I really, really, really enjoyed this book. It was such a refreshing take on AI and the "robot revolution" that focused more on misogyny and the capability of cruelty in men than on anything sci-fi related. This book genuinely scared me because of that cruelty, and the fact that it felt less like an isolated incident and more about the monsters men can become when faced with internalized misogyny and unfettered power. Some scenes in this novel will stay with me for a very long time. It was a difficult read, but I really enjoyed it. Great recommendation for people who enjoy speculative fiction.

This was such a surprising read! I loved not knowing what would happen next. Annie Bot is in a relationship with her owner Doug. It's not as straightforward as you would expect. There's a lot Annie doesn't know about the world yet. We're along for the ride as she learns over time, becoming her own person, experiencing other relationships, and evaluating where she really stands with Doug.

My goodness... this book is everything. Everything I needed and everything I've ever felt. How can speculative fiction hit so close to home?

I devoured Annie Bot in one sitting. Whether it's because I was sick in bed or because I was so invested in Annie in her story, who knows. But this is such a clever, unique and well-written novel that now holds a special place in my heart.

Told with immense heart and emotion, I love how the book explores abuse so masterfully, highlighting all its nuances and complexities and struggles. Some scenes made me very uncomfortable but I could also relate to so much of Annie's thoughts and feelings. The commentary on various issues is subtle yet hard-hitting, razor-sharp and on point.

I will be thinking about this book for long.

Did you ever watch the AMC show Humans? This kinda reminded me a little of that. Having a robot be just like a human. In this case Annie was Doug's perfect girlfriend. Or was she? Not only does she satisfy his needs, she cooks and cleans. Well, she tries. But the more she adjusts to his wants and needs, the more human she becomes.

I loved this book. I mean poor Annie as she deals with a controlling human, but she is just an unfeeling robot. Isn't she? The longer she exists, the more human she seems.

This has such deep seeded issues such as control, autonomy, and abuse. It gives a look into what misogyny looks like from the inside and some scary thoughts of what AI might be capable of doing.

While it did take a few weird turns, I was fully engaged from start to finish for this dystopian robot/AI experiment. I love a well done sci-fi novel and this one delivered.

Jennifer Jill Araya narrates this one and did a great job bringing it to life. Annie and her growing humanity and Doug and his controlling ways.

Wow I really loved this one. I can’t believe this is a debut novel for this author. The narrative was laid out so perfectly, I was gripped from the beginning. The ending caught me by surprise, and weeks later after finishing I’m still struggling to decide if I like how it ended. The journey was great regardless!

3.5 stars for one of the most unique reads I’ve read so far this year!

Annie Bot features the POV of an AI robot named Annie, who is the ideal partner for her human Doug. Told with feminist views and character growth, I was fascinated to see where the story would go.

I listened to the audio format and really enjoyed the narration! Definitely out of my typical reads but it was fun overall.

*many thanks to Mariner Books, Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

What a WILD ride! I was soooo into this! This touches on AI, gender roles, and what it means to be human! I can’t believe this is a debut because it was so good!

I thought this was such a gripping, thought-provoking and surprising read in the best kind of way! Highly rec the audio for this one!

A genre bending mix of domestic thriller, dystopian and scify- a compulsive story with complex characters and thought provoking prose. Well written, evenly paced and entertaining. Definitely memorable

This book is a mix of sci-fi / dystopian fiction and a domestic "romance"? I don't know, exactly. Annie Bot is a "cuddle bunny," a robot that looks just like a human. She is auto-didactic, which means that she can learn and adapt to her surroundings, conversations, commands, etc. She is from a company that is producing these robots to either be nannies, cleaning ladies or... cuddle bunnies. Her owner, Doug, enjoys her, but as Annie develops mentally, she realizes that she doesn't want to be owned.

