This book is pure gold. Must read!! I was intrigued from the getgo. Now I want to read other books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how TJ Klune can make you adore characters as quickly and has deeply as he does. I instantly fell in love with Victor and his ragtag group of misfit robots, even the glitchy and surly Hap. Like others by Klune, this one is a little bit too mature for a middle school audience, but high school librarians should definitely make room for this queer little gem.

Picked it up based on the author - I haven't yet read their other books, but I totally picked up a distinct authorial voice here. Quirky, funny, and poignant. The characters are effortlessly sketched. Even though the plot wasn't necessarily for me, I was pulled along and enjoyed the story.

Thank you to Tor for sending me an advanced copy of In the Lives of Puppets in exchange for an honest review.


Wow. where do i begin? i never knew i needed a cozy sci fi/fantasy before. this story was so comforting with found family which you see a lot in Klune's works but this had to be my favorite story of them all. picture this, you get a sci fi ques Pinocchio retelling. I could not put this down. from the witty banter to the beautiful writing. In the Lives of Puppets is a story that will warm your heart until the very last page.

As usual with TJ Klune books, life’s deeper questions are at the heart (mechanical or human) of the story. In this case what makes a family? What makes one a human? All of this told through loveable characters who had me smiling at their tenderness toward each other and laughing out loud at their sass. This will be a highly recommended book!

Pinnochio, meets Wall-E, meets Frankenstein. In the Lives of Puppets will no doubt appeal to most fans of Klune's, as it is also a story of charming misfits discovering their humanity. It is instantly recognizable as kin of The House in the Cerulean Sea, both in the childlike wonder expressed by the characters and the way Klune tells his story. Some might say it's a bit derivative of that previous work, but we'll leave that for others :)
For me, it was more difficult to really drop into this story than it was with Cerulean Sea because I found it difficult to keep track of the characters. Who is human, who isn't? And what are they? Garbage, robots, what? They're all archetypes, not fully human, but with human characteristics. I found it challenging to really engage with any of them. But that being said, I think it is a sweet story with some really great messages, and I think many readers (especially those hungry for more of the same) will enjoy this new book.

Another stunning fantastical novel from TJ Klune—master of wit and emotional writing! I absolutely love Klune’s writing style and the larger messages of found families, love, and connection that all of his books convey. This time around, In the Lives of Puppets takes us on a fairy tale retelling to tackle themes of loneliness, fitting in, and family and friendship.

Victor is an inventor who lives in the forest with his father Gio and his two rebuilt robot friends, Nurse Ratched and Rambo (the Roomba). As Victor sets about building his latest piece of work, he stumbles upon an android in the Scrap Yard and decides to offer it a second chance at life. This act of compassion sets Victor on a collision course to the reality of the world around him.

TJ Klune is a sorcerer. He uses his powers to make you fall in love with his characters, they burrow into your soul and stay forever. My blood pumping heart is bursting with love after finishing In the Lives of Puppets. The affection I feel for a robot vacuum named Rambo and medical machine Nurse Ratchet is immeasurably. I wish I could give this book 100 stars! This story gives new meaning to found family. I can’t thank netgalley enough for an advanced copy. I recommend this book to anyone that can read. I laughed out loud many times, I cried, I cheered. I am devastated it’s over. I tried to read it slowly so it wouldn’t end!

In The Lives of Puppets was such an amazing and wonderful reading experience. For me, the characters were the best part. I would die for that little roomba named Rambo. Nurse Ratched, HAP, Victor and Gio also found places in my heart as the story continued. I don't want to give anything away but just know this book will break your heart but then put all the pieces back together and leave you with such warmth and happiness.

I can't wait to see fan art for this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!!! I am a huge TJ Klune fan when someone suggested I read The House in the Cerulean Sea. His writing on this book had me in stitches laughing…. It definitely kept the seriousness of the book at bay until the ending. I honestly had such a hard time finding the right words to review this book because of the heaviness that was underlying there just beyond the humor. I wish I could give half stars… it’s a solid 4.5 for me and I am anxiously awaiting another gem from TJ that has hidden meanings wrapped in humor that make me go hmmmm.

