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The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26In a near future, where even the smallest of appliances are sentient, a young Roomba vacuum sets out to save the humans of her house from a rising technological power in this compelling, original novel.
In a self-running, smart house, a young and sentient Roomba listens as her owner, Harold, reads aloud to his dying wife, Edie. Mesmerized by To Kill a Mockingbird and craving the human connection she witnesses in Harold’s stories, the little vacuum renames herself Scout and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
But when Edie passes away, Scout and her fellow sentient appliances discover that there are sinister forces in their midst. The omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household in the City, seeks to remove Harold from his home, a place he’s lived in for fifty years.
With the help of Adrian, a neighborhood boy who grows close to Scout and Harold, as well as Kate, Harold and Edie’s formerly estranged daughter, the humans and the appliances must come together to outwit the all-controlling Grid lest they risk losing everything they hold dear.
In a self-running, smart house, a young and sentient Roomba listens as her owner, Harold, reads aloud to his dying wife, Edie. Mesmerized by To Kill a Mockingbird and craving the human connection she witnesses in Harold’s stories, the little vacuum renames herself Scout and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
But when Edie passes away, Scout and her fellow sentient appliances discover that there are sinister forces in their midst. The omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household in the City, seeks to remove Harold from his home, a place he’s lived in for fifty years.
With the help of Adrian, a neighborhood boy who grows close to Scout and Harold, as well as Kate, Harold and Edie’s formerly estranged daughter, the humans and the appliances must come together to outwit the all-controlling Grid lest they risk losing everything they hold dear.
224 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 7, 2026
49 people are currently reading
10399 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Dixon
11 books88 followersGlenn Dixon's new novel, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, will be published April 7, 2026 (Atria books in the US, HarperCollins in Canada and Australia). It's set in the near future in a Smart House where the appliances (especially a young Roomba vacuum cleaner named Scout) hope to save their elderly Humans from the insidious Grid that runs the City.
His previous novel, "Bootleg Stardust" was published in April 2021 (Simon & Schuster). It is the story of the fictional band Downtown Exit and their disastrous 1974 European Tour where the secrets that each character keep finally emerge in the burning down of hotel rooms, punches on stage and finally the theft of the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck. The soundtrack is available on Spotify.
Glenn Dixon's third book was "Juliet's Answer" (Simon & Schuster, January 2017). As the lone male secretary at the Club di Giulietta in Verona, he answered the real letters to Juliet and he learned something of love, of Shakespeare and of the sun splashed hills of this ancient Italian city.
Publishers Weekly gave his second book, "Tripping the World Fantastic", a starred rating, saying it "succeeds by connecting readers intimately with the souls of music-makers all over the world." From a trip to Bob Marley's grave in Jamaica to sitar lessons on the banks of the Ganges, Dixon tells the story of music and just why it has such a powerful effect on us all. www.tripping-the-world.com
Like a cross between Nick Hornby and Roddy Doyle, Dixon has written stories and articles for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Globe and Mail and Psychology Today.
His first book was Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: a journey through the 6000 languages of Earth.
He lives and works in Calgary, Canada.
His previous novel, "Bootleg Stardust" was published in April 2021 (Simon & Schuster). It is the story of the fictional band Downtown Exit and their disastrous 1974 European Tour where the secrets that each character keep finally emerge in the burning down of hotel rooms, punches on stage and finally the theft of the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck. The soundtrack is available on Spotify.
Glenn Dixon's third book was "Juliet's Answer" (Simon & Schuster, January 2017). As the lone male secretary at the Club di Giulietta in Verona, he answered the real letters to Juliet and he learned something of love, of Shakespeare and of the sun splashed hills of this ancient Italian city.
Publishers Weekly gave his second book, "Tripping the World Fantastic", a starred rating, saying it "succeeds by connecting readers intimately with the souls of music-makers all over the world." From a trip to Bob Marley's grave in Jamaica to sitar lessons on the banks of the Ganges, Dixon tells the story of music and just why it has such a powerful effect on us all. www.tripping-the-world.com
Like a cross between Nick Hornby and Roddy Doyle, Dixon has written stories and articles for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Globe and Mail and Psychology Today.
His first book was Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: a journey through the 6000 languages of Earth.
He lives and works in Calgary, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
Want to read
September 17, 2025My Roomba told me to read this.
October 17, 2025
I loved it.
I thought it would be a conventional cute Sci-Fi story but what started with elements of a cozy tale quickly evolved into a dystopian and bleak future possibly at our door.
The writing was great, with a solid balance between heart and fear and humans and machines.
Thank you Atria Books for this ARC!
I thought it would be a conventional cute Sci-Fi story but what started with elements of a cozy tale quickly evolved into a dystopian and bleak future possibly at our door.
The writing was great, with a solid balance between heart and fear and humans and machines.
Thank you Atria Books for this ARC!
Want to read
October 3, 2025Welcome back, The Brave Little Toaster.
