4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but then was there really any doubt that I would?

So, this is a retelling of Pinocchio (the book, not the movie) and I think that TJ did a fantastic job of retelling the story. I haven't read the book, but have seen the movie several times, so am familiar with the story. I really like how he retold it and the ways that he changed it (I'm trying to not spoil anything!).

All of the characters were great, obviously I loved Rambo, because you would have to be a monster to not love Rambo.

The reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is because of two things;
1. I didn't find the ending overly satisfying. It was fine and I don't know what I would have preferred, but it just didn't quite work for me.
2. It was REALLY slow. Like, it was a good story, I enjoyed it very much, but it just did not grab me. Even once we got to the exciting parts, it was still slow.

Also, once again, TJ has included some easter eggs, which I always love. It's so nice to be able to pick up on little things that only folks who have read his back catalogue would notice.

Overall, enjoyed the book, not sure if I'll read it again or not? The audiobook is absolutely lovely, as Daniel Hemming is narrating and he is fantastic.

I read the audio of this and think it was particularly well suited to be an audiobook. It's just that kind of story. I thought the narrator did an excellent job with all the different voices, making some of the side characters even more loveable than they might have been in text.

I enjoyed this one while listening, and only a few times felt it was dragging a bit. I liked and cared for all the characters, though I kind of wanted more characterization from HAP. The side characters were my favorite part, they're completely endearing, and I also loved that the main character is asexual.

For me this was one where I enjoyed the story, was entertained throughout and liked the characters, but didn't have a whole lot of feels or deep thoughts about it. The first half of the book was more engaging for me than the second half, even thought the second half had more action. I liked the book and would recommend it, particularly the audio, but I didn't love it and didn't find it particularly emotionally resonant. That definitely might be different for other readers, who may connect to it in ways I didn't.

Thank you so very, very much Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my opportunity to listen to this INCREDIBLE audio ARC. My ears are happy!

Daniel Henning’s performance was so well done. Every character had their own voice and sound. Absolute perfection and Henning is now on my must listen narrators list. The voice he gave little Rambo was charming. Rambo is my heart.

This story was chef’s kiss! Many topics touched on and my mind was constantly relating them to things we are currently dealing with as humans in society today. Klune writes with a magic touch bringing light to hard topics while never losing the charm of the story.

I loved the humor (Rambo, seriously had me cracking up), found family, the touch of loneliness all felt, how easily embarrassed Vic became at some things mentioned, Nurse Ratchet’s sexy sassy ways, how protective they are of one another, covering grief in a relatable manner, and how I could not stop smiling… when I wasn’t crying at character experiences.

“Memory. Ever present. A reminder of what was, and what could be if only one was brave enough to reach for it.”

I just loved this story. Found family, courage, adventure, and love. Vic finding the strength and bravery to help his family remember, and to save them all. Ugh, my heart.

Rambo and Nurse Ratched are hysterical and deserve their own spin off.

Not only was the book itself wonderful and the perfect balance of whimsy and darkness, the audiobook was narrated with such live and vivacity. It was a true joy to listen to.

Once again, TJ Klune has proven he can write the most whimsical, adorable books ever. I rarely dip into genres not based in reality, but here I was, having a splendid time reading about anxious, sassy, and grumpy robots. I bounced between the ebook and audiobook, and the audiobook is truly special. I would have initially thought that listening to someone make robot voices for over 15 hours would be painful, but the narrator's distinct, amusing voices added to the charm.

In the Lives of Puppets is based loosely on The Adventures of Pinocchio, and I loved the creativity and world-building in this universe where humans are effectively nonexistent. Even though I thought the book went on a little longer than it needed to and at times it was a little bit too cutesy for my tastes, I can't fault it for putting a smile on my face and making me laugh.

Thank you the NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for the ALC. This is my honest review.

There are some things I liked about this book. I liked the found family aspect, the quirky characters and the world building. I’m always happy to read a retelling of a classic story too.

I also have some criticisms. The narration was a little overboard for me so maybe reading a physical copy would’ve been better. That may be why I wasn’t fully invested in the story. I’m all for a weird story but I think this was just a little odd for me.