It's is reminiscent of Handmaids Tale (which is referenced in the book), where women should be owned and controlled by men. They can be punished and their job is simply to not displease their man. It's uncomfortable to read at times, and I think the author was trying to make a point about women and their role and instead of making it super uncomfortable, she let the woman be a robot, which adds a layer to the story.

I wasn't sure how this was going to end and I wasn't sure how I wanted it to end. That being said... I don't love the ending. Both Annie and Doug changed their tune on important issues that plagued both of them throughout the book and it just felt rushed. I don't know how it should have ended, though.

✨️Review: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer✨️

🌙's 4/5

Overview: Annie Bot is created to please doug and make sure that he is happy. He is her creator, after all.

Thoughts: First of all... Where's the sequel because I'm ready for it now.

Second of all, this book was such a good book. From beginning to end, I felt and cared for Annie she was beautifully written AI. The thoughts and feelings that she had truly made me think she was alive in this story and then I would be reminded again that she was machine because her battery was low or she couldn't displeasure her owner. This was brilliantly balanced in my own opinion. The pain she suffered, the few joys she felt, it all seemed so heartfelt, and I honestly related to her love of books and how she was able to forget about worries for a short while.

This was a great concept, and it was executed just as great. It's definitely in the running for my favorite book of the year.

This book is written for women who may feel trapped in their relationship. I think that people who have experienced emotional manipulation would also relate to Annie.

I hope there is a sequel in the works I need to have more of Annie's story.

Thank you @harpercollins and @netgalley for a eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

🕰️ Two Minute Book Reviews, Annie Bot by Sierra Greer 🕰️

🤖 Why I read it: The best reason-a friend suggested it!

🥀 What I got out of it: Reading this was messy and fast and left me with more questions that answers (in the best way). Really, it was a lot like understanding humanity which is funny when you consider the main character is technically not. But it’s that technically where the ingenuity and character building of this novel bubbles over. One thing I really enjoyed was as Annie became more conscious she realized she had to do less and less for others to make herself happy. It was a constant reminder that women don’t act or person for men alone, even robot women. Sometimes reading, dressing cute, and doing your hair isn’t for anyone else but you. Also, I’m glad Doug didn’t get a redemption arc. Too often women are shouldered with making men better. I’m glad Annie refused that responsibility.

👗 Read if you want to feel..: the most human feelings - shameful, cruel, tragic, uncomfortable, sad, tender, tense, fast, curious, and, mostly funny.

📖 Summary: “Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the outfits he orders, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. She’s not the greatest at keeping Doug’s place spotless, but she’s trying to please him. Doug says he loves that Annie’s AI makes her seem more like a real woman, so Annie explores human traits such as curiosity, secrecy, and longing. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie’s relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: Does Doug really desire what he says he wants? And in such an impossible paradox, what does Annie owe herself?”

Powerful, Provocative, Innovative and absolutely forwar d thinking. This is an absolutely impressive work of fiction and I am floored am enamored by Sierra Greer's writing!

What a smart take on the Stepford wife trope. I really loved this book and what it says about how women are valued in our society. I highly recommend!

The concept of this book was super interesting and hooked me from the very beginning! We follow Annie, who more or less is just a sex robot for this guy who is an absolutely horrible person. I liked seeing the growth of Annie's development throughout the story and I enjoyed seeing her face hardships and try her hardest to be human. The writing was nice and I flew through this book in one day! My biggest complaint is about the ending, but I could just be bias because I absolutely HATED Doug. There was no redeeming that dude for me. Overall, this book was fast-paced and interesting. This author did a great job for a debut!

This book didnt do anything for me. I couldnt get into the story . Sadly i couldnt finish. Maybe others will like this but it wasnt for me.

"Annie Bot" by Sierra Greer is a sci-fi novel that combines charm, wit, and a touch of poignancy. The story follows Annie, a highly advanced female robot, who is designed to assist with household tasks, and whatever else her owner wants from her, but ends up exploring what it means to be human.

