This was a sweet book that made my heart feel so full. I loved the relationships between the characters and it was a unique story that was incredibly well written. Definitely recommend!

I picked up this book because TJ Klune is a genius and I am so so so glad that I did. TJ has a way of bringing you into the world's they create and making them your own.


Ox grew up knowing one thing that his father bestowed to him... he was worthless and would never ever belong..When he was 12, his father left.

When Ox was sixteen, the Bennett family moved in next door which would change his life forever. For you see, the Bennetts are shapeshifters that can turn into wolves at will. Ox becomes immersed in this world of magic and fantasy and finds a true "pack" to belong to.

This book was so beautifully written and I wish I could experience reading it for the first time again! Be ready to be taken on the journey of a lifetime in this novel. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this book was phenomenal.

Goodreads 4.3 stars
Me: 4.5 stars

#tjklune #wolfsong #netgalley #romance #booksta #bookish #bookshelf #bookcase #library #reading #read #fiction #fantasy

Wolfsong by TJ Klune (published 7/4/2023!) is another “stayed up too late on a work night to finish it” book for 2023. I haven’t read a book about werewolves, witches, and young love in a long time and while much of this story was lore-adjacent with other writers and universes, it maintained a clear boundary between the world of Green Creek and other ‘creature’ series. I’m looking forward to diving into the second book Ravensong when it’s released August 1st

Positives: The best part about this book is that it was an action-packed werewolf love story where the romance, relationship, and attraction were key parts of the story, but it wasn’t a Romance Novel. The main characters were complex and flawed and sweet and relatable. The plot was well paced, and I never felt like I ‘missed anything’ or “would you quit belaboring the point”.

Wish List: I always appreciate the inclusion of sex scenes to further the narrative or mature a character, but the writing style in these sections was noticeably different from the rest of the story. The slight change in voice and style put me off balance to such a degree that it felt like reading a different story, and then jumping back into the main story. On the other hand, sometimes sex in real life feels like stepping out of the main story, and back in again so perhaps it’s all good. Either way, it made me think about writing and storytelling and relationships which is always an indication of a great story.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read by netgalley.com and Tor Books . The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #wolfsong #netgalley #torpublishing @torbooks @tjklunebooks

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Publishing Review 7/3/2023

I'm so excited for a new group of readers to discover these books and the wolves of Green Creek! It's been a few years since I originally read the series, and I admittedly rated the books lowly my first time through them, but something about them stuck with me. When I saw that they were going to be republished by Tor, I figured it was time to revisit Green Creek, and I'm so glad I did. Rereading this first book felt like coming home. All I wanted to do when I finished Wolfsong was pick up Ravensong immediately and keep myself immersed in the world TJ Klune has created.

I actually wasn’t totally sure what to expect when I picked this one up. I saw wolves and T.J. Klune and was in thought!

Ox is around 12 when his father leaves but he learns to live with that. And when the mysterious Bennetts come to town, his bond with their son, Joe, sets in motion a series of events he never could have predicted.

Admittedly, I struggled with this book early on. The style of writing felt very different from Klune’s other books. But I eventually settled in and it for sure kept my attention in the latter half. I really loved getting to know the characters. Their emotions felt chaotic but real. I also enjoyed the story as a whole. It was interesting without being wholly predictable.

There were definitely parts that made me a bit uncomfortable. There is an age-gap relationship that starts when both are children; a lot of this is tied to the idea of mates and werewolves, which I understood, but it was still off-putting for sure. And while I liked the parts that were unpredictable, the parts that were just ended up frustrating me even more since there was clearly potential for the unexpected.

It was well-worth the read, however, and I’ll definitely continue with the series as it covers other characters.

Wolfsong is getting new covers (I presume), so thank you to Tor Books for providing me with an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love TJ Klune and am a big fan of In the Lives of Puppets and The House on the Cerulean Sea. That being said this was not one of my favorites. In typical fashion he does a beautiful job writing about both adults and children who have experienced trauma and how they cope/react to that trauma. However, I found the pacing was too slow for me and I didn’t love the underage relationship that developed between the characters. That being said my opinion seems to be an unpopular one because it looks well loved on other review sites.

"It was reverence. It was grace. It was beauty. I wondered if this meant I could finally breathe. Like I had found my place in this world I didn't understand."

