In the Lives of Puppets was absolutely charming, a feature of TJ Klune's books that I love. Who knew you could feel cozy about robots? I also really liked the narrator of the audiobook, good pacing.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune. Pub Date: April 25, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. When I read this was a Pinocchio re-telling, I was excited because that is one of my favorite childhood stories. What I read was something completely unexpected and honestly a bit much for my taste. I appreciate exploring sci-fi concepts, but the sexual vulgarity within the novel was surprising and honestly a little off putting. I found this novel difficult to read and was honestly shocked because his other work is so highly praised. This was a miss for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #inthelivesofpuppets

DNF @ 40%.

I really loved Klune's "Under the Whispering Door", and I remember in that one that he had to start with an unappealing character and then win me over, so I gave this one a solid shot.

Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. There's a lot in here TO love -- it's a sci-fi post-apocalpytic robot uprising Pinocchio retelling with a heavy dose of MST3K style silly robot antics and a little bit of Frankenstein in there, and it's got some interesting things to say about what of yourself you put into creative work. It's got a big mix of a style sort of like a modern kids' cartoon with quippy comedy robots accompanying a serious teenage protagonist (I think? He acts like a child but he made a robotic heart 'when he was 15' so he's at least a couple of years older than that), plus a solid throughline of off the wall raunchy humour. These things are all present but just weren't working for me here in the proportions they were being delivered in. When I realized I wasn't invested in the journey they were going to go on or the central romance that was being set up, I decided to step back from this one.

I think someone who likes a quick push-pull between slapstick and tragic may like this one more than me!

Maybe my expectations were just too high after reading so many other of his books but this was a disappointment for me. I didn’t care for Vic at all. Rambo and Nurse Ratchet were funny though sometimes the Nurse’s humor was a little too on the nose. The romantic element was just eh for me and a little sappy. I also thought it was way too long…part 1 was boring..part 2 & 3 got better and part 4 was sappy and boring.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an e-galley of In the Lives of Puppets.

TJ Klune does it again. Still not sure how this person manages to find every heart string in my body and tear them to shreds, but they're three for three.

In a wonderful exploration of a world after humans, we meet Gio and Vic. They live in a remote area and are master tinkerers - there is not much they cannot create or fix. Vic knows that he is different from Gio, but doesn't understand the scope until they set off on a grand adventure. Full of laugh out loud moments, introspective chapters and a loveable cast, In the Lives of Puppets is a warm and fuzzy read from start to finish.

I have really loved some of Klune’s other work which is why I was surprised this one just didn’t resonate with me. I had a hard time finishing it.

HOW DID I FORGET TO GIVE FEEDBACK FOR THIS BOOK (jk I know how, I completely devoured it in a single afternoon the MINUTE it hit my inbox [literally, I took a "sick day" to read it, sorry, job], promised to send it around publication, and then life got busy and my mental health got bad but IM BACK, BABY).

Everything about this book is everything to me. The cozy world that Victor and Giovanni built for themselves (and Nurse Ratched--the funniest character in literary history, btw--and Rambo--the cutest roomba in literary history, btw) is so rich and clear. The world *outside* their woods is also extremely well-developed. I am not a "visual" reader, I don't typically picture things as I read. But I have full scenes, full places and moments, completely fleshed out in my head that I can recall even now, a year after I read it. It's such a wonderfully written world.

And the story! HAP and Victor and their little band of misfit toys (sorry, robots), and their sweet relationship, and the hero's journey... I really loved this one. At the time I read it, I liked it less than HITCS and UTWD, but now that I've sat with it for a bit, I think it's absolutely up there with those.

I really need to reread this, taking my time to really savor the world the way my brain wouldn't allow the first time, too desperate to keep going and see what would happen next.

5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I’ve had many issues with TJ Klune’s older work. After the success of House in the Cerulean Sea, I thought that maybe he’d come into his Renaissance period of books actually worth reading. But, alas, House in the Cerulean Sea was a fluke, because this book barely captures the magic and enjoyment of that previous one. Aside from the robot companions, I felt nothing for the main story or MC.

