Leave it to T.J. Klune to create a whole new genre with this story: cozy thriller/suspense! This definitely kept me on my toes and had very similar vibes to Stranger Things and The Last of Us. But of course in true T.J. Klune fashion the suspenseful storyline is paired with themes of belonging and found family! I also just adore how Klune writes the "kid sidekick" character-- they are always so endearing and not at all annoying-- add Art in the mix with my faves Chauncy and Lucy :)

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!

In the author's note, Klune talks about how when he submitted this book to his old publisher, that they told him the book was weird. And it is. But in 2018, Klune was not on my radar as a reader, so I am very grateful that Tor has rereleased this (and other books by Klune) so that more readers can meet Art, Nate, and Alex. Because they need to, I'm sure glad I did.

As with everything else I've read by Klune, this is a book about flawed characters creating their own found family while dealing with heartbreak from an unforgiving world. It's no surprise that both Nate and Alex would lay down their lives to keep Art safe, she is truly remarkable (and not just because of how unique she is). For all its action scenes, and this one has action that would rival a blockbuster movie, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a quiet novel with an uncomplicated plot.

My only real complaint is that some of the chapters were too long (like 40-60+ minutes), as someone who tries to never pause reading in the middle of a chapter, this caused some hiccups in my reading flow. But that's more of a me thing, than a flaw of the book.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.

“𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. 𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙚𝙩, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙬, 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

No matter what TJ Klune writes, you just know you’re in for an adventure of a lifetime. “The Bones Beneath My Skin” is the story of Nate, Alex, and Artemis Darth Vader and their spectacular journey of love, family, and how there just might be more to our universe than we could ever comprehend.

I’m not going to go into details on the plot, but if you’ve ever read one of TJ Klune’s books, then you know they’re filled with unique, lovable characters, times of laughter, and heart warming moments. And just like any other book by TJ Klune, this one has them too. Yes, it’s different from his more popular reads, but trust me, this one is worth a read. The journey throughout this book is so well written and jammed packed with action scenes as we figure out just who or what exactly is Art. The relationship growth between Nate and Alex is so flipping sweet that I wanted to hug them as they fumbled through their feelings. Also, I just LOVE all the little easter eggs from other books.

“The Bones Beneath My Skin” Vibes
- Paranormal
- Found Family
- Action
- Adventure
- “Howdy Partner”
- Dash of Romance
- All the Bacon

TJ’s books are always a breath of fresh air from your typical reads. I devoured this story and quickly fell in love with Nate, Alex, and Art. Definitely recommend giving this a try if you like something different!

WOW. It's been a while since I've felt the need to rush to my Notes app and immediately review a book but this was one that I couldn't help. As soon as I read the last beautiful words of this book, I knew I needed to write my thoughts down.

From the very first page, you're hooked into the nostalgic time capsule that beckons us back to 1995. Upon meeting our main character Nate, dealing with the aftermath of being fired and losing everything in his life, we follow him as he treks to his parent's long-forgotten cabin in the Oregon wilderness. It is within this property's acreage that we meet our other two protagonists: Alex and Art. Alex, an ex-Marine with a troubled past, and Art, a mysterious young girl whose actions always seem to beg more questions than answers.

As the story wove itself on, I found myself falling in love with the dichotomy of these three people: a depressed gay man, a repressed Marine, and a mysterious young girl. I didn't expect this book to host such intricate and beautiful character development but as I sit here typing, I find myself already missing them like a long-lost relative.

This book does a fantastic job weaving narrative, action, romance, and heart throughout. Just when you think you understand where the book is heading, TJ Klune makes sure to keep you on your toes and throws you a curveball. By the end of the book, I didn't want to say goodbye to any of the characters or their heroic journeys.

I'm newer to Klune's collection of writing having only read The House in the Cerulean Sea but it's clear that he has an undeniable grasp of what it means to be queer and be human. It's not often an author can portray the queer experience with such ease and versatility but Klune does just that: he makes sure our stories are told with the same depth as anyone else's.

