These characters were so annoying. The robots were so two dimensional, the jokes fell so flat and the conversations were way too on the nose. I much prefer commentary to naturally flow through the story, but it tried so hard to be inclusive that it was brought up in conversation when it didn't make sense, taking you out of the story.

A lot of these characters were just copy/paste to Cerulean Sea, but with Cerulean Sea, you really cared about the characters. Their trauma made you care about them. I never cared about these robots.

No one writes such lovable characters quite like TJ Klune and "In the Lives of Puppets" just reaffirms this. Although I had a feeling how this book would go, I still enjoyed the ride and the deeper meaning. Klune has created a future world, setting the scene slowly. You get emotionally attached to the characters, their lives, and their home before conflict occurs.

"In the Lives of Puppets" showcases what it means to be human, to be loved, to be in a family, to survive, and to dream. It's a well-rounded book with enjoyable characters, humor, emotion, and adventure.

In the Lives of Puppets takes several literary references and adds humor, heart, and queerness to the mix. You might recognize the network of treehouses that make our characters' home from the likes of Swiss Family Robinson. It's just as isolated as a tropical island, in the center of a forest with only a giant and growing scrap heap nearby to signal the existence of other people living their lives anywhere. Giovanni Lawson, an android with a clockwork heart, is the father and chief tinkerer of the family. In a reverse from the Pinocchio source material, Giovanni raised his "real boy" (read: human) adoptive son, Victor, from infancy. Victor's birth parents were literally running from an unnamed enemy when they handed off their son to Giovanni, never to be seen again. The other family members rounding out this merry band are Rambo (a misread Roomba), who loves to vacuum and be helpful but has anxiety attacks and existential crises in equal number, and Nurse Ratched (haha), who revels in her own sociopathic violent tendencies and wishes her offered medical services gave her more opportunities to drill something.

At the start of the book, we see Victor live up to his Frankensteinian namesake by bringing an android from the scrap heap back to life (Rambo exclaims, "It's alive!" at the appropriate moment lest anyone miss the allusion). Hap's missing limbs have been lovingly replaced with wooden substitutes by our aspiring mad scientist, and his new clockwork heart is powered in part by Victor's blood. I think we're all welcome to see some Tin Man references in Hap's story, as well, so I hope you're not finished hunting for literary references.

On the representation front, the queer romance is sweet and has some strong moments even amid the action. Holding hands and other little efforts for one to ground the other especially stand out. Victor has long considered himself asexual. And for all her needling and lack of empathy, it was Nurse Ratched who assured him at a key moment in his teen years that it was a natural and unremarkable way to be. That didn't stop her from then casually bringing it up in conversation in a way that embarrassed young Victor, but it was a nice moment while it lasted with a medical professional. I think that dual experience sums up my mixed feelings on the representation on this front, where I have the most authority to speak. In some ways, I see so much respect here, especially when it comes to Victor's boundaries in a romance. In other ways, the humor inherent to the book's tone intersects with Victor's identity in a way that's hard to parse. A sojourn to a brothel where Victor's uncomfortability is seen as not being appropriately sex-positive stands out. He's labeled a prude, and there's no further interrogation of that characterization. I believe readers are meant to take something away from the fact that Victor's aceness irks robots... who are often used as ready comparisons for aceness. But that's a mix of things to have going on at once, and I left this scene and others feeling a bit uncertain if I felt seen and validated or limited and misrepresented. The whole story walks that fine line.

The broader message about forgiveness and who can give it or who should be asked to also left me uncertain. When there are real-life corollaries to speculative fiction, I try to be careful in considering how that message might be applied to real situations. In this case, the open-endedness contributed to my mixed feelings but also the combination of deep darkness with hopefulness. I think all that can be juggled masterfully in a book, but I'm not sure that happened here, especially when the topic is genocide.

