There are very few authors who can get me invested in a story about robots; there are even fewer who can have me in tears reading about said robots. TJ Klune is that rare story teller who is able cultivate so much empathy and compassion for the most unlikely characters. Klune’s ability to create a world that draws in readers so completely is why I was already looking forward to his newest novel months in advance.

In the Lives of Puppets is Klune’s newest release and it has all the magic and heart warming moments that we’ve grown to expect with Klune’s books. I immediately fell in love with the characters in this novel and could not stop laughing at the banter between Nurse Ratched and Rambo. These may be two of my favorite characters and I loved every bit of dialogue between them.

I also enjoyed the complicated dynamics between Victor Lawson, Gio and Hap. There were so many touching moments sprinkled throughout, but the journey for Victor from the beginning to the end of the novel was emotional and powerful. It was a story of perseverance, friendship and familial bonds, and I loved every minute of it.

In the Lives of Puppets is a beautiful story and it’s one to look out for in 2023!

As a huge fan of TJ Klune I was ecstatic when I was approved for this book, but I found myself uninterested. Being familiar with Klune's works I pressed on but found myself losing interest. It was written well, had the cozy feel I've grown to expect from his works, and his characters were as charming as ever. I think, for me, it was just a matter of theme. I will recommend this book, though, because I believe anyone who likes his books or post apocalyptic reading in general would enjoy it.

My absolute, freaking heart with this one. I wasn't sure what to make of a "Pinocchio" retelling but we trust in our Book Daddy TJ Klune. It had all the elements we know and love: found family, captivating characters, strong emotions, and a handful of inappropriate dick jokes.

The pacing of Puppets is surprisingly slow, or maybe better to say, the pacing of Puppets wasn't what I had anticipated it would be. We spend a lot of time just getting to know Vic, Rambo, and Nurse Ratched and forming those ties between these three very different but loyal characters. We are also tying in Gio (Vic's father) and Hap (a new robot Vic found) into their inner circle. Being a bit longer of a book (400+ pages) it did allow for us to have this time to really bring out the characters individually and as a unit so when Gio is taken from them we can feel it just as deeply as our characters. I felt so much more emotionally engaged in this story than I might otherwise have felt. Klune is, obviously, quite talented at pulling at our heartstrings and was really able to execute this wonderfully.

I also really appreciated some of the ideas and themes that arose around humanity, the world, greed, and corruption. The good and the bad of being human and all the messy, inconvenient emotions we have. I definitely teared up on more than one occasion (read: a lot of occasions) and even needed to sit with that ending for a bit because it wasn't exactly what I hoped for but felt right.

This felt strongly on-brand for TJ. I almost feel like it leans a bit more toward "The Lightning-Struck Heart" vibes (best friends on a quest!) and was pleased that like his previous Tor books had a "home" theme that was quite literally a house. There was a lot more movement and adventure in this one.

When I pick up a TJ Klune book, I expect wonder and awe and growth and humanity. I don’t normally expect murderous robotic nurses and sentient vacuums with anxiety disorders, but that just made this one even better.

You know the how Lord of the Rings takes place an age after the world is in its prime? The haunting nostalgia of walking through ruins in the wake of a dead civilization; the last member of a once great household living alone, the only one to remember a history of glory? In the Lives of Puppets inspires that same aching nostalgia, but this time with a hopeful undertone, a chance of the lost world being rebuilt.

This is a lovely and haunting story of hope, growth, and forgiveness, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did

This was an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Though Not as heartwarming as his other two books, TJ Klune has brought heart (ha - a punny reference to the story) and whimsy into this book about robots and humanoids.

At times, it felt all too convenient - how could they have gotten to the top reaches of the government without being spotted?! But there was humour that helped me to see past the ease of it all.

All rounded off by the fact that the main character is asexual - representation that is not seen enough in fiction.

Overall, I would recommend this book…just don’t think you’re going to get the happy ending that TJ Klune has provided in some of his other books.

A shift from the soft, cozy fantasy to a somewhat soft sci-fi, In the Lives of Puppets is a sweet novel with a found-family at its core.

Honestly, I did not realize that this was a Pinocchio retelling until just now when I looked through other reviews, but it definitely makes sense as one. The story follows Vic, a human inventor living in the wild with his father Gio (an android) and other robot companions, Rambo and Nurse Ratched. They find a decommissioned android in the Scrap Yard one day and Vic repairs him, giving him a new heart and bringing him back to life, as well as giving him a new name, Hap. There's a lot of focus on how Hap reacts and adapts to having a heart, though the plot is also a quest: the Authority have taken Vic's father away to their city and its up to him and his found family to bring him back home. There's a lot of fantastic sci-fi elements in this book, and I liked how the androids and ai were handled. What I liked much less was the frequent (and very unnecessary) sex/dick jokes that were way to prevalent. I've read a few of Klune's other books, and I think I just have to realize that I do not like Klune's sense of humor, I think it detracts from the story and it often made me want to skip over scenes because of it. Otherwise, the characters and story are solid and well-written. Personally, this is a 2 star book for me, but given a lot of my issues are personal preference, i'm bumping my rating up to 3 star.

