We have been blessed by a new TJ Klune book!

In the same style as every Klune book I've read so far, we get this beautiful gift of a gift, with a gentle story told with love and care. In this case, we have a retelling of the original Pinocchio, though there's a feeling of Wizard of Oz in some places.

What really shines in this book are the characters.This (literally) found family is so beautifully human, despite almost every one of them being a robot. Except for Victor, who is asexual rep!* I'm obsessed with Rambo, the little roomba that could.

The themes of identity, memory, and family are strongly present. That might be why I didn't connect as much with this book, compared to the last two novels of Klune's, because these themes aren't pertinent in my own life. But I am certain they'll be powerful for a whole bunch of readers.

I wish there was a bit more exploration of the world, but I understand that the focus was meant to be on the characters. But as a result, the plot felt a little... easy? The stakes were high, but I felt the characters made it through them a bit too easily for me.

It's a fun, beautiful read that's perfect for fans of the author and for readers who are just discovering him.

*There's a big debate in the community, though, that I need to point out. We aces are trying to step away from the robot analogy. You would not BELIEVE how many times we hear it. So while I love Vic, and he does represent a fully believable asexual character, the fact that he was raised by robots, in a world of robots, brings the analogy a little too close for comfort.

This book is something very special and I want to keep it close to my heart forever. The story of the lawsons is touching, funny and adventurous at the same time.

Klune writes witty and charismatic characters, especially Nurse Ratched made me laugh out loud through the book.

I enjoyed every second of this fantastic (or more sci fi) read and hope to read more from this amazing author.

His last book is already on our recommended book shelf and this new one will be for sure too!

T.J. Klune just doesn't seem to miss. This book is full of heart (figuratively, but also literally) and little emotions that eviscerated me. I loved this book. There's more to say, of course there is, but the words escape me, so I'll just write this: only Klune could create the end of the world as we know it with charm and wistfulness. Dystopia has never been so whimsical, or so gut wrenching.

What a wonderful and unique retelling! I love books that remind me what it means to be human and alive and TJ Klune is so good at that!

Favorite Book Alert!!!

My first read of 2023 set the bar REALLY high!
Honestly * I don't even know what to say! TJ Klune has done it again.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is the perfect book, in my opinion.

Believe it or not, this book has characters as loveable as the ones in Cerulean Sea.
Once upon a time, humanity dreamed of machines that would be just like humans. But machines observed and learned, and eventually, things got a little out of hand.

Victor lives in the middle of the woods with his "father" Gio. A man who's not a man. Victor's friend's are Rambo, an old vacuum, and Nurse Racthed, a vintage robot whose purpose once was to take care of humans.

I swear, these two characters will make you laugh out loud!!! They're probably my favorite part of the whole book.

This book is sci-fi mixed with adventure, romance, drama, and philosophy. It'll make you think of how amazing it is to be a human. How beautiful our flaws are. How incredible it is to feel things.

"Sometimes, it's the smallest things that can change everything when you least expect it."

I recently had the pleasure of reading "In The Lives of Puppets" by TJ Klune, and I must say it was an absolute delight. The story follows a human named Victor, a Nurse Robot named Nurse Ratched, a human hunting robot named HAP, and a vacuum cleaner named Rambo. If anyone can get you to have feels for a vacuum cleaner, it's TJ! There are also a few easter eggs for you if you know what to look for, which is always fun for me.

"In The Lives of Puppets" is a retelling the classic tale of Pinocchio, but with a fresh and modern twist. As a fan of all things TJ Klune, it's no surprise that this story hits big on the themes of found family (one of my favs), forgiveness, and what we owe to each other.

TJ Klune has a gift for creating rich, complex characters that are easy to relate to and root for, and this book is no exception. The characters are all lovable and fully realized, and their relationships with one another are heartwarming and genuine. The writing is top-notch, with vivid descriptions, and dialogue that is funny, poignant, and always on point.

Overall, "In The Lives of Puppets" is a beautifully written, deeply moving tale that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. I highly recommend it to fans of TJ Klune and anyone who loves a queer retelling of a classic story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Just because you had parts missing doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a chance.”

I was lucky enough to receive and eARC of In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune from TorBooks and the below is my review.

In the Lives of Puppets is a reimagining of Pinocchio that centers on Victor Lawson. Vic is a lone human raised in the forest by an android. Alongside his father and his two best friends (a vacuum with anxiety and a robot nurse with murderous tendencies) Vic learns to love his home and to create. When Vic and his robot friends stumble across a damaged android their lives will never be the same.

