I absolutely adore TJ Klune! The Bones Beneath My Skin has the same heart wrenching and heartwarming moments you’ve come to expect in his books, but with a totally new and unique setting and storytelling. Even though it takes place in a more true-to-life world, it certainly has some weird, quirky and supernatural elements. The relationships between the three main characters are beautiful and Art is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long long time.

TJ Klune is a master of quirky queer lit, and The Bones Beneath My Skin is no exception. This is the sort of book you should go into blind. Don't read the flap, just know that Klune is going to take you on an blockbuster style adventure. This book was the literary equivalent of a movir car chase screen. Just hang on and enjoy the ride. Oh, and you might want to have a box of tissues ready because in typical Klune fashion, the ending will get to you. All the stars for TJ Klune's weird little book!

2.5 rounded up to 3. I have really enjoyed TJ Klune's books. This one just felt a bit off and didn't quite click for me. I was super invested in the beginning and excited to see where the story would go. I loved seeing how Nate, Alex, and Art got along with each other and their dynamics. However, the middle kind of dragged on and I found I was forcing myself to read at times. Some things didn't quite make sense or connect, and I guess aliens aren't quite my thing.

✨ Publication date: February 4, 2025✨

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a refresh and republish of a coming of age sci-fi adventure my TJ Klune.

Nate Cartwright is starting over. Heading to the cabin he once spent many happy childhood summers at. Nate’s parents recently died, he lost his job and the only family he had left doesn’t speak to him. He needed a break and some time to figure out what was next.

Except Nate’s cabin isn’t empty when he gets there. He stumbles upon a man and his awkward of not a little strange 10 year old daughter who have taken refuge in his cabin. Their story is not fully believable but as the days go by, they learn to trust each other.

The moment comes when their trust is put to the test. When government officials show up at the cabin and the three are forced to go on the run, Nate starts to learn more about Alex and Art. Art isn’t what she originally seemed and Nate is going to have to open his mind and his heart if he’s going to help bring her home.

This is a sci-fi adventure with a bit of family and romance. This is set in the mid 90’s and has a Stranger Things vibe. If you’ve read this author, you will know to expect the unexpected. I really enjoyed this one, it truly has something for everyone. This was a 4 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #tjklune #thebonesbeneathmyskin

T.J. Klune surprised me with this book. The first book I read of his was The House in the Cerulean Sea, and it took me a long time to read it because of the summary. It felt VERY different from any other book I’d read at that point. However, a coworker encouraged me to take a chance, and it turned out to be my favorite book of the year!

This book is a lot like that. I was lucky to receive a digital ARC of this, requesting it based on the author alone. When I read the description, I found myself putting it to the side for other books. It wasn’t until months later, feeling the pressure of reviewing before publication (missed that window), that I finally picked The Bones Beneath My Skin up. Within the first two chapters there was a shift where I felt pulled to this story. I found myself ignoring other books I had been waiting for to read this. I read it on my lunch instead of doomscrolling. This book was GOOD.

I should’ve known by now, that books are more than their description. In the author’s notes Klune describes an interaction with a previous publisher where he was told his story was weird (derogatory). I fell into that trap, forgetting that Klune’s best writing is when it’s “weird”.

I encourage you to just read this story. It’s not the cozy home on the hill, but an entirely different journey and vibe. Yet there’s still that wholesome wonder that Klune writes so well, a quippy character to make you laugh, and a lot of love to make you cry. Plus, ACTION. Just read this wonderful, weird, story.

Thank you so much for this ARC! TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors. This book was fun and suspenseful! I love the relationship between Nate, Alex and Art. Would love to see a sequel.

Unfortunately this is one book that I had a lot of trouble with. The premise was great and gave me stranger things vibes but I feel like it took too long to get anywhere and I just did not connect with the characters or what was happening. The fact that it took almost halfway through the book for Nate to get any answers was just too much.

Fracking TJ Klune!

I'm so jealous of his abilities.

This book was really good. It was totally, totally different from Klune's more popular works (Cerulean Sea, for example) but just as well-written and with characters you'll fall in love with just as much.

