In the Lives of Puppets is a TJ Klune book through and through, It gave me the feels, although perhaps not as much as The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door. I enjoyed it lot. I appreciated the friendship between Vic and all of the robots. Lots of witty one liners that made me snicker. I got a little less interested in the middle portion but once the story started moving again, it really hit its stride. I feel like TJ Klune could re-write the phonebook and I would read it at this point. Definitely would recommend this one to his diehard fans as they will love it. Was it my favorite by him? No, but it doesn't mean he doesn't take us on a really wonderful ride with a great message of inclusion.

I never thought the words "I want to befriend Nurse Ratched" or "I would love to give Rambo a hug" would've invaded my mind before reading IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS. Yet here we are. These two robot characters steal the show in TJ Klune's latest novel, a retelling of PINOCCHIO by Carlo Collodi. Nurse Ratched and Rambo are hilarious, infinitely loyal and supportive to Vic (the sole human character in the book), and are the best ride-or-die bffs you'd want to follow on an adventure through this post-human, robot-dominated world. Do not expect this retelling Pinocchio to feel overly familiar; it is an extremely loose retelling. There is a Blue Fairy. There is a Whale. There is a Puppet. There is an inventor/creator named Giovanni. And there is a long, somewhat random journey Vic must take to meet the Blue Fairy to get his wish. This is where the similarities end.

I wish I could say that I loved this book. There are elements I enjoyed immensely--Ratched, Rambo, sweet Vic who is frequently embarrassed by his friends, and HAP, a robot discovering a new path which is very much against his initial programming. Oh, and there were many dick jokes that popped up (lol) frequently, much to my delight. Unfortunately, the story as a whole did not grab my heart as many of Klune's past books have done. There were too many happenstances in the narrative that completely stole Vic's agency. It was as if the events were happening *to* our hero, rather than him being the driving force of the story. In many cases, it felt as if he could be removed from the narrative and the story would progress just fine without him. It is too bad, as the last few chapters are beautifully written and emotional, so much so that I'd wished the bulk of the book and the journey we took to get to these deeply impactful, human moments had been a bit more earned.

Overall, I liked this book enough, but it is not a love-it-must-reread story. I would share this book with students as an example of an intriguing, loose retelling of a beloved classic children's story.

I ADORED In the Lives of Puppets and had a hard time hitting pause.

Three robots are living inside a tree: inventor father Giovanni, a spiteful nurse and a full hearted vacuum cleaner. Alongside them lives Victor, a human. Four things in a happy family.

Alas, Gio is stolen transported back to his homeland, Electric City. Together, the trio must go out and save Gio from an ugly fate. And figure out what love and friendship truly mean for themselves.

Daniel Henning brings T.J. Klune's latest novel to life. His little characteristics for each robots voice had me smiling and looking forward to each moment. The message at the end of the story hits him and makes you ponder on the little things. I definitely recommend this on audio!

Thank you Tor Books and MacMillan Audio for my alc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t tell you how much joy this book has brought me. I’m not typically a sci-Fi fan, but this story was pure perfection. It’s reminiscent of so many other classic fairytales and children’s stories. This tale, about a human man in a post-human world, is inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio. The compound where Vic lives with his family, is inspired by the setting of Swiss Family Robinson, a book Vic loved as a child.

The journey to the City of Electric Dreams reminded me of Dorothy’s pilgrimage to Oz. And the City itself felt a teeny bit 1984ish and (dare I say?) a smidge Vonnegutian. The Coachman reminded me of Ariel and Scuttle, pouring over artifacts from the human world. And naturally, there’s plenty of details that call to mind Disney’s Wall-E. The amazing thing is that all of these elements came across as fresh and inspired, not cloying and cutesy. Overall? Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me. Even at its saddest points, this book felt like a warm, toasty blanket.

I know there has been some controversy surrounding The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I certainly don’t seek to trivialize those very real issues. But regardless, it’s an indisputable fact that TJ Klune is a master of creating characters who will leave an indelible mark on your heart (I would die for Theodore and Lucy). ITLOP is no different. Between the laugh-out-loud dialogue to the heartwarming devotion these robots have for their human companion, he’s done it again. Rambo and Nurse Ratched will stay with me for years to come.

TJ Klune’s newest novel feels familiar in the best of ways. With roots tangled in the tale of Pinocchio, In the Lives of Puppets takes readers on a new and exciting adventure. The larger than life setting created both a sense of nostalgia reminding me of tales like The Iron Giant, and a true fear of a dystopian world I hope to never see.

