[7] Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, green light from Jamie on The Popcast, Kindle
Synopsis: Anna Appleby, a 38-year-old journalist in Bath, UK, is navigating life post-divorce while raising two kids and clinging to her job at a struggling magazine. When a corporate shake-up threatens her position, she pitches a wild idea: go on seven real-world dates picked by her children. Her work rival, Will, ups the ante with a competing column on online dating, and their boss loves the his-and-hers angle. As they battle for column success, sparks fly.
Synopsis: Ha, the notes I left here said “closed door meh.” That about sums it up! This was cleverly written, and I liked all the current pop culture references, but this story and their connection didn’t do it for me. I was pretty bored.
Recommend? No
[8] Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
Fiction / Literary, heard about from Stephany, Kindle
Synopsis: Annie Bot was created to be Doug’s perfect girlfriend, designed to meet his every need with devotion and charm. As her artificial intelligence evolves, she begins to act less predictably, challenging Doug’s expectations. The more human Annie becomes, the more she questions her role and desires.
Review: This was a fast read that kept me entertained and simultaneously appalled. Annie isn’t human, yet her designers gave her emotions and the ability to learn and grow. Despite this, Doug treats her as nothing more than an object. In his mind, they’re in a relationship, but only on his terms. If Annie steps out of line, she’s punished. So interesting, and so ick at the same time. You really feel for Annie, even though she’s not “real.” Read Stephany’s much better written review of it, because I felt the same way.
Recommend? Yes
[9] Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome #3) by Sarah Adams
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, follow-up to When in Rome & Practice Makes Perfect, read on Kindle
Synopsis: When Emily Walker’s college and work nemesis, Jack Bennett, returns to Rome, Kentucky, after a broken engagement, her perfectly ordered world is thrown into chaos. Now neighbors and colleagues, their long-standing rivalry reignites. But when Emily accidentally risks exposing her secret life as a romance writer, Jack surprisingly agrees to help her fix the mess. As their partnership deepens, their animosity transforms into friendship and more.
Review: This book had me grinning like an idiot almost the entire time – exactly what I needed right now! I loved their playful sparring, their shared history, and the way they slowly realized their feelings for each other. The small-town charm of Rome actually annoys me, but the fantastic characters more than made up for it.
Recommend? Yes! And you can read this as a standalone if you want.
I’m halfway through Annie Bot, and I agree it’s the perfect blend of being entertained and being appalled. Lots of stuff to think about with this one.
Yes! You and Stephany and I should do a video call to discuss when you finish!
I am 100% down for that!
We should totes do it!
So I’m not sure I’m the audience for Annie Bot, but you and Stephany might be swaying me. We’ll see!
If you want to feel mad and frustrated for a sex robot, it’s the book for you! Ha. But really, it’s so interesting but makes you feel a lot of feels.
I saw Annie Bot in a bookstore last summer and was intrigued but never got around to adding it to my list. So thanks for both the reminder and the recommendation!
You’re welcome! Let me know when you read it! What are you reading now?
I’m glad you loved Annie Bot – such a wild story with so much to think about! And with how smart AI is becoming, not too far in the future maybe??
I am on the fence about reading more Sarah Adams. LOVED one of her novels and couldn’t get over the bad writing in another one. Gah. It’s on my TBR so maybe I’ll give her one more shot!
I could see us getting there fast! Craziness.
Ahh yeah, you loved the first in this series but not the second, right? I am curious if this one won’t be for you again. It was a perfect escape for me at the moment and I didn’t pay attention to the quality of writing. Just their silly bickering LOL!