In the Lives of Puppets is a quirky sci-fi fantasy mix about a family of robots (and one human called Vic) who live in the forest in homes in the trees. When they find another unfamiliar android who accidentally calls up murderous robots, who kidnap Vic’s father and force the remaining family to start a two week journey to try get him back.

I ended up DNFing this at 50%, it just wasn’t for me – I usually love quirky little robots but the pacing was a little off and the humour wasn’t landing for me. I am looking forward to the next TJ Klune book though!

No words will ever quite describe how stunning this book is, but I feel like that goes for TJ Klune's novels in general. After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I was excited but apprehensive as I worried it would not live up to the same standards.

I was wrong. The characters in this book were flawed and stunning and motivated and I could barely put it down. Each small detail that referenced Pinocchio was done so well (the whale, the fairy, the ears...) and I was always excited to spot another Easter egg.

The term "heartsore" was in this book and I think it perfectly sums up the general feelings that I got after putting it down. I loved every second of following Victor Lawson.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so. I had great hopes for this book because I looooved Under the Whispering Door. However, unfortunately this one didn't have the same effect for me. I liked it fine, yes, it made me weep a little at the end, but it didn't wow me.
Whilst in the previous one I basically had no idea what was going to happen from one page to the other, I found the story quite predictable.
Also, I don't recall this in the author's previous book, but there were quite a few sexual jokes and innuendos... it made me laugh at the beginning, but there were so many that I was a bit sick of them by the end,
I did love Nurse Ratchet. She was hilarious. I think the Nurse and Rambo put together would make Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory fan over here).

Said so, I look forward to reading more books by TJ Klune.

What a beautiful story!

It’s a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and dystopia and I loved it.

In the world of robots there’s Victor - a human. His father and his friends are robots, they live a peaceful life in a forest… until one day the Authority shows up and turns their lives upside down.

A mystery, horrible past, and even worse future is discovered.

Now Victor, Rambo, Nurse Ratched and Hap need to go on an adventure to rescue Gio, Vic’s father.

I truly liked the characters, it was easy to engage with them and care for them. It was beautiful to see the development. It was also funny, the dialogues made me laugh several times.
The world in the story was interesting, the sci-fi and fantasy authors can use their imagination to the fullest and I’ve enjoyed what was created here.

A fantastic Pinocchio retelling with a queer vibe.

I was enchanted reading it and I can’t wait to get to the other books by this author.

I had never been a fantasy fan until I read the author’s In the Cerulean Sea. Surely this couldn’t be as good. Who knew that puppets could be so warm and loving and human like! The little mismatched family had everything, warmth, humour and even banter and showed that family can be created just as much as through heredity. I absolutely loved it, and when they set out to find the. ‘Dad’ of the family who had been captured I found it SO hard to put down. I’m a definite convert as far as TJ Kline is concerned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC of In The Lives of Puppets.

I was so intrigued by this novel, it's a pinocchio retelling with a sci-fi dystopian style which was an interesting combination.
I loved the queerness of this novel and how exclusive it was.
The writing was brilliantly executed and the whole book was richly described and created.
It was a joy to read this novel and I got swept away with the story.

So it turns out robot found families tug my heart strings just as much as any other.

This is a Pinnochio retelling, in the same way AI was and with very similar vibes. It took my memories back to a childhood favourite film, the Brave Little Toaster. However instead of a toaster, lamp, blanket, radio and hoover.... we have a human raised by a robot (Victor), a very anxious little roomba (Rambo), a sociopathic sassy nurse (Nurse Ratched), and a murder machine with amnesia of sorts (Hap).

Victor and crew are travelling to the City after spending their whole lives in the forrest hidden away. This will make them all question about what they know about being human, knowing yourself and caring for others.

When I say this book made me feel all the feels, there is no word of a lie. I laughed out loud and I also cried.

Thank you to NetGalley, PanMacmillan and Tor for the early copy! I cannot wait to own a physical edition of this book to feel happy whenever I see it there on my shelves - definitely one I would reread to experience again

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees live three robots - fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe. Until, one day, Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android and the family is no longer hidden and safe.
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This is marketed as a retelling of Pinocchio, which I agree with, but I thought it is also heavily influenced by The Wizard of Oz, Blade Runner and even Coraline (which are all good things as far as I'm concerned.)
I adored this; I absolutely fell in love with this little unconventional family. I thought the book was well-paced, kept me hooked through its 430-odd pages and I absolutely flew through it.
As can be expected in a TJ Klune book, the writing is beautiful and lyrical, whimsical in some places and rather dark in others. The imagery and themes of Heaven and the Blue Fairy were intense and sometimes disturbing.
I think this sometimes suffered from a little too much telling, rather than showing, and also relied a little too much on exposition. I would have also loved if the aftermath of a decision taken by Vic would have been explored in more depth, as it was rather monumental.
But I appreciated Klune's exploration of humanity and free will, of second chances and redemption.
I loved all the characters but I adored the mean and sassy (and ever so protective) Nurse Ratched and the excitable little Rambo the Roomba. Their double act and banter stole my heart, they were the true stars of the story and I'll fight anyone who disagrees! 🤣
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A queer retelling of pinocchio - I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was expecting it to be more fantasy than sci-fi based on the authors previous work, however this didn’t make me love it any less.

