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!

TJ Klune writes with his whole heart. Klune skillfully weaves together themes of loss, resilience, and found family. My heart is always warmed by anything Klune writes and this book is no different.

Here’s the thing I know about Klune books: the writing is excellent. His use of fantasy and emotions to create characters that feel unique and important are definitely making him a leader in this genre. ⁣
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I fell in love with “Cerulean Sea” children, found the hidden messages in “whispering door”, and felt the fun of a series about a wolf pack family that mimic the same familiar love and trials that the Bennett family have in the “Green Creek” series. Oh and I definitely loved the ‘engaging of my empathy protocol’ with “Puppets”. ⁣
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He mashes up dystopian with fantasy and science-fiction along with threading messages and values that seamlessly run in the background. I’m a big fan of his work even if it’s bizarrely weird at times. ⁣
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That said, this one I’ve struggled with. It has the writing I love but it feels a lot out there. What I am finding is that there’s too many sexual innuendos and a sex scene that doesn’t need to be there. His storylines never need that pieces and (IMHO) it eliminates some readers by having it in a shock value kind of way. ⁣
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I had this up in my stories yesterday. And got a LOT of dm’s saying they’ve noticed it too. I was also told that this particular book may “feel” difft because it is actually a re-release and was self published 7 yrs ago. So maybe that’s why I don’t connect… his writing is different. ⁣
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Anywho, that’s my opinion. So curious now what readers think as the book comes out today. Even more curious that #BOTM picked it as one of its options. If you do read it, let me know! ⁣
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𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 “𝘮𝘦𝘩” 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. ⁣
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𝙋𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮!

Wow! Klune does it again with these characters. He has a rare ability to write characters that are flawed yet so lovable that they will break your heart before all is said and done. I have yet to read a book by him in which the characters do not just smash it out of the park. To be honest, at the beginning of this book, I was not convinced that I was going to love it, but he won me over, as he always does. The writing is classic Klune, so if you have enjoyed his books in the past, you've got the same cozy, kind writing happening here. The difference is that this plot is a little higher in the suspense than some of his others. There were moments that I was utterly glued to the book, unsure of how it would all work out. Without spoiling anything, there was a big plot device near the end that seemed completely illogical, and let the book down for me quite a bit. With the way the story had been told up until that point, there were so many other ways it could have gone that would have felt more true to the story and the characters. Aside from that, if you are looking for a heartbreakingly sweet found family read, then Klune does not let you down here.

In true TJ Klune fashion, this book gives us the heartwarming story of an unexpected found family. This book also mixed in action, science fiction, humor, romance, with a splash of spice that I did NOT see coming. TJ Klune has a way of writing these child characters who, on paper, should be terrifying but end up being the most endearing. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I ended up getting way more.

No one writes found family like T.J. Klune! His signature warmth and humor shine through in this sci-fi adventure, but with a suspenseful, action-packed twist that sets it apart from his other works. The characters are lovable, quirky, and have an entertaining dynamic that keeps the story engaging, even in its more intense moments. While I loved the ride, I can see how the heightened action and tension might feel like a bit much for some readers. The romance element was *chef’s kiss*! If you like the show ‘Stranger Things’ you’ll love this book!

Wow, what a unique and meaningful story. The Bones Beneath My Skin is a tale of loneliness, grief, fear, love, and humanity. It is a sci-fi action adventure combined with a heart-breakingly beautiful love story, and lots of bacon.

TJ Klune is a masterful writer. He writes stories that are unlike anything else I’ve read. His books are quirky and whimsical, & full of wisdom and emotion. This was an excellent read.

Thanks to Netgalley & Tor for the digital ARC.

