I love TJ Klune’s writing. The way it plays with my brain is magical. This did not disappoint. I loved every page from start to finish. A beautiful story that was beautifully written.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a quiet, powerful marvel—achingly tender, deeply human, and utterly unforgettable. TJ Klune strips away the whimsy of his more fantastical works to deliver something raw and resonant, a story rooted in grief, connection, and the fragile hope that blooms in the darkest of places. Set against the backdrop of a tense and uncertain world, the novel hums with vulnerability and quiet wonder, offering a meditation on what it means to love, to lose, and to choose softness in the face of chaos.

Klune’s characters are richly drawn and emotionally magnetic. The bond that forms between the world-weary narrator and the mysterious, luminous child at the center of the story is profoundly moving—built not just on protection or obligation, but on shared pain and growing trust. Every interaction feels charged with meaning, and the prose glows with quiet lyricism. Klune doesn’t need spectacle to keep you turning pages—just honesty, heart, and a gentle hand guiding you through the ache.

There’s a reverence to the storytelling here, a kind of stillness that invites you to breathe a little slower and feel a little deeper. The Bones Beneath My Skin isn’t just a story—it’s a feeling, a space to sit with sorrow and hope in equal measure. It’s one of Klune’s most intimate and emotionally resonant works, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary stories are the ones grounded in love.

This book took me by surprise in many ways. When I felt like I had pegged its genre and created my expectations accordingly, it shifted on me again. Somehow it’s science fiction and romance, plot and character centered. The closest media I could compare would be Stranger Things or ET, crossed with the queer episode of The Last of Us season 1. Overall, I loved it. 💗

I love TJ Klune, but I didn't love this one. That has less to do with the writing and more to do with the type of book that I enjoy reading. This one leaned more into the thriller/mystery vibes, and that's just not the kind of book I gravitate toward. TJ is an extremely talented writer, and if you enjoy those types of stories, you will love this one!

This book is hard to describe, in the best way possible. Both a reflection of the self and a challenge to look past yourself. I loved how fresha nd nostalgic it felt, all at the same time

As a Klune fan, I got everything I expected: found family, humor, and a heartwarming (and tear-jerking) ending. Artemis Darth Vader stole the show – what a character! The bond she forms with Alex and Nate was beautiful. The plot was a wild ride of sci-fi, action, and romance with secret agencies and cults thrown in. It had a "Stranger Things" vibe, but with a unique twist. It was definitely sappy (in a good way!), but also explored deeper themes about love and belonging. The audiobook narration was fantastic too. Highly recommend!

At some point we are all going to have to accept that TJ Klune writes the same characters time and time again. Art was definitely giving Lucy vibes. Nate and Alex were giving Arthur and Linus. But I am here for it every single time.

TJ Klune always has interesting stories that are full of wonderful, heartfelt moments and found family, and this was no different. I loved the slow burn romance and the mystery of the little girl. I was intrigued by how it would all work out! This book falls into sci-fi but is set on earth so I didn't find it difficult to follow or enjoy (not a big sci fi fan) I did think it was on the long side and towards the end I found some of the themes feeling a little repetitive.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is an intriguing, quietly ambitious novel that plays with genre in unexpected ways. There’s a strong sense of atmosphere throughout, and moments where the prose really shines. The story unfolds with a kind of dreamlike intensity that will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burning, introspective narratives.

That said, the novel doesn’t always maintain its momentum. Certain stretches feel repetitive or meandering, and some of the emotional beats don’t quite land as powerfully as they might. While the central characters are compelling, their development sometimes feels muted, and the relationship at the heart of the story is more thought-provoking than emotionally affecting.

Still, there’s something admirable about the book’s quiet confidence. It doesn’t pander or rush, and it’s clear the author had a vision. For readers willing to sit with it and let it unfold at its own pace, The Bones Beneath My Skin offers a thoughtful—if occasionally uneven—reading experience.

This book was just fine. I think I went into it thinking it would be like House in the Cerulean Sea or Somewhere Beyond the Sea, and it just wasn't on that level for me, but it wasn't bad, so I think this is where I landed.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I should just accept every time I read a TJ Klune book that I am going to cry. I am a sucker for found families and road trip narratives, so this book was right up my alley. The end had me feeling so many feelings. I was not expecting a spice scene in this book though, and I don't know how I liked that personally, but that is not a gripe against the book as a whole. That being said, this book had everything. Bacon? Check. Cults? Check. Aliens? Of course. A good time that had me laughing and crying all at once.

T.J. Klune’s The Bones Beneath My Skin was an unexpected yet thrilling departure from his usual style, blending suspense, sci-fi, and deep emotional resonance. While Klune is known for his heartwarming stories, this book introduces a gripping thriller element that kept me hooked from start to finish (with of course, some heartwarming elements that I absolutely adored!!)

