Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Annie Bot

Reading this book wasn't a pleasant experience by any means but I'm glad I've decided to finish it despite such heavy themes. I definitely expected more of a sci-fi story, instead got a heartbreaking tale about autonomy, abuse and control in very human relationships. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, a lot of anger and genuine sadness for Annie's situation but I found the ending almost cathartic and satisfying enough to make up for it.

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desdoesbooks_'s review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I meant to start it and read a few chapters before bed - I couldn't put it down and was up until the early hours of the morning first reading it then thinking about it. I have never known such realistic feeling characters in sci-fi. They are such a reflection of the experiences I (and so many people) have had that they are immediately relatable/identifiable. Heartbreaking, exhilarating, hopeful - I love this book.

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fireinherveinzz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was hoping for her to murder him by the end but it gave very doll house vibes
Her walking away and choosing herself in the end instead of what scumbag Doug and his equally rapey friend Roland want

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carissa230's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Annie Bot is a pleasure robot. She is owned by Doug. She is allowed to think for herself in some ways while being completely under his control in others. She can have conversations but is not allowed to say anything about Doug. She can do what she wants during the day as long as she is working out and cleaning the house. Doug has a way of saying things that make her know he's not happy with her, but not sure why.

It's clear to the reader that he is emotionally abusive but she's just a bot so nobody cares how she feels. They don't even really believe that she does feel.

Annie is the most advanced bot on the market and they want to replicate her. Annie feels empathy for the other versions of herself knowing they will never truly be free either. Another thing they don't believe she can do.

This was such an interesting look at the way people would treat a woman if they had no say in what happened. From continuously being the pleasure bot, to cleaning the house just the way he wants, and working out. She can also be adjusted to remove weight, have bigger boobs, etc. It's the way she's never really good enough even though he can make her do whatever he wants. She knows he's never happy and tries so hard to please him, but it's never enough.

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jackbifrost's review

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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rybie's review

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

pretty effective character study and well crafted view/allegory of gendered violence and abuse. i find the reader critiques of sex and viewing this as “smut” is very interesting when its such an important part of the book and annie’s context as a character. you really feel for her despite the simplicity of the prose. quick and thought provoking, so its worth a read in my opinion!

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rahe182's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

too much doug not enough robot uprising

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emilyb_chicago's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What a compelling and propulsive book with so many layers to talk and think about. The obvious outer layer that our naive main character Annie responds to and the layer that we, more experienced readers, deduce from the situations. As the best AI/Robot books make you do, since reading this book I can't stop thinking about the line between humanity and something humanity has built.

Note: the chapter division in the audio is different than the chapter divisions in the physical book. The audio is excellently done and a great option.

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