"Annie Bot" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.


Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content (hide spoiler)]

User-submitted content warnings on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7...

(More about CWs here.)

[RobLovesBooks]

If you like incredibly unlikable characters (Doug and Roland) , "Dude Bro" speak and grooming, this is the book for you.

[Kirsi]

I actually had to DNF this early on, because I found the characters to be so freaking disgusting. I know it probably gets better for Annie later on, but I've a pretty stressful situation going on in my own life, so anxiety-inducing books are out at the moment.

[Michael]

I could see how some will opt to put this story down, but I was too invested with what’s next for Annie. Doug and Roland were/are TRASH characters, and it’s almost unfair to see Doug reap the benefits of empathy. It’s hard to feel for him which could make this book unbearable.

[Michelle]

I am profoundly unsettled at about 45 minutes into the audiobook. On one hand, sure, as we're reminded regularly and repeatedly, Annie isn't a human, isn't trapped against her will, is programmed to be here and do this. But telling the story from her POV really invites us into her naive and desperate-to-please headspace and just YIKES.

[Netanella]

When Annie is in bunny-mode, she can break your heart.

[Roo]

I'm about 70 pages in and really loving it so far! It's definitely a rage-inducing read in many places. It's also really interesting to see Annie's thought process. So many aspects mirror our regular sexist society in a very uncomfortable way.

[Rachel]

First book I ever had to speed way up together through (audiobook)

[Josh]

I won't lie, this has been a tough read so far. I'm just now starting chapter 3, and I'm quickly growing tired of the way the conflict is being framed from Annie's POV. Annie is very likeable, and the other two main characters have been rough to listen to, to say the least.

[Nadine in California]

Kirsi wrote: "I actually had to DNF this early on, because I found the characters to be so freaking disgusting. I know it probably gets better for Annie later on, but I've a pretty stressful situation going on i..."

Me exactly. DNF'ed about page 100.

[Eli]

I'm like 16 pages in, but I agree for the most part. I dislike Doug already, haven't gotten enough from Roland to care about him either way. I'm glad this is a shorter novel based on what I've heard about it so far.

Also, I ironically just watched the 2025 movie Companion last weekend, which I loved. This reminds me of it a good bit.