Nate’s life is a mess. He’s been estranged from his family for a decade, and he just torpedoed his career as a Washington DC reporter after some unethical choices. Then he gets the call from his brother that his parents are dead, and they left him the family cabin and an old truck. Nate decides there’s nothing holding him to DC anymore so puts his stuff in storage, gets the truck, and takes off to the cabin to try and figure out his life. But when he gets to the cabin, there’s already someone there. Two someones in fact, a scary looking mountain of a man and a tiny little girl who’s a bit odd. All Nate wanted was to get his life in order, not get drawn into a government conspiracy that could get him killed. But somewhere along the way, Nate realizes that this is exactly what he needs, and if he dies along the way, that’s okay too. Find out what is so important in TJ Klune’s The Bones Beneath My Skin.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Tor for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of The Bones Beneath My Skin contains some spoilers!]
The Bones Beneath My Skin has tragedy written all over it
Being a gay man in the mid-nineties was lonely. Families often disowned gay members. And because of its taboo status, finding other gay men and having a long-term relationship with one was difficult, to say the least. Nate is dealing with those exact problems. Ten years ago, his parents walked in on him with his boyfriend and after a lot of very nasty screaming and yelling, banished him from their lives. His brother followed suit. His boyfriend left shortly thereafter. After that, Nate stuck to the bathhouses and back alleys.
His personal life was a mess, but professionally, Nate was doing well. He worked as a journalist (don’t you dare call him a reporter) for a prominent DC paper. Maybe he wasn’t covering the stories he really wanted yet, but he was young and he would get there. In his hurry to get there, he broke a few major ethics rules. Instead of leading to his big break, it ended his career.
Still reeling from his dismissal, he gets a call from his brother. Their parents are dead. They left Nate the family cabin and an old truck. He lets Nate know that the lawyer would take care of everything, there was no reason to see each other. No tearful family reunion was in store for them.
Time for another adventure from the author of House on the Cerulean Sea
Nate decides to pack up his stuff and spend some time at the cabin sorting through his feelings, getting his life in order, and making a plan to get back into the news business again. So he takes off across the country. It’s pretty early to be up at the cabin, but it was a mild winter, so the roads are passable and he makes it. However, when he gets there, he finds he’s not alone. A man with a gun threatens to kill Nate, but the little girl with him says to let Nate live.
The two are a very odd pair. The man is very protective of the little girl, and there’s definitely something off about the girl. Nate tries to escape them, but his natural curiosity draws him back. Eventually, maybe a little thanks to Stockholm syndrome, Nate begins to want to help them. It doesn’t hurt that Alex (the scary guy with the gun) is hot and Artemis Darth Vader (yes really) is so sweet.
But before they can get too cozy, someone comes looking for them. Government people, with guns, and helicopters. And they’re not afraid to use force to get what they want. Nate has a choice to make, help his government or help his captors. He chooses Alex and Artemis, of course. He needs to know what their secret is. But he’s not prepared for what he finds out. The truth redefines Nate’s whole world, and calls into question just what it means to love, or to even be human.
This TJ Klune novel is all about love
At the beginning of The Bones Beneath My Skin the biggest thing that Nate is missing is love. He’s all alone against the world, and it’s too much for him. As the book goes on, Nate comes up against problems bigger than he could possibly imagine, but because he’s no longer alone, he’s able to deal with them. Nate learns that love is the most powerful force on Earth (and off it) and that it gives everything else in life meaning.
And we’re not just talking about romantic love here. Of course that’s important, and Nate does get to learn about what that truly looks like. But also familial love. And love like familial love but for a chosen family. Even generalized love for all living things. Once Nate allows love into his life, everything opens up for him. Even though it looks like things can’t get any worse, he’s happier, maybe than he’s ever been, and he’s ready to face whatever comes. That’s what love does for us, and Klune catches this perfectly.
The Bones Beneath My Skin will tear you apart and put you back together
Artemis is a very special little girl. Her odd mixture of childish curiosity and bluntness mixed with adult mental capacity makes for some very hard questions and hilarious scenes. Her trust and kindness wins you over, and your heart rises and falls with every turn her story takes. At one point, it completely shatters. But don’t worry. Klune doesn’t leave us feeling despondent at the end. Instead, we feel uplifted and hopeful. I’m not sure the world is quite ready for Artemis Darth Vader yet, but I kinda wish she’d show up soon.
My Rating: 8/10
Are you excited to check out The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune soon? Have you read his other books? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or on Bluesky @TheCosmicCircus.com
Book Review: Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell a Marvel Crime Novel
Review: Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography by Rob Wilkins
