"Above all else, be brave."

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy.

Three words to describe this book: hopeful, emotional, whimsical

The writing - Klune has a mastery over writing stories that feel timeless and ageless. Though the themes of this story are clearly adult, it reads (much like The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door) like a whimsical middle grade novel in the best way. His writing is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. It sucked me in from page one.

The story itself - I feel like the story can be divided into three parts: Beginning, Adventure, and AFTER. I would have been content with an entire novel covering the Beginning, seeing Vic and Gio in the house in woods, Vic salvaging parts, fixing Hap, etc. The Adventure felt off. The time they spent traveling felt like it lasted too long, and the actual climax of the book felt rushed. AFTER was heartbreaking in so many ways, despite being a little hopeful. I would have liked more exploration of that time as well.

The characters - As always, Klune shines through his characters. Vic's struggles with grief and forgiveness drive the story, bringing the reader into his mindset beautifully. Nurse Ratched, at times, felt like forced humor, but at other times was a great balance to the heaviness of the themes. I'll be honest, I had to look up art of Rambo, because I was picturing something along the lines of K9 from Doctor Who, completely forgetting that Roombas exist, but once he was solidified in my brain, he was easily my favorite. His anxieties and being brave despite them truly resonated with me. Through all of the characters, Klune manages to explore the complexities of human emotion despite having only one actual human in the lot.

I sobbed. That's it. That's the rest of the review.

Another heartwarming story from Klune - this time a little Wall-E influence which was absolutely adorable! As usual, the cast is dynamic, bubbly and whimsical and carry the heart of the story. One not to be missed!

In The Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

Who doesn’t love a retelling - oh and by retelling I mean the story of Pinocchio which takes part in a not-so-distant future with robots which possess endearing qualities you did not know you wanted in a Roomba floor cleaner.

TJK's latest book is a heartwarming and familiar story that explores themes of love, family, and personal choice. From the very first page, like with previous TJK novels the characters draw you in an almost childlike way- who were all richly developed and had unique personalities and backstories. TJK's writing style is fluid yet quirky, the plot is well-paced, with just the right amount of tension and drama to keep me engaged.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it approached a very well known story by inserting characters and scenarios that turns the original on its head. Whilst keeping the story undeniably comforting. It also has moments of fun, which quickened it’s pace, which I feel that younger audiences would enjoy. There were times when I thought I knew where the story was going but found that the lovely plot twists kept me wanting to read on.

Overall, I would highly recommend TJK's latest book to anyone looking for a heartwarming and satisfying read but who is also looking for a fresh take on a retelling with wonderfully cute characters. A lovely example of the “What If” scenario in storyboarding - What if we took the story of Pinocchio and added in some robots and set it near a scrapyard with LGBT undertones - it’s wonderfully imaginative in that way.

Whether you're a fan of the author's previous work or a newcomer to their storytelling, this book is sure to leave you feeling uplifted with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

This review was made possible by Net Galley - always appreciated , never a chore.

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4.5 stars round up to 5

I really love T.J. Klune’s work and this truly drove it home for me. He has such a way with his writing that makes me very emotional.

The real stand out, for me, were the characters in this book. My two particular favourites being Nurse Ratched and Rambo. The dynamics the family had together and how this was expressed through the dialogue was beautifully done. The whole message of the how wonderfully painful it is to feel emotion was perfectly expressed through all the main characters.

My only tiny issue was the pacing was a little slow in places but it really didn’t affect the story much.

Overall, this is a great book and is definitely one of Klune’s best.

I don’t think there will be a book from Klune that I won’t like
A masterpiece

Even if I am not a fan of Pinocchio I loved every second of this
And that’s his styling power really

Another TJ Klune book that destroyed me completely, but put me back together again. This author is just somuch, I can’t emphasise enough how much I love this or every book I’ve read. As ever, not that I’d expect any less this is so entertaining, full of humour anc wit, but it’s also sad, so so beautiful and full of emotion. I tell a lie, it’s full of heart , soul and humanity, just as TJ Klune always pours into his books, we need everyone to read these and maybe the world wouldn’t be so cruel if they felt the emotion in these books, but I’m probably naive, but for now just tell everyone you know with a functioning heart to read (maybe try the odd non functioning heart too)
Beautiful

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I must admit sci fi isnt usually my type of book but having read Klunes' Cerulean Sea previously and enjoying that as well as seeing this was a sort of Pinocchio re-telling I thought this was a must!

