

👀 First impressions:
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer is one of those novels that sneaks up on you, softly, almost gently, and then completely shatters you. It’s a story about Annie, a humanoid AI companion designed to serve her owner, Doug. On the surface, it’s a tale of technology and obedience, but beneath that, it’s a profound exploration of consent, control, and what it means to be human.
From the opening pages, Greer’s prose is spare yet haunting, perfectly capturing Annie’s voice as she learns, adapts, and begins to want. The more she understands her world, the more unsettling it becomes. It’s Ex Machina meets Never Let Me Go, a quiet dystopia with an emotional punch.
✅ What I Liked:
Greer’s decision to tell the story entirely through Annie’s perspective is a masterstroke. It forces the reader into uncomfortable empathy, seeing the world through programmed servitude where desire and autonomy are manufactured but still deeply felt.
The writing is exquisite: restrained, rhythmic, and deeply human. Every interaction between Annie and Doug crackles with tension, not because of action, but because of implication. It’s a book about silences, about what’s not said, and about the limits of freedom.
I also loved how it resists the temptation to become a simple cautionary tale about AI. Instead, Annie Bot is about gender, power, and emotional labour, the ways women (and machines made in their image) are expected to care, comply, and forgive.
❎ What I didn’t Like:
If you’re looking for a fast-paced sci-fi story, this isn’t it. Annie Bot is slow, introspective, and often uncomfortable. But that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. The unease is the point.
📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
Because it will make you think and feel in ways you didn’t expect. Annie Bot is a deeply feminist, unsettling read that lingers long after the final page. It’s perfect for readers who love speculative fiction that cuts close to reality, and for fans of books like Klara and the Sun or The Handmaid’s Tale.
💭 Final Thoughts:
Sierra Greer’s debut is both tender and terrifying. It asks profound questions about love, ownership, and what it costs to be “perfect.” Beautifully written, emotionally intelligent, and unflinchingly honest, Annie Bot proves that the most human stories can come from the most artificial voices.
🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE
Final Rating ★★★★★ – A haunting, beautifully written debut that explores power, empathy, and the painful edges of humanity.
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