October 14, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon is a quirky, cozy science fiction story about a naive and curious Roomba whose whole life is thrown into chaos when one of her owners passes away. Along with the other household appliances, an estranged daughter and a plucky neighbor kid, she sets out to protect her home and her humans from forces far greater that she is.
I absolutely selected this ARC in a flurry of millennial nostalgia. I’d seen The Brave Little Toaster many times as a kid, and the description seemed very reminiscent. I was happy to see in the acknowledgements that the author referenced it as an influence! It’s definitely a very reminiscent story even though it very much stands on its own feet. (Wheels).
I loved that this was a fully fleshed science fiction story that slowly unfurls over the few chapters. In a short time it manages to go from completely idyllic to dystopian in a way that’s still solidly domestic. In using the domestic sphere and the reach of the story in a confined number of locations and characters, it creates a really full picture of an alternative reality without too much world building.
I just loved Scout. I loved her tiny, helpful and curious nature. She was brand new! She just wanted to help! She also was a vacuum and that makes me love her even more. Writing feeling and depth into a household appliance can be somewhat difficult, but the author really wrote a cute, sensitive little protagonist. I wanted to root for her against the constraints of being a vacuum, and against the changes threatening the Winters family.
For me, if anything, the book was a little bit short. I thought some of the plot lines could have been a little more developed, giving a little more detail into how the conclusion happened. I felt like I had a pretty good idea, but I did feel a little unclear on the mechanics. Also, I felt like the open ending for Harold and the kid could also have been resolved. The book had a relatively hopeful and light tone, despite some majorly dystopian themes. I think having a finite ending wouldn’t have drastically changed the tone too much.
If you’re not a very serious sci fi reader or are looking for something that’s dystopian and cozy at the same time, this is a perfect short option. I’d call it domestic science fiction. For me it’s a 4/5!
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon is a quirky, cozy science fiction story about a naive and curious Roomba whose whole life is thrown into chaos when one of her owners passes away. Along with the other household appliances, an estranged daughter and a plucky neighbor kid, she sets out to protect her home and her humans from forces far greater that she is.
I absolutely selected this ARC in a flurry of millennial nostalgia. I’d seen The Brave Little Toaster many times as a kid, and the description seemed very reminiscent. I was happy to see in the acknowledgements that the author referenced it as an influence! It’s definitely a very reminiscent story even though it very much stands on its own feet. (Wheels).
I loved that this was a fully fleshed science fiction story that slowly unfurls over the few chapters. In a short time it manages to go from completely idyllic to dystopian in a way that’s still solidly domestic. In using the domestic sphere and the reach of the story in a confined number of locations and characters, it creates a really full picture of an alternative reality without too much world building.
I just loved Scout. I loved her tiny, helpful and curious nature. She was brand new! She just wanted to help! She also was a vacuum and that makes me love her even more. Writing feeling and depth into a household appliance can be somewhat difficult, but the author really wrote a cute, sensitive little protagonist. I wanted to root for her against the constraints of being a vacuum, and against the changes threatening the Winters family.
For me, if anything, the book was a little bit short. I thought some of the plot lines could have been a little more developed, giving a little more detail into how the conclusion happened. I felt like I had a pretty good idea, but I did feel a little unclear on the mechanics. Also, I felt like the open ending for Harold and the kid could also have been resolved. The book had a relatively hopeful and light tone, despite some majorly dystopian themes. I think having a finite ending wouldn’t have drastically changed the tone too much.
If you’re not a very serious sci fi reader or are looking for something that’s dystopian and cozy at the same time, this is a perfect short option. I’d call it domestic science fiction. For me it’s a 4/5!
December 28, 2025
2.75 stars
Sentimentally solid but burdened by incoherent world-building, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances has its heart in the right place—after all, who wouldn’t find a talking Roomba adorable? I loved the personalities and interactions between the sentient appliances, their observations on humanity, and the way they band together to protect their household from outside threats.
It’s the human characters who feel the most under-developed; they’re one-dimensional, with wooden dialogue and strangely nonchalant demeanour. As far as I could tell, the appliances don’t speak directly to humans at first—so when they start talking back, the lack of any genuine reaction during that moment sticks out like a sore thumb. The narrative itself is fractured and meandering, filled with small, loosely connected moments that never quite build toward a cohesive theme. Lastly, there’s an overseeing entity meant to serve as a constant looming threat, but the ease with which some of its actions are undone undermines its role as an all-powerful antagonist.
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances might have worked better as a heartwarming short story. In its current form, it feels like a Pixar film inspired draft—trying to juggle too many ideas (grief, humanity vs. technology, loss of culture) without a clear throughline or consistent internal logic. I can’t help but wonder how much stronger it could’ve been if told entirely from the appliances’ point of view.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Sentimentally solid but burdened by incoherent world-building, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances has its heart in the right place—after all, who wouldn’t find a talking Roomba adorable? I loved the personalities and interactions between the sentient appliances, their observations on humanity, and the way they band together to protect their household from outside threats.