The story follows Nate, a man struggling with his past, who stumbles into a life-changing situation when he meets Alex and Artemis Darth Vader, a young girl with extraordinary abilities. Their journey is filled with tension, mystery, and moments of breathtaking humanity. The supernatural aspect is seamlessly woven into the narrative, enhancing the stakes rather than overwhelming the story’s emotional core.

What I loved most was how Klune maintained his signature focus on found family and connection while exploring a darker, more suspenseful tone. The writing is immersive, the characters are unforgettable, and the pacing is just right to keep the reader on edge without sacrificing emotional depth.

This novel proves Klune’s versatility as a storyteller and delivers a thrilling, heartfelt experience that lingers long after the last page.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I thought I would be reading a heartwarming story on what it means to be human in a world filled with pan, grief, and suffering. I was expecting the same nostalgia and comfort that I got from Cerulean Sea.

Sadly, this one just didn't work for me. It took me forever to read, which is unheard of, but the chapters were SO incredibly long, and in something marketed as a thriller, I need short and to the point to keep me engaged. Additionally, this book was far too long, and I was disappointed that so much of it read as filler.

Were there passages that took my breath away and made tears spring to my eyes? Most definitely. There were some truly beautiful moments in this one. I can't wait to see what's next. Thank you so much to Tor for my early copy. 2.5 stars rounded up.

This book was humorous, heartwarming, and full of classic TJ Klune charm. While it wasn’t my favorite of his novels, I still really enjoyed the blend of sci-fi thriller and emotional depth.

The story follows Nate, a man at rock bottom, who unexpectedly finds himself protecting a mysterious and powerful 10 year old girl named Artemis Darth Vader (yes really). As danger closes in, Nate, Artemis, and her guardian Alex form an unlikely found family.

Klune balances heavier topics such as grief, identity, and healing with witty dialogue and a sweet romantic thread. It’s a strange, tender, and surprisingly hopeful story. A solid 4 stars for me.

I love TJ Klune. I’ve yet to find a TJ Klune book that I didn’t rate infinity stars. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. That’s a lot to put on a book! But thank god this delivered. Infinity stars, yet again. This book was incredible. Just incredible. The story, the characters, the way my whole heart was invested for every single page. TJ Klune is pure magic and I feel so fortunate that he shares his gift and talent with the world!

This book was different from the Extraordinaries series and the House on the Cerulean Sea series, but I loved it. Artemis Darth Vader is fantastic! I love how she looks at the world, and while I don't share her love for bacon, I understand it. Alex and Nate are super cute; both checking each other out and taking their sweet time acting on their feelings. I am glad that TJ Klune believed in the power of his story enough to self publish it the first time and I am extra happy that Tor saw how awesome this book was and gave it a second publishing.

I’m basically a TJ Klune stan and so far have fallen hard for each book of his I’ve read. While I still really enjoyed this one, getting sucked into the story and needing to know what would happen next, I didn’t fall as deeply for the characters as I have with those from other books. Don’t get me wrong, I liked them - especially Art, and I’m a sucker for all the found family vibes that are front and center in Klune’s books, but I wanted the chance to get to know the characters better. All the action in the book kept things exciting and introduced some interesting elements as pieces of the larger picture fit together, but it left me feeling like I wanted more when I got to the end - I felt like I still didn’t know that much about Alex and Nate as people. I think what I tend to love most about his characters are how much they come to life/feel fleshed out by the quiet moments/interactions, but with the more intense/thriller/action story there wasn’t as much time or space to build those connections. That said, it was still a good story with quirky characters that kept me invested, I just like other Kline books/characters more. Thanks for NetGalley for the book, though I ended up listing to the audiobook (and the narration was great!)

I truly enjoyed this sci fi book by TJ Klune, it was light hearted with the small banter between the 3 characters. the story was amazing and sad at the same time that I kept rooting for them to get to their next stop without any hassles. I agree with author note that this is a different story but it was a great story and i am looking forward to reading more of his work.

As always, TJ Klune is fantastic at crafting a cozy, interesting, fantasy world. This wasn’t my favorite book by him, but I will ALWAYS pick up his stories whenever they are published. Thank you!!!

THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN, TJ Klune ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣
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Thank you @torbooks and @netgalley for this advanced copy.⁣
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Anyone who has read TJ Klune before knows that he is the king of found family stories. I’ve never read anyone before who could write such meaningful stories of love and make me fall in love with the most interesting of characters. Cue Artemis. She’s strange and she’s the best. The reason I marked this at 3.5 (which was hard to do) is because there’s one relationship in here that didn’t quite live up to Klune’s amazing storytelling. He’s usually so great at growing each relationship, but I felt like one in particular could have used more of his time. It was abrupt and I missed the build-up of it.⁣
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What’s really cool about this book though, is it’s a rerelease. Klune originally self-published this novel in 2018. I’m happy he decided to reshare it with the world.