I definitely enjoyed parts of this (Nate and Alex together, the suspense) but I kept feeling like the bass was going to drop but it never did. I also prefer a little more backstory in my sci-fi than this story provided. It was humorous at some points, but corny in others.
<spoiler>There is one sex scene that was well-written but felt very out of place and unnecessary to me. (and I'm a long-time E rated fanfiction reader) </spoiler>

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I am excited to see this get a physical version, and I love the cover.

This Klune sci fi novel has all the trademarks of a TJ Klune novel, a close look at humanity with all its flaws, while remaining hopeful and optimistic, great character development, and themes that keep you thinking long after the reading is over. It has a lot of action, more of a sci fi thriller, you can see it all playing out like a movie. Art's obsession with bacon and Louis L'Amour novels adds just the right amount of humor. It takes the ultimate feeling of otherness and nonacceptance and makes it tangible.

Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did!
The Bones Beneath My Skin follows the chance (or maybe not so chance!) encounter between a lonely man named Nate who ran away to his family cabin in the woods to get away from it all and an unlikely dynamic duo 'father and daughter' pair who are on the run from bad people who wish them harm. Throughout the novel, and over the course of multiple trials and hurdles they come across, their bond grows and is strengthened like no other. They learn to overcome trivial ideas and realize that in the end they have what's important - each other.
Honestly such a heartwarming read despite the obvious sap! Such a treat of a novel and TJ Klune has succeeded again in evoking such emotion out of me from fictional characters!!

The Bones Beneath my skin has all the TJ Klune heart we're used to but then.... action?!?! Even with that, it remains so heartwarming and cozy. This is definitely a great book to read on a cold winter night; it's the story of humanity, love, loss, and growth.

As usual, I absolutely fell in love with these characters and couldn't help rooting for them the whole time. This is a speculative fiction with found family, a suspenseful road trip, and LGBT+ representation. Absolutely a must read for Klune fans, and honestly for anyone who loves a solid sci-fi/thriller.

Absolutely loved this delicious, heart-warming, funny story of found family and one very unique little girl. Terrific action sequences add drama and tension, but it's the outstanding characters and their connections that make this book so special.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced read copy of this book and exchange for an honest review. I am a sucker for any book by TJ Klune after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea! My initial thoughts after reading this book was that it didn’t scream a lot of romance to me, which isn’t very surprising, considering it’s an underlying theme in most of his books, but that I really enjoyed the personalities of the main characters. Klune is such a great writer in the fact that he puts a lot of thought into his character development and building as well as setting the scene for the stories. The Bones Beneath My Skin is no exception to that. It did take me several chapters to get into the book but once it really gets going, it’s a quick read. The relationships between Nate, Art, and Alex is one of growth and the realization that people are not always who they seem upon first glance. It’s very much a on the run from the government meets fantasy read - great book!

“Somehow we are all made of dust and stars”

This was by far my favorite book by TJ Klune. The characters showed so much growth and were so love able. The writing and emotions he showed were easy to connect to and you could feel it through the page.

Found family is such an important thing and this book showed how truly magical and out of this world feeling it could be.

This book had me laughing, yelling and crying. The full range of human emotions, just as the characters experienced. I also enjoyed the little bit of spice that was added in.

I will be thinking about this book for a long time. I truly love Nate, Alex & Art or should I say Nolan, Aaron & Ellie.

“I know what it means now to be human. It means having your heart broken”

"𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓼. 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼. 𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓽, 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓼𝓴 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓲𝓽."

You know why I love TJ Klune? Because every single one of his stories is so different. Its a trust the process vibe and you know that you’re going to be met with heartbreak followed by the biggest softest hug ever. He has this magical power in creating lovable characters with important lessons while making it fun, whimsical, and different.

This book was simply that. I have tears running down my cheeks while still smiling just as big because my mind and heart can’t decide how to feel. The characters feel like family, and I am missing them as we speak.

A solid reminder about human complexities and how others who appear different can still relate to us. We are not alone and you are loved.

"𝒫𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝒶𝓇."

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and TJ “Weirdo” Klune for this advanced copy.

I really enjoy TJ Klune's books.
But this one didn't quite hit for me.

I was super invested in the beginning. I loved seeing how Nate, Alex, and Art got along with each other and their dynamics. However, the middle kind of dragged. It felt like watching a slowed down montage and that was rough.

TJ Klune has once again proven why he is an auto-buy author for me. Departing from his more fantastical works like "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and "Under the Whispering Door," this novel ventures into a gripping sci-fi narrative reminiscent of "Stranger Things" and "Escape to Witch Mountain" (a movie I loved as a kid). It carries Klune's signature warmth, wit, and exploration of found-family dynamics while wrapping it in an action-packed, emotionally resonant story that is impossible to put down.