We begin by meeting Giovanni an inventor who lives in a forest alone when a couple approach him and leave him with a child to look after but never return. He brings him up and names him Victor. We begin to learn that Vic is a human amongst a world of machines and when his Dad is taken from him, Vic and his friends go on a mission to find him and bring him back.

The characters in this book are very lovable which is strange as they are a random mix of machines, vacuum cleaners and robots. I especially loved Nurse Ratched funny dry wit and sense of humour through out the book and Rambo is the cutest little hoover ever.

I will be recommending to others and looking out for more from this author.

This is in a way a retelling of Pinocchio. But I also got very strong Wall.e vibes, at least from the world building.

TJ Klune continues to power up his ability to immerse his readers in his storytelling, and makes you feel part of whatever world he takes you to.

He does it so incredibly well in In The Lives of Puppets - it’s fun, entertaining, humorous, witty, sad, beautiful, and between all of these facets, you can tell that the heart and meaning of life is always there.

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC, I did enjoy In the Lives of Puppets, I like retellings and sci-fi twists, and this was a really well-written, ,heartfelt story, it was just missing a little action for my taste. I really loved the romance too.

In this adventure, Victor (a human) and his family (of repaired robots) must leave their quiet life in the forest to go to the big city to rescue Victor's inventor father, Gio. Set in futuristic world where the world is inhabited by robots, there is lots that Victor needs to learn about his father's history, and there are difficult decisions to make.

I loved the distinct personalities of each main character and even through their bickering and threats, it was clear how much they cared for each other. Nurse Ratched was my favourite as I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of the outrageous comments. A little slow for me at times, but an enjoyable adventure overall!

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Tor Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

 #IntheLivesofPuppets #NetGalley

What are the rules?
Stick together!
Run if we have to.
No dallying!
No drilling.
And above all be brave!


Bloody brilliant, as always. So simple, yet layered and complex too. Whilst the pace of the first half was slower, I enjoyed the time spent getting to know the world and the characters - who knew robots could have so much personality. There were utterly delightful pop culture references and wonderfully silly moments that added an air of whimsy - moments that balanced the darker underlying themes of the book.

My heart was warmed by the strength of love between Vic, Gio, Rambo, Nurse Ratched and, eventually, Hap. It almost burst out of my chest from the message of being who you want to be, not having to fit with what and who society says you are.

I maybe didn't love this quite as much as some of Klune's other work, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the world-building, the moral and social messages and the love of a found family.

A slow and sweet fairy tale about what it means to be alive, I took a while to get into this book but enjoyed it once I was there. The characterisation, especially, was strong- Victor had a lot to carry as the only human in the book and I was pleased to discover he was a joy to spend time with. He wasn't my favourite, though: that honour, as I suspect will be the case for many readers, goes to the peanut gallery of anxious vacuum Rambo and the sociopathic med droind Nurse Ratched, who stopped the sweetness of the story from becoming *too* saccharine.

A diverting little fairy tale, especially if you're interested in almost-fantasy robots.

Oh wow! This book is sooooo good! I’m actually worried that I loved it so much that I can’t find the words to do it justice. But at least I now know what is meant by the phrase ‘gave me ALL the feels’. I beamed, I giggled, I fumed, I cried, and my heart silently ached for the characters as I read.

And what fantastic characters they are. You would think having robots as the majority of the characters might hamper a novel’s emotional depth and impact, but this is not the case. From the very beginning I loved Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Gio just as much as Victor (actually, more, in the case of Ratched and Rambo, who make a hilarious and touching double act). Hap slotted straight in there too, filling the violently angry slot that I hadn’t been aware was empty, to complete this perfect little found family.

