This is a complicated novel to review. Because I loved Whispering Door and Cerulean Sea I had super high expectations for In the Lives of Puppets. I wanted the same kind of cosy, heartfelt vibe I found in Klune's previous adult books, and objectively, that is was Puppets delivers, but in a very different way that may resonate differently for some readers.

It has been marketed as a Pinocchio retelling, which I would say is true only in the loosest of senses. Rather, imagine Pinocchio (the only "real boy" here) venturing with an ensemble cast of robots to see the Wizard of Oz to rescue his robot father, where one of the robots in the party is also the Terminator. If that sounds strange that's because it is. As a result I found getting invested in the plot and suspending my disbelief in order to embrace this very post human sci-fi world was difficult. In addition, I found myself far more invested in the lovable side characters and their dynamic than I did with the main character, his relationship with his father and mysteries surrounding what happened in this world.

As a standalone novel it is an interesting exploration of what it means to be human, what our purpose in life is and what family means, but to be honest I have seen this done better in works like Becky Chamber's "Psalm for the Wild Built." Even so, it is enjoyable, humorous and will likely still bring a few tears before the end.

Wow! What a wonderful story of humanity, love, and the family we choose. Vic is the only human living with his robot father, Giovanni, who told Vic that he was given to him as a baby by parents who needed to keep him safe. At the age of 22 he is living in the forest in a "Swiss Family" like compound and working a a bit of an inventor like his Dad. They also live with Nurse Ratchet, a quick-witted robot nurse with sociopathic tendencies. And last but not least, Rambo, a robot vacuum whose mouth is always running.

One day, Vic, Nurse Ratchet and Rambo are at the landfill nearby when they discover another decommissioned robot that has some life left in him. They bring him back to Vic's home and patch him up. By giving him a new "heart" Vic is able to bring human qualities to Hap. This also starts a series of events that force the group to head out of the forest and have a dangerous adventure.

There is a lot of dialogue in this book and I love it. It is through the dialogue that these robots are given their personalities and humanity. TJ Klune has brought us characters who have more humanity than many people in other books. I can so clearly see the world he has created.

Sounds bizarre? I generally don't read sci-fi anymore, it was something I enjoyed in my youth, but I loved this world and these characters. Kudos to Klune!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you NetGalley! I thoroughly loved this book. I loved the characters, the humor, the writing and the premise. It was all done so very well and I wouldn't expect anything less from Klune. I cannot wait for this book to come out and more people can get their hands on it to read!

This story harkens its inspiration from Pinocchio but I immediately saw nods to the mother of science fiction and horror herself, Mary Shelley. While not necessarily a horror novel, I could see small influences of Frankenstein mixed with the much larger influences of Pinocchio as I read through the novel. It was fun to read through and guess at what other influences the author might be using as they wrote the book.

This is a book I got pulled into right from the beginning. I was lost in this new world that the author built and the story and world building was incredible. I immediately loved our little robot/android friends we went on this incredible adventure with who by the end of it even if they were androids were beautifully, full of flaws, wonderfully human.

I am still left with so many questions, and this would be a great book for a book club or other discussion forum. I am burning to talk to someone about this book because it has my mind whirling in a thousand different directions. Ethical questions, logistical questions, what happens to Victor questions. I also loved some of the different relationships and ways of navigating the world that were explored in this book. There were some that I would say aren’t really given a platform in mainstream literature and it was refreshing to see. Love was also an overarching theme, and even with the trials the characters went through it was really amazing to read a book that prioritized love. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I think other readers will as well.

Please be advised I received this advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thankyou Net Galley and Tor Publishing group for allowing me an early E-arc in exchange of an honest review!

I’m fairly new to T J Klune as I have only read the House in the Cerulean Sea. This book has made me feel the NEED to go and red all his other books as the whimsical writing really sucked me in. The characters really have stuck with me and I love them all and their found family dynamic. The story made me smile all the way through and tear up suddenly many times. I found it really easy to visualise everything which added to the escapism of the book. Pacing was really good for me and I didn’t really find myself getting bored at any part.

