Thank you to Netgalley, TOR Books, and TJ Klune for the opportunity of reading this lovely book for an unbiased review.

What can I possibly say to do this incredible read justice. TJ Klune knocked it out the park again with this heartwarming story. When Vic stumbles on a discarded android, he brings it back to life with love and wonder. When Vic's father Gio gets taken back to the city, Vic and his wonderful companions embark on a journey to save Gio. This book is full of quirky characters that really bring this book to life, and touches on subjects of loyalty and love

This one was so good and strange it's hard for me to review. It's coined as a "modern telling of Pinocchio" and has a starring cast of characters, including a neurotic Roomba and a sociopathic robot nurse. I can say that the supporting characters were the best part of the story. In the end, it was a heart-warming tale of humanity, what it means to have a family, and hope for the future. Highly recommended.

Witty dialogue, complex characters with hidden depths, and a way of describing things that is altogether innovative and intriguing. If you are a TJ Kline fan, you will not be disappointed.

I admit, I read the synopsis and was not totally interested. Robots? What does the title even mean? (That cover though, in typical fashion, is gorgeous!) Once again, I was delighted and enthralled with the story of Victor and Gio. I adored Nurse Ratched and Rambo as well. The character development is rich and fun, and is revealed through the dialogue in the book.

We follow the story of Victor, a boy among robots, living in a treehouse in the wilderness, with his father Giovanni. All his life, he has been a creator, inventor, innovator, like his father. He has never seen another human, never known anyone but the four of them that live in the treehouse.

One day they find a robot in the scrap yards and bring him back to life. Unknowingly, they have unlocked a dark past between this new robot, HAP, and Gio. When Gio is taken, they all must journey to save him.

A book about love, connection, and the power of memory.

I have to steal what my friend Shelf Blame said to describe In the Lives of Puppets (ITLOP)- it’s Swiss Family Robinson, Wall-E, Pinnochio, and The Wizard of Oz all combined into one book. It’s very sweet and heartwarming, while also being heartbreaking, as you can expect from a book about family, love, and friendship. More generally, ITLOP is about what it means to be human.

It took me a while to get into the book. Once the friends were on their Wizard-of-Oz-style adventure to find Gio, however, I was hooked. I think the adventures and characters present in the book, along with the general vibe, would be perfect for a Studio Ghibli movie. If you like Studio Ghibli, I would definitely recommend this to you.

The book has adorable gay representation.

Nobody is more disappointed by this rating than me!!

I didn't dislike this story - I'm glad I read it - but overall the story just fell a little bit flat for me. I don't mind a book with a lot of science, and I don't mind a book with vague sciency handwaving, and this somehow did both and failed at both of them.

A few emotional notes hit slightly, but I didn't cry or really feel that affected.

I will say this gives Wall-e vibes but I sob when I think about Wall-e.

In this heartwarming Pinocchio retelling Victor Lawson, an inventor, lives in the middle of the forest with his father. When he's not inventing he's in the scrap yard with his 2 robo besties, Nurse Ratched and Rambo.

Vic stumbles across something that will completely change the course of his life and the lives of those around him.

The best way to describe this book is Pinocchio and the movie Robots had a baby. It was absolutely fantastic!

I was really excited to receive this ARC through NetGalley. TJ Klune wrote ᵀᴴᴱ ᴴᴼᵁˢᴱ ᴵᴺ ᵀᴴᴱ ᶜᴱᴿᵁᴸᴱᴬᴺ ˢᴱᴬ which is one of my all time favorite books, and I book I think literally anyone would enjoy if they opened their heart and their mind up to it. Klune also wrote ᑌᑎᗪeᖇ tᕼe ᗯᕼiᔕᑭeᖇiᑎg ᗪooᖇ which I also found myself in love with. So to be approved for Ｉｎ Ｔｈｅ Ｌｉｖｅｓ ｏｆ Ｐｕｐｐｅｔｓ was a very big deal to me. I had already preordered it from Waterstones (have you seen their hardcover? It’s gorgeous!) but I get to read it early? HELL YES!

The Review:
It’s lovely. It’s heartbreaking. It’s delightfully heartwarming. It’s the Brave Little Toaster (with a touch of Iron Giant) meets Swiss Family Robinson meets The Wizard of Oz. It’s written in a way that feels fresh and new with nods to things old, that makes you question A LOT. Not only about humanity as a whole, but what it means to be who you are, and if you can ever truly change who you once were.
I loved the story, the thought and care you can tell were put into it, and the characters. Nurse Ratched (a sociopathic nurse machine) and Rambo (a roomba with arms and a severe case of anxiety) were two personal favorites of mine. If you’re looking for something different to pick up and read, this is it. You won’t regret it.

