TJ Klune once again swept me off my feet with this elaborate retelling of Pinocchio, set in a futuristic earth, run by robots and androids. The world building is intricate yet immersive; My mind was reeling upon finishing this masterpiece of a novel. TJ truly succeeds in making the reader feel as if they are a part of the journey this crew of misfit characters are on. If you're like me, you'll want to savor each aspect of this story that TJ has crafted. Yet at the same time, I found myself yearning to finish it in one sitting. As this is a retelling, The nods to the original story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi are perfect and so uniquely done. Referenced in the cat and wolf pin attached to the android inventor Giovanni Lawson, the implication of white lies and even an unconventional spin on the Blue Fairy.

"Is that a whale?" Dad asked, pointing at the screen. "Yes," Vic said and. "And it's going to swallow us whole."

As an avid fan of TJ Klune for the past several years, I've noticed that he has become known for his portrayal of the found family trope in his writing. In the Lives of Puppets was no different. My heart ached for each character, wanting to follow their growth as an individual and the love that has buried itself in the heart of each and every one.

"You must remember what you symbolize. You are a dream, A hope. A remembrance of what we once were."

This story will have you tearing up one moment and laughing the next with characters such as, the anxiety riddled Roomba vacuum, named Rambo or the nickname, "Hysterically Angry Puppet" placed on a mysterious android.

Filled with adventure, diverse representation, betrayal, and friendship, this fantasy meets sci-fi whirlwind of a novel, is certainly one you cannot miss! The fate of humanity lies in the hands of robots, will they be able to save the world?

Thank You TJ Klune, Tor Books and Netgalley for a chance to read and review this lovely story! <3

It's official. Everything TJ Klune writes will absolutely melt your heart! I gathered that this was a queer retelling og Pinnochio, except with a robot instead of a wooden boy. This book provides such a comfort I didn't know I needed!

I love this Author so much. I swear he cannot write a bad book. I love this just as much as his other books. I cannot wait to purchase this one.

Loosely inspired by Pinocchio, this is a futurist take of the familiar story.

Victor has grown up in the woods with just his father, Giovanni, and his two friends, Rambo and Nurse Ratched.

Victor is the only human. His father is a robot designed to create; Rambo, a roomba; and Nurse Ratched, a health care robot.

Gio tells the story of a woman and man on the run leaving their child with him for safety and never returning, but this isn’t quite the truth.

Soon another unexpected friend is added, but this leads to robots from The Authority coming and the revelation of huge truths previously hidden from Victor. Gio is taken and Victor and his three friends set out on an adventure to get him back.

Ultimately this is the storing of change and choosing who and what you are over expectations and what you’ve been taught.

I’m a huge fan of the chosen family plot line and love how Klune’s books never end in a picture perfect way, but some how the imperfection is everything I really want. I’ll be wondering about these characters for a long time. Also, Rambo is the cutest.

TJ is of course, one of the best storytellers of our generation, and it is beyond a privilege to read his works before publication. I have deeply connected with his works in the past, and probably put too much of my expectations on this one, as well, The storytelling was in Klune's usual fashion, and the pacing was perfect. The characters I really struggled to connect with, although I deeply appreciated having an Asexual character on page and acknowledged. I've never, ever been drawn to robot stories or tales like Pinnochio, so part of the struggle to really connect with this book is due to to that. With that said, I am really looking forward to putting this one in the hands of our readers.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thanks to @panmacmillan and @netgalley for this ARC! Just like House on the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, the characters in this book have my heart. TJ Klune’s books have a way of pulling me in immediately. Under the Whispering Door is still my favorite, but the story of Vic and Gio Lawson and their found family of Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and HAP shows that family is what you make it and they had me at page one #bookstagram #book #bibliophile #alwaysreading #avidreader #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #booklover #booknerd #bookshelftour #booknerdproblems #bookobsessed #bookreviews #booksaremagic #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammers #instabooks

I’ve loved everything I’ve read but TJ Klune, but this book didn’t draw me quite the same. It was really funny and I loved that! But overall, I just didn’t find myself drawn in to this book.

