I'm the biggest TJ Klune fan. Green Creek is my most favorite series EVER written. Like so many of TJ Klune's stories, The Bones Beneath My Skin is about family. It's about loss and grief and love. And it's about bonds and trust and adventure. But this story is also very different. And wonderful. And I've got the book hangover for the ages. So saddle up, hoss, an adventure awaits!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I will state up front that I did not know this was a rerelease of a previously self-published book. I'm actually a little angry at myself for sleeping on Kune's backlist. I loved Cerulean Sea and have read everything I can get my hands on that was written after, but have largely ignored previously written/published works. This book has changed that.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL. This was another book that I read in just 2 days. The story and characters were so well done and so complete. This is no one of the books that I will never stop recommending. It answers some fundamental questions - what does it mean to be human, how does family evolve, and how can love look different from mainstream relationships.

I found out that this book is a re-published work after I had already started reading it. I'm a big fan of T.J. Klune's newer books and was still excited to read this older one of his. Klune is known for blending magic, sci-fi, romance, and LGBTQ+ representation in his writing, and those elements are also present in this book. However, this particular book didn't capture my interest like his others. Even though the premise seemed promising, I didn't feel as connected to the story or the characters compared to his other works. I also felt that the romance between the two main male characters wasn't delved into deeply enough. I wish there was more emphasis on that aspect. It was still a great book and would recommdnd it to anyone.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Tor Publishing Group for giving me a copy of the book.

TJ Klune writes these novels so simply, but packs so much emotion into the stories that they really are so special. This one is no different. Nate is deeply relatable, flawed and self-deprecating, but you fall in love so quickly, probably because of how easy it is to see yourself in his shoes as a protagonist.

Like Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door, this book is insanely readable, fun and fascinating. Every moment you spend on this journey with Art and Alex just solidifies your connection with them. TJ Klune has this way of writing fantastical stories that you’d think wouldn’t fit with the way so much real feeling is packed inside, but he somehow pulls it off perfectly every time. This book reads like watching an action movie from the 90s, and I mean that in the best way possible.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is guaranteed to make you fall in love with it, and as is Klune’s way, probably shed a bunch of tears by the time you’re done. Not surprised at all to say that I loved it.

I went into this completely blind. It was lovely and action-packed, with some Stranger Things vibes, and I adored it.

I didn't realize this was a re-release until I finished the book. I consider myself a T.J. Klune fan, and I can't believe I did not know this story existed. How is this book not being talked about more??? While darker and more action-packed than Whispering and House, Klune's signature storylines of family, loss, grief, and finding yourself remain.

Once again, Klune's characters shine. Artemis, Nate, and Alex have my whole heart. Klune expertly includes young characters in his stories. I dare you not to fall in love with Artemis Darth Vader.

The plot was so fun. I felt like I was watching a 1980s sci-fi family movie - in the vein of E.T., I had to know what was happening.

If you are a Klune fan, I definitely recommend it.

I will note that there is one explicit sex scene I did not anticipate due to my prior T.J. experiences. It is a minor part of the story, but for people expecting the fade to black love stories of Whispering or Cerulean - this is not that.

4.5 stars!
I absolutely devoured this book. It's everything I love about Klune and fully took over my brain.
Things I love about Klune's books generally:
1. Lovable/adorable characters that speak deep truths about the world and that I want to be best friends with.
2. The narration and voice is from a messy human who understands themselves and the world better through a quest of sorts.
3. Chosen and/or found family and unwavering support that requires slight suspension of disbelief but not very much, so one can dream of living in the world of these characters.

Things I loved about The Bones Beneath My Skin:
1. Some 90's- not nostalgia but a memory of that time that felt authentic. It was a fun little time-travel.
2. It's kind of an action/romance in a way I had not experienced from Klune before and really was perfect for a summer day binge-read.
3. Artemis Darth Vader. She's my favorite version of this character- which I can't explain without spoiling. She loves bacon and thinks vegans and weird and I still love her.

Overall I think it would be easy to want more depth and backstory on Alex, but I think that would have made this a very different book and I liked it so much the way it was.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and Net Galley for the e-galley of this book!

I’m so glad I didn’t read up on anything about this ahead of time, and although I will leave no spoilers, if you are a fan of TJ Klune, you should try it out.

So, here’s the gist. This is one of the first manuscripts written by Klune, and in his way it combines fantasy and queer into one nicely wrapped package (I mean, come on, “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is so special.). So, let’s just say that this is into the abnormal more than the fantastical. It’s the story of Alex, Nate, and Art, who find themselves as unlikely friends turned family, with the third having some supernatural powers. With the E.T. theme song running through my head and that beautiful moon, bike, and bike basket visual, take that little carrot and run with it.

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I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

I love TJ Klune books because they are full of heart and give good closure. This book is no exception. The story of Nate was teased out along with the action-packed drama of going on the run with Alex and Artemis Darth Vader. There is a great love story here, and it's not necessarily between the two male leads. Although there are plenty of serious topics, it also has plenty of the humor that you expect from a TJ Klune book.