This is the story of Victor Lawson, a human son to an android named Giovanni Lawson who is an inventor. They have a small, quaint family consisting of a neurotic vacuum robot (Rambo) and a sociopathic nurse bot (Nurse Ratched). Victor, Rambo, and Nurse Ratched come across another android in the scrap yard (Hysterically Angry Puppet or Hap) and bring him back to life. Hap and Giovanni have quite the history together, but Hap cannot remember and Giovanni does not tell Victor. Giovanni is taken by the Authority to the City of Electric Dreams he had escaped years ago, and Victor and his robot friends travel to the city to bring him home against all odds.

This was one of the most heartwarming stories I have ever read, and the fact that there is only one human in the whole thing makes it that much better. It has strong themes of choice and consciousness, emotions, forgiveness, and love. Ironically, emotions are one of the most unhelpful things to a robot but also one of the things that truly makes an existence worth living (as the characters begin to experience as the book pans out). There’s lots of LGBTQ+ representation as usual in the work with TJ Klune which is always appreciated!

I only gave it a 4 out of 5 stars because I thought some parts were a little rushed and I would’ve liked more detail. Overall a fantastic book and one I will definitely read again.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Publishing Group for my advanced digital reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

As much as I enjoyed the characters, their relationships, and the world of In The Lives Of Puppets, I had to put it down at 60%. The story dragged and the pacing was off. Some parts would go so quickly, and other parts just seemed to go on forever. The dialogue was unlikeable and even annoying at parts, quirks of speech for the characters aside.

I was really looking forward to reading this one since I've heard such good things about Klune, but I was reading myself into a slump the more I forced myself to read.

If you’re familiar with TJ Klune, then you know to expect a heartwarming, sometimes bittersweet, emotional queer love story. In the Lives of Puppets is no exception, except the love interest is an android and the story is loosely based on Pinocchio (more of a nod to its origins than an actual retelling). On a personal level, this story wasn’t for me - I have a visceral dislike of Pinocchio and struggle with human/android love stories, but if you’re fine with those aspects, you’re in for a treat. And either way, Nurse Ratched and Rambo are maybe the two funniest robots in recent fiction.

I’ll be honest, I really really tried to love this one but I think it was a miss for me. Every page I read was work, and after a few too many attempts at getting into this one I ended up DNF-ing this one at 57%. Life is too short to read books that don’t bring you joy. With that said, I do think TJ Klune got really close to a hit with this novel and if you’re a fan of his or maybe just really like Pinocchio or that Haley Joel Osment movie from the early 2000’s about a little robot boy/artificial intelligence this will probably be for you.

As always thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read cool things before they get published. It’s an honor and a pleasure most of the time!

Although I love the charming style Klune seems to have in all of his novels, I struggled with the narrative of this one. It took me much longer to read than normal, however I did find the characters lovable and funny.

When I tell you I squealed when I saw I was approved for an ARC of this book! I'd been eagerly awaiting its publication since 2021, when I first discovered TJ Klune and I read the description of In the Lives of Puppets, a queer Pinocchio retelling featuring robots. SIGN ME UP.

Now, is Pinocchio one of my least favourite Disney movies? Yes. I have probably blocked most of it at this point, all I know is that it always filled me with anxiety. This book did the opposite of that. I laughed, I cried, but above all, it filled me with hope and a renewed sense of faith in humanity, as all good science fiction books usually do.

In this story, we follow Victor, a young man who lives in a forest with his dad, a robot inventor named Giovanni, and his friends, a slightly sociopathic robot nurse (Nurse Ratched) and an anxious little robot vacuum (Rambo). One day, Victor salvages an unfamiliar robot named HAP and brings him back to life, unleashing a chain of events that wrenches Victor from his safe secluded life, forcing him to learn many unwanted truths about himself and his world.

I absolutely adore this story, and it is definitely one I will be rereading upon publication. I immediately fell in love with the characters (I will be making many inspirational posters from Nurse Ratched's aggressive quotes, like <i>WOMAN UP, BUCKO. THIS WON'T HURT A BIT</i>). In true Klune fashion, the writing is a perfect mix of humourous and emotional. The themes explored include love, family, and friendship, which also appear in his other standalone novels, but I thought this one added nuances in its exploration of forgiveness and what it means to be human.

As a veteran sci-fi reader, one who grew up on Asimov's robot stories, I felt that the science in this book was not very rigorous, but I didn't mind, as I was more invested in the characters and their journey. There is a hint of romance which was very cute.

<b>In summary, if you like stories about found families, lovable murderous robots, and impossible quests, I would thoroughly recommend this book.</b>

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.</i>

TJ Klune delivers a clever, whimsical, quietly thought-provoking, and at times heartbreaking tale with “In the Lives of Puppets.” I enjoyed it tremendously - from discussions of humanity and what it is to forgive to found family and cheesy comic relief this story packs a punch. This story is one to savored, especially if you feel a malfunction coming on.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. TJ Klune can do no wrong! What a wonderful novel. The world that Klune has crafted is incredible and the book takes the reader through quite the whirlwind. A must read!

