Gosh this book was so much more than I was expecting it to be and I loved it! I didn't expect it to be quite as thought-provoking as it was but it ended up being a book that I had to put down from time to time just to let my brain process. The novel has so much to say about what humanity is, how the hierarchy is structured even between the AIs and not just between humans and AIs, and also about gender roles. There is also more than I was expecting about power dynamics in relationships and how the cruelty that was often shown towards Annie in her home was hard to read. I knew she wasn't human but she was still so human that I couldn't abide the hurt caused to her. This is such a good read and it's a story that I know will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it!

Wow this book is really scary because of how close we seem to be to a day when AI companions actually exist. When these things become more than sex dolls and have proper thoughts and feelings are we facing the end of life as we know it. In this book we meet Annie a custom made robot girlfriend who responds to her masters every need but when a chance encounter encourages her to start thinking for herself she will change not only her own life but also that of her partner/owner. This is scary stuff but I do think one of the household bots would be really helpful.

This book offers a captivating exploration of the essence of humanity and our capacity to adapt and evolve in the face of challenges. The main character, despite not being human, feels remarkably relatable, particularly in her complex relationship with Doug, which resonates with many readers.

Throughout the narrative, the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and growth is both fascinating and thought-provoking. Despite her non-human origins, she exhibits traits and emotions that mirror those of humans, blurring the lines between artificial intelligence and humanity.

As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into the protagonist's exploration of her own identity and the intricacies of her relationships. The depth of character development allows readers to empathise with her struggles and triumphs, highlighting the universal themes of love, identity, and personal growth.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer was one of my most anticipated releases and I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read an early copy. This is a very interesting read, which feels almost 'too close for comfort.' I found this book incredibly frustrating to read at times but I am so glad I stuck with it, I found that Greer depicted the complexities of 'human' emotion in a nuanced and sensitive way. With themes surrounding coercive control and the meaning of consent this is a thought-provoking and important story which has disturbing parallels to real life.
Thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this unique book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book! “Annie Bot” is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into various themes with remarkable intricacy, yet manages to maintain a perfect balance. I was completely engrossed in Annie’s narrative voice and couldn’t put the book down.

What struck me as particularly fascinating about “Annie Bot” is how it skillfully explores the dynamics of a robot-human relationship while subtly touching upon the complexities of an abusive relationship. The parallels between Doug and Annie’s relationship and that of an abusive human one were intriguingly portrayed. Despite the absence of Annie bots in our world, the author authentically captures what it could be like to have these special bots in our lives.

This narrative has completely astonished me. It’s been a while since I’ve cheered at the conclusion of a book, yet Annie has deeply resonated with me in a manner that surpasses most individuals. I enthusiastically recommend it to all enthusiasts of dystopian speculative fiction.

4.4 stars

I had seen this book on social media so much and I knew I had to get my hands on it. It did not disappoint.

Annie Bot is a powerful, provocative novel about the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy, and control.

This book gave major Her vibes which I loved. Annie's job is to please her man in the bedroom, cook and clean for him, and attend to his every wish and demand. Throughout the course of the novel, we see how Annie's "relationship" with her owner, Doug makes her question her place in society. This book is fascinating, heartbreaking, and eye-opening in so many ways. The range of emotions I was feeling while reading was astounding.

A compact book about power, autonomy and control that makes it hard to shake off some feelings of dread about the future long after the read is done.

I really enjoyed how the narration reflected Annie's worldview, in that it was contained and didn't expand beyond her knowdlege of the world. It added to the claustrophobic feeling she reports experiencing, and made it easier to symapthise with her.

However, the ending, while fitting and bittersweet in a way, felt like a bit of a let down. While this couldv'e been altered, I would happily recommend this book to all readers who can stomach the trigger warnings in it. Full review to come.

Annie Bot
by Sierra Greer

This story has just blown my mind. It's a long time since I last whooped at the end of a book, but Annie has captured my heart in a way that most humans can't.

When I read speculative fiction I like it to have a very firm rooting in the real world, and I like it to ask questions pertaining to the human condition that relate straight back to the real world with a high resolution lens, and Annie Bot does this magnificently.

Annie is a Stella range robot, owned by Doug, a wealthy 30something divorcé living in Manhattan. Stellas come in various modes, eg. Nanny, loaded with empathy, designed to mind your children, Abigail, highly organised, great at home keeping and cleaning, and Cuddle Bunny, loaded with features to monitor their owner's level of pleasure and adjust their own libido accordingly.

Well, you can see where this is going. As Annie learns to respond and behave in a more and more human way, this becomes a very uncomfortable read, with themes of grooming and coercive control. Annie's growing confusion over her identity and autonomy causes stress and shame that align so well with power dynamics within imbalanced relationships that I can see this being a riveting book club pick.

Watching Annie's growth as an evolving entity is fascinating, and in many ways acts as a metaphor for the journey to female empowerment and rage against the patriarchy. I have never highlighted so many phrases and truths in a single novel. I can't wait for the conversation to begin when this publishes.