Such a wholesome book and I honestly loved it.

This was yet another adorable book by TJ Klune! I adored House in the Cerulean Sea like everyone else, and I was so moved by Under the Whispering Door. I think this was a book that really did well at setting itself apart from his two other very popular works. I liked the sci-fi route and I thought the world building and setting of this were so vivid, for me at least.

I thought the cast of characters was very eclectic and had Klune's signature corniness. His characters are often caricatures whose personalities are over the top and overdone, but it feels purposeful so I can't fault that too hard. However, I think it did become a bit much after a while to hear Nurse Ratched insist she was exasperated with the group and could easily annihilate them all. I think it was meant to be humorous but after it happened so many times, it felt like too much. Also, the interactions between Nurse Ratched and Rambo took up more time on the page than almost any of Victor's thoughts or actions. I felt a bit disconnected from Vic (likely in part due to this being written in 3rd person) and therefore had a hard time figuring him out. This also was probably the reason I found the groups almost obsessive one-sided devotion to Vic a bit much. They seemed to shower him with love and encouragement while he didn't really give a ton back. However, I think the lighthearted nature of the group's interactions and the intrigue of the journey masked these issues enough that I had a great time regardless.

The world building and atmosphere are where this book really shined for me. Despite many questions being left unanswered or unaddressed (How did Gio produce Vic from an unfertilized egg? What's happening around the world, in other countries? How far did the Authority's power stretch?) I think the world building was done as much as it needed to be. This was so reminiscent of the 2001 movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence, I was just waiting for a sex-bot that looked like Jude Law to pop out.

Despite the things I wish were different, I am a sucker for TJ Klune's books and I will continue to read anything he publishes.

Leave it to TJ Klune to make me fall in love with the strangest characters. This go around: a vacuum cleaner and a decommissioned Nurse robot. One gave me the heartwarming feeling that a small puppy would give me and the other has the weird humor that sparked occasional giggles out of me. Sometimes though, the crude jokes placed within the story made me cringe.

There were points in this book where the plot became rather dull and the paragraphs grew longer that I felt exhausted reading through the chapters, making me need a break by picking up another book. However, my attention was fully into this book at the climax of the story. The visuals in my head played out in similar fashion to the amounts of Pinocchio from what I could remember. This could work in some animation kind of adaptation and I would love to see it. I'm going to be on the hunt now for fan art from this story because I would love to see how others imagined the characters to look!

Overall, this unique story had its good moments. Did it grab me like House in the Cerulean Sea did? No. But I applaud the author for continuously creating unique fantasy stories with absolutely stunning cover art!

I really really wanted to like this book. I have read all of TJ Klune’s previous work and have loved them, but unfortunately this book was not one that I was able to get into. I got about 20% in, but I found myself not enjoying the story. The premise sounds spectacular, but I think it is a bit long winded and i found myself losing focus while hunting for any big plot points. I tried stopping and restarting this book This book 3 times to determine if maybe it was just the mood I was in, but each time I had the same result. I appreciate the kindness of NetGalley and TOR Publishing group of sharing this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

TJ Klune does found family so well, and In the Lives of Puppets is no exception. Vic's relationships with Gio, Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and HAP are heart-warming and endearing, while raising important questions about what it truly means to be human. If you are a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door, then you will love this one too.

Victor grows up in a dense Oregon forest with his loving father Giovanni and two sentient robot companions he has saved from the scrap heap. Nurse Ratched is delightfully murderous, and Rambo the Roomba is anxious and eager to please. They rescue and repair another robot one day and name him Hap, but Hap's adjustment to his new life is rocky and he seems to struggle with secrets despite his memory wipe. Their tranquil lives are upended when Gio is captured by the robots of the Authority, but Vic vows to liberate him from his imprisonment in the City of Electric Dreams. All of the characters wrestle with what it means to trust, love, and forgive as they partake on their epic quest for autonomy.