4/5 Stars to In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune. I have to admit, through roughly 70 pages of this, I did not think it had that "Klune Magic" we all love. Then out of nowhere, I'm sobbing over household machines. This is undeniably a found family book. Which T.J. Klune is absolutely the master of! An entire community of various machines have a human Child, (later Adult) who grows up with them. This becomes our Family. Each interaction is precious. Making you either laugh, cry, or both in turn. Klune's magic weaves through every character. T.J. Klune is hands down my favorite Author for this genre of reading. Each book feels like coming home after an especially long, tiring day. They bring you joy in its most base feeling. Thank you so much Mr. Klune, Netgalley, & Tor Books for this heart warming opportunity!
(Waiting to post reviews online until closer to publication. I have rated the book stars only, on Goodreads, and Amazon.)

Infinity/5 stars

Y’all are not ready for the magnificence that is this book! The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door are some of my very favorite books of. all. time. I’m pretty sure In The Lives of Puppets has earned a spot on the most loved shelf as well.

Victor Lawson is real, flesh and blood real. Surrounded by his family (of wires and gears), he lives a life full of love in a treehouse in the forest. When he stumbles upon an old android that he restores, he sparks a chain of events that will change his family forever. Joined by a lovable but anxious vacuum named Rambo, a robotic, sarcastic nurse named Ratched, and a restored android named Hap, Victor embarks on an adventure that has him questioning everything and learning about society’s dark past.

With every TJ Klune book I read, I am so emotionally spent (but in the very best way). He has a way of writing that makes you connect so deeply with each and every character. You will laugh and cry in equal measure (par for the course with TJ’s books, in my opinion). The writing is top tier, the character development is bar none, and the story? The story has so much heart and soul.

I cannot emphasize it enough: you NEED to add this book to your TBR, and preorder/request from your library.

SO MANY THANKS to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book!

Wall-E meets The Adventures of Pinnochio with a touch of Swiss Family Robinson in this story about the last human on earth and his makeshift family consisting of a sadistic nurse macine, a neurotic vacuum, a robot father, and a new mysterious android labeled HAP. This was the most adorable, sweet, and fun story ever. I adored Nurse Ratched and Rambo so much, they were such a fun pair to read about. The story itself was sweet and such a gorgeous read. The romance was light and the story also really focused in on the love we have for our family. it honestly was such a touching read and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a fun read with a funny and quirky cast of characters who go on an adventure.

For a book that’s almost entirely inhabited by androids and machines, this may be one of the most human books I’ve read in a long time!

Synopsis: Giovanni Lawson, an android and inventor, has built a home in the forest with his human son, Victor, and two machines Victor salvaged: Rambo, an adorably neurotic and talkative vacuum and Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill), who’s loyal, hilariously blunt and just a wee bit sociopathic! When Victor, Rambo and Nurse Ratched discover a decommissioned and damaged android who they name Hap, after his visible letters H.A.P.,Victor doesn’t realize his well-intentioned efforts to restore it will cause a cascade of events that unearths Gio’s past and threatens all of their futures.

Soon it becomes clear that the machines have no room for humanity in their plans. Only Victor’s peril-filled journey to the City of Electric Dreams with Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Hap to rescue Gio will decide what everyone’s future holds … or if there will be one at all.

My Thoughts: I LOVE this story. I’ve read three books now by TJ Klune and every one of them has made me laugh, cry, worry, grumble and just FEEL all the things. There’s so much insight and thought in what he writes that it never feels like “just a story”. You may not agree with every idea presented, but I guarantee they’ll make you think and that’s always a good thing!

The blurb says the story is inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio. I see some nods and references, but this is very much its own story, which I was so thankful for since I’m not a Pinocchio fan. Don’t let the word “puppets” scare you off, because there are NO creepy, nose-growing puppets in this story! It seems more a reference to the strings of thought that pull one to think and behave the way they do. There were also some Wizard of Oz vibes for me with the destination journey of one human with their three trusted friends. Overall it was a riveting adventure!

I’m not a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi, so it says something that I already know this will be one of my favorites for this year. The writing is filled with heart, humor and hope, the plotting and world-building is fantastic and the characters are so memorable. Nurse Ratched and Rambo alone are worth this read, but I loved Victor and Hap’s dynamic and Gio as well!