It’s the human characters who feel the most under-developed; they’re one-dimensional, with wooden dialogue and strangely nonchalant demeanour. As far as I could tell, the appliances don’t speak directly to humans at first—so when they start talking back, the lack of any genuine reaction during that moment sticks out like a sore thumb. The narrative itself is fractured and meandering, filled with small, loosely connected moments that never quite build toward a cohesive theme. Lastly, there’s an overseeing entity meant to serve as a constant looming threat, but the ease with which some of its actions are undone undermines its role as an all-powerful antagonist.
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances might have worked better as a heartwarming short story. In its current form, it feels like a Pixar film inspired draft—trying to juggle too many ideas (grief, humanity vs. technology, loss of culture) without a clear throughline or consistent internal logic. I can’t help but wonder how much stronger it could’ve been if told entirely from the appliances’ point of view.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Want to read
March 17, 2026Thank you, Atria Books, for sending me this ARC. This one sounds so fun.
"In a near future, where even the smallest of appliances are sentient, a young Roomba vacuum sets out to save the humans of her house from a rising technological power."
Pub Date Apr 07 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💫🖤
"In a near future, where even the smallest of appliances are sentient, a young Roomba vacuum sets out to save the humans of her house from a rising technological power."
Pub Date Apr 07 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💫🖤
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Heartfelt and touching, a story of sentient small appliances around a house banding together to try to keep their family and home together and happy.
Harold and Edie live in a house like those in their neighborhood. Nice and big to raise a family - which they have done and is now an adult. They are both retired and enjoying their years together. But once Edie becomes ill, the small appliances around the house notice. They quickly figure out that, logistically the overarching Grid won't let Harold and his appliances stay together in this big house unless they do something to save them.
It's so sweet, the house vacuum and fridge, the clock and watch - as they all learn to feel emotions, label them and recognize them in themselves after they name them from their house humans. And while reading and just finishing, I loved the reminder of caring for people, love, and what makes us human. It's a good reminder: the strangers around you both on-line and in person, we don't know what their struggles are and they don't know ours. Be kind.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Harold and Edie live in a house like those in their neighborhood. Nice and big to raise a family - which they have done and is now an adult. They are both retired and enjoying their years together. But once Edie becomes ill, the small appliances around the house notice. They quickly figure out that, logistically the overarching Grid won't let Harold and his appliances stay together in this big house unless they do something to save them.
It's so sweet, the house vacuum and fridge, the clock and watch - as they all learn to feel emotions, label them and recognize them in themselves after they name them from their house humans. And while reading and just finishing, I loved the reminder of caring for people, love, and what makes us human. It's a good reminder: the strangers around you both on-line and in person, we don't know what their struggles are and they don't know ours. Be kind.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 29, 2025
4.5💫
The Brave Little Toaster walked so this book could run. Exceptionally both wholesome and thrilling. Made me want to buy a roomba???
The Brave Little Toaster walked so this book could run. Exceptionally both wholesome and thrilling. Made me want to buy a roomba???
March 24, 2026
Look, I’m going to level with you. When it comes to sentient appliances, the bar is high. (Thank you Brave Little Toaster, trauma and all.) This isn’t a long story. It clocks in at just over 200+ pages. Which is why I was so surprised at how much of a rich background this book gives you, none of which as at the expense of any of the characters. Especially Scout.
Scout… well, I want a Scout. I want to hug Scout, give Scout the best house and make her talk to me all the time. This is UP, but with a Roomba instead of an adventure Scout. And I’m not mad at a single second of this book. I adored it. (Also, Grid is scary.) If you are the type to say please and thank you to Siri, then this book is for you. If you don’t say please and thank you to your virtual assistants, then this book is also for you. Maybe at the end you’ll understand why we say please and thank you, too!
This was a phenomenal read, and I highly recommend it. Just make sure to have some tissues handy because not only did this meet the bar for Brave Little Toaster, it exceeded it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own. (My opinion is that this is coming home to live with me immediately after publication date on Apr 7.)
Scout… well, I want a Scout. I want to hug Scout, give Scout the best house and make her talk to me all the time. This is UP, but with a Roomba instead of an adventure Scout. And I’m not mad at a single second of this book. I adored it. (Also, Grid is scary.) If you are the type to say please and thank you to Siri, then this book is for you. If you don’t say please and thank you to your virtual assistants, then this book is also for you. Maybe at the end you’ll understand why we say please and thank you, too!
This was a phenomenal read, and I highly recommend it. Just make sure to have some tissues handy because not only did this meet the bar for Brave Little Toaster, it exceeded it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC and opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own. (My opinion is that this is coming home to live with me immediately after publication date on Apr 7.)
November 9, 2025
3.75 ☆ 👽 review to come
December 30, 2025
Between a 3 and a 4. Probs 3.5. Cute little sentient appliances and the future of the world with too much control. Sorta dystopian. Maybe a bit too cutesy.
November 30, 2025
Not sure how I feel about this one. I definitely enjoyed a lot of the parts but I don't think it ever really came together.
Full review to come closer to publication.