Let me start by saying that there is no way this review will do justice to the feelings I have around this book. When I first heard that we were getting a story from Klune that featured an asexual main character AND robots my brain overheated from excitement. Ya girl is an (aro)ace who loves robots and so it feels like this book was made just for me. Despite this book resonating with me in such a personal way, I am confident that others will love it too.

This is a story of creation and of family. It is one of humor and heartache. It’s a mixture of adventure and the mundane. So, yeah. It’s a TJ Klune book. For those that have read much of Klune’s backlog I can say that In the Lives of Puppets is more in the same vein of style as The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door than it is his older works. In my opinion it is TJ Klune’s best work to date. It probably goes without saying, but this one gets five bright and shining stars from me!

In the Lives of Puppets will be released on April 25th, and I can’t wait for that day to be here so you can all meet Vic and his robot family. 💕

Exactly what you expect to get from TJ Klune. Great characters, emotional storyline, colorful theme with underlying messages about humanity— It’s good and bad sides.

Great story. I loved Cerulean Sea so much. This one I liked, but not as much as I’d expect. I’m just not the target audience… Sci-fi vibes.

I didn’t realize the Pinocchio retelling until I read the reviews— I think I’m going to need to watch Pinocchio again now!

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. Victor Lawson is the last human on earth, he is the son of Gio Lawson, a robot who has raised him. Victor loves repairing things and when he discovers and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “ HAP” he soon discovers what his father has been hiding from him this entire time: that Gio was tasked with creating machines... and that Hap was one of them... and he was programmed to hunt and kill humans. Yet Hap has no memories of his past and now he is something new When Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams and Victor must stay hidden or else the other robots will kill him. Victor now must go on a journey with his family and new android in order to save Gio while discovering what it means to love and if he can love someone who could betray him. This was the most adorable, sweet, and fun story ever. I adored Nurse Ratched (nurse machine) and Rambo (vacuum) 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!

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

I absolutely love this author! I have never read a retelling of Pinocchio and I was pleasantly surprised at how well done and well thought out it was. Pinocchio but make it a dystopian sci-fi? I'm in! The characters were great, their banter was witty and made me laugh out loud. This book filled me with pure joy!

4.5 Stars!

I couldn’t start off 2023 with any other book than this one! I received an early copy of this through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I couldn’t thank Net Galley and Tor Publishing enough for starting my reading year off with one of my all-time favorite authors. I will read everything this author puts out just so I can smile at the Easter Eggs he leaves in all of this book! I get a sense of “home” when I’m in one of T.J. Klune’s stories.

I want to begin by saying although this book 100% worked for me, it might not work out for everyone who would be picking up this book because of how much they loved some of Klune’s previous books. This book is much heavier in the Sci-Fi and dystopian feeling. The humor is a bit darker and cynical, and the overall story in the middle of the book is a bit slow. There were times I had to re-read some of the paragraphs and slow down my reading speed just to absorb some of the world building that was taking place. It reminded me of the world of Wall-E, with the story line of The Wizard of Oz, or the Matrix, or any other book/movie where someone is meeting the “Oracle”, “Chosen One,” or “the Robot God.” For someone who reads a lot of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, I loved this book. However, I’m not sure I would suggest this book to others as the first TJ Klune book for them to pick up.

The book follows Vic, who is the last human on Earth. He was raised by Giovanni Lawon (Gio) an android inventor, and two other robots Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Nurse Ratched is a robot from the past that helped with medical emergencies, and Rambo is a robot vacuum. The two of them kept me laughing throughout the entire book. Let’s be completely real, the thing Klune can do so well is write great banter with his characters. Don’t get me wrong, the children from House in the Cerulean Sea will always hold the top spot in my heart for best characters ever written, but after finishing this book, I must admit that Nurse Ratched and Rambo are tied with first place when it comes to their banter Nurse Ratched’s sense of humor. My gosh…they were adorable. Honestly, I’m not sure this book would be nearly as good without the humor from the side characters.

You can tell from the beginning of the book that it has a “found family” feel that will have you wishing you could be a part of their family. Vic and his robot family come across an old robot from a scrap yard named HAP, who is an old model of robot that was designed to end humanity. However, HAP doesn’t remember his programing. HAP has learned that he can choose his own path. He ends up living with Vic, Gio, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo and starts to learn and adjust to their way of life. They spend months together listening to jazz music, tinkering with scraps, and enjoying each other company, until one day they are found by the Authority. Gio is taken to the City of Electric Dreams, and a rescue mission follows where rest the book really picks up in speed.

