and complete reset as well as setting Victor and his friends on a quest to find Gio and bring him home. This book tells a beautiful story, heartwarming and hopeful. It can also be seen as a wonderful parable on the development of AI and the human potential for self destruction alongside the hopeful qualities of a heart, family and the inspirations the frailty of human life offers.

Vic lives in with his father Gio, an android, and their two robot companions deep in the forest. Vic is the only human among their small and close-knit group. When Vic finds another android that seems to have been decommissioned and thrown away and repairs it, the new robot, known as Hap, changes their lives in ways they could have never expected, bringing up long buried secrets that lead Vic, Hap, and the two other robots on a trek beyond any of their wildest imaginations to fight for the family they have created for themselves.

This is a touching modern fairy tale, exploring themes around family and forgiveness.

Highly recommended!

Another beautifully written story by Klune. This story, more so than his previous adult stand alone novels, has more of an adult read. His comedic interjections made me actually laugh out loud and his ability to tug at heart strings is perfect. He encapsulates what it means to feel human and find a family.

This was a miss for me. I was wondering at 5% if I should DNF because I was bored, didn't care about the story, and found the too-quirky characters to be incredibly annoying (especially the middle-school bathroom humor that undercut every interaction). I was wondering the same thing at 12%. At 35% I realized I still felt exactly the same about it and decided to cut my losses and say that this book isn't for me.

Part if it may have been the narrator, as the voices he chose for each character tended toward the whiny and irritating. He also tended to overdo the drama. He also voices Vic very young, and he is written very young, and I have to keep reminding myself that it says in the text he's 21 because he seems about 14.

It's disappointing because I think I *could* have loved Rambo and Nurse Ratched if there hadn't been quite so much middle-school bathroom humor in their every scene. And they had a lot of scenes. I actually still don't have a very good sense of Vic, and he's the main character. But his extremely quirky robot companions get most of the lines and page time which is weird.

I read through the big twist / reveal and I think it was supposed to be heartbreaking, but I didn't really feel anything? I didn't feel Gio was there enough as a character to make me care about what happened to him. Which is the same thing I feel about Vic, now that I'm thinking about it.

Since my feelings about the story haven't changed from 5% to 35% I think I can safely say that they aren't going to and it's just not for me.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Tor/Forge, and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy for review.

This book made me so happy the entire time I read it. The writing, world building and characters are all so unique and full of life, that I fell in love instantly.
Vic, Giovanni, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, Hap - even the other characters you meet along the way, all were so beautifully written. I loved the fresh take on Pinocchio, and the other subtle connections to other pieces of work. Another great one by this author for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I think I should begin this by saying that this is not my typical genre, nor my preferred genre, so please don't look to this review as a source for how well this book fits the style, themes, etc. of said genre. In fact, this was the first book I have ever read about robots!

I do however love T.J. Klune's writing style, and I really enjoyed his last two published books. So, that is why I made myself read this even though I had a lot of doubts going in. And honestly, I am so glad I did. I ended up really enjoying this book. Even though it was about robots/machines, it all felt very human. I devoured it in 2 days.

I absolutely loved the characters - Rambo and Nurse Ratched make this book worth the read on their own. But, it is the love the characters have for each other that really pushes the narrative forward. The themes of loneliness and sacrifice really moved me. And, I was shocked at how invested I was in Victor and HAPS's relationship. However, I will admit, I was also terrified by how real this book painted the possible future of AI/human relationships - eek!

Overall, I will say, even if you are not a big Pinocchio fan (which I am not) or a lover of sci-fi, "robot fiction," technology fiction, etc. (which I am not), you should definitely give this book a shot. Like Klune's other novels, the book is truly beautiful, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

I also want to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance digital copy for review!

I have to start this review by noting that I absolutely adored both The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. They are some of my all-time favorite books. I think In the Lives of Puppets is a solid 4 stars, but it wasn't as compelling to me as those other two books. But that's still to say I loved it!

The cast of characters are all loveable and memorable, and Nurse Ratched was just hilarious. Rambo was quirky and maybe not the brightest, but loveable all the same.

The reason this book isn't 5 stars for me is just that the book felt slow, and I wasn't as compelled to pick it up and keep reading. It took me almost a month to read... which is not normal for me. That could be partly due to life circumstances, but I wanted a book that I couldn't put down and this book didn't quite scratch that itch for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

As charming as it is thrilling, Klune has one again given us a touching tale of found family and the lengths we will go to protect those we love, even those without a beating heart. Filled to the brim with lovable characters, from the neurotic Roomba Rambo, the sociopathic Nurse-bot Ratched, to our humble but very darling human protagonist Vic, Klune surrounds the reader with a group that they don't want to leave, on a grand adventure to save their adoptive father from the hands of a shadowy organization. The beginning at admittedly of a slower pace, but those who are willing to let the book flow into them, the current will eventually carry you to places that will surprise you, in wonderful ways. Also, I really appreciated the asexual representation, as it is shown early on that the book understands and appreciates the intricacies of the sexuality and its many shades, which as an ace person is a touching thing to read.