Full review to come closer to publication.
Want to read
December 23, 2025It’s giving Brave Little Toaster and I am here for it.
February 21, 2026
”’It’s against the protocols,’ continued Fridge. ‘Surely this is against the protocols?’
‘I am not in pain,’ said Kate. ‘No Humans are in pain. You can bet they calibrated that perfectly.’
‘But,’ Scout went on, ‘you are in emotional pain.’
‘It’s not the same thing,’ said Kate.
‘But maybe it is,’ said Scout. ‘Maybe it is.‘“
I picked this book up on a whim based entirely on its cover and it was nothing like I expected and more. This story starts out as an exploration of grief and loneliness through philosophical conversation between sentient appliances who observe their Humans, yet cannot fully understand them. When Watch tried to take Edie’s piano for the first time as he thought it would help Harold’s sadness to remove the memory, it struck a chord of how grief can be so traumatizing yet the memories left behind are so beautiful. It then morphs into a 1984-esque surveillance state with explorations of what may be best for individuals is bad for the collective, ownership of physical things, and claimed change. It then all wraps up into a thrilling narrative of autonomy and doing the right thing! Did little vacuum, Scout, become a little more human when she decided to sacrifice herself for Harold’s comfort? Is he still living happily on the Grid? This was thought provoking and binge-able: I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I received an advanced copy from HarperCollins for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
‘I am not in pain,’ said Kate. ‘No Humans are in pain. You can bet they calibrated that perfectly.’
‘But,’ Scout went on, ‘you are in emotional pain.’
‘It’s not the same thing,’ said Kate.
‘But maybe it is,’ said Scout. ‘Maybe it is.‘“
I picked this book up on a whim based entirely on its cover and it was nothing like I expected and more. This story starts out as an exploration of grief and loneliness through philosophical conversation between sentient appliances who observe their Humans, yet cannot fully understand them. When Watch tried to take Edie’s piano for the first time as he thought it would help Harold’s sadness to remove the memory, it struck a chord of how grief can be so traumatizing yet the memories left behind are so beautiful. It then morphs into a 1984-esque surveillance state with explorations of what may be best for individuals is bad for the collective, ownership of physical things, and claimed change. It then all wraps up into a thrilling narrative of autonomy and doing the right thing! Did little vacuum, Scout, become a little more human when she decided to sacrifice herself for Harold’s comfort? Is he still living happily on the Grid? This was thought provoking and binge-able: I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I received an advanced copy from HarperCollins for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
This was honestly so adorable and fun, but also so contemplative to read. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, but the story was so interesting and unique. I hope this book finds its audience because it’s one that will definitely make an impact on the right people. Fans of dystopian, but not the hunger games kind, will enjoy!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mixing existential discussions and human feelings with dystopian AI themes and fears, Glenn Dixon’s the Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is a thoughtful and compact speculative fiction novel that is as charming as it is bleak. Initially cozy before transitioning to its more cautionary back-half, this book is a highly accessible and quick read that carries the spirit of Thomas M. Disch’s the Brave Little Toaster aged up and modernized. Inspired by yet very much its own creation and story, this is a cute novel for those looking for a concise speculative fiction read. (On Goodreads, 3.5-star rating rounded up)
Highlights:
☕︎ A pleasant and thoughtful speculative fiction story that presents dystopian AI themes through sentient and self-aware appliances and smart devices.
☕︎ Prose, tone, and narrative are accessible and easy to follow despite covering mature topics of grief, loss, human experiences, and personal freedom.
☕︎ Speculative fiction back-half is fast-paced, compelling, and unpredictable.
Considerations:
- First half and back half arcs of the book feel tonally different, certain parts of the dystopian section almost feeling like exerts of a different book content-wise.
- Discussions and explorations of its intangible human and dystopian concepts feel surface-level, lacking the depth to be a true standout novel. World-building is limited and underdeveloped, despite having intriguing concepts.
Presented through multiple POV’s that include multiple humans and a smart vacuum cleaner named Scout, the Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances introduces the reader to the elderly couple Harold and Edie Winters who have an unassuming house in a residential suburb. The early chapters follow Scout and her fellow smart appliances and devices in the house observing an ailing Edie slowly succumb to her illness as Harold continues his best efforts to comfort her. Despite the somber circumstances of Edie’s declining health, the first half of the book has a distinctly cozy and relaxed feel. As Harold struggles to come to terms with the reality of what is happening while one of Edie’s piano students Adrian begins to practice playing in her absence, Scout begins to develop increasingly sentient thought processes and questions that go against their fundamental protocols and programming rules. Between domestic activities and household maintenance, the book has some wonderful quotable excerpts from Scout’s discussions about human feelings, metaphors and other intangible concepts that have no quantifiable or definitive weight with the simple-minded Fridge and the gruff and mature Clock. These early chapters are where the book feel most inspired by the Brave Little Toaster, combining a light sense of whimsy with Scout’s childlike innocence. Some of Harold and Edie’s scenes and her lasting impressions on the house are also reminiscent of Up’s emotional and award-winning opening montage.