If you want a story that includes adventure, romance, diverse representation, fantasy, sci-fi and a little bit of inspiration from the classics, this is perfect. I can’t wait to see what TJ Klune comes up with next!

★★★★★ ❤

Thanks to Tor Books, NetGalley and author TJ Klune for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on April 25, 2023.

Yeah okay cool. I'm fine. Totally fine. Absolutely fine. 😭😍😭😍

I loved this. It is no surprise since I have read and loved every single one of TJ's books but this one really felt more authentic as a TJ Klune style.

If you've read any of his back list, you know that Klune has a humor of a adolescent boy, which I absolutely am here for. He also is the master at found family and creating these little bands of people going on adventures saving the world and that's truly what I felt in this book. As much as I love house in the cerulean sea and under the whispering door, I feel like they kind of lacked his traditional level of humor and I don't know if that's just because they were the first traditionally published books or what, but in the lives of puppets really brought his humor back to the forefront while also crushing and hugging your heart in the same time.

For me this was like a weird mashup of Pinocchio but then also his previous books Withered + Sere and snippets of Verania and little bits of ridiculousness.

There's not a good way to describe the book. There is this inventor named Victor who has two best friends, one is a roomba vacuum named Rambo and the other is a automated nurse aka Nurse Ratched. Then of course that we have Hap who is the hysterically angry puppet and Giovanni. There is some saving of the world, there's lots of robots, and there's a whole freaking lot of heart. Like a lot. Hearts are very important.

One of my favorite bits of this book is the fact that Victor is asexual. This is not the first asexual character that TJ Klune has written and I hope it will not be his last but this is going to be the first one of his that is going to get huge coverage in terms of publication popularity. This is his first traditionally published book with an asexual main character and I am living for it. If you haven't read his back list, I highly highly recommend how to be a normal person and how to be a movie star both with asexual spectrum main characters and also heartsong has an ace character. There's also an ace character in the tales from Verania but it's a secondary character. (TJ is also openly asexual and we love own voices rep)

Anyway, I feel like I've said a lot without saying anything which is quite fitting for the book (iykyk) so we're running with it. go forth and enjoy.

TJ Klune set a high standard with The House in the Cerulean Sea, and In the Lives of Puppets rises to the bar easily. A bittersweet story of love and friendship and family and humanity, couched in an homage to Pinocchio, this is a book I'll recommend to anyone looking for a reason to keep going despite the chaos around us, or looking for a book to affirm the beauty and not-beauty of humanity, all at once. Nurse Ratched and Rambo made me laugh out loud repeatedly. I loved the characters despite and because of all of their flaws. Amazing storytelling.

I just want you to know that if you think your ready to read this book no you're not. I was not prepared for the heartbreak I experienced within the pages of this novel. If your a fan of TJ Klune, this is by far his best work. I see the world differently now, that's how much this affected me. Thank you so much to Tor and netgalley for the e-arc of this book. I am so blessed to receive this book early and give my honest tear soaked opinion on this one. Please read this when it comes out.

Pinocchio, Frankenstein, Edward Scissorhands, Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Wizard of Oz. All variations on the creation trope and where sentient life comes from. A classic sci-fi tale.

TJ Klune is an absolute wonder. He created relatable robots we as the reader cared for. The adorably annoying Rambo the Roomba and the psychopathic Nurse Ratched. They made me literally laugh out loud. Klune takes the dystopian and makes it beautiful. His books are an auto read for me and In the Lives of Puppets is a lovely addition to his list.

