There is no doubt in my mind that T.J. Klune is the master of the found-family trope.

Much like his other books (so far, I've only read The House in the Cerulean Sea and In the Lives of Puppets but I'm sensing a pattern here), this book features:
✅ LGBT characters (gay and bisexual representation)
✅ Found family
✅ a quirky yet endearing character
✅ slow burn romance (with a bit of smut - this caught me off guard as I don't recall his other books had much spice)

Set in 1995, this story follows 27-year old Nathaniel (Nate) Cartwright, who just got fired and lost his parents. He inherited his parents' old truck and cottage located out in the middle of nowhere and figures it would be a great place to stay while he figures out life. But when he arrives at the cabin, he finds it already occupied by a dangerous looking man recovering from a gunshot wound and a strange little girl (who is obsessed with stories about gunslingers) who both appear to be on the run (I can't help but picture Logan and Laura, from X-Men).

And that's how Nate met the mysterious Alex and his peculiar ward, Artemis Darth Vader. He somehow finds himself warming up to the two strangers and becoming entangled in their adventure to run away from those who are hunting them down.

I really wanted to love this book and I was ready to fall in love with Artemis - this weird little girl who sees something special in Alex and Nate - but I found her to be more weird than endearing... Also, although there was a lot of action in this book, the pacing was oftentimes rather slow. Nonetheless, there were a lot of sweet and heartwarming moments so don't let my minor complaints deter you from reading this book.

This book also a nod to classic sci-fi tropes and conspiracy theories, and is *SPOILER ALERT* clearly inspired by the Comet Hale-Bop and Heaven's Gate event in 1995.

This might also be considered a spoiler, but I'd recommend this book to anyone who liked The Host (by Stephenie Meyer), E.T. (the movie) or Stranger Things (the TV show).

Stunning. This was my first TJ Klune book, but it certainly won't be my last. What an amazing story, told through masterful and thoughtful writing. The amount of detail Klune fits into descriptions of scenes, creating an immersive read without feeling bulky or distracting, is so impressive. It's not an inherently suspenseful story, it's really more of an action story, but the writing creates this suspenseful tone that makes the plot developments hit so much harder. Well-written characters, conflicts, and relationships. This book is full of emotion and heart wrapped up in a thrilling ride, and I am so ready to shout about it from the rooftops when it comes out.

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Thank you for the e-ARC! And thank you, Tor, for picking this book up for re-publication. I have voted for The Bones Beneath My Skin for LibraryReads, and I will publish my review to social media sites and retail sites shortly, and will update with links attached here.

This story was lovely. As typical for Klune, this story centers around found family, the pacing is generally slow, and the chapters are very long. However, this story has a lot of action and that drove the pacing quite a bit, which I appreciated.

The characters in this book are interesting and layered and boy do they have some deep feelings for each other; it’s a wonderful relationship story underneath it all.

This is a re-release of a self-published title from 2017 or so and as far as I can tell, it’s nearly identical. I was able to check out an audio copy of the original version and other than the front matter, it was nearly verbatim the same, so I had the pleasure of reading and listening simultaneously (my favorite way to consume books).

This story gave me all the feels and I loved it deeply. ♥️

This book got me. Think Stranger Things meets The Last of Us (parent figure protecting child on road trip.)

Nathaniel has just been fired from his job, the one he'd thought he'd have forever. His parents have also recently died in horrifying circumstances and left him an old truck and a cabin, and that's it. He takes the truck and goes up to the cabin, hoping to find some peace and quiet to clear his mind and reconfigure his future, where he meets Alex and the amazing Artemis Darth Vader.

This supernatural road trip was packed with so much more feeling than I ever thought possible. Yes, it has romantic elements, but I would say the primary one is that of found family, of love we can find for those we choose in our life, or who choose us. Artemis is such a fascinating character, and I adored her evolution throughout the book. She is the glue that binds these people together until they find their own glue, fix their own cracks. I highly recommend this book, especially to found family lovers. It's got its own brand of weirdness that, without spoiling much, was delightful.

Thank you to Tor and netgalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a very interesting read. I’m always entertained when I open a tj klune book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Mr. Klune. You have done it again. I absolutely adore Art and all that she is. This unlikely group is such a delight to read about, while navigating loss and love 🥹

I want to thank Galley for a digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and voluntary.

TJ Klune is an auto buy author for me. I really enjoyed the novel. Science fiction thriller vibes with extraterrestrial encounter. I cared for the main characters and wanted them to be happy. The story sometimes would get bogged down but for the most part it kept my attention. I did not like the anti-Christian undertones, but I understand why the author uses that trope with the treatment of the LGBTQ community by some in the name of religion, but not all Christians are like that. However, the overall plot was endearing and arriving at the same time. The relationship between the three main characters was the best part of the novel. Also be aware that there is spice in this book.

