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kurryreads's review
3.0
Easy, quick read. It was entertaining enough. Felt slightly like a black mirror episode. I kind of wished it had been twisted/dark and I think it could’ve benefited from more backstory/details as it was rather surface level.. which is something I can look past if there’s a ton going on, but there wasn’t.
sarahyjackson's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ex Machina meets Barbie - asks really interesting questions (sometimes in really brutal ways) about the ethics of AI/human relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Body shaming, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Body horror, and Torture
katehow11's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gelliestar's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
imogeninfiction's review
reflective
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
A thought provoking read that speaks to a reality that may not be as farfetched as it initially seems. The premise immediately captured me and provided a fascinating exploration into relationships and intimacy and the ways in which AI could evolve to be used.
lindzeliza's review
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
4.0
brooke_review's review
5.0
If there is one recurrent theme of 2023, I would say that it is the significant emergence of AI into our regular, everyday lives. My brother has been warning me of the "robot uprising" for over 20 years now, and I feel that it is finally happening. Meaning it is the perfect time for a book like Sierra Greer's Annie Bot to be published.
Annie Bot is set in a time when it is commonplace for robots to exist among us, undistinguishable at the surface from humans. These "Stellas and Handys" serve as maids, nannies, fixer uppers, and yes, essentially ... sex servants. Such is the case for Annie, a robot created especially for the lonely and bitter Doug, who has modeled Annie after his ex-girlfriend, who he is still pining over. Annie solely exists to please Doug, both in and out of the bedroom. Their relationship naturally is built upon an extreme power imbalance, which wouldn't ordinarily be a problem ... except Annie is no ordinary robot. With her operating mode set to autodidactic, Annie's life is basically an experiment - just what is she capable of learning? How far can her mind grow and go?
As Annie tries to "learn" her owner Doug, she finds herself ever puzzled by his erratic and inconsistent behavior. Just what is it that he wants from her, and why does he become so displeased with her even when she thinks she is doing everything right? When one day Annie deliberately participates in an act sure to infuriate Doug, Annie finds that she may just have bitten off more than she can chew.
While science fiction is not ordinarily my genre, I was utterly captivated by Annie Bot, perhaps because Greer tells this story in such an accessible, human way. She makes it so easy to imagine a world where "Stellas" like Annie exist and cohabitate alongside of us, integrating seamlessly into our lives. Furthermore, despite being a robot, Annie is an intriguing, multi-layered creature who continued to surprise me throughout this book. This novel is absorbing and thought-provoking, while still being unlike anything I have ever read before. Annie Bot is both dark and ominous, while also maintaining an air of innocence and hope. It is easily one of the most captivating novels I have read all year!
Annie Bot is set in a time when it is commonplace for robots to exist among us, undistinguishable at the surface from humans. These "Stellas and Handys" serve as maids, nannies, fixer uppers, and yes, essentially ... sex servants. Such is the case for Annie, a robot created especially for the lonely and bitter Doug, who has modeled Annie after his ex-girlfriend, who he is still pining over. Annie solely exists to please Doug, both in and out of the bedroom. Their relationship naturally is built upon an extreme power imbalance, which wouldn't ordinarily be a problem ... except Annie is no ordinary robot. With her operating mode set to autodidactic, Annie's life is basically an experiment - just what is she capable of learning? How far can her mind grow and go?
As Annie tries to "learn" her owner Doug, she finds herself ever puzzled by his erratic and inconsistent behavior. Just what is it that he wants from her, and why does he become so displeased with her even when she thinks she is doing everything right? When one day Annie deliberately participates in an act sure to infuriate Doug, Annie finds that she may just have bitten off more than she can chew.
While science fiction is not ordinarily my genre, I was utterly captivated by Annie Bot, perhaps because Greer tells this story in such an accessible, human way. She makes it so easy to imagine a world where "Stellas" like Annie exist and cohabitate alongside of us, integrating seamlessly into our lives. Furthermore, despite being a robot, Annie is an intriguing, multi-layered creature who continued to surprise me throughout this book. This novel is absorbing and thought-provoking, while still being unlike anything I have ever read before. Annie Bot is both dark and ominous, while also maintaining an air of innocence and hope. It is easily one of the most captivating novels I have read all year!
el_tuttle's review
5.0
The description alone was enough to intrigue me. I am a huge fan of both Never Let Me Go and My Dark Vanessa. I also have a particular interest in the ethical implications of human/AI romances. When asked for my favorite movie, my ex-husband once reported, "Anything in the genre where people have sex with robots." It wasn't the most flattering (or accurate) accusation, but it was close enough to reveal my deep seated affinity with the critique of humanity that fictional AI romances afford us.
