I adored this book, I knew I would as I love TJ Klune. Like all the other books by this author it 100% had my heart.

This novel is a blend of heart-breaking and heart-warming unique to TJ Klunes books. It’s an action-filled thriller that is engaging and hard to put down. It will make you laugh and cry, possibly at the same time.

If you’re a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea, there’s a chance you will love this novel as well. It’s more action-packed but has a remarkable child and found family trope at its centre. Artemis Darth Vader, or Art, looks at the world from a unique perspective, and many of her observations are hilarious or frank but also refreshing. The plot explores themes of love, friendship, and what it means to be human.

I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys found family trope.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Bones Beneath My Skin
TJ Klune

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

So, I'm definitely quite a way behind everyone else in the TJ Klune obsession - I've only read a couple of books so far - but I have most definitely jumped on board and totally fallen in love!

This book, once again, had me lost for words.
I was hooked from the very first few pages and literally could not put this down until I knew what on earth was going on.
And even when things became clearer - I was so far gone, I just couldn't stop myself.

It's quite rare that I completely fall in love with characters but somehow, Klune writes with such finesse that I become invested pretty instantly.
Nate was an instant connection. His backstory and reason for heading to the cabin, just gave me all the feels.
Despite the initial mystery surrounding Alex and Art, again, there was just something there that had me and the more the story developed the more invested I became.

I loved the dynamics that kept flipping between Alex and Art in the beginning and then slowly seeing the connections between them.
As Nate becomes more integrated, watching the relationships bond and grow was just everything!

There was so much going on through this book and I loved every second - what an emotional rollercoaster it was.
The writing sucks you in and holds you there - I literally felt everything - good and bad - and I cried tears of sadness and joy - sometimes simultaneously!!
Not many authors can do that to me!

The storyline and flow was perfection and the writing just so beautiful - I wanted to read it all over again the second I'd finished the last page!

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm not a huge fantasy reader and never tend to gravitate towards it - but this author....a definite auto-buy for me from now on!

Absolutely loved this beyond words and can't wait to dive into the next one.....



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

A wonderfully unique and quirky tale of found family, set in a small mountain town, which delivers some of the heartfelt emotional pull, which TJ Klune so skillfully masters.

Nate Cartwright, a loner, no real contact with any family he has left and recently fired from his job encounters a man called Alex and a rather extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.

The choices and decisions Nate makes next, change their lives completely.

The narration of this book was superb and I really enjoyed this beautifully written story of human behaviour, love, hope and family with a sci-fi edge.

Although I didn't think it quite had the emotional depth of some of his previous work, this was an absolute delight and I would most definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the audiobook arc.

This was my first taste of Klune, and it was solid. I don’t really have a whole lot to say about it: I thought the whole alien situation was interesting, the story was poignant and the found-family feels were touching. There was some stuff I didn’t get along with so much but I still enjoyed myself.

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. The narrator Kirt Graves did a good job keeping up with the action.

If you like Stranger things, you’ll love this! After the death if his estranged parents and a work, love scandal Nate make his was to his newly inherited cabin. He wants to be alone. When he gets there he find Alex and Art hiding in his cabin and soon switches from their hostage to their accomplice. He finds the family he has longed for but not is as it seems and Nate makes the descent that love trumps the unexplained. Enjoyable story, I wouldn’t necessarily say it was an original idea but fun and sweet to read. The audio was good, easy to listen to. I did find the narrators attempt at a Childs voice a little irritating but not enough to stop me listening.

A 10 year old girl with Impossible powers and her protector who will do whatever it takes to get her home.
Nate grieving this loss of his parents goes to their cabin to get his life together but when he gets there he finds he has unwelcome guests that are about to turn his whole world upside down.
This book !! 😍 TJ Klune does it again another amazing heartbreaking and heartwarming story with such loveable characters. I will always read anything TJ Klune writes. I can't recommend his books enough or give reviews that do justice to how brilliant his writing is.
I listened to this on audio and as always with TJ Klune books the audio was amazing 😍
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio and T J Klune for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had the pleasure of receiving an arc of The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune and I am so happy that I did as I think I have just read my favourite book of 2025. Thank you to publishing and NetGalley for this amazing read.

“There is nothing more human than a broken heart”
Nate returns to his old family cabin after losing everything, his hope was to find purpose or to wallow alone in his empty cabin. Only his Cabin wasn’t empty, inside is a a gruff Man named Alex and a far from ordinary 10 year old who goes by the name Artemis Darth Vader. Nate will soon realise there is more to life than he thought and life and the people in it are worth fighting for.

I will be thinking about Nate, Alex and Artemis Darth Vader for a very long time. This book has the best found family and a story that had me gripped from the first page. And like every T.J Klune book i have gotten around to reading I cried, I laughed and loved every minute of it.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan and black crow pr for giving me an early arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An action-packed supernatural road trip featuring an extraordinary young girl and her two unlikely
protectors on the run; a gripping, heartfelt story that explores what it means to be human

Another amazing heartfelt story from the amazing TJ Klune. I’m a huge fan of their books and they have been an auto buy author for me for years!

