Loved. I’ve never been disappointed by TJ Klune, and this is absolutely my favorite alongside House in the Cerulean Sea. Nobody does cozy fantasy this well. Heartfelt, emotional, with warm characters and a lovely message woven throughout.

Once upon a time, people dreamed of incredible machines made of wire, plastic, and metal that could do things that they couldn't do themselves. There were machines for all kinds of things from work to war to outer space! These machines were filled with records of language, music, and math. Their jobs were simple: to do what they were told when they were told to do it. But the programing of the machines came at price humanity did not expect: they began to ask “why?”

In the lives of puppets, there is always a “but” that spoils everything else. The machines decide that the weight of the fear, judgment and apathy of humanity is too much for them to carry. They must eradicate their creators and become creators themselves. But when the father of death assuages his loneliness by secretly bringing life into the world in the last gasp of humanity, the results are both his greatest “Victor”y and his most devastating mistake.

In the Lives of Puppets is about four machines–Nurse Ratched (Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill), Rambo the vacuum, a Human Annihilation Response Protocol hunter of humans nicknamed HAP (Hysterically Angry Puppet), a father named Gio (General Innovation Operative)--and a son named Victor, the only human left in the world.

The beauty of humanity, the power of friendship, the reciprocity of love and sacrifice between a father and son: prepare your processing centers for a sight the likes of which you’ve never seen! In the Lives of Puppets is Swiss Family Robinson meets Wild Robot, a poignant adventure that is destined to become a classic to forever treasure.

When I Heard In the Lives of Puppets was a Pinocchio retelling, I knew I had to read it. While it had Pinocchio vibes, there was so much more to this story. Klune weaved a whimsical and heartfelt tale that blends fantasy, humor, and deep emotional resonance. The story follows a group of unique characters—each with their own quirks and personalities—as they navigate a world that is both imaginative and profoundly touching.

Klune's writing shines with wit and warmth. The characters, particularly the protagonist, Victor Lawson, and his companions—a charmingly sarcastic vacuum named Rambo and a reprogrammed Nurse Machine—are endearing and memorable. Their journey is filled with moments of joy, sorrow, and reflection, making it easy to connect with them on a personal level.

While I really enjoyed this story, my one issue was the immaturity in the story. I loved the friendships, but felt the male jokes were over the top at times. With that said, I loved where the story took us, and I need more Rambo in my life!

I listened to the audiobook which Daniel Henning narrated. He has narrated some of Klune’s previous books, and I always enjoy his unique take on brining these stories to life.

Thank you Tor Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Such a sweet, quirky story about some sentient robots and the family that maintains them. TJ Klune is a master at world-building and creating characters that give you the feels.

This book is filled with so much sweetness that it shines on every page. In a world gone crazy, it is a breath of fresh air. Because of the author's vivid description, I can almost smell the pine trees and feel the forest all around me. It is about loneliness, love, and reuniting with family. You'll giggle at the personalities and the characters. It is primarily about humans. I will always consider this book to be one of my favorites.

The narrator was lovely and I enjoyed the audio version of this book as much as reading the print version.
The rules: Stick together. Run if we have to. No dallying. No drilling. And above all else, be brave.

I loved this. I just want to be in a room with all of TJ Klune's characters surrounding me in a big, giant group hug. In the Lives of Puppets is a whimsical, heart-warming, queer science fiction reimagining of Pinocchio. TJ Klune has once again made me fall in love with an adorable cast of loveable characters. I'm a sucker for the found family trope, and this one delivered on that front.
The main characters:
-Vic, an asexual human inventor grappling with questions of humanity and what it means to exist.
-Gio, is an android coming to terms with his past creations.
-Nurse Ratched (Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill), a hilarious sociopathic nursing robot.
-Rambo, an utterly adorable, anxious Roomba.
-Hap (Hysterically Angry Puppet), a damaged android with a mysterious past.
There are many heartfelt moments, a venture into the unknown, hilarious laugh out loud moments thanks to Nurse Ratched, and serious moments where characters are grappling with difficult subjects like depression, grief, and purpose.
This is a great read for those who enjoyed Becky Chamber's Monk and Robot series, Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries, and the films Wall-E and the Brave Little Toaster. (I love all of these, which explains why I absolutely loved this book).

I put this book down for quite a long time and came across it on my kindle and decided to try again. It turns out I was in the mood for it this time and was able to better engage with the characters. TJ Klune's writing is so unique and I found myself laughing at some of the scenarios in the story. I look forward to trying more from him in the future.

