To the delight of his massive legion of fans, TJ Klune returns with a new supernatural standalone that shows us all that while our differences are what make us each unique, our ability to recognize our similarities is what ultimately makes us stronger. The Bones Beneath My Skin will captivate readers with its unusual blend of the fresh and the familiar, simultaneously comforting readers while expanding horizons and eliciting compassion.

Nate Cartwright is having a bad time. His parents have died, his brother won’t talk to him, and he just lost his job in journalism. At loose ends, he makes a plan to recharge at his family’s isolated cabin in Oregon. But when he arrives, his life becomes even more complicated. The cabin has been commandeered by a man named Alex and a ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. It quickly becomes clear that Artemis is no ordinary child, and that this unexpected duo is on the run from some very dangerous people. Nate must decide if he will step up and do the right thing or if he will give in to the complacency of being a by-stander in his own life’s journey.

As has been a theme for many of TJ Klune’s celebrated novels, Found Family is the center around which the entire plot revolves. As Nate, Alex, and Artemis learn more about each other, they are faced with challenging choices at almost every turn. Klune controls the pacing with perfection—allowing for sedate moments of reflection juxtaposed with action sequences that will have readers frantically flipping pages. The tone of The Bones Beneath My Skin is also expertly balanced with light-hearted moments of Artemis learning things residing next to serious discussions about “outsiders” in society and the interconnectedness of the Universe.

The “road trip” nature of their fleeing for safety takes on the feel of westward expansion—which mirrors Artemis’s love of the vintage Western pulp paperback novels she discovers on the cabin’s bookshelves. The growing bond between Nate and Alex harkens to the trope of “enemies to lovers” and quickly begins to tug at the reader’s heartstrings. It’s impossible not to root for this bizarre trio, even as they continue to banter through their smallest disagreements and stumble their way out of  each life-threatening obstacle.

Some may argue that The Bones Beneath My Skin doesn’t exactly break new ground in terms of its science fiction elements, but few will be able to deny how the LGBTQIA+ lens through which he examines “otherness” breathes new life into this familiar tale. The denouement will hit the feels of any reader with a heart, so keeping tissues close by is highly recommended.

Whether this is your first TJ Klune novel or your twentieth, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a story you will savor and cherish for years to come.  And it might just have you rushing out to the nearest diner to order a plate of bacon.

BUY LINKS: The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune


Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.