Chaos Theory by Sylvia Leatham is a fun and exciting story.
I thought the writing was fantastic and very engaging.
The characters were believable and realistic. Which made for an amazing story.

Maeve does not like to form connections with people, she doesn't make an effort with her colleagues other than being polite, but could she befriend a robot?

When Maeve is tasked with babysitting Kobi in her job to help him improve his human interactions, humorous calamity ensues.

The main point of view is Maeve's, but there are a few from Kobi, which is what I feel assists in pulling it away from being a romantic comedy.

The last 30% of the book goes on a chaotic tangent involving Kobi's purpose, a heist, and potatoes.

This was a little different than I expected, less romantic than just general fiction. More about science and how our relationships can be affected by AI. All in all, charming, but not one that stands out for me as a book I love.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chaos Theory is a quirky, heartfelt workplace dramedy with a dash of romance and a surprisingly endearing robot at its center. The story follows Maeve, who’s tasked with integrating Kobi—a humanoid robot—into her office. What begins as a corporate experiment quickly becomes something more personal, as Maeve navigates her complicated love life, her own insecurities, and the challenges of helping Kobi fit into a very human world.

Kobi is easily the star of this novel. His POV chapters add both humor and charm, and his attempts to adapt to office life are often laugh-out-loud funny while also surprisingly touching. Watching his personality develop and his bond with Maeve deepen was by far the highlight of the book. The workplace interactions—ranging from skepticism to awkward acceptance—only enhanced the story’s humor and heart.

Where the book falters is in its romance. Maeve’s entanglement with Shane never feels fully convincing, more “situationship” than love story, and their chemistry is minimal. Her connection with Josh, Kobi’s programmer, offers more potential, but the payoff feels rushed and uneven, especially given Maeve’s conflicted reactions toward him at the end. These weaker romantic threads make the story feel slightly unfocused, as if it couldn’t quite decide whether it wanted to be a rom-com, a workplace satire, or a speculative lit-fic exploration of identity and belonging.

Despite its uneven pacing and some abrupt chapter endings, the novel shines in its humor, creativity, and emotional undercurrent. It balances quirky comedy with thoughtful themes of acceptance, connection, and what it means to belong—whether you’re human or not.

Overall, Chaos Theory is a fun, charming, and at times messy read that will especially appeal to fans of workplace humor and character-driven storytelling. Come for the promise of romance, but stay for Kobi—the most lovable robot you’ll wish you had in your office.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2⭐️

This was not for me unfortunately and I had high hopes from the beginning of the book that it was going to be great.

I want to start by saying I don’t think this was a bad book, I just think it was poorly described. It makes it sound like it’s a romance book with a robot sub-plot but in reality there is very little romance (possibly 10-20 pages total in the whole book).

I am not someone who needs romance in a book to enjoy it so I think I could have liked this had I not known anything about it before hand or had a better idea of what the book was about.

I liked the overall story and whilst I think it could have been shorter the whole plot of the book being about the morality of AI and robots in the workplace was interesting. I also think the way the author explored this without making the book heavy and jelling it lighthearted was really good.

I think there were some issues with the writing. A lot of times characters would be talking and then the dialogue would stop but the POV would tell us what was being said to them. But it looked like the author had just taken out all the speech marks and it confused me a few times.

I think Maeve and Shane had potential to have a really good relationship arc with some great tension. Unfortunately this just wasn’t developed or explored enough and by the end it just feels rushed and like an afterthought. The characters felt liked they belonged in a romance with the cheesy dialogue and a lack of real character development.

I hate being so critical because I really don’t think this was a bad book. But overall I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

I would recommend this book if you like something a bit different or you’re interested in the development of robots and their implications in the workplace, but you want something lighthearted and fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an arc copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

CHAOS THEORY - Sylvia Leatham

Lit Bits:

- 4/5 Stars 🌸
- 2/5 See noted 🌶️
- Content: Situationship(s)??, current tech
- A little dual POV, STEM
- “I smile. ‘I guess we all wear armour in one form or another.’”

🌸First off, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It is so much different than what I usually read but I did appreciate the ties to the current advances in the world of technology. I really connected with Maeve and found her very realistic and likeable. There was much self-discovery by her and that always makes a book a win for me. This did quite remind me of one long episode of The Office (US) with a robot as the comedic relief!!