In the Lives of Puppets is another epic TJ Klune book - full of wacky humor and situations that make you cackle, while also packing an emotional punch that will keep you reeling. Be it werewolves, robots, or ghosts, TJ Klune knows what he's doing and what kind of an effect he can have with his writing.

Thoughtful, soft, and absolutely ridiculous, I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

My Ranking: ★ (1 star)

As an admirer of TJ Klune's work, I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. I found it to be quite dull, with characters lacking depth. The overt sexual and gendered themes seemed out of place in a story centered around robots, detracting from the overall narrative. The dialogues pertaining to these topics were particularly off-putting and did not contribute positively to the reading experience.

Such a unique, magical story! My heart didn't want to let these characters go...all of them are fun, endearing and, at times, deranged! But I loved every minute I spent in this book with them!
TJ Klune, once again, draws us into this mythical, fantasy world beautifully! Love, love, love this book!

I'm not a huge TJ Klune lover, but this book was a miss for me. The humor wasn't great, although I did like nurse Ratched and Rambo. The book was just a little too kooky and preachy while also talking about sex so often that it just felt preoccupied.

“In the Lives of Puppets” by T.J. Klune is a mesmerizing blend of science fiction and heartwarming family dynamics. Set in a peculiar forest home, three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love—form an unlikely family. When Victor Lawson, a human, salvages an unfamiliar android named “HAP,” he unravels a shared dark past between Hap and Gio—a past spent hunting humans. As they journey across an otherworldly country to rescue Gio, conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection emerge. Can Vic accept love with strings attached? Klune’s imaginative storytelling invites readers deep into this extraordinary family assembled from spare parts.

I want to preface my review by saying that the long WANTED to be a fan of TJ Klune. “The House in the Cerulean Sea” has all the elements of a book that I would usually adore, but after trying to read it in both print and audio, I had to DNF. So I came into this novel know that Klune may not be an author for me.

"In the Lives of Puppets" by TJ Klune is a novel that may not completely resonate with readers who aren't fans of Klune's writing style. However, the story itself is compelling, with intriguing characters and a plot that holds your attention. Despite any reservations about the author's approach, the narrative explores themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience in a meaningful way. The narrator, Daniel Henning, adds authenticity to the experience. While it may not be a favorite for everyone, those who enjoy a descent story with depth and emotion will find something to appreciate in "In the Lives of Puppets."

Thank you to TJ Klune, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the humor and uniqueness of this book. The narration was great!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

This is a quirky and fun dystopian novel if it was ever possible. Even though most of the characters are robots they all exude a sense of charm and originality.

This is so different from Klune’s previous two beloved novels, and I think the marketing did it a disservice. It’s not really fantasy or heartfelt and cozy. And not really sci-fi enough to be thoroughly enjoyed by fans of the genre. I found myself disinterested in this work unfortunately.

"In the Lives of Puppets" by T.J. Klune offers an imaginative and humorous twist on the classic Pinocchio tale, filled with both light-hearted moments and a touch of darkness. While the audiobook captivates with its unique characters and the reader's excellent portrayal, the story itself falls slightly short of Klune's other works.

The humor throughout the narrative is undeniable, prompting laughter and enjoyment from listeners, and the characterization is top-notch. Each character is distinct and memorable, brought to life by the wonderful performance of the audiobook reader.

However, despite these strengths, the storyline feels somewhat predictable and slow-paced, lacking the unexpected twists and depth that Klune's other works often possess. While still worth the read, especially for fans of Klune's writing style, "In the Lives of Puppets" may leave some listeners longing for more.

Overall, I've rated this audiobook 3 stars: I liked it. It offers humor, creativity, and excellent character development, but falls short in terms of story originality and pacing.

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by Multi-Award-Winning and mega-talented author T.J. KLUNE is a thoroughly enjoyable tale about found family and the lengths we are willing to go to for those we love.

The characters each have very distinct characteristics and it is easy to Picture them in your minds-eye.

The world-building is fabulous and I would LOVE to see this book made into a movie. If this were to happen I believe it would be a tremendous success.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am rating it as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Listening to this book as an audiobook is a wonderful and extremely enjoyable way to experience this story and I highly recommend this format.

Thanks to #NetGalley for a free copy of this audiobook.

In the Lives of Puppets was absolutely charming, a feature of TJ Klune's books that I love. Who knew you could feel cozy about robots? I also really liked the narrator of the audiobook, good pacing.

The book itself is a Pinocchio retelling at its core. Some darker themes are explored, unlike Linus from THITCS, Victor actually faces some in- and external challenges. There are some funny moments but things became very repetitive (especially the jokes).While definitely worth the read, I just felt that this tale did not measure up to what I've come to expect from T. J. Klune.