In the Lives of Puppets is a Pinocchio-retelling for science fiction fans and it is worth every second that I spent reading it. While this is a story full of a special little found family adventuring after the robot apocalypse, it it also an exploration into identity and what the human experience is at its very core. Some of the silly little machines in this book feel more human than some humans I know, and the only human character's wrestling with his humanity and what it means is so poignant.
The novel follows the same formula as Klune's other incredibly popular novels, and it is a great formula. The novel takes characters on adventures while simultaneously being so incredibly cozy and heartwarming. I think this may actually be my favorite of the books Klune has published recently, and I am already considering reading this again.
I especially recommend this to those who enjoyed the Monk and Robot books by Becky Chambers, as the feeling is quite similar.

This book is absolute perfection. I adored this story and it’s my favorite yet by Klune. It’s so hilarious, heartwarming, sensitive and makes you really think about humanity. Nurse Ratched and Rambo were some of my favorite characters ever and their banter I made me laugh so hard I cried at times.

This book came to me at a time that I desperately needed a good, happy, uplifting and funny story and I’m so grateful for getting a chance to listen as an early release. TJ Klune can do no wrong in my eyes. This is my favorite book so far this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for an ARC of this beautiful story. Preordering now

Why is TJ Klune so darn good?! He can make even the coldest heart melt with his endearing storytelling. This book, a sort of queer re-telling of Pinocchio, is just plain wonderful. He embodied robots (flipping robots!) with emotions and enough human behavior for you to really get to know them. And they're androids!
Giovanni Lawson, human-adjacent robot inventor, created this strange little home that looks straight out of the Swiss Family Robinson. He lives there with Nurse Ratchet, a sadistic medical machine, Rambo, a neurotic vacuum and his human son, Victor. Things start to go a bit sideways when Victor salvages HAP (hysterically angry puppet) from a salvage yard. Then the adventure really begins and Victor finds out the awful past that exists between his father, Gio and HAP.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for this e-arc.*

Under the Whispering Door came into my life just when I needed it, that I jumped at the chance to review his newest book.

This was a combination of Pinocchio and Frankenstein, with some flavor of Wizard of Oz. Deep in a lonely forest is a family made up of machines and a human working together. When they discover an amnesiac android in the forest, they bring him home to repair him. Only for their idyllic life to be upturned when old secrets start to come out.

I wanted to love this so much. A sci fi retelling of Pinocchio? I was all in. And there was a lot to like about it. The characters, especially Gio and Victor and Hap, were charming and easy to like. The soft sci fi setting was easy to get into. And there were fun little references scattered throughout the book.

And there's a particularly timely discussion of what happens when the robots we design learn more than we want them to do. What happens when the robots and the AIs start to make decisions on their own? Spoilers, it doesn't turn out great for us.

The problem was that I wanted more. I wanted more depth to the characters, more exploration of the sci fi aspects of this world, and more development of the romance when it started. Everything felt a little flat and shallow. Nurse Ratched and Rambo felt like characters there to be comedic effect, with oddly sexual jokes coming from robots.

And most disappointing of all was the ending. I felt let down and unsatisfied. I wanted to see what happens because of Vic's choices that he makes. It's difficult to describe what I wanted without spoiling the ending. We get glimpses of this huge world that Vic's decisions would affect, and we don’t see any of it.

If Under the Whispering Door hadn't been so perfectly timed in my life, I would have enjoyed this better. I came to this with too high expectations. But it was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to what comes next from Klune.

Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 rounded down
All in all, I enjoyed this book. Nurse Ratched and Rambo were so funny and I loved the banter between them. I also loved the discussion on anxiety and mental illness throughout the book, specifically illustrated through Rambo’s character. I thought the story was enjoyable and put me in mind of a Disney cartoon (which makes sense as it is a rendition of Picnocchio). This being said, there were two things about the book I wasn’t wild about.
I felt the story took too long to actually get started. The whole first part of the book and basically setting up the story and it takes up the first 50% of the book. Though I loved the getting to know the characters, I was constantly wondering when the main plot line was going to start.
The second thing is that I felt Nurse Ratched was too forced. She put me in mind of Talia from House by the Cerulean sea, but he dialogue seemed more forced.
Truthfully, I think my major Hangup with this book is that I was constantly comparing it to House by the Cerulean Sea, which is my all-time favorite, and Klune was definitely not trying to make this story similar to Cerulean Sea. I would describe Cerulean Sea as being more cozy/slice of life whereas this book was darker with more adventure and a more complex plot.

This was my first TJ Klune. I thought it was great. The story had many elements from other stories going on. When I was reading the book I was thinking of the movie The Brave Little Toaster. There’s one part where Nurse Ratched reminds me of Elektra from Pose where she first meets Hap and they are trying to talk to him and keep him in line. The book is about friendship and family and the extent one goes to save them.

I would like to personally request compensation from Mr. TJ Klune for the damages he has done to my heart. Every time I read one of his adult novels I absolutely sob while smiling at the same time and feeling like I’m losing my mind and this was absolutely no exception.

