Ah this was enjoyable. Definite vibes of Pinocchio, but if you're going to name you're main character Victor and then have him making people (or machines in this case), I'm gonna be thinking along a Frankenstein vibe.

The reader learns very quickly that Victor is a human living in the forest and surrounded by machines that he has built over the years. He has no contact with other humans. And, from what we see, he doesn't seem upset by this. The combination of soft forest setting with human and machine relationships made me think of A Psalm for the Wild-Built, but then it went down a deeply different corridor.

I particularly liked the bits where the Pinocchio story was revisioned to fit into this world. The machine others ride around on is whale shaped and called the Terrible Dogfish. I would have laughed out loud there had it not been for the scariness of the moment for the characters.

Our rag tag bunch then go on a journey to see the Blue Fairy, also a robot in this futuristic world. We realise that as soon as they leave the forest.

Anything more than that, I feel, is going to be too big of a spoiler to include in here. This book was filled with T.J.'s usual charm and sweet characters meshed with intriguing plot. I'd definitely say this is unlike the other two fantasy novels he's recently released.

I've loved TJ Klune's THITCS and UTWD so I was so excited to read ITLOP. In perfect Klune fashion this story is heartfelt with a great father/son relationship dynamic. The quirky and cute side characters were stars. The anxiety riddled Rambo and sociopath Nurse Rarchet were great and unique. I loved the take on what makes us feel and love. The middle section of this story really dragged for me. I found my brain tuning out. I didn't feel a strong emotional connection to the main characters either. Pinocchio has never been a favorite story of mine and this didn't really change that. I ended up giving this 3.5 stars.

4.25 stars

If you're familiar with TJ Klune's work, you'll know he excels at creating a world with incredibly lovable characters in a story that will tug on your heartstrings until you finish the book and have gone through an entire box of tissues. While this book didn't garner many tears from me, it still had that quintessential Klune vibe that keeps me coming back to every new release.

In the forest, far away from anything else, we have the world's most unlikely family. There's Gio (an android inventor), Nurse Ratched (a sadistically humorous medical machine), Rambo (an anxiety ridden, lovable vacuum) and then Victor - our main character and the only human in the bunch. One day Victor salvages a decommissioned android from the Scrap Yards and returns home to try and revitalize him. This triggers a series of events that will have Victor and his family venturing out of their forest on maybe the world's most important rescue mission.

What makes this book is its characters and dialogue. I loved this group so much and the found family vibes are SO STRONG, which I think is exactly why I love reading Klune's books. If you're looking for a sci-fi adventure that reads like a love letter to what makes us human, you have to read In the Lives of Puppets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
1 like

Pinocchio meets the robot apocalypse but make it an MM romance

I loved everything about this. The characters were hilarious and deep despite being mostly robots. The concept was fresh, and the story was engaging.

Slower paced but only because I really wanted to immerse myself in the setting.

A cozy, whimsical quest adventure story with blood and violence.

Read this book if you want to go on an adventure with lovable characters.
Read this book if you want to laugh, but also have big feelings.
Read this book if you want to fill your friend/family chat with beautiful, funny and witty quotes.

This book introduces us to an unconventional family who live in treehouses deep in the forest. The father figure, Gio, is a high-tech android who has rebelled against his programing and left society to live deep in the woods. He is tasked with raising a human boy, Victor, who we meet at the age of 20. We're also introduced to Vic's two best friends, both robots who are fiercely protective (and unwittingly hilarious). Victor is in the process of fixing an android he discovered in a scrap yard when the father is taken by 'the authority'. Together, Vic, along with his three robot companions, journey against all odds to get Gio back.

If you loved TJ Klune's other books, this one takes his writing to the next level. You'll still get amazing character development and feel like a you're being hugged, but you'll also get bitten. The pacing is great, the adventure moves quickly and hits all the right beats. The writing is beautiful, clear and accessible. I can't stop recommending this to everyone I know. Next time I'm hiking deep in the forest I'll be looking for Vic and Hap.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

This book is best read deep in the forest, surrounded by butterflies.

I don't know how TJ Klune continues to do it, but his character work is supurb. He made me love and care for a group of misfit robots and their one human companion! This, like his other works, are just was cozy. There are stakes and hard hitting themes, but in the end, it feels like a warm hug of a book

TJ Klune’s #InTheLivesOfPuppets is a complete and utter delight. A masterpiece of imaginative fiction, this book beautifully blends together humor, heartbreak, and poignant story telling.

Klune’s writing style is both lyrical and down to earth with poetic descriptions right beside engaging dialogue full of energy and humor. He has an incredible gift for creating stories with fully realized characters who feel like real people with all the quirks and flaws that make them human.

“In The Lives of Puppets” touches on themes of identity, trauma, and family. It is a story about love, both the kind we find in others and the kind we find in ourselves. Even after over a year of anticipation for this book, it did not disappoint.

𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘎𝘪𝘰, 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺-𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩.

𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘝𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘈𝘗. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘈𝘗 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘰- 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘱.

REVIEW: In the Lives of Puppets ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5)

“Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that can change everything when you least expect it.” -TJ Klune

I fell in love with TJ Klune’s storytelling and characterization in The House In The Cerulean Sea which is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I then moved on to Under the Whispering Door which the character again drew me in. So I was so excited when I saw another title from TJ Klune, In the Lives of Puppets.

While normally I do not read much science fiction, In the Lives of Puppets grabbed me from the beginning. Klune again shines with his characters. Even though they were mainly robots, they all felt so human. Each character has their own strengths and flaws that you couldn’t help but love. Also the chemistry the characters had together was so enduring. It felt like a strong family full of love who would do anything for each other. The futuristic world was built up so well it almost became a character in itself.