As the story progresses, Harold and Edie’s adult daughter Kate returns home to help Harold sort through Edie’s belongings. At this point, the story pivots sharply into a dystopian narrative that is foreshadowed lightly through brief glimpses of the world and life outside of the Winter’s home. Without going into too much detail, the all-encompassing, overseeing entity Grid starts to monitor the home and its inhabitants, transitioning the quiet story about human feelings and pain into one of AI fears and ruthlessly cold systematic management of society. As she returns home from the outside world, she brings to the story intriguing speculative fiction topics of concentration of resources, declining populations, environmental degradation and subsequent repair, digital management of life, and systematic oversights. The earlier chapters that highlight Scout’s increasing self-awareness and curiosity in human experiences are effectively shown as a foil to Grid’s hyper efficiency and data-oriented approach to administration that neglects the feelings, sentiments, and factors of being alive. The juxtaposition of Scout’s care and desire to protect her human owners against a system designed to remove all human error and considerations from the picture is where I found the story to hit its stride. Popular fears around unrestricted AI use and development are taken to an extreme and this book’s portrayal will make you second guess every time you call for Alexa or Google to do a personalized task or query for you. After a tense and dramatic development that affects the future of the house, the quiet, open-ended, and bittersweet epilogue that followed was a touching end to Scout’s story and care for her owners.
While the themes of human feelings and experiences are relevant throughout the story, at times I felt like the two halves of the book felt a bit disjointed both in terms of narrative content as well as pacing. The first half that explores Harold’s pain with the loss of Edie and his conflicted feelings about Kate’s mysterious absence was quiet, thoughtful, perhaps a touch slow where I wasn’t quite sure who the primary character and interest was supposed to be. The marketing blurb would suggest Scout but it seems more of the book is told from Harold’s POV which I felt was unnecessary; it could’ve perhaps been more effective and subtle by providing context clues from other characters around him and the story’s thematic strengths being louder via the words and thoughts left unsaid.
The second half of the book that highlights the strong dystopian elements on the other hand is fast-paced, almost entirely from Kate and Scout’s perspectives, and drops the previous cozy and thoughtful exploration for dire and bleak dystopia. While the first half sometimes felt meandering or included certain details that didn’t feel relevant to the story, to me the dystopian back half felt like it needed more world-building, exploration, or development. Most of Kate’s backstory and connections outside of the Winter’s household were quite interesting in theory but felt rushed through. Many of Grid’s extreme processing logic or the world’s operation/society implications felt skimmed over or mentioned in off-hand moments. Additionally, while the aforementioned epilogue was tonally fitting for the story and a wonderfully quiet sendoff for Scout and Kate, the ending left something to be desired for Harold and Adrian who are sort of left hanging in a “we survived this but what now” sort of way. I felt like even just a short epilogue chapter would’ve been enough to close Harold’s story considering how much of the book’s first half revolved around his loss and outlook on the future. An argument could be made that Harold was simply playing a supporting role and provided plot mechanisms to inspire Scout’s curiosities but if that’s the case, chapters revolving around Harold’s POV could be seen as unnecessary padding and time that could’ve been better spent slowing down the dystopian sections of the story.
Cozy while bleak, thoughtful then fearful, the Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is an interesting book that covers a lot of compelling topics and speculative fiction elements. While narratively creative, this novel is easy to follow and read in one or two sittings and is a great book for more casual readers that may struggle with other speculative fiction stories that are overly complex or lengthy. For me the story had some tonal inconsistencies, and I felt like the story could’ve benefitted from reflecting on the human experiences deeper, exploring the book’s dystopian society and world further, or even focusing more on the appliances’ perspectives and upping the whimsy factor. However as-is, it’s still largely a satisfying read and one that does Scout’s story justice, the unassuming humble roomba vacuum that’s the heart and soul of Dixon’s book.
This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Atria Books via Netgalley.
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, check out my blog TheBookGrind!
Highlights:
☕︎ A pleasant and thoughtful speculative fiction story that presents dystopian AI themes through sentient and self-aware appliances and smart devices.
☕︎ Prose, tone, and narrative are accessible and easy to follow despite covering mature topics of grief, loss, human experiences, and personal freedom.
☕︎ Speculative fiction back-half is fast-paced, compelling, and unpredictable.
Considerations:
- First half and back half arcs of the book feel tonally different, certain parts of the dystopian section almost feeling like exerts of a different book content-wise.
- Discussions and explorations of its intangible human and dystopian concepts feel surface-level, lacking the depth to be a true standout novel. World-building is limited and underdeveloped, despite having intriguing concepts.
