Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pretty odd and delightful. It is very different from what I've come to expect from TJ Klune (namely, light and lovely reads that are uplifting). This one is much darker than his usual stuff (or maybe this is his usual stuff, and the other three books I have read are lighter), but I really enjoyed it. Art and Nate were both great characters and I really appreciated the storyline, which was highly improbable and yet somehow incredibly believable. I enjoyed the science fiction elements, the time period (90s hell yes!) and the development of the plot. I loved the mystery aspects - and at the end, I wasn't quite sure what or who I believed.

So, why not five stars? Well, that's a complicated question. First, it took me a chunk to turn on my suspension on disbelief and vibe with the story. Parts felt weird and unexplained all the way - which was 100% intentional! - and I needed some time to get into that. There is also a romance subplot that felt.... really forced. I don't know why, but I wasn't quite buying it, and trying to think too hard about it made it even harder to buy. I just felt like it wasn't fully developed.

Overall, though, this is a great read for someone looking for the same humanist optimist TJ Klune usually employs, but in a darker story. It is a fun science fiction romp with just enough mystery and humor to keep the reader engaged. Just remember to turn off your logic brain and vibe with the plot, even the parts that are tough to wrap your head around. If you need a fully developed romance (even if that romance is a subplot), this might not be a great choice for you, though :)

I absolutely loved this book and the three main characters. TJ finds a way to make every character lovable and endearing. You root for all three on their own individual journeys. Thank you, TJ, for bringing these characters to life. Although I won’t recommend this for my classroom (I teach third grade 😆), I will continue to recommend TJ’s books to my friends and family.

Gah! TJ Klune is a master storyteller. He creates a universe that feels both impossible and possible at the same time. His characters are so well rounded, deeply flawed, and completely likeable. The "found" family of Artemis, Alex, and Nate is heartwarming as they wrestle with the ideas of belonging. Artemis is a delightful voice that encourages the emotional growth of all three characters. Equal parts action, romance, and science fiction, this Klune novel is sure to find love among new and loyal readers.

Klune's usual schtick, two men and a precocious, charming child, runs thin in this disappointing novel. I wanted to love it, but the little girl/ alien who loves westerns and her gruff protector were more boring than mysterious, while the ex-journalist with a bad family life he can't get over was more frustrating than relatable. I did not finish this book despite several tries, giving up after yet another should-be-charming-but-is-instead-dull-and-overly-twee diner scene. I'm sure our heroes form a loving family at the end, but I couldn't bear another page of attempts to be deep and sweet.

When I first picked this up, I thought it was a new Kline story and not a republish! I was (not) surprised to find myself immersed in another wonderful story by Klune. The storytelling of this sci-fi-esque novel captures you right away and keeps you hooked throughout!

T.J Klune writes another exciting page turner with the perfect amount of laughs along with all the feels. We meet Nate who is a failed journalist who is trying to deal with some complicated grief after the death of his parents. When he heads to the cabin he inherited to be alone and reflect on his life choices, he meets two squatters who are not who they appear to be. Alex and Artemis Darth Vader are mysterious, dangerous, but also endearing. Nate must decide if he wants to get involved with their drama or if he should stay out of it. The connection between the three build quickly and he soon finds himself on the most dangerous adventure of his life.

A solid book. It did not captivate me as strongly as his other works did, but the characters were enjoyable. It did take awhile for me to get into, but once I did I finished the rest of it quickly. The relationship between Artemis and Alex was written very well, and the story shone through these parts. His writing was solid as well. A weird (positively weird!) story about three people trying desperately to survive in a world that is not always kind to them.

I just could not get into this one. I didn't connect with the characters, so I didn't really care what happened to them. The sci-fi aspect didn't appear until a ways into the book, which was confusing.

I am not sure this was packaged as an advance copy when it was a reprint from 2018, so not the best fit to be an ARC.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Another great book by TJ “Weirdo” Klune as he calls himself, lol. Aliens, helicopter chases, cults, syndicated conspiracy theories… what more could you ask for?

Great plot and loved the characters. I wish the chapters were shorter but a great sci-fi book all around.

I will read ANYTHING that TJ Klune writes. Literally ANYTHING. This one, is by far one of my short listed favorites. I enjoyed the Stranger Things vibes and all of the characters are a treat! The plot didn't lag or go too fast and it held my attention, especially the last 100 pages or so. I definitely recommend!