Unfortunately, this book won't be for me. I wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding The House in the Cerulean Sea until recently, despite reading and loving the book, but is not an author I will be continuing to read at this point. I look forward to hearing more from the author in terms of a dialogue with native peoples in Canada. The author is very talented but I will not be continuing at this point.

"Sometimes, it's the smallest things that can change everything when you least expect it."

Oh the feels. So many feels. I love how TJ Klune can make me fall in love with an anxious vacuum robot, laugh at his gloriously snarky nurse Ratched, cry with Gio, Victor and his Hap, and still be so entirely grateful that he shattered my heart and put it back together again.

"What are the rules?
Stick together.
Run if we have to.
No dallying!
No drilling...
And above all, be brave!"

This book was everything I expected it to be: wonderfully strange and at the same time decidedly not strange (I tried telling my coworkers that I was crying over an adorable, anxious vacuum, they thought it was weird. Weirdos.), with a beautiful message at the center wrapped in a lovely story full of loveable characters that you will be sad to leave so soon. This is such a wonderful story about love and forgiveness, friendship and adventure, humanity and creation and, above all, family. Simply perfect from start to finish!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out! Wonderful novel.

I will read anything that TJ Klune writes. I didn't even fully read the premise of this book before requesting it. This book had everything I was looking for when I read one of his novels. I didn't know that I needed a retelling o Pinocchio (not that I've read the actual book before) but this was so good. I'm now tempted to read the actual book so I can truly appreciate the differences.

Like with all his other books, I laughed and cried through the whole thing. Obsessed. Only thing I'm sad about is that I read this prior to the publish date meaning I got a long way to go before I get to read his next novel.

3.5/5 - I’m so conflicted after finishing this. Under The Whispering Door is my all time favourite book, I’ve read it almost a dozen times, and cannot get enough of TJ Klune’s writing style with it (as well as The House In The Cerulean Sea). I loved that this story had that same fun, whimsical feel to it. I laughed out loud multiple times and really did like all of the characters.

Unfortunately, the story just never hooked me in the way I wanted it to. While enjoying the writing style and the characters made me still enjoy the book, not being able to get into the story makes me unable to rate this book higher. Especially with it being over 400 pages, towards the end I felt like I was just ready for it to wrap up.

I loved the little nod to THITCS that was mentioned in this, nothing someone who hasn’t read it would feel like they’re missing out on but a fun detail to previous TJ Klune readers.

This was probably one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read, and for that reason alone, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others. I can see it being a story many people love and I think it will make a great audiobook as well.

Thank you to Tor Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

TJ Klune takes a despairing dystopian setting and adds his beautiful writing and rich characters.

In his latest book, the world is controlled by machines who seek out to destroy humans and any machine that shows signs of free will.

Away from this nightmarish society, hiding in a forest built through a canopy of trees, android Giovanni Lawson raises a human boy, Victor, with the help of two other machines: a naive and anxious robot vacuum (think a Roomba) and a sociopathic robot nurse. Of course, their idyllic life cannot last, and when disaster strikes, Victor, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and a mysterious stranger set out to rescue Giovanni.

I loved all the characters and their interactions. Rambo and Nurse Ratched might be my favorite side kicks ever. Their personalities and banter added humor and depth to an already amazing story.

Just like Klune’s previous two books, In the Lives of Puppets is another book that feels like a hug.

In The Lives Of Puppets releases April 25, 2023 and is one of my most anticipated books of next year. So, when I received an advanced reader copy thanks to @netgalley and @torbooks I was over the moon!!

Book review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Victor Lawson leads an abnormal, isolated, life in the woods with his father Giovanni. Along the way he has found, and saved, his two best friends: Nurse Ratched (a homicidal nursing robot) and Rambo (a robot vacuum with anxiety). Together they have built a home and created a beautiful life together.

But, as is the nature of all great stories.. their idyllic existence of inventing by day, and watching vintage movies by night cannot last. One day while on a scavenging mission they uncover something that changes the course of their lives forever.

- I could not get enough of this beautiful found family. The banter between Nurse Ratched and Rambo is life giving! And oh, Gio! 😭 His dedication to his son was so moving.

This is a stunning adventure story full of heart, humor and beauty. There are lines that left my eyes brimming with tears, and moments that had me laughing out loud.

It's been a while since I enjoyed a book so much. If you enjoyed Klune's other books, I highly suggest picking this one up when it comes out. ❤️

In the, soon to be, famous words of Nurse Ratched: "this is going to end badly, I cannot wait."

Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for trusting me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publishing date: April 25th, 2023

Being a fan of "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and "Under the Whispering Door", I had a lot of expectations for this book and for the most part, I was not let down. The nurse cracks me up!