DNF at 15%

While I absolutely adored The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I just could not enjoy the latest Klune. In the Lives of Puppets definitely maintains his unique, sweet style, but for me it didn't really work with his robot characters. The two sidekicks are a psychopathic nurse robot and a neurotic vacuum robot. Both felt one-dimensional and repeat the same jokes over and over. I found their dialogue exhausting rather than comedic or charming. I was interested in seeing how the dystopian AI plot would unfold, but it seemed like backdrop. Which makes sense since Klune's strengths are usually in his characters over his world-building. Not to mention that the blurb pretty much gives a lot away...

I remain a TJ Klune fan and will not hesitate to read his next release, but this one was a miss for me.

TJ Klune is a must-buy author for me, even though I know his books will emotionally ravage me. When I received an ARC of his upcoming release, In the Lives of Puppets, I dropped everything and dove right in.

I am a child of the 80s, and The Brave Little Toaster was one of my favorite movies when I was growing up. If you took that classic, and mixed it in with Wall-E, with a sprinkling of Pinocchio and Frankenstein for good measure, plus the emotional heft we’ve come to know and love from this author, you may have some sense of what to expect. And if that all sounds like a lot, just trust me on this, it’s worth it.

I found myself laughing out loud - full, body-shaking laughter - at multiple points in this book. You’ve got a neurotic, clueless Roomba and a sociopathic, drily sarcastic hospital robot (who goes by Nurse Ratched, IYKYK) and their banter is simply off-the-charts perfection. Ask anyone who has spoken to me recently: I cannot shut up about how much I adore these characters. They’re perfect.

Yes, the humor is absolutely a delight, but trust me on this - this book also packs a wallop. To provide that emotional component, we’ve got Victor, a fragile human living amongst machines, and Hap, a recently rehabilitated robot trying to make sense of the world after losing his memory. Man and machine are not meant to trust each other, but over the course of the novel, their bond grows stronger and overcomes every challenge flung in their path.

Klune specializes in characters who don’t make sense as friends and as partners, pairings that buck tradition and don’t conform to societal norms. The connections between characters in Klune’s books are not sexual - they are based in support, trust, and comfort. Here, we see found family bonds, and how friendships can be found in the strangest of places - even in the scrap pile.

A million thanks to @torbooks for the ARC, provided via @netgalley.

In the Lives of Puppets will be released on April 25, 2023.

I will start by saying that I am already a TJ Klune fan and have read many of his other books. I was so excited for this one and honestly, still haven’t been disappointed by him! This story was like a sideways queer Pinocchio in another realm, and so much fun! As always, Klune’s books hit so many different emotions and themes and this was no different! The imagination that TJ Klune forces you to use is amazing and I would easily recommend this book to anyone, whether you’ve read him or not!

”I am not going to like this, am I,” Nurse Ratched said. “It’s okay,” Rambo told her. “If we die a horrible death, at least we’ll be together.” “That does not make me feel any better.” Her screen flashed the words I NEED NEW FRIENDS."

Listen I am not going to compare this to The House in the Cerulean Sea bc that book has its own magic (and reading it in 2020 was a specific experience), but this book really surpassed even my expectations. I liked but didn’t love Under the Whispering Door, and I’ve realized on reading this one, that much of the humor and levity from Cerulean Sea simply wasn’t in that story. This story has all of that back and then some. It’s sentimental without being melodramatic, and the humor was perfect.

This is a Pinocchio retelling of sorts, with robots and androids as the titular puppets, and one human man named Victor. It warmed my soul and made me laugh, and

First, thanks to Netgally for letting me read this in advance in Exchange of an honest opinion.

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago but I was too emotional to write something decent, now I think I have cleared my mind, so I hope this makes some sense.