In the Lives of Puppets is some of the most incredible fiction I’ve read probably ever. The way Klune tackles the inherent idea of what it means to be human is so beautiful and poetic and heartbreaking and loving and I’m crying again just thinking about it. The relationship between Victor and the family he’s surrounded himself while also being the only human in the mix that brings a purpose to these machines other than what they were created for is so good.

The humor is amazing too. So subtle but made me laugh out loud several times. The love throughout this novel is perfection. Familial and platonic and something akin to romance while navigating the world and protecting each other in the best sort of found family way makes me want to scream.

I 1000% recommend this book. If you buy anything this year, let it be this and be reminded of the joys and sorrows of what it means to be human especially in our present world where it’s so hard to remember. This book will absolutely be staying with me for a very long time.

One word describes this book, and that is phenomenal. It is deep and meaningful in so many ways that I can't even describe. It takes a look at the futility of man, but also its strengths in ways that make you stop and think. All of these characters are uniquely written that there leaves no room to doubt who is who, but overall I'm awestruck by just how well this is written. I'm so grateful that I was given the chance to read this as an ARC. Klune is a master storyteller, so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy when it comes out; you won't be disappointed.

I was so excited when NetGalley sent me an ARC of this book. I have enjoyed everything I have read by TJ Klune, and have been eager to read this.

I know I mention this in many of my reviews, but discussing this novel without giving away too much of the plot is a challenge. I don’t want to spoil it for y’all!

[Pausing to go read the official book description.]

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; They reveal almost everything in the blurb, which is why I usually avoid reading them. I guess that means I can continue without worrying about spoilers, as I won’t mention anything they haven’t already spoiled.

Our protagonist, Victor, lives in a world filled with robots. Some are humanoid, while others, like Rambo, are not—Rambo is obvi a modified Roomba. It’s very Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall•E. Pinocchio’s influence is also evident, especially given the epigraphs.

I absolutely love the world this story is set in—the freaky robots-rule-the-world-post-apocalypse future that we’ve all been afraid of since learning about Skynet from The Terminator. I wish there was more about how this world came to be and about the (other) robots and the City of Electric Dreams (which must be Las Vegas, right?).

Who would have imagined a sarcastic semi-psychotic nurse robot (Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate and Drill—Nurse Ratched for short) and a dim-witted but loyal and loving Roomba as the ultimate family and adventure companions? Each character has unique quirks and personalities, drawing us into their world.

As we delve into Victor’s life amid a world of robots, we’re forced to reconsider our understanding of what it means to be human and reflect on the potential for artificial intelligence to experience genuine emotions and self-awareness. Can a robot truly experience emotions? Possess free will and its own unique desires? What does having a heart mean for a machine?

In conclusion, the story masterfully balances this introspection with humor, adventure, and the occasional heartstring tug, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read. This novel is a must-read for fans of TJ Klune and anyone who enjoys a unique, thought-provoking, and entertaining story. And after finishing it, you’ll be crossing your fingers and hoping for more featuring these characters and their world, just like me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for sharing my opinions. All opinions in this review are my own.

After reading and loving The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I had really high hopes for this one. It started out strong and I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook because the narrator's voices for the robots were incredible. I was laughing out loud at times and I enjoyed the thoughtfulness that went into each character, especially Nurse Ratched and Rambo. The setting was described perfectly and once again, Klune had me wishing that the world he created was a real place.

When I was about a quarter of the way through though, I started to lose interest. I thought the sexual references were too frequent and felt a little weird since most of the comments were referring to robots. I was loving the characters and wanted to continue to love them, but some of their dialogue and banter became annoying after a while. This book wasn't for me, but I have seen some amazing reviews for it, so if you've loved Klune's books in the past, I wouldn't shy away from it without reading other reviews first.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Books and MacMillan Audio for sharing digital and audio copies with me!

An enormous thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and the amazing TJ Klune for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

This was such a wonderful story. I was sucked in from the beginning, though anything with robots has always fascinated me. I'm also a sucker for groups of misfits setting off on epic journeys against the odds, and this was such a great rendition of that.

The characters were fantastic- I loved Vic and his sheer determination to see the journey through to its end, no matter what that meant or how the odds were stacked against them. Gio was such a great character, I loved learning more about him as the story progressed and what happened to make him who he was. Nurse Rached was hilarious and added so much to the story, as did Rambo- that little vacuum was the greatest comedic relief possible, he reminded me so much of Wall-E and I loved him all the more for it.

I will forever read anything that Klune writes, it started with The House in the Cerulean Sea, and then I got to read Under the Whispering Door as an ARC, and I adored them both so much. This one was no different, it kept me reading from beginning to end, just wanting to know how it all played out in the end. I absolutely cannot wait for whatever story comes next. I loved the sci-fi spin on this Pinocchio retelling.

