TJ Klune said in his author's note that this book is for the weirdos and I'm so glad he wrote this for us! It's a blend of sci-fi, Stranger Things, doomsday cults, and queer romance and it's magical! All three main characters are so lovable and I didn't want this book to end. If you're a fan of any of Klune's other writing, you'll love this one too!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

An amazing young girl and her unlikely protectors are running from a cult and the government. At this point I would take my chances with the cult.

It’s 1995 and Nate Cartwright is 27, his parents, from whom he had been long estranged, are gone and his brother has pretty much written him off. He was a journalist in D.C., emphasis on the “was” as he has just been fired.

He heads to his family’s cabin in Roseland, Oregon (population 827) to try to find himself and to figure out what he should do next. Only when he gets there he finds the cabin isn’t empty. It’s occupied by a man named Alex and a very unusual girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader (which is the cutest.) Lots goes on but ultimately Nate throws in his lot with the two and a cross country adventure begins, leading to a tunnel in West Virginia.

The book is a re-issue, I’m assuming after the great success of THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA and its sequel. The book isn’t YA but could be enjoyed by younger readers, I think. The cult is a blatant rip off of Heaven’s Gate, and I wish the author had gone another way there, but overall it was a cute little tearjerker of a fantasy novel, sure to please Klune fans.

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

Review: I can't express into words how much I loved this book. This is my favorite TJ Klune (I also really enjoyed Under the Whispering Door). The three main-ish characters (one main main and two main side) all had distinctly different personalities and were all very enjoyable in their own ways. This book is a journey and that used to be a keyword that made me not want to read it. However, this book is a journey and one that I enjoyed 100 percent of the way through.

This story is gripping, exciting, heartfelt, sad, hopeful, beautiful, I could go on and on. You will laugh and want to cry in the same sentence. If you enjoy found family this will make your heart happy. There's not a lot to say about the plot, it's exactly what is in the synopsis which I adored. The ending was wild and heartbreaking.

Klune has a very creative mind and that really shines through here. Not only is this story wildly creative but also he is able to combine that with such lovable characters and memorable relationships. I loved this books to the moon and back ;)

6 stars, new favorite.

Nate has been fired from his job, is struggling with grief and is driving out to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to just put everything on pause. He thinks once he is there he can just sit down and figure out what is next. He never expects that what is next is being held at gun point by a marine who is asking if the mountain sent him and being questioned by a girl who tells him her name is Artemis Darth Vader.
“You can fear what you don’t understand, but in the end, you can still be brave. You can still stand up for what’s right.” - amazing.
This story was a beautiful and heartwarming romance with lots of action that made me simultaneously want to fly through it and also never want it to end. I loved these characters so much and adored this story.

This is a story of love in its many forms. It’s about found family and connection. Part sci-fi, part action thriller, this novel is filled with heart.

The characters felt real and believable and I was rooting for them. I don’t know how the author wrote the young ten-year-old girl so believably - she was funny, adorable, and her relationship with the two men who worked to protect her rang true. I enjoyed the author’s celebration of differences and his message that connecting us all is the need and capacity for love and belonging,

I enjoyed this well-written inventive story; these characters will long linger in my mind.

Now to read more by this author!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Klune, and I can safely say it won't be my last. Those who know me know I LOVE a good found family trope. And BOY, did Klune deliver. I didn't know it was possible for a heart to both break and heal simultaneously, but that's what happened to me while reading this book. I have to admit, I didn't even like Nate at first. But he grew on me slowly, and by the end I was just hoping for a happy ending for him. For all of them, for that matter. I like how Klune wrapped things up very neatly, though the end left me craving more. If you love a good old queer sci-fi book with a dash of romance, this is definitely for you.

My first TJ Klune book—and wow, what a wild ride! This story has everything: action, humor, drama, and just the right amount of slow-burn romance (with a little spice!). Sure, the tone is a bit more subdued, but don’t be fooled—there’s plenty of tension, danger, and high-stakes twists to keep you on your toes.

