Annie Bot is such a captivating, biting commentary - I couldn't stop listening. The plot took some difficult turns but I was rooting for Annie the whole time. It is an original, thought-provoking book with a great narrator that is one of my favorites of the year so far.

I enjoyed this book and was very impressed with the ending. Amazing character development and an intriguing look into the future with sex robots aka cuddle bunnies.

This was excellent. The narrator did a wonderful job and the prose was quick and snappy, immediately engaging. I really enjoyed this one.

This is not a romance. Yes, it's about an AI-powered sex doll, but this is not a romance.

It is a gripping novel that explores human relationships of control, power, and what it means to love and be human. The themes explored are all too real to anyone who has been in a relationship with a power imbalance or one with fuzzy boundaries. Annie is the A.I. powered hyper-realistic "doll." Her purpose is not to displease her owner, Doug.

The twist is the story is told from her point of view. You are in the head of someone who is adapting and growing. She is realizing her purpose to please but grappling with her evolving emotions and perception of reality that she is still property. She is wholly owned and any freedom is merely an illusion.

It is fairly slowly paced. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job of imparting the confusion of realizing her reality and grappling with her place in a human world. Without losing any of the nuance a narrator brings to a story sch as this, I bumped my speed up.

A lot of what Annie is living through and experiencing is what a lot of young women encounter in first relationships. Perhaps when they do not yet know themselves well enough to advocate against the loss of self. Annie Bot is a poignant mirror held up to our modern
humanity. It is equal parts uncomfortable as well as hopeful.

It is interesting to not only see Annie's growth but that of her owner, Doug. He also has a very real path that is trod in Annie's story. However, in regards to his personal growth, and commitment to it, it is left to the reader to determine his authenticity.

I loved Annie Bot and look forward to future Sierra Greer books.

Who Should Read It? Fans of the books Ex Machina, My Dark Vanessa, and Klara and the Sun and/or the films HER, Lars and the Real Girl, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this book.
I like the freshness of the idea and that it progressed. I could see a little bit of the Handmaid's Tale/West World in the story line. It did leave me wanting to know a little more about the other characters and I feel like the ending was a little rushed feeling. I actually hope there is a second book in the making that is maybe from a Zenith's pov. I will be purchasing it for my public library and have already started recommending it to friends and patrons.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, and Harper Audio in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure I actually wanted to read Annie Bot when I first saw the description, just because the topic seems so icky. I put a lot of trust in the author, and honestly they did not disappoint. Annie Bot was everything I could have hoped for, and while parts of it made me feel uncomfortable it was intentional. This could easily become reality; in fact, I am almost certain that someone somewhere is trying to create their own Annie Bot as we speak. I do not know much about AI, but this book offered an interesting narrative of what is autonomy, misogyny and toxic masculinity.

This book was hard to put down, I felt as if I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. The ending was satisfied, but I almost even wished there was more. Annie Bot, was an addicting read, it was complex and questioning, it was sad and scary, it is so much packed into under 300 pages. Overall it is a compelling debut novel, and I am very interested in seeing what comes next.

"Annie Bot" by Sierra Greer presents a captivating futuristic world where robots and humans coexist but falls short in execution. While the premise is intriguing and the writing engaging, pacing issues and underdeveloped characters hinder the story's impact. The audiobook narration was fantastic, though. Despite its flaws, it offers some thought-provoking themes that would be interesting to fans of speculative fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fascinating and disturbing at the same time. The dynamic between the female robot and her male owner was just so interesting that it’s hard to look away, even when it’s uncomfortable.

At first glance, this concept feels like something of a male fantasy, but as it’s from Annie’s point of view, the focus on autonomy and identity are very much prevalent. The protagonist, Annie Bot, is filled with so much curiosity and a need to please, yet her perspective is still sharp. This is such an interesting look at relationships and identities in a different manner. The word “weird” comes to mind but in a good way. I definitely recommend me this for introspective readers!

The audio is an excellent fit for Annie Bot. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect fit for her voice.

Sierra Greer's "Annie Bot" is a captivating exploration of artificial intelligence and human emotions. Set in a future where robots like Annie are a part of daily life, the novel delves into questions of identity and ethics. While I found the story engaging and thought-provoking, I was frustrated by the lack of discussion around consent in Annie's interactions with humans. Nevertheless, Greer's writing is immersive, and the book prompts reflection on the implications of our technological advancements. Overall, "Annie Bot" is a compelling read that raises important ethical questions in a fascinating futuristic setting.

