Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this phenomenal book, The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune.
In return, here is my honest review.

Wow. The story follows Alex, Nate and Artemis Darth Vader. Nate has lost everything. He lost his job as a DC journalist. His brother isn’t interested in a relationship with him. His parents, from whom he is estranged, have passed in a very tragic way. After their passing, he learns he has inherited an old pickup truck from his father and a remote cabin from his mother. He takes off for the cabin to evaluate his life and ponder next steps. Arriving at the cabin, he learns that two squatters have taken up residence in the cabin while running from the Big Baddies. We have Alex, a surly military man who has been shot, and Artemis Darth Vader, a little girl enthralled with the most mundane things. When the Big Baddies show up at Nate’s cabin, chaos erupts and they must flee for their lives. What we end up with is love, found family, acceptance and hope.

TJ Klune‘s writing and story telling feels like a comforting blanket encapsulating you in all the feels. No one does found family better . I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want to leave these fabulous characters and their story.

As you start, you may hear Artemis whisper to you, Are we going on an adventure?” Yes, Art. We are.

Highly highly recommend.

Is this a typical Klune story? I think so. Did I love it? Absolutely! We've got Nate, a journalist recently fired from his job in DC, who is escaping to his family cabin in the Oregon Cascades to "regroup." Once there he discovers that squatters have been staying there. Enter a strange young girl who calls herself Artemis "Art" Darth Vader and her "bodyguard" Alex. We later learn that Alex and Art are on the run from bad guys from a top secret location called The Mountain, where Art has been held captive for the past several years. This is a story of romance, found family, a bit of sci-fi and a dash of thriller. This was utterly unputdownable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eArc of The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune in exhcange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow. What a book! Every new TJ Klune book quickly becomes my new favorite book. I don't think this man can do a literary thing wrong. The Bones Beneath My Skin was thrilling, so fun to read, and a heartwarming found family story that I already cannot wait to re-read. I am very grateful for Klune's commitment to telling stories centered around queer relationships as I believe this kind of representation within popular literature will only further the normalization of families that don't necessarily reflect the cis-hetero status quo of our time. It's important that people can see themselves within the books they read and I can't believe I am 31 years old, I read 60-100 books a year, and this is the first time I have seen a gay-male-sex-scene in a book. Klune is moving our culture forward with every letter he types out and his stories are impactful and uplifting and I can't wait to see where he continues to take us in the future. The Bones Beneath My Skin will be a book I read again, and it will be a book I gift to friends and family and encourage others to read.

This was actually my first TJ Klune book. I now wonder “why did I wait so long to read their work!?”

This book really had a little something for everyone. Opposites attract, a charismatic and funny 10-year old girl, aliens, secret government cover ups, a comet, a cult, dealing with grief and the 1990s. The 90s nostalgia wasn’t too strong, so if you’re not a late 1900’s junkie like me, not to worry. It’s there, but not overpowering (personally speaking, I would have loved more!) If you enjoy Stranger Things, this one is for you, too!

The story starts off with Nate, a down on his luck man in his mid-late 20’s heading “home” to collect himself. He heads to the family cabin in the middle of nowhere and finds it has some squatters. A former Marine and a 10 year old girl, called Artemis Darth Vader, Art for short. Nate allows himself to get involved in the business of these two and the adventure really kicks off. Alex’s mission is to protect this girl at all costs & Nate joins in and finds purpose along the way.

Klune did a really great job world building and with character development in this book, both were super enjoyable. I also really loved how Klune described extraterrestrials. While it wasn’t completely original, it was really well done and special.

Many thanks to TJ Klune, Netgalley and Tor for the advanced e-copy!

Wow what a roller coaster this book was! I love TJ Klune’s writing, always. This was a beautiful story about finding yourself and your tribe through the hardships and curveballs life throws your way.
The characters were top tier. Klune is a genius when it comes to creating loveable, silly side characters. I honestly think Art is one of my favorites of all time.
I couldn’t give this book a full 5 stars because at times it did feel quite repetitive (yes we understand he showed up to his cabin and a gun was drawn on him.) Also, the sex scene felt very out of place. I felt as if there should have been more or none at all. It just didn’t fit with the vibe for me.
PLEASE make sure there are trigger warnings put at the beginning of this book, as it does touch on very dark topics.

TJ Klune is one of those authors who writes in such an achingly beautiful way. However, most readers were introduced to Klune through House in the Cerulean Sea and to compare these two works would be a mistake.

The Bones Beneath my Skin does have some familiar themes such as found family, romance, and fitting in. In the afterward, Klune describes this book as being an action movie in book form and that is an accurate description.

The action, once it begins, is intense and full bore. The romance is slight, but due to the longing throughout, makes sense.

Leave the expectations of another Cerulean Sea at the door and enjoy this wonderful story!

Thank you to Tor and Net Galley for the eARC! All opinions are my own!

I’m keeping this review spoiler-free, but if you’re a fan of sci-fi with a twist, this one’s for you. The book’s blurb hints at something beyond the ordinary, and it absolutely delivers on that promise with a story that’s part sci-fi, part thriller. If you’ve read other works by TJ Klune, you’ll recognize his signature themes here: a heartfelt found family and gay main characters. (If you haven’t read TJ Klune’s other books, go read them. Now. Go go. Shoo.)

I really enjoyed this one, especially as a sci-fi lover. Art is such a standout character—her banter with the two main characters is both hilarious and heartwarming. And Bacon. Together, they create an adorable found family dynamic that just works.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the review copy! This book is set to (re)release on February 4, 2025, so keep an eye out!