Absolutely enjoyed this queer retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio. It was a beautifully written story about found family, love and humanity. I laughed and cried and it was about robots! How TJ Klune does it with these odd characters and make me feel so much for them, I will never know. You must read this heart warming story.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley for allowing me the audiobook ARC. I have been eagerly awaiting this release, so I was thrilled to get it early.
As many others have noted, it is a retelling of Pinocchio with a splash of Wizard of Oz. However, the overarching theme of humanity and what our place in the word is really does away with classic tale. TJ Klune reaches depths that touch you to your very core and remind you what it is to be human. There were moments and dialogue that took my breath away. Klune breathes life into his characters where you find yourself grieving over machines.
I did think the book was just a little too long. There were points in the middle sequence that dragged just a bit. There were also some characters that didn’t seem to add much to the overall story. I would have liked to see more of Part I. In addition, there were some allusions (outside of Pinocchio) that were distractingly cliched.
I definitely recommend anyone to read this book: I think you will be nicely surprised. And, I would highly recommend the audiobook. Daniel Henning (who also narrated The House on the Cerulean Sea) just has incredible technique and timing.

TJ Klune does it again 🥹 Pinocchio meets Wizard of Oz meets A.I. In a world where androids and robots have taken over the world, Victor, a human, lives with his android father and two robot friends. His father is captured and Victor and his friends (along with a new friend he revived from the junkyard) must travel to the City of Electric Dreams but endure many trials and obstacles along the way. This is another perfect cozy fantasy to get completely lost in. While the narration is a little over the top, I think it was perfectly necessary to enhance the humor of Victor’s hilarious robotic friends. I hadn’t laughed out loud with a book in so long! While it is hilarious and sometimes creepy (robots and AI freak me out), it was an incredibly heartwarming story about love, friendships, family and forgiveness.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

It's even better than House!! Can I give it more than 5 stars? I don't even like retellings but i can barely tell this is one. This book is more mature, more funny, with all the feelings, a genuine masterpiece! How come all my fave books lately have Robots. Using robots to explore themes of humanity is my fave thing. I love these characters so much!
Go read it when this releases in a few days.

I love TJ Klune and any time they have a new book come out i get so excited! This book was no exception. The concept alone was really cool and it did not disappoint. This book had some much heart but it was also fun and so funny. I couldn't get enough of some of these characters especially Nurse Ratchet! This is really just one I would definitely recommend.

Short synopsis: Vic lives with his dad Gio and their robot friends in a house in the woods. One day in the junkyard he finds evidence of another robot of the brink of death.

My thoughts: I had no idea what to expect from this one going in, other than quirky characters and a heartwarming story. Well I was right, but this was so much more.

This is a Pinocchio retelling, but I also sensed bits of the Wizard of Oz in it too. It’s a silly story with lots of witty dialogue but huge undertones of family, love, compassion, and understanding.

Nurse Ratched was by far my favorite with some amazing one-liners, but Rambo the quick to love robot was also so great.

Read if you love:
- Underlying messages
- Acceptance
- Family and friends
- Quirky and lovable characters
- Retellings

I did a mix of audio and physical reading on this one. The narration was so well done, and he had such a great way of voicing each different character to bring out their personalities.

Thank you so much Tor and Macmillan audio for early copies of this heartwarming story!

This story! If you do not fall in love with Rambo as soon as you meet the needy little guy, I think you may have a wooden heart.

This made me think of Pinocchio meets Wall-e in every good way. There is adventure and stories of friendship. And the narrator is FANTASTIC! The voice variations made this book even better - I laughed out loud often.

Favorite quote - “They are not prepared for this gelatin” - Nurse Ratched

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.

I aboslutely LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under The Whispering Door soooo much that when I saw In The Lives Of Puppets show up on the ARC listing, I did a little happy dance..,even though its an audiobook and my prefered method of reading is on my kindle. I couldnt pass it up, however. I saw TJ Klune, and snagged it without thinking twice.

While I absolutely loved his other books, this one was more of a let down for me.

It took me a minute to sink into the story. His other novels pulled me in faster. It is a creative endevor, a retelling of Pinocchio featuring robots vs wooden puppets. My favorite character was Rambo, this paranoid little vaccum-bot. Cranky nurse Ratched is a close second. Some of their jokes landed a little rough however...sophmoric and repetetive.

