Reviews with content warning for Body shaming - Annie Bot

This book is one I can tell I’ll think about long after I’ve read it.

Annie is an incredibly dynamic and complex character from the very beginning of this book. She is an AI robot owned by Doug who more and more you learn is an abusive asshole. This book gives us a unique glimpse at domestic abuse but told in a different way given that Annie is AI and is not quite human but has a capacity to heal, to learn, and shows immense growth as time goes on. The underlying discussion here that despite the abuse Annie is going through she is still seeking to make things work with Doug and jump through increasing hoops each day to try to make him happy and to attempt not to anger him.

The pacing of this book is a bit off for me and I wish we got to know more about Doug’s prior relationship but otherwise I feel like this book had a lot to say about mismatched power dynamics, abusive relationships, feminism, and gender based expectations. Highly recommend the read if you’re in the right headspace to tackle the more intense content listed in the trigger warnings. This is not an easy read but is a worthwhile one.

Content Warnings

lilybarna's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

A wonderful exposition of women’s autonomy. I think I was expecting a more drastic turn of events but what occurred was powerful in a more subtle way. Good read if you wanna think about de-centering men/male gaze! Also the audiobook reader is fantastic!!

Content Warnings

alastaire's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

immabehazzie's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Annie Bot is like a cousin to The Stepford Wives, which is a book that I love. It was utterly captivating from start to finish.

I had no idea what this story would really be about because the synopsis is a bit vague but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a good character study of autonomy, freedom, and emotional abuse in a relationship. It was rather surprising that a book about a robot that’s made for sex and companionship is a good example of what it is to humans.

Content Warnings

lollylauren1's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging tense 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

I inhaled this book, but it left me with some mixed feelings. Firsrtly it was incredibly well written, I felt like the pages turned themselves I couldn't put it down.

The themes in this book are obviously very challenging, especially for someone who considers themself a feminist like myself.The idea of Annie being 'owned' and sent in for tune ups to have 2 pounds shaved off here and there and her chest augmented at the will of Doug made me feel uncomfortable.

However reading about Annie growing to understand concepts in the way a child might learn their way through the world was so well thought and explained. The sex scenes weren't too graphic which is my personal preference but the idea she always delayed 'simulating' her gratification until Doug had his was a little icky.

I am obviously assuming that all of these complex feelings are the way the Author intended you to feel and it was so written I felt every one of those feelings.

The ending was so incredibly satisfying and it will be intersting if I am alive to see technology get to the opoint where a Stella could exist.

Content Warnings