This book deserves more than 5 stars. It deserves a universe full of them. I can't wait to share this book with my friends and let them experience the joy and heartbreak that Nate, Alex, and Art bring.

I would recommend jumping into this book blind, so I won't go into details on the plot except to say that if you're a fan of Stranger Things & cozy yet emotional books, then this one is for you. It fits well with his other books- fantasy, found family, romance (it's obvious in the book, but slight spoiler warning: queer romance)- but a little less sappy and a little more dark, which I preferred. Plus, it had more action that I remember from his other books that I've read. As always, I enjoyed his writing style and his complex characters. I definitely recommend this one, maybe with a box of tissues near you.

“I didn’t get that. Not before. I don’t think any of us did. Not until they felt a heart beating in a chest like I have. Not until I felt the bones beneath my skin. We’re not alike. Not really. We’re separated by time and space. And yet, somehow we’re all made of dust and stars.”

I’ve been dying to pick up another TJ Klune book since the Cerulean Chronicles & had no idea where to start — but luckily received this arc from @torbooks for Klune’s new(ish?? it’s getting traditionally published!) release coming in February of an older Klune story being traditionally published.

This was actually the perfect place to start in reading more of Klune’s work because there are so many elements & tones here that mirror all the things I loved about his writing in the cerulean chronicles!!
Definitely has some more blatant darkness within this one in respect to homophobia, suicidal ideation, and unhealthy family dynamics which I think Klune wrote about so beautifully. He handles these topics of what it means to be human and what it feels like to be different with compassion and masterfulness.

this book feels like tj klune poured his absolute heart into it and for that i give him the utmost applause <3 his acknowledgments at the end about this journey with this book and why it’s taken this long to be traditionally published was also interesting to read.
this book has me thinking differently about writing and using fantastical scenarios to explore/revisit personal traumas.

I am not surprised in the least that once again I have devoured and absolutely loved a novel written by TJ Klune. All of his books are quite unique in their own way and that's one of the many things I adore about them. I also enjoy the representation of the queer community in an accurate and positive light. The Bones Beneath My Skin is a wonderful, unique, out of this world story set in varying parts of the American wilderness. The tone and vibe was a mix of dark, very dark, light, joyful, devastating, and even funny at times. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know Alex, Nate and Artemis. I enjoyed falling in love with them. The banter is excellent! Alex and Nate are relatable - they've been through the good, the bad and the ugly and are trying to survive the best way they know how. They are brave, loyal, stubborn. And at the center of it all is Artemis. This story is highly descriptive, action-packed, tense and will have you on the edge of your seat more often than not. It will make you anxious and unsettled but will also make you feel you warmth and joy. The characters and the plot were engaging, unpredictable and complex. You won't read a book quite like this one and that is a compliment in the highest regard. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again - I will just have to wait patiently for whatever TJ Klune is brewing up next.

☆ ☆ .5
Another story where ✨spice✨ wasn’t needed and could’ve been avoided entirely and it would have been just fine, where children have Buzzfeed humor and makes you feel like you sucked on a sour patch kid the whole time they talk because of how cringy they are, where the “super power” are not consistent a.k.a can make a whole helicopter crash and stops bullet midair BUT electrodes stops her from doing all that.

Ok, now that I said all that and it’s out of the way, I liked the pacing of this story, I thought it was fasted paced and the short chapters helped. Did I think that Nate’s inner dialogue was way to long by times and redundant? Yes. And did I also think that for an entity being a thousand year old coming from whole other realm Artemis Darth Vader was the most insufferable, cringy character ever ? Also yes.

The Queer representation is done well , I also thought that the sunshine x grumpy trope was greatly executed while it felt a tad like insta-love but I can forgive that. What I can’t forgive though is the unnecessary spice, it adds nothing to the story and it just irks me so bad. The found family trope is extremely present towards the end which is fine it ties it all together I guess, love saves the day ta-dam.

The ending itself felt rushed and just very quick but I was quite glad because it meant no more millennial jokes about how bacon is so good and being vegan is gross so I’ll accept it.

