I’m a big fan of this author, so I was really excited to read The Bones Beneath My Skin, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The story is super gripping and kept me hooked the whole way through. The characters felt real and had a lot of depth, which made all the twists and turns even more intense. It wasn’t perfect, but overall, it’s a strong book that fans of his work will really enjoy. Definitely one I’d recommend!

A quirky, original read. A favourite author so I knew I would love this, every book is surprising and difficult to predict. A mix of genres and characters you love. Beautiful writing too. For anyone who wants to read something a bit different!

Such a beautiful story of love and heartbreak. What it means to be human. Loved the Green Creek easter egg too!
TJ Klunes words just flow and make his books so easy to read and yet immerse you in the story.

Can honestly say I’ve loved everything TJ Klune has written and will always be an autobuy author for me.

I have enjoyed every book I have read by T.J. Klune, with a few of them being among my favourite books (The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door in particular). I already know that I love their characters and their writing style, so I was excited for this release. The book is set in 1995 when I was in my mid-teens, so felt very nostalgic to me. As the author is a similar age to me, I feel like we have a lot of similar cultural references, and maybe that is another reason why I find their writing so comforting. As with his other books that I have read, found family is one of the main focuses of the plot, and it is a favourite of mine. I wasn’t sure if I would connect with the characters at first, but once Artemis Darth Vadar was introduced, I was hooked. Once I’d got past the first few chapters, I found the book very hard to put down, and found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading. The book is very emotional, especially when we learn about Nate and Alex’s histories. The LGBTQ+ themes are strong, as you would expect if you had read any of the author’s other books. The complex relationships are very believable, and this combined with the fast-paced plot make for a gripping read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc

Sadly, I DNF’d this book! I found it weird and confusing. I think Art was a little girl but she was weird and the whole situation was weird as to how Nate handled it

This is an interesting novel where nothing is what it seems. Exploring what it means to be human, what constitutes a family and how we cope with trauma and loss. Klune is a gifted writer who creates fully realised characters who you become fully encompassed by, encouraging you to turn page after page. The protagonist Nate is a complicated loner, belittled by life and in search for something bigger to make life worthwhile. On the surface the book is a thriller, escaped 'convicts', an 'odd' friendship and violent tendencies, but gradually morphs into something larger (no spoilers).

A true mash up of genres, this is a book to be savoured.

In The Bones Beneath My Skin TJ Klune has produced a fascinating mixture of sci-fi and thriller. The story begins as Nate Cartwright arrives at his family’s cabin in Oregon, expecting a peaceful hideaway where he can lick his wounds after recent personal and professional events. However, the reality is somewhat different. He encounters ex-soldier Alex and Artemis Darth Vader, a ten-year-old girl who is rather more than ordinary.

Klune has created a charming cast of unconventional characters. However, this is not a funny story. There are funny moments, undoubtably, but this is a story which seriously commits itself to exploring the limits of humanity in oh so many ways.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by T. J. Klune

As a huge fan of TJ Klune’s previous works, I was thrilled to receive an early copy of The bones beneath my skin and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved this book with all my heart. ‘A strange story of family, love, comets, and bacon.’ Artemis Darth Vader shares a special place in my heart with other characters created by Klune, He has a remarkable talent of writing heartwarming and extraordinary characters who feel real and believable. The relationships formed in this book are simply beautiful and somehow whenever it starts to feel a little saccharine, it's pulled back with well-placed humour. This is a gripping hopeful journey of a book and one that I felt privileged to follow. I cannot recommend this book more highly, it made me laugh and cry (sometimes within the same sentence) it's in contention for one of my books of the year.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan | Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review

Fast paced, loved the sci-fi elements and the mystery behind it. and as always, it was cosy! The characters are always so human!

Absolutely adored this. TJ Klune has done it again and written a beautiful found family with more of a scifi feeling than a fantasy. I feel like you can tell that this was originally written before his other books (like cerulean sea) because there is something a bit more gritty, heavier and maybe a bit less hopeful throughout than his most recent books.

TJ Klune does it again !
I’ve loved every book by this author that I’ve read so far and this one did not disappoint.
There were a few more sci-fi parts to this than normal books but I enjoyed every second of it

I LOVE TJ KLUNE <3

Everything he writes is so special and magical and just so so different.

I loved the characters in this one, Nate was a great main character and Alex and Art were just perfect.

I rated this 4 stars.

1/5 stars! umm...what did I just read? This was dreadful. It was boring. The pacing was all over the pace. And it was downright creepy at times. No thanks.

An emotional rollercoaster that blended scifi thrills with heartfelt moments. The story follows Nate Cartwright, a journalist who retreats to his family's cabin in Oregon after a personal and professional downfall.
There, he encounters Alex and a brilliant 10 year old girl named Artemis Darth Vader, who possesses extraordinary abilities. As they become entangled in a conspiracy involving a mysterious group known as The Mountain, the trio forms an unlikely but touching found family.

Klune's writing is both humorous and poignant, capturing the complexities of identity, love, and resilience. While the pacing starts slow, it allows for deep character development and emotional investment.

The blend of suspense, quirky dialogue, and tender relationships kept me hooked until the very end. The Bones Beneath My Skin is a compelling read that showcases Klune's talent for weaving heartwarming stories with thrilling plots.
Many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the approved copy.

As always, T.J.Klune delivers. I don't think I've ever given one of his books less than five stars and I wasn't about to start with this one.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant roadtrip romo across America. Queer romance. Soft and cozy characters. Quirky, not quite human child... LOVED IT.

I absolutely loved the bones beneath my skin. I adore the writing style of T J Klune. The tension on this book was incredible it kept me on the edge of my seat and I really felt part of it, which is that T J Klune is amazing at doing. the way he describes the character makes it so easy to visualise.

although its dystopian a lot of the time it feels so real.

another brilliant read

Packed with heart, humour, and just enough weird to make it unforgettable, this story explores love, identity, and found family in the face of the extraordinary. It’s a moving, offbeat sci-fi adventure that balances chaos with tenderness in only the way TJ Klune can

Another obsession! Tj klune never disappoints I love his books as a real escapism and highly recommend his latest gem - get ready to lose yourself and ponder life’s most important questions!

Not my favourite of Klune’s but still an interesting read! Loved the plot and although the “alien” stuff is left to be quite ambiguous, I enjoyed the author’s take. It would’ve been good to get a deeper dive into this but I understand it being open. The author’s note mentioned about the previous publisher wanting more sex scenes, but I’m glad Klune chose to go against this advice. I would’ve enjoyed the love story side a lot more without the sex scenes honestly… it felt a bit random and out of place, I dunno. This book for me was very much action based with a sprinkling of love. And the reason I would’ve preferred it without explicit scenes is because the love wasn’t just a sexual love between two people, it was a family love between three. There was a good mix of action, love, cults, aliens, mystery to this book and I would recommend it for Klune fans!