This is the only book I’ve read by this author (and I read it months ago so my memory is a bit foggy), but I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected as sci-fi/fantasy is not a genre I generally read. But this story, while a slight nod to Pinocchio, was so unique and different for me that I couldn’t help being captivated by the very quirky characters. Never imagined that a little neurotic roomba vacuum named Rambo would worm its way into my heart like he did! There was so much more heart and soul (and humour!) in this story than I ever would have expected from a sci-fi book. A very readable book about discovering who you truly are and what you’re made of.

Highly recommend this! It was so full of fun and whimsy and an enjoyable read all the way through.

Klune hits another home run with this one!

In the Lives of Puppets is described by the author as a queer retelling of Pinocchio, but I would add it also had hints of the Wizard of Oz, as well.

This story follows Gio and his ragtag team of droids, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and Hap as they travel far from their house in the trees to the city trying to save Gio’s father, Victor.

This story is in true TJ Klune fashion. Be prepared to laugh and cry a a lot through this beautiful story of family and love as Gio figures out who he really is and what love really means.

TJ Klune is a consistent writer of fantastical queer stories. I loved having the opportunity to read this one, and the way he crafts representation is heartwarming. Wonderfully done.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of in the lives of puppets. I've read TJ Klunes other titles and just wasn't impressed with this one. It was very slow and just didn't care for any of the characters. This was just a weird Pinocchio retelling.

TJ Klune is one of my most favorite authors, and this is another one that he has hit out of the park. Impeccable world building and character building. Klune makes you fall in love with each character as they are introduced and through the storytelling. I purchased the hard copy upon release, as I loved the story itself so very much.

We experience the journeys of Vic, whom we learn is a human inventor, Nurse Ratched, who is an overzealous medical machine, Rambo, a very, very hyperactive vacuum cleaner, and Hap, the newest member of the found family, as they join together and go in search of Gio, Vic's AI father, when he is taken by the Authority to the City of Electric Dreams. This found family shares so many experiences, all which allow them to grow and develop and make you, the reader, fall in love with them.

We see TJ Klune always building such beautiful worlds, and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, as well as the publisher, for the ability to review this beautiful read. I thoroughly loved this read, and would give it 11 stars if I could!

I am a huge fan of TJ Klune’s writing, and this book is no exception! However, other facets of the book weren’t quite as strong as his previous novels. Here are some of my thoughts:

What I loved:
• The characters. Without a doubt, this guy knows how to write characters. In every single book I’ve read, his characters are unique, funny, deep, 3D in quality, the list goes on. I would have to say that this book shines as an audiobook because the narrator does a great job of bringing the voices to life and I may have gotten a bit more bored had it not been for that.
• Setting a scene. Not only does his writing bring in characters to life, but the scenery and places that he paints with words are so lifelike, I can see them in my head. The way he infuses conversations with descriptions of actions, movement, etc. is brilliant.

What I didn’t love as much:
• the plot. The idea of this book was great, don’t get me wrong. Otherwise, I don’t think I could have finished it. But the pacing and the solution to some of the plot points left me feeling like it could have been better.

Overall, if you are a fan of TJ, Klune, you can’t miss this one! But there are others I would recommend to you before this.

TJ Klune has such a unique voice that draws me in to these gentle fantasy worlds. I was lulled into this story and fell in love with the characters, as I always do with Klune's work. His ability to build worlds and characters that feel like old friends is such a treat.

This book was so cute and fun to read. I listened to the audiobook and read along. I love Nurse Ratched and and Rambo! That cute little anxious robot had my heart. I've never read a Pinnochio retelling before and I really enjoyed it. I also am very much into vintage items and crafting so I loved those elements of this book as well. I gave it 4 stars as a rating overall. It was very heartwarming and cute

DNF at 40%. I just couldn’t get into this one. I almost DNF’d at 20%, kept going to give it a shot because I’m normally a huge fan of Klune’s. I just feel like it’s going to be a 3 star book and I don’t want to continue with a long book I’m not loving.

All of Klune's books have been very tenderhearted and lovable. They make you feel comforted and happy. This was no exception. I really liked it.