Overall it was an ok read. As always thank you Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the digital Arc.

"It's why I chose you. It's why I chose the both of you. You made me a home out of nothing. Out of a place where one should not exist."

First off, I just want to say I am so glad I finished this book. If you saw my updates you know that I was really thrown off by the random body hair descriptions that kept happening, BUT I was able to put that aside and enjoy this adorable story. This was sort of a bit different from Under the Whispering Door & The House in the Cerulean Sea, but if you enjoy TJ Klune's writing, you will ultimately end up enjoying this one as I did :)

I am truly the ultimate sucker for a good found family, and we absolutely find that here in this story. We have a 27 yr old, Nate, who has lost everything and hopes spending time in his family cabin will help clear his mind and find a solution to all his problems. But he then is thrown in a predicament with a... maybe 10 yr old girl, who goes by Artemis Darth Vader, Art for short, and has all the questions imaginable, plus an undying love for bacon. And 40 yr old, Alex, who isn't very kind, but would do anything for Art.

There is some kind of addictive quality to TJ Klune's writing style. I was able to binge this in two days, and I never once got bored. This was an endearing story about love, family, and believing in the impossible. There is nothing better than watching a character grow throughout a story, and Nate displayed that beautifully. My heart broke for him, for Alex, and Art. I am so glad they found each other against all odds, and maybe it was indeed fate.

"A grunt had been standing behind her, braiding her hair, and she'd asked a man named Nate Cartwright if he believed in fate. In destiny.

He hadn't then.
But sometimes he wondered about that. About it all."

I will say that the plot was a bit predictable at times? But for some reason, I didn't exactly mind it? Does this make sense 😂 I typically don't love when I can predict when something is going to happen, but I think the execution was done well, and therefore I didn't really care. Like I KNEW that something was going to happen, but I was still anxious throughout it, scared that something was going to happen to this sweet found family that had already been through so much. And then when it happened, I still screamed and was able to feel slightly surprised by it regardless.

Overall, I had a fun time with this. I was on the edge of my seat screaming "RUN!", awwing and smiling at the cute found family moments, and squealing at the romance bits. This was the sci-fi romance sort of thriller that I didn't know I needed, and I am so glad I saw it through till the end :)

Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the arc ♥

This book was weird in the best way. The story was heartwarming, action-packed, mysterious and there was a little bit of science fiction. The characters are incredibly complex and there is great character development.
If you took an S.A. Cosby book, Where the Forest Meets the Stars and Stranger Things with a gay main character, this is what you might get. I enjoyed the ride!

First off this is more along the lines of Klune's Greek Creek saga than it is his House in the Cerulean Sea books. It's grittier and darker, and not quite as feel-good, although it does still have that romance element to it. It's a fun, unique, fast-paced sci-fi novel. I think that the best part of this book is Art, she's such a fun character, and she added some much-needed levity to an overall serious book. I read this book a little over a month ago and honestly I don't remember all that much about it, aside from Art and how amusing she was. Sure, I recall the broad strokes, and the fact that there's an age-gap romantic element here, but like all of Klune's other books for me I wasn't overly blown away. I enjoyed them at the time, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to people, because I know that others seem to enjoy them much more than I do, but personally I find them to be nothing overly special. That being said I'll still probably check out whatever Klune puts out next, because his books are enjoyable and there's yet to be one that I regret taking the time to read.

After the loss of his parents and his job, Nate decides to head to the mountain cabin. His parents left it to him after all, he might as well use it. When he arrives however, there is a man and a young girl in his cabin. as he gets to know this interesting duo, Nate realizes he is going to have to make a decision between “normal” life and this fascinating family.

TJ Klune is so good at giving us a story that is beyond our wildest dreams. He also manages to always give us a found family that feels more loving and perfect than we could imagine. I did not expect this one to go where it went, but dang was I intrigued for the entire read! I don’t want to give away even the tiniest bit of this one, so I will just say if you enjoy Klune, grab a copy now!

Thank you to @torbooks for my gifted copy of this book!