The book hits on some heavy topics like friendship, love, bravery, choosing your own path, and forgiveness. But my biggest takeaway was the end of the book. The way Klune writes about loneliness and what makes humanity so incredibly important had my eyes watering. How Klune can have me tearing up over robots tells me that his writing style woks for me.

I feel like TJ Klune was trying something different with this book, and I personally loved it and am in awe of how genius his writing is. However, I’m not sure this will be the book I recommend to others if I’m recommending a TJ Klune book. I will wait forever until I can read his next book!!!!

Loved, loved, LOVED this book!!! Loved the characters! Loved everything about it!!! My heart is so full and filled with joy and happiness after reading this modernized retelling of Pinocchio. TJ Klune is an absolute GENIUS! I love and admire his fearlessness in discussing topics that are generally frowned upon or ignored by the uptight, narrow-minded people in this world. His sexual references, nuances and humor are simply brilliant and refreshing. I laughed as much as I cried. It took me 4 days to read this book; not because it was slow, but because every word was worth being savored. I loved the characters...I'm sure I said that already!! Who wouldn't love a little, anxious vacuum robot that is neurotic and has OCD? Or a nurse robot whose crass, sick sense of humor and no filter will have you rolling on the floor? I just couldn't get enough of this story and I am so sad that it is over. I highly recommend that everyone read this book. I'm pretty confident in stating that you will more than likely love it just as much as I did. Preorder it now!!

Thank you to the author, Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!!

In the Lives of Puppets by T. J. Klune is a dystopian sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio with a dash of Wall-e sprinkled in, and a hint of Frankenstein too.

I love Klune's writing and the quirky characters he creates. This book has a wonderful assembly of characters who have created their own family--Giovanni (Gio) Lawson, an inventor and android father figure; Nurse Ratched, an exasperated and blunt medical robot; Rambo, a tiny vacuum robot who is as filled with exuberance as he is with anxiety. And then Victor, who isn't a robot at all, but a real, human boy who is part of this found family. Literally found, as you'll see when you read the book.

HAP enters their lives when Victor finds him in the scrap heap and everything in their quiet, pastoral forest life changes from that moment on. HAP has a backstory that only Gio knows and understands. The chaos that ensues results in Victor and his companions going on a quest that puts them in great danger but also shows how deep the bonds of their love and devotion extend.

At it's core this is a story about love--the many versions of it. Familial love, platonic love, romantic love. It's all here. A story about love, devotion, trust, and faith in the people you love. That was exquisitely shown and developed.

Some of the sci-fi world building and back story were al little confusing for me but they didn't detract from the story telling.

The book ended on a hopeful and tender note, with warmth and love and found family being the central focus.

I liked the slowly progressing romance. I do think it was great to have ace representation with Victor but I did feel this was something that we were told more than we were seeing. I think I would have liked that developed more, as it was often brought up in the narrative but didn't have as much weight to it as part of who he is.

I enjoyed the characters, the found family component--which Klune does so well--and the overall arc of the story.

I wanted a bit more from parts of it but it still left me with a warm and cozy feeling at the end. I will probably reread this in a few months when it's released and revisit my thoughts on it.

Another great book from Klune. Cerulean Sea still holds the top spot in my heart, but this books gives me much to think about, now that I've finished. it.

This book - mind blowing up emoji.

I love everything TJ Klune has written and this was no exception. A cross between Pinocchio and Wall-e but all it’s own. Each character was beautiful and funny and flawed but aren’t we all?

Yes it ended kind of melancholy but to be honest I kind of expected that. Really beautiful and so glad I got to read it.

Thank you to TOR publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing novel.

In true Klune fashion, this novel is wonderful and heartbreaking and amazing and I could go on and on with it.

Vic is human and his family is all robots. How did one live in a world where you are the only one? You work to create others that ate unique as well.

Klune has written a dystopian book that has heart like all of their books. Finding your place and finding your people is the core of this novel.

Highly enjoyable read!