I have said it before and I will say it again, TJ Klune can do no wrong in my eyes. I had no idea what this book would entail, and while it took some interesting turns, I loved it all the same.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a thrilling departure from T.J. Klune’s usual fare. While I adore the heart and warmth of his previous works like Under The Whispering Door and The House in the Cerulean Sea, this standalone novel is a darker, more suspenseful ride.

I received an ARC of The Bones Beneath My Skin from Netgalley and was immediately captivated by Klune’s ability to craft a compelling story with unexpected twists. The characters, Nate and Artemis, are both complex and endearing. The plot is fast-paced and keeps you guessing until the very end. While it may not have the same depth as some of Klune’s other books, it's a thrilling adventure that fans of supernatural thrillers will appreciate.

Overall, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a solid four-star read that showcases T.J. Klune’s versatility as an author.

4.5 stars, exceptional. Rounding down to 4 stars only because I would not consider this among Klune's best, but his almost best is still way above many other's efforts. Beautiful and cool story, had me hooked from the very beginning. Can be a bit too much "Starman" (the movie) at times, not necessarily a bad thing, IMO, but it may be for others. Definitely recommend this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love TJ Klune and will read whatever he writes! I really enjoyed this - maybe not my favorite of his - but still top tier reading. The characters and the setting were interesting and his stories are always just so whimsical. Will be adding to our library!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Bones Beneath My Skin. This book was SOOO good from beginning to end! TJ Klune can do no wrong. I absolutely adored this incredibly unique story. As usual, Klune has blown me away with stellar characters and story-telling.

I love this book so much. It is now my favorite TJ Klune book. Thank you for releasing it. I never knew I needed to know Artemis Darth Vader. She, Nate, and Alex are forever in my heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Loved Under the Cerulean Sea and so jumped at this. Didn’t realize it was republish of an older book at first. This was entertaining, but nowhere near as enjoyable as Cerulean. It uses a lot of 80s and 90s SciFi tropes - on the run with a mysterious child type stuff. Sort of a thriller, sort of a romance. An odd book, but I generally liked it. Moved a little too slow in places, and was a bit predictable at parts, but diverting enough. Not sorry I read it, but can’t go more than 3 stars. Oh, one note, unlike Cerulean, this book definitely has some explicit scenes and language - not a lot of them, but if that kind of stuff bothers you and you’re expecting the PG nature of Cerulean, this isn’t it.

honestly, yeah it's definitely "weird."
but it a good way. it's sweet and fun and there's a few well-done action sequences that are really quite engaging.

"You have to be nice when you can because you don't when it could mean everything to someone"
Nate Cartwright has lost his family and his job. He decides to go to the family cabin to regroup. This leads his to love and to understanding just what makes someone human. I read this book in one day because I became invested in the characters and what would happen. What kept this from being a 5-star is simply a few scenes that seemed repetitive, and I wanted the action to continue.

I was completely unaware this was a re-publication of an earlier work of TJ Klune's until I got toward the middle of the book, which makes sense because his writing certainly felt quite a bit different from his newer works (House in the Cerulean Sea, Whispering Door). That being said, the general frame of the book is just about as you'd expect if you have read anything else written by him, which is not a bad thing. Predictability can be quite reassuring, especially if you're seeking out similar titles. Klune does a wonderful job writing his characters and engaging storylines; friendship, family, loss, queer identity. If you've enjoyed the author's other works, you will enjoy this one.

One thing about tj klune is he’s gonna make a story with the found family trope. And one thing about me is I’m gonna eat that ish up!!! I love everything he writes and I wish the world was as sweet as he makes the pockets in his stories.

I'm not generally a fan of “sappy” books, but I will read anything TJ Klune writes without hesitation … and probably even get a little teary-eyed at the end. If you've read his other novels, you likely have a pretty good idea of the basic outline of this one. There's a gay guy. And another gay guy. And a kid. And there's a whole “found family” thing going on. And there's humor. And bacon. Okay, so maybe that last one is a new addition to Klune's repertoire, I don't remember.

This entire story focuses on one very odd young girl named Artemis Darth Vader and her gruff “bodyguard” Alex. There's also Nate, a disgraced journalist who wants nothing more than to escape from the world for a while. And then they meet up and become a family and everything gets sappy and romantic and heartwarming and I'm not crying, you're crying. I'm not spoiling anything here … I mean, it's a Klune novel, you know it's going to happen sooner or later. But it's also so much more than just sap – there's also secret government agencies and cults and action and conspiracy theorists and comets and maybe even a crashed helicopter or two (or three). It's all fantastically wonderful and sad and hopeful and you should probably read it as soon as possible.

My overall rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with a copy of this book to review. Its expected (re)publication date is February 4, 2025.