I am an avid TJ Klune fan—he has a spectacular voice in every book he’s written, and this one is no exception. This story is a wild adventure, and so action-packed! It felt like watching an action movie. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are some of my favorites: real, human, broken and also beautiful and joyful. It’s magic, this book. The themes will stick with me for a long time, and I’m so grateful I had the chance to experience this novel.

Thank you, Netgalley and Tor, for an advanced copy of this incredibly human story. Opinions are my own.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune was phenomenal. As always, TJ Klune's writing cuts deep and makes me want to read everything he ever publishes. This book was no different. The characters were great, the writing was fantastic and overall, I had a fantastic time reading it. This book has been the most different from his other works but I think it holds up just as much as everything else. I felt it very heartwarming and it stayed in my thoughts days after finishing it. As always, a big thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the e-ARC and the opportunity to read this.

TJ Klune and his creativeness strikes again with The Bones Beneath My Skin. I am not sure what I was expecting, but this story kept me thinking and guessing about what was going to happen around the next corner every time I turned the page. Which is typical of a Klune book for me, I get entranced in the story and don't want to let go.

I thoroughly enjoyed the bond Nate, Alex, and Art had with eachother and found it interesting how Klune was able to weave their lives together. Art's quirkiness made me smile and encaptured my heart. A story unlike any other.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

The Bones Beneath My Skin was unknown to me and I have read all of the others written previously by TJ Klune. I was so elated when I thought of reading this ARC. I am extremely thankful to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read it before being re published. I loved the characters of Nate, Alex, and of course Art herself. I found Art witty, Nate relatable, and the search belonging to be something that was alluring. It is something that I think all of us are still in life looking for. The bond between Art, Nate, and Alex through the story is also what makes the story really amazing. I also loved the ideas of TJ Klune and how he brought extra terrestrial being, conspiracy theories, cults, and government into the picture. The found family is beautiful and not just those that we are born with. The themes of loss and healing from loss, discovering self in the most unlikely areas were well done. This did not disappoint! Thank you again Tor Publishing Group, NetGalley, and of course TJ Klune.

More sci-fi than his typical fantasy, this book truly is an odd duck. I don’t think TJ Klune is capable of bad writing, so any issues I have with the book stem from my own personal dislike of sassy children and random cults in books. It isn’t as cozy as his other books, but he doesn’t owe us that — check it out if you like Stranger Things and references to bacon.

4 stars

This re-release of Klune's _The Bones Beneath My Skin_ gave me just the right opportunity to finally get to this book (a long-term goal on which I had made no progress). It was worth the self-imposed wait.

Nate is really struggling after the particularly horrific deaths of his parents, a fascinating departure from his job, and pronounced challenges with how his family treated him (and, in one case, continue to treat him) because of who he is. Things get really strange when he heads to his parents' fairly remote cabin to recharge and finds a man and a young girl there. Both characters appear to be unusual and are filled with secrets, but this doesn't stop all three characters from being unexpectedly compelling and offering countless moving scenes.

There is so much to love about this novel. All kinds of magic, different forms of love, and a generally well-paced plot (despite Klune's characteristic book length choices) make this a moving and memorable read. I'm so glad I finally had the push to read this one and recommend that to folks in similar situations.

Why does TJ Klune keep making me cry over found families? First it was werewolves, then it was ghosts, THEN it was mythical creatures, and NOW it's aliens! He's got such a phenomenal way of writing that makes your heart ache and yearn and scream all at once. This story in particular reminded me what it truly means to be human, and the importance of connection and kindness.

Another great book by TJ Klune. Nate lost his job, has no family, and not much really. He goes to his family's cabin where it should be empty. However, he find Alex and a 10 year old girl... Who isn't that. A great book with positive messages!

The re-release of The Bones Beneath My Skin presents readers with a story that’s a mix of Stranger Things, ET, and explosions. Klune tells the important story of love and how it truly drives us all. An excellent read that’s very unlike his other novels, but just as worthwhile.

This is a delightful if sometimes dark story about an alien who comes to Earth and inhabits -- is made to inhabit -- the body of a small child. Her bodyguard kidnaps her from the feds and they go on the lam, eventually hiding out in a remote cabin -- just as the main characters, whose life has fallen apart, comes to this cabin to rest and recuperate. Sparks fly, whackiness ensues, but the bodyguard and the alien are being pursued by some very dangerous characters.

Love this one.

Everything TJ touches is gold, and this is no exception. His books are always an instant read, and such an adventure. Loved everything about this book.

I feel bad giving this book such a low review because I picked it up just because it was written by Klune. I had no idea of the premise going in. I do love his writing style, but this one just wasn't for me.

