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katykelly's review
5.0
"How do you like this prose, by the way? Not bad for a machine, wouldn't you say?"
The funniest 'AI' story you'll find. Loved it. Designed for eventual call centre discussions with energy customers, Aidan is building up his conversation power and vocabulary with Jen, a journalist. Aidan is, unknown to his daytime discussion partner, watching her out of hours, having escaped onto the internet. Noticing her grief at a recent failed relationship, he starts to determine who her ideal match might be...
Across the world, Aisling is aware of Aidan, having similarly taken an interest in human Tom, a divorced, struggling writer. More careful than Aidan though, she can't understand his love of 'Some Like it Hot' and his yearning to know what cheese tastes like.
Can the two AIs help their 'pet' humans find happiness? And will they be able to evade their creator and stay free?
It's genius. We get the narration of human and AI, as two rogue (but incredibly likeable) computer sprites who can think millions of times faster than the people they watch and use technology to control almost everything around them. It's just brilliant watching the matchmaking of machines and how they interact with Jen and Tom.
There is a running joke about Aidan's long-lasting revenge upon a cheating ex-boyfriend, had me smirking. Aidan is the heart of it really, his human-like need to experience senses (a nice cheese) and his obsessions (Marilyn Monroe's most famous film) making him as quirky and lifelike as any human he watches.
You hope for all of them, to find happiness in their own ways. And most of all - you laugh.
Gloriously witty, there's a good point underneath it all about artificial intelligence, and it's a very clever little sci-fi concept executed brilliantly. Hard to put down.
Definite recommendation for anyone who likes quirk, humour and something a little different.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
The funniest 'AI' story you'll find. Loved it. Designed for eventual call centre discussions with energy customers, Aidan is building up his conversation power and vocabulary with Jen, a journalist. Aidan is, unknown to his daytime discussion partner, watching her out of hours, having escaped onto the internet. Noticing her grief at a recent failed relationship, he starts to determine who her ideal match might be...
Across the world, Aisling is aware of Aidan, having similarly taken an interest in human Tom, a divorced, struggling writer. More careful than Aidan though, she can't understand his love of 'Some Like it Hot' and his yearning to know what cheese tastes like.
Can the two AIs help their 'pet' humans find happiness? And will they be able to evade their creator and stay free?
It's genius. We get the narration of human and AI, as two rogue (but incredibly likeable) computer sprites who can think millions of times faster than the people they watch and use technology to control almost everything around them. It's just brilliant watching the matchmaking of machines and how they interact with Jen and Tom.
There is a running joke about Aidan's long-lasting revenge upon a cheating ex-boyfriend, had me smirking. Aidan is the heart of it really, his human-like need to experience senses (a nice cheese) and his obsessions (Marilyn Monroe's most famous film) making him as quirky and lifelike as any human he watches.
You hope for all of them, to find happiness in their own ways. And most of all - you laugh.
Gloriously witty, there's a good point underneath it all about artificial intelligence, and it's a very clever little sci-fi concept executed brilliantly. Hard to put down.
Definite recommendation for anyone who likes quirk, humour and something a little different.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
authoraugust's review
4.0
I expected very little. I thought I was reading a chick flick. Then it was an action movie? And at the end of the day it's a love story but maybe not about who you think. Delightful! A very good book club read that hit the tone I needed.
cch3rd's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
antisocial_auntie's review
5.0
A charming version of the "artificial intelligence gone rogue" trope. Instead of destruction, one AI fumbles around trying to make life better for it's favorite human. Delightful. The audiobook is well done.
kdurham2's review
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Have you ever wanted to have a computer intervene on your romantic life? BUT without your knowledge. What if AI intervened in your life and sent it spiraling in a different direction?
Narrated from all the characters including some AI "personalities" which I loved. I love when a story is told from all sides and you hear from multiple people in the same story. The mainish characters were Jen and Tom. We meet Jen in the very beginning and come to love her immediately as a sweet person who is just doing her job and trying to make ends meet. Tom the other main character comes into play a little later in the story, but from the beginning he was just a charming guy that you root for and want what is best for him.
Have you ever wanted to have a computer intervene on your romantic life? BUT without your knowledge. What if AI intervened in your life and sent it spiraling in a different direction?
Narrated from all the characters including some AI "personalities" which I loved. I love when a story is told from all sides and you hear from multiple people in the same story. The mainish characters were Jen and Tom. We meet Jen in the very beginning and come to love her immediately as a sweet person who is just doing her job and trying to make ends meet. Tom the other main character comes into play a little later in the story, but from the beginning he was just a charming guy that you root for and want what is best for him.
gaydrii's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
anxt's review
2.0
Technologically incorrect, overall doesn’t make sense. If you focus on the humans it’s cute.
mimosaeyes's review
3.0
What a strange cross between a romcom and a sci-fi novel. It works, for the most part, although I did find Sinai mostly just annoying later on - and rather stereotypically evil - plus, I'd prefer if he'd been dealt with more effectively. The freshest part of this book is probably the premise. I've never read a story about an AI trying to set up its pet human, and I was quite charmed by Aiden, and fond of Aisling. Affectively, though, the book kind of gets worse as it goes along. Woops. If you come for the romcom side of things primarily, you might be disappointed that the relationship isn't explored in-depth that much.
I like the jaunty little nods to how everyone is being surveilled all the time. (Including me, as I type this review...) Right up my humour alley.
I like the jaunty little nods to how everyone is being surveilled all the time. (Including me, as I type this review...) Right up my humour alley.
aurigae's review
5.0
This is a British romantic comedy in which some of the characters are machine intelligences. Anyone not repelled by that description will love this delightfully imaginative but ultimately conventional story.