A rich descriptive fairy tale of the far future, haunting and humorous: In the Lives of Puppets explores the essence of loneliness, friendship, love and humanity. Gio, an innovative creator lives with his son, Victor, in a secluded forest, along with an intelligent automated cleaning robot Rambo, and a sociopathic medical robot called Nurse Ratched. Their isolated existence is challenged when they find and fix a powerful and angry robot called Hap.

As our understanding of Gio and Victor’s origins evolves, questions over what makes us form friendships and family groups arise, the importance of sacrifice, the nature of unconditional love, and the role of forgiveness.

Each of the main characters have their own foibles and features, and the dialogue is sometimes laugh out loud funny, particularly Nurse Ratched. The humour sweetens more troubling speculation over the logical outcome of autonomous AI, and how programming evolves into consciousness and conscience.

The story deliberately skates over any detailed history, instead exploring the world through the experiences of the characters. This leaves many questions unanswered, and may frustrate some readers. However, the brilliant imagery and poignant exchanges mean this book will stay with you well beyond its reading. Haunting and humorous.

3,5⭐️
A dystopian sci-fi retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio with reversed situation. Instead of a puppet boy living in human world, it’s a human boy living in the world ruled by machines.

There’s a band of misfits living in the forest: A creator android as the father figure, a boy, a nurse machine, a vacuum robot, and the last addition of the member: a mysterious android called Hysterically Angry Puppet.

There’s some trace of the original plot but it’s adapted and given new flavors. Overall its so heartwarming and fun, but something about the writing was off for me and idk why the jokes should be sensual sometimes. The ending made me weep so that’s that

TJK books are full of fairy dust and magic; I can never get enough of them.

In The Lives of Puppets has to be TJ Klune's most human book as of yet. While his books always have dealt with how to live fully, Puppets asks what it means to live as a human. The emotions, the nagging thoughts, the anxieties and the head vs heart debates we have so often.

I have always loved how much heart and emotion Klune manages to pack into his books. His books are always so human, and it's part of the reason why they work so well as "cosy feel good stories". They tackle the ugly parts of humanity and tell the reader that it's okay, there are ways you can be better, ways you can still be kind in a world that tries to destroy every good thing ever.

In The Lives of Puppets is an amalgamation of humanity and what it means. It emphasizes the importance of being kind. Just kind. Giving each other the space to grow and make mistakes; acknowledging those mistakes and choosing to do better despite everything. Klune manages to balance the fine line between twee and comfy. The importance of second chances and free will. Having the free will to make choices that help others when it would be easier to hurt them. I also love the continuous-running theme of the importance of art and music that is ever present in his books. Klune's characters will often find themselves really considering their humanity while listening to some blues, or dancing to some jazz. As I write this review, I have Cheek to Cheek playing in the background because reading Klune's books really feels like one is in Heaven.

While Puppets might be darker than The House in the Cerulean Sea and more adult than Under the Whispering Door, it still has its own distinctive voice. Klune has clearly proved that he isn't a one-trick pony, and is capable of building intricate worlds and lovable characters while still retaining that damned humanness that sets his work apart. I do feel like the first half was tighter, and I kind of lost myself in the middle, but it all comes around beautifully by the end. There are a lot of thematic and narrative parallels to Pinocchio, but it's the best kind of "retelling" where it manages to stand on its own two feet without having to rely too much on the source. I loved the resonances with Pinocchio tbh. Gepetto had always been my favourite in the story, and to nobody's surprise, Giovanni was my favourite in this book (though Nurse Ratched) was a close second.

Emotional and magical, In The Lives of Puppets is a beautiful story of love and kindness. TJ Klune has done it again folks! The book comes out 28/04/2023.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

A Pinocchio retelling where Pinocchio is the only real boy with a homicidal nurse robot and an anxiety ridden hoover as his only friends?

I adored this book, from the writing to the plot/retelling and especially the characters. This is hands down one of the best found family stories I’ve ever read. I laughed the whole way through at the dynamic between Victor, Nurse Ratched and Rambo. It was very dialogue heavy but it worked and even though a lot of the dialogue wasn’t needed, it was always comical.

I laughed but I also cried. This was just such a well done story. I connected with every character and I loved them at the end.

This is such a feel good, funny and cosy story and it was my first TJ Klune book but it certainly won’t be my last.

Who knew, that a tale of the last remaining human on earth, living amongst robots would be so darn cute! TJ Klune once again, perfects that found family trope - I absolutely adored reading about the adventures of this bunch of misfits! Inspired by Pinocchio but with a plot entirely of it's own, In the Lives of Puppets was a true delight from start to finish.

