In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune. Macmillan Audio. Apr. 2023. 15:22 hrs. ISBN 9781250859266. $32.99.

A fatherly android inventor named Giovanni lives in a strangely constructed home among the trees, where he raises his human son, Vic. One day, Vic and his robot companions Nurse Ratched and Rambo go to the local dump and salvage Hap, an unknown robot. When Gio discovers that his son has brought Hap home, terrible secrets about Gio’s past come to light, and the family’s formerly safe life implodes. Unfriendly forces capture Gio, and the family traverses the land to save him. Along the way, Vic comes to terms with uncomfortable truths and discovers that love sometimes comes with strings attached. Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea) has written a tale of queer joy, found family, and love in unexpected circumstances. Narrator Daniel Henning does a phenomenal job capturing Gio’s fatherliness and Vic’s early naivete, and he positively shines as the heartless, bloodthirsty Nurse Ratched and the anxiety-ridden robot vacuum Rambo. VERDICT A remarkable, uplifting story, as fans of Klune’s other outstanding works might expect. Purchase multiple copies and be prepared for many holds.—Elyssa Everling