📣 a fantasy with romance that takes you on a journey across the US & touches space, too

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s something you’re looking forward to today? I have a big day in teaching & I’m excited for it to be over 🤣.

If emotional fantasy is your jam, I highly recommend TJ Klune’s books. Ditto if you’re looking for a highly versatile writer who takes on unexpected subjects with every book.

In The Bones Under My Skin, Klune crafts a striking story about mysterious people on the run, a man who seems to have lost it all, & something else we’ve only dreamed of.

One question that Klune often considers is what makes us “human.” If those virtues we identify with humanity can only be found in humans.

There’s no possible way I can describe this book & the epic project it took on & takes the reader on, but if this sounds at all compelling, pick it up & give it a try.

5 ⭐️. Out 02/04.

[CWs: Murder-suicide of parents. Homophobia & homophobic language on page. Violence & death. Estrangement from parents.]

[ID: mural in Knoxville, TN, by Paris Woodhull]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Bones Beneath My Skin was previously self-published by TJ Klune because his prior publisher thought the book was too weird. Thank you, Tor Book for picking this up and giving it a beautiful cover and new life.

For fans of TJ Klune, this book has the familiar found family element. However, it has more romance, more science fiction, and less cozy fantasy than his recent books.

Klune is very gifted at creating memorable characters, and Artemis Darth Vader, Alex Weir, and Nate Cartwright are unforgettable!

If you are as old as me, you might remember the 1984 movie called Starman with Jeff Bridges. This novel reminded me a lot of that movie. If you are looking for a fun road-trip adventure with a lot of heart, a little romance, and a girl who loves bacon, you might just enjoy The Bones Beneath My Skin. I did!

Even though many other people have come to the same conclusion, I'll add to the pile -- this book is very different from most of Klune's stand=alone novels from the past few years. It's not particularly 'cozy'. It is a lot more gritty/edgy/dark/grown-up. But nevertheless, it is a pretty great read. There's a fair amount of action, but no shortage of humor. I'm very happy that Tor is re-releasing this title; I might not have come across it otherwise.

This book was fantastic! I have read several of Klune's other books- and if you're looking for those this isn't it. Klune is normally all things cozy and fantasy- and while this has some elements of the cozy, fantasy, found family tropes Klune is known for it is also far more adult then his other books. And I loved it! Nate is a depressed 20 something trying to figure out what to do with his life when he comes across Alex And Artemis. The following story is funny, emotional , and amazing. While the book is stille clear Klune, it is so distinct from his more recent books. Any one that loves Klune but needs a break from 100% feel good stories would love this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Books for allowing me to enjoy this beautiful rerelease.

I always go into anything by TJ Klune with both high hopes and high expectations. The Bones Beneath My Skin did not disappoint and hasn't changed that opinion in the least. Klune uses his magical way with words to create a story that is beautiful, deeply emotionally resonant, and tremendously heart-warming.

In The Bones Beneath My Skin, we follow a trio of characters that teach us what it means to be uniquely known and seen in a world that can seem profoundly disconnected. Love and loss, fear and courage, suffering and acceptance, family and home. These are all experiences and emotions the characters go through together, even when they may feel alone at times.

We learn that these ebbs and flows of life, both good and bad, are what shape us into who we are. And these lessons can help us to create an environment in which each individual can feel capable of being exactly who they are and never shy away from the love that surrounds us if we are open to it.

This is very different kind of story from TJ Klune. Sci-fi isn't necessarily my go-to genre, but Nate, Alex, and Artemis' story compelled me to keep reading. The first half was a little bit slow, but I think it perfectly sets the stage for the heart-pounding second half. All in all, I really enjoyed 'The Bones Beneath My Skin,' and I would recommend this to others.

I need more action books like this. This was an exhilarating read full of car chases, science fiction, found family, queer love, and heartbreak. Klune has a special way of capturing humanity in characters that you don't expect to connect with. This book isn't so much a full blown romance like many of his other titles, but instead a book of falling in love in scary and grief-stricken times and learning to build that love together. Nate, Alex, and Art are all incredibly broken people who help each other heal and it was incredibly cathartic to read.

This book is great for those who like a slow-burn romance mixed with action, hijinks, and real world issues. I like that the intimate parts are realistic and not outright pornographic and showcase real human emotion.

The story is comparable to Stranger Things and Lilo & Stitch (I know, an interesting combo haha.)

Highly recommended.

I think I'm going to need to read more pre-Cerulean Sea books by Klune, because all of the ones I've read genuinely connect with me far more. I respect the cozy found family stuff, but I feel like he's got so much more to offer, and I hope this traditionally published version of an old book of his is successful so that he might do more stuff like this.

This book is so different from TJ's other books and I loved it a lot, it took a minute for me to get used to it, because there was a certain way I expected TJ's books to go, and it was not the way this one was written. This one is full of action, and I don't think it really had that cozy blanket that I have come to associate with Klune. I simply love the way he writes characters, and these ones were no different.

My favorite arc was the Heaven's Gate cult, I completely TORE through that part of the book, but it was mostly in the last fourth. The rest went by a little slowly, which I think after finishing it and stepping back, I'm totally fine with. One of the things Art talks about often in the book is how time is fluid, and it doesn't move the same way -- this book felt like that to me.

This book is full of action and Klune's famous found family greatness. It was a lot of fun to read and I will be thinking about Nate, Alex, and Artemis Darth Vader for a very long time.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for gifting me an e-ARC of one of my most favorite authors.

