Firstly, thank you to TJ Klune, Pan Macmillan/Tor and Netgalley for the eARC and the chance to read this early.

“We’re not alike. Not really. We’re separated by time and space. And yet, somehow, we’re all made out of dust and stars.”

TJ Klune is truly a master of his craft! The Bones Beneath My Skin is quirky and weird in all the best ways.

This is a darker and grittier book than we usually see from Klune and I’m personally all for it. The story pacing is excellent. The slower introduction to the characters with the almost cosy vibe for the first 40% of the book allows you to build an emotional connection to the characters and then in the last 60% the action really ramps up. I was on the edge of my seat and had hard time putting the book down when responsibilities and sleep beckoned!

The romance between Nate and Alex was an angsty slow-burn. There is some minor spice but the romance takes a back seat to the thriller and sci-fi aspects of the story.

My favourite character had to be Artemis Darth Vader. I think everyone will agree she is the heart and soul of the book and I fell in love with her from the first introduction. Her random facts, constant scolding of Alex and her childlike naïveté had me laughing out loud throughout the whole book. The relationship between her and Alex was also too sweet. They had a grumpy/sunshine bond which was so fun to read and had my heart melting.

I don’t want to give too much else away as this is the kind of story you don’t want to know too much about before diving in. However, I will say old and new fans of TJ Klune will undoubtedly fall in love with The Bones Beneath My Skin. It’s a Klune classic of cosy, queer found family with a thriller twist. But ultimately it’s a book about connection and what it really means to be human.

Four stars for this tale of extra terrestrial, high octane action and what it means to be human.
Nate had lost everything, personally and professionally, except for a remote cabin in the woods. When he returns for the first time in years, he encounters an adult male and a little girl and a gun to his head. So why is Nate about to get everything he wants and needs?
This book is grittier and darker than TJ Klune’s other books so don’t pick it up expecting another House in the Cerulean Sea. The writing brilliant and the author still does what he does really well; found family. I can take or leave storylines about UFOs normally but I really liked how Artemis was like a mirror, reflecting all the nuances of what it means to be human. I was invested in the book by the fantastic characters. Who wouldn’t find themselves becoming fond and protective over Artemis? Or in the changing relationship between Nate and Alex and the changes in themselves as people. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the author’s other books, the sci fi genre and books about found family.

Thanks for the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

Another excellent book from one of my favourite authors. TJ Klune has written a brilliant 'found family' story with some great action, some good characters and a satisfying ending. The author's notes was interesting and I agree with him that a sex scene isn't necessary in a romance - or any book. This book would have been fine without the one that there is. The romance between Nate and Alex didn't always ring true - but they were trying times for all of them. Highly recommended and 5 stars. With thanks for the ARC to read and review.

Nate Cartwright is struggling to give his life direction. He has recently lost his job, his parents are dead, and his brother wants nothing to do with him. Nate heads to his newly inherited lake cabin in Oregon to take some time to reflect and come up with a plan for his life. However, when he gets there, he finds the cabin occupied by quiet Alex and a young and an extraordinary girl who goes by the name of Artemis Darth Vader. The two men start to bond over how special she is, but when external forces move in to try and control Art, Nate must decide whether he is willing to fight for her and for a future that he couldn’t have imagined.

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a stellar example of TJ Klune’s ability to write about the small things that connect people to each other. No one writes found family like he does, and it’s through all the small gestures and everyday situations our characters live that we witness them forging a connection and grow attached to them. Considering that this novel contains some spectacular sequences worthy of a Hollywood action blockbuster, it actually read like quiet and unassumingly beautiful story. I didn’t expect it to go where it went, but was enthusiastically along for the entire journey. It was beautiful to see how Nate and Alex come to care for each other, and how both of them put Art at the centre of their world. A touching read that I’d definitely recommend!

Well this wasn’t what I expected, I had in my head it would be similar to the Green Creek series mashed up with The House In the Cerulean Sea, but boy was I wrong.
Loving romance this is not, I spent a good 40% of this book confused as to what was going on like why were these people holding this guy hostage but allowing him just to wander off and drive away in his car just to believe he would come back alone and without the police, it just didn’t make sense.
Then the story picked up when they went on the run. But still a bit weird, I didn’t like the way the flash back scenes happened as I had to re read parts multiple times to make sure as it was like a flashback but current times were happening as well so things didn’t always make sense. Then the ending I didn’t like at all. It felt like the book was this hide build up for it to be over in 2 pages then the way it was described just didn’t fit with the way the rest of the book was told. It took me completely out of the story and confused me more, the same with the epilogue that was a massive fail and honestly I’m still not sure what happened.

A great read! One of my favorite books by TJ Klune. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. I’m totally going to recommend it.

