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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
In a slightly dystopian near future, the Government has initiated a contest between companies to find a solution for loneliness. Lee finds herself working for a company attempting an innovative approach to a solution...
Rather well-written and often insightful, I enjoyed this, although the Epilogue felt tacked-on and unnecessary.
Rather well-written and often insightful, I enjoyed this, although the Epilogue felt tacked-on and unnecessary.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mixed feelings about this one - I found it very readable, and I'd think about it and want to return to it when I was away, but despite being an easy and somewhat thought provoking read it was not executed too well. Like others said, the climax came too late and the ending was rushed. And why have chapters dedicated to Janet and her obvious loneliness? I can appreciate Lee's social awkwardness and introversion, but couldn't sense if the book was supporting those traits or deriding them, and my hunch is more of the latter. The world-building was not credible; the dystopian NYC was not believable; the fact that they needed "humanity consultants" to do this type of research rather than crowdsourcing or using AI itself or some other way didn't make sense. I don't get how introvert Lee suddenly is thrown into living with a highly extroverted roommate who loves her and she seems to have no issues with the living situation other than admitting much later that Veronika is annoying. A person who is so used to solitude, routine, and order would have trouble adjusting... and yet she seems fine. Maybe just too much else going on? Also did not like the reliance on excessive (or any amount of) alcohol to have a good time or experience life. Also as for the random acknowledgements or assumptions of race or religion in some cases but not always, e.g. G as Black, Toru as Asian, Janet as white, and the Muslim girl in the video - but not everyone else - why?
So the book would linger in my mind and I was curious about Lee's encounters and conversations and relationships and how they'd play out given her inexperience but overall it was not executed too well and did not manage to entirely uphold my suspension of disbelief.
So the book would linger in my mind and I was curious about Lee's encounters and conversations and relationships and how they'd play out given her inexperience but overall it was not executed too well and did not manage to entirely uphold my suspension of disbelief.
As a chronic intellectualizer who talks endlessly about how my dream job would be to just simply own a traveling library or a coffee shop but feels the call too deeply to do something “important” I resonated a little too strongly with Lee and then the end sucker punched me in the gut. The fact that this is a debut is wild and I can’t wait to see where this writer goes. Normally present tense gets on my nerves and sometimes it did here, but overall this was a lovely story with lovely characters and a VERY timely story to tell.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
During the summer of 2024, I picked up <i>Loneliness & Company</i>, Charlee Dyroff’s debut novel. I can’t remember if I got it from a newsletter recommendation or if it caught my eye on the front page of Bookshop’s website. Either way, all I knew was it mentioned AI and a dystopian government. I assumed it’d be something heavier, like <i>Dune</i> or Daniel H. Wilson’s <i>Amped</i> (my gateway into science fiction literature).
Instead, the world was much more grounded in our present reality. Dyroff’s world-building felt less like a leap into the future and more like a continuation of steps we are already taking. The society she created was easy to believe because you can see how today’s trends could spiral into it. Restaurants with actual waiters are considered inefficient and borderline quaint, while vending machine bartenders and food cooked by robots are the norm. Sound familiar? We’re already ordering Big Macs from kiosks and checking ourselves out at Walmart.
At first, I thought Dyroff was turning the Midwest into some cultural and governmental epicenter, leaving New York City as a forgotten relic, like a “New World vs. Old World” scenario. But nope—by the end, it became clear the opposite was true. This book turned out to be a love letter to NYC, painting it as the eternal hub of culture and humanity (at least from a Western, USA-centric perspective) even as society slowly chips away at that humanity. Fun fact: Dyroff is not from the Midwest; she’s from Boulder, Colorado, and now lives in Brooklyn, so this tracks.
The story mainly follows Lee, our protagonist, though it occasionally dips into Janet’s perspective. The switch was easy to follow after the first time and added a lot of depth—things Lee couldn’t have known but we needed to. That said, Lee sometimes drove me nuts with her self-destructive decisions. Then I’d remind myself: frustration is the price of a well-written, fully fleshed-out character. Everything she did, even the dumb stuff, made sense for someone who’s lonely and desperately trying (and failing) to connect in a healthy way.
Now, here’s where my ego got involved. I <i>hate</i> when creators act like they’re smarter than me (yes, I know it’s a me problem—but I like to blame M. Night Shyamalan). Early on, I thought I’d sniffed out a big plot twist involving the AI. Naturally, I spent the rest of the book feeling smug, piecing together every little hint. And then? Dyroff played me. She deliberately led me down that rabbit hole only to flip it on its head in the final chapters. There was no twist, which somehow made for a more satisfying twist. Well played, Dyroff.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. As I mentioned, it wasn’t the sci-fi extravaganza I expected, but the elements are there—think less <i>Dune</i>/Star Wars, more <i>Black Mirror</i>. The near-future setting keeps the sci-fi subtle, leaving room for the real focus: Lee’s journey and the bigger questions about what it means to be human and lonely.
In the past couple months, I listened to an episode of Body Electric (NPR, podcast) about just this topic: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1247296788 "If a bot relationship feels real, should we care that it's not?"
Thought-provoking; I think they pair well together.
Thought-provoking; I think they pair well together.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the concept and writing, but if this is a book about our society in the future, I hope that women have more sex education by then! Felt like that element was a bit from the current past. BUT would recommend!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick, character driven, dystopian (or maybe just speculative fiction?).
While this didn't blow my mind, it still worked for me. Solid debut.
While this didn't blow my mind, it still worked for me. Solid debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia