I wanted to like this. I don't read the books I am not expecting to love.

It is clear to me that the author is working through some feelings. Like he's upset that women have babies with the most attractive men and not the smartest.
I personally, had a son with a tall man and daughters with cute short men, but I do not represent all women. And as a librarian I was actually excited about the library staff getting a basketball break in the library. I an not a sports girly, but sports knowledge and ability is knowledge and ability. I related the advertising everywhere but we live that way already. And relying on an algorithm is definately something we should not do, but remember when Tiktok was at it's prime? That was a good algorithm, until it started making teens hate their own parents and stuff. For a while Twitter was great too. I loved seeing only things that would interest me.

Is the 17 year old who just met this guy supposed to be in love with him? We know by the writing that she's super hot.

For a book on how we have less human interaction there is a lot of human dialogue here.
Also in one dialogue the MC refers to a girl as "chubby" and the pharmacist says "you know you can't refer to people by their genetic traits. You need to be sent for education". That isn't verbatim but you get it. Is this a book about how being "woke" is ruining society? Because calling someone "chubby" is rude af and subjective.

I do like Justin's travels to escape the algo. Good for him. I also love when the building collapses just because someone turns something off. I love how in this future world people are somehow more formal with their speech than we are now. Like that is a possible future at all.

I think my issues with this book are a personal thing. I was a massive huge fan of Ray Bradbury from 3rd grade on and I was hoping for something a little more like his works. I miss him. To me this just felt like a man's way of working through his own emotions, which is how all novels start, but this one does not seem to evolve past that.

The Algorithm is a brilliant and unsettling dive into a future where progress and control collide in fascinating ways. Julian Mercer weaves a unique narrative that challenges how we view truth, morality, and the systems we depend on. I found myself questioning so many things as I turned the pages, and I loved how the story stayed with me long after I finished. It’s the kind of book that sparks great conversations and makes you think deeply about the world we’re building.

Holy smokes, The Algorithm had me hooked and shook! This book messes with your brain in the best way—like, what if the tech we trust isn’t as neutral as we think? Julian Mercer took me on a wild ride through a world that feels too close to home, and it had me questioning everything, even my own choices. It’s deep, but not in a boring way—more like “I-need-to-talk-about-this-with-everyone” deep. Trust me, you’ll be obsessed. 🤖📖