Member Reviews

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune in exchange for an honest review.

This is a re-release of one of TJ Klune's earlier books, one that I had not read before. Told in TJ Klune's now familiar writing style, we follow a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader, her protector Alex and Nate who accidentally becomes their friend. This is a book about love, friendship, grief and loss but ultimately found family, family that can be found in the most unlikeliest of circumstances. It is packed with action, humour and drama- but don't forget the bacon!  4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune is an absolutely breathtaking story—heartfelt, thrilling, and deeply human. From the very first page, I was drawn into Nate’s journey, a man at rock bottom who stumbles upon something extraordinary: Alex, a mysterious stranger, and Artemis Darth Vader, a little girl unlike any other.

The bond that forms between these three is beautifully written, full of warmth, vulnerability, and quiet moments of connection. Klune masterfully balances the emotional depth of the story with gripping suspense, as powerful forces close in on Art, making their journey both urgent and deeply personal.

The writing is immersive, the characters are unforgettable, and the themes of love, found family, and sacrifice linger long after the final page. This book is an emotional rollercoaster in the best possible way—moving, hopeful, and utterly spellbinding. I loved every moment.

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I feel like I really need time to get to explain how much I liked this book, it’s just that TJ Klune’s books are always so enjoyable and nostalgic and just so perfect. I have no more words, just know that I loved it.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley.

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T J Klune is one of my favorite authors. This book will not be one of my favorites of his, yet that doesnt mean that it was bad. the book has this "wierd" Klune charme that i appreciate and Kirt Graves does a marvellous job in bringing the characters and the story to live.

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I mean, it's no surprise that it's a great book, loved it as much as the author's other books and will be buying a copy for my shelves. An easy 5 strar.

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If T J Klune writes it I will read it, no questions asked.

This did not disappoint, I got the same feeling as I did The house in the cerulean sea. A book full of found family. As always the story is character driven and so immersive that I struggled to put the book down but also forced myself too as I didn’t want it to be over.

I am going to be thinking about these characters for a long time. Loved it.

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There is just something so whimsical and enthralling about a t.j. Klune book and this was truly no exception. I was absolutely captivated from the very beginning and fell in love with Nate, Alex and Artemis along the way.
The found family trope was woven so deeply into this story, with Alex and Art already having become so important to each other it upends their situation when Nate walks into their lives. I loved Artemis, she is so curious and trusting and accepts Nate straight away while Alex is grumpy and cautious and is less willing to let Nate into their circle.
This story was honestly so beautiful and I loved every minute of it. Highly recommend if you like sci-fi, adventure and heartfelt stories.

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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.

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I've not read any of Klune's work before, but I will definitely be reading more in the future. This was such an inventive and original novel, I found myself captivated from the outset. Both the characterisation and the writing style were wonderful, and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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The sci-fi action road trip romance you didn't know you needed in your life! It's another 5-star novel from the ever brilliant T J Klune.

T J Klune has the remarkable talent to write entertaining, deep, quirky, and heartfelt stories in the unique way only he can. He effortlessly gets to the heart of the matter, and in The Bones Beneath My Skin, this is what it truly means to be human.

I loved the three main characters and their relationships in this. Any character called Artemis Darth Vader is obviously going to be awesome. She was simultaneously hilarious and philosophical, and quickly became one of my favourite fictional characters.

I will always read anything T J Klune writes, no matter the genre. I highly recommend that you do too!

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Yet another fantastic and world immersive book from TJ Klune.
I could not put this down and had to know how it ended. The characters all served a purpose and felt like they drove the story rather than the story dictating where their development went. This story took me on a roller coaster of all the emotions I possibly could have felt!
So good I have ordered the sprayed edge hardback to re-read this... and I rarely buy hardbacks

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This book was GLORIOUS

I adore TJ Klune's writing style and this is classic TJ Klune.

I loved all the characters, They were what drove this story forward the most. It is heartbreaking at times, but also paradoxically heartwarming. I reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys well written and complex characters with a good plot.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

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This was such a unique read. I've not read anything like this before, it was like being in a movie, it was so well written. The dialogue was brilliant. This is a book I won't easily forget. I love all Tj Klune books he's a great author.

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TJ Klune has done it again. Another fantastic read that is packed with ideas and strangeness.
Klune can not seem to write a bad book and all are intriguing. he relationship between Alex, Art and Nate is really great and the writing style just keeps you hooked#Another must read from an every growing popular author

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I just love his writing. A real goosebump inducing thriller with brilliantly developed characters. Another excellent read.

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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.

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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.

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So it's 1995, and our guy Nate is having the worst time - parents gone, brother's ghosted him, and he just got kicked from his journalism job in DC. Rock bottom, right? He figures he'll head to his family's old cabin in this tiny Oregon mountain town called Roseland. You know, to clear his head.

But surprise! The cabin's not empty. There's this dude Alex there, and get this - he's got this super weird kid with him who goes by Artemis Darth Vader (yeah, you read that right). But here's the thing - this kid? She's not exactly what you'd call... normal.

Fair warning for Klune fans - while there's romance here, it's not the main focus. Instead, this story dives deep into what makes a family and follows Nate as he works through his past. But don't sweat it - you'll still find all that signature Klune charm and wit, just wrapped up in a more thrilling package this time.

What makes this book special is how Klune tackles some pretty intense stuff with a light touch that never feels dismissive. He's got this knack for balancing the heavy with the hopeful, you know? And while you'll definitely catch those emotional Klune moments we all know and love, this isn't your typical tearjerker. It's somehow manages to be heart-wrenching, uplifting, and absolutely incredible all at once.

The pacing's like a rollercoaster - when the action hits, it's spot on. Sure, things slow down during the road trip scenes, but those quieter moments? That's where the magic happens. That's when you really start to care about these characters. And once things kick into high gear? Hold onto your hat - we're talking helicopter chases, shootouts, and plot twists you won't see coming.

When it's all said and done, The Bones Beneath My Skin is one wild journey. Yeah, the sci-fi elements might take some getting used to, but trust me - stick around. This story about what makes us human is worth every second.

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He could write out a phone book and I would read it!
You can tell it’s one of his older works as his writing style has developed lots! It’s giving me similar time vibes to ‘The Lightning Struck Heart’ (which I also love!). Nate and Alex are great characters and I love Art!
Another great edition to my ever growing Klune collection.

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I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I had to buy a physical copy for my keeper bookshelf. The relationship between Alex, Art and Nate is so well written, and is the perfect example of what makes a family. This is one of those books that you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, but you also want to take your time because you don’t want it to be over.
The ebook version of this book was originally published during the first Trump administration, but it is even more relevant today.

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