This book has range! It goes from queer found family story with paranormal elements to a full-blown sci-fi mystery thriller and back, and I don't want to say too much about it and spoiler the mystery.

After losing his journalist (NOT reporter) job in dramatic fashion, Nate Cartwright goes to the small cabin he inherited from his estranged parents in the middle of nowhere, Oregon to lick his wounds in solitude. This is made a little difficult by the ex-marine and the 10 year old girl already squatting there. Having met Alex and Art, his life will never be the same...

The first part of this book is relatively slow and at times almost slice-of-life, as our main characters meet and Nate tries to figure out who Alex and Art are and what to do about them. Then, at about the 40% mark, shit hits the fan and the story quickly turns into a sci-fi thriller. The writing is engrossing and the story is heartwarming with little girl Art bringing some much-needed levity. The vibes are very Stranger Things. The only reason I'm not rating it higher is that I never really emotionally connected with the main character all that much. And while I still wanted to know what happened in terms of the mystery/thriller, I just didn't get invested in the found family/romance plot lines. And that's pretty key to this one. I nearly started rooting for the bad guys. Apart from Nate the supposedly intelligent journalist standing around in passive confusion, I really enjoyed this. Art was great fun, Alex really grew on me, and the concept is incredibly interesting and well-executed. I'd recommend going into this one without specific expectations, and just going along for the ride - you'll have a great time!

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with an eARC through Netgalley - all opinions are of course my own.

After hearing so many good opinions about this author I thought I'll give it a try. And as much as I love found family tropes, I just didn't feel it here. The characters were not loveable, the pace was so slow my mind was wandering a lot.

Artemis Darth Vader is EVERYTHING!

Everything I tell you!

This review is going to be so hard to write without spoilers, so I'm going to be vague...and probably a bit gushy!

Nate's life has imploded, so he high tails it off to his parent's cabin to get some perspective. There, he finds a man called Alex and a little girl called Artemis Darth Vader, who have basically broken into his cabin......

This book, this story, was everything. It had everything, a crooked government project, a cult, the hardened protector, small town vibes, found family and love. And Artemis.  Totally loveable Art.

It was weird, it was adorable and it was EVERYTHING (I might have said that before!)

Oh, and I did see mention of Green Creek, woohoo!

Probably my favourite TJ Klune so far. I pretty much loved everything about this story. The only thing that marred it slightly was the graphic sex scene at around 80% through, which I’m learning is almost a signature thing in Klune’s adult fiction. The rest of the story is so heartfelt and gentle that it feels out of place and (imo) a ‘fade to black’ would have fitted the tone of the story better.
Having said that - what a great story. It’s packed with fascinating characters, each with a rich history and distinct personality.
Artemis Darth Vader steals the show, but she has a superb supporting cast.
There’s plenty of action, tension and ALL the feels. You’ll need a box of tissues handy as you get to the end.
💯 recommend, with five stars from me.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Tor for the chance to read an ARC. The Bones Beneath My Skin publishes on 6 February.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

I've given this book which I really loved, 4 stars because of the completely superfluous, unnecessarily graphic sex scene. I'm not a prude and it didn't shock me but I was enjoying a good clean love story and heartwarming tale of friendship and it suddenly intruded and didn't really fit with the feel of the book. Apart from this it is the perfect read, tense, exciting, fast paced and with super characters.

Five stars just isn't enough for The Bones Beneath My Skin. This book is a quiet, heartfelt story that doesn’t scream for attention but gently lures you in never lets go. Which is ridiculous when you think there are literal helicopter chases in it!

TJ Klune has this incredible ability to write intimacy that feels so real it’s almost like you’re intruding on something sacred. What gets me is that the connections between the characters aren’t about grand gestures or sweeping romances, but rather they’re about leaning on each other when the world gets too heavy, sharing moments of silence, and just breathing together. And honestly? That’s the kind of love and closeness I love to read about.

We follow Nate, who has blown up his life and is trying to just get some time to think, heading up to his newly inherited cabin by the lake. Except the cabin isn't exactly empty, instead of finding peace and quiet, he finds Alex—a quiet grump of a man—and his rather odd companion, Artemis Darth Vader. Without giving too much away, the three of them end up on a journey that’s as much about survival as it is about finding connection and purpose. This is science fiction with feelings, with thoughts. It's a little genre-bendy, but such a lovely read.

This book isn’t just a story; it’s a feeling—a quiet, profound exploration of what it means to love and be loved. I can’t recommend it enough.