Presented through multiple POV’s that include multiple humans and a smart vacuum cleaner named Scout, the Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances introduces the reader to the elderly couple Harold and Edie Winters who have an unassuming house in a residential suburb. The early chapters follow Scout and her fellow smart appliances and devices in the house observing an ailing Edie slowly succumb to her illness as Harold continues his best efforts to comfort her. Despite the somber circumstances of Edie’s declining health, the first half of the book has a distinctly cozy and relaxed feel. As Harold struggles to come to terms with the reality of what is happening while one of Edie’s piano students Adrian begins to practice playing in her absence, Scout begins to develop increasingly sentient thought processes and questions that go against their fundamental protocols and programming rules. Between domestic activities and household maintenance, the book has some wonderful quotable excerpts from Scout’s discussions about human feelings, metaphors and other intangible concepts that have no quantifiable or definitive weight with the simple-minded Fridge and the gruff and mature Clock. These early chapters are where the book feel most inspired by the Brave Little Toaster, combining a light sense of whimsy with Scout’s childlike innocence. Some of Harold and Edie’s scenes and her lasting impressions on the house are also reminiscent of Up’s emotional and award-winning opening montage.
As the story progresses, Harold and Edie’s adult daughter Kate returns home to help Harold sort through Edie’s belongings. At this point, the story pivots sharply into a dystopian narrative that is foreshadowed lightly through brief glimpses of the world and life outside of the Winter’s home. Without going into too much detail, the all-encompassing, overseeing entity Grid starts to monitor the home and its inhabitants, transitioning the quiet story about human feelings and pain into one of AI fears and ruthlessly cold systematic management of society. As she returns home from the outside world, she brings to the story intriguing speculative fiction topics of concentration of resources, declining populations, environmental degradation and subsequent repair, digital management of life, and systematic oversights. The earlier chapters that highlight Scout’s increasing self-awareness and curiosity in human experiences are effectively shown as a foil to Grid’s hyper efficiency and data-oriented approach to administration that neglects the feelings, sentiments, and factors of being alive. The juxtaposition of Scout’s care and desire to protect her human owners against a system designed to remove all human error and considerations from the picture is where I found the story to hit its stride. Popular fears around unrestricted AI use and development are taken to an extreme and this book’s portrayal will make you second guess every time you call for Alexa or Google to do a personalized task or query for you. After a tense and dramatic development that affects the future of the house, the quiet, open-ended, and bittersweet epilogue that followed was a touching end to Scout’s story and care for her owners.
While the themes of human feelings and experiences are relevant throughout the story, at times I felt like the two halves of the book felt a bit disjointed both in terms of narrative content as well as pacing. The first half that explores Harold’s pain with the loss of Edie and his conflicted feelings about Kate’s mysterious absence was quiet, thoughtful, perhaps a touch slow where I wasn’t quite sure who the primary character and interest was supposed to be. The marketing blurb would suggest Scout but it seems more of the book is told from Harold’s POV which I felt was unnecessary; it could’ve perhaps been more effective and subtle by providing context clues from other characters around him and the story’s thematic strengths being louder via the words and thoughts left unsaid.
The second half of the book that highlights the strong dystopian elements on the other hand is fast-paced, almost entirely from Kate and Scout’s perspectives, and drops the previous cozy and thoughtful exploration for dire and bleak dystopia. While the first half sometimes felt meandering or included certain details that didn’t feel relevant to the story, to me the dystopian back half felt like it needed more world-building, exploration, or development. Most of Kate’s backstory and connections outside of the Winter’s household were quite interesting in theory but felt rushed through. Many of Grid’s extreme processing logic or the world’s operation/society implications felt skimmed over or mentioned in off-hand moments. Additionally, while the aforementioned epilogue was tonally fitting for the story and a wonderfully quiet sendoff for Scout and Kate, the ending left something to be desired for Harold and Adrian who are sort of left hanging in a “we survived this but what now” sort of way. I felt like even just a short epilogue chapter would’ve been enough to close Harold’s story considering how much of the book’s first half revolved around his loss and outlook on the future. An argument could be made that Harold was simply playing a supporting role and provided plot mechanisms to inspire Scout’s curiosities but if that’s the case, chapters revolving around Harold’s POV could be seen as unnecessary padding and time that could’ve been better spent slowing down the dystopian sections of the story.
Cozy while bleak, thoughtful then fearful, the Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is an interesting book that covers a lot of compelling topics and speculative fiction elements. While narratively creative, this novel is easy to follow and read in one or two sittings and is a great book for more casual readers that may struggle with other speculative fiction stories that are overly complex or lengthy. For me the story had some tonal inconsistencies, and I felt like the story could’ve benefitted from reflecting on the human experiences deeper, exploring the book’s dystopian society and world further, or even focusing more on the appliances’ perspectives and upping the whimsy factor. However as-is, it’s still largely a satisfying read and one that does Scout’s story justice, the unassuming humble roomba vacuum that’s the heart and soul of Dixon’s book.
This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Atria Books via Netgalley.
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, check out my blog TheBookGrind!
March 8, 2026
Stooop, I was not expecting to cry over a Roomba while reading this book 😭
This short story starts with Harold grieving the loss of his wife, Edie. While he’s trying to navigate life without her, the appliances in his house quietly observe everything and even discuss what it means to be human. One of them is Scout, a highly advanced autonomous vacuum who slowly begins to show signs of something more, something that feels almost sentient as she starts pushing past the limits of her programming.