Set in 1995, the novel follows Nate Cartwright, a man who has always been somewhat adrift, but when the book begins, he feels especially alone. Nate recently lost his job as a reporter, lost both his parents to a murder/suicide, and has no meaningful connection to his estranged brother. After his parent's death, Nate inherited the family's old cabin in the remote mountains of Roseland, Oregon, along with his father's old truck. Nate flies back to Oregon to spend some quiet time alone, but when he arrives, he finds a couple of unexpected visitors squatting in the cabin. A mysterious man named Alex and an extraordinary young girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader are hiding out and, at first, are convinced that Nate is part of a group that has been chasing them. However, they're not especially clear as to why. From there, the story launches into a whirlwind of danger, adventure, revelations, and - as expected in a Klune novel - a fantastic, found family dynamic that'll tug at your heartstrings.

For readers familiar with Klune's previous works, the found-family trope is here in full force, and as always, it feels like a great big hug. But where many of his previous novels are tinged with whimsy, this novel is tinged with action and a sense of urgency and danger, which was a welcome surprise. While the emotional beats of the story are its backbone, this is a fast-paced and suspenseful ride. The sci-fi elements are subtle but effective, blending seamlessly into the grounded 1990s setting. This would make a fantastic movie. As I mentioned earlier, it was almost like a gay "Escape to Witch Mountain," and I loved that!

The main cast of characters is as loveable as you would expect in a Klune novel. Nate's inner turmoil, Artemis's infectious charm, and Alex's quiet strength create a trio of characters that balance each other perfectly. The bond between the three develops organically, with Klune taking his time to explore the small, tender moments that make their relationships feel authentic. Nate's journey of self-discovery and healing is beautifully woven into the narrative, and his growing attachment to Artemis and romantic attachment to Alex is both heartwarming and bittersweet.

The ending is as poignant as it is satisfying, delivering an emotional payoff that left me teary. Despite its sci-fi underpinnings, the novel is fundamentally about humanity and really speaks to LGBTQIA+ readers like me - especially those of us who have had to build our own family because we didn't get the support we needed from the family we were born into.

For longtime fans of TJ Klune, this book is a must-read. It showcases his ability to explore new genres while maintaining the heart and humor that make his writing so beloved. For new readers, this is an excellent introduction to his work, offering a story that is both thrilling and deeply moving. Whether you're drawn in by the sci-fi premise or the promise of a heartfelt found-family narrative, this book will definitely entertain you. It's a journey you won't soon forget.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
I am struggling to figure out what to write in this review. I really enjoyed this story! It's a mix of
sci-fi, action, adventure and romance. I don't want to give anything away but I will say the characters are relatable and likeable, and reading about them doing the things they thought was right made a really good story. Parts were creepy but for the most part I just enjoyed their interactions with one another, they were heartfelt and tender and made me feel like a part of the story.

You know those books where you're in chapter two and you're just like this is going to be a 5 star book? Like you just know? Enter The Bones Beneath My Skin. Now don’t let the name scare you away. It is a thriller but it’s a beautiful story at its core of found family, grief, survival and unexpected love, in various forms. Nate Cartwright is lost after being fired from his dream job as a journalist, his life significantly slowing down making him realize how lonely his existence truly is. He didn’t have the best childhood, you find out pretty quickly why. This book is written in his POV from start to finish so you learn so much about him, you see him grow, slowly over the course of the book, he opens his mind to possibilities he never considered. He was tough and resilient in the ways a journalist needs to be but on the road in a truck with two strangers is where he truly learns his true strength. When he arrives to the cabin he’s met with a man and a little girl -> enter book boyfriend #2 of 2025. Alex Weir- protective AF, gruff, not trusting, military, clean cut, a grump with a heart of gold. I knew from the moment I mean him I knew he was going to make my book boyfriend list and then to see him with Art ugh melted my heart right into the floor. SWOON. Then how he was with Nate, it took time, like slooooow burn, for him to trust Nate, it would come out in little bursts that just has you craving for more. Saving the best for last Artemis Darth Vader, I don't know if there’s a reader out there who wouldn’t read her and not absolutely love her. She’s sassy, smart, happy, so observant, she’s the glue. The love she has for Alex and then later on for Nate is just adorable, she just makes your heart happy. I was so not ready for their story to end. This book does have loss, grief, death, homophobia so please be mindful if you chose to pick this up. It also has some of my favorite tropes- enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and suspense. The story is set in the 90’s which as a 90’s kid was so nostalgic! I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending this for me to read and review, this is my honest opinion.

Have you read TJ Klune's books? The House on the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door (which everyone should read). Well, he has a new book that comes out on February 4th called The Bones Beneath my Skin, I just finished it, and it was great.
I enjoy TJ Klune's imagination and creativity. His writing style is easy to read and impactful on every page. This story is heartbreaking but yet inspiring, as all his books are. This new story has found family, love, grief, friendship, murder, mystery, cults, and aliens! It's exactly what I was looking for when I picked this book up. Now, to the scary part. What a world we live in! No surprise that the government is truly screwed up in this story as in real life. Thankfully, this one isn't real, but it does have a ring of truth. If, in fact, aliens came to Earth today, our government would DEPORT them immediately or shoot to kill them. Fortunately, this is ultimately a love story. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for the advanced readers copy of the latest TJ Klune novel.