5*

3⭐️
A thrilling adventure following an extraordinary girl and two men forming a familial bond. This book was beautifully written, with endearing and well-developed characters. TJ Klune delivered another cozy read balancing heart, humor and tension.
I really enjoyed the suspenseful action-packed plot, it kept me on the edge of my seat. However, as the story progressed and turns were happening too fast, I struggled to stay invested.
Also I was not completely convinced by the romantic connection between Alex and Nate. I liked them individually but when together they lacked that special spark in my opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

3.5-4 stars

I am grateful all the time for the books I get sent frrom authors and publishers, but every so often you get one that changes your reading life (yes, I'm that dramatic). I hadn't read any of Klune's books before I was sent a copy of Under the Whispering Door and it was an unbelievably perfect book. And since then, whilst I've enjoyed some more than others, his books haven't failed me. His book In the Lives of Puppets made it onto my favourite books of 2023 list, it was so beautiful, and so I was excited to receive a copy of this latest one.

I always find his books are more than 'just' books. Yes, they're a piece of entertainment but they're so much deeper than that. This is about humanity in all its ugliness but also in its beauty, about not being alone - in terms of the universe and within a family unit, be it made of blood or a family you choose.

What I will say, just before I get into this, is that it's almost a review of two books - you'll see why.

It didn't grab me initially. I'm used to his whimsical fantasy stories, and at first, this wasn't that. It serious, all about grief and loss and loneliness; I wasn't getting that magic I'm used to.

When I read a review book, I write notes down as I read it to make writing the review easier. When I got to about 30%, I looked at my notes and all I'd written was that it wasn't for me. It felt slow, boring; the characters were very 2D, and I kept waiting for something to happen, but not in the same way that a thriller keeps me on the edge of my seat.

But then it got to about 40% and it kicked off. It definitely gets better as it went along, and by the ending I was crying, it was gorgeous. It just took a while to get there.

In my personal opinion, I felt like it didn't know what it was - sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action, thriller - it was too much but at the same time, not nearly enough. It didn't settle on any one thing and so it felt a bit disjointed to begin with.

I always knew there would be a romantic element, as there always is, and I look forward to that. There's not many authors I've read that can capture the falling in love stage as well as he does, but the partnership in this felt a bit forced. I mean, it did work in the end and I was happy about it, but it just felt forced rather than it happening naturally.

I was conflicted about the three main characters. For the first part I felt that Nate was a bit of a wet weekend, didn't stand up for himself and I didn't like him that much. I couldn't figure Alex out, he was brooding and threatening but it felt a bit false - but as the book went on he became my favourite character. And then we have Artemis, she's our only link to the sci-fi element to begin with. At times I found her sweet and at others very annoying, a bit overplayed. But in the end I didn't mind that because it worked in context.

But once shit hit the fan - about 40% through, I very much enjoyed it. It started going at 100mph and didn't stop, which I enjoyed much more. From about halfway, it was the Klune I was expecting. My concern is, I know how much I love his writing and so I knew there was more to come; but if someone hasn't read his work before and only had this book to go on, I worry that they may give up before they get to the faster-action bits.

I will still say that I was underwhelmed as a whole. I love his work and will continue to love his work. I did enjoy this, I just wish the first 30% was more like the last 70%, then I would have loved it frrom the start.

I generally don't do star ratings, and I'm glad because with this one...if I took the first part then we'd be looking at 2-3 stars, but the second part is easily a 4-5 stars. So I would say to persevere with it because it is definitely worth it by the end.

Before we begin, if I could recommend anything it would be to go into this blind and just enjoy it for what it is. Because it's certainly an experience.

TJ Klune's books can be hit or miss for me. I absolutely devoured 'In the Lives of Puppets' because it was just THAT good, yet struggled profusely to get through 'Wolfsong'.
This one is a little odd, as I'm not sure where it falls on the scale of likeability. I mean, I liked it a lot, but it's so unlike my usual genre preferences that it genuinely surprises me.
And yet the writing was so snappy, the dialogue so brilliant, and the characters so quirky, that I just couldn't stop reading.

I also don't really read thrillers, mainly because my life is stressful enough as it is, but honestly, the promise of a Stranger Things-esque story had me a little intrigued.

We first meet Nate, a single man working in journalism who has just had the misfortune of losing his parents. His inheritance? An old truck with some bad memories and a desolate cabin in the middle of nowheresville.
Deciding now was the time to take an impromptu break and spend some time up at the cabin, he makes the trip there but is confused, shocked and angered to find the cabin is inhabited... by two strange individuals, one a grown man in his 40s, and the other a young girl who seems to be around ten years old, who now have him held at gunpoint demanding who he is and why he's there.

Who were these strange people? Who were they running from? What did they want from him?
And more importantly, why did it seem like there was something a little different about them...?

This is certainly very character driven, and I really came to love and care for our main trio. Art was an absolute joy, and I loved her snappy quips and eccentric personality. It took time for me to soften to Alex but eventually I realised I cared a lot about the outcome of the lives of these characters. In T.J Klune fashion of course, there's some LGBTQ+ character representation too.