This had my heart singing along with the wolves!

Another beautiful and solid book by T.J. Klune! Wolfsong is the first book in the Green Creek series and I am salivating/anticipating reading the next book!

I am not a big fantasy reader, but if T.J. Klune writes it, I am going to read it. He writes characters that I care about. I am invested in their stories and cheer when they triumph and cry when they suffer. He writes about longing so beautifully, about finding your family, being a part of something bigger than yourself, the deep ties of friendship and love. His books warm my heart, have me feeling all kinds of emotions and leave me wanting more.

In this book, Ox Matheson's father left when he was twelve years old. He was not a kind man, and his cruel words left a mark and affected how Ox viewed himself. Then one day he met Joe, the youngest Bennett boy, on his walk home and life would never be the same for either of them.

The Bennetts are a family like no other. They have tight bonds, they are welcoming, they are accepting, they opened their hearts and their home to Ox, they are a pack, they are werewolves. Ox, well Ox is different. He is all "candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome."

There is so much heart and soul in this book. There is so much more to say about this book. I could gush about it for hours. I loved the friendships, the relationships, the angst, and the unique characters. I appreciated how the characters had many layers. I loved how Ox's confidence grew.

Sometimes our lives can be changed by small things, and sometimes lives are changed by bigger things. I loved how everyone's lives were changed by meeting, by loving, by accepting and by nurturing each other. Sometimes it takes others to show us the beauty we have inside ourselves. It took one man, Ox's father to put him down, it took a pack to lift him up, so he could see that he was worthy, that he mattered, that he important.

This book is not all howling and singing, there is loss, there is triumph, there is grief, there is joy, there is happiness, there is tragedy, there is romance, and above all, there is the pack.

I'm really, truly torn about Wolfsong. I usually love all things TJ Klune and I did enjoy reading this one, too, but somehow the age gap just didn't sit right with me. Not the way it was presented. As usual, I love Klune's writing style and I enjoyed the different (platonic/familial) relationship dynamics portrayed here, but the whole time I was reading this, I was just dreading the moment Ox and Joseph would get together, especially because it's so abundantly clear that they while right from the start. Still holding out hope that the next one will be more up my alley again.

Ox is a special kid who no one understands. Everyone thinks he is slow. His father leaves him and his mother, and Ox starts working at a young age at Gordo’s shop where his father used to work. The Bennett family comes to town, and there is something different about them too. Before long, they’ve accepted Ox as family, and Ox discovers their big secret - they are werewolves. As Ox learns family is more than those that are blood related, trouble comes to Green Creek to pull them apart. Will Ox discover what makes him special? Will he be able to save his family?

This was a beautifully written book. Once started, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were well developed with flaws and relatable. The plot was extremely well written. Whenever I pick up a book by TJ Klune, I know I’ll love it. Highly recommend.

Thank you Net Galley and the publishers for giving me access to the story in exchange for my honest review.

I found Wolfsong to be a breathtaking, heart achingly jewel of a romance, and one that will be in my memory for a long while. Its a story of love, friendship, hardship, and unity of family; and simply couldn’t help but love it!!

Wolfsong by TJ Klune: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: ebook courtesy of Tor Books and NetGalley

I just started reading books by TJ Klune this year, and I have really loved his standalones. I was excited to read this book, the first in a successful series by him. Unfortunately, this book was not as special to me as his previous works, though I feel that I did learn some things while reading. I realize that I am not the target demographic for this book, and that impacts my reception of some key points of the book.
I did feel uncomfortable with the age gap between the love interests, as they met and bonded with each other (platonically but permanently) while one of the characters was a child- not even a teenager. Though the relationship does not grow sexual until both parties are of age, it still left a bad taste in my mouth because there was a distinct brother-like relationship between them previously- when it became romantic it felt dangerously close to pedophilic AND incestual. Most frustrating is that I do not see what purpose the age gap held- the book could have been just as good if both characters were closer in age when they met.
The writing style in this book is very specific and different from the other books that I’ve read by Klune. Though the book is for mature readers, it does feature adolescent and young adult characters, and the writing reflects that. I was personally not a fan of the italicized inner monologues. Lastly, and this is addressed directly in the book, but it was difficult to read the story and not compare it to the Twilight series.
I can see how Klune’s writing style has developed over the years, and I appreciate his writing, especially representing diverse characters and stories, and I will absolutely continue reading his books, but I will not be continuing with the series, though I will still recommend it to followers who have an interest in it.