TJ Klune is know for writing stories about the underdogs, outcasts, and misunderstood types of characters. This latest book was no exception.

The beginning of the book had me intrigued but puzzled by what exactly was happening to our main character at the time. As the novel proceeds more and more are revealed about the man and girl he finds in his inherited cabin. That's where the comparison to Netflix series, Stranger Things comes into play. If you are a fan of that show, you will most likely love this novel.

This novel though sci-fi definitely will pull at your heart strings and have you crying at parts. It will get you in those tender moments of discovering what many refer to as found family.

I adored this book and couldn't put it down most nights.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on eGalley from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this. It is a weird sort of sci-fi story with themes around building a family for yourself.

Nate inherits the family cabin after his parents' death and goes there to rebuild his life after loosing his job as a journalist. When he gets there, he finds Alex and Artemis hiding out in his cabin. Artemis is special and Nate will have to decide if he is going to help them hide or turn them in.

I enjoyed all the characters in here. There is a bit of a romance that ends up going on as well. I am not going to say a lot more about either the characters or what makes Artemis special because of spoilers.

This is well written and has some cozy elements, as well as a lot of action, and some alien government conspiracy themes going on. It was a quick and easy read, and I enjoyed it.

If I have one complaint about this, it's that the end felt a bit clunky. Yes, it was a nice ending but with all the time gaps it felt unwieldy.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I am glad I read this. It is a cozy sci-fi sort of story that fits well with the other books Klune as released. This book is aimed at adults and deals a lot with finding a family for yourself, which is a theme many of his books tackle. If you are intrigued by a different sort of sci-fi read like that, I would recommend it.

I don’t normally pick up Sci-fi but I loved TJ Klune’s other books so decided to give it a chance. And I loved it! I laughed. I cried. I craved bacon. It made me think about humanity and just how small we are in this universe. People complain it doesn’t have enough romance like his others but I think it did. In fact one scene was extremely spicy and considering I’m a heterosexual female - very informative. lol ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thanks so much for the ARC.

I always enjoy T.J. Klune's novels. The characters are always fabulous and the found families are some of the best I've ever read. The author often writes about belonging, identity, and relationships, and the stories never fail to move me. The Bones Beneath My Skin is beautifully written, and you can't go wrong when you have a character named Artemis Darth Vader. So fabulous!

Klune has a way of writing characters that are so easy to love, and Nate Alex, and Art had my heart completely. They're all so layered and complex, and the different relationships they have with each other are everything - heartwarming, funny, romantic, and everything in between! I definitely felt all the feels with this one and sometimes went from laughing to sobbing in quick succession. There's just something special about the way Klune writes that gets me on so many levels.

I think one of the main reasons the characters always stand out for me is because of the dialogue. I've read several of Klune's books, and the dialogue is always impeccable. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and always heartwarming, the dialogue feels effortless and natural and adds so much to the character development.

With powerful themes, lovable characters, and a story with a lot of heart and some interesting and thought-provoking sci-fi intrigue, this is another touching read by TJ Klune. Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Every time I finish a TJ Klune book, I find myself saying "there was something there but it never fully clicked for me". Don't get me wrong--his premises? Top notch originality. His characters? Heartwarming and complicated and one of a kind. But for whatever reason I always felt like something was missing. After the last Klune book, I was ready to say that despite his beautiful writing and thoughtful characterization he was just not for me. Then I saw the premise for The Bones Beneath My Skin, which of course sucked me back in.

And boy am I glad that I was drawn in by the premise because this is my favorite TJ Klune yet. There is, admittedly, a bit more plot than sweet characters coming together in this one, which may be a drawback for fans of his more character oriented stories.

In The Bones Beneath My Skin, Nate is having an unbelievably hard time. He decides he will go back to Oregon, to his family's cabin. Only when he gets there, he finds a man and a child living in the cabin. Soon, Nate is pulled into a much bigger conspiracy than he could have ever imagined. Action packed and engaging, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a stellar thriller with great personal connection for a fan favorite author.

TJ Klune I’m learning is a very hit or miss author for me. His characters are *always* 10/10, but sometimes the plot feels very sloppily put together to get the characters in his head on the page. That is how this book felt for me.

In his own words, this book is his most action-packed one yet, and I agree that it reads more like a sci-fi thriller. However, the plot still reads like a slow-burn, character-based read and the dichotomy of what it tries to be vs. what it is lost my interest by the end. I was invested enough to know what happened to the characters at the end, but my guesses regarding that were also right.

This wouldn’t be the TJ Klune I’d recommend to a reader interested in his work! Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door were more to my taste!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

TJ Klune is a master of writing emotional science fiction that always have family and relationships at the heart of the story. Nate finds that his family's cabin has been hijacked by a man who is protecting a girl. Nate gets mixed up in this government conspiracy that is pursuing the girl for reasons I won't spoil here. There are romantic feelings between Nate and Alex, the protector, and I loved the found family that the three of them create. At times this book is funny, suspenseful, and heartwarming. It's a bit of a buddy road-trip too.