🛻🦴 The Bones Beneath My Skin 🦴🛻
By TJ Klune

✨Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC of this rerelease! Available February 4th!✨

🦴 Gay MMC
🛻 Military
🦴 Mysterious
🛻 Action/adventure
🦴 Romance

🛻 I’ve only read one other book by TJ Klune before this but I LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea so I knew I had to apply for this ARC.
✨ I will officially be adding this author to my “must read” list.
🦴 This book grabs you from the very beginning with fast paced storytelling, intriguing characters and a mysterious vibe that feels a bit like you’re reading a thriller.
✨ Maybe this is considered a thriller? But a cozy one?
🛻 With themes of grief, love, found family and so much more, there is something to be loved within these pages by all.
✨ I am so thankful that when told “this book is weird” by his publisher he took it upon himself to get this in the hands of readers.
It is weird. It is different. And that’s EXACTLY why I loved it so much.
♥️ And thank you for Tor for picking this and countless others up and CELEBRATING weird.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️: Yes

Definitely not what I was expecting, but still lovely and well written. We got an ARC at the library a few months ago and all my coworkers tore through it at record pace. I took my time, and I'm glad I did.

So incredibly sweet and earnest and full of heart. While the relationships are built beautifully, the actual sci-fi element is kinda hand wavey, and reminded me of properties like The OA.

This was such a great read! I absolutely love T.J. Klune's books and this one did not disappoint! This was a love story in several different ways. Was definitely worth the read!

TJ Klune is re-releasing this, I think, and writes in an afterward that it had to be self-published because his publisher thought it was too weird. I disagree.

The main character is going to a cabin in the woods to lick his wounds after a scandal in Washington DC. The cabin is not empty and he ends up with a gun pointed at him. Eventually he befriends the man and the girl who are on the run in his cabin. The girl is quite unusual and is a super-fun character who loves Western novels and bacon.

TJ Klune just may be one of my favorite authors and this is the only book I’ve read!

The writing is exceptional and the mix of found family, romance, humor and some action I was continuing to be intrigued by the story!

This really snuck up on me! I wasn’t sure at the beginning how I was feeling about it, but I ended up really enjoying it!

The story was quite different than I was expecting with a T. J. Klune novel. A lot darker and steamier than his usual stories.

It still has the wonderful found family vibes I’ve come to expect, and that was my favorite part!

Overall, I don’t think it was my favorite novel from this author but it was great and well worth the read.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is not what I expected it to be (more paranormal/supernatural Pacific Northwest), but it's still a good story. This is basically Stranger Things where Hopper and Steve are on the run with El, and they are slowly falling for each other while trying to escape, survive, and keep El safe. It's fairly predictable, but well-told, endearing, and well-paced.

TJ Klune has been on my radar for a while, but this is the first of his books that I've read. Grief and trauma feature heavily in the slower parts of the story, and while I don't think it's doing anything particularly unique with the themes, it's handled well with strong emotional moments. The other half of the book is a lot more action-y than I expected going in, and the action plays well with those themes to explore desperation and the incredulity of how the characters got into this situation, and their surprising determination to overcome their fears and disbelief to do the right thing.

I think the tone will be the major make-it-or-break-it decision maker for many readers. There are lots of grief and tragic pasts, and then there's a ~10 year old girl named Artemis (Art) Darth Vader who talks like she's straight out of a western and gleefully embodies the cliche of bacon being the best thing on earth. It's corny sometimes, but it's self-aware of the corniness and I found it endearing mostly. Art's levity is justified by her character, and complements the grief themes with hope and a childish (in a good way) awe. I think the tonal contrast is less successful in the action moments, where the stakes are high, but the quirky humor can seem out of place. In a sense, the humor could be seen as a coping mechanism for the two men protecting Art, who both need a coping mechanism for their grief and don't have one (but are slowly finding it in companionship/found family/love), but it didn't always work as well for me.

Underpinning everything else, this is a romance story, and how much you enjoy it will probably correlate with how the tone works for you. Romance, romantic love, and familial love are the answer to grief, to finding yourself when all you have known is loss. It's a fairly slow burn that feels well developed. The characters grew on me at the same pace that the developing romance made sense and grew on me.

Overall, this was a good story. I don't think it was the most original or creative story, but I think TJ Klune is a good enough story teller to pull it off. My favorite parts were the slower moments where we got intimate with the characters grief and flaws, but saw their growth and potential and hope, which makes me look forward to checking out more of Klune's work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for sending me an eARC of this novel for review!

This book made me cry, laugh, ache, and everything in between. Honestly, I’m not sure I even have the words to describe how much I loved this one, so you’re just gonna have to trust me. Go. Read. It.

I love a found family and I love reluctant/unexpected dads and this book has both, along with a great adventure and a wonderful setting—and a great deal of humour. I actually chuckled to myself a few times while reading, which doesn't happen a whole lot. There was a particular feeling I got while reading this book, almost like I was yearning for memories I couldn't quite recall from my own life in 1995. I also really loved how the characters were so full of hope—another thing I'm a sucker for. It can be hard when life is throwing a lot at you, and the fact that this story never felt hopeless, and in fact quite the opposite, just endearing it to me more.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune is a beautifully crafted novel that blends elements of fantasy, romance, and self-discovery with deep emotional resonance. Set in a world where magic and monsters coexist, the story follows the journey of a young man named Nolan, who must confront both external dangers and the inner turmoil of his own identity. Klune’s signature warmth and humor shine through even in darker moments, creating a compelling narrative that explores themes of acceptance, love, and personal growth. The relationship between Nolan and his mysterious love interest, along with the colorful cast of supporting characters, adds layers of complexity and heart to the story. With a perfect balance of humor, tenderness, and adventure, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a heartfelt, captivating read that will resonate with fans of Klune’s previous works while also offering a fresh and enchanting experience.