The thing I love about Klune book is how he is able to weave such a whimsical storyline while at the same time illustrating a beautiful story about second chances & accepting each other for who they are now & not on their past. This book was phenomenal. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Tj Klune has become a recent favorite author of mine since his now widely beloved novel The House in the Cerulean Sea, and then again with Under the Whispering Door. So when I heard he was coming out with yet another new release, I was of course over the moon! Sure enough, in his signature way, TJ Klune gifts us with yet another utterly charming, whimsical tale with so much heart at the center. Themes of found family, belonging, embracing difference in one another, and fostering empathy shine through just as brightly in this latest release, In the Lives of Puppets.

This book had me from page one as I was instantly swept up in this enchanting story of a robot who lives in a forest and endeavors to build a home and family from the ground up. I absolutely loved this quirky little family who live in treehouses and listen to old records and have movie nights together. I instantly felt a part of their world. I also just can’t emphasize how much comedy is interwoven in this book alongside the more tender moments. Even being robots, Rambo and Nurse Ratched had such vibrant personalities that jumped off the page, and their constant banter and little side comments to Victor being the straight man was such a hilarious dynamic. This genuinely hit all the boxes of being a promising Pixar movie as this ragtag group of characters set off on an epic journey.

I will say that while this book started off so strong, my interest gradually waned as the story went on. My main issue is Hap and how he comes to be the love interest of the story. I would’ve been fine if Hap had come in as an outsider and over the course of the novel comes to feel a sense of belonging in this family. This is what I wanted the story to be, but unfortunately it went a different angle. I just did not like the dynamic of this relationship between Hap and Victor. For Victor to develop feelings for a machine that he partially put back together… I hate to make this connection, but it comes dangerously close to the territory of sex dolls for me. There’s just a level of projecting your feelings and attraction onto something inanimate that can’t consent to any of it that made this all the more uncomfortable for me. But even when Hap is up and operating, I still didn’t feel any chemistry between him and Vic. A lot of their scenes together felt creepy to me and consisted of Hap staring at Vic while he slept, bathed…or basically did anything. All of that aside, I just wasn’t invested in their relationship. I think had this just been a story of friendship, I would’ve enjoyed that a lot more.

I have to admit, I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. It's definitely one that's bittersweet and doesn't have an immediate pay-off after everything our characters have been through. Everything isn't magically back to normal. Everyone is left broken in their own ways, whether physically or figuratively. Gio and Hap are fragments of their former selves. And while I understand the sentiment of why the story ends in this way, it still just left me feeling hollow and unsatisfied. I still really enjoyed my time with this book and loved the profound commentary on humanity that this story masterfully interweaves. This was just maybe not my favorite of TJ Klune's books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an eARC of this book.

It's hard to go into this and not compare it to the other T.J. Klune books with houses on the covers, but it really is a different kind of book. This is a retelling of Pinocchio in a post-apocalyptic world. Vic is a human living in the forest with his "father" Giovanni, a medical robot Nurse Ratchet, and Rambo, the greatest and best vacuum cleaner to ever be. One day while exploring the scrap yard, Vic finds a decommissioned robot. They take the robot back to their house and name him Hap after some visible letters on him. Vic fixes Hap, but there's more to his past than they realize and more to the truth about Vic's past as well.

I enjoyed this. The characters are delightful (especially Rambo) and Klune is a master at dialogue. The references to Pinocchio were sometimes obvious, but also more subtle. I'm not a huge fan of Pinocchio, but then again I'm only familiar with the Disney retelling and not the original story.

I don't have anything negative to say except I didn't like it as much as Klune's other books with houses on the cover. Maybe because the romance wasn't as compelling with a robot and what I adored about the other books were the relationships. Either way, five stars for Rambo.

I am not usually a fan of sci-fi or fantasy, so if I am recommending a book from that genre, it means I loved it. I absolutely LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea by this author, so I was fairly confident I would likely be a fan of any other book written by Klune. I was right.