The Bones Beneath My Skin by T J Klune


When I saw TJ Klune at NY Comic-Con in October, I remembered how cool I thought he was and how much I liked his style and sensibilities. I really enjoyed his Extraordinaries trilogy (although his strong pro- and anti- police stands in different volumes gave me whiplash), but I didn’t really vibe with Under the Whispering Door. I enjoyed the sentiments of House on a Cerulean Sea but felt the world building was weak in a way that took me out of the book., and I felt the sequel had a deus ex machina that felt cheap. I enjoy his takes on love and joy even when I don’t enjoy the stories they are in.

So I decided to request I from NetGalley and Tor an eARC of the reprint of his self published The Bones Beneath My Skin in exchange for honest reviews.

I enjoyed this book. It was much more Science Fiction than fantasy, though the “science” is a little handwavey. A reporter who lost his job for unethical practices, goes to his dead parents summer cabin and finds an escaped alien and her former military minder and together they form a family. These are some of the most interesting characters that I can remember seeing in a book by this author, and I really enjoyed this story. I wish the unethical behavior of the protagonist had not been such a violation of his journalistic ethics, because it made him inherently unlikable, and he never really got a redemption park, but otherwise this was an enjoyable book.

Do not get me wrong. I absolutely love the other works by TJ Klune that I have read, but this was not for me. The writing style was lovely as per usual, with descriptive language and style, but the story was very very very slow paced. I feel that others may like the story more than me, and might be able to feel for and connect with the characters better. The biggest win of the book was the mention of the Louis L’aAmour books, which remind me a lot of my dad :). I felt very confused for a lot of the book. So I will likely recommend this book to specific individuals that are more suited for the story and pacing than myself.

Well imagined, fast-paced, emotion-filled characters, humor sprinkled throughout, and a hopeful look toward the future…all in one sci-fi/adventure/romance novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC to read and review.

Another touching Klune book in the books (pun intended)! You never really know what to expect walking into a TJ Klune book but he always delivers and adventure full of self-discovery, inclusion, overcoming obstacles, found family, and queer romance.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were lovely, the pacing was smooth, and Klune will make you FEEL for this story!

This one had completely different vibes from any other TJ Klune books I've read, but the same humor and heart were there. Artemis Darth Vader is a character unlike any other I've read and I loved her. Nate's growth throughout the story felt slow to me, as did Alex's, but I grew attached to them both.

This is the first TJ Klune book that I have read, but it will certainly not be my last! From the cover art, the characters and the intrigue, I was hooked!

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune had an incredibly strong start that immediately drew me in. The atmospheric writing and intriguing premise set up so much potential, and I was eager to dive deeper into the story. However, as the plot progressed, it veered and didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

I wanted more depth to Nate’s and Alex’s story. Wasn’t a huge fan of the cult like turn that was presented but overall enjoyed this one!

Thank you for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book is an absolute GEM. Once again TJ Klune has brought to life a world of characters I love so much.

This book revolves around Nate Cartwright, a man who just lost his job as a journalist in Washington D.C. and finds himself owning his fathers truck and mothers cabin in Oregon. With nowhere else to turn, he travels to the cabin and finds two unexpected guests on the run: an extremely large man named Alex and a ten year old girl named Artemis Darth Vader, who seems to be more than she appears.

Let me start by saying this book has some trigger warnings (skip the next line to avoid spoilers)
Homophobia, death of parents, murder/suicide.

While this book seems to be a litter heavier than what I am used to from TJ Klune, it is nevertheless an exquisite story. I found myself coming up with excuses to read this book, and like every other novel by him was obsessed with the characters. In particular Artemis. For those who maybe need a pick-me-up after a dark situation in their own lives, The Bones Beneath My Skin might be the perfect balm to your soul.

5/5 stars:

CAWPILE Score (For CAWPILE rating explanation visit https://bookriot.com/the-cawpile-review-system/)
C: 10
A: 10
W: 9
P: 9
I: 10
L: 9
E: 9

Overall: 9.29