4.5⭐️

This was so magical, funny, heart warming and gave me invisible hugs. I loved this comical cast of characters, some machines some human and human-like, how they all came together and made a family. This story is incredibly unique and imaginative. I was immersed in the world of the “puppets” and was laughing out loud especially at Nurse Rachted. I loved how the characters love for each other knew no bounds, and despite their inner workings, braved the new world together. It was a little long and drawn out in a few parts, but overall I loved it so much!

This is super nice story of a family made from missing parts. Beautiful characters, mind bending intelligent world. TJ Klune has done it again. It's a quirky story about the family you choose. I think in this day and age that is a very important story to tell and to read! Thank you for tge advance reader copy. It was awesome.

I received an advance reader's copy of this book from the publisher.

This was the second book I have read by this author, and I looked forward to immersing myself in this new world the author created. I felt like I was along for the ride on an epic journey that reminded me at times of the Wizard of Oz, with a ragtag band of characters that you just can't help falling in love with. My favorite characters were Rambo and Nurse Ratched, and I found myself laughing many times due to their unique personalities. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "He believed that happiness comes not from bodily pleasures or wealth or power, but from living a life that's right for your soul". While reading this book I found myself telling friends how much I was enjoying reading it, and every time mentioning Rambo and Nurse Ratched. This book is an example of a dystopian read that's perfect for me, with a storyline full of survival, hope, and found family.

Victor Lawson is Giovanni's son. They live together in the forest with two other robots they've found and repaired. Things are simple, or as simple as they can be. Until Victor comes across another android and rescues it. What starts as hopeful companionship transforms into adventure, sorrow, rescue, and growth. Victor Lawson is only human, but that certainly won't stop him.

TJ Klune, if you could stop ripping my heart of out my chest, that would be ideal. Or rather, not ideal. Klune's books have always been spectacular but I found this the most endearing of them all. The reverse Pinocchio tale was a delight, switched around for a single boy and a world full of robots and androids, rebellion and delight. I liked how well Klune kept to the original tale, but in a world that allowed for a lot more humanity despite the circuits.

As always, the romance was perfect. It is full of growth and self realization and wonder. It captures the heart of love, this one in particular. The found family (literally) was strong and loyal. The pacing felt much slower, despite it happening very quickly throughout the book. Overall, I loved it and I'll be rereading it again soon.

After reading the synopsis for this book, I thought it’d maybe be a little more sci-fi/different than my usual reading comfort zone, but it absolutely was not. I love love LOVED this! This story was fantastic and truly had it all: tender moments that made me tear up, moments where I laughed out loud, and moments where I was on the edge of my seat. Even though it’s a longer book, it never felt like there was extra or unnecessary content, and I honestly could not put it down. Vic is such a wonderful MC, and his chemistry with the supporting characters is unmatched, natural, and fun to read. It also feels incorrect to call them “supporting characters”, since they play such a big part throughout the book. Overall this was an interesting, well-written, and surprisingly touching story that left me feeling happy. What more could you ask for?

2.5 stars. I really wanted to love Klune's newest novel, a robot-populated retelling of "Pinocchio", but this one really fell flat for me. Everything just felt a little forced, from the storyline, to the aggressively whacky sidekicks, to the romance completely devoid of chemistry. Klune writes unabashedly sentimental stories, and some of them have really worked for me, but this one never found its footing. It's a fairly faithful retelling, until it isn't, and I think it would have been a lot more enjoyable 1. without the romance and 2. with slightly toned-down side characters, who would have benefited from a deeper layer of personality and less attempt to always be saying and doing "funny" things. Despite all that, the story does fly by and so far I appear to be in the minority with my feelings about the book, so give it a try if you've enjoyed Klune's previous works. I will still be reading any future novels he writes. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a digital review copy.

I hate to DNF an ARC, and I’ve never done it before, but this book was becoming such a chore I had to put it down at 28%. Life is too short!

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea because it felt fresh and different than anything I’d ever read, and it felt like Klune’s writing was the warm hug we didn’t deserve but all needed in 2020. But then Under the Whispering Door was a flop for me - it felt like a rehashing of Cerulean Sea and didn’t land. When I heard about In the Lives of Puppets, it sounded so different I decided to request it and give Klune one more shot.

On one hand, it is really different story than his other two most popular books, and the characters felt new and distinct, especially the robot side characters with very memorable personalities. However, I’m starting to realize Klune does have a formula that just doesn’t work for me: a curmudgeon + a found family who thaws the curmudgeon’s heart and teaches him how to love and be part of a family (I didn’t finish this, but I assume that’s where it’s going). For me, the writing is just too cheesy, too earnest, too saccharine to handle. I want to love it, I want to find the characters funny and lovable, but it’s just not what my cold, cynical heart wants to read. Plus, I am not usually bothered by this, but the discussion of sex and penises and masturbation in just the first 28% were too much and felt cringy. I have finally accepted that TJ Klune is not for me anymore.