The author starting shit (or trying to finish it? I don't know.) in his acknowledgments is... a sour note to end things on. I ended up spending more time thinking about the subtext of those comments than the book, which had been an overall pleasant experience despite the qualms mentioned above. And I guess that went to show that a) the story maybe wasn't that earth-shattering if I could be so easily diverted in my affection and b) even if we can never know the full story about who said and did what and who was and wasn't justified, it's messy. And the author's history and tone play into the equation where blind trust might otherwise take root. All of this left me in a jumble, and I honestly can't say if I recommend this one or not. Potential readers can interpret my comments to see if this book lines up with their preferences or might leave them stuck like me. Thanks to Tor for my copy to read and review!

In the Lives of Puppets completely won me over with its whimsical charm, heartfelt characters, and beautifully told story of love, identity, and found family. Though I’m not usually a fan of Pinocchio retellings, this one—with its quirky robots, tender moments, and thoughtful asexual representation—felt both fresh and emotionally resonant. Some parts dragged and leaned heavily on humor to sidestep deeper themes, but the warmth, creativity, and message of acceptance made it a truly memorable read. I especially adored Nurse Ratched’s hilarious commentary and the touching bond between Victor and his companions.

I've never liked Pinocchio too much, but this book stole my heart. A asexual representation was wonderfully handled and perfect for a romantic book. I'd love to visit these characters again.

In the Lives of Puppets is a heartfelt, whimsical, and imaginative tale that blends science fiction with fairy-tale charm. TJ Klune brings his signature warmth and found-family themes to a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by quirky robots and a lonely human boy on a quest to save his father. The characters—especially Nurse Ratched with her darkly hilarious commentary—shine with personality and wit, and the story pulses with emotional depth and compassion.

That said, while the novel's themes of love, identity, and acceptance are moving, the pacing at times felt uneven, Still, Klune’s writing is undeniably tender and hopeful. A must read.

In the Lives of Puppets is a beautifully heartfelt and whimsical story that only TJ Klune could write. Set in a world of quirky robots, mysterious pasts, and found family, this book is both a love letter to classic sci-fi and a deeply human tale about connection, identity, and what it means to be truly alive.

Klune’s signature blend of humor, heart, and hope shines through every page. The characters—especially the wildly lovable Nurse Ratched and the sweetly awkward Rambo—add so much charm, while the emotional core of the story is both touching and thought-provoking. It’s a book that made me laugh, tear up, and reflect—all in the best way.

If you’re looking for a story that’s imaginative, tender, and full of heart, In the Lives of Puppets is a must-read.

While I have enjoyed Klune's work in the past, I found that a main issue in this book as in his previous books is the lack of depth. The premise of this novel has a lot of potential but he remains on the surface and never quite reaches anything truly interesting with it. Fairly enjoyable and his writing is quite fine if you want something light and vaguely interesting if a little vapid.

I loved this book! TJ Klune is a such a talented writer. This book was FUNNY. A great cozy queer fantasy with adventure and romance.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for approving for the arc. I really enjoyed reading In the lives of puppets. This is my first time ever reading TJ Klunes work. It took some getting used to because I haven’t read this genre in a long time but once I did I loved it. I couldnt help laughing at the banter between the characters especially with Nurse Ratchet.I highlighted
the beejesus out this book with all my favorite quotes.
“Your flaws are what make you superior, in all ways. No matter what machines can do, no matter how powerful we become, it is the absence of flaws that will be our undoing… Our only flaw is that we’ve condemned ourselves to spend eternity mimicking that which we deemed unfit to exist.” He shook his head. “We can never be you. Instead, we became your ghosts, and we’ll haunt this world until there is nothing left.” The Coachman smiled gently. “It is not a flaw, Victor. There must be no greater feeling in the world than to know that this isn’t forever.” one of the many quotes I love. I definitely recommend reading this book. The characters you will fall in love with and you will wish for another book.