I'd say the term thriller is kind of a loose one, it feels like the suspense basically kicks off slowly and then crescendos gradually. This is more of a found family adventure with a dashing of suspense and the occasional action sequence. Or maybe I've not read enough thrillers to determine what constitutes as one 😂 I wouldn't say I felt particularly on edge but, it did make me feel unsettled occasionally.

However, I think TJ Klune excels where it comes to writing a captivating story, which is certainly why I was drawn into this and intrigued enough to carry on reading. A mystery at the core of it, this is certainly a book that will keep you intrigued and compelled, and I highly recommend it for fans of TJ Klune's other books and mystery thrillers with a supernatural edge...

I just adore these books by TJ Klune,, so wonderfully whimsical, but very emotional at parts.
I hope he keeps writing more!

I can’t think of a book that TJ Klune has written that and I haven’t loved and The Bones Beneath My Skin is no exception! As soon as I heard that Pan MacMillan and Tor were planning to publish it, I was full on hunting to get my hands on it…I’m a sucker for what some would disparagingly call weird, which I see and feel to be life affirming, resoundingly human, romantic and truly what I believe we are here for, family, love and the freedom to live and experience joy.

Nate Cartwright's life has totally imploded, estranged from his only family (his brother,) after the tragic loss of his parents, his career is in tatters, he heads to the only thing he has left in the world, a remote cabin in the wilderness. His return to the cabin is not the solitary experience he was expecting though, as he finds Alex, an older military type there accompanied by a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. From this point on Nate’s life is forever and irrevocably changed.

I was really impressed with how Klune takes on science fiction and immerses it within strong themes of found family, and facing into the headwinds of challenge and change. Plus there are some pretty wild action scenes that were truly at Die Hard standard!

I absolutely adored Artemis’ character throughout the story, the sheer delight of her joy in learning and discovery of human nature and humanity were truly uplifting, and most definitely brought a whole new perspective. And of course there’s a lot of bacon!

The romance in this book is a pure delight, the grumpy x sunshine romance between Nate and Alex develops organically without being overblown, and illustrates that sex does not need to be at the forefront of every budding romance. If anything the lack of multiple sex scenes brought greater depth and sensitivity to their relationship that I adored.

I know there are going to be some out there who won’t appreciate this book for what it is but, si don’t care. Once again Klune delivers a story that truly touched my heart and for that I am very grateful. Now get out there and pre-order a copy - my order is in and I can’t wait to get my hands on the finished edition.

Thank you so much Pan MacMillan, Bookbreak UK, Tor and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and genuine review.

I finished this book with tears running down my face it was just such a beautiful and perfect read and it will be always one of my favourite books of all time.
I’m not going to say much about the story as it’s better to just pick up the book and read it with no preconceived ideas about what to expect just as I did I think as it’s the most stunningly written story I have read and I wouldn’t change anything about it.
We have love, humour,fabulous characters and an exciting plot that I never quite knew what to expect next and I so didn’t want it to end so please don’t miss it .
Artemis Darth Vader I fell in love with you and even though I’m vegetarian I would cook you bacon anytime!!
So a more than 5 stars read for me and a massive thanks to TJ Klune for an amazing read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan, Tor for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

In the year of 1995 Nate Cartwright's life is imploding,: his parents have died tragically his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job. The only thing he has left is a cabin and truck left to him in a will, with nothing left to lose, he journeys to find the cabin not as he expected. Inside is a stoic man named Alex and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader, life as he knows it will change forever.

As a fan of TJ Klune I was looking forward to delving into this one but was dubious as to how much I would actually like it seeing as science fiction isn't my usual genre of choice and was thoroughly surprised to learn I loved it, The author managed to bring all the usual aspects of his writing I enjoy and dial it up higher with a science fiction/ suspenseful twist and incredible action sequences.

Klune created one of the most beautiful found family plots with these 3 main characters, the witty banter between them kept the book high spirited when the themes could be somewhat dark, and how Art was portrayed as a person constantly learning something new while the other two characters learned from her childlike perspective was breath-taking and something that more people should take into their real day to day lives, because we can all learn from the innocence and wounder of a child learning something new. Plus I always appreciate a character that loves bacon so much

The book was intellectually beautiful, the authors writing style is so unique and it's always a pleasure to read it, his LGBTQIA+ representation is perfect and the slow burn grumpy x sunshine romance between Alex and Nate was a dream. The action sequences while different for this author where non the less mind blowing and I could easily see this being adapted onto the big screen.,

I always feel like I learn something new reading Klunes books and look forward to seeing more people's reactions to the book on it's release, he deserves all the love