Secondly, this is described as a Rom-Com many times. I would not call it that. Was it funny? For sure. Romantic? Little tiny bits throughout (but DEFINITELY a sub-plot). It didn't “ruin” the book, it was just not as advertised.

It was insightful and fun that I cruised through it in less than 24 hours. Sylvia Leatham made me think a lot about our current day and age and I do think that is important!! “I might want to write a story about a robot, but I do not want a robot writing a story about me.” is a quote from Sylvia's acknowledgments and it definitely showed me where/what her take on things is and it clarified a lot of the book to me

🌶️The first chapter starts with a couple in bed after their evening, unclothed. No graphic description. Maybe two on page scenes that last all of a paragraph with no graphic detail whatsoever. I would call it open door because it simply is that, but this was not spicy in any way.

Incredibly insightful. Easy writing style that I devoured. Congratulations on the release of your book Sylvia Leatham. You are a gem and I can’t wait to see what you write next.

Thank you so much Storm Publishing for this ARC!

This was an okay read, but definitely something that seems better in film. As a stem girl, I love contemporary romances that are surrounded by science. I wish there was more stem/research involved to highlight how strong the FMC could have potentially been. I know that the book was advertised with a love triangle and more like finding yourself but I think the romance is downplaying how smart the FMC really is. I found it hard to enjoy the book because of how the FMC was portrayed. There may have been too many subplots that took away from the main storyline.

Maeve works for an Irish tourism company in Dublin and has a situationship with her coworker Shane. Both are wanting to move on to better suited workplaces. While Shane is personable and popular Maeve feels like an outsider with everyone due to her childhood of moving around the world constantly. Her workplace is given an opportunity to get a workplace companion robot to assist the people working at the company. Maeve is assigned the task of being the robot Kobi’s “manager” a.k.a. Babysitter/Wrangler. Maeve has no idea what she is doing and Kobi’s programmer Josh, a very attractive American, doesn’t seem to give her much guidance other than saying Kobi needs to interact with people to create new neural pathways and learn to better be around people. Maeve does her best to integrate Kobi into the Go Ireland office and facilitate a camaraderie between the humans who work there with their new robot counterpart. While there are elements of romance between Maeve and Shane as well as Maeve and Josh, I think the real love story is the relationship that Maeve fosters with Kobi as she takes on more of a mentor and parent role than just babysitting. It was a cute story that took me a bit to settle into as I went in feeling it would be more of a love triangle read than it was. It was very sweet story of friendship and explored the idea of AI within the workplace (and within creative fields), where do ethics belong in the development of technology & how does it affect that development, how people bond and anthropomorphize inanimate objects and assign emotions to them, and with that taking a look at how we use AI and machines and in what capacity. A cute and makes you think story overall.

DNF at 22%

In all honesty, this was not an easy decision. The first time it came to me, at like the first few chapters, and then I thought to give it a bit more time, but no, I believe the robot plot is not for me, im sorry

The writing is good, also funny, I laughed many times, butttttt I cannot read about a robot integration, the chapter from his POV was the last drop.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This wasn't for me, and it's the second book I've read this week that was marketed as romance yet that story line was completely secondary to the plot. I was drawn in by the cover and description, both of which were misleading. I'm sure others would enjoy this if their expectations aren't rom-com related.

Cute quick read! I did go into this book thinking it was going to be a rom com and didn't feel like it hit those rom com feels I'm use to from that genre. I did enjoy myself and it was an awesome palate cleanser. I personally didn't connect to the characters and it just felt a little stiff. I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! I did find the robot plot unique and enjoyed seeing how it all played out!

Chaos Theory wasn’t quite what I expected going in. Instead, it’s a thoughtful look at the role technology plays in our lives—and how incomplete truths shape the way we see ourselves and others.

There were aspects I appreciated, particularly the way the story highlighted how tech can both help and complicate human connection. But overall, I found myself wanting more depth in the characters themselves. Maeve, especially, felt like she had real potential for growth, but instead of showing us her development, the story often told us after the fact.

I also struggled with some believability in Maeve’s arc. She begins with no technical training yet somehow ends up making significant adjustments to a million-dollar robot. The leap didn’t feel fully earned. On the other hand, Shane—who initially seemed set up as a main character—was sidelined as more of a comic relief figure. I found myself wishing his storyline had been given more weight.