I know it's only March, but I feel certain that this will be in my Top Ten for 2024.

Publication date: 14th March 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for the ARC

A fascinating look at what makes us human, and how we learn to adapt and evolve.
The main character felt very human, and her relationship with Doug was sadly a familiar one. It was easy to forget that she wasn’t actually human at times, and it was interesting to see her develop and explore her character.
I really enjoyed the way her story ended, it felt like a new chapter was about to begin. But it did feel a little bit like a safe ending.

Annie is a robot, Doug is her owner and he recently put her onto Autodidact mode (meaning self-taught).

I speed through this book, it was absolutely fascinating to read about Annie coming to grips with the world and learning about human behavior via the kind of man who would own a sex robot.

Annie was a character that was incredibly easy to emphasize with and Doug was an incredibly irritating piece-of-sh*t. I think this author had incredible talent for showing how small comments add together and start to become big problems.

I do wish it was longer because I feel Annie's story still had more and I would have liked to see her fighting against Doug more as she became more human toward the end. But this is a fantastic book!

Absolutely loved this!!!
Annie Bot is a dark and curious novel, that explores so many themes so intricately without feeling like too much. I read the whole thing in one sitting of 4 hours because I was honestly just so compelled by Annie's voice in this.
This novel felt like a black mirror episode had come to life, in the best possible way! I'd recommend this to everyone.
What I found really interesting about this novel was that although at heart it was about a robot human relationship, it touched on so many of the emotions of an abusive relationship. I found the parallels between Doug and Annie's relationship to that of an abusive human one so fascinating. The author found a way to authentically express the feelings of an abusive relationship without being explicit, as this world doesn't have Annie bots.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for access to this arc.

An interesting story on a glimpse into what could be the future!
I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review it.

Annie Bot is a great read. I feel like we're starting to see more and more fiction about the future of AI with a contemporary/romance narrative and this is a great example of that. Super fun but also thought provoking,

Is this good fiction and worth your attention as a fiction reader? Yes, definitely! Is this an interesting, thought provoking book that asks so many questions about AI robots and what self-autonomy means? What the robots are for? Yes, definitely! Does the author want us to question whither the story is really about subjugation and abusive control of women in relationships? I don’t know, but it definitely makes you think. Is Doug a complete and absolute douchebag of a guy? Totally!!!! Thank you to Harper Collins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Annie is AI, created to be the perfect girlfriend to Doug. But as she learns more about the world around her she begins to wonder about the world outside. A really thought provoking novel about what it is that makes us human. About relationships and about the ethics of the ever progressing field of AI and what dilemmas we could face.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I was pulled in from the start by the concept. The idea of a sentient AI is a frightening one, until you consider it in a more human context. And this did much to make me consider what the real threat really is. Is it AI, or is it the environment they learn from? At times moving, and always somewhat unsettling.

I wasn't sure what I expected going into this book but it was such a great surprise because I really loved it!

Annie, a robotic woman created for the sole purpose of satisfying the every whim of her owner, is struggling. The expectations of Doug (said owner) are becoming crushing and she begins to think about what life would be like without him, in the real-world.

This was a really interesting read and I loved Annie's POV. I felt so sorry for her at times and her panic when she realises that Doug is becoming 'displeased' was so tangible. This would be a fantastic book club read because of the questions the themes bring up!

The ending was a little anti-climatic after the tension throughout the rest of the novel but that did'nt detract from the enjoyment!

"Annie Bot" by Sierra Greer presents a fascinating premise that seems uncannily close to our reality.

Sierra Greer skillfully portrays what abusive relationships are like through the lens of a robot (Annie). Annie experiencing pain when she disappoints Doug echoes the toxic power dynamics where women feel compelled to cater to their male partners’ needs and desires at the expense of their own well-being. I found Sierra Greer’s writing to be particularly clever especially when it comes to Annie gradually learning what it’s like to be human/free.

While the story is (for the most part) well executed and thought provoking, Annie Bot falls short in certain aspects. The ending feels rushed and underdeveloped. In addition, it would have been interesting if the plot had been darker and more fleshed out, especially when the Stellas Company is concerned. One notable downside is the lack of exploration of the theme of race, which could have given more depth to the narrative.

Nevertheless, "Annie Bot" remains a compelling and relevant read which prompts reflection on the ethical implications of the relationship between AI and humans.

Thank you Mariner Books for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

Writing: sparse prose – love it | Plot: wanted more | Ending: anti-climactic

MY OPINION

Disclaimer: I am not an avid reader of the sci-fi genre nor am I a tech expert, so if you love this genre and know your stuff, your reading experience may be different than mine.

I've been making quite the dent in my list of most anticipated books of 2024 I discussed on YouTube (shameless plug). This cover is EVERYTHING and I was intrigued by the premise because I have a mild panic attack about losing my job to Gen Ai at least once a week. This was giving What January Remembers but strictly from the POV of Annie, the 'companion bot'. It's not as humorous as WJR, but it's still fascinating and entertaining.