I don't want to go into too much detail because half the fun of this book is in not knowing the plot. (Or it was for me anyway.)

But I loved the characters. I loved the writing style. I loved the story. I loved the representation.

It was a wonderfully well-written book that's part sci-fi, part romance, part thriller. It has secret government agencies, shoot-outs, Stranger Things Eleven Flipping the Truck-style action, a lovable little girl, and a beautiful queer romance.

My only complaint, really, is that there were a couple of super graphic sex scenes. And while that doesn't bother me in and of itself.... they just felt forced and didn't vibe with the overall theme of the book.

Despite this being an action-packed, sometimes sad story, it's mostly lighthearted and fun. (I know. Just saying that doesn't make sense. Haha. But it's also true.)

And the sex scenes in the book were raw and gritty. To me, they felt completely out of place. Even the language he used during the sex scenes was completely out of tone with the language in the rest of the book. Again, I have no problem with sex scenes -- even male-on-male ones. (The Song of Achilles is one of my all-time favorite books, and I loved the BDB romance between Qhuinn and Blay -- and it gets graphic. Haha.)

They just didn't feel like they fit with the rest of the book in this case. So, that's what dropped my 5-star review to 4.

DNF at 77% - this book is not for me. I enjoy TJ Klune’s writing, and loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, but unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy this book, and I tried really hard to. The characters didn’t develop for me, in fact - I felt kinda uncomfortable. The plot also just wasn’t getting anywhere for me.

Thank you Netgalley and TOR Publishing Group for the eARC, though!!

TJ Klune is easily a favorite author of mine.
My first of his was Under the Whispering Door, which made me sob. My next was The Extraordinaries, which brought me to the Green Creek Series, and then it went downhill from there. As my 8th TJ Klune novel, I’d say I’m definitely a fan.
This one was very special in that it’s the group against the world. It reminded me of House in the Cerulean Sea a bit in that regard. On the run, working to get Artemis Darth Vader home. There were bits that were surprising- as sometimes we can get a little wild within Klune’s books. Honestly, from what I’ve read in the past, anything goes for our author. But I love that. I can generally expect to shed a few tears in Klune’s books, and this one was no exception.
There really doesn’t seem to be anything like these books. Klune’s writing is like a warm hug bringing readers to a place where everyone is accepted. Anyone who accepts people for who they are will feel accepted between Klune’s pages.
For the future: love big, and eat lots of bacon. Let’s go on an adventure.

TJ, you brilliant self proclaimed weirdo, making me cry at 6:30 a.m.

While not my favorite of his books (Cerulean Chronicles forever), this had his trademark quality of whimsy and wonder mixed with a little more spice and action. And so much love.

A little bit Stranger Things, a dash of The Last Of Us, and a whole lot of truly original storytelling, this book once again asks us to expand our understanding of “family”.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🦴 quirky characters
🦴 slowwww burn
🦴 LGBT+ rep
🦴 single POV
🦴 single timeline

I love TJ Klune’s book so much because they always include a cast of quirky (and different) characters; characters that may have had a little trouble finding their way, but they always find true friends in these stories. I love that so much!
As always with TJ Klune, this was a beautiful story of love and friendship 🩷 I always feel better after finishing a TJ Klune story 🩷
This one was a slowwwwwww burn… so slow that it almost lost me a few times, but it did finally pick up 50% of the way.
This was definitely not my favourite from TJ Klune.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕

TJ Klune has done it again, and I am absolutely thrilled! If there's one thing he nails every single time, it's the magic of found family. His ability to craft characters you can't help but fall in love with is beyond impressive. And let me tell you, Artemis Darth Vader absolutely stole the show! The dynamic between her and Alex is beyond adorable—it’s electric! Alex, with all his complexities, has captured my heart, and the romance between him and Nate? Pure perfection! I was cheering for their love from the very first page. I can hardly contain my excitement for what Klune has in store for us next!

In The Bones Beneath My Skin, TJ Klune delivers a heartfelt, poignant tale that intertwines elements of science fiction and deeply human emotions. The story follows main character Oliver “Ollie” Masterson, a man who's been going through the motions of life, weighed down by past trauma and existential dread. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters an enigmatic young girl named Aoife and her protective older brother, Tau. Aoife possesses extraordinary abilities, making her the target of dangerous forces.