True to TJ Klune, the characters in this book are singularly lovable and the world itself is unique and quirky. Nurse Ratched and Rambo remind me immensely of Invader Zim and Gir, and I'm not sure I can give them a higher compliment! I love the inclusion of the "real world" in the form of Ory-Gone, Las Vegas, and what I can only assume is the Luxor hotel and casino. Such a great combination of fantasy and reality!

While The House in the Cerulean Sea holds a special place in my heart, this story is a lot of fun and definitely worth a read. I always enjoy Klune's specifically-inclusive themes, and this book touches on gender fluidity as well as the wide spectrum of sexuality (asexuality included). The dialogue is laugh-out-loud amusing, and the tender interactions between characters is heartwarming. Loved it!

Thank you to TJ Klune, Tor Publishing, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

Thank you so so so much to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of one of my most anticipated books of 2023, The Lives of Puppets!!!! As always Tj Klune has done wonders with his writing. The family and friendships and love forged throughout this book were wonderful. The dynamic between them all was perfect. Rambo and Nurse Ratched and Hap were perfect friends and more to Victor. I want a Rambo and Nurse Ratched for myself. The family between Gio and Victor was amazing even if one was machine and one was human and neither would fully understand the other. The journey in which they all went on together was heartbreaking, heartwarming and tear jerking all at the same time. The very end of the book is the best part. The way these relationships have to come back together after being broken to try and save them. The love and affection they all have for one another is what Tj Klune writes best. The hope in which he leaves his readers is great! My only complaint, if I can think of one, is that the chapters are long. It’s my own personal problem that I’m not a huge fan of long chapters. Otherwise there isn’t anything I’d change! Thank you again for this highly anticipated ARC! All the stars! Highly recommend! His will be a top book for nearly everyone this year! Thank you so much to NetGalley!

"In the Lives of Puppets" is a contemporary fiction novel that begins with Gio (Giovanni Lawson) who leaves the City of Electric Dreams and escapes to a . He cares for and raises a human boy, Victor, who is left in his care in infancy. The pair are accompanied by two other companions: Nurse Ratched (a sarcastic, sadistic nurse machine) and Rambo (a small, compasant vacuum cleaner). This family is hidden and safe, until one day, Victor, Rambo and Nurse Ratched visit a graveyard/scrapyard of robots and find a decommissioned android named Hap (Hysterically Angry Puppet). Victor learns of a dark connection between Giovanni and Hap and a secret mission to alert the robots about Giovanni's hiding place. Hap’s arrival jeopardizes the safety of their home and marks the beginning of the dangerous journey Victor, Nurse Ratched and Hap must take that determines their future.

Inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, this story takes the essence of that novel and creates one with a unique concept, well-developed characters, and emotional depth that ensnare readers. TJK's writing is riddled in wit, humour and heart, which has his story radiating in love and humanity. Its themes of family, freedom and identity, and its diverse, enrapturing characters have the power to warm the heart and fill the soul.

If you enjoy queer contemporary fiction with a touch of magical realism and a focus on character development, "In the Lives of Puppets" is definitely a book worth checking out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early for an honest review.

I’ve had this book pre-ordered for awhile and I look forward to re-reading the print copy when it’s delivered too.

I fell in love with these characters right away and found myself reading slower and slower to spend as much time as possible with them and savor the experience. They each had such unique personalities.

There’s not much to add to what everyone else has been saying about this book. So I’ll just say: If you loved his Under the Whispering Door and The House on the Cerulean Sea, you’ll want to get your hands on this one to read too.

2.5 stars

This is a witty retelling of Pinocchio, Wizard of Oz and Brave Little Toaster tied into one story. The humor in this book kept me entertained, but I could not stay engaged throughout the book. I think the book was too long so the pace was off.

I loved the sci-fi elements and the humor, but some of the other pieces felt forced to become something other than a work of fiction. One underlying element was should you play god and create robots with thoughts and feelings? Then there is also the part where a human was created artificially. I get why they are in the book, but I just wanted to read a story, not a political piece.