I would actually recommend the audiobook for this title, as the narration in it was fantastic. I didn't full get absorbed into the story or the characters and felt that it was a bit too long, but I think fans of TJ Klune will enjoy this book. I've enjoyed the author's other works enough to continue following his writing journey in the future.

I'd like to start this review by deeply thanking NetGalley and Tor Books (publisher) for granting me access to an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I gave this book 4 stars.

This is an adult dystopian novel where Giovanni (an android), Victor (his human son) and two robots (Nurse Ratchett and Rambo) live peacefully on a house built on the branches of a tree. Although not everything is as good as it seems.

Victor regularly goes to a dumpster site for robots and androids where he never finds anyone or anything interesting. One day he's attracted to an android he calls HARP that seems to still have some life in him and, when he takes him home, secrets and old fears start unveiling, which leads to really serious issues and deep reflections that put .

T/C Warnings: Grief, genocide, violence, death, death of a minor, fire, fire injury, murder, blood confinement, panic attacks, panic disorders, injury detail, dementia, kidnapping, sexual content, animal death, abandonment, gore, mental illness, medical content, animal cruelty, suicide xenophobia, war, body horror, gaslighting, bullying, physical abuse, hate crime, gun violence, cursing, sexual harrassment, pandemic/epidemic, deportation, forced institutionalisation, police brutality, torture, excrement, acephone/arophobia, psychosis, terminal illness, slavery, self-harm, outing, body shaming, suicidal thoughts, dysphoria, domestic abuse, colonisation.

Characters are, as usual, peculiar. I've heard some people say it's not ok to somehow show that killers are forgivable and that this is promoting their actions should be accepted and they should be loved no matter what they do, but we also have a psychopath in The House in the Cerulean Sea and we wtill love him.

What's different about this one? That it's more obvious for us the history it carries. Now, I get the whole point of this book, I think. This is about acceptance, which is part of love, and how that can really change your life and the way you act. Most psychopaths are people who got deep wounds in their minds and souls early in life and most of them, if not all, come from some form of rejection, so real love and acceptance can change the outcome those wounds have in life and, in turn, people's behaviours. For reference, you can check the story of Beth, the psychopath child. Things can be changed until your brain is fully developed, which happens at around 25.

TJ Klune's stories are also about giving second opportunities because mistakes are ok. Of course some of them have deeper consequences than others, but we all deserve to be better and given a second chance. Who wouldn't like that?

All the things he promotes in his books are what actually promote emotional intelligence and make the difference between a brain whose structures are damaged and another one whose life is successful: support makes a whole difference.

However, in this book I saw important/deep/philosophical discussions were cut short with humour as a way to avoid tension, which is quite common in real life, to be honest, but not always healthy.

Regarding the story, I thought it felt flat after the beginning until everything started happening, when it picked up.

Tropes were more cliché, but this is not at all something negative; cliché just means common.

I loved the political criticism and, as usual, how TJ Klune really warms your heart through a deep understanding of love and support.

I certainly recommend this book, as I do all of this author's works.

Unsurprisingly a wonderful read by such a fantastic author. This was such a new and creative idea that took a crazy idea and made it feel real and meaningful. The characters were diverse and very unique and just all so lovable.

I did not read this book. I haven't read a TJ Klune book and didn't know what to expect and I never did pick this one up. I would eventually like to read something by him.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed this book, basically a robotic retelling of Pinocchio. It has all of the features that make it a great TJ Klune book. Tons of heart, love, and philosophy mixed up in a great story. The robots were definitely the stars of the book, making me laugh many times while reading. Highly recommend reading this one if you are a fan of his work!

This was a really interesting book I really enjoyed the author I find him so amazing at being able to write fantasy in a realistic way. I thought the writing was brilliant but the subject matter wasn't as good as I thought it would be and some of his previous books.

Stepping into a TJ Klune book will never disappoint, and this one did not either! So many elements and depths to this book that brings together so many different arenas!