Best book about shifters I have ever read. This book is stunning. The writing, the characters, everything about this story worked for me and I was all in.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy. I didn't realize this was a re-release of an older book by Klune...

I give this book 3.5 stars--it's not absolutely amazing but it's pretty fun. I honestly had no idea this was about werewolves, so it was a really nice surprise. I just like picking out stuff with wolves...and Klune is a proven good author...so it works.

So, Ox is a really well-written protagonist and he's not a typical one, he's very...non-detailed oriented, and more people-oriented. This works because the story is more about the people, the pack, and the community, rather than environmental details.

The age gap bothered me, and how it feels like we still didn't get enough of the romance developing. I actually can't really tell if this is primarily a romance or found-family book because it had both, but I feel like most of the focus was on found-family. Which was my favorite part anyway.

Joe was kinda eh and I thought he was ironically similar to Edward (Twilight) in that he kept making decisions for his love interest which pisses everyone off, including the reader. Ox and the found-family carried the book for me.

I feel bad not rating it higher but I didn't understand Joe's terrible reasoning for disappearing for THREE YEARS? And he was so mad at Ox when he got back which was so weird! Bro! You're the one who vanished, not Ox! It was one of those stupid character decisions that drags the story down because I don't understand why everyone was okay with Joe being a jerkwad half the time, ha. I think it would've helped if we had Joe's POV or at least more scenes of Joe & Ox hanging out.

Still, this was a fun werewolf/found-family book. It's cool to see how far Klune has gone since his early works, I'm glad he's still working on the found-family angle in his books because that's his greatest strength.

TJ is a phenomenal writer. His ability to get you attached to fictional characters, and become fully immersed in the fictional world is incredible. I love the character journeys for everyone. This is an endearing and magical story. There’s heartache, destined to be romantic partnerships, love - so much love, growth, loss, found family, secrets, healing, a story that spans times. The chemistry between Ox and Joe is enough to reel you in, but truly - all of the familiar and friendship relationships will keep you hooked. The camaraderie in the friend group is like no other. The story will keep you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s so beautiful.

I love this author’s writing so much. It draws me in and paints an amazing world that is so beautifully descriptive.
This is the story of Ox a kid who’s Dad called him stupid and that he’d have a life of “shit”. Then he meets a broken little boy named Joe. And his whole world changes. If I had to I would classify this as an MM paranormal romance. But it is so so much more.

I am a huge fan of T.J. Klune, he’s such an amazing storyteller and despite not loving this as much as his other reads it’s still a beautifully written book. Quick read filled with connection and love, which is central tenet of his books. Loved Ox such a complex character and love that he was tethered to both Joe and Gordo. Didn’t love the age difference between Joe and Ox especially developing a romantic relationship, this relationship was however filled with love rather than toxicity. I found the whole book a bit slower than the other books I’ve read and it took me a bit longer to get into. Loved all the characters, all written well and I want to know more about some of the peripheral characters from the human pack. Hope Gordo and Mark find their way back to each other. The 3 year separation between characters especially between ox and Joe/Gordo a bit unnecessary and the time length glossed over a little. Enjoyed this book and thanks to @tor I have raven song approved to read next.
3.5 stars

When I was younger, I felt a strong connection to books exploring the realms of mythology and fantasy. The idea of a hidden world existing just beyond the limits of our imagination intrigued me, and I found solace in the escapism that these stories offered. As a young reader, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter offered me that sense of wonder and adventure that I craved. I didn’t think I would find a book that could capture that same feeling as an adult, but TJ Klune’s ‘Wolfsong’ ignited a similar spark inside me. Set in a small rural town called Green Creek, Wolfsong tells the story of Ox, a young boy who discovers love and connection with an unexpected group of people, the Bennett Family. Unbeknownst to Ox, the Bennett family holds secrets beyond imagination.

