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.

I think my brain is still processing this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. TJ Klune is just a masterful writer—let’s start with that. The way he weaves characters and themes and artful sentiments together is just magical. This book was and wasn’t what I expected all at the same time. It’s very stranger things meets Last of Us vibes. There’s some romance/relationship aspects between the two main male characters—but if you’re not into the steamy scenes, there’s only one area to jump over to keep it closed door. But more than the romance…is the relationship of found family. And that is what will gut you to the core in its beautiful humanity…even if it’s not entirely human. Highly recommend. Especially in these days when our hope for humanity feels scarce.

You cannot go wrong with TJ Klune,

Excellent character and story. Definitely not my favorite of his books but still a great read.

Once again, TJ Klune delivers a beautiful story that I couldn't put down. Klune could write a grocery list at this point, and I'd still find it poetic. "The Bones Beneath My Skin" is one of those books that sneaks up on you, wraps itself around you, and refuses to let go.

Set in 1995, the story follows Nate, a man at rock bottom who's just trying to make it through the day. Enter Alex and Artemis Darth Vader (yes, that's really her name), and suddenly, Nate's life is turned upside down in the most extraordinary way. What follows is a story of finding hope, healing, and love in the most unexpected places.

This is a story about chosen family—about finding your people, the ones who see you, who love you for who you are, and who make your world bigger and brighter just by being in it.

You'll laugh, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat during the more intense moments, and if you have even a sliver of a heart, you'll cry. There are scenes that will shatter you and others that will fill you with so much joy you'll feel like you might burst.

I can't recommend "The Bones Beneath My Skin" enough. It's heartfelt, raw, and unforgettable. TJ Klune has once again reminded me why I'll read anything and everything he writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the advanced reader's copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

TJ KLUNE has made himself into a household name. This latest novel is an example of why. The emotional quality of Klune's writing is matched by few contemporaries in the genre. This story follows a man who returns to the place he grew up, having lost everything. His parents are dead and he has a broken heart.
this book is a great study of what it means to be human. There is loss, there is tragedy, but mostly there is the glowing thread of love through all of it. This novel is transcendent. It loses some of its pacing in the middle, but the characters are colorful and the prose is warm--so it more than makes up for it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune!

This is my first time reading anything from Klune, let me tell you it did not disappoint. The author did such a phenomenal on crafting this beautiful story. Nate goes to his cabin that was left for him from his parents there encounters a man name Alex and a young girl name Artemis, she brings joy and humor. This was action packed from beginning to end I seriously could not put this book down. Loved the story and the ending was perfect! I will be reading more book from TJ Klune.


Thank you NetGalley!

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a little different from most of the books I’ve read from T.J. Klune in the sense that it has a sci fi element and at times reads like an action-packed thriller. At its heart though, it still has what nobody does better than T.J. Klune — an unforgettable found family that you are sure to fall in love with!

The story follows Nate Cartwright, who when we meet him, is grieving the death of his parents and lamenting the fact that he has also lost his job. He heads to his family’s remote cabin in Oregon to regroup, but when he arrives, he finds that a ten-year-old girl named Artemis Darth Vader and her mysterious ex-Marine guardian Alex are squatting in the cabin. After some initial chaos and confusion, Nate decides to let Artemis and Alex stay and the three of them eventually grow quite close. What Nate learns is that Artemis and Alex are on the run, and that Alex will do whatever it takes to protect Artemis because she is special. Nate also learns that Artemis is not exactly who she appears to be and when someone tracks them to his cabin, Nate makes a choice that he too will do whatever it takes to protect Artemis.

I loved watching Nate, Alex, and Artemis bond. There’s a romantic subplot as Nate and Alex are clearly attracted to one another once they get over their initial distrust, and while I enjoyed it, it was definitely Artemis and the found family that forms around her that had my heart the entire story. Artemis is an avid reader of westerns and likes to speak like she’s a cowboy, and she’s also a huge fan of bacon. She’s quirky and charming and will steal your heart just like so many of Klune’s characters do.

While the story has plenty of action and suspenseful moments, it’s ultimately a heartwarming story about family, belonging, and finding love when you least expect it.

4 1/2 STARS

Book Review✨

Never thought I would say this after reading The House of the Cerulean Sea but I have found my new favorite TJ Klune book. This book had me when I found out one of the main characters is a little girl named Artemis Darth Vader.


It's about a man named Nate who goes to his recently inherited cabin in the middle of nowhere. It's supposed to be empty but when he shows up, he finds a little girl, Artemis Darth Vader, and a man who just seems angry all the time, Alex.


Nate soon learns Artemis is special and joins her and Alex on their mission.


TJ Klune brings adventure, humor, weirdness, heartbreak, and joy in this book. So much weirdness when he first tried to publish this book, his old publisher only said one thing: it's weird. So if you like weirdness you'll love this book. I give this book 5 stars! I absolutely loved it and will definitely read again. It's out now!

Thank you #netgalley and #torbooks for this ARC for my honest review.

While this wasn't my very favorite by TJ Klune, I did love the new edition cover a whole lot and enjoyed the road trip YA fantasy feel of this cozy mystery/coming of age queer story. Lots of quirky, memorable characters and fans of Klune's won't want to miss it, whether it's a re-read or a new discovery. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I recently saw him speak at Cuyahoga County Library in Parma and it was truly thrilling to hear him talk about is work. He is incredibly honest, authentic and hilarious. His passion makes reading his books even that much more enjoyable. This book was different than his typical fantasy quality that his books usually have, but in a good way. Would recommend to anyone looking for a thoughtful adventure that is relevant and whimsical.

4.25⭐️
What a great story. I was hooked right from the start and fell in love with Art from the first page she was introduced. I was invested and so curious how it’d all come together at the end. Very feel good and thought provoking.

The first question I asked myself after I finished this book was “why haven’t I read more TJ Klune?!” As this was my first book by him that I’ve read. (Not my first to own, though- The House in the Cerulean Sea and In the Lives of Puppets are both sitting on my shelf.) This book was so wonderfully weird. Wholesome yet salacious. Heartbreaking yet heartwarming. Thrilling yet cozy. And I enjoyed it immensely. The only reason it wasn’t quite a 5 star read was it felt a little too long, especially the first third or so.

Fans of this book will be won over by the character Artemis Darth Vader. She will make you laugh out loud at her sweet naivety. At her newly discovered love of bacon. At her question of ethics in dirty movies/books. And at her love of Westerns (and constant talk like she’s in one). She loves fiercely and loyally, and she will be one of my favorite characters for a long time.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, funny, and entertaining read, I’d recommend this one to nearly everyone. (There is a pretty spicy part towards the end, though, if spice isn’t your thing.)

4.5/5 rounded up