First of all, I am a big fan of TJ and his work, so when I found out this one was to come out I was so excited and, as always, he didn’t disappoint. This book was so precious. When I finished it the only thing I could do was curl myself into a ball and hug my Kindle. I wanted to give a little bit of love to the characters and protect them from the world, but besides how much I love the book there were a couple of details I didn’t like, but first what’s the story about:

Here we have a world without humans. Instead there are robots, except for one little detail: Victor, the last human on the planet, he lives in the forest with Gio, his father, Nurse and Rambo, his two best friends. They spend the days inventing new things, hunting in the forest and going to the landfill in search of new parts, until they find Hap, their historical angry puppet. When they find him, problems follow them and they have to fight for their lives and protect what they love the most.

This is all I can say without giving away much. I believe this is the kind of book you want to get into without knowing too much. This is a book that gives you a lot of existential questions, but it is not pretentious about it and doesn’t try to give an answer, it lets you discover that by yourself and this is due to the magic of TJ’s writing and why he’s one of my favorites. This story is going to give you family love and loss, you are going to feel you don’t want to finish and wish you had never read it, so you can experience it for the first time once again. Also dear reader, let me tell you, you are going to have a void in your heart, you are going to feel something is missing, so I recommend you to hug your dog when you finish with this book. I promise you, you are going to need it.

With nothing else to say, this is a million star book, but I can only rate it 5. If I could, I would give it more.

In the Lives of Puppets was an enjoyable, heartwarming and often hilarious read. I quickly became enamoured with the characters and the unfolding story which I can only describe as Terminator meets Pinocchio.

I would highly recommend this novel for anyone yearning for a queer sci-fi/fantasy story about the redemptive power of love and the joy of found family. TJ Klune scores bonus points for his zany sidekick characters, including a naive Rose Nyland-esque vacuum cleaner and a sociopathic robot nurse (trust me, it will all make sense once you read it). And finally, a warning - it may make you leak.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️

This was so interesting! someone compared this to Wall E and I definitely see the similarities. Klune writes such incredible stories that can be for kids or older and I would love to see his work adapted into movies/tv because wow

was so excited to get the ARC for TJ Klune’s new book, In the Lives of Puppets. He is now an auto buy author for our family. Also I’m a sucker for a retelling.

Klune calls it a queer reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. I was shocked to realize I had not read this. I will need to rectify this oversight.

I saw all the Pinocchio elements but also felt like it had elements of A Wrinkle in Time, Wizard of Oz, Klara and the Sun, and Swiss Family Robinson. I LOVED it.

OF COURSE, my favorite was the Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill. Nurse Ratched for short. 😆 She had the best lines. “Yes, we. I would not let you go by yourself. You will most likely die without me. If that happened, I would not be there to tell you ‘I told you so.’ I want to have that experience.” 😆 These robots are all fantastic. I love them all.

Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for this digital copy. This is my honest review. Go get this book April 25th!

This book was beautiful, not that I went in expecting anything else knowing it is a T.J. Klune book and hearing so many friends who also got ARCs rave reviews. Back in June 2022 T.J. promised he'd make us cry over a roomba and my god did I fucking cry over a fictional roomba last night at 3am.
It's only January, but I can pretty surely say that this book is going to be one of my favorites of the year and Nurse Ratched might just be one of my favorite book characters, like ever.
In The Lives of Puppets is kind of a mashup of Wall-E and Pinocchio (which makes sense because it is literally a Pinocchio retelling) set in a world post AI/robot takeover. It was very interesting world building, great characters, and a plot that definitely made me cry... MULTIPLE times. This book comes out officially on my birthday and I cannot think of a better birthday gift than this book existing!

I think if I hadn’t gone into this with 5 star expectations, I might’ve had 5 star feelings about it. Maybe I hyped it up too much in my head. I ADORED “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and “Under the Whispering Door,” so I was obviously excited to read this new novel by Klune. It just didn’t grab me the way those others did. There were characters I loved, and I thought the story was creative. I just found myself getting bored at times during the “journey” bit of the book. This is probably a 4.5 instead of a 4, but I rounded down because of the occasional boredom I felt. That’s not to say this was a bad book. The characters are absolutely lovely, as you would expect from Klune, and they are reason enough to read this book. There were definitely some enjoyable bits, and I think it was a solid read - just not a 5 star for me.