At its core, this is a story about three totally different people finding family and love in the most unexpected way, and Klune delivers it all with his signature mix of heart, wit, and suspense. If you love sci-fi with a side of feels, you need this book in your life. Safe to say, I’m officially a Klune fan now!

5 stars.

Who would have thought a sci-fi, government conspiracy, thriller book would make me cry? This book is beautiful. Weird, as TJ Klune himself puts it, but beautiful.

There's a theme of found family, of a found place, that runs through Klune's books, and it's the thing, I think, that resonates so strongly with readers. This one takes it to new dimensions, while also pairing it with action and intrigue that made the story utterly addicting. The way Klune writes love and connection is electrifying and soothing all at once, especially in this book.

Beyond the core themes of this book, I loved the pacing, the plot, and the characters of this story (Artemis Darth Vader has my heart forever), and, as a conspiracy theory dabbler, I loved all the nods to popular theories scattered throughout this book! It was as entertaining and amusing as it was emotional and tender.

While I'm not sure this book has quite beaten Under the Whispering Door as my top favorite TJ Klune book, it is certainly a contender, and, as much as I love his more tender, slower paced books, I am hopeful to see Klune write more books like this in the future!

Is this a sci-fi, thriller or romance? Perhaps it is all three and I loved it. While slow at some parts, it was well written and entertaining. The characters were likable and I was engaged in their story. This was my first book by this author and will not be my last.

🦴Book Review🦴
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Summary- There's nothing more human than a broken heart.

In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his only brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington, DC.

With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not.

Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears.

Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you @torpublishing and @netgalley for the advanced copy of The Bones Beneath my Skin. This one was written quite a few years ago and only recently accepted and published by Tor. It’s VERY heavily inspired by Stranger Things, so if that’s your jam you’ll like this one. It was a really wonderful concept but I had a hard time connecting with our main character. It gets a little cheesy and slow towards the end but it really does start with a bang. Not my favorite Klune but I did enjoy it !
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QOTD- what are you reading this weekend ?! I’m working on all the colors of the dark and the meadowbrook murders

This was my introduction to T.J. Klune and I was not disappointed! This is a beautiful story of fighting for what you love against all odds. You can't help but fall in love with the three main characters (especially Artemis Darth Vader).
If you love books about found family with a whole heaping of Stranger Things vibes, this book is for you! I will definitely be checking out more of this author's works in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Books, for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was just okay. It was great in some parts and for most of the book I loved it, but it took a really weird turn and then it was not so great. Not my favorite book by him.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

the best way that i can describe this recent tj klune novel is "ET but queer" — basically if you grew up loving the story of ET and the relationship he had with elliott, then you'll love the relationship between artemis darthvader, alex and nate. and instead of reese’s pieces, artemis loves bacon.

i also listened to the audio through botm and really enjoyed the narrator!

***Thank you to Tor Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I'm a huge fan of Klune's work and have read so many of his books. No one writes found family quite the same as him. I always find myself falling in love with his characters and the heart-warming relationships they create. The Bones Beneath My Skin was no exception. If you enjoy the found family trope, I'm sure you will love the family of odd balls that Klune brought to life in this story.

Artemis Darth Vader stole my heart immediately. She was smart, kind, and incredibly funny. I didn't think the mystery surrounding her was really much of a mystery, but it was entertaining following along with the main character as he tried to wrap his head around the truth of her. The two other main characters, Nate and Alex, were also compelling and complex. I enjoyed seeing the story through Nate's eyes as he struggled to deal with his anger and grief over past trauma all while trying to understand Art and Alex. Alex was king of the grumps with a heart of gold, and I had fun watching Nate slowly crack him open.

The Bones Beneath My Skin explored so many great themes. I was particularly moved by how the story portrayed the complexity of grief. All of the characters had experienced immense loss, but each of them dealt with it in unique ways. Alex was wracked with guilt and shut himself off from his emotions. Nate was angry and adrift. Artemis distracted herself with books and shenanigans. Over the course of the book, the healing power of love and connection was on display in beautiful and profound ways.

