Always excited to see what TJ Klune is up to, and unsurprisingly he lives up to the hype. This is out of my standard genre, but he writes such strong characters and has such excellent worldbuilding that I couldn't put the book down. The narration was great for the audiobook as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

In this fantastic sci-fi-ish/fantasy book, we are taken an a grand adventure following the last human on Earth, Victor Lawson, as he travels to save his father, the android known as GIO. Vic's friends include a vacuum known as RAMBO and nurse machine called Nurse RATCHED are his side kicks, along with a newly salvaged android named HAP (which obviously stands for hysterically angry puppet). Their quest takes them out of the woods in which they reside to the city of electric dreams, and chaos definitely ensues along the way.

TJ Klune knows how to create a world that is so lifelike that it automatically transports the reader right where he wants them. I was so privileged to obtain an advanced listening copy of this fantastic book and it is truly an honor. The narrator was absolutely fantastic and completely brought the story of Vic and his trusty side kicks to life. I feel in love with the characters so much, RAMBO is certainly my favorite, but I did enjoy a snarky Nurse RATCHED moment as well. This is a beautiful story about how pivotal a chosen family can be, and how important it is to always be brave. Absolutely will be recommending this book to all my friends, especially on audio because it was such a magical listen!!

Thanks so the publishers and NetGalley for an ALC of this fantastic book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Really great world building with some adult humor mixed into a very good hearted story. The robots all had unique personalities and were hilarious. A very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for sending me an audiobook arc of this title.

I loved the character development (of robots!) in this story. By the end, I'd fallen in love with all of the characters. I found the middle to drag a little bit but I enjoy the way that TJ Klune dives into deep, philosophical topics without being preachy.

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by T J Klune, and the audiobook is narrated by Daniel Henning. I’ve loved two other books by this author so I was pretty hopeful about this one.

This is sort of a sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio but in the end times. Humans have been eliminated and all that’s left are machines.

If you are wanting to get into audiobooks I highly recommend this one. The characters are each given a unique voice and personality, and the narrator is just perfection. It’s a touching story that will also make you laugh out loud. 5 huge stars!!!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

This was a good one! Really funny and the typical loveable quirky characters from TJ Klune. I found it interesting how many stories are blended in this one. I knew Pinocchio and Swiss Family Robinson were, but I also felt the Tin Man’s story from The Wizard of Oz was also tied in. The last chapter added another star to my review as it was really touching. At times I was a bit disconnected, but I think that was mostly me. While I don’t think it’s my favourite TJ Klune book, it was definitely another warm hug, with some smut jokes thrown in ;) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Another TJ Klune story and Daniel Henning performance that make the reader care for a fantastical cast of characters, all of whom are impossible to forget!

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The story is a retelling of Pinocchio. I loved the cast of characters. Vic was wonderful and drew me in. The robotic friends, Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and Hap, were energetic and lively. I constantly found myself laughing out loud due to the dialogue, especially because I was listening to the audiobook and the narrator was doing a great job. Another thing I liked seeing was the Ace main character who also managed to have a relationship.
I definitely plan on rereading this book more than once.

Now, I’ve been scarred by Pinocchio since…well, since the first time I saw the Disney animated version. Reading the original book made it worse. But Klune’s family-forward, queer-romantic, post-apocalyptic retelling? I feel healed. Rejuvenated.

This time, we have a real boy living among puppets. Or, more accurately, among robots. Vic has never met another human (not since his parents left him with the robot he calls “father”), but he’s cared for by three wonderful and deeply neurotic robots. Life seems ideal. Until he meets his fourth robot, and the world soon comes crashing down. Now Vic, the vacuum Rambo, health-bot Nurse Ratched, and HAP, the hysterically angry puppet, but find Vic’s father, the inventor Gio, and discover the truth about the world outside their forest.

Also, there’s romance! A really slow-burn one, which had me VERY impatient. I did not know I needed a romance version of Pinocchio, but I’ll take it. Especially since this is an asexual romance!

Now, I’m going to tell you now, GET THE AUDIOBOOK. If you ever do audiobooks, this HAS to be heard. Narrator Daniel Henning leaned into this HARD. Wildly distinct voices and masterful acting. My favorite of the characters as portrayed is, of course, little vaccum-bot Rambo, who is a little ray of sunshine. And who has no filter beyond the one that keeps the dust in. Rambo and Henning had me laughing out loud and pausing the book while I recovered several times.

Fun, a bit risqué, and genuinely romantic. Another hit from Klune!

4.5 Stars
This book definitely pulled at my heartstrings and I would highly recommend picking it up in audio format as Daniel Henning did a fabulous job of bringing all the characters to life! My favorite was Nurse Ratched....there were moments when her dialogue had me laughing out loud. I haven't picked up any other books by this author (yet!) and I can clearly see that has been a mistake as I am told his books typically feature a found family - one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley for offering this title to me! While I missed the chance to download the audiobook as the archive date had passed, I decided to pick it up at my local library to experience this book for myself. So glad that I did, as I am now a huge fan of TJ Klune and can't wait to go into his backlist to explore more titles.

Not to be missed!