There's more adventure than romance in this novel, and one of the things I loved most about Cerrulean Sea and Whipering Door is how the MC's find acceptance of themesleves, and unexpected love and acceptance from others. Family is the main theme in Puppets, instead, which is nice, but I found myself longing for a bit more. I think I prefer his cozy slice of life elements better than sci-fi adventure. Don't get me wrong -- its TJ Klune, and he has a nack for bringing unique characters to life and weaving a world that pulls you in. I simply found he did this better -- for me anyway -- in the other two books than this one. I think I might need to read vs listen to it when it publishes. I wasn't sold on the narrators take on some of the character voices. That certainly pulls me out of the story. I am sure others will love the narration, I probobly should have requested a kindle copy if it were available instead.

While not my favorite TJ Klune novel, its still a worthy read that I am sure many will come to love. His creativity is boundless.

TJ Klune's adult books have always made me laugh, cry, and feel hopeful. "Under the Whispering Door" was one of my favorite books of 2021.

This one was sadly a bit of a let down. I thought it had a lot more of "Wizard of Oz" than "Pinocchio" or "Wall-E". The characters were somewhat enjoyable and fun (especially Rambo and Nurse Ratched), but mostly not memorable. While this story said a lot of the right things and a lot of what TJ Klune's reader would expect, it felt often heavy handed.

Many readers will absolutely love this book, and they should. Sadly I was not one of them. "Under the Whispering Door" stays my favorite for another few years.

The audiobook was good.

(2.5 stars, rounded up)
I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea but did not love Under The Whispering Door, so I was curious about TJ Klune’s new book, In The Lives Of Puppets. And when I realized that the audiobook is narrated by Daniel Henning, I just knew I wanted to experience this story via audio. And the narration did not disappoint. But the story did.

It took until about 30% into the book before it caught my interest. I considered DNF-ing it but I stuck with it to the end (although I did listen to a lot of it at a rather high playback speed). Klune has written a rather clever retelling of the Pinocchio story, featuring robots/machines/androids. I grew fond of the little vacuum-robot, Rambo, and the cranky nurse-robot, Nurse Ratched, although the voice for Rambo sounded just like Chauncey in “Cerulean”, which threw me for a bit. The juvenile sexual jokes were a bit repetitive and annoying and could have been edited out, which would have had the additional benefit of making the book shorter.

A major theme is found family, a favorite theme of mine. Gio is the father figure, although he’s a robot/android himself. Vic is his son, a human, who literally found and repaired/revived Rambo and Ratched, along with another android HAP. There is a bit of romance but it’s more of an adventure story than a romance, with a foursome on a journey, somewhat reminiscent of the foursome in the Wizard of Oz (one human and three robots/androids) I just never really connected with the story or the characters, although many others will totally love this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

TJ Klune has a talent for world building that is so detailed that it is easy to imagine the setting and the characters along with the challenges they face. Somehow Klune can make what should be a very dark situation hilarious, heartfelt, and serious all at once. He always manages to make me think about what is important. In this book it’s: What does it mean to be human?

Daniel Henning’s narration of the audiobook is perfect. His range of voice shines in the robots’ distinct voices. He sounds at turns manic, bleak, serious, softhearted, and more. He deserves all the stars. I look forward to seeking out Hennings’ other work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review

I’m not sure what I expected out of this book, but I don’t think it was this. It definitely has the distinct characters and humor that made The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door such big successes, but this was more of a sci-if adventure rather than a cozy slice of life and the romance here was a much smaller element than in the other two books.

Personally, I think this was my least favorite of the three. Mostly, I think it was too long. The plot doesn’t really pick up until the second half and because of that I started to find pieces of the story a little too grating. The jokes became repetitive, and while I appreciate the discussions on humanity I think I wanted them to be a little less blatant.

I appreciated the future world here. I liked seeing the little remnants of what humanity left behind and how the robots interpreted them. Also, I found the anxiety representation to be very well done, and liked seeing on page asexual representation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love T.J. Klune's writing. The only problem I have is with the audiobook specifically. The voice the narrator used for Rambo didn't feel like it properly represented the character and was not enjoyable. Another bookseller who listened to the audiobook feels the same way. It might just be a matter of personal preference but it did detract from the experience. But I absolutely loved the book and will definitely be recommending it to customers.