FYI - I am behind on TikTok videos, but will definitely review there within a week! I just wanted to submit my GoodReads review prior to release day 😊

Previously published in 2018, The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune is getting a second chance thanks to Tor Publishing. And let’s all thank Tor for giving this wonderful book some more love and attention! It’s so deserved! Before I get into my review, I want to talk about T.J.’s note about the book that was included at the back of my digital ARC. He discusses his experience with the publication process before he chose to self-publish in 2018 and how the publisher that he had been working with (but ultimately didn’t) considered Bones to be “weird.” He goes on to say that Tor however embraced his weirdness. As someone who loves weird things, I just want to say how happy it made me to read this author’s note! If you decide to pick up this book, I highly encourage you to read the author’s note and if you also love weird books, I think you’ll enjoy The Bones Beneath My Skin.
Okay, now onto the review! I loved this book! It feels like a classic T.J. Klune style novel while simultaneously feeling so different from his other novels. It has a few tropes that I absolutely love such as found family and the “reluctant, gruff adult man has to take in a magical girl/child and travel cross country to save her and the world” trope (is there a name for this? I need to know because I love it). This book also has action, humor, romance, and so much emotion. Just when I think I’m going to get through reading a T.J. Klune book without crying, he says, think again. I really thought this book wasn’t going to get to me like that, but there is a certain scene closer towards the end (you’ll know it when you read it) that was filled with such vivid emotion and was so heartfelt that I couldn’t help it. And the ending. Wow, what an ending!
As always, T.J. Klune’s writing is phenomenal in The Bones Beneath My Skin. One of my favorite aspects of Klune's writing is his ability to write characters who feel so real and relatable with incredible character development. This book proves that ability once again. It also proves that he has a knack for writing children. Much like the kids in The House in the Cerulean Sea, in Bones, we meet a little girl who very often is maybe a little too honest and always says what is on her mind. She also LOVES bacon (and Alex and Nate). That little girl is Artemis Darth Vader and she is one of the best (if not THE best) parts of this book. She makes the book so fun while also being the heart of the story. The dynamic between her and Alex is so special and sweet. Again, I’m a bit of a sucker for this kind of trope, but it was another aspect of the novel that I really loved. Nate and Alex were also fantastic characters (I would just like to add that Pedro Pascal is my fan cast for Alex if there were to be a TV or movie adaptation of this book – when you read it, you’ll understand but Alex is basically Joel Miller from The Last of Us). The development of their relationship was handled so well and I really enjoyed following them throughout the book. Art, Alex, and Nate as a trio is so delightful, between the bond Alex and Art share to Nate slowly being incorporated into that bond.
Overall, The Bones Beneath My Skin is an incredible book with a moving story, characters you’ll get attached to, and beautiful writing. The plot is intriguing, at times dark, with action that will have you on the edge of your seat. Once again, I am so impressed by Klune’s writing and the way he ties things together to bring it all full circle. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of found family, shows like The Last of Us and Stranger Things, and books with the perfect blend of action and emotion.

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed.

If you’re looking for a book with these vibes:

Stranger Things
Men in Black
ET

Then you’ll enjoy this book. TJ Klune truly did a wonderful job and as always such a wonderful representation of the LGBT community. The messaging and pacing of this story truly kept me turning every page.

Nate Cartwright has lost everything. His parents, his job and his brother who wants nothing to do with him. With nothing left to lose, he sets out to his family’s remote cabin outside Roseland, Oregon to sort himself out, only to find he’s not alone. A man named Alex and a very strange young girl who calls herself Armetis Darth Vader have been hiding out in the cabin. Soon Nate must make the decision to stay behind and live a life of loneliness, or to toss his fears aside and take some risks.

With lots of action, secret government agencies, conspiracy theories, and a fierce kind of love, this story has a lot going for it. As usual, T.J. Is able to pull at the readers heart strings and write the most beautiful characters.

This is the third book by Klune I have read and the third book I have subsequently enjoyed. I may not have connected AS much with this one, possibly due to the Sci Fi storyline, but that could just be a me thing. There was still some great humor and romance we have come to know and love from the author, and I really do recommend picking this one up. Just be prepared to fall in love with a girl named Armetis 💚.

When Nate’s estranged parents die, he inherits their cabin but finds a man and a strange girl living there. The girl is not only strange; but special, and Nate has to make a choice to protect her or give her up.