Wolfsong is a captivating and heartfelt tale that delves into the intricacies of family, love, and the power of self-discovery. Through the eyes of Oxnard Matheson, or ‘Ox’ for short, readers are pulled into a world where mystery and enchantment blend seamlessly, bringing forth a mesmerizing and unforgettable story. From the start, Wolfsong immerses readers into Ox’s life, a young boy whose path crosses with the enigmatic Bennett family, igniting a rollercoaster of emotions and unearthing long-held secrets. As Ox navigates the complexities of adolescence and attempts to find his place in the world, he becomes undeniably drawn to the captivating allure of the Bennett family, but most importantly, their youngest son, Joe. Little does Ox know that the Bennett family is not your average next-door neighbor. They possess a profound and transformative secret – a secret intricately tied to the calling of the full moon. As the story unfolds, Ox finds himself entangled in a web of lies, betrayal, and murder as deeper secrets of the Bennett family come to light.

I went into this book as blind as a bat, knowing almost nothing about the plot or the characters. I figured since it was written by TJ Klune and I loved his previous works like “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” I would give Wolfsong a chance and that it would be well worth it. And boy, was I right. From the beginning, Klune captivated me with his unique writing style and vivid descriptions, as simple as they may be. Klune has a way of immersing readers into the story, allowing them to feel as if they are living alongside the characters and experiencing their emotions firsthand. Every step you take alongside Ox and the Bennett Family is like you’re there in the heart of their world, feeling every emotion they feel at the time: love, grief, anger, and joy as if it were your own. The way Klune explores the themes of found family and connection is truly remarkable. He effortlessly weaves together the supernatural elements of werewolves with the raw emotions and complexities of human relationships, creating a story that’s both thrilling and heartwarming. The only quip I had with this book was the insurmountable amount of angst Ox goes through when Joe leaves and then unexpectedly returns. The emotional rollercoaster he experiences in several chapters became overwhelming and repetitive, so much so that I almost skimmed to skip. Other than that, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the Green Creek Series.

It's candy canes and pinecones. And epic and awesome. And it's everything you would expect from a TJ Klune book, except with a lot more angst and smut. Wolfsong is technically a back list title of Klunes, but Tor is re-releasing the series. If you haven't read the series before, like me, this is the time.

Clocking in at nearly six hundred pages, don't let the size of the book intimidate you - I read the book in two days. I could not put it down. I was enthralled. Told from the point of view of Ox, beginning when he is twelve years old, the book's timeline spans a little over a decade.

At first it was hard to get into the book, but the minute Ox meets ten year old Joe on the dirt road outside his house on the day he turns sixteen, I was hooked. What follows is the slowest of slow-burns, and the most satisfying fantasy story about werewolves I've read.

As you would expect from a Klune book by now, the book is full of found family and unconditional love. The book has the squishy feelings his other books have, and you will be laughing and smiling and your heart will be bursting. Except, where this one differs is there are several events that will just rip out your heart and stomp on it. But they don't hurt too bad, because this is Klune, so he'll just add more found family and unconditional love to temper the blow.

This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made my heart swell. If you're a fan of Klune, you should definitely pick this up. If you've never read Klune before, you could also read it, but I suggest you also read all the rest of his books as well. Klune is a favorite author of mine, and he's never let me down. I hope you will enjoy him too.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor books for the ARC. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

When I was approved for this ARC I did a happy dance. This is another fantastic read by TJ Klune. If you love a bit of werewolf then Wolfsong is the read for you!
This has to be one of my favourites reads of 2023.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this captivating book

Ox was told by his father very early on that he would never amount to anything. That's what Ox remembers most about his father, right before he left him and his mother for good. Ox never thought he would ever have a real family until he met Joe's family and he became part of "their pack."

When Ox was twenty-three, he was faced with a terrible tragedy that took a big piece of his heart. Joe leaves for three whole years, which brings up ill feelings about his father and his abandonment issues. Ox doesn't know if he can ever forgive Joe for the pain that he's caused.

When Joe finally returns, he is no longer the boy that Ox remembers in his head. He is a man, and Ox realizes that he has never stopped loving Joe even in his absence. They are bonded in a way that Ox could never have imagined.

This is a story about friendship, love, found family, resilience and loyalty. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster, so be prepared! I have loved every one of TJ Klune's books. The writing is superb and the story is beautiful and profound. It is much more steamy than any of his other books, and I was not prepared for that--WOW! This is the first book in a series, so I suggest starting here before picking up the others. This book was one of my picks for pride month.

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.