That said, if you liked both Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door, I think you will love this one. All the elements that didn’t work for me will be perfect for other readers, and I’m excited for this book to make its way out into the world and find them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a wonderful book filled with both whimsey and heartache. As a teacher I don't think I could incorporate this into my curriculum however, I will definitely be adding this to my class bookshelf.

While you can see the influence of Pinocchio on the story it never feels like a direct adaptation more so it feels as if though the spirit of the story is always there.

As with all of TJ Klune's book the writing is wonderful and the characters are all fleshed out and sympathetic. I will say that "Under the Whispering Door" is still my favorite but that is more of a preference than anything. I think my students will love Gio and the humor that a killer robot brings.

However, the complex relationship between Hap and Vic is what really drew me in and kept me reading. I learned to car deeply about these two characters. I often found myself smiling while reading this book but more than once I had a few tears in my eyes.

TJ Klune has another hit on his hands and I cannot wait to see what other readers have to say about this book.

“His chest ached once more, but it was for entirely different reasons. Giovanni didn’t need to calculate what he felt now. He knew what it was.
It was love.”

This book. THIS FREAKING BOOK. Look, I’m a TJ Klune fan. House on the Cerulean Sea made me laugh, Under the Whispering Door made me cry, and yet somehow this one made me laugh and cry in unison, like little cogs in a machine clinking together.

I’ve been processing this book since I finished it a few days ago, and it’s safe to say I haven’t stopped thinking about it. a beautiful and touching tale about love and humanity and family that hits all the heartstrings. I fell in love with Victor and his little family (especially Rambo, who holds a special place in my heart) and I never wanted to leave them. I found myself putting off reading because every page read was one page closer to the end. It’s safe to say I loved this book with my whole heart. Even if my heart was mechanical, it would still be true.

This book takes you along the journey of an alternate reality. It seems a little slow to start, but the character and their complexities are more than worth picking up this book to read. It’s a charming book that encourages you to consider what you have, what you want, and what it is that you decide you need. Things definitely aren’t always what you thought they were or what they seem, but you get to decide their worth and importance to you. Whether you are human, robot, or something else, you make the choice… are you going to accept the love that is offered you, even if it isn’t just what you remembered or hoped for?

Book Review
In the Lives of Puppets by TJKlune

Tropes
Dystopian
Robots vs humans
Biological creation vs innovation and technology
Pinocchio retelling
Found family
LGBTQIAP+ relationships

Characters
Hap (Pinocchio)
Gio (Gepetto)
Rambo (Roomba)
Victor
Nurse Ratched
Blue Fairy

Thoughts
Klune consistently explores the idea of home and humanity, this features in each of his books (Under the Whispering Door, House on the Cerulean Sea). Every character (MC and secondaries) have a connection to their house/home. A place of belonging. A place to be themselves. A place to surround yourself with Love and acceptance. A connection, To yourself, To each other
He also delves into the existential question of life…. Why are we here? To what end? What makes us human? What is a soul?
These complex philosophical questions are deeply embedded in this book. Gio, Victor, Hap, The Coachman, the Blue Fairy- all of them have a different perspective but a shared need to understand. To connect. To know.

Full of questions and no easy answers this book will incite great discussion and debate amongst its readers. Perfect for school reading and book clubs.

Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for my digital ARC in return fir an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

f you approach this book as a light-hearted retelling of Pinocchio featuring robots, including an anxious talking Roomba, you won't be disappointed.

In the Lives of Puppets is full of the same whimsical setting, endearing characters and uplifting messages that made me fall in love with Klune's stories in the first place.

Unfortunately, this one's messages didn't resonate with me quite as deeply as those in his other novels. However, I still adored it for what it was. In fact, this one has my absolute favorite cast of characters out of all of his books. I mean you have Rambo, an anxiety ridden, naïve and absolutely hilarious vacuum cleaner, Nurse Ratched a blunt and emotionally unaware medical robot, and Hap, who was programmed to hunt and kill humans but now only wants to belong. Their dynamics were absolutely hilarious and I adored every interaction between the three of them, Vic and Gio.

In the Lives of Puppets is a must-read for fans of whimsical SFF stories with messages meant to sooth the soul.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

"I don't know how not to be weird. That's like asking the birds to stop flying."

A story with characters as charming as The House in the Cerulean Sea! Each of the robots in this Pinocchio inspired tale have their own unique adorable quirks that you'll find yourself falling in love with each of them. There was just something so relaxing and cozy about this story. While cozy, it still brought some profound moments surrounded in innocence.

"Forgiving others could be difficult, but forgiving yourself can sometimes feel impossible."

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC.