In the end, this book offers an interesting commentary on how technology shapes our daily lives, but for me, it was missing some of the emotional character growth I love most in a story.

This is a quirky and entertaining workplace comedy with a surprising amount of heart. The story centers on Maeve, who is assigned to help a robot named Kobi assimilate into her office. Kobi quickly becomes the heart of the novel—his awkward attempts to fit in are both hilarious and touching, and his evolving bond with Maeve is a joy to watch. The alternating chapters between Maeve and Kobi add another layer of charm, offering unique insight into Kobi’s perspective and making their dynamic even more engaging.

Where the novel doesn’t quite succeed is in its romance. Maeve’s primary love interest feels underdeveloped, reading more like a casual fling than a meaningful connection. Their lack of chemistry makes the sudden leap toward love unconvincing, especially compared to Maeve’s natural spark with another potential love interest. Maeve’s reaction to Josh at the end also feels uneven, as her unwillingness to forgive him comes across as hypocritical given her own choices.

Despite these flaws, Chaos Theory shines in its humor and heart. Maeve and Kobi’s relationship carries the book, making it a fun, lighthearted, and worthwhile read.

This was such a charming read. The story follows Maeve, who’s assigned to help assimilate a robot named Kobi into the workplace. My favorite part of the book was Maeve’s interactions with Kobi. Their dynamic was funny and heartfelt. Kobi’s attempts to fit in and find his role at the company were both hilarious and endearing, and watching Maeve and Kobi’s relationship grow closer over the course of the book was fun to see. Maeve's coworkers didn't know what to think about him, which made their interactions all the more comical.

There are some chapters broken up between Maeve and Kobi, which made it that much more interesting to read and gave us a better understanding of what Kobi was thinking.

Where the book fell short for me was in the romance, or lack thereof. Honestly, the love interest felt more like a “friends with benefits” situation than an actual romantic connection. Maeve often complained about him, and the things she said didn’t come across as affectionate. Their lack of chemistry made it hard to buy into the sudden shift toward love—especially after the whole underwear incident, which was brushed off a little too casually. In contrast, I felt she had much stronger chemistry with the other potential love interest.

Another sticking point for me was Maeve’s reaction to Josh at the end. She struggled to forgive him, but it came across as somewhat hypocritical since she was willing to make a similar choice herself just “differently.” Given how much both of them cared for Kobi, I expected her to understand his motives more, especially since his lie wasn’t malicious.

I also noticed that some chapters ended very abruptly. Often, the last sentence felt unfinished, as if the thought should have continued, which disrupted the flow slightly.

All that said, I really enjoyed the comedic aspect of the story and especially the bond between Maeve and Kobi. Their relationship is what kept me wanting to continue reading. For what it is, this was a cute and fun read, and I’d definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy workplace humor with a touch of heart.

DNF at 20%.

First of all, I really tried pushing through finishing the book but unfortunately, it just doesn't speak to me that much. The premise is very interesting which is why I wanted to read it but it was not what I expected it to be.

I love Maeve. In a way, I resonate with her and her desire to switch jobs every now and then in hopes to find what she really wants. I liked Kobi, he's an adorable robot despite his "awkward" quirks. I appreciate how it was showcased from the start how uncomfortable it is for us humans to work with AI because of the thought of them possibly taking our jobs in the future. I should know this as someone who works on an industry where they're prevalent now.

I think what just put me off is that I was initially expecting this to be a romantic comedy, as what it was initially showcased, with the robot being a supportive character or catalyst on the development but until the part where I stopped reading, I didn't feel it happening.

While this book didn't work out for me, I feel like other readers who are more into science fiction with less romance will find this very interesting!

I will still look forward to Sylvia's future works because this showed me she has so much potential!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-copy of this ARC!