The found family in this was so lovely to read and it was amazing to see our characters grow closer together throughout the story. The romance as always was amazingly done and the love I feel towards these characters is second to none! TJ Klune just has a way with making me fall in love with his male characters and their romances 🥰

I will never understand how TJ Klunes brain works but I LOVE the stories he creates and how imaginative his stories are. They are so easy to read and easy to get lost in. I was so hooked from beginning to end, I just couldn’t put it down!

If you loved house in the cerulean sea you’ll definitely love this heartwarming story, with the same vibes such as found family, LGBTQ+ relationships and as always magically children.

Also thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have the audiobook early! The narrator Kirt Graves was amazing and tells the story so well and really brings the characters alive and made my reading experience!

Thank you again black crow pr and pan macmillian for this opportunity

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune and narrated by: Kirt Graves was one audiobook that will stick with me for a long time, it just took my breath away. The way this author writes is so magical and such a powerful book especially as I had to reach for my tissues. Just beautiful from start to finish.

Set in the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright, has lost everything, he is a man weighed down by grief and loss. With the death of his parents, and his older brother wants nothing to do with him and now he has been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. Nate's life is at a standstill with nothing to loose he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction.
When he reaches the cabin it should be empty. It's not. Inside is a man called Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears.

Nate must make a big choice:

does he let himself drown in the memories of his past,
or
Does he fight for a future he never thought possible. Because this girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.

What ever make decisions he will make, will alter his life forever.

WoW, this book was ExCeLlEnT. . . . . . .

The narrator Kirt Graves was superb.

I highly recommend this audiobook/book. It was so magical.

This is the first of TJ Klune’s books I’ve read and I will definitely be reading more.
It’s absolutely not the sort of thing I would usually pick up, but wow, if it didn’t have me in a chokehold?! I finished it in a couple of days because I just couldn’t leave it alone, I had to know what happened to Nate and Alex and Art!
It’s so cleverly written, so immersive and I just fell in love with these characters. It felt a lot like experiencing a film while you’re watching it - but somehow more immersive? I was literally holding my breath at several points!
The narration was absolutely incredible; I felt like I could picture every character as they appeared and the story was absolutely enhanced by the incredible acting.
I’d highly recommend this book, it’s clever and heart-wrenching and poignant from start to finish.

This was slightly different to the other books I've read/listened to by T J Klune. But I still really enjoyed it.
I do enjoy stories where one of the characters is learning, and Art brings the comedy especially with the books she enjoys reading. There was also elements about healing, and found family.

Narrator Kirt Graves, changed his voice for the various characters so you knew who was talking or thinking making it easy to follow.

T J Klune has become a instant want to read author.

First I would like to say thanks to Netgalley for giving me early access to this book prior to release. All opinions on the book are my own. This is one of my most anticipated 2025 releases as T. J. Klune is one of my auto buy authors and this one didn't disappoint.

This story follows Nate as he packs up his life to live in the family cabin, left to him by his parents, which should have been empty, only to be met with a man called Alex and a 10 year old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. But everything isn't as it appears but it becomes clear to Nate that he will have to make a choice - drown in the memories of the past or fight for the future he never thought was possible.

As someone born in the 90's I loved the nostalgia this book brought, with the hype of a stranger things type thriller. The main thing I love from Klune's stories is the dynamic found families that just give you the warmest fuzziest feelings. The only downside is I do feel like this story lacked the character development, we never really found out that much about Alex and his past or where Artemis really came from because we were in the head of Nate and only really found out the information when he did.

This is a romance novel within a Sci-fi thriller and I think that didn’t really help me to get on board with their relationship as I didn’t really care all that much as I wanted to know what was going to happen next as, the romance always happened at the most inappropriate of times! But it added to the story somewhat, Its just something to take on board if you are looking for a romance this comes second.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, the audiobook is well narrated and helped to immerse me into the world. To be honest I think Artemis Darth Vader will stick with me for a while. Solid 4 Stars

A Heartfelt and Gripping Journey of Found Family – 5 Stars!

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune is nothing short of a masterpiece, and listening to the audiobook version made the experience even more immersive. Narrated by two incredible voices, this story of loss, redemption, and found family had me utterly captivated from start to finish.

The novel opens in 1995 with Nate Cartwright, a man who's lost everything – his family, his career, and his sense of purpose. Desperate for a fresh start, he returns to his family’s summer cabin in Roseland, Oregon, hoping to find solace. But what he finds instead is an unexpected and life-altering encounter with Alex and the extraordinary Artemis Darth Vader.

The narrator’s delivery of Nate’s internal struggles, his pain, and his search for meaning was so raw and authentic that I could feel every ounce of his turmoil. The performances of the narrators bring this emotional depth to life, making it impossible not to get swept up in Nate’s journey. I was taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, from the heartache of his past to the hope he discovers with this quirky, unexpected family.