Straight-up action (like chases, guns, bombs, all of it), romance, witticism and humor, and a hint of sci fi; what else can you ask for? I know.. have it authored by TJ Klune! There were some slow parts but mostly when we are getting to know the characters through conversation in the beginning. I was hooked around 25% so keep at it! As usual with Klune’s writing, the well developed characters grow on you and you won’t want their stories to end.

“In front of him sat a little girl. A man stood near her. They spoke of things that should be impossible. Things that shouldn’t exist.”

The Bones Beneath My Skin comes out 2/4.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Funny, heartrending, heartwarming, thrilling, touching.

Klune knows exactly which details to include and which to exclude to set a scene and provoke an emotion. At a third of the way through the book, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the action. At two-thirds of the way through, my heart was pounding during a flashback even though the outcome of those events was known. These characters wrap you up and take you along their journey with them. I didn't want to leave them.

I adored Art and the questions and sentences that came out of her mouth. Her relationship with Alex and their growing relationships with Nate are the backbone of this story, and they left me in tears several times. The author expertly balances action and relationship building with themes of grief, what it means to be human, and being misunderstood/feared/discriminated against/dehumanized for being other/queer.

If I had to nit-pick, I'd say that Nate's character felt stronger as a three-dimensional person at the beginning of the story than in the second half. I would have liked more details from Art's people, especially with the decision at the end that made everything a bit too convenient. The epilogue was satisfying but introduced a new phase into the world that left more questions than answers and didn't seem necessary.

Overall I very much enjoyed these characters, their story, and what the author had to say through them. Klune delivers yet again.

You might like this if you like: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers, Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Previously published in 2018, this novel is classic TJ Klune. The story focuses on one very special young girl named Artemis Darth Vader and her gruff “bodyguard” Alex. There's also Nate, a disgraced journalist who wants nothing more than to escape from the world for a while. And then they meet up and become a family and everything gets sappy and romantic and heartwarming and I'm not crying, you're crying. I'm not spoiling anything here … I mean, it's a Klune novel, you know it's going to happen sooner or later. But it's also so much more than just sap – there's also secret government agencies and cults and action and conspiracy theorists and comets and maybe even a crashed helicopter or two (or three). It's all fantastically wonderful and sad and hopeful and you should probably read it as soon as possible.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for this digital e-arc.*

Currently feeling like this is landing between 3.5-4 stars.

Just going to start with the phrase that I thought of first when I finished this. “That was so frickin weird.” Lol
This story is a bit of a wild card, which definitely kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the beginning where there was time at the cabin to really get to know the characters. The girl, Art, was so wonderfully colorful and cracked me up on many occasions. But there was something that didn’t quite connect, like it was too many themes battling against each other. There wasn’t the symbiosis of Cerulean Sea that I loved so much. At times I was utterly engrossed and loving the story, and then others my mind would wander and I’d have to go back and reread an entire page.

I will say I adored how it ended and while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I’m sure a lot of people will love it. I also think with some tweaking and editing this could make a really fantastic sci-fi movie!

Another fantastic novel from TJ Klune! I know this is a novel from his back catalog of self-published novels, but I am glad it was picked up and given the proper release treatment to reach many new fans and old fans alike! It was hard to put down and I am glad I got a chance to read it.

This is the strongest yet that I have seen from Kline. While he sticks to his preferred themes of found family and protect the unusual child, this loses the coziness of his previous work in favor of something more authentic and raw. While it is the most action forward plot to date, the heart of this story is the excellent character work and the story of three lost souls who find their way when they find each other.

A supernatural young girl and her two protectors travel across the country on an action packed adventure to get her back to her home.

The subject of grief and how we move on from grief is prevalent in this book. Watching how the characters journey from painful traumas to slowly healing and opening up to love again is heartwarming and hopeful. I loved the trust and support that developed between the three main characters as they created a new family unit.

I wasn’t wild about the “Heaven’s Gate” type religious cult scenes. They seemed out of place and unnecessary. But overall I loved this story.

I can always count on TJ Klune to introduce some odd unusual characters who end up being some of the most beloved and memorable people I’d love to meet.