A typical journey to gather supplies goes awry, starting a chain reaction that will send our beloved found family on a journey from which they will never be the same. In the Lives of Puppets sends us straight to the heart of humanity, tackling the very traits that make us who we are. But can our heroes find what is is they’re searching for, or will they fall to pieces along the way? This beautiful tale of self discovery and love for others is a beautiful reminder to embrace what makes us unique and to always leave the world a little better than you found it.

Okay, I am behind on TJ Klune books. I have heard so much praise for The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering door that I bought them super quick, but haven’t gotten to start them yet! That being said, I didn’t know what to expect diving into In the Lives of Puppets. I’m a romance and mystery/thriller girl usually.. so let me tell you, I was SO surprised when I started this and simply couldn’t put it down. It was that good. I loved loved loved the characters. I was laughing so much throughout while reading my husband was scowling, much like I imagine Hysterically Angry Puppet was in the book lol. Nurse Ratched was my favorite with her wittiness and quick comebacks. Rambo was the cutest little anxious thing (never thought I’d relate to a robot vacuum, but here we are). Giovanni was brilliant and I could feel the fatherly concern and love for Victor and the others while reading. Hap was charming. I loved seeing him slowly open up to his new found family. And Victor, I loved him the most. He was brave, intelligent, loving, bashful… just amazing. I loved how much finding his father meant to him and how he didn’t allow anything to stop him from doing just that. I loved the relationship he developed with Hap and was emotional as he tried to create a perfect heart to get him back. I don’t want to give too much away and I’ve already typed the longest review I think I have in my entire life. So I will just say, thank you TJ Klune, Tor Publishing, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review. It was fantastic.

TJ Klune did it again. Another 5 star, heartfelt, and moving novel. This one about robots and family. Rambo, an anxiety-riddled vacuum robot was my absolute favorite character, but I loved all of them. Nurse Ratched, Vic, Gio, and Hap all have my heart. Give me the next book!

Another great read from TJ Klune. I found the book to be well-written and engaging and enjoyed it immensely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TJ Klune is the master of cozy fantasy. The wasn’t as excellent as House in the Cerulean Sea but I still really enjoyed it. Pretty cute read and very enjoyable.

A wonderful story of friendship, forgiveness, trust, and staying true to yourself, once you think you've figured out whatever it is yourself may be.
My first Klune, and I will definitely be joining the throngs who have read "The House in the Cerulean Sea" (not that it hadn't been on my TBR anyway).
Starts out as a sort of Swiss Family Robinson, set in an elaborate tree house deep in the woods built by father Gio. Son Vic, and two mechanical companions - a refurbished health aid, and a similarly restored vacuum cleaner spend their days exploring the woods and scavenging the nearby scrapyard. Enter one HAP, short for Hysterically Angry Puppet (until his real name is exposed), and the past catches up with Gio, leading Vic on a journey to find his kidnapped father and himself in the process.
The interplay between nurse and vacuum are enough to make me love this book, and there is so much more. HAP enters the scene at the right time to catalyze some confusing and awkward growth in Vic.
There's also a dystopian robot city, genocide, heartbreak and family secrets so something for everyone. I am pretty sure this references Frankenstein, The Wizard of Oz, and a host of other seminal fantasy and sci-fi classics.
#netgalley provided me with a digital copy of this book and I am happy to provide an honest five-star rating.

So pure, so funny, and just so touching. This is like a mix of Pinocchio and The Brave Little Toaster, with a bit of The Wizard of Oz tossed in. I was a bit intimidated with a 15 hour audiobook, but it just flew by! Rambo had me laughing the whole time, easily my favorite character. We get this intricate society of machines, juxtaposed with their hidden family, and all of this adventure and chaos. It absolutely punched me in the feels though, so be ready with tissues for the ending.

Also we NEED to talk about what a phenomenal job Daniel Henning does. Each of the robots and characters had such distinctive voices and really brought character to the story. I tried switching back to the ebook so I could finish it faster, but it felt incomplete without him!

*Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Are androids, machines and puppets all bottled up into a whimsical, wholesome, magical book? Absolutely.

A queer retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio starring an inventor, an android, an anxiety-filled vacuum (whom I fell in love with), and the sociopathic nursing machine. Immerse yourself into this sci-fi world and embark on an adventure that will bring love, joy, and heartache.

TJ Klune has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and he successfully wowed me again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC. The book releases on April 25th.

Another extremely cute read. I know at this point TJ will write unique stories. The characters are solid gold.

Thank you to TJ Klune, Tor Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. In the Lives of Puppets.

