This was a very strange book yet, but, as with all of his books, you absolutely love. I can't believe I absolutely loved these robots. Not humans but robots.

This is a beautiful, heartwarming book about love, friendship, and being different.
A definite recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing.fot allowing me to read this book and give an honest review.

All thoughts and opinions are my own

This feels like all the best parts of having a family were shoved into a book. The main characters were all very lovable and I spent the entire book rooting for them. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat everytime that they ran into any sort of trouble.

I have just finished reading it and I already want to reread it. TJ Klunes writing is amazing, I could easily picture myself in the forest in the house that Vic and Gio called home. I felt all of the emotions - both good and bad- that the characters were feeling.

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I ended up DNF it at 32%. I really tried to push through but it’s taken me 4 full days just to get to 32% because it’s not getting my attention and i’ve struggled to keep reading. I feel really bad DNFing but I can’t keep trying to read this, it’ll take me 2 weeks.

I did really enjoy Nurse Ratched, she’s very funny and Rambo was very cute.

For the first like 12-15% of the book, I thought Gio was a human even though I knew he didn’t have a human heart.

When Nurse Ratched was saying “I am your mother.” That was so funny.
I was actually laughing out loud with this book! The humor was definitely needed since this is a big slow burn book.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book, I wish I could have read more! Maybe one day i’ll pick it up again!

TJ Klune's latest book was an enjoyable read with his cozy emotionally-intelligent style and fun characters. The Nurse Ratched character was by far the most entertaining to me. I loved her Engaging Empathy Protocol which often started by her saying "there, there..." as a way to comfort others. As usual, there were funny moments and very meaningful life lessons for the characters that always seem to be a commentary on real life. But the characters felt so similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea. I loved that book and it was a 5 star for me and I still recommend it all the time. I didn't necessarily care for the robot storyline either, but I just couldn't get away from the characters qualities and speech being so very similar to Cerulean Sea. It felt like the same characters in a different setting which is why I have given it 3 stars. I think many people will enjoy it- TJ Klune's usual comforting and wholesome style.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I adore TJ Klune and his last two novels are two of my favorites. This one follows in their footsteps. I laughed and cried. So beautifully written. I can barely wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Enter one of the most whimsical and magical reads I have had the pleasure of reading. This read has the most incredible cast of characters, which such wit and charm you would almost expect it to feel cheesy, but it’s just so so effortless. The amount of times I had burst out laughing at the insanity of this book is unparalleled. If you love to laugh, love found family, and general queerness, this is the book for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’ve read any of TJ Klune’s Books and you thought they were a little weird and on the quirky side and loved them this one tops all those and you will love it. When I seen this available on netgalley I had to grab it and I am so glad I did.
We go deep into the forest and meet a family with a man named Giovanni Lawson who actually is not really a man, a boy that was left off by his parents and some robots called Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Both robots are funny and each had their own personalities Rambo was a little on the nervous side and Nurse Ratched has a little sadistic and sexual sense of humor to her? We follow the robots and Vic on a journey that will change their lives.
This is a cute heartwarming and funny fantasy adventure that is a take on the story Pinocchio, and Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, I highly recommend reading this

Really enjoyed this book. I love all the authors books. This one was perfect. I can't wait to buy a copy on release day for my bookshelf. Rambo was my favorite character.

I've enjoyed Klune's work since discovering "The House on the Cerulean Sea" and have loved everything since then. "In the Lives of Puppets" instantly has Klune's blend of whimsical, chaotic, and laugh-out-loud funny. The story takes a unique concept - a lone human in a world of robots - and creates a subtle commentary on human nature. One of the commentaries I found was on human emotion which is exhibited through the different robots with one that's more sensitive and another that tends to be a little murderous. They have a range of differences, emotions, and at times a serious lack of boundaries. But as the story progresses you get to know these different characters through Vic which makes them easy to adore. The story is humorous and completely unexpected in the best way. If you enjoy true originality, top-notch (and zany) humor, wild characters, and a subtle commentary brought to life through imagination, then you for sure need to pick up "In the Lives of Puppets."

When I heard mid last year that a new TJ Klune novel was coming I was absolutely overjoyed. And then when I got my hands on an advanced copy, it was like Christmas all over again. I had read the description of the book and had no idea what I was truly getting into but I was willing to trust him, and I’m so glad I did.

Deep in a forest lives a peculiar family, Vic, a human, and his three robot family members - Gio, his dad and a creator, Nurse Ratched a sadistic nurse machine, and Rambo, a tiny vacuum with a lot of anxiety. One day as Vic, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo are exploring they come upon an unfamiliar android that they decide to fix up and bring back to life. But when the android they named Hap inadvertently alerts robots from Gio’s former life about their whereabouts, the family is thrown into chaos and become entwined in a race to save themselves.

If you’ve thought Klune’s novels before were weird and quirky, this one definitely takes the cake. This is likely his strangest book yet, but, as with all of his books, you cannot help but fall in love. This time, you’re just falling in love with robots. This book was truly hysterical - specifically Nurse Ratched and Rambo. By the end of the book, I wanted my own robots to hang out with!

This is a beautiful, heartwarming book about the power of love, friendship, and being different. I am amazed every single time about how Klune manages to fit these incredibly inclusive messages into these quirky books. Who knew that a book about robots would have me swooning.

This book will be featured in episode 75 of the Reading Through Life podcast.

If I can call two people as good of friends as Nurse Ratched and Rambo, I’ll have succeeded. This story is one that makes the reader reflect on humanity and what that means in this day and age. The antics of Ratched, Vic, and Rambo had me laughing throughout, I could hear Ratched’s voice clear as a bell. Outstanding story that I will be thinking about for a long time.

