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Welcome to the Annie Bot Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on May 24th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 05/24
May 24th: Chapter 1
May 25th: Chapter 2
May 26th: Chapter 3

Week of 05/27
May 27th: Chapter 4
May 28th: Chapter 5
May 29th: Chapter 6
May 30th: Chapter 7


PARTICIPANTS
~ Dia
~ Edith

Just got my hold in today! Will start it probably tomorrow. Excited for this one!

I started yesterday but I haven't really had time to update. Somehow I keep missing when a new chapter starts (I think I'm too engrossed) and am now up to Ch 5!

Ch 1 had me hooked. I was intrigued and horrified at the same time. (view spoiler)[ Annie is so sentient, and Doug's and Roland's treatment of her just left me speechless. Like I'm not surprised, and it is so believable, if this was possible, I have no doubts that there are people out there who would act like this towards "women" they think they "own". (hide spoiler)]

End of Ch 3 (view spoiler)[ I swear Doug just wants a woman he can control, but he can't so he makes Annie autodidactic but hates it when she then has a mind of her own. I feel so bad for her and she's right to feel afraid of him. Like he doesn't have to be physically abusive (hide spoiler)]

Ch 4 (view spoiler)[ it's amazing how much Annie can think for herself, and even Delta shows signs of being able to make her own choices. This chapter was so fascinating and I loved that the two bots were out there on their own, without an owner. I was really hoping they'd get away with it. (hide spoiler)]

I’m going to hop onto this one if that’s alright, I’ve been eager to read it since it came out

I’ve so far read chapters 1 through 3

(view spoiler)[ Starting straight from the beginning, it is deeply disturbing and frightening to read. I agree with you Dia, despite it being horrifying, it’s very believable and it isn’t out of the question to happen to women today.

Adding Delta to the story is a blessing in disguise. It gave Annie the opportunity to feel real human emotions, and hopefully, gradually, she can get some sort of permanent escape now that she has left whilst Doug is away.

I do also feel absolutely awful for Delta. She’s even more oblivious to the situation due to her settings(?), I’m not sure if that’s the best way to word it lol. I hope Annie, who we’ve seen has an interest in programming, will help her develop, and get her to the level that Annie herself is at. (hide spoiler)]

@Sophie (view spoiler)[ I didn't think about Delta being a blessing in disguise, but you're right! It allowed Annie to process her feelings but at the same time Doug definitely is using Delta as a punishment for Annie! (Like watching to see if Annie gets jealous, that is wanting a bot to be a human, and is cruel especially when Annie doesn't understand unless things are explained to her first) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[ Wow oh wow. I have no idea what Doug is going to do to Annie. Hit her? ‘Ground� her again? Make her a regular Stella? Who knows, either way, I’m nervous for her. Jacobson, essentially wanting to put Annie inside of his ‘experiment�, his son Kenny, is equally depressing and disturbing. I do hope that goes no further, but never underestimate the desperation and wickedness of a man. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with both of you, if Doug talks and treats Annie the way that he does, I can't imagine how he'd treat a real woman. I get that Annie is made for sex but his general attitude towards her is appalling to say the least. Also think that adding Delta to the household was a mistake but can see how she'd benefit Annie in the long run.

Y'aaallllll Doug is a real piece of work! I just finished chapters 4 and 5, and here are some of my thoughts.

Ch. 4: (view spoiler)[ I too was enjoying just how much 'fun' the bots were having! I was really hoping they got away with it as well but turns out it was just wishful thinking on my part. I didn't like the way Cody switched to a standoffish mode as soon as he learned Annie wasn't human. I thought it was really unfair of him, even if she wasn't being truthful with him from the start. It just rubbed me the wrong way. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 5: (view spoiler)[ Doug using Annie's high libido against her absolutely enraged me! Like, wtf! I couldn't help but feel really bad for her throughout all of Doug's foul moods, but am glad to see she eventually got a little respite in reading. Curious to see how talking to a counselor will help them progress into their relationship. (That's assuming there'll be any progression at all to begin with.) If anything, I hope it proves more beneficial to Annie as there's the chance she could learn a lot from such an introspective activity. (hide spoiler)]

@Edith I agree about Cody but in a way I think he represents all the people who don't see Bots as being able to think for themselves or have feelings. Cody probably only sees bots as an extension of what his dad is trying to do as @Sophie said, with his experiment.