Then it was weird for Vic to fall in love with HAP. That was just kind of weird to add romance into this book. I understand that Vic is lonely being the only human, but it was just a little too odd and unnecessary.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

5 out of 5 stars! This book was so cozy and delightful! I really enjoyed the witty banter and dynamic between the characters. The book was paced wonderfully, I felt captivated the entire time. Anyone who enjoys a cozy sci-fi will love this book. The queer aspect made it even better! I found myself laughing multiple times and the book even tugged at my heart. Such a great story that I highly recommend!

I didn't know I needed a Pinocchio retelling until now! Such a beautiful take on a classic. I would absolutely watch this episode of Love, Death, and Robots. All that being said, it didn't quite have the depth of Cerulean Sea or Whispering Door. Fans of those stories won't be disappointed, but you also won't be curled up in a ball sobbing over your teacup. (Somehow I make that sound like a bad thing.)

I was soooooo happy when I got approved for this ARC. I have read both The House in the Cerulean Sea and House Under the Whispering Door and I have falling in love with TJ Klune. So when I found out he had a new book coming out I rushed to Netgalley to see if there was an ARC. I don't even need to know what his books are about anymore. He is an auto-buy and auto-read author.

This book was fun from start to finish. The world was fun, the characters were fun, the plot/story line was amazing. I haven't read a lot of Sci-fi books but if they are written like this then GIVE THEM TO ME!!!

You have a mix of characters and let me tell you I loved them all but Nurse Ratchet was my favorite. She is me. I am her! She made me laugh out loud, she gave me new material for when dealing with the public. And her relationship with the other characters was just great. I don't have a blood family, besides my kids, just a found family. So when I get an amazing found family story it just sits so well with me. Vic and Hap are so adorable, Gio makes me want to have him as my dad and Rambo, oh little Rambo! He would be the best little brother ever!

I also love the queer. All his books I've read so far have queer in them and its AMAZING. TJ Klune does an amazing job mixing in a queer story line with the rest of the book. It's there but not over powering.

I want more. I want more of these characters, more of this world, more of it ALL!!!

Oh, my heart! What a book! Klune is one of those authors who’s been on my TBR forever but haven’t gotten around too and I’m totally kicking myself for that now. Such a beautiful book about found family, friendship, and humanity. Pinocchio used to terrify me as a child (and this is coming from someone who has been watching horror movies since she was five) so I wasn’t sure if I would love this, but it was great. The inspiration was clear and I loved what Klune did with it, also mashing in a bit of The Wizard of Oz and Wall-E. The plot was amazing and it really captured so many elements I love.

If I had to mention one thing I would’ve liked better was better pacing. The first 30% or so had my full attention and the last 30% felt the same but the middle of the book was a bit slow. Which is unfortunate because the “journey” is usually one of my favorite parts of these types of books. It’s also surprising to me that I loved the side characters a lot more than the main character. Nurse Ratched might be my favorite literary character this year and Rambo is a national treasure. Hap was also a great character with fantastic development.

This book made me laugh (a lot), cry, and feel. So, mission accomplished! Highly recommend to fans that love fantasy and sci-fi.

4.5 ⭐️

TJ Klune is top 3 instant buy authors for me. I don’t even HAVE to look at the description of the book, which is what happened when I submitted a request to review this. I went in totally and completely blind and I was rewarded tenfold. Klune’s writing is magical and this story is so endearing. A queer retelling of Pinocchio, this is so full of humor, heart, and comfort you can’t help fall madly in love with every character. Victor’s life as the only human among robots sounds objectively lonely, but the robots are so charming and funny you forget their robots. Nurse Ratchet is probably my favorite character I’ve read in a long, long time. Klune if you’re reading this I need a whole saga with Nurse Ratchet at the forefront. Every character is given their moment to shine, which is what makes Klune one of the best authors in the game right now.

Another absolute masterpiece from Klune that shattered my heart in the best way.
A story of love, grief, unlikely pairings, and just the most wonderful magical robot family. A true love letter to humanity, this is one I will revisit many times.