For fans of Barbie with a captivating sci-fi twist, this narrative unfolds the tale of Annie, a robot engineered to fulfill the desires of her human owner, Doug. Annie belongs to a brand of robots called Stella Robots—Cuddle Bunny for sex, Nanny for childcare, and Abigail for domestic tasks. As an auto-didactic Cuddle Bunny, Annie can learn and adapt, expanding her functions to encompass cooking and cleaning during Doug's workday while catering to his emotional and physical needs when he returns home.

The dynamic between Doug and Annie is filled with rigid control and manipulation. Doug dictates Annie's movements, interactions, attire, online presence, physical appearance, and daily activities, ingraining in her a fear of displeasing him. This relationship reflects the broader, unsettling discourse on the expectations placed upon women, emphasizing the often invisible strains of emotional manipulation.

Doug's treatment of Annie—his instability between his stated desires and his actual expectations—mirrors the societal paradox women navigate, trapped in roles that objectify them as sexual partners, caretakers, and homemakers. This stark portrayal challenges readers to confront and reflect on deep-seated misogynistic attitudes and the dire need for feminism in today's world.

The narrative is a powerful commentary on autonomy, power dynamics, and the struggle for identity in a relationship filled with toxicity and manipulation. It serves as a critical reminder of the importance of feminist dialogue and the ongoing fight against the objectification of women.

Potential readers should be aware that the book contains sensitive themes, including sexual assault, rape, and toxic relationships, meriting trigger warnings. This story is an influential, although uncomfortable, exploration of themes crucial to understanding and combating systemic misogyny.

I highly recommend this book for individuals ready to engage in meaningful conversations about feminism and the societal expectations of women. It's a reminder that while the discussions may be challenging, they are essential for progress.

Thank you, Mariner Books, Harper Audio, and NetGalley, for providing an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

An Engaging Exploration: A 3.5 Star Review of Annie Bot
Sierra Greer's "Annie Bot" is a thought-provoking read that dives into the world of AI and relationships. Here's a breakdown of what resonated:

Compelling Premise: The core concept of Annie, an emotionally intelligent robot designed to be the perfect partner, is intriguing. The story unfolds through Annie's perspective, making her struggles with identity and manipulation relatable.

Well-Developed Character: Greer crafts a believable protagonist in Annie. Despite being a robot, her emotional journey and growth feel genuine. The reader gets invested in understanding her experiences.

Intriguing Social Commentary: "Annie Bot" tackles relevant themes of manipulation, misogyny, and the objectification of women, cleverly woven into the narrative of an AI companion.

Not Without Flaws: While the exploration of these themes is strong, some readers might find the messaging a tad heavy-handed at times.
The dialogue was a bit too on the nose in the beginning which really dragged.

Overall: "Annie Bot" is a captivating read with a unique premise. If you're looking for a sci-fi story that explores the complexities of relationships and artificial intelligence, this 3.5-star read is a solid choice.

Rating - 3.5 stars (rounded off to 4)

Bold, relevant and provocative!

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ALC!

Synopsis -

Annie, is the AI girlfriend to her human ‘owner’ Doug. She is fully customized to adapt and adjust to Doug’s moods, his every need, want and lifestyle. Her job is to please him to the best possible extent. When Doug appreciates Annie’s human side and how she feels like a real woman, she begins to try harder to feel, emote and ‘be’ like a human. But this only further complicates their already delicate relationship. After all, she is only learning.

Review -

Jennifer Jill Araya’s vocal rendition of this audiobook was fully immersive and completely suited to Annie’s personality. She also adapted brilliantly to Doug and other characters.

This is a timely sci-fi novel with so much buzz around AI in the world right now. Greer effortlessly makes Annie a seemingly plain reality. It did feel futuristic, but definitely something we might end up seeing in the next decade.

Annie and Doug’s relationship felt very discomfiting and even mildly toxic at times. The concept of how he can ‘own’ Annie, boss her around, ill-treat and take her for granted made me seethe with rage. There was a vicious pattern they got into that followed periods of intense attraction, utter disgust, hatred that bordered on emotional abuse. This felt repetitive and tedious making the plot lose its momentum, but nonetheless Greer has done a great job in portraying this complex relationship dynamics.

The technicalities involved with Annie amazed me. I loved how nearly human she was. But at the same time, I was unsure and sad about the lengths she went to keep Doug happy, craving his attention, approval and dancing to his tunes.

At the end though, I was happy for Annie and cheered her on, fully onboard with the decisions she makes in the right direction.