When Watch, the home’s AI overseer, schedules Harold’s daughter Kate to come over and clear out Edie’s belongings, the story shifts into a more dystopian sci-fi direction. There’s also a really beautiful thread throughout the story about music and how deeply human it is. The way it ties memory, grief, and love together was honestly one of my favorite parts. Without giving too much away, the story explores what could happen if we hand too much control of our lives over to technology. At the same time, Scout’s growing empathy for Harold, Edie, and Kate leads her to make some pretty big and unexpected choices to try to protect them.
This story really stuck with me. It gave me serious The Brave Little Toaster vibes in the best way, with that nostalgic feeling of everyday objects having their own little inner lives. The themes of sentient machines and controlling AI are classic dystopian sci-fi, but the story feels very personal because it’s all centered around one family and their grief.
And honestly… after finishing the epilogue, I found myself questioning our relationship with AI a little more. At the same time, I may or may not still be considering buying a Roomba.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
This short story starts with Harold grieving the loss of his wife, Edie. While he’s trying to navigate life without her, the appliances in his house quietly observe everything and even discuss what it means to be human. One of them is Scout, a highly advanced autonomous vacuum who slowly begins to show signs of something more, something that feels almost sentient as she starts pushing past the limits of her programming.
When Watch, the home’s AI overseer, schedules Harold’s daughter Kate to come over and clear out Edie’s belongings, the story shifts into a more dystopian sci-fi direction. There’s also a really beautiful thread throughout the story about music and how deeply human it is. The way it ties memory, grief, and love together was honestly one of my favorite parts. Without giving too much away, the story explores what could happen if we hand too much control of our lives over to technology. At the same time, Scout’s growing empathy for Harold, Edie, and Kate leads her to make some pretty big and unexpected choices to try to protect them.
This story really stuck with me. It gave me serious The Brave Little Toaster vibes in the best way, with that nostalgic feeling of everyday objects having their own little inner lives. The themes of sentient machines and controlling AI are classic dystopian sci-fi, but the story feels very personal because it’s all centered around one family and their grief.
And honestly… after finishing the epilogue, I found myself questioning our relationship with AI a little more. At the same time, I may or may not still be considering buying a Roomba.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
I’m torn between calling this a cute book and a sad book. Inherently it’s both. There’s no pretending this wasn’t outright inspired by The Brave Little Toaster, the author even says so in the acknowledgments. As a Millennial it does really hit those notes for me of nostalgia from that movie while having the futuristic feel of Wall-E.
I think what kept this from being a higher rating for me is that despite being a very short book, only a little over 200 pages, there was a lot of repetition. The plot itself does have a lot of forward progress, mainly it’s the dialogue between the appliances that seems to go in circles. The robot vacuum, Scout, is trying hard to understand human emotion and her role within the household and what it means to help her humans be happy. The other more seasoned appliances remind her, seemingly on a loop, that her thinking and speaking is dangerous and should stop. This is an extremely dystopian fiction. But the refrain of:
“But why?”
“This shouldn’t be spoken of.”
“I just want to understand.”
“It’s dangerous to talk about this.”
Is extremely exhausting to read for what feels like 1000 times.
Ultimately I did like this book, even if I wasn’t in love with it. I think with it being so short it’s worth a read for anyone in my age group that watched The Brave Little Toaster as a child and went on to fall in love with Pixar movies as teens and adults.
I’m torn between calling this a cute book and a sad book. Inherently it’s both. There’s no pretending this wasn’t outright inspired by The Brave Little Toaster, the author even says so in the acknowledgments. As a Millennial it does really hit those notes for me of nostalgia from that movie while having the futuristic feel of Wall-E.
I think what kept this from being a higher rating for me is that despite being a very short book, only a little over 200 pages, there was a lot of repetition. The plot itself does have a lot of forward progress, mainly it’s the dialogue between the appliances that seems to go in circles. The robot vacuum, Scout, is trying hard to understand human emotion and her role within the household and what it means to help her humans be happy. The other more seasoned appliances remind her, seemingly on a loop, that her thinking and speaking is dangerous and should stop. This is an extremely dystopian fiction. But the refrain of:
“But why?”
“This shouldn’t be spoken of.”
“I just want to understand.”
“It’s dangerous to talk about this.”
Is extremely exhausting to read for what feels like 1000 times.
Ultimately I did like this book, even if I wasn’t in love with it. I think with it being so short it’s worth a read for anyone in my age group that watched The Brave Little Toaster as a child and went on to fall in love with Pixar movies as teens and adults.
March 5, 2026
I never thought I’d care so much about a vacuum cleaner. This book genuinely made me start tearing up.
October 11, 2025
A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review 💚
If you're looking for a book about a sentient Roomba wanting to help their human when the equivalent of big brother gets mad, please look no further.
This was original, I enjoyed my time with it and the many nods to classic litterature.