What stands out in this novel is Klune's ability to depict complex, authentic relationships. The bond between Ollie, Aoife, and Tau is beautifully rendered, demonstrating the power of found families and the resilience of the human spirit. Klune's writing is both lyrical and raw, evoking a range of emotions that will leave readers captivated and deeply moved.

The blend of science fiction elements with profound personal struggles creates a unique and compelling narrative that explores themes of love, redemption, and the search for one's place in the world. Overall, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a touching, immersive read that showcases Klune's talent for storytelling and character development.

This book is definitely worth adding to your reading list!

Absolutely incredible. 5 stars. Made me cry. There aren’t enough words for what a beautiful story this was.

The book starts confusing enough, as all good stories do. Nate’s lost his job and inherited a cabin. Thanks to the job loss, the cabin is where Nate must go. Except, he had no idea what he was in for. It’s confusing to him and all of us but the beginning of something remarkable and wholly unbelievable.

Advanced reader copy provided by Tor and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

T.J. Klune first self-published this in 2018, and with the help of his new publisher, Tor, republished The Bones Beneath My Skin this year (2/4/25). I received an ebook ARC of this, but I'm super late to reading & reviewing.

I think a lot of people are going to love this, and they should. It's really heartwarming and it takes you on an epic adventure. It's about found family; it's quirky and sweet. After losing his parents and essentially his brother, our main character heads to the family cabin, the only thing he has left of his parents. What he finds there is a young girl and man squatting in his home. Who are they? Why is the little girl so... different? So special? Then ensues the wild ride to find out what the heck is really happening. This takes place in 1995 and I appreciated that aspect - it did a LOT for the story and really couldn't have been told in present-day.

This is something stupid to critique on, but I really didn't need to hear about how the young girl loved bacon so much. Yes, I'm vegan, but the omgbacon stuff is so like... 2010??? Right??? They stumble upon some vegan characters in the book, and one of the main characters refused to eat BREAD AND BUTTER because it was vegan butter. It is just stupid and rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe Klune was trying to convey how people felt about vegan food in 1995, but whatever, I didn't like it lol. Maybe only my vegan friends will understand my feelings on this critique, but yeah lol.

Let gay men write about gay men. I am so tired of white women using their fetish for gay men and writing them off as some token. This was so nuanced. I love TJ Klune.

TJ Klune once again hit it out of the park with his novel. The characters a fun and dynamic, and the romance felt natural, it grew over the course of the novel. This is probably my favorite novel that TJ Klune has published.

“I know now,' she said. What it means to be human.'
He wiped away her tears. 'What?'
'It means having your heart broken. There is nothing more human than a broken heart.”

Thank you @torbooks for the #gifted eARC!

THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN is both unlike any other TJ Klune book I’ve read and also at its heart very much like every TJ Klune book.

TBBMS is a fast paced sci fi thriller a la X Files or Stranger Things. The action is pretty much nonstop but with some really sweet and tender moments scattered throughout the book. There’s a government conspiracy and coverup. There’s a freaky little girl on the run who may or may not be human!

While the thriller aspects are a fun ride, it was the sweet and tender moments that really made me love this book. There’s just something about a precocious child who is funny without necessarily meaning to and whose observations always just hit the nail right on the head. You can’t read this book and not fall in love with Artemis Darth Vader.

And then you also have a slow burn queer love story between sad lost boy Nate Cartwright and gruff protector Alex. You can’t help but root for them to get a HEA!

This one doesn’t have the emotional destruction capacity of his Green Creek series so if you’re worried about needing a large box of tissues on hand, you’re safe! And there is a fun little side reference to Green Creek that had me grinning.

THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN is out now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7333747507
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGlVp9YPtkz/

Like all other TJ Klune novels, the characters are the stars of the show here. The relationship between Art and Nate and Art and Alex and Nate and Alex and their dynamic all together is adorable, found-family and is heartwarming.
The novel is a bit slow-going at first, but it kicks up to a nice pace. A healthy mix of mystery, action, and coziness.