I cannot express how much I loved this book. TJ Klune combines fantasy and science fiction better than most and creates such a beautiful and heartfelt story. While drawing from Sci-Fi legends like Asimov and Dick, Klune takes his characters on a journey akin to that of Frank L. Baum's story through the land of Oz. Even though he takes inspiration from such legends of genre fiction Klune creates his own futuristic tale of robots and humanity.

I could not put this book down and I enjoyed every page of this often funny, other times heart wrenching, journey that Klune has so masterfully written

I received an advance digital copy in exchange for
an honest review. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher.

Gio is living a peaceful life in the forest when two people show up and fearfully beg him to protect their child until they return. This, we are told, is the beginning of the relationship between Gio and Victor Lawson, father and son.

As Victor grows, he, like his father, becomes a creator. From the scrap yards, he crafts Rambo, a vacuum with child-like innocence, and Nurse Ratched, whose name should tell you all you need to know - except she’s also a robot. When these three friends discover a discarded human-ish robot, we then meet Hap, the hysterically angry puppet.

Similar to Klune’s previous novels, the book focuses on the importance of family and relationships, the many different ways we find and express love, our human flaws, and the importance of hope. Did I adore it as much as Under the Whispering Door? No. But would I read it again? Yes. Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

Pub date: April 25, 2023.

Thanks to TJ Klune, Tor Books and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Another wonderful book by TJ Klune! Like his previous books, you can't help but fall in love with the main character and the friends and family they find along the way. In the Lives of Puppets is perfect for old fans and new fans of all ages.

Klune is a very successful American author of many novels including "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and "Under the Whispering Door". This new release is a listed as fantasy, but leans more towards the science fiction and is a very loose retelling of the story of Pinocchio. Set in the future, we meet three robots, Gio (an inventor), Nurse Ratched (a nurse android) and Rambo (a vacuum). We also meet Victor who is human. Their peaceful life is interrupted when Vic is out scavenging and rescues another robot he has named HAP and both HAP's and Gio's pasts are brought to light. When one of them is captured, a rescue mission ensues. This is a thought provoking, humorous adventure story that is also a cautionary tale about artificial intelligence. It is a wonderful recommendation for his already many fans, but also something to recommend to fans of books such as Matt Haig's "The Humans" or Martin L Shoemaker's "Today I Am Carey". I really enjoyed it.

As an avid reader of all things fantasy and speculative fiction, T. J. Klune has quickly become one of my favorite authors. In The Lives of Puppets is different from his previous novels. While it evokes the same sense of nostalgia and familiarity of his previous works, it is unique in that it is set in a world run by machines. Filled with unique characters and witty dialogue, I can see this book easily becoming a classic.

Victor Lawson is throughly lovable. He makes mistakes and doesn’t always know what his next move will be. He believes that everything deserves another chance and that you don’t always have to do what you’re programmed for. While the world building is perhaps not as strong as it could be, the depth of characters more than makes up for it.

A Pinocchio reimagining, In The Lives of Puppets reminds us that time is finite, we must live while we can, and above all else, be brave.

This is an outstanding story about love in all its forms and written with TJ Klunes gentle voice. The world building is outstanding and the heart and depth of the story is impressive. The story takes us on a quest to rescue Giovanni Lawson. Victor Lawson is the only human remaining in a world where the robots have taken over and eradicated humans. With the help of Ratched a sociopathic nurse, Rambo, a loving but anxious vacuum, and HAP, short for hysterically angry puppet. Victor embarks on his rescue mission to save his father. Along the way, as they travel to the City of Electric Dreams., the group experiences many obstacles. It is only with love, forgiveness, friendship, and family that they will reach their goal.

This is a must read. I would love to see this made into a movie as well. It has a wonderful message.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for the gifted copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the “it’s not you, it’s me” of book reviews. There is nothing bad to say about this book except that I haven’t been able to focus on it,

The section of this book that I have read so far is beautiful. It’s shaping up to be a classic TJ Klune exploration of love, family, and what it means to be alive. The writing is charming and world building is exquisite. However, I can’t get into the right headspace to really appreciate it so I’m setting it aside for now. I’ll finish it when I can give it the attention it deserves.

This was the first TJ Klune book I read after many recommendations from colleagues and I was blown away by the characters and their depth. The characters absolutely sold this book for me: Victor's anxieties and emotions, his worries and shaky bravery feel so real in contrast to the robotic society around him. This really emphasizes his humanity, like he is ultra human to make up for the fact that he's surrounded by androids. His relationship with Hap is complicated, leaving room for questions and uncertainties, but because of that I thought it did a good job of showing the intricacies of regular human relationships.

While I wish there was more complex world building to help us better understand this alternative society, I really enjoyed the growth through the story and felt really at home with the characters.

I'm in total awe of another TJ Klune masterpiece. TJ Klune is an auto-buy author for me because not only does he know how to craft a beautiful written piece of work, but he also knows how to tackle big personal issues. As an LGTBQI+ author, TJ wrote another story of past history that comes alive in today's presence with robots. Do these robots tackle the meaning of love with strings attached? OR do the robots leave it up for fate to decide? YOU must see this story for yourself!