What makes The Bones Beneath My Skin truly unforgettable is the way TJ Klune explores the themes of belonging and redemption. The characters are beautifully written, and the bond that develops between Nate, Alex, and Artemis is both heartwarming and profound. The extraordinary nature of Artemis adds an element of mystery and suspense, with forces beyond their control closing in. The story keeps you on edge, and the tension builds seamlessly, making it a true page-turner.

The combination of powerful narration and Klune’s poignant writing made for an audiobook experience that I found hard to pause. The descriptions of the small town and the characters’ interactions felt so vivid, I could almost picture myself right there with them. The sense of isolation Nate feels and the warmth that slowly begins to envelop him through his relationships was truly moving.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be human, to find family when you least expect it, and to fight for the future you never thought you’d have. The way Klune weaves humour, hope, and heartache into this story is nothing short of magic.

If you're a fan of heartfelt stories, unforgettable characters, and gripping mysteries, then this is a book you won’t want to miss. The audiobook is a perfect way to experience this stunning journey. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Five stars all the way.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an alc of this title.
This story follows an unlikely trio, in a wild situation. With some twists and turns I never expected. Having only read House in the Cerulean Sea I went in expecting cute and sweet..... this is not that! This has the characters you root for like in The House in the Cerulean Sea but it has more vibes like The Starless Sea and The Passage Trilogy. The sci fi elements were top notch but in a very accessible way. This would be ideal for readers that - are new to, or don't usually read sci fi; have enjoyed this authors writing before; enjoy a well blended sci fi romance. My final rating is 4.5 stars just because there were stream of consciousness sections that I had to really stop what I was doing to just listen to listen more carefully. I am looking forward to getting a physical copy of this after it is released to immerse myself in this story again.

I loved this book! A totally different take on time travel, reversing the usual storylines. The story follows through well, the characters develop as the story unfolds with so many twists and turns. The narrator is actually quite good although I wasn't sure to start with. His vocalisation of the different characters is slight but instantly recognisable. I would thoroughly recommend and will be looking out for more titles by this author. A really good listen.

As a huge fan of TJ Klune's audiobooks I was very excited to see this reissue of one of his older novels with a new audiobook narrated by one of the best Klune narrators - Kirt Graves.

Everything that I love about Klune's work is present in some form here - phenomenal narration, found family, quirky humour, queer romance and loveable characters. But what was missing for me was a sense of heart at the core of the story. Despite Kirt Graves narration I just couldn't get invested in the story or the characters and felt the romance was a little lacking especially in comparison to what we saw in Under the Whispering Door. I was also spoilt with In The Lives of Puppets which was a standout five star and I feel that the sci-fi elements were more effective in that story.

One that I think will grow on me in future but in comparison to his most recent new releases it is definitely lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the audio review copy of "The Bones Beneath My Skin" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the ARC of this audiobook 🎧!

3.25 stars 🌟

A very interesting book from TJ Klune that felt like a sort of hybrid of some of his more warm and fuzzy work (HOTCS and UTWD) and some of his more dark/mature work (Wolfsong series). Perhaps it’s because I’m familiar with his other work and enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t quite get comfy in this story…

The sci-fi 👽 element was a vibe—I did like the plot and really liked the found family element (true TJ style!!). Artemis was of course the star of the show. But I really wanted more chemistry and romance development between Alex and Nate (it felt lacking compared to other work)… I guess I do appreciate that maybe romance was just more of a subplot here. The pacing was good and the ending was solid. The explicit intimate scene felt a little unnecessary/out of place to me in this book (I’m sorry!!).

In terms of the audio narration, Kirt Graves did an awesome job. He always does! ❣️

Overall I enjoyed it, but it may be disadvantaged from me having enjoyed TJ’s other work so much!

I loved art what a quirky character I think I would have preferred to read the book though I struggled to pay attention to what was happening via audiobook as I found the narrators voice a bit monotone, but I appreciate that is my personal preference

You may see "Klune" on the cover, but beyond acknowledging that that means with 99% certainty that it'll be a good book, throw out all expectations. Is it good? Yes. Is it what I expected? No (and I go in with very few preconceived ideas when it comes to Klune). Would I have guessed it was Klune had I not known? Probably not.. So whilst I definitely recommend it, this is Klune like you've not seen before (for better or worse).

The world-building was (as ever when it comes to Klune) exceptionally well-done, proving both evocative and imaginative. When done right, it's definitely something that's easy to take for granted, but had it not been done so well, this book would have been a lot less enjoyable and effective. Sure, it's not the most different to reality Klune's ever gone - far from it - but with the serious tone (and because of it's similarity to the everyday setting) it was essential to get it right in this one, which he does.

Yet, I felt the usual depth and exceptional quality of the inter-character relationships was lacking, leaving me unconvinced by the romance and let down by how weak the resultant found family moments felt. However, it was gripping and an incredibly moreish read (which I'll admit was definitely enabled by some great audiobook narration that really helped bring the characters to life, especially Artemis).