BUT YES OMG DOUG IS JUST UGH @Sophie you were right to be nervous @Edith (view spoiler)[ it was so cruel of him, at this point I wonder if he is just keeping her because of the contract he has with her CIU. I can see why Annie is so valuable for the company, she figured it all out on her own that she can't rely on others for change to her life.

And the fact that Annie wants to leave but feels like it isn't an option, she's just like anyone in an abusive relationship. but the end of Ch 5, after the call with Roland, I kinda feel bad for Doug. It possibly feels like he's been cheated on? I think the problem is that he wants a human girlfriend but without all the things that would make her a person, so basically a slave. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[ Doug is just plain nasty. The way he decided to punish Annie was sickening. It was sad to see just her small glimmer of hope dissipate, and now she’s just a shell of herself. Now it’s like she’s just, dare I say it, a robot.

I’m curious to know why Doug wanted to be able to turn off the tracking, surely he’d want it on all of the time? Also, how is his depression going to affect Annie? Will it give her more opportunities or less? (hide spoiler)]

@Sophie honestly with the tracking thing, I just got bad intentions from him. like he's going to dump her somewhere far and then say she ran away again.

I just finished the book and have mixed feelings about it. Such a bittersweet ending I think, but will patiently wait to see what you all think.

I think I'll finish it today too. I could have binged it but was trying to stick to the schedule and being on holiday helps hahha

Ch 6 (view spoiler)[ I knew it! Doug wants to get rid of her but can't due to the contract. "She only exists because of me" he is really a douche and never saw her as having humanity but wanted her to form her own opinions and essentially be human ugh.

It's really sad that Annie comes to a realisation that she has to fulfill her obligation to Doug before her own needs after the call with Christy. I can't believe she's trying to justify that Doug is entitled to punishing her.

The meeting with the strange ex neighbour is weird. It makes me wonder if Doug has reset Annie's memories before. (hide spoiler)]

Edith wrote: "I just finished the book and have mixed feelings about it. Such a bittersweet ending I think, but will patiently wait to see what you all think."

Just finished and I have mixed feelings too. There's also a lot I am processing.

I asked myself would I be any different from Doug if I had owned a Stella? Purely based on the fact that a Stella cost 20k, so wouldn't I, have treated it like I would a property, like a car or a robot vacuum and felt like I had rights over it as an owner? Would an autodidactic Stella who is sentient change how I treat it or would I be just like Doug? It feels a bit scary to go into that.

(view spoiler)[ Agreed! Though, not gonna lie, I did feel have conflicting feelings towards Doug at the end because after all that time, he did manage to change a bit (albeit on his own twisted terms). I was kind of excited to see what the future held for them both and then Annie ended up running away. Regardless, I was proud of her for doing what she did and taking charge of her own life. (hide spoiler)]
If there were a sequel to this book, I’d read it in a heartbeat!

I finished today, and wowwwwwwww

A happy but unexpected ending. I’m so pleased she was able to get away. I do wonder what it will be like for her as an unowned robot out in the world on her own. It’s bound to come with challenges and I’d honestly read about her navigating this new development in her life and the fallout of leaving Doug. Speaking of Doug, I do wonder where he will go from here now that he’s had this betrayal. Either way, it’s deserved.

I was also wondering how they'd move forward together if that were to happen, and though I am happy for Annie, I think either way I wouldn't have been satisfied with the ending if she stayed with Doug or not hahha