A review by booksillremember
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you think this book is about some dystopian future, read it again. You could replace Annie with a human woman and it would still be a 100% realistic depiction. This novel is a hard-hitting commentary on domestic slavery, the patriarchy, personhood, and relationship abuse.

Doug is portrayed as an average guy, even a good guy by his own and society's standards. He prides himself on not even hitting Annie, which serves to show the multitude of other forms of abuse he inflicts on her constantly. He is such a "good guy", that him learning some basic human decency can be seen as immense character growth, the bare minimum feels like going above and beyond if the bar is set that low.

He is a man-child, unable to regulate his own emotions or pursue a relationship with a person who has equal rights. Annie is programmed to enable him and his stunted emotional growth. It really shows how the patriarchy harms everyone, although of course not in equal measures.

I don't know if I loved the ending, but it is realistic that he has to set her free. I wish there had been more android-to-android interactions and community, but I get that it was hard because she was the most advanced at the time. I just wish Cody had been a woman, it feels icky that she has to depend on yet another man.


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