4.25 stars!
I had No idea what to expect going into this book and while it has been indie published a few years ago, I did receive an ARC from netgalley before it is getting republished by TOR.
I throughly loved and enjoyed this book! It's a sci-fi from Klune and my favorite part was 100% when Nate and Alex made their " connection" and we got a backstory of The Mountain. It was an info dump, but in a really cool dream scape type way and I was RIVETED!
Art is funny, witty, charming and all around an amazing character. Nate and Alex were incredible and I loved watching them grow both as characters and in their relationships with each other and Art. I only wish we got more of a feelings exploration before they just got together. I know that attraction was there the whole time essentially, but I just didn't get that build up I feel like Klune is normally pretty good about giving and sucking you into that developing romance.
This HAS romance and it IS a romance, but that romance is definitely at times overshadowed by all the action. And as long as the romance doesn't feel too sudden, that's my favorite type of romance sub plot in books. This was an action movie in book form for sure and I loved it, especially the image of such a picture-esque little girl in the midst of all the destruction. This would absolutely make a kick ass movie. I would LOVE to see this in movie form actually.

Definitely would recommend this book to sci-fi enjoyers who don't want anything too heavy!

I have been a bit against TJ Klune after the puppet book, but this one restored my faith in him as an author. I love the exploration of what it means to be a human. It was beautiful and absolutely worth the read.

T.J. Klune has dazzled me yet again with his gripping and wonderful The Bones Beneath My Skin! This book had me feeling all the feels. I was completely immersed in this book, the descriptions, the characters, and the plot. T.J. Klune excels at writing about found family(s), relationships, and love. His characters are equal parts quirky and endearing. I just want to hug them all and spend time with them all.

The book begins with Nate Cartwright returning to his hometown after being fired from his job as a journalist. His estranged parents are dead, and he inherited their cabin in Oregon. He hopes to enjoy the solitude and have some time to himself to figure out what comes next. He never imagined what he would find when he arrived. A man named Alex and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Who could not fall a little bit in love with her? I mean seriously with that name alone I fell hook line and sinker for her quirkily little self!

It's interesting how lives can change on a dime. How one moment you are living your life and the next everything changes. This happens to the three characters in this book. I adored them all. With most of Klune's books, the characters go on a quest/adventure of sorts. They are outsiders who are endearing, brave, loveable, and strong (even if they don't know it).

As I mentioned, this book had me feeling all kinds of emotions ranging from, hope, anxiety, sadness, happiness, and joy. The Bones Beneath My Skin has secret agencies, a quest for survival, and even romance. I love the found family aspect of his books. The coming together or people, the acceptance, the bonds, the love, and even the spats.

This book was heartwarming, beautifully written, and moving. T.J. Klune could write the phone book and make it magical! I love how he gives readers characters to root for, to be inspired by, and to fall in love with. There were so many insightful and beautiful passages in this book about love, what it means to be human, and connection! I simply adore T.J. Klune's books and highly recommend them.

Beautifully written, heartwarming, and imaginative!

I'll be honest - I got about 10% of the way into this book and ended up being unable to continue due to the quirkiness of one of the characters. It felt to me a bit like one of those indie movies; the ones with a manic pixie dream girl main character that I would have liked in high school because it was 'different' and 'intellectual', but now in my 30s is unbearably cringy. I am a big fan of TJ Klune's newer works, and I am very glad that his earlier titles are getting a re-release to a wider audience, but I think he has matured as an author and I would prefer to wait until he comes out with a new book instead of reading his older ones. Sorry! <3

TJ Kline has not let me down yet. This was a wonderful exploration of humanity, and what it means to be human. Thank you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
ARC Review
The Bones Beneath My Skin
By: TJ Klune
Re-release Date: February 4, 2025

(➡️ Swipe for synopsis!)

Originally self-published in 2017, The Bones Beneath My Skin is now being re-released, and I’m thrilled more readers will get to experience this gem.

The story follows Nick, a character who’s endured his fair share of struggles. Along the way, he meets Art and Alex, whose dynamic reminded me so much of Eleven and Hopper from *Stranger Things*. The comparison feels natural—this book radiates those same *Stranger Things* vibes with its mix of mystery, government conspiracies, aliens, cults, and body-snatching. While the TV show debuted in mid-2016 and this novel was published in 2017, I can’t help but wonder which influenced which!

As a fan of all these sci-fi and thriller elements, I loved diving into the story's darker side. It’s grittier than Klune’s more recent works, but still unmistakably his, thanks to his signature blend of heart and humor.