#ChaosTheory #NetGalley

Oh, how I'd love to have a robot like Kobi! I think the premise of the story was great: Maeve handles a new assignment at her tourism board job (integrating a robot helper, Kobi, into the office workplace) while juggling two love interests (situationship Shane and Kobi's programmer Josh). But I don't think the story fully delivered on the premise. There was less overall focus on the romance than I expected, and more focus on Kobi and his successes and failures in interacting with humans, as well as on Maeve's journey about letting others in and coming to understand what she wanted in life. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the focus on Kobi, I just went into this book thinking it was going to be slightly different than what I got.) I also thought the pacing was a little uneven, especially in the first half of the book, but the question of why Kobi malfunctioned at the previous company definitely kept me reading. I really liked Kobi, and I loved that he got a POV! (I would have liked more from his viewpoint in the first half of the book, though.) Although I wouldn't call this laugh-out-loud, there was a nice amount of humor without being slapstick. I got the sense that the author didn't fully know what she wanted this book to be and so she combined a lot of themes all together and actually kind of made them work (part romance/part fish-out-of-water workplace comedy/part corporate conspiracy mystery/part lit-fic self-exploration novel). But for my reading experience, it felt a bit too disjointed to be fully cohesive. Even though this wasn't quite my cup of tea, I'd read this author again. I like how she handled Kobi and his growing pains, and his personality grew to be very endearing over the course of the story. (I honestly think I would have enjoyed this book more if the romance aspect was cut out almost completely, which feels almost sacrilegious to write as a hardcore romance reader but that's how much I enjoyed Kobi and his assimilation into a human workplace.) 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes September 5, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.

ive got to admit my first thought about this book was to stay away. anything AI has me wanting to up root to the moon. ive had just about enough of the problematic side of it. but i was intrigued by a human having to babysit one and where that might lead and it DID seem to be taking it lightly. but i have to wish an hope that it doesn't start to become a norm to include but i firstly think i might not be supported in this and secondly i think we are going to see it more and more. i need to get on board? give me time.
this also became apparent to me and i got a bit icky when they really did start humanising this robot...
i do like though, how we are getting a broader subject matter to our book and the characters within. we've seen more techy and science based people. some people who would have been old school "nerds" are now championed and that is always brilliant to see.
the plot was super cute and fun. Mauve in this was such a sparkly character to read. she is in this book given the task to work with and alongside and train a Ai Robot in her current workplace. she needs to give him some human scenarios and experiences. this is all so complex and new to her and add to that in her own life shes got some very human relation issues.
Sylvia has a really nice way of writing. its so smooth, flowing and easy. the topics are relevant and balance the ups and down with life without becoming to much nor too light in tone.
i was rooting for our characters and wanted to follow right until the end to see how this would all work out. and yes, i even wanted to know what would come to the bot.

Loved this Irish sci fi workplace comedy that explores what it means to be human in a world that is increasingly relying on machine learning (ie AI) and robots. It was funny, thought-provoking and just the sort of escapist fun I was needing.

While there is a dash of romance in this book for the cherry on the top, the book centres on Maeve, a woman used to flirting from job to job now in charge of a teaching Kobi, a robot to become more human while she also nurses a big crush on his creator Josh. But what is about another ‘never again’ colleague Shane? I also loved the supporting characters including David, Julia, Sharon and even Trish. I absolutely cackled at the art class.

I also appreciated that the author addresses that while all this new technology has benefits it also threatens livelihoods and can be used for harm.

I can’t wait for this author’s next book.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

I found Maeve very relatable as a fmc with how she feels like she’s not sure what she wants to do with her life and her career. I enjoyed reading the office dynamics and banter - there is a great set of characters throughout. I thought it was so interesting to have the POVs of Maeve and Kobi the robot as he is determined to be a success and achieve his mission of fitting in with the humans but it is difficult to understand their language or reading between the lines. I did find myself rooting for Maeve and Kobi to get their happy endings but I did think it was a bit extreme that Maeve was willing to end her relationship for a robot. The ending was nice and sweet.
A fun techy twist on a modern romance I would recommend 🤖💚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chaos Theory is a chaotic, witty, and utterly heartwarming rom-com that had me laughing one moment and clutching my heart the next. Sylvia Leatham delivers a fresh, clever story full of sharp banter, quirky mishaps, and just the right touch of chaos to keep you hooked.

Maeve is a delightfully messy heroine—relatable, hilarious, and impossible not to root for as she stumbles through life, love, and the curveball of being saddled with a robot sidekick who steals every scene. The love triangle between her long-time, frustrating flame Shane and the sweet, nerdy-in-the-best-way Josh adds plenty of swoon and tension, making the emotional payoff that much sweeter.

Smart, modern, and packed with both comedy and heart, Chaos Theory is a rom-com with brains and soul. Fans of Sophie Kinsella and Christina Lauren will adore this zany yet heartfelt journey about finding love, friendship, and your place in the middle of the madness.