🅶🅴🅽🆁🅴—𝐹𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓎 / 𝒮𝒸𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝐹𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃
🗓ℙ𝕦𝕓 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖—𝔸𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕝 𝟚𝟝, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟛

✂️ P L O T L I N E
A book based on Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio.” This story revolves around a world where humans have been extinct for centuries and robots rule. The irony that humans made these machines, only for the machines to turn right back around and kill them all. Victor is the very last human on earth and when his inventor father is taken away by the “Authority”, his robot family will do everything it takes to help find his father and protect his life while subjecting themselves to the dangers of the “Authority.” This fantasy— science fiction book is full of adventure and explores the concepts of what it means to be human and the power of having the ability to make your own choices.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
It took me a little bit to wrap my mind around the abstract concept of this book. But once I did, I was hooked. Tj Klune has a unique way of making you fall in love with every unusual character. There is Gio, the android inventor and father of human Victor, Nurse Ratched, an automatic nurse ready to help and heal, an endearing and most lovable vacuum named Rambo, and a mysterious handsome android named Hap. There were so many parallels to our current way of living. The good, bad, and ugly of our world. Such a thought provoking concept that makes you think of the meaning of humanity and mortality. A story that reveals the flaws and selfishness of humans only to show that robots have the same vice’s within them and are also power hungry. A unique story that reminds us that building connections, having hope, and a finding a sense of purpose are needed to have a fulfilled life. Be prepared the highlight the sh*t out of this book because there are sooooo many beautiful quotes.🖍

📚Read this book if you like:
💫Abstract story lines
💫Queer characters 🌈
💫Adventure and science fiction
💫Unique and quirky characters
💫A book that will make you shed a few tears 😭

🤖 𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾 🤖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E S: “ You say you’re happy. I believe you. But happiness isn’t something that can be sustained continuously, not without something to keep the fire burning.”

“ You are finite. Your time it’s already sleeping through your fingers. It creates an urgency within you. To do all that you can. To make things right. I wonder what that must feel like, to have a sense of true motivation.”

🙏Thank you NetGalley, Tor Books, and TJ Klune for this beautiful ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts 💕

“What a strange existence we find ourselves in. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world”

The second I see there is a new T J Klune book on the horizon I just KNOW that:
(1) I will absolutely adore it, and
(2) I will probably cry my way through at least 85% of it
Can confirm both still true.

In the Lives of Puppets is the story of Victor Lawson (yes, I see you name choice!) and his life in the trees with his android father and inventor Giovanni, a very anxious vacuum robot called Rambo and a lovely sadistic and sarcastic nurse robot called Nurse Ratchet. Victor spends his days salvaging scrap and repairing machines along with his family, until one day he stumbles upon an unfamiliar android called ‘HAP’ which changes the course of his and his families lives forever.

The book itself is STEEPED in found family, which I am always an absolute sucker for, Klune manages to capture such emotion between every character which is amazing since the majority of the characters are androids!

Th characters are wonderful and the story telling, as always, is so magical. Although I mostly just cried through the book because I am a mess, there were so many laugh out loud moments as well.

Overall, this book was absolutely everything I hoped it would be – my one criticism I have which I have had with all the previous Klune books I have read, is that I don’t think there ever needs to be romance, the power with the found family themes I think is much stronger and more effective.

I already have this one on pre-order, but thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read it a bit early.

4.5 (Publication date: 25/04/2023)

Sweet and silly! Nurse Rached was the greatest character Klune has written. I loved the Pinnochio for a new age bits, the humanity that even the machines could possess and the fact that love is love no matter who or what you are.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

No author writes found family quite like TJ Klune. It’s one of my favorite things about his books. In the Lives of Puppets may have the most precious found family of them all.

This book was a breath of fresh air, taking a new futuristic approach to the Pinocchio story. Victor and Giovanni, son and father respectively, live in the forest in an elaborate construction built around the treetops. Enter Nurse Ratched and Rambo, the two quirky shining companions in this story. I loved watching their characters develop and the comedic timing of these two was absolutely perfect. The four find a a cure for loneliness in each other, although Victor strives for a deeper connection. Enter Hap, the catalyst that shakes up the small world Victor had come to know.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. The writing was beautiful, the themes clever and perfectly developed, and the ending exactly what it needed to be. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this story in advance, and cannot recommend you read it for yourselves after release, April 25th. A story of humanity, and sacrifice, and friendship and love.

TJ Kline has done it again! I absolutely adored In the Lives of Puppets. I didn’t know that I could fall so deeply in love with a robot vacuum, but Rambo stole my heart. I honestly couldn’t get enough of these characters. 5 million stars!