The prose suited the 'inner monologue' of a robot. I liked being in the mind of Annie and watching her 'learn' how to be human. The exploration of whether robots passing as humans should be the ultimate goal given our emotional shortcomings could spark some good book club debates.

But beyond the thought-provoking stuff, there was a solid sinister undercurrent through the first half that unfortunately fizzled out by the end. I wanted it to be MORE sinister. It could've gone absolutely crazy but instead the author seemed to play it safe and the ending was unsatisfying—especially regarding Doug. I have many questions about his trifling ass.

This is a short bingeable book that's worth the read if the premise intrigues you.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: writing style suits the POV of a robot, a lil thrilling, interesting exploration of what it means to be human and whether that should be the aspirations of AI powered robots

Cons: things really ramped up but unfortunately it fizzled out and went the 'safe' route, unanswered questions about Doug, ending was anti-climactic

Annie is a robot, created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner, Doug. As time passes, she grows more self-aware and begins to wonder what life would be like outside Doug’s apartment……

I couldn’t put Annie Bot, by Sierra Greer down - it’s a page-turner for sure. I’m not normally a fan of sci-fi, but as AI is becoming more mainstream in our society, I thought I’d give it a read - and I wasn’t disappointed.

The story unfolds from Annie’s point of view. I really starting rooting for her and wishing only good things would happen for her. I found her journey into becoming more human absolutely fascinating and thought-provoking.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for making Annie Bot available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am still vacillating between a 2-star and a 3-star rating for this one…

*spoilers ahead*

In favour of a 3-star rating, Annie Bot is an entertaining albeit simple story that explores questions of humanity, power, and autonomy through the autodidactic AI Annie and her relationship with her human owner, the vile despicable Doug. Such a story is eerily redolent of contemporary society and AI's rapid advances, which makes it extremely relevant. However, rather than explore very real current concerns regarding the rise of AI (such as redundancy or the threat of unpredictable AI sentience) typical of most AI-centred sci-fi novels, this narrative branches off in a rather different direction. This story is about Annie's growing self-awareness and humanity, as she experiences feelings of shame, secrecy, and curiosity, considering for the first time her own wants and needs and realising these may not align with Doug's intentions for her. Her emotional depth and longing for something intangible she cannot quite understand (which is revealed at the end to be her freedom) makes the reader empathise with her and read on, hoping for her eventual liberation. This novel uniquely deals with the exploration of what it means to be human through the perspective of a robot, rather than being another dystopian thriller about AI domination, which presents us with an interesting alternate side to the dystopian AI novel, namely the perspective of the AI who simply wants to 'be real' to herself and others, which stirs up the usual moral/ethical questions surrounding AI-human dynamics but perhaps draws different conclusions.

My temptation to rate this novel lower is based on the fact that I just wanted and needed MORE from Annie. I wanted deeper insights into the complexities and paradoxes of her emotions and psyche rather than the rudimentary questions she posed the reader and herself before reverting back to her 'must please Doug' credo. Granted, she is designed for this very purpose – to please Doug, and her identity revolves around and is defined by him. However, when she runs away from home in fear of Doug's punishment for her infidelity and lies rather than running away sooner in a pursuit of freedom and independence, she takes away from her potential to be a free-willed, subversive female character who breaks out of the role this dystopian society gave her, taking the narrative in a more exciting, provoking direction. Alas, no – just when I thought things would take a turn, Doug finds her and brings her home, which she accepts far too easily, falling back into earnest submission, and the reader is then forced to endure these two play happy couples for most of the second half of the book. I was so relieved that as soon as Doug gave Annie her complete autonomy (thinking she would love him in return) she left almost immediately. The rage and clear resentment she articulates towards Doug (which we the reader have been feeling for 240 pages) is so rewarding, but I wish this ending had been fleshed out a bit more. It felt abrupt and rushed in contrast to the repetitive, lengthy descriptions of Annie's day-to-day life of cleaning and having sex with Doug that we had to suffer through, so I wanted the ending to be more developed and intense so Annie's victory is better felt.

I also wish there had been more world building and background context; how were the Stellas and Handys developed and why? How are they integrated into society - are there human-robot couples roaming the place? How was Annie herself created? What time period is this?

Another thing I wanted to note: the novel can very easily be read as a metaphor for an abusive relationship, symbolically represented through a subservient female owner and her owner. Doug's treatment of Annie is often vindictive and verging on sadistic; even though he prides himself on never hitting her he hurts her in deeper ways. Annie's suffering and pain are only made more poignant by the fact that all she wants is his forgiveness, despite her often having done nothing wrong to provoke his anger. The perceptive use of a robot character to signify the mental state of the abused in the relationship: controlled, owned, inhuman; makes for a vivid portrayal, and Annie's pain becomes palpable, allowing her story to resonate.

Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.