This one was a tough one for me, I am a huge fan of House on the Cerulean Sea. In the Lives of Puppets sounded amazing after the description and honestly the prologue hooks you in. The problem was that after that it was very hard for to get into, it took me multiple times to open it back up. I think that there were some beautiful messages in the story, and that redeemed it a little. I think this is a story that people are going to love or not really like, and I do believe that this story will connect with other readers so please take reviews with the idea that there are many different types of readers.

When earth is populated by only robots and machines, what happens? This is a wonderful tale of discovery into what makes a human, human. Think Pinocchio and a desperate adventure to keep close those who mean the most to us. It has plenty of anxiety producing moments but, more importantly, lots of humor that keeps you smiling throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

First off thank you to Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the ARC of this book!! I received it for free in return for my honest feedback!

To say this book is incredible honestly doesn’t do it Justice. I need a movie adaptation of this book ASAP!! Nurse Ratched and Rambo are my favorite characters of course. Who doesn’t love a people pleasing, overly anxious vacuum and a pleasantly sadistic nursing robot?! There were so many times I caught myself laughing out loud with these two.

Once the group takes off to find Victors dad the story gets more tense, of course. I also appreciate the ending isn’t totally what I was expecting.

I would love a second book to this one just showing the daily lives of these 5, and all of their comedic interactions, because I would read that in a heartbeat.

Seriously, just go read it!!!

After reading the prologue, my first thought was how much I was going to love this book. I connected with In the Lives of Puppets that quickly. Unfortunately, after that, it took several random turns. Although I tried hard to love the robotic characters, I simply could not. Their quirkiness simply did not work for me. And overall, the plot is just too odd for my liking.

I absolutely LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea and liked Under the Whispering Door. I had high hopes for In the Lives of Puppets, but sadly it was a rare DNF for me.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of TJ Klune's newest book in exchange for my honest review.

While The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my absolute favorite books ever—this one by T.J. Klune just didn’t work for me.

This took me months to get through because I just wasn’t into it. I kept hoping if I tried again another week it might hit differently, but alas.

I DID love many of the themes and core messages in this story. I just wasn’t captivated by most of the actual story or storytelling. There was just too much talk about robots and repairing robots for me.

4.5 stars

Man, Klune writes stories with some incredible characters. In the Lives of Puppets features three robots: paternal inventor android, Giovanni Lawson, sadistic (yet charming) nurse machine Nurse Ratched, and the sweet, eager to please vacuum, Rambo. Together, they live hidden in the woods with a human, Vic. One day Vic salvages and repairs an android labelled "HAP," and he discovers the dark past between Hap and Gio, whose pasts were comprised of hunting humans. When Hap accidentally exposes his location, Gio is captured and returned to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. Together, Vic and his robot friends make the journey across the country in hopes of rescuing Gio before he is decommissioned or reprogrammed.

Thoughts: This was another winner from TJ Klune. The way he writes is full of banter and wit. As someone who does not always love humor in their books, I have to say that Klune really makes me laugh with some of the dialogue among his characters. Encompassed in this humorous and sometimes silly read, however, is a profound and important message about what it means to be human and a family. He achieves this with such finesse and in such a unique way. At times, the robot/tech language was a little above my head, but it did not taint my reading experience.

3.5 Stars!
This was such an interesting read. This was my first read of TJ Klune's works, and it definitely took me by surprise.

Giovanni Lawson, who is an inventor and not human, has built a home in the forest with his human son, Victor, and two machines Victor salvaged. We have Rambo, an anxiety riddled, "won't shut-up" vacuum, and Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill). She's very loyal to her friends, but is definitely a little sociopathic. One day when they are in the Scrap Yards, they discover a damaged android, who they name HAP. Little did they know that by rebuilding this robot and giving him a new power source, Victor will discover more about Gio's past and puts all of his family in danger.
When Gio gets taken, Victor and his friends must journey to the City of Electric Dreams to help rescue Gio and figure out what they are fighting for...and how many strings are attached.

Overall this book was enjoyable. The sassy interactions between HAP, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo were definitely the best parts. How can you not love Rambo??
I did feel like this book was a little bit long. In several places, the story dragged and felt like it came to a standstill and I was waiting for it to pick back up to continue the story. Some of the dialogue became redundant between some of the characters we met along the way, especially when the meaning behind the words could have been summed up in a few sentences instead of pages.
The questions about humanity and love and friendship that are apparent throughout this book, make you think about what we create and how we use our intellect, whether that be for good, or for selfish reasons. Very original and different, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, diverse representation, robots (obviously) and a bit of romance mixed in with a sci-fi fantasy adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and ToR Books for the ARC!