Book was fantastic. Kline's writing id magical no matter what and transports you to the books world constantly. The characters come alive and this one is no different.

Thank you to Tor Publishing for this digital advanced copy via NetGalley.

TJ Klune honestly has a gift in that his writing just transports you into the story. The characters' feelings and the world building atmosphere he creates are so immersive with every story I've read from him.

Like many of his stories, this is a story of grief, loss, love, found family, and self-acceptance. You follow Nate as he heads to his family home to process some very big losses muddled with complicated feelings - except things aren't what he expects when he arrives. He finds a gun pointed at his head and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.

This story is filled with a lot more action that I am used to in his books but still manages to keep that deep and impactful love and the struggle with grief throughout. If you're looking for a SciFi road trip filled with adventure and unbreakable bonds, then your next adventure is waiting with this one!

T.J. Klune’s* *The Bones Beneath My Skin* is a beautifully heartfelt story about healing, self-acceptance, and the power of love. As always, Klune’s writing is rich with warmth and emotion, capturing the complexities of grief and personal growth with both tenderness and honesty. The protagonist’s journey toward understanding and embracing themselves is deeply moving, and the evolving romance is touching and authentic.

While the emotional depth of the story is compelling, there are moments where the pacing slows down, and the narrative takes introspective detours that may feel a bit drawn out. The blend of magical realism with the book’s more grounded themes can also feel uneven at times, but for many readers, this combination adds a layer of whimsy that enhances the story’s charm.

At its core, this book is about finding hope in the darkest times. It’s a cozy mystery with all the feels and just a touch of magic. Even if the pacing isn’t always perfect. It’s a beautiful, hopeful book that reminds us of the power of love and self-acceptance. Fans of Klune will find this an emotional and unforgettable read.

If you are a fan of stranger things you will love this book. It was a beautifully written found family trope. Sometimes love is found in the most unlikely places. The author does such a great job at creating conflict to get your heart racing and you just can't flip the pages fast enough to see what happens next.

After Nate’s life implodes, he runs away to the only thing his parents left him after their murder suicide: a lakeside cabin in the middle of nowhere and a truck to get him there. Instead of peace or quiet, Nate discovers that his cabin has been co opted by a man and a young girl who are also running away… but from what? As Nate opens his heart to these two strangers, he discovers that the truth is stranger than any fiction he invents for them, the world is bigger than he thought, and that as it turns out, he will do almost anything for love.

Thanks to Tor Books & NetGalley for providing a copy for review!

One of TJ Klune's earlier titles, but with all the great bits that made him a name in the bookish world: found family, loveable weirdos, and enough action to keep you guessing. More on the scifi side of things, a wonderful road trip romp.

I wanted to love The Bones Beneath My Skin, but it fell short for me. The plot has an interesting premise with Nate meeting Artemis, an extraordinary girl, and the tension of forces trying to control her. However, the characters lacked depth, and I struggled to connect with them. Nate's emotional journey felt underdeveloped, and Artemis seemed more like a quirky plot device than a real child. While Klune's writing is solid, the lack of character attachment made it hard to feel invested in the stakes. This wasn't the emotional ride I hoped for, and it ultimately left me feeling indifferent.

It's no secret I love found family and Klune is one of the best at it. He nailed it once again with his unique way of bringing you so much joy, but also breaking your heart. I absolutely ADORED these characters. This story does contain more action than his other books, but still has deep and impactful love and grief woven throughout. From the start Nate and his struggles and his choices feel so very real that you just want to keep reading. There is just so much to love about this book. We are all just made of dust and stars. And maybe bacon.

I didn't realize this was an older Klune story until the end of the book, and I can see that a bit - his unique blend is here, but not quite as polished as it is in some of his later tales, and so there are a some clunkier moments in this one, especially in the balance of the science fiction thriller and relationship sides of the story that he has now mastered a little more effectivley.

Klune himself described this tale as weird and I can't disagree - it is strange and odd and somewhat disjointed, but it is still a fun story that fits his usual themes, and I really enjoyed it.

This will be great for those who also enjoyed In the Lives of Puppets, but not for every Klune reader.

Let me start with I will read and likely love everything that TJ Klune writes. This book was no exception. I went into it blind and, while it was not what I expected, I was not disappointed. I don't want to give much away, but the signature Klune fastastical nature, intrigue, and relationships were present. If you enjoy TJ Klune or enjoy non-traditional, genre-bending books, you will definitely love this.

I tried. I really really tried. The beginning was good, intriguing, promising. However, this is the slowest book I’ve ever read. When I thought I was half way through, I was at 35%. When I thought I was 75% through I was at 54%. I DNF at 62%. I just couldn’t continue the plodding progress. So I skipped to the end but none of the main characters names were mentioned, except Art. Did they die? Change their identity? Do I care? Sadly, not enough.
Still giving 3 stars for the part in the cabin at the beginning and because Klune wrote The House by the Cerulean Sea. That counts for all future work because I know Klune has a beautiful, imaginative mind.

Absolutely love everything TJ writes. This book was no exception. I loved the characters and the story. Very beautifully written

This was a very gripping and interesting book! It was much darker than anything else I've read by TJ Klune.

The Bones Beneath My Skin follows Nate, a man who recently lost his parents and his job, as he travels to the cabin he just inherited. There, he meets a mysterious little girl and her grumpy ex-military protector. As the story progresses, Nate gets swept up into a world of secret government activities, grand theft auto, helicopters falling from the sky, cults, and violence.

This book features a romance subplot with tropes including forced proximity, found family, and a grumpy, brooding love interest.