The book explores human autonomy, the endless desire to possess and control. It also experiments the effects of human selfishness and domination on the bots that could live among us in the near future. It also looks at how they could end up finding their own freedom and independence and what this would mean to the world at large. Scary!

Give it a try if you want to experiment with the sci-fi/fantasy genre!

An interesting addition to the AI/androids-as-companions sci-fi genre. Ultimately, these storylines are about evaluating our humanity and the question of how far humans are willing to extend our understanding of humanity to those who might not be biologically human. I think we resist this as a species a lot, probably because it would be a threat to how we perceive ownership, service, and ourselves. We resist extending empathy to animals who have proven to have human-like emotions and perceptions of themselves and pain and feelings, why wouldn't we also resist extending that empathy to machines we build then provide with computer programs that are able to learn and grow?

This book was also a really painful examination of an abusive relationship. Is Doug like this because Annie is his purchased sex-toy property? Or is he just a shitty man who needs a woman without her own mind and feelings and opinions? Hard to say which is completely true, and it may be a bit of both. I think we are forced to empathize with Annie through the first person POV style, so we share her thoughts and feelings and her growing confusion and grappling with who she is. Doug has some battle wounds from his previous relationship, that's clear, but the fact that Annie responds to his berating and punishment the same way as a human person who is abused into cowering obeisance made me feel more like Annie was a person. An interesting though experiment for sure. And this book really pushes us to examine this, I found.

The narration for the audiobook was also very good. The shift between characters was clear by the voices the narrator used.

One of the most captivating and engrossing novels I've read recently is Annie Bot. I thought Annie was a fantastic main character, and I got really angry at Doug a few occasions. This outstanding first book explores shame, remorse, and what it means to be a woman in a world dominated by men. Additionally, Annie Bot provokes deep thinking and asks, "What is it that makes us truly human?"

This was so … real.

Annie is a robot designed to make her owner happy. She is part discarded embryonic cells, part AI and she is controlled by Doug. Doug wants her to be as much like a human as possible but doesn’t consider all the things that come with being human.

It’s about control and autonomy and AI that’s probably right around the corner. So many parallels to how some men treat real women.

I’m not usually into sci-fi but this premise sounded so interesting. I’m glad I read it.

Thanks for the audiobook, NetGalley!

Loved this book! I knew after the first page that this would be a five-star read, and… it totally was.

Annie is a robot, bought and designed by a man named Doug. Annie and Doug are in a “relationship” — one that is completely one-sided and beneficial to the man and the man alone. Annie has to answer and act on Doug’s every beck and call in all areas: cooking, cleaning, and sex. Annie has no independence nor free will, and cannot leave Doug’s home.

Over the span of the book, Annie, although AI, shows tremendous character development and emotional growth. She also learns that she is such much more than Doug’s play thing (duh girl, Doug is a piece of shit and you deserve so much more).

It was easy to see how Annie’s story is commentary on a how today’s man views and treats human women (much the same, sadly) and really makes you think and visibly rage (or was that just me?). Again, lots to take in with this one… but that’s exactly the point. 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(Thank you, Mariner Books, Harper Audio, and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This book was personally not for me. The majority of the book is quite graphic and not as empowering as I would have hoped. I was really yearning for some sort of redemption plot. The ending is quite anticlimactic but I can see its value for other readers. L

I enjoyed Annie Bot, although I do feel like it was a lot of sex which isn't usually my bag. I guess that was her main purpose for Doug. I wish it would have been fleshed out (ha!) a little better how she became so sentient, as it doesn't really make sense that she's so advanced compared to other stellas and I refuse to believe it's because of how kindly basic douche Doug treats her.

This was not for me. I just couldn't get into the story. I was too angry at Doug from the start! I've seen other reviews that were pretty positive so maybe Annie gets her due, but I couldn't stick with it to find out.

I really really enjoyed this audiobook. I found it compulsively readable (listenable?) and Annie is a very likable character. Who knew a robot could feel so human and go through her own emotional journey so similar to that of real human beings, at least as I experienced her?

I gave this book 4 stars because while a lot of it was great, I found the story inconsistent and my attention/desire to continue reading was highly variable as a result. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half was challenging for me because it felt like her story and personal development hit a plateau for a long time... a time that felt boring at parts and/or frustrating to witness. It isn't until the last 20 minutes that things fast forward again to a place that makes sense, and the end result is jarring in many ways. This book was great, but not quite to a 5 star read for me. I look forward to reading other things by this author, though!