This is quite rightly not like anything I've read before.
The Bones Beneath My Skin blends sci-fi and a fresh take on alien first contact with Klune's signature heartwarming queer found family. As much as the plot was more action/adventure than expected, I still couldn't take my eyes off the page until I finished.

This book was exceptional - a new favourite - such a unique beautiful story with so many poignant messages.

Wow this is my first ever Tj klune book and it didn’t disappoint, it’s a sci fi romance book that packs a lot of action but also packs a lot of emotion I absolutely adored all the main characters, to the point I had tears in my eyes, this is a beautiful weird book but I would 100% recommend its masterfully written and opens your eyes to new ways of writing and the world

Thanks to the Author, Pan Macmillan Tor and Netgalley for the ARC and ALC.

T.J. Klune has an incredible talent for taking dark, weighty topics and presenting them in a lighthearted yet never dismissive way. It’s a delicate balance, but Klune handles it with grace, ensuring the story's emotional depth is never overshadowed by its humour or charm.

At first glance, the plot may feel familiar, especially to fans of Stranger Things. The story follows Nathaniel, a man struggling to piece his life together after a series of personal failures. His world is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious young girl named Artemis and her fiercely protective guardian, Alex. The trio embarks on a road trip, fleeing from sinister forces determined to capture Artemis and exploit her unusual abilities.

While the premise and some narrative beats echo elements of Stranger Things, Klune’s distinct voice and emotional depth make The Bones Beneath My Skin a unique and unforgettable experience. The bond between the characters, particularly the tender yet complex relationship between Nathaniel, Alex, and Artemis, is beautifully written and deeply moving.
The tone of the book is another standout feature. The first half carries a surprisingly light and whimsical feel, even as danger looms. But as the story progresses, the back half takes a sharp, dramatic turn into much darker territory. It’s a shift that feels natural and impactful, pulling the reader deeper into the emotional core of the narrative.

One of the most memorable lines perfectly encapsulates the book’s blend of wonder and heartbreak: “And strangely, somehow he was okay with it. He was okay with all of it. He’d been lonely. He’d been sad . But he’d found a purpose . He’d found a reason. Two, in fact. If he died right here, right now, there was a very real possibility that he’d done something good. That his life had mattered. That he’d loved and been loved in return.”

The audio production on the ALC was excellent and the ARC also had excellent font choices and chapter graphics. The upgraded cover art (by Chris Sickels) is always a joy on the Author's books.
For readers familiar with earlier self-published versions of the book, the updated author notes provide an intriguing insight into Klune’s journey as a writer. They shed light on the struggles of self-publishing and the hard-earned lessons he’s gathered along the way. These reflections give a new appreciation for the challenges of bringing a book to life and highlight the author’s gratitude for the process.

Overall, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a compelling read that blends heart, humour, and darkness in a way only T.J. Klune can. It’s a testament to his growth as a storyteller and a reminder of the unique perspectives he brings to the genre. Fans of heartfelt sci-fi with a touch of the strange and poignant will find plenty to love here.

#TheBonesBeneathMySkin #NetGalley

Nate Cartwright has been left his family’s cabin in Oregon after his parents die in tragic circumstances.
On his own in the middle of nowhere he finds the cabin occupied by a man and a young girl. This first meeting takes you into an adventure of a lifetime.
What starts off as a slow come to the boil cup of smooth coffee ups its pace dramatically when the mysterious element takes off.
A story of what it means to be human and all the good and bad that’s go with it.
The characters become so distinctive and real the more into the story you get.
A story that keeps you thinking long after you finish reading.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune
I give this book 4.5 stars.

Nate Cartwright loses everything so he returns to his family’s summer cabin in Oregon.The cabin should be empty – but it’s not. Inside is Alex, and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Alex and Nate discover that powerful forces are closing in – forces that want nothing more than to control her.
As danger draws near, Nate needs to decide whether to drown in the memories of his past, or fight for Art and a future he never thought possible.

Told from Nate’s pov Klune takes on dangerous but laughter filled adventure. I absolutely loved the 3 characters solider Alex, Nate and the unique and endearing Art who holds a special place in my heart. The author’s quirky writing style never fails to draw me in, and although fantasy he has a special talent for weaving a story and character depth that make it feel realistic. His vivid imagination blends a wonderful tale of unconventional found family with a small touch of sci fi and the underlying message to be kind and don’t rush to judge.The satisfying ending left me with a smile on my face ….. what an incredible gem of a read!
With thanks to Netgalley, TJ Klune and Pan MacMillan/ Tor for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

4.5⭐️
Trusting that I’d love anything TJ Klune writes, I went into The Bones Beneath My Skin completely blind, and let’s just say I was unaware of exactly what I was getting myself into…

Despite Klune’s trademark found family trope coming through strong, this story is totally different to his other books. With a Sci-Fi plot reminiscent of Stranger Things, there was more action, more mayhem, more drama and… I LOVED IT! Weirdly wholesome and utterly thrilling, the plot included a cowboy loving extraterrestrial, an Area 51 vibe, exploding helicopters, shootouts and a crazy cult, all whilst serving up many a tear-jerking moment and exploring what it truly means to be human.

What a bloody wackadoodle rollercoaster this book takes its reader on, I dare you to pick it up and not fall in love with both Art and her devoted duo. 💕👽✨

This was everything I needed it to be!!!

If you read this blurb and think “sci-fi isn’t for me”, read it anyway! TJ Klune’s books are notoriously cosy and wholesome and The Bones Beneath My Skin lives up to that.

Blended in with the cosiness you’ll find a girl named Artemis Darth Vader, as her name suggests, she brings a lil bit of humour and quirk to the book that makes it the perfect read.