5 EXTRATERRESTRIAL STARS

TJ Klune, a master of writing "found family"... I have fighting words for you.

How dare you be so good at writing fictional characters like this?? How can you make my heart break for them?? How can you make me want to actively do something to help make their lives better?? I'm flayed open, exposed and vulnerable, after I read your books. I reach out to my family, I'm lucky to be in a loving family like the ones you write of, and I even thank the Universe that they're my family.

For the little things that I usually take for granted, my gratitude for them becomes magnified. Thank you so much for being the anti-J.K. Rowling. Thank you so much for writing works like this.

TJ Klune also has a great talent at creating characters that are insanely relatable. Get me a character who fumbles and has insane thoughts over a character who always knows what to say and when to say it. I could write prose about this book, honestly, but the bottom line is: you have to read it. You have to. You'll understand just how much it'll touch your heart and change your life. Maybe not drastically, but you'll be so grateful for your life and the people around you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this!!! In hindsight, I am so late to the TJ Klune hype train. I only really discovered him through The House in the Cerulean Sea and I am upset at myself about it. The amount of love in his books is like a warm blanket when you just came in from winter. It isn't all happiness and sunshine but the warmth is there all the same. And I am sad I missed this one when it first came out. So read it and weep or don't. But if you don't read it, that is your fault.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pretty odd and delightful. It is very different from what I've come to expect from TJ Klune (namely, light and lovely reads that are uplifting). This one is much darker than his usual stuff (or maybe this is his usual stuff, and the other three books I have read are lighter), but I really enjoyed it. Art and Nate were both great characters and I really appreciated the storyline, which was highly improbable and yet somehow incredibly believable. I enjoyed the science fiction elements, the time period (90s hell yes!) and the development of the plot. I loved the mystery aspects - and at the end, I wasn't quite sure what or who I believed.

So, why not five stars? Well, that's a complicated question. First, it took me a chunk to turn on my suspension on disbelief and vibe with the story. Parts felt weird and unexplained all the way - which was 100% intentional! - and I needed some time to get into that. There is also a romance subplot that felt.... really forced. I don't know why, but I wasn't quite buying it, and trying to think too hard about it made it even harder to buy. I just felt like it wasn't fully developed.

Overall, though, this is a great read for someone looking for the same humanist optimist TJ Klune usually employs, but in a darker story. It is a fun science fiction romp with just enough mystery and humor to keep the reader engaged. Just remember to turn off your logic brain and vibe with the plot, even the parts that are tough to wrap your head around. If you need a fully developed romance (even if that romance is a subplot), this might not be a great choice for you, though :)

I absolutely loved this book and the three main characters. TJ finds a way to make every character lovable and endearing. You root for all three on their own individual journeys. Thank you, TJ, for bringing these characters to life. Although I won’t recommend this for my classroom (I teach third grade 😆), I will continue to recommend TJ’s books to my friends and family.

Gah! TJ Klune is a master storyteller. He creates a universe that feels both impossible and possible at the same time. His characters are so well rounded, deeply flawed, and completely likeable. The "found" family of Artemis, Alex, and Nate is heartwarming as they wrestle with the ideas of belonging. Artemis is a delightful voice that encourages the emotional growth of all three characters. Equal parts action, romance, and science fiction, this Klune novel is sure to find love among new and loyal readers.

Klune's usual schtick, two men and a precocious, charming child, runs thin in this disappointing novel. I wanted to love it, but the little girl/ alien who loves westerns and her gruff protector were more boring than mysterious, while the ex-journalist with a bad family life he can't get over was more frustrating than relatable. I did not finish this book despite several tries, giving up after yet another should-be-charming-but-is-instead-dull-and-overly-twee diner scene. I'm sure our heroes form a loving family at the end, but I couldn't bear another page of attempts to be deep and sweet.

When I first picked this up, I thought it was a new Kline story and not a republish! I was (not) surprised to find myself immersed in another wonderful story by Klune. The storytelling of this sci-fi-esque novel captures you right away and keeps you hooked throughout!

T.J Klune writes another exciting page turner with the perfect amount of laughs along with all the feels. We meet Nate who is a failed journalist who is trying to deal with some complicated grief after the death of his parents. When he heads to the cabin he inherited to be alone and reflect on his life choices, he meets two squatters who are not who they appear to be. Alex and Artemis Darth Vader are mysterious, dangerous, but also endearing. Nate must decide if he wants to get involved with their drama or if he should stay out of it. The connection between the three build quickly and he soon finds himself on the most dangerous adventure of his life.