The pacing is fast, making it a quick and action-packed read. I especially enjoyed the “found family” theme woven throughout. Nate, Art, and Alex are compelling characters, though I didn’t feel the same deep connection to Nick as I have with the protagonists in some of Klune’s other novels.

Overall, The Bones Beneath My Skin stands out as a darker, gripping addition to Klune’s repertoire. Fans of Stranger Things and stories packed with tension and heart should definitely pick it up.

Thanks to TJ Klune, Tor, and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

This is by no means a bad book. It is definitely darker than the other books that I read by Klune but you can see glimpses of his trademark humor, style, and themes of found family, shared humanity, and ultimately a hope for the future. I loved the characters of this book-each dealing with their own individual grief and slowly becoming vulnerable and letting people into their lives. There are also elements of a thriller that for the most part worked. My biggest issue with this book is its pacing issues. Long drawn out moments and then bursts of action. I’m not a fan of “I can’t tell you but have to trust me” type of storytelling. Your mileage might vary.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Macmillan for an advance readers copy of this book which was previously self published.

There is nothing more loving and quirky than a TJ Klune character. Our 3 MC’s I absolutely adore. This book is excellent! Sci-fi, action, romance, a tiny bit of spice, lgbtq representation and like I said before the most incredible characters. Love, Love, Love this one!

What an amazing story, one I read cover to cover without putting down! The main character, Nate, is a journalist who got caught in compromising position and lost his job while at the same time receiving the news that both his parents died. He takes the small inheritance which consists of a truck and a cabin in the middle of nowhere and decides he needs some peace and quiet to figure out what to do with his life. He heads to the cabin to discover it’s not empty, that hiding there is an injured man named Alex and a quite extraordinary young girl named Artemis Darth Vader. A quirky little girl with zero filters who loves westerns and is extraordinarily attached to Alex. Alex and Art (as she calls herself) are on the run and Alex will do anything to keep her safe. Nate’s emotions run the gamut - fear, disbelief, shock, and awe - and having lost everything he begins on an journey to help right a wrong, trusting his gut and fighting the attraction he feels for Alex. Oh, did I forget to mention that one of the characters is bisexual and one is gay? That’s because it isn’t made into a big deal. It never is in any of Tj Klune’s unapologetically gay books. Isn’t that refreshing?

This book grabbed me and never let go. It was a wild ride, full of shootings, car chases and crashes, mad scientists; it has everything you could want. But inside all of this is a story of love and loss, devotion and hope. One of the best books I’ve read. Get this book and experience it for yourself, amazing doesn’t do it justice.

Love everything and all TJK- this one was a tad different but was it? Authority figure with a heart of gold - definitely a tad bit Stranger Things- definitely needs Kate Bush in the soundtrack.

I became a fan of TJ Klune a few years ago after The House in the Cerulean Sea and from that point on, I've been steadily trying to read his backlist. His YA books are awesome (The Extraordinary series is a particular fave), so when I saw that they were re-releasing this book in February 2025, I knew I need to read and review it to continue my Klune education.

Now, is this my favorite book by Klune? No, that honor goes to Under the Whispering Door. However, this book is definitely a fave. There's a wonderful romance subplot with some sci-fi elements thrown in and--as always--a heaping of emotion. I swear to god, I don't know how he writes an emotion so well, but he does. The main character, Nate, has such a heartbreaking back story and watching him open up to and fall in love with Alex and Art made my heart grow. Imagine a softer version of Stranger Things and you've got this story.

Overall, this book is classic Klune: a beautiful, queer love story with excellent found-family dynamics. I highly recommend it!

I would probably soil my pants if I go to my cabin in the middle nowhere and find a ginormous man point a gun at me with a little girl. It's incredible that Nate did not run away from that place when he had a chance. If he did though, there wouldn't be a story.

Artemis Darth Vader: that one mouthful name for a 10 year-old girl. She named herself as the space princess she was. Alex was her protector, father, and ticket to back home. Nate joined this party as unexpected cabin owner. This was not a typical father daughter duo as Nate would later learn. This was a hostage rescue operation. Hostage was not the girl they tried to save from trafficking or abusive parents. She was considered a menace to humanity...

...as some thought. However, as special as she was, Art was not here to destroy the world as we know it. She wanted to left alone with two guys who loved her for what she was and love them back as these dudes deserve. From cabin to last place you find the trio, this was a love story that slowly created in front of eyes and TJ Klune did it again

A standalone TJ Klune? Yes please! This one was more heartfelt for me than others. It mixes supernatural elements, strong characters, and some humor mixed in thoughtfully. Loved this one.