I haven't read a book that made me feel like this in a very long time. In the Lives of Puppets is a gorgeously written, haunting, devastating, beautiful story that forces you to confront what it means to be human in a world where machines have become the dominant species.
Victor, a human that lives in a pacific northwest forest tree house with his android father Giovanni (Gio), his anxious robot vacuum Rambo, and Nurse Ratched - a nursing robot with a sense of humor that left me cackling, lives an isolated, simple life where he is free to explore and invent free from any outside influence. Victor's exploration of the Scrap Yards is what led him to find and repair Rambo and Nurse Ratched, but his final find from the Scrap Yards is what turns his life upside down and sends him on the adventure of a lifetime. Victor finds and repairs Hap, or as he is affectionately known by Rambo and Nurse Ratched Hysterically Angry Puppet, a decommissioned android with no memory of who he is or where he comes from. Using a combination of spare parts, wood, and a mechanical heart enhanced by Victor's blood, Hap comes back to life and through Hap we confront what it means to make choices for our future despite what we have in our past and the simple, but powerful effect free will can have on a life.
The choices that Victor, Hap, Giovanni, Rambo, and Nurse Ratched make to change and break the world they live in after The Authority comes calling in their slice of the world is an exploration of emotion and choice and how they shape who we are. T.J. Klune mixes humor and romance with adventure, soul searching, and reflection in a masterful way that both left me wholly satisfied, but also shattered in the end.

I was Wowed right from the beginning!
The affection you can develop for characters crafted with imagination, ink, and paper is astounding. This book left me with a sentimental book hangover. I am unbelievably grateful to have read this ARC.

Summary: Vic and his robot friends find an android in a scrap yard, bring it home, and repair it. Thus putting this story into action. Vic discovers that the android, Hap, and his father have a dark past. I don't want to give too much away but Vic and his friends go on an adventure to save his father in the City of Electric Dreams. The emotions, the new found feelings, self discovery, and the character attachments bloom in such a profound way.

This story comes to life, with a pulse that makes your heart beat in sync.

The decadence of detail in this fantasy novel makes you sigh with satisfaction. This immersive world had me thinking of Swiss Family Robinson if it had robots.
The tree house would give Walt Disney a run for his money. I re-read some of the story just to relive the treehouse description.

The friendship between flesh and blood and metal robots becomes so comfortable in an inspiring in a way. The interactions were fun, heartwarming, and simply priceless. The "Found Family" trope was beautifully crafted.


The humor was a hit after hit of laughs. I haven't laughed this much while reading a book in so long. The anxiety ridden vacuum named Rambo. What a character!You can't help but love him.

This is a book that gracefully entered into my head and heart leaving its footprints for years to come. A definite Adventure that I will read again.

I love me a book with a quirky, friendly robot and In The Lives of Puppets delivers an entire found family of them (plus one human)! I really enjoyed this book! The world building is amazing, I saw everything vividly in my mind like I was watching a movie. And that rarely happens for me when I read. I also really loved how unique each of the characters was. I have to say, Nurse Ratched, a sociopathic nursing robot, was my favorite. She had me cracking up and eagerly awaiting whatever she was about to say whenever I saw the words “initiating empathy mode.”

In The Lives Of Puppets has the characters on a dangerous Wizard of Oz style quest. It’s ultimately about love, loyalty, friendship, one’s purpose, and the power to choose your future.

A cozy scifi that is heartfelt and humorous, I definitely recommend you read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Lives of Puppets will be out 4/25.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

I received an electronic ARC from Tor Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Though this book is set in a world of androids and robots, Klune continues to make readers think about being human. What is free will? What makes us feeling beings? We meet a father (Giovanni) and son (Victor) along with two robot friends who live alone in the woods. Both are inventors and have created an entire life for themselves. One day, Victor brings home another android and sets in motion several near catastrophic events. His father is taken by the authorities, and Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo and their newest friend, Hap set off to find him. Much of the book is the story of this journey and how it molds and changes them all. Klune does offer a peaceful ending though not a happily ever after one.
I appreciate this author challenging readers to think about government, community and interactions with others. How much life has stayed the same even though androids run the world. We still find echoes of Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World along with more modern offerings. Utopia always has a hidden side and a cost to be paid.

There is no denying this is strange book - I expect it won’t be for everyone - but I think I am exactly the kind of weirdo it was written for and if you have cried over a space rover, you might be too.

I wouldn’t call it spicy - there’s discussions of Things but the ace MC doesn’t want to mess with all that - but I wouldn’t call it “clean” either. It is, sometimes hilariously, blunt and irreverent.
The banter between the characters is top notch, probably my favorite thing in the book. I about lost it each time Nurse Ratched switched Empathy Protocol on and off.

Situations swing from funny to devastating and back again on a whim, expected for a Klune book. I did make it remarkable far for one without crying though. That said, he did get me at 90% in, damnit. My heart was full of sad garbage.

I don’t always want them, but I feel like this book needed an epilogue. It does have a solid ending, but personally I would have appreciated additional closure to wrap it up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC!

Thanks to Tor for the free copy.
TJ Klune's books are always some of my most anticipated of the year, and this one did not disappoint. I'll preface this with I haven't seen/read any of the comps, so I went in with no expectations and I was blown away. This story is so unique in plot, setting, and character, yet, I was fully invested from beginning to end. Nurse Ratched was my favorite. But I love how Klune is able to create such distinct characters that leave me feeling warm and fuzzy and also laughing. I can't wait to get a copy of this for my shelves, and I hope it is beloved by lots of readers.