The Bones Beneath My Skin will make you believe in humanity again.

TJ Klune can really write amazing characters! The three in this book are no different and this is a wonderful scifi/gay romance / father-child story that will stick with me for a long time. It's funny too, great dialogue and finishes with a proper tear-jerker ending.

I was not expecting to like this as much as I did! It took me a little to really get into it, to get to know the characters and understand what was going on, and when I connected, it blew my mind. A story with three main characters, that connect under the strangest, most unusual circumstances, under dire threat of imminent danger from a secret government agency that has hidden away knowledge of alien life, held one captive for decades and will stop at nothing to reclaim what one loyal, loving soldier took from them. I really fell for all three and hung on every word of their journey to the bitter end. I cried at work! I cannot believe I did that! I did not want it to end, I wanted so much more, even if it had the perfect ending! Well don`t to the author, my first read by this one, and I am happy to say I will be gong back for more.

TJ Klune can always be relied on to write a compelling, emotionally engaging romantasy novel, and this is no exception. 'The Bones Beneath My Skin' has as its viewpoint character Nate, a recently bereaved and unemployed journalist. He travels to his remote cabin in the Oregon mountains, hoping for solitude, but finds it occupied by a man and child. Alex and Artemis are fugitives, unwilling to explain what they are running from or why. Despite himself, Nate begins to sympathise with and like the strange pair. But the people hunting them are closing in, and the truth of their flight is stranger than Nate could possibly have imagined.

There's a lot that's good about the book, but a few flaws as well. As with all Klune's novels (and indeed, any romance/romantasy story), the fact it is set around a budding romance means you always know roughly the shape the story is going to take. That can be comforting, but also stifles originality even when the specific circumstances around the love story are quite different from one book to another. Neither Nate nor Alex were characters I particularly liked, meaning I was less invested in their stories and potential love than I would have been otherwise. There are a couple of strong supporting characters, but they were dropped before the book was halfway through, which was a shame. Artemis was the best character, and certainly the funniest. Klune is a brilliant comic writer when he isn't being overly earnest, which is most apparent in 'In the Lives of Puppets' with the nurse-robot character. Artemis has flashes of that, although she's not in the same league.

Plot wise, it's gripping and exciting, again as I'd expect from Klune. It's also not got the edge of melodrama that some of his books slid into, which is a good thing. However there were a few plot holes/inconsistencies/things that just didn't ring true which bothered me. I can't describe them as it would give too many spoilers, but they did annoy me and make the story less believable. I have no problem with the supernatural elements, which he does well, and in a fantasy story it's strange to say the implausible bits were nothing to do with those that were clearly made-up.

If you enjoy fantasy/romantasy, this is a good book and well worth reading. It's not outstanding and there are a few issues, so I wouldn't recommend it to people who only dip into the genre occasionally (the quality of the alternatives is just too high in this area).

An exciting read that is weird but strangely endearing. Nate Cartwright inherits a cabin in the woods from his mother. When he arrives at the cabin he finds a man and a ten year old girl are squatting there. The three of them end up going on the run across America.
The weirdness comes when the story starts talking about aliens. It does actually work though. This is mainly due to the fabulous main characters and their evolving relationship. Also, the writing is done beautifully.
So there's science fiction, romance, action and adventure and what it means to be human. It all culminates in a warm and positive reading experience.

What a beautiful and unexpected gift this book was. The concept was totally mind blowing and I’m not going to ruin it with spoilers.
I loved the characters, especially Art. The relationships between our three heroes was perfectly executed, and the only thing I would have changed would have been what could have been a fade to black scene. The details of that particular scene makes it more difficult to recommend to younger readers.
Apart from that I loved this book, and will be recommending to adults everywhere.

Get ready for a sci-fi romcom action adventure comedy that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The Bones Beneath My Skin is nothing like I expected, and it was exactly what I needed.

I've enjoyed every TJ Klune book I have read so far, and while this breaks the mold in many ways, it still has the cozy, romantic, heartfelt vibes I have come to know and love from the author. However, it also adds lots of high speed chases, gun fights, murder suicides, outer space revelations, secret bases, and more. I could very easily imagine this as a Netflix show as it is so full of twists and turns and is engaging from start to end.

The story has its dark moments, but at its core it is about found family, overcoming grief, and coming to terms with humanity. As out there as the premise is and as silly as some of the dialogue is, The Bones Beneath My Skin is exploring important ideas and issues, and it left me thinking about our treatment of others and how quick we are to fear what we don't know.

I really like how slow the relationship between Alex and Nate builds, as it shows how trust doesn't come easily to either man and reveals how deeply hurt each has been in the past. I also loved the goofy and innocent interactions with Art - she is such a breath of fresh air as a character, and I loved the representation of this entity as just a playful and curious child.

While the ending was a bit rushed and the epilogue left me feeling like I needed a sequel immediately, I felt like the story as a whole worked well. Yes, there are some gaps in terms of the Mountain and the murder suicide, but this worked thematically for me in the end. As people, we don't get all the answers. There will always be things we don't understand or aren't able to grasp in our lifetimes. Just like Alex and Nate won't ever fully understand Art's origins yet accept her entirely, we can understand that others' motivations might never be revealed to us and come to some sort of peace with that.

If you have read other TJ Klune books and enjoyed them, pick this up. If you like the atmosphere of Stranger Things or modern Doctor Who, this book might be your next favourite read. If you just want to be surprised, take a chance on this story. Or, if you want to hear a space princess attempt to speak like an old Western cowboy, grab this as it won't let you down!

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.