Greer’s writing is both engaging and thought-provoking. She has a knack for blending humor with deeper philosophical questions about identity, consciousness, and the nature of emotions. Annie’s journey is both heartwarming and intriguing as she navigates her way through human interactions and gradually develops her own personality.

One of the standout aspects of "Annie Bot" is its characters. Annie herself is wonderfully realized, with a blend of innocence and curiosity that makes her incredibly endearing. The human characters she interacts with are also well-developed, providing a great contrast to Annie’s robotic nature and highlighting her growth throughout the story.

While "Annie Bot" is a sci-fi novel, its core is very much about human relationships and self-discovery. It’s a book that makes you smile, think, and perhaps even shed a tear (I did!).

Sierra Greer has crafted a memorable story that will appeal not only to sci-fi fans but also to anyone who enjoys a good character-driven novel.

Annie Bot is the best book I've read this year! It's a darkly funny and feminist story about a sex robot breaking away from her constraints. I enjoyed the voice of the main character, and was rooting for her the whole time.

This was my first time venturing into this type of sci-fi for books and wow, it did not disappoint. The description hooked me immediately – it felt very reminiscent of Detroit: Become Human – and I’ve been looking forward to Annie Bot’s release for months since reading about it.

I’m so glad it lived up to my excitement! Already I’m so bummed that Greer doesn’t have more novels available for me to consume like the best meal I’ve ever had, because Annie Bot was such an engaging read and left me with precisely the right amount of openness in novel endings that I love.

Annie’s journey to exploring humanity (her own and of those around her) and developing her own wants, needs, and desires, was such a perfect build-up that, despite the short page count, didn’t feel like I was being rushed through the novel for her journey. The pacing was excellent, and her journey kept me hooked; I read about 85% of the book in one sitting because once I became invested I could not put it down or stop until I finished it. Even the more emotionally taxing/rough scenes had me blazing through the book, despite how challenging and uncomfortable some of them were to read.

I think that Doug is a deeply flawed person, but that Greer wrote him in such a way he isn’t just there to be “the villain”; he’s clearly a very damaged man with a great number of problems, which only seem to worsen every time his insecurities deepen. He’s (obviously) very easy to dislike, but abusers are very rarely just abusers with no other qualities to them, and Greer manages to make him multi-faceted, though I do think Annie’s perception of him and her internal thoughts do a lot of leg work there to adding nuance to a man that’s otherwise just gross.

Some of this novel is, of course, difficult to get through; consent is obviously a sticky topic since Annie is a robot who is developing her own thoughts, personality, and preferences. The abuse is real and vivid. The relationship is really, really tough to read through at some points. I think that Greer handles these things in a very complex, nuanced way, that doesn’t attempt to make it more palatable or easier to get through, nor does she turn it into trauma tourism, which I appreciate.

Everything is dealt with from Annie’s point of view, so her opinions and responses are going to be wildly different to what a human would have in a similar situation, making it a very fresh viewpoint to read on it from. Which I suppose can be said for basically everything in this book, and is part of what I enjoyed about it so much.

The only gripes I have are that I would have liked there to be more expansion upon Annie’s programming and her development vs. other bots, and I’m still left wondering why Doug made a point of telling Annie about the one trans character we encounter, but those feel quite minor in the grand scheme of things.

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner, Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the cute outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. This book was very intriguing and unique given the new world of AI we currently live in. Annie alike many humans wants to find her own voice and understand what makes her "her". The novel was interesting and kept me hooked on what Annie's next steps would be as she embarked on a journey of self-discovery. The book made me question AI and all that can happen in the future. Definitely a great book if you're interested in AI and the new technology of the 21st century.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I found this book to be intriguing, unique and futuristic. I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it left me a bit unsettled. Unsettled at the possibility of technology like this existing one day and at the thought of the commodification of women’s bodies. Greer wrote this book well, and left me asking more questions about the unrelenting strength of the patriarchy in our society.