TJ Klune has taken the story of Pinocchio and mixed it with a little Frankenstein, a little The Wizard of Oz, a little scifi à la Asimov or The Matrix, to create something completely and wonderfully new.

This is a love story, but also somewhat asexual in its representation (I did begin to type that robots and humans don’t have sexually compatible parts, then realised I really don’t want to go down that rabbit hole, no matter what the Blue Fairy might promise!) Anyway, mainly this is a story about what it means to be human, to be alive, to love and to dream.

I really didn’t want to leave the story at the end and felt I would be happy just continuing to read about the characters’ continuing, everyday lives together forever. And while I did feel a little sad about aspects of the ending, which reminded me a little of loved ones lost to Alzheimers or dementia, I felt that it was all the more poignant and realistic – insofar as realism can be applied to a story about living robots!

Deeply moving, this story touched my heart and stirred my mind, making me think and making me feel, and I have already pre-ordered a copy for my personal ‘keep’ shelf. I think I might treat myself to the audiobook too – I can’t wait to hear what a narrator makes of that drilling banter (Nurse Ratched) and terrifying flirting (Nurse Ratched again) and find out whether it is as funny as it was inside my head.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

In The Lives Of Puppets by TJ Klune is an absolutely heartwarming, genuinely hilarious queer retelling of Pinnochio. Giovanni Lawson - android, inventor, father - builds an isolated house in the trees for himself and his human son Victor. Their family grows over the years, welcoming an anxious vacuum named Rambo and a blunt, slightly murderous medical robot named Nurse Ratched. As Victor grows up, he begins to roam further into the forest and makes the salvage yard his playground, finding toys and equipment that need repair and reinvention.

It is on one such visit that Victor discovers Hap, a handsome android who is close to short-circuiting. Victor, who 100% has a saviour complex, rescues Hap and brings him back to full health but could never have predicted that this well-intentioned act would cause a ripple effect, revealing secrets about his father and threatening all of their lives.

You are probably reading that synopsis thinking how bizarre it sounds and yes, it is an absolutely bonkers reimagining of a childhood tale but the level of joy, warmth and actual laugh out loud moments this book brought me made me feel, in a way, like I was a child again, reading The Magic Faraway Tree and Swiss Family Robinson. It tackles big topics, like asexuality, morality, ethics and racism but in a way that never feels too heavy thanks to the narrative device of, well, robots! I saw someone comment that for a book almost solely filled with droids, it is one of the most human stories they’ve ever read and I am inclined to agree.

Unlike a lot of people, I have never read any TJ Klune before, but I can confidently say that after reading this I will be diving into his other books too.
It was the idea of a Pinocchio inspired story that first drew me into this book, but at first I was hesitant because as much as I love the idea of retellings, I am often disappointed by them. They can sometimes feel bogged down by the original tale, and I don't feel that invested in the characters. But I'm super glad that this one worked for me.
I think Klune really transformed the tale of Pinocchio into his own fantastic novel, and I fell in love with the characters (Rambo being my favourite).
The only thing I am unsure of was the pacing at times, but overall the novel was super gripping and I inhaled it quite quickly, which I was not expecting.
I have seen some reviewers say that it could have benefited from better world building/explanation of the world since it is technically a sci-fi story, and that Klune maybe spent too much time trying to make the characters funny etc etc. However, I really liked the balance that he created between all these elements.
I was definitely mainly invested in the characters and the relationships between them, but I think that was the point of the novel, and therefore I don't think it suffers at all because of any lack of detail in the world building.
Overall, I'm really happy that I took a chance with this one. The characters were amazing and the entire time that I was reading I just kept thinking about how it was giving me a similar feeling to watching a Ghibli film (the highest of compliments). I enjoyed the world building and the descriptions of all the different robots. I will definitely be buying finished copies for friends. Can't recommend this book enough if you need a cosy read.
Thanks netgalley for providing me with a copy to review!

I am 100% a fan of TJ Klune!

"And above all else, be brave."