Another great book by T.J. Klune! This was a combination adventure/science fiction novel that brought together some fun characters. The characters were well developed with quirky personalities that make them fun to read about. I absolutely loved Artemis Darth Vader and the way she reacted to everything thrown her way.

This was a story about hope, love, and what it means to be human. Thank you to #NetGalley and @TorPublishing for an eARC of #TheBonesBeneathMySkin by T.J. Klune in exchange for honest feedback. -4 stars

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of ‘The Bones Beneath My Skin’ in exchange for an honest review!

Mr. Klune is one of my absolute favorite authors. I haven’t read anything I didn’t love and BBMS is no different!

It’s 1995 and Nate has lost his journalism job and his estranged parents recently died and left him an old truck and a cabin in the woods of Oregon. He decides to pack up what little is left of his life and make the trip to the cabin to clear his head. But when he arrives he has unexpected “guests”: a very grumpy man named Alex and the odd and extraordinary little girl he protects, Artemis Darth Vader or, “Art”. Nate must decide if he’s going to help Art, who is obviously very special or just drown in his memories of the past.

Alright so here comes some incoherent gushing:

I love that this is set in 1995, something about it just feels nostalgic. It also helps move the plot in a way that doesn’t make things “too easy”. There’s a road trip and action. So much action! Saw BBMS, described as “an action movie in book form” , definitely agree with that conclusion. The romance between Alex and Nate is very quiet and very lovely. When Art is added in they form this beautiful family dynamic. I’d say this was a grumpy/sunshine dynamic but really Alex is grumpy and Nate is slightly less grumpy but also very cynical. Art brings the sunshine.

TJ’s writing makes me feel things. The combo of his vivid characters and overall writing style is just…. It just does it for me. It’s poetic without it being too flowery. And he’s funny, like, laugh out loud funny. But I’d say this one made me laugh the least.

It was very obvious what was up with Art even before anything was explained, I didn’t have an issue with that, I just enjoyed the character interactions. The jump from secluded cabin, to on the run, to a weird commune in the heart of Amish Pennsylvania was sort of odd. Not enough to affect my enjoyment or rating. But it really did kind of mirror an action movie. We were far away from where we started.

My biggest criticism has to be the resolution. Part of me didn’t want the easy happily ever after we ended up getting with Art. I won’t say much because, spoilers. I did sob my eyes out and making my partner concerned for my well-being, so that’s a sign of a good book in my opinion!

In the end I absolutely loved “The Bones Beneath My Skin.” TJ Kline’s “The House on the Cerulean Sea” is one of my favorite books ever, I struggled to get into the first few chapters. I wanted a similar atmospheric vibe, and this book began very differently. After the introduction of the character of Art, I was all in. Truly wonderful book about what’s important in life.

This novel sounded much better than Klune's other work, but I'm sad to admit it was just as mediocre as his other stories. There was nothing wrong with the plot or the prose; I'm simply not the target audience.

TJ Klune is a master of making you absolutely love the characters in a story. I love how this book deals with challenging topics in ways that are safe or even comforting. It feels like reading under a warm blanket.

Another beautiful story from TJ Klune that looks deep into the soul and asks the question, "what does it mean to be human?". This is a wonderfully written story that makes you instantly fall in love with all of the characters, especially Artemis Darth Vader, a precious little girl who may not be what she seems.

Nate's life has fallen apart. His parents have died a horrible death, he's not talking to his brother, and he just got fired from his dream job. All he has left is an old beat up pickup and a small cabin in the woods, both left to him by his parents. In an effort to find a new direction in life, he sets off for the cabin, hoping the quiet will help him make some decisions about what to do next. What he finds there changes his life forever.

This starts off really strong, with a good setting and an introduction to a character readers can root for. When things start going sideways once again for our MC, he makes some decisions even he is questioning, but that discovery of two strangers squatting in his cabin leads him into some uncharted territory.

This is full sci-fi, a little romance, and a lot of found family. The story was great, though it did feel like it got off track a little about 2/3 of the way through. The introduction of those additional characters didn't mesh well with the flow of the story and felt a little bumpy in the reading, but eventually that picks back up and gets back on track by the end.

Overall, a decent sci-fi first contact book.

I am a TJ Klune stan, and am on a mission to read his entire backlog (especially with THINCS sequel coming next month). His stories are always full of the most lovable characters, wrapped into a fantasy world. The way that he tells stories is just truly magical. I loved this story, just as I always do, and recommend this author so much if you are a fantasy person!