This may be my favorite book of 2023 so far. TJ Klune blew me away with In the Lives of Puppets and it's right up there with The House in the Cerulean Sea. I love how he writes characters and makes us really feel what they're feeling and experience what they're going through. Vic, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, Hap and Gio will live in my mind forever. In the Lives of Puppets is a story of found family, love, staying true to yourself and saving the world. I alternated from e-book and audio and I have to say, the audio was absolutely fantastic. The narrator's voices gave such dimension to the characters and I felt like I was watching a movie. I absolutely loved this sweet book and recommend it to everyone!

Although I recieved a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian audio for the opportunity to listen to this one!

After reading a couple of Klune's other books, I read the description on this one and knew I would have to read it. Klune has a way of writing about the relationships between the characters that I am drawn to. I love it. This one was no different. A boy lives in the woods with his papa and two "robots." When one day he finds a new android to repair, their lives are forever changed. But is it a good thing? I really loved this one. Going on my "to buy" shelf for sure

TJ Klune can do no wrong if you’re wanting a fantasy you can read all at once that makes you immensely connected to each character whether you think you can be or not. Who would’ve thought I’d be as emotionally invested in a fictitious roomba?

I loved this science fiction book from TJ Klune! In The Loves of Puppets is inspired by Pinocchio but it also goes so far beyond with its creativity & characters. I feel like.it would be really easy to spoil certain elements that I really enjoyed learning about as I listened so I won't go into detail but I absolutely loved a) the characters...so well-drawn b) the inclusivity and I mean this in so many ways but what really stood out for me was the way this chosen family was there for each other no matter what. It's a sweet story. OH and I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention the stunning narration by Daniel Henning! It's hard to believe there is just one narrator creating all of these unique voices & never getting it wrong. I was completely swept up by this audiobook. Highly recommend listening to this if possible.

I have always loved how T.J. Klune writes characters and the world around his books, they're so colorful and full of life. In the Lives of Puppets is no exception.
This book was a fun adventure full of incredibly diverse characters and deep, emotional chemistry between robots and humankind.
Though, for me at least, it was a bit slow at times, the story overall will stick with me for a good while.

This falls somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars.

It pains me to say this, but overall the book was just "fine". I had no major problems with it, but I just couldn't connect to the story for some reason and I don't know why that is. I really liked the writing (I laughed a lot) and the characters (Nurse Ratched is hilarious!) and I liked the allusions to Frankenstein, Pinocchio, and Wizard of Oz, but once I put the book down I wasn't motivated to pick it back up. Overall, I liked the book but I didn't love it the way I loved Cerulean Sea or Whispering Door.

In the Lives of Puppets, is a very interesting retelling of the classic story of Pinocchio. We follow Victor Lawson as and his three companions, Rambo a naïve vacuum robot, Nurse Ratched (love the reference to One Flew Over the Cuckoos' Nest) a sociopathic nursing robot, and H.A.P. a.k.a Hysterically Angry Puppet a rebuilt and reprogramed android, journey to save his father Gio from the City of Electric Dreams.

We start the story in a very peaceful place with Vic searching a junkyard and finding a badly damaged android. Even though the android threatened and attacked Vic causing him to bleed in the junkyard, he decides to repair him with a heart he has been working on in case his father's heart breaks. Once HAP is up and functional Gio finds him and is very concerned but decided to help reprogram HAP. Eventually sensing Human blood the authority comes looking for Vic, Gio sacrifices himself to protect Vic and the others and is taken to the city of electric dreams.

As far as a retelling goes I think Klune did a decent job retelling Pinocchio in a Sci-Fi world. I had a wonderful time getting to know Vic, Rambo, Nurse Ratched and HAP, I greatly enjoy Klune's slightly off kilter found families and this one was no exception I really loved every member of the family and was rooting for everyone make it out okay. I also really adored the Asexual rep that we get to see through Vic's character. Overall i feel the book was very solid and I enjoyed my time in the world and with all the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I had to sit on this review for quite some time. I'll be honest and start here... This was not my favorite of TJ Klune's novels. But to be fair, Pinocchio has never been a story I particularly enjoyed, so I started from that viewpoint.

The good: The side characters, as always in a Klune novel, absolutely steal the show. You fall in love with these little robots and their quirks. The setting is stunning and vivid. The asexual representation is refreshing. The father/son story is heartwarming and authentic.

The so-sos: The love story never quite got good for me. It just fell flat. I also never got quite as emotionally invested in this story as I did in other Klune novels.

The not-so-greats: Some sections honestly just dragged on leaving me in a serious reading slump afterwards.

Overall it was an enjoyable book, but I personally didn't feel it lived up to past works.

I loved this so much! I loved how vivid the details of this book were, and I loved how much emotion robots brought to me. There were even a few times I teared up. Chauncey and Lucy were my favorite characters from House in the Cerulean Sea, and I loved that Nurse Ratched and Rambo reminded me of them while staying their own unique characters. The romance in this book felt genuine and believable. I was rooting for them the whole time and felt that we got a very realistic ending. And the family aspect was spot on. TJ Klune is a master of writing families! Overall, this book was excellent, and I can't wait to see what TJ Klune writes next.

I always love TJ Klune’s books, this one was so unique! I loved the storyline and the characters. Definitely read the house in the cerulean sea and this one!