What another wonderful story by T J Klune who knows not only how to write a story but captures the essence of a character. This was not only an updated telling of Pinocchio, but with a twist of the Wizard of Oz.

In the Lives of Puppets is now one of my all time favorite books. It was beautifully written. It was hilarious right from the get-go. The characters were immediately lovable. All the characters all had such different personalities but such a strong bond. Love knows no bounds in this book. This book made me giddy, it made me happy, made me laugh way more than any book I have read before, and it also made me sob my eyeballs out. This book is about found family, it’s about loyalty, love, and growth. It’s about learning to be who you are and who you want to be rather than what society tells you to be.

This is an utterly delightful if bittersweet twist on the Pinnochio story that completely captivated my heart. I loved the "found family" relationships between the various characters and the well-crafted, slowly building character development of Hap, as well as the less dramatic but no less important development of Vic, his friends, and his father. It was a lot of fun to identify the metaphors in this story that represented similar motifs in the Pinnochio story, but it was also clever to flip the script on the whole premise from the start. I highly recommend this story for its huge heart, its laugh-out-loud humor and its cleverness.

I read this book last year before it was released and hesitated on reviewing it. Unfortunately this book was not as enjoyable for me as previous of Klune's works, and I was torn on how to speak of it. For the most part, it was well-written and had an interesting plot, but I found myself not being able to get past certain aspects.

I think the reason I had a hard time getting into this book was because I didn't really care about the characters. The only character that I really cared about was Giovanni, who was largely absent (as they were trying to save him). The other characters either annoyed me or I didn't connect with them at all. It was hard for me to be invested in the story because of this.

One thing I did not expect in this book is that I found many of the crude jokes to be unnecessary, particularly since it was established that the main character was asexual. It felt to me as though the sexual jokes were poking fun at this instead of supporting it.

I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I was more familiar with the Pinocchio tale. There were many references that I didn't connect until afterwards when I did a deep dive into the original Pinocchio.

All-in-all, I don't necessarily think that this was a bad book, but that it wasn't what I expected. I wish I had connected with the characters more, but it was still a fun adventure and was a unique twist on a classic.

You are a dream. A hope. A remembrance of what we once were.

TJ just a special way of storytelling. I so enjoyed this book! It just pulled on my heart strings.

"In the Lives of Puppets" by T.J. Klune is a captivating and imaginative tale that blends humor with a touch of darkness, creating a unique reading experience. Set in a strange home nestled within the branches of trees, the story follows a family of robots and a human, Vic, who must embark on a perilous journey to rescue one of their own.

Klune's skillful use of humor shines throughout the narrative, eliciting laughter and amusement from readers. The characterization is particularly noteworthy, with each character distinct and memorable, adding depth to the story.

However, while the book offers an intriguing twist on the classic Pinocchio tale, it falls slightly short of Klune's other works. The storyline, though imaginative, may feel predictable at times, and the pacing can be slow.

Overall, "In the Lives of Puppets" is worth the read for its humor, creativity, and well-developed characters. While not reaching the heights of Klune's other novels, it still provides an enjoyable and entertaining journey for readers.

I was really hoping to like this as much as I saw everyone else. But being a like over 100 pages in and not caring for the MC is making reading this book a chore. It's sad to say that Rambo and Nurse Ratched have more personality to them then the human boy that brought them back to life. I will be looking for more books like this with a stronger MC in the future. I enjoyed the aspects of robots being friends with a human after something happened with the humans. But I am unsure if I will pick up anymore of this authors work after I read the other ARC I have of theirs.

A touchingly heartwarming tale of robots and humans--and never the twain shall meet--unless in Found Family. When I wasn't nearly constantly chortling over Nurse Ratched, I pondered my decades-old memory of I, Robot; for in the long-ago backstory of this novel, Robots turned Asimov's "First Law of Robotics" straight on its head. Never fear: there is Hope and there will be Happy, and Humans haven't been fully eradicated... yet.

I have been so impressed by TJ Klune's previous works; they truly transport the reader into a new world with complex and interesting characters. While TJ Klune does the same here, this one did not sing for me the way his previous works did. While his works are filled with complicated emotions I generally feel uplifted, however in this case I was left with just sadness. So while excellent, it didn't strike the same tone for me as some of his earlier works.

3.5 stars // Similar to my review of Under the Whispering Door, this book was LONG but good. I enjoyed the themes that were explored (love, family, technology, robots becoming sentient, a post-human Earth, etc.), but got a little caught up in how long the book was. I have to say, the robots were FUNNY. The dialogue was so good and I found myself smiling quite a bit.

TJ Klune never disappoints me! In the Lives of Puppets showcased his masterful writing brilliantly. The premise is true to TJ's writing with a young protagonist who is a little lost in the world, trying to come into his own. I truly believe these books can be read from the teenage years as it speaks to core issues facing a lot of our youth.

The characters can reach deep into your inner and squeeze every inch of your emotions!

Always a winner in my books!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an advance reader copy.

I've learned some things about the author and while I have enjoyed TJ Klune books in the past, I will be skipping this title. While I don't think genocide and indigenous schools played a part in this particular feel-good queer novel, I can't forget that the author has used such topics as content for profit in a way that does not accurately portray them as horrific and evil. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by Multi-Award-Winning and mega-talented author T.J. KLUNE is a thoroughly enjoyable tale about found family and the lengths we are willing to go to for those we love.

The characters each have very distinct characteristics and it is easy to Picture them in your minds-eye.

The world-building is fabulous and I would LOVE to see this book made into a movie. If this were to happen I believe it would be a tremendous success.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am rating it as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

TJ Klune is such a gem of an author. I am so grateful I came across his work. The first book I did was The extraordinaries and I loved it. Then Under the whispering door landed on my hands and I was blown away. This book made me think of Pinocchio and The wizard of Oz. The author has such a creative mind. The banter was adorable and made me smile. This was about family, community, humanity, love... so many things and very thought provoking. I enjoyed the journey of all this characters and would always be a huge fan.

As always from TJK - a little weird and a lot lovely. Really enjoyed the oz vibes and this just cemented TJ Klune as an auto read author for me

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune is a good fit for those seeking a heartwarming and adventurous story featuring found family, self-discovery, and the complexities of AI. This one has a touch of emotional depth and LGBTQ+ themes as well. Ultimately, I thought this one was sweet and tenderhearted and I would recommend it for those who need a book that feels like a warm hug.

I am a big TJ Klune fan and have enjoyed many other of his works. This story was a unique blend of whimsy and suspense, creating a quirky family dynamic in a world of robots. The narrative takes many turns with a major plot twist that sparked many emotions. While the premise is an inventive spin on the classic Pinocchio, the overall story pacing was uneven and sometimes slow.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book just was not for me. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the characters or plot of this one.

I read and listened to this book. I love all things TJ Klune and haven't read a book by them that I haven't absolutely devoured and adored.
Vic and his robot crew are a true riot and although the story didn't always follow along with the original Pinocchio story, I could definitely see the parallels between them. In some ways, this was better.

Unfortunately this book turned out not to be a good fit for me. While I enjoyed Klune’s YA books & his Green Creek series, his other adult books just aren’t clicking with me.

His protagonist and the overall idea are interesting, and the two robots the protag hangs out with are hilarious. However, there’s something about the book that keeps falling flat with me.