Fun, feel-good and full of his usual warmth and wonderful wisdom, boy has Klune outdone himself this time! Gio, Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Hap were an absolute joy to spend my time with - from the cosiness of their forest home, to their mishaps and mayhem, I was hooked from the very beginning. I love, love, loved it! I hope TJ KLune never stops writing stories. ❤️🤖

TJ Klune has done it again with "In the Lives of Puppets," a novel that combines sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure into a heartwarming story about love, family, and the power of choice. The characters are richly drawn, with each one bringing their own unique personality and backstory to the table. From Giovanni, the loving but eccentric father figure, to Victor, the brave and resourceful hero, to HAP, the mysterious and conflicted android, each character adds depth and nuance to the story.

The world-building in this book is top-notch, with vivid descriptions of a future world where robots and humans coexist, and where technology has advanced to the point of creating sentient beings. The themes explored in the book, such as the nature of consciousness, free will, and the meaning of family, are both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

But what really sets this book apart is the way it blends humor and heart. The banter between the characters is witty and sharp, and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book. But at its core, "In the Lives of Puppets" is a story about love and sacrifice, about the lengths we will go to protect those we care about.

Overall, this piece of work is beautifully written in a way that is engaging, thought-provoking which that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Highly recommended for fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and stories about the power of love and family.

Within this brand new Klune book, readers are taken on a fantastic sci-fi adventure filled with mind-bending world-building and perfectly crafted characters. The story follows Giovanni Lawson, who builds a house in the branches of a grove of trees and creates two robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo, who are both lovable in their own ways. One day, a couple appears out of nowhere with a baby wrapped in rags, leaving him in Giovanni's care. Giovanni raises the child as his own, and they name him Victor.

As Victor grows older, he enjoys repairing robots and one day, he fixes a strange android named HAP. Little does he know that HAP shares a dark past with Giovanni and has a secret mission to alert other robots about his hiding place. This mission destroys the small family and peaceful life they had built in the woods, and Victor must now save his father and confront his feelings about HAP.

The story is a lovely combination of Swiss Robinson family meets Wall-E with Pinocchio vibes, and readers will be impressed by the quirky, fascinating journey of family and love. The world-building is complex and well-crafted, and the dynamics and smart banters between characters are enjoyable to read. Even though the story is inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, it's very much its own story, and readers who are not fans of the classic will still enjoy it. The book offers adventure, romance, diverse representation, fantasy, sci-fi, and a little bit of inspiration from the classics.

In the Lives of Puppets is a riveting, heartwarming story that is filled with hope, humor, and heart. TJ Klune's writing is insightful and thought-provoking, and the characters are memorable. Even readers who are not fans of fantasy and sci-fi will appreciate this book, and it's definitely worth a read. I can't wait to re-read this again in a few decades

"In the Lives of Puppets" is a charming and engaging fantasy novel that will appeal to readers of all ages who enjoy stories about magic and imagination. Throughout the novel, Klune uses puppets as a metaphor for the human condition, exploring themes such as identity, free will, and the power of storytelling. The story is both whimsical and profound, with moments of humour and pathos.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, and no significant gaps between words. Some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I love TJ Klune's ability to create such great characters, and lovely relationships and interactions. I love that he takes the time to flesh these out without rushing for the sake of the story and once again he delivers with this loose retelling of Pinochio. I loved Part 1 & 3 where the focus is on these relationships however felt that Part 2 where the primary action happens was slightly forced to conform to the original fairy-tale and jarred some what.
Regardless I still found myself unable to put this book down and would happily recommend.

This book is a charming quest narrative set in a world where robots have attempted to wipe humans out.

'In the Lives of Puppets' is described as a Pinocchio retelling, but this is quite a loose description. Pinocchio motifs are used - ie the Blue Fairy, the fox and the cat, the Terrible Dogfish/whale - and some of the rescue mission structure is used, but the central moralising about a little puppet who won't be good is decidedly absent.

Instead we have a story about robots and a human deciding what kind of people they want to be, and sometimes reconciling that with who they were before. Mostly it's a story about friendship, love and family. The cast is small and distinct - in particular the supporting robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo the Roomba, seem like an attempt at quotable comic relief at first, but as the book progresses they increasingly feel like fully-fleshed characters.

For a book set in a 'kill all humans' style world, this is a surprisingly gentle book. There is peril and bloodshed, but it isn't a gory or violent read. Instead, it's frequently tender, and the romance is tentative and vulnerable. You could probably call this very soft science fiction, although the fable style and the quest format make it more of a fantasy hybrid. The storyline doesn't really deliver any surprises but I enjoyed reading about the characters and I'm sure the book will do well.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

. A queer retelling of pinocchio with sci-fi and fantasy elements - a great heartwarming read! I loved the characters and the adventures. The world building was also great. I would definitely recommend this to a lot of people especially if you enjoyed this author’s previous books