So what did I take away from this book? We do not all love in the same ways or at the same intensity levels. Love can change one's life but it may take a lot of patience and a lot of time. One can start over and choose his own path. You don't have to be what others tell you to be. We aren't just labels. Friendship is one of the greatest expressions of love.

Klune is a master at pulling on heartstrings and putting together found families and he has done it again with this book. While I felt that some of his characterizations were trying a bit too hard to fit into categories (i.e. comic relief), the book was overall an enjoyable, though somewhat predictable, story.

The lesson we have learned is be nice to the robots. Tell Google assistant thank you every once in awhile to avoid being destroyed by HARP.
This book was cute and fun and strangely a little spicy with robots. I will forever be having nightmares of that one donkey scene from Pinocchio but what's a little trauma when you have butterflies.

Surprising no one, I absolutely adored this book. If you've enjoyed Klune's previous work, you will likely enjoy this story too. It had the whimsy of The House in the Cerulean Sea, the existential musings of Under the Whispering Door, and a sprinkle of the sexual humor seen in The Extraordinaries. The story and characters were full of heart and a joy to read, even in the parts that made me incredibly sad. Despite being bleak at times, a thread of hope in the form of connection weaves its way through everything that happens. I laughed. I cried. I felt awe and anxiety. The story put me through a wide range of feelings, as Klune's stories usually do.

I love the found family trope, and no one does it quite like TJ Klune. He created such an odd mix of personalities for this story, and it was heartwarming to see them form such strong bonds. Connection is a major theme in much of Klune's work, and this book utilized a combination of found family and fascinating science fiction elements to explore it in compelling ways. The plot and world-building were interesting, but the real draw was definitely the characters and their relationships. The story was largely divided into three parts: intro to the characters & world, the journey, and the final battle & its aftermath. At first, I thought it was just going to be a story about the relationship between Vic and Hap that explored the development of Hap's humanity and his integration into their eccentric family. I would have honestly been happy with that, but, of course, Klune had to bring the pain, which then sent the family on a journey to save one of their own against all odds.

I immediately fell in love with the characters. Rambo, the chronically anxious roomba, has forever changed the way I will look at my vacuum robot. He was just so incredibly wholesome and hilariously naive that I dare anyone not to fall in love with him. Nurse Ratched was a sociopathic nurse droid with a killer sense of humor, literally. She had me laughing out loud at her morbid jokes and inappropriately timed sex talks. Vic was the heart, and only human, of the group. He was incredibly special and cared deeply for others. Gio was the father figure who raised Vic, but he had a huge secret and a lot to atone for in his past. Finally, there was Hap, the newcomer they found in the scrap heap. His relationship with Vic was a highlight of this book and the backbone of the story. The connection between them helped Hap become more and more human, and seeing that growth bit by bit was so beautiful.

Klune explored so many powerful themes and fascinating questions in this book. What does it mean to be human? Is it possible to do "bad" things for good reasons and still be "good?" Can I love someone for who they are now without forgiving wrongs from the past? The story presented growth as integral to the human experience and illustrated how connection is key to growth. It also delved into many other fascinating topics, including artificial intelligence, the impact of humans on the world, how to rebuild in the aftermath of loss and trauma, and the role of memory in identity formation, among others. There was a lot of deep stuff that really made me think, and it was all wrapped in a package of delightful fluff that I ate up.

Overall, there was never any doubt in my mind that I would love this book. I know this is a standalone, but I would really love to get more stories set in this world. There was so much left to explore, and the end was quite open. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a sequel one day. Needless to say, this has automatically become a new favorite and gets 5 out of 5 stars.

I have mixed feelings about this book. First the positive, it has all the things a person loves from TJ Klune: a cast of quirky, loveable characters that make a beautiful found family, laugh-out-loud banter, casual use of speculative fiction, and big feelings for the characters and the plot happenings.

What I didn't love: weirdly clumsy ACE rep. That felt shoehorned in and awkward. I also struggled with the sci-fic elements in the book. They make zero sense. A wooden heart as a power source? An inter-connected robot society that can fall to a virus but needs barcodes to identify members? Very little about the sheer existential horror of being the last human ever and no interest in fixing it? The huge hanging question mark of a whole society that has forgotten everything. I know that this book was not hard sci-fic, and more allegorical than anything, but my disbelief was poorly abused.

I still enjoyed this book, but I feel like his last two were both stronger. I don't think I will be picking up any more of his books that have a sci-fic setting. I will probably read more paranormal/urban fantasy style from him that requires less... believability. An okay read if you don't think about it too hard and you don't mind a bit more of a bummer ending than his last two books.

TJ Klune is a master storyteller, bringing characters to life in ways that feel more alive than you’d expect from a robot. Klune has an amazing sense of the human experience, and it shines in every one of his characters. His humor is entertaining and witty. The world he paints is fun and whimsical.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.