First thanks so much to NetGalley and to Tor for the e-Arc of this book, I actually loved this book so much I also bought it as an audiobook on BOTM as well. This book is an instant classic just like all of Klune’s books. Genuinely obsessed with this trio and I wish that this could somehow become a series. I don’t want to create any spoilers but when I tell you that this book is so pure 90s sci fi coming of age tale, I mean it. Art is just adorable and Nate and Alex’s relationship slow burn is to die for. The audiobook is as charming and sweet as the book itself and I just love the way that Klune’s audiobooks always find the perfect voice to truly embody the character’s voice.

TJ Klune wrote 2 of my favorite cozy fantasy books - and I thought this one would be my next favorite. However, I unfortunately couldn't get into this one. I believe this may have been an early book in his career, and I can tell. The writing just seemed very juvenile - too many sentences in a paragraph, too many punctuation marks, which made it read very disjointed to me. It was a lot of "he walked to the couch. He picked up the remote. He turned on the tv" something like that, and I was just expecting more flowery prose like in the other ones I've read from him. I believe this is a case of "it's not you, it's me" - especially as I have seen other people really enjoying this one.

The bones beneath my skin, can you see them, feel them, understand them? Do you take your relationships for granted, or value each moment? What does "family" mean to you? TJ Klune captured my attention from the first page to the last. Be sure to read the author's note for insight into the creation of this novel.

There is never a moment where I turn down the opportunity to read a TJ Klune book. When this popped up as an ARC on NetGalley, I was thrilled to to be approved.

Once again, Klune brings us a heartwarming tale with so much emotion and heart. the characters are dynamic and well written and the story is unique and familiar at the same time. Nate Cartwright's world has been upturned after he is fired from his job. With no real familial attachments or reasons to stay in DC, he escapes to the woods where his family had a cabin. The cabin and an old beat up truck are his only inheritance after the death of his parents but they cut him off when they learned he was gay. It's a bit of a slap in the face for Nate, the cabin is his inheritance since it was the place where his parents discovered hi sexuality and the place where he was shunned.

Upon his arrival to the cabin, he is confronted by two squatters who are hiding out. However, Nate is not overly eager to kick them out as the man, Alex, has a firearm and Nate feels as though there is something strange about the little girl, Artemis.

I won't give any spoilers but this story is captivating and keeps you wondering where we are going with the story. It will keep you hooked until the last page.

I am so happy that this book got a traditional publishing deal. This book explored what it means to be human, how the government can cover up huge secrets, the treatment of LGBTQ people, and what extraterrestrial life might look like. It was action packed, but full of emotional moments as well. Artemis Darth Vader was such a wonderful character, and I absolutely loved getting to see her try to figure out the complexity of the human condition. I have yet to read anything by TJ Klune that isn't amazing, and this book was no exception.

Characters are easy to sympathize with and the story flows smoothly right from the start. It was enjoyable to slowly build the tension, TJ does a wonderful job with this story (as they always do).

First, the cover makes a lot of sense after finishing it and I have loved every single recent cover I've seen of Klune's work. This book is emotional and heart warming. I almost cried at work and had to choke back tears so that no one found out I was reading on the clock. It's definitely a cozy read, but the intensity amps up around 80% through. I loved it. But, I'm also a sucker for found family and guys taking in kids and actually being good parents to them.

Full Review here: https://theinklingspodcast.blog/2025/02/05/finding-family-through-heartfelt-sci-fi-the-bones-beneath-my-skin/

I have decided that becoming absorbed in any world that TJ Klune creates is time well spent. He’s unlike any other author I’ve ever read. His books aren’t the most polished and that only makes them better. His books are weird, but they’re the best kind of weird. The holy shit these characters are so flawed but there’s so much good here and my heart suddenly feels lighter and I want so many more pages with this bacon loving space princess and her chosen guardians/father figures and wtf there’s a cult type of weird. The Bones Beneath My Skin will make you feel. When it ends you will breathe a shaky sigh, smile wide, and say “what the fuck was that?” Those are my favorite types of books.