This book is like nothing I have ever read before. It follows the story of Victor and his life living with robots - His father Giovanni Lawson, a Nurse machine Ratched and a small vacuum named Rambo. When they discovered HAP (Hysterically Angry Puppet) they couldn't predict what would unfold!

In the Lives of Puppets is a queer retelling of Pinocchio and I loved it. It is dialogue driven and can be extremely funny at times however there were times I wanted to cry! This book will really get you thinking and I loved it. The way TJ Klune tells the story really sucks you in, the world-building, the characters, everything was perfectly thought out and described perfectly.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it!

THank you to the author, Netgalley and publisher for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have the signed hardback with sprayed edges hopefully on its way but I wanted to read it early!

I have loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, Wolfsong and Under the Whispering Door over the last few years so to read another cosy fantasy by Klune was just lovely.

In the Lives of Puppets is the tale of Vic who has grown up believing he was dropped off at Gio's cottage in the woods, where he made friends with robots called Rambo and Nurse Ratched. Found family has always been Klune's strength; their friendship and love is sometimes hilarious, often heartwarming and the reader rolls their eyes, just like Vic does. When they rebuild another robot known as Hap, their collective history unravels and they are sent on a mission to find the blue fairy, to try to recover what was lost. It explores questions of morality, of love and how we experience that as humans, how it can be replicated for robots and where love comes from.

There are nods to favourite classics such as Pinocchio, Frankenstein and The Wizard of Oz but it is a completely different story in my opinion (or a mixture of all three!) and I loved it. In typical Klune style, the characters are quirky and funny, saying things you wouldn't get away with as a human! They are loveable and you root for them. The plot seems a bit too far fetched at times, but it is a fantasy and I feel you lose the bigger picture if you worry about the details. I always feel you have to be in the right frame of mind to read a Klune but as always it is like a warm hug 😄

4.5 🌟

A heart-warming Pinocchio retelling with Wall-E and Wizard of Oz vibes mixed in. In the Lives of Puppets is an emotional story of self-discovery and an exploration of identity with beautiful world building.
There were parts of the story where I did feel like the pacing was a bit slow and I struggled to keep engaged but this does pick up in the later half of the book.
If you're a fan of found Family, asexual representation and psychotic robots definitely pick this up.
3.5 stars

Another fantastic instalment from TJ. This, like Cerulean and Whispering is a sweeping fantasy with found family and the cozy feels that give your heart all the joy and smiles you could want. This book does have a slightly darker ending than the others. But ohhh is it classic TJ with wonderfully charming characters, a boat load of snark and snappy dialogue and the world building is so rich and detailed I read the book like I watch a movie, utterly gripped.

In the Lives of Puppets | TJ Klune

Deep in the forest, lightyears beyond our time, there lived a boy called Victor, his satient vacuum Rambo, and a healing machine called Nurse Ratched. His father, Giovanni Lawson warned him not to go to the scrap yards for fear of being caught by huge machines called The Old Ones. Time and time again he goes with his robot friends hoping to find things to build and fix with. He is an inventor like his father. But life as he knows it changes forever after he rescues an unfamiliar humanoid called HAP.
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A poignant exploration of humanity, forgiveness, purpose and identity against the backdrop of a world run by machines. This queer sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio is heartwarming and raw. I love it.

I took my time reading this one, but not for its faults. During the interim of the time I spent away from this book, its characters haunted me in a way that I always knew it was a piece I wanted to see through. I love Nurse Ratched and Rambo. They're my favorite characters here. They are such good friends even though at times they have quirks that make them slightly annoying. Their discussions can be funny. But they can talk about really sensible things too.

I feel like the world building is set up well enough to accommodate the intricacies of the plot. The emotional beats are well placed and TJ Klune took time to build. It is effective for me as I felt it plausible and believable.

If you love well developed characters, this might be for you.
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Thank you to the publishers and @netgalley for granting me an advance copy of this book. Coming out April 25.

#kimyxbooks #inthelivesofpuppets #tjklune #arc #netgalley #advancereaderscopy