TJ Klune is arguably my new favorite author of books for adult and mature teen audiences. Like his earlier books, the characters in In the Lives of Puppets are immediately likable. They are well-rounded with positive traits and flaws, and each grows throughout the novel. The protagonist is Victor, who is the only human we meet. The rest of the characters are machines in one form or another. When Victor's life is upended, he sets out on his hero's journey with his supporting characters to recover something they've lost. They travel to a strange and scary city with no idea where to go or who to trust. Readers will have to see whether the group succeeds. But one thing is for sure: they will fall in love with Vic, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and Hap.

This book, with the callbacks to popular culture and the inspiration from the tale of Pinocchio, brings us a unique perspective of what it means to be human and what makes a family. Several laugh-out-loud moments alleviate the post-apocalyptic world building and the feelings of impending doom that accompany Vic, their two robot companions, and the adventure they undertake to save Gio, Vic's adoptive father. With his unerring social insight, Klune brings us another beautifully cozy addition to our sci-fi and fantasy shelves.

In the books of TJ Klune exists a sort of magic. Whenever I read Klune, I want to live inside the pages of the book and yet, in some ways, already do. Klune finds a way to explore the darkest depths and intricate complexity of humanity. In The Lives of Puppets is no different.

In The Lives of Puppets is the story of a machine that gave life to a human who then gave life to machines. The cast of characters is hilarious and lovable and flawed. I instantly fell in love with Rambo and Nurse Ratched. Klune's wit and humor is unmatched and a welcome reprieve in a book with some heavy ideas.

In the book, I see nods to Pinocchio, but also Frankenstein (it feels like no coincidence that Vic is named Victor and becomes a Creator like his father). As such, the book raises questions about our creations and what we put out into the world. I will always jump at a book written by TJ Klune and give this book the highest of recommendations!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a eARC of this novel.

TJ Klune’s work is always incredible. This was a futuristic off-shoot of Pinocchio. The world that is created and some of the major characters are robots and androids. They all have extremely human qualities. The world and characters that are created are in-depth and intricate. Klune is such an incredible talent, I can’t highly recommend this enough.

Yet another wonderful work about humanity that is sure to evoke tears.

Read IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ KLUNE if you love broken things, treehouses, robots in the wilderness, retellings, "They look like us now," complicated families, hearts, vacuums, transformative journeys, ace heroes, butterflies, cozy trauma narratives & old movies.

A charming book about an android, his human son, and their two hilarious robots. When the gang finds a decommissioned android in the scrap yards, their lives forever change.

This book somehow managed to juggle so many themes and important lessons all at once. The reader must question the future of technology and the human race - Can they coexist? What will come of planet earth when technology replaces the need for humans? Aspects of this book reminded me of Wall-E. The sci-fi feel certainly makes you think about the future of this planet!

TJ Klune has a special way of making characters come to life in a way that makes you fall in love with them instantly. As someone who struggles with visualizing while reading, I have never had this issue while reading a TJ Klune book. His detailed descriptions of his characters combined with the imagery throughout his books are what draw me to his writing style. His quirky, irresistible characters make me laugh out loud. I can honestly say that no author makes me laugh out loud as much as TJ Klune.

On the flip side, TJ Klune also managed to make me cry while reading a book about androids and robots! I don’t remember the last time a book made me cry. Actually, I do - It was the last time I read a TJ Klune book! He is easily a favorite author of mine, as he has broadened my genres as a reader and opened my eyes to new novels.

Criticisms:

- I found it odd how frequently this book referenced penises and sex. Then again, perhaps these are intriguing topics of conversation for androids and robots of the future.🤷🏽‍♀️

- While TJ Klune has a way of fostering the most vivid images in my mind while I read, I also found myself craving less dialogue.

I give it 4/5 stars! It would be a fun buddy read or book club pick!

🤖🦾🫀

A HUGE thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. This beauty will be published in April of 2023💗

A TJ Klune book is always a delight.

This book continues that streak and even though I generally loathe Pinocchio I felt this was more inspired by than a retelling.

It's beautifully written, full of the unexpected, always brimming with warmth, humor and ofcourse the value of family, friendship and love. And that everyone always has a place.

Chauncey and Rambo deserve a spinoff at some hotel cleaning and bellhopping.

These books are always what I need at the right time and I'm forever grateful not only to get an ARC for this review but that I have it in my collection to revisit bc it's like a hug for the soul.

I absolutely hate to say this. It actually breaks my heart to say I wasn’t a fan of a T. J. Klune book. I wanted to love it. I’ve loved all of Klune’s other books and they have been easily 5-stars … but this one just didn’t do it for me.

Don’t get me wrong - the writing was in the usual style I love and the emotion was in it. But the storyline just lost me. If you like sci-fi type stuff you will probably love it. But robots just aren’t my thing and this story line just didn’t interest me.

The characters were well written and it did have many funny moments that had me laughing. I just often found myself lost in this fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian? world that I had no idea what was going on. I never truly felt like I understood what was really happening and the very slight romance element had me even more confused.

This was a 2.5 star read for me rounded up to 3. I still highly recommend it to those who are more into stories like this and loved Klune’s other books. But personally I could care less about a robot story.

Huge thanks to T. J. Klune and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and TOR books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is slightly different than the others I’ve read of his, and it’s just as amazing as the others. I would call it a dystopian, futuristic, queer take on Pinocchio. I thought it was brilliant and had as much heart as his others!

Read this if you’re looking for:
- Magically realistic SciFi
- Dystopian setting
- Asexual rep
- Queer Pinocchio retelling
- Brave little toaster vibes
- Found family

I don’t want to spoil anything but Nurse Ratched is my new favorite character! She’s such a smart ass. Genius, T.J.! Well done!!

I cannot wait for this to be released in April so I can scoop up a physical copy for my shelves. This cover is as gorgeous as all his others!!