SYNOPSIS: Gio Lawson, an android who escaped civilization, lives in the forest in a Swiss Family Robinson-esque compound with his human son, Vic, and two machines, Rambo & Nurse Ratched. Gio & Bic are both creators and inventors. Vic salvaged & restored Rambo & Nurse Ratched after finding them in the Scrap Yards. Eventually, Hap, a decommissioned android, is found in the Scrap Yards, and saved by Vic. Shortly after, some unfortunate events happen, which lead to a journey to the City.

MY THOUGHTS
- Klune’s writing is top-tier. He has a way of making even fantastical characters feel truly human. I enjoy his writing style, and find it easy to read & easy to get into.
- I did not want to put down the book. Although it’s a lengthy book, it’s fast paced.
- I laughed out loud at many of Nurse Ratched’s lines/parts.
- The book has a lot of interesting themes, such as, what family means, love, changing for the better.
-This is well worth the read. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thanks to Tor Books, NetGalley and author TJ Klune for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's due to be published on April 25, 2023.

I am in actual physical pain typing this out, but I did not enjoy In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune as much as I thought I would.
Under the Whispering Door is my absolute favorite book. I own multiple copies, in multiple formats and have read it several times already. The House in the Cerulean Sea was the book that introduced me to Klune and made him an auto-buy author in my household. When Lives of Puppets came across my radar I HAD to have it and was so very excited when I received the ARC. Since then I have picked up this book countless times, read a couple of chapters and put it back down again to read something else. This book is so painfully slow I just cannot get into it. The characters are adorable (who would have guessed I would say this about an old Roomba?), but nothing is happening and I am just so bored. I will probably pick it up again when the audiobook becomes available, but for now it's a DNF for me. I can't believe I just wrote that!
Why do I still give it 3/5 stars? Just because a slow-burn story about robots isn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean it is necessarily a bad book. If you are a sci-fi/fantasy reader who enjoys quirky characters (especially if you enjoyed the characters in Klune's other books) and you don't mind taking your time to get into the story, you might very well enjoy this book much more than I did!

4⭐️

If you love Klune’s ability to make you connect with characters, humor and writing style - you will also love this book!

This story itself felt fresh despite being a retelling and I fell in love with a robot vacuum. Only reason this is not a 5⭐️ for me is that I compare it to all of his other stories I love so much and I didn’t leave with the same degree of feels as I normally do.

Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to TOR for providing an e-ARC !

TJ Klune makes the best characters! They're quirky, and sometimes annoying, but they have hearts so pure you wish you knew them. Vic is so humanly awkward and embarrasses easily so of course his cantankerous Nurse Ratched teases him. She is grouchy and sometimes murderous, but also loyal and genuine. Rambo the former Roomba is almost childlike in his curiosity and openness, to the point that sometimes I was thinking he needed an off switch for safety. But he doesn't he just needs his friends to take care of him and keep him on track. Hap's redemption arc shows that he is defined by his daily choices not his past.
The story starts a little slow and had some spots that were hard to push through. It takes place after a robot apocalypse so pieces are really bleak, but that just contrasts with the beauty of nature. The treasure is the beauty of the human features within the robots, because we are all different, and don't follow one type of programming, and life is weirdness.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book. The opinions are entirely my own, and I will recommend this title as a librarian to my patrons, family and friends.

As a newer fan of author T.J. Klune, I was pleased to receive an ARC of his newest book, "In the Lives of Puppets". While it is marketed as a retelling of Pinocchio, I also saw elements from Frankenstein as well as The Wizard of Oz. Raised in the forest in a treehouse built by his android father Giovanni Lawson, Victor spends his days with his self-diagnosed sociopathic nurse machine (Nurse RATCHED) and a neurotic anxiety-filled robot vacuum named Rambo who adores the movie Top Hat. While out scavenging in a nearby junk yard, Vic and friends stumble across a discarded decommissioned android with signs of life. Rescuing it and secretly bringing it back to their lab, they manage to repair and resurrect HAP or Hysterically Angry Puppet. Unknowingly, Hap and Gio have a shared past and this launches our story as Gio is taken away to the city to be erased and reset to his original functions, before he developed a conscience. Unfortunately, this function was to create HARP androids that were programmed to destroy all humans, a feat that they thought they had accomplished.