The story reminded me of a few other classic tales (Pinocchio, Wizard of Oz), it still had its own take on the story. The only thing about the story that wasn’t as strong was the fact that there were some moments where the pacing felt slower. The story could have moved a bit more so that it didn’t feel so drawn out in some areas.

This book has been considered a queer adaptation of Pinocchio by many. While there is definitely representation (asexuality and what could be considered male to male relationship are present throughout) I do not see it as the main focus. Klune does an amazing job representing queerness in a very natural, sweet, beautiful, and unforced way. (doesn’t just put it in for the sake of it)

Overall I absolutely loved this book. While it did have some pacing issues at some parts, it made up for it with the amazing characters, world building, and feel good storyline. I will always read more TJ Klune books as they hold a special place in my heart.

TJ Klune’s writing is just magic! He’s back again with super lovable characters and a heartwarming story.

Victor is a human in a world that is overrun with robots. All he knows is his life in his forest with his father, Giovanni, his nurse bot and lovable vacuum cleaner. While scavenging the scrap yard, he makes a finding that changes the course of his life.

It’s giving Pinocchio, Wizard of Oz and a little but iRobot. There’s just the perfect amount of action, bad guys and humour. I don’t know who installed the humour chip on these robots, but I found them absolutely hilarious.

I would call this mid-stakes cozy fantasy/sci-fi. So if you’re looking for something cozy, you know TJ Klune is going to hook you up.

Classic Klune! I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hug every character, and I remain so grateful for my own "found family". TJ Klune continues to put out warm hugs of books and I am eternally grateful. Everyone, literally everyone, should read In the Lives of Puppets.

In The Lives of Puppets has quite a stronghold on my heart as much as Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door. The characters are enduring, the story is an adventure, and you are left with a heart full of joy and satisfaction.

This queer retelling of Pinocchio is mixed with essence of The Wizard of Oz, Frankenstein, and Wall-E. The main characters are all completely unique and lovable, although I have developed a soft spot for Rambo, an anxious robotic vacuum with a love for old romance movies. I can’t tell you how many times this book made me laugh out loud. Truly a treasure!

If you are a fan of Klune’s other popular titles, this one will be no exception. Well done, Klune. Well done!

It makes me so sad to say this didn't work for me. The author's 2 previous adult novels were such heart warming and wrenching joys that I could not wait to get my hands in this. To be fair, I am not a science fiction reader, and I didn't finish it. It was just a little too farm from reality for me and more dialogue than plot. Still love the author and would try again based on his author work for sure!

TJ Klune's words and stories are such a gift and In the Lives of Puppets is no exception. The story feels timely and human and somehow timeless as it grapples with questions of what it means to be human and feel and have a heart. I loved that the story never gets too lost or bogged down in these questions; it keeps its heart on its sleeve and the adventure is propelled with such care and so much love. I don't want to say too much because I thought that so much of the story was designed to delight in its surprise, but know that you'll be attached to every character and grab your tissues. The story subverts and builds on the Pinocchio tale in such an elegant and heartfelt way - you'll definitely want a few tissues at the ready! Read it and love it!

After loving The Cerulean Sea, I knew I had to read In The Lives Of Puppets! Overall, this was an entertaining unique read and I love how Klune can make a junk yard and puppets be something so complex. Klune has a way with words and a uniqueness in his writing tone that is unmatched.

Thank you @torbooks @macmillan.audio for a copy of this sweet story. It's a retelling of Pinocchio told in the form of Victor, the only human on earth who is raised by robots. The robots in this story are so fun and the sarcasms of Nurse Ratched was such a hoot. The narration was so amazing with the different voices for each character. With the increase usage of AI and machine learning, it scary that maybe one day robots will take over.

I have adored TJ Klune's books that I have read so far and while I did enjoy this one, it felt a little off his usual writing for me. The sexual tension between the main character and the robot didn't quite feel right at first, but I did love the humour that Rambo and Nurse Ratched bring!
I recommend this book, but I do urge everyone to read some of Klune's other works as well!

(Thanks to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.)

4 ⭐️

The first 30-40% moved a little slow for me, but after this we hit peak Klune adorableness and by the end I was so happy I went on this journey with our friends. This book had much more adult humor than the other two books by him I’ve read, which mixed with the eternally optimistic and adorable tone could rub some people the wrong way. But if you want to follow an asexual main character and his budding adorable relationship, and his adventure with his obsessive robot vacuum and sociopathic robot nurse…you’ll be in for a treat. While this is billed as a Pinocchio retelling, and there certainly are elements of that, it’s much more about humans and interactions with AI and what even makes someone human. Would highly recommend if you’re in need of an adorable wholesome adventure with some random raunchy jokes thrown in.

This story was a charming examination of humanity. It is a Pinnchio re-telling. I enjoyed the premise and the writing but didn’t always reach for this story over other options.

The last human on the planet is being raised by a robot with a motley crew of patched up decommissioned bots. When he tries to bring a new robot into the family everything goes horribly wrong and they must risk life and limb to rescue one of their own.

I absolutely LOVED this crazy cast of characters. The banter between Rambo and Nurse RATCHED made me cackle and the trio's relationship was so sweet and heart-warming. The pacing of this book was great, pitching questions and answering them in due time. This wasn't too complex of a storyline, but there were some "revealing" times that kept it interesting. This post-apocalyptic robot world was crafted well. The concept of robots coming into their own and being able to go against their programming was nice and gave the reader something to root for. This was such an enjoyable read!

Another amazing book from TJ! He’s an author that I will read every piece of work he releases. Such good characters, setting, and writing style. Can’t recommend this one enough!!!