Vic lives a pretty normal life. Or at least a life that Vic considers typical. Living far away from civilization with his android father, Gio, the two invent and tinker with old robots and androids that are decommissioned and dumped into the Scrap Yards near their home. However, when Vic finds an android with some power left, he is thrust into an unexpected adventure. Hap, better known as a HARP unit, was invented by Gio with a sole purpose: eradicate humans. When Vic’s idyllic life is upended, Gio is taken to the City of Electric Dreams, and Vic must journey to try and get him back. Embarking on a quest with Hap and his other two companion robots, Rambo, a nervous Roomba, and Nurse Ratched, a sadistic nurse robot, Vic must try to get Gio back and unravel the secrets that have been hidden from him.

In the Lives of Puppets continues T.J. Klune’s traditional approach to storytelling. Much of the novel fit within the category of cozy/hopepunk fantasy. The stakes are present, and while they feel real, they also feel low because it’s clear from the outset that the “good guys” will win. This doesn’t impact the novel in a negative way, and instead, it sets readers up to enjoy the experience. Vic’s journey becomes a quest that sees him learning new information and encountering other beings within his world. And while most of the novel is like a hug in a book, the conclusion echoes Klune’s other work as it shifts toward a mix of both melancholic and hopeful.

In terms of characters, Vic functioned well as the naive individual who was broken out of his routine. However, standouts are those who act as a mirror to Vic’s actions, specifically Rambo and Nurse Ratched. Rambo, the anxious Roomba, was often both the heart and comic relief. I think Rambo was my favorite, probably because everything said by Rambo was so sincere and pure. There were no hidden intentions and Rambo loved his companions, even if they didn’t always appreciate his interjections. Nurse Ratched was a good counterpart. As a sadistic nurse robot, a fun reversal of a traditional medical unit, Nurse Ratched derived extreme pleasure from drilling, much to everyone’s horror, and she frequently offered to do so when the situation seemed dire. Even when Nurse Ratched engaged her Empathy Protocol, everything said still seemed to be accompanied by an eyeroll. The juxtaposition of Rambo and Nurse Ratched made the novel fun and various parts of the journey unexpected.

As with all of Klune’s books, the emphasis is on connection, found family, friendship, and love, including both romantic and unromantic. Vic is devoted to his found family of Gio, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and Hap. He loves them as a unit, and when Gio is taken, risks himself to return them to their full member count. In addition, it’s clear that Vic has a connection to Hap. The bond between the two is clearly an intense friendship and trust that could be redefined at a later point with the suggestion that this may occur after the conclusion of the story on the page.

Overall, I would recommend In the Lives of Puppets for anyone who has liked other Klune titles as the novel fits well within his larger body of work.

I absolutely loved House in the Cerulean Sea, so I was really looking forward to more heartfelt characters to fall in love with. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters in this book, so I just felt apathy during the whole story.

The characters felt like broad generalizations. The snarky nurse robot's jokes weren't funny or clever; Rambo was just a common airheaded-but-sweet caricature character; Gio was just Geppetto; HAP was a protective jerk; and Victor was just confused.

Once the traveling started, the book went downhill quickly. It felt unneccesarily long and so boring it was a slog.

The whole Coachman side story was just weird and most of the interaction didn't really do anything to further the story, just waylaid it. And meeting the Blue Fairy felt very unoriginal and too Wizard of Oz-ish.

The romance piece felt awkward and forced and kind of came out of nowhere. And the frequent mention of bodily functions and sex felt very out of context as well.

I guess this is trying to show how having a heart/humanity is valuable because it affects how events change (or don't) change you? I'm not really sure, but the end was just so bleak. Sorry but I didn't enjoy this one.

While I absolutely loved TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, and its sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, I struggled with this one and ultimately decided not to finish. The premise of the book wasn’t grabbing my attention and it was a book I constantly found myself putting down to read other books. Perhaps I will give it another chance one day, but this was just one I could not get into at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for my gifted e-copy!