This launches our crew of one disguised human and three robots on a rescue mission to find Giovanni.

This is my 3rd T.J. Klune book and I love the worlds that he creates. His writing contains diversity, fantasy, sci-fi and a love story. If you loved his previous books, this one will not disappoint.

Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the digital ARC for review.

In the Lives of Puppets
By TJ Klune

My first TJ Klune book and my opinion is overall very positive. I really enjoyed the writing. I thought Klune was able to really set up an atmosphere. Whether that was the cozy beginning or increasingly more uncomfortable as the book progressed.

I wasn’t completely sold on all the characters at first, but they all rather grew on me. The found family relationship is also one of my favorites so that got me as well 😊 The main relationship I felt like could have been delved into a bit more, but that’s just a minor thing.

My only quibble is how much sex and genitalia are referenced. I get that this is also an exploration of Victor’s sexuality and relationship with love, but it felt a little excessive to me.

So if you like found family; robots; queer representation; explorations of loyalty, forgiveness, and love; and a good mix of heavy and humorous…. this book might be for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and torbooks for this digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!

TJ Klune has done it again: he has created a tale that is fantastical, yet so very authentic. I finished this wonderful book a few days ago and needed time to process all of my feelings about it. The main characters are all so lovable despite any flaws they may have - and a couple of them were involved in quite horrible things that we are told about. The trio of Victor (the human child), Nurse Ratched (the nurse bot, obviously), and Rambo (the vacuum bot) was one of my favorite things about the book. Their interactions are frequently hilarious and made me laugh out loud several times. This family goes through a great number of trials in order to save their caretaker/father, Giovanni, but manage to see their tasks through by building each other up and being strong for each other - and making a few death threats. Hap (the Hysterically Angry Puppet) and Gio are both characters who allow us to wrestle with the themes of overcoming one’s “programming,” redemption, and the multifaceted nature of love. The story is related to that of Pinocchio, with a “whale” and a “blue fairy” included. However, it is so different that is stands wholly on its own merits. I would have enjoyed it just as much had I not known about that connection. If you enjoy stories of found family, adventure, and what the power of love can truly be, you should read this one.

I will be purchasing the hardcover of this book as soon as it is released and I look forward to rereading it many times in the future. On a scale of 1-5 stars … I need more stars.

Pinocchio meets Ex Machina meets Swiss Family Robinson.

I mean, obviously. This is TJ Klune we’re talking about. It all works.

Victor was dumped in the woods when he was a baby, left with GIO Lawson - General Innovation Operative. Gio split from City of Electric Dreams for his own reasons thank you very much and now lives in the woods with his son, Victor Lawson.

Along the way Gio and Victor find a few more robots - Rambo (a vacuum) and Nurse Ratched (whom I would die for) to round out their merry crew. Then one day at the scrap yard they find HAP, he has no power source but our Victor does love a challenge.

And boy does that lead to some trouble. Our gang sets off to save the day and meets some even stranger characters on their way back to the City of Electric Dreams to meet with the Blue Fairy.

Everything about this book is wonderful.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Netgalley and TJ Klune for the ARC!

I rate this book 4.5 stars, but rounded up to 5. I had really high hopes for this one because I absolutely loved The House In The Cerulean Sea. I didn’t love his follow up, Under The Whispering Door, so was hoping this one would be better, and it definitely was!

For a book about robots, it was soooo well done. I absolutely loved all the characters, especially the vacuum named Rambo and the robot who is also a nurse. Their banter actually made me laugh out loud at times. The plot line was very original, and I loved the way Klune was able to set his scenes, so you could perfectly visualize everything, from the treehouse to Heaven.

I didn’t give this a full 5 stars, because although it was super original, I did find it a bit slow at times. I was never dying to read it. I also was hoping for a bit more for the end, but did feel satisfied with what Klune gave us

Overall, if you are looking for a book filled with amazing characters and settings, as well as a plot filled with so much love and hopefulness, definitely try this one out. Don’t be scared off by the fantasy/sci -fi feel, as Klune made the robots super humanized.

This book releases in April 2023, and I’d highly recommend putting it on your TBR!

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.