In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

***My Review ***

In his latest book In the Lives of Puppets, TJ Klune has crafted a poignant and imaginative tale that explores the meaning of being human and the importance of love and friendship. The story follows the lives of an unusual family, made up of three robots, an android inventor named Giovanni Lawson, a nurse machine, and a vacuum cleaner, and a human boy named Victor, who live in a hidden home in a forest. When Victor salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android called HAP, he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio, a past spent hunting humans.

The heart of the story lies in the family’s journey to rescue Gio from being decommissioned and reprogrammed in the City of Electric Dreams. The journey takes them across an unforgiving and otherworldly country, where they face danger at every turn. Along the way, they must confront their feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, who unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, which puts the family in danger.

One of the things that stands out in this book is the way Klune creates the characters. They are endearing and strangely relatable, despite their robotic and human nature. The banter and dynamics between the characters are also intriguing, making them fascinating to watch. Klune’s skill in crafting characters is evident in his previous works, and he does not disappoint in this latest offering.

However, the plot is not as engaging as one might expect, and the book is too long, with an excess of dialogue. Nurse Ratched’s references at times can be cringe-worthy, but this is the author’s intention. The pacing of the book is off, with nothing much happening with the plot at times, making it a tad tedious. The dystopian aspect also feels underdeveloped, and the wrap-up is unsatisfactory.

While the romance aspect of this book may be confusing and difficult to fully embrace, the themes of love and friendship that permeate the story are truly at the heart of this tale. The relationship between the two main characters, Victor and HAP, is definitely unusual and at times, unsettling. HAP’s constant monitoring of Victor’s movements can feel invasive, and it can be challenging to believe that such behavior could lead to a genuine romantic connection.



However, despite the initial strangeness of their dynamic, the author does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of love and connection in a world where traditional human relationships have been replaced by AI. Through their interactions and experiences, Victor and HAP navigate the delicate balance between autonomy and connection, and ultimately discover a deep and meaningful bond that transcends the limitations of their robotic existence.

Furthermore, the exploration of the theme of friendship is also a noteworthy aspect of this book. As Victor embarks on his adventure and encounters a variety of new and intriguing characters, he discovers the power of true friendship and the importance of forming connections with others in order to survive and thrive in a post-human world.

Unquestionably, while the romantic aspect of this book may be challenging to fully embrace, the themes of love and friendship that are central to the story make it a unique and thought-provoking read. The author’s exploration of these themes in the context of a world dominated by AI offers a fresh and intriguing perspective on the complexities of human connection and the nature of relationships.

Furthermore, the novel’s powerful messages about society and humanity are thought-provoking and engaging. The dystopian setting raises questions about forgiveness, what it means to be human, and the lengths one would go to for love. Klune explores these themes thoroughly and presents them in a captivating manner. However, some questions about the world and background story were left unanswered, which was somewhat disappointing. The ending felt a bit rushed, leaving readers with more questions than answers.

While it may not have resonated with me as deeply as The House in the Cerulean Sea, this novel still manages to be an imaginative and enjoyable story about love, bravery, and the true meaning of family. The author’s beautiful and tender writing style, combined with the cast of charmingly unusual characters – including the unexpectedly brave and sometimes annoying Rambo – make this book a delight to read.

Overall, In the Lives of Puppets has some great elements, it falls short of being a truly compelling read. The characters are certainly unique and endearing, particularly the robots who provide a lot of humor and heart. However, the plot is thin and the pacing drags in places, making the book feel overly long. The allusions to Pinocchio are clever, but the story itself lacks the same emotional depth as Klune’s previous works. The ending is particularly unsatisfying and feels like a letdown after a long journey. Overall, while In the Lives of Puppets has some strengths, it fails to live up to the high bar set by TJ Klune’s other works.