The Bones Beneath My Skin also did a really good job of providing commentary on what it means to be human. Emotions are such an integral part of the human experience, and the story illustrated that concept beautifully. It showed that the difficult emotions are just as important as the positive ones in making us who we are and shaping how we interact with the world. Above all, this story was hopeful at its core. Despite all of the bad stuff that may happen to us, there is always still the potential for love, belonging, and a brighter tomorrow. That is an important message, especially in this moment.

Despite having strong thematic and character elements, the plot of The Bones Beneath My Skin was pretty simple. A man gets wrapped up in a fugitive's flight from the federal government after sort of being kidnapped. It was a bit more complicated than that. However, most of the story is just the three characters on the run. It provided plenty of space for beautiful character moments, but I do wish there'd been some plot developments that weren't quite so obvious.

All in all, The Bones Beneath My Skin was another compelling piece of work from TJ Klune. The found family stole my heart, and the story had a great message. I may have even shed a tear or two from time to time. The plot was interesting, if a bit simple. All things considered; I rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Truly, this is the point in my relationship with Klune's books that I'm very unlikely to give anything less than 4 stars. The way that Klune can capture the humanity in any character he creates is astounding.

T.J. Klune always delivers, and this is no exception. This is not quite a romance novel in the traditional sense, but anyone who has read Klune in the past knows that it is subtle with its romance and vibrant with love in general.

This book was just re-released by Tor after being indie published previously by the author himself in 2018. Thank you @torbooks for the free digital galley!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚.✩‧₊˚ The FMC is a 10-year-old girl named Artemis Darth Vader. Enough said.

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ Art stole my heart. Who can resist a smart and sassy 10-year-old orphan who loves cowboy westerns as much as she loves bacon (with a side of bacon please).

TJ Klune is known as a master of the found family trope. However in this book, he blends and bends genres, mixing in a swirl of science fiction juxtaposed against high action shootouts, followed up by some humorous banter, and even one spicy scene to turn up the heat.

Yes, if I pick really hard at it, there were things that did not make sense to me about the sci-fi/powers, but I really don’t think the point of the book is to dissect those sections. I’ll just say I really enjoyed the journey as well as the destination.

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ An easy, feel-good read. This was the perfect choice for a buddy read with friends 💛🧡

Thank you to NetGalley, tor publishing and the author for an advanced copy of this book, which is out now!

4.5 stars

“𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕖'𝕕 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣, 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕟𝕕. ℍ𝕖'𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕤𝕠 𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖.”

I saved my review for this one because I was waiting until I saw TJ Klune on his book tour. I truly think it is the most fun author event I have ever attended. I belly laughed, I cried, I witnessed a potential love connection and a kiss between two audience members. It was… amazing. I also got to meet some of the other KC Booksta girlies in real life!

TJ Klune writes characters that feel so full of life. They are multi-faced and special, and that carries through in The Bones Beneath My Skin. I love Art so much, and I don’t think I will soon forget her.

This book has it all— found family, adventure, romance, aliens, car chases, humor, grief, etc etc. In the mood to press pause on all of my TBR and read his entire backlist

TJ Klune is back with another book that will send you through his classic emotional rollercoaster as per usual. His work has brought such a comfort to me and I knew this one was going to join the feel-good crew of House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door and In The Lives of Puppets. I'm happy I wasn't wrong.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is another found family story with the on-the-go anxieties you'd be familiar with after reading In The Lives of Puppets. I adored it. Nat, Art and Alex had the perfect balance between the three of them and were the perfect puzzle. They complimented each other's personalities and made their journey even more special.

I truly just adore everything this man has to offer. I will never find a world where I don't emotionally attach myself to his stories. They're everything I always need when I pick them up.

T J. Klune is an a must read author for me. He writes the very best characters and stories. This book is no exception! I loved it! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.