I’m not even going to touch on a synopsis because that’s easy to find, I will just rave a bit. Artemis. Oh Artemis. Klune writes kids like an adult who was smart enough to not totally grow up. An adult who remembers what it’s like to be full of wonder and hope and curiosity and boundless love. It’s what makes me adore his Cerulean Chronicles and it’s what will make me never forget this story. Artemis, Art, is truly just that. Such a magnificently constructed character who will enchant you with every sassy, honest, wonderful word. Alex and Nate, you are fantastic, but Art will be why I reread this is the coming years.

As always, TJ Klune does an excellent job of blending social commentary into a cozy fantasy story. Like in his other works, the theme of found family is prominent in this narrative. The banter between the characters keeps the story vibrant and engaging! I found myself laughing quite a bit while reading, especially because Art was genuinely hilarious. Art is portrayed as someone who is being introduced to new experiences (I can relate to her feelings about bacon). Throughout the story, Nate and Alex both learn important lessons from Art regarding the challenges life has presented them. The book is beautifully written, and as always, I love Klune's writing and his representation of LGBTQ+ characters!

After reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗮 last year and being absolutely charmed by Klune’s storytelling, I was definitely looking forward to reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻. I’ll admit I wasn’t sure how I would do with the sci-fi elements but figured it was worth going a bit out of my comfort zone, and I am so glad I did because I loved it! The fast paced, found family centred novel had me binge reading and falling in love with the unexpected cast and not wanting their story to end. Klune builds such endearing stories while also showcasing real-life experiences such as grief. While I loved each character, Art aka Artemis Darth Vader definitely stole my heart with her inquisitive and exploratory, bacon-loving ways.

I don't know what I was expecting going into this story, but it was certainly an adventure! TJ Klune has such a unique sense of weirdness to all of his stories, and "The Bones Beneath My Skin" is no exception. In fact, it might be the weirdest, while still managing to be bafflingly, almost unbearably sweet in its telling.

This was a lovely story about found family, recovering from past traumas and learning to look toward the future, and, of course, a mysterious little girl calling herself Artemis Darth Vader. The slow-burn romance between Alex and Nate feels secondary compared to the larger plot of Art's mysterious background and the adventure she leads them on, but it's sweet nonetheless.

I had mixed feelings on this one personally (my rating is closer to 2.5 / 5). It was a quick read that in some ways gave some Stranger Things vibes, which was engaging at times though somewhat predictable. It reminded me in many ways of House on the Cerulean Sea (two men falling in love while raising a child with special abilities and the government is against them). However, it felt a bit harder to get into and I am not entirely sure why.

There were some moments with Jonestown references, which I didnt personally love, especially as Klune has already received criticism for bringing in traumatic events that primarily impact people of color into his writing (as with House on the Cerulean Sea). So, it did feel a bit odd to have that element brought in again, even if it wasn’t the main focus this time. Personally, I feel like this could have been left out / written a little differently and been fine. I also think he should consider avoiding the term "savage" even outside of conversations about race, for similar reasons.

My favorite moments were probably just the three main characters interacting together in casual everyday moments. Much of the found family elements that are frequent in Klune’s writing made a reappearance here, which is always one of my favorite elements in his books.

TL Klune needs to come with a big old fat warning !

WILL MAKE YOU CRY AND EMOTIONAL FOR HOURS AFTER READING
I Absolutely loved this book, and having it set in 1995 (yes!! Good old fashion life and Nokia phones lol with low service ) brought back a nostalgic feeling that made this a Wonderful Adventure.
And Trust and believe this is more a action adventure but still the best found family romance.

The Banter was top notch the love story was perfection and I can’t wait to read it again.

Thank you to Tor Books and TJ Klune for an advanced reader copy of this book.

TJ Klune is in his element again, giving us another amazing found family story. We all know that he is a master at writing lovable characters that have depth and nuance to them, and of course, this book shows that talent again. In this novel, you will feel at home, just like in any other of TJ Klune's book.

One of the things I love about this is the theme that although life is complicated and strange and can take us on a path we never thought we would be on, when the world seems dark and terrible, love will always win.

If you watched stranger things and loved the relationship between hopper and eleven, you will love this book.