I'm hanging by a thread, very close from exploding into uncontrollable sobs. This was perfection. I have no words. The story was superbly crafted. The Collodi's Pinocchio's references were great without being overwhelming. The characters were the best of the best. The humour was incredible without it being over the top that can end up being annoying, eclipsing the whole book. I'm in a limbo of feelings, and my heart is a mess. Hearts, HEARTS, they're so important in this book. An additional character even. What can make a puppet "a real boy"? A heart. A heart makes you feel, and if you feel you aren't a machine. You can choose, you can change your fate, change your purpose. You can evolve.
Every single part of this book was well thought, and pages flew unnoticed. I got to the last page, with glassy eyes, not wanting to close my kindle because that meant it was truly over. I wasn't ready to let go.

Victor must be forever protected. I'm now his bodyguard. The sweetest human ever who deserves all the hugs. Group hugs would be great!
Rambo might need a shake once or a thousand times but his excitable small vacuum body brought sunshine to the story.
Nurse Ratched, my queen, never change. You can roll on me, then heal me anytime you want.
Hap, aka Hysterical Angry Puppet, my "little" killing machine, too big to be a toaster, you are my angel, your little smiles melt my heart.

Head empty, depleted. In love. So in love.

How can someone write something so profound that makes you feel miserable of the relationship between a machine and a boy? Yes that someone is Travis John Klune who is known for writing The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Only he can write about a group of machines that can talk and make you feel endless of emotions.

The book is divided into 4 parts:
THE FOREST
The beginning of the story when inventor Android Giovanni Lawson found a place and built a home together with his human son Victor Lawson, sadistic sociopath nurse machine Ratched and small vacuum Rambo. This part tells how they started and describe about their lives and then Victor meet a dismantled machine Hap. He saved him and took home with a little knowledge what even will unfold next.

THE JOURNEY
Gio is kidnapped to the city of electric dreams. Victor, Hap, Ratched and Rambo must save him after all he is their father. Their journey towards city is filled with funny bickering, a sadistic statement from Ratched, innocent cute Rambo always on guard from beast, and protective Hap who will do anything to be near Victor.

THE CITY
Victor must face any secrets that's coming to him, a deadly confession and a truth he must digest despite his unavoidable feelings towards Hap. A machine and a human boy. The endless possibilities of life beyond them. A seemless future yet a tragic past. Will past determine their future?

YOU START AGAIN FROM THE BEGINNING
Victor must do everything to save his father and Hap even if they may never remember him but he should try. He must try. One never know unless you give a try, right? The ending, it's always the ending which break me and then heal me. It's funny I know but once again only T. J. Klune can write a gripping story about love, forgiveness, attachment, family based on a machine and a human boy. I will do everything to write even a percent of what he write.

Let me start by stating that the artwork for his novels is absolutely amazing and it perfectly captures what I had pictured in my head. I didn't pay too much attention when I started but I was describing it to a friend and showed her the cover and had the biggest WOW moment.

I couldn't put it down just like his previous novels. I still have to hold out that the House in the Cerulean Sea is still my #1 but this one is so close. I loved everyone. Rambo and Nurse Ratched really made this book. Their witty comments throughout the book had me laughing so hard. Nurse Ratched's ability to switch from wanting to care for you to threatening to maim or murder you was a highlight as well.

I enjoyed the storyline of Vic and Hap but it was the family aspect that makes me love this book. Every family is unique and I want to be in this one. It is based on Pinocchio but I was definitely picking up some Wizard of Oz vibes as well. With Disney and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio recently being released this one is blowing the others out of the water because the movie that played in my head was just as beautiful and vibrant as the cover. If you want a book that makes you feel insanely happy read In the Lives of Puppets.


In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labeled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning, or worse, reprogramming.

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS fits perfectly into this year of many, many Pinocchio retellings, but I'm happy to report it feels fresh nevertheless! In true TJ Klune style, it's a sweet and emotional tale brimming with wit, imagination, and heartache (good and bad.) I was also thrilled to see a canonically ace protagonist!!

I won't spoil by over-explaining, but if you're a fan of Klune's earlier work (or even if you aren't) then you're certain to love PUPPETS. The cast is hilarious and loveable, and the loose retelling led to some interesting twists. It's pacey and escapist in the best possible way -- and Klune is probably the only author who could make me cry over a roomba.

Another TJ Klune book to love! If there is anything this author does, it's make loveable and flawed characters. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel, interesting world, fun cast of characters. Dystopian wizard of Oz vibes with lovely ace rep. Overall a really enjoyable read!