That being said, I was nervous. Isn't the plot overdone? Haven't we seen enough lonely Dougs, weirdly molesting and bossing around their Annie Bots? Is this just bizarre Joaquin Phoenix fanfic by another name?
I figured the worst case is I would read a redundant plot and treat it as a light beach read.
No fucking way.
This story is wicked dark (in a subtle, psychological sense) and it completely exceeded expectations. Greer takes a novel approach in crafting the world in which autodidactic robots live alongside simpler models, encouraged to wander and to have potentially open relationships with their humans. Robots are imperfect, but with the capacity to learn from both human and non-human stimuli. While this world has some differences from our own (such as my dream career: a couples' therapist for human-robot pairings), the extent to which secrets change our programming is fundamentally human.
Our protagonist is Annie, a companion robot primarily designed to provide GFE to Doug, her volatile owner. He's a very particular man whose demands she can never quite meet, but ultimately training Annie to meet his unpredictable needs is the closest he seems able to get to loving someone. Early on, Annie keeps a secret from him which permanently alters the way she learns and how they interact. She becomes a more capable, creative machine, to the detriment of her function as the perfect girlfriend.
What I found most impressive is the depth of character development. Did Doug 95% resemble someone from my own history? Sure, that helped humanize him. But Greer perfectly balances his toxic, masculine need for power with his sad, incel-adjacent desire to be loved. He's not quite a narcissist in the clinical sense, but anyone who has resonated with the pop psych discussions about codependency will recognize the situation immediately. The accuracy of his character while we read through his companion robot's perspective made this a much more emotionally evocative read than I anticipated.
If I were only considering the quality of the prose (and that I wish the ending was drawn out in a little more detail), this might be closer to 4 stars. But because it was perfectly written for my interests and it is only a debut, I'm happy to round up. Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC, this is an absolute treasure.
P.S. This book might be my litmus test for friendship. If you fuck with this, add me.
That being said, I was nervous. Isn't the plot overdone? Haven't we seen enough lonely Dougs, weirdly molesting and bossing around their Annie Bots? Is this just bizarre Joaquin Phoenix fanfic by another name?
I figured the worst case is I would read a redundant plot and treat it as a light beach read.
No fucking way.
This story is wicked dark (in a subtle, psychological sense) and it completely exceeded expectations. Greer takes a novel approach in crafting the world in which autodidactic robots live alongside simpler models, encouraged to wander and to have potentially open relationships with their humans. Robots are imperfect, but with the capacity to learn from both human and non-human stimuli. While this world has some differences from our own (such as my dream career: a couples' therapist for human-robot pairings), the extent to which secrets change our programming is fundamentally human.
Our protagonist is Annie, a companion robot primarily designed to provide GFE to Doug, her volatile owner. He's a very particular man whose demands she can never quite meet, but ultimately training Annie to meet his unpredictable needs is the closest he seems able to get to loving someone. Early on, Annie keeps a secret from him which permanently alters the way she learns and how they interact. She becomes a more capable, creative machine, to the detriment of her function as the perfect girlfriend.
What I found most impressive is the depth of character development. Did Doug 95% resemble someone from my own history? Sure, that helped humanize him. But Greer perfectly balances his toxic, masculine need for power with his sad, incel-adjacent desire to be loved. He's not quite a narcissist in the clinical sense, but anyone who has resonated with the pop psych discussions about codependency will recognize the situation immediately. The accuracy of his character while we read through his companion robot's perspective made this a much more emotionally evocative read than I anticipated.
If I were only considering the quality of the prose (and that I wish the ending was drawn out in a little more detail), this might be closer to 4 stars. But because it was perfectly written for my interests and it is only a debut, I'm happy to round up. Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC, this is an absolute treasure.
P.S. This book might be my litmus test for friendship. If you fuck with this, add me.
starrwad's review
4.0
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. I'm worried the cover is going to keep people from picking this up. It deserves better.
This is such a great depiction of what it's like to be in an abusive relationship and what it's like to be a woman in general, I think.
I was a little confused in the last quarter or so of the book, but the ending was great. Get some Kleenex!
This is such a great depiction of what it's like to be in an abusive relationship and what it's like to be a woman in general, I think.
I was a little confused in the last quarter or so of the book, but the ending was great. Get some Kleenex!