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of In the Lives of Puppets. I love T.J. Klune’s works, and Under the Whispering Door is one of my all-time favorite reads. I enjoyed this one, but I also have some mixed feelings about parts of the story I adored the main characters and the relationships, and the dialogue is exceptional. I also love the writing and Klune’s storytelling. The author has a way of touching your heartstrings and pulling you in from the start with endearing and memorable characters and storylines. Throughout my reading, I highlighted so many quotes that moved me or spoke to me in some way. Klune knows how to put in words feelings that are often inexplicable.

If you took iRobot, the beginning of WALL·E, Pinocchio, and The Wizard of Oz and smashed them all together with a little bit of Swiss Family Robinson, you would have this book. It has thought-provoking dystopian elements and messages, an epic journey, a beautiful love story between a father and a son, and a cool tree house made from scraps. But the stars of the book are the characters.

Like Klune’s other works, the found family in this story is brilliant. Vic’s bond with his father is wonderful. From the first chapter when Gio speaks of his love for baby Vic, I could feel the deep and true bond between father and son, and I hoped beyond hope that they would reunite. Vic's new relationship with Hap, a humanoid Vic. Rambo, and Nurse Ratched save from the junkyard is also fabulous and heartwarming. I also loved Rambo and Nurse Ratched! Rambo is an anxious Roomba (so cute!), and Nurse Ratched reminded me of a snarky, sociopathic version of Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons. They are both quite devoted to Vic, the only human in the story, and they kind of remind me of the relationship Luke Skywalker had with R2D2 and C-3PO except way funnier. Rambo and Nurse Ratched’s conversations and endless dialogue are hilarious and charming, and there are so many laugh-out-loud moments. However, by the end, some of their joking became a bit too much.

The messages are also really powerful and thought-provoking. It’s a dystopia, so it makes you think about what brought society to this point. Is it possible to forgive? What makes us human? What makes a family? What lengths are you willing to go to for someone you love? Can people (and robots) change? What is the cost of indifference? There are so many interesting ideas explored. However, at the end of the book, I was left with some questions that weren’t answered, especially regarding the world and the background story. I was disappointed that these elements weren’t explored in more detail and resolved. I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt, especially since I was left with more questions than answers.

All in all, I enjoyed the story. The characters and writing style are amazing, and the story is very touching. I think fans of Klune or heartwarming sci-fi fantasies will enjoy the book, especially if they like strong and unique family units and futuristic worlds.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It brought me joy, it made me cry, it was fun and cozy and all of the characters were absolute delights. The heart of Wall-E, the ingenuity of Pinocchio, and the adventure of Swiss Family Robinson. This book has it all!! I would expect no less from TJ.

I immediately thought of Anakin Skywalker in the beginning when he was looking for scraps in the scrapyard. Victor looking for pieces with his robot friends, that he helped rescue, just gave you that good feeling but also understand that he is still alone. And the love he has for his mechanical father in the beginning is heartwarming. I love Nurse Ratchet’s humor! It is uplifting at times. I have caught myself laughing out loud at some of the funny remarks.
I love the way this book shows the difference in human emotions and programmed emotions. Humans need validation, reassurance and encouragement. Robots, on the other hand, do not. I love the reference to Wizard of Oz when he says “Once, there was a woodsman make of tin. He said, “I shall take the heart, for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.” Rambo laughed . “Tin. Are you sure?” Sounds fake, but Okay”

When Victor finds the humanlike robot, HAP, in the scrapyard. His life is set on a path that his father, Gio, never wanted for him. Victor will find out the truth about HAP, Gio, and his own past. Things his father would rather have been kept hidden to protect Victor. Now, Gio is gone and Victor and his friends must take a journey to the City to find Gio and bring him home.

It is a remarkable retelling of a beloved classic Pinocchio in a futuristic setting. For example, a huge robotic whale takes Victor’s father, so he sets out to find where it took him and bring him back home. I absolutely love this story! I would highly recommend it to everyone!

In the Lives of Puppets is indeed, full of life. The characters are so lovable and say the most charming and witty things. I enjoyed the characters immensely. However, the plot is dull. Very little happens to propel it along. Sure, there are some interesting events that happen sporadically, but it’s not enough to make the plot satisfying. This is a chronic problem I have had with Klune’s work. I will say that Vic, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and Gio have imprinted on my soul. I love them so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am not at all surprised that I loved this book. This was quite a bit different from Cerulean Sea & Whispering Door with the sci-fi themes and dystopian approach but it still had the unbelievably adorable characters you couldnt help but fall in love with. Who would have thought that a book about robots would make me laugh out loud (many times, ask my husband) and then bring me to tears? This book really focused on the importance of family, all shapes and sizes and what you would do for the people (or robots) you love. There were hilarious one liners, sarcastic and sassy robots, action, and romance. This book was also incredibly sad at times in many ways. The reason this book isnt a 5 for me was the pacing was a bit slow and I wanted more in the end. I am not sure what "more" that is. And if I could read a novella just with Rambo & Nurse Ratched I would be absolutely stoked. They may be the funniest characters I have read in a long time. I highlighted so many sarcastic comments from Nurse Ratched. In the words of Rambo....I want to be her when I grow up.