All the love for this one! 🩵
Thank you, Tor Books, for the gifted copy of The Bones Beneath My Skin {partner}

Genre: Sci-Fi
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 10.26.2018
Pages: 416
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

“You think yourself alone. You think yourself lost. We wanted to show you that there was so much more than this place. We didn't come to hurt you. We didn't come to save you. Only you can do that. We came to be your friend. To make you understand that, in the end, you are never alone.”

I have to admit, I’m a big fan of TJ Klune, but sometimes his books dive so deep into sci-fi that I end up feeling a bit lost in the plot. While I always connect with his characters, the storylines can sometimes leave me scrambling to keep up.

That wasn’t the case with The Bones Beneath My Skin. This book was a completely different experience. I found myself fully invested in the characters, the plot, and even the sci-fi elements. The story did start off a little slow, but honestly, that gave me the time to really get to know the characters and dive into their world. It also allowed me to appreciate the incredible growth they went through over the course of the book.

To put it simply: I loved it and didn’t want it to end.

Read if you enjoy:
🫶🏼 Found family
🥹 Emotional
📖 Slow pacing
📈 Character growth
🏕️ Adventure

I recommend reading The Bones Beneath My Skin if you enjoyed watching K-Pax or Stranger Things.

I love TJ Klune. I really really do. House in the Cerulean Sea was *chef's kiss* and I also really enjoyed In the Lives of Puppets. The Bones Beneath My Skin had TJ's trademark weirdness paired with heart and found family. There was a lot about this book that worked, and a little that, in my personal opinion, did not.

What I liked:
Humor, heart, and weirdness
Character development and backstory

What I LOVED:
Artemis Darth Vader, of course. She's precious <3
Alex's devotion to Art

What I thought was unnecessary:
The whole farmhouse plotline. I think the book would have been better without it and I don't feel that the reader gains much from that part of their adventure that couldn't have been placed somewhere else in the book.
The explicit adult content that sometimes comes out of nowhere. The little throwaway memories about Nate's previous exploits add nothing to the story. These scenes often distract from what is going on.
The one very descriptive scene in the barn--I understand the need for the scene but it DID NOT need to go into such detail....

Overall, I would recommend this book, but I'm not sure it's for everyone.

I received this ARC courtesy of Netgalley, in return for my honest opinion and review.

This Supernatural road trip jouncy is the best novel for you if your an early twenty something or a mid thirty something or even a late forties something going through a time in your life where you might need some support with out knowing it, or accepting it.

The main character is relatable to a fault, the journey they go on can only be described as transcendent. I hope early readers of LGBT romance get this in their hands asap, they are going to need it! The structure however follow-able was a little off putting, but only because that's the type of things lgbt+ people are dealing with in their lives!

Thank you TJ Klune for yet another realistic escape from reality!

Thank you Tor for the gifted digital copy!

The Bones Beneath My Skin
TJ Klune
Publishing Date: February 4, 2025 (rerelease with Tor!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored this book. I didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t put it down. I want to read it again right now, I loved it that much.

Nate is down on his luck and grieving the loss of his parents when he returns to their family cabin in the woods of Oregon. He’s quickly met by unexpected visitors in the form of Alex and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. The rest is a wild ride that feels like Sci-Fi meets action movie meets romance.

I love Art so dang much. She might be my new favorite Klune character! The love stories were so heartwarming, and I say that in the plural because while there is romance, the true love story lies in the formation of a little found family unit. This book grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. I am so so glad that I picked it up and I suggest you all do it too. Maybe with side of bacon 😏

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a classic TJ Klune and I'm all for it. We've got gay characters, a sad backstory (or two), and found family. What a sweet story. I will definitely be recommending.

I am a huge fan of TJ Klune's writing, and was a real treat to experience a book that feels like the foundation of his signature style. He has this incredible ability to build worlds so effortlessly and fill them with characters that are both lovable and complex. Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of child characters in books, but Art was such a delight—perfectly childlike without ever feeling forced or grating. From the very first page, I was hooked. Huge thanks to Tor for giving me the chance to read this in advance!