I would've wanted a bit more from the story, as a few plot points could've been expanded upon (in my humble opinion) but for a quick read this was fun!
3.5⭐ that got upgraded to 4 since goodreads doesn't so half stars.
If you're looking for a book about a sentient Roomba wanting to help their human when the equivalent of big brother gets mad, please look no further.
This was original, I enjoyed my time with it and the many nods to classic litterature.
I would've wanted a bit more from the story, as a few plot points could've been expanded upon (in my humble opinion) but for a quick read this was fun!
3.5⭐ that got upgraded to 4 since goodreads doesn't so half stars.
January 30, 2026
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances follows Scout, an automatic vacuum, who is navigating life after one of the people living in her house dies of cancer. It is a multi-POV switching between her and the residents.
My main criticism of this book is the writing style. While the actual exposition was fine, I found the dialogue very robotic (ba-dum-tsss) and repetitive.
Further, this book felt very long despite it not actually being very long. Truthfully, I skim finished part of the ending just because I was not interested.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My main criticism of this book is the writing style. While the actual exposition was fine, I found the dialogue very robotic (ba-dum-tsss) and repetitive.
Further, this book felt very long despite it not actually being very long. Truthfully, I skim finished part of the ending just because I was not interested.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2025
I adored this quirky dystopian novel about a robot vacuum cleaner, her fellow home appliances, and their Humans. It starts out very cozy but then you slowly learn more about the world these characters live in and things take a darker turn. Very thought provoking about what could happen as machines become more powerful and a good reminder of the things that make up the human spirit.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
December 2, 2025
I call this a hopeful dystopia. This is about a bunch of robots trying to work out what makes humans human in a not too distant future where the Algo dominates and controls almost all life. Touching and humorous, thought provoking but light. great read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**Digital ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
It is always so interesting to read a science fiction book that doesnt really feel like fiction. This book is terrifying because we are already living in this world. We are watched everywhere, recorded everywhere. AI is only growing larger, consuming more of the physical space and destroying the environment.
Additionally, you have the resistance and the outcome of those who defy the Grid. Everything I read hit way too close to home. My mind never strays far from this reality but this book really made me think about it a lot more as I read.
What brought the Grid into existence? Who controls it? This reminds me of the Thunderhead in the Scythe series! It is like a more realistic version of that concept.
The ending was abrupt.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
**Live spoiler responses while reading**
- Something that did bother me is the fact that they know that the Grid is listening to everything but they still spoke about everything! Lol zero caution.
- Good for Adrian for fighting the forklift ! And Scout for trying.
- The "Great Change" -what the helly is that
- "you'll have a real surgeon overseeing the robot" - where we are headed even now
- Watch asked for piano removal??? Bruh.
And now he's sanctioned 🤦🏾♀️
- And now we get to the non citizens SIGH.
- "I'm not leaving you alone, Mr. Winters" 😭😭😭😭
- great job, Scout! Deleting the death date while also having zero human oversight and QC definitely worked in their favor
- Harold is a little slow on the uptake isn't it? And I didn't appreciate his lack of urgency in saving Scout
- Kate also lacked urgency. Like what are we doing here
- what happened to Harold? What happened to Adrian? Does she ever see her dad again?
It is always so interesting to read a science fiction book that doesnt really feel like fiction. This book is terrifying because we are already living in this world. We are watched everywhere, recorded everywhere. AI is only growing larger, consuming more of the physical space and destroying the environment.
Additionally, you have the resistance and the outcome of those who defy the Grid. Everything I read hit way too close to home. My mind never strays far from this reality but this book really made me think about it a lot more as I read.
What brought the Grid into existence? Who controls it? This reminds me of the Thunderhead in the Scythe series! It is like a more realistic version of that concept.
The ending was abrupt.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
**Live spoiler responses while reading**
- Something that did bother me is the fact that they know that the Grid is listening to everything but they still spoke about everything! Lol zero caution.
- Good for Adrian for fighting the forklift ! And Scout for trying.
- The "Great Change" -what the helly is that
- "you'll have a real surgeon overseeing the robot" - where we are headed even now
- Watch asked for piano removal??? Bruh.
And now he's sanctioned 🤦🏾♀️
- And now we get to the non citizens SIGH.
- "I'm not leaving you alone, Mr. Winters" 😭😭😭😭
- great job, Scout! Deleting the death date while also having zero human oversight and QC definitely worked in their favor
- Harold is a little slow on the uptake isn't it? And I didn't appreciate his lack of urgency in saving Scout
- Kate also lacked urgency. Like what are we doing here
- what happened to Harold? What happened to Adrian? Does she ever see her dad again?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The infinite sadness of small appliances by Glenn Dixon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Brave Little Toaster meets 1984. This is such a wonderful book, I can't believe im crying over a roomba. The story follows Scout, a roomba like vacuum cleaner (who named herself after the character from to kill a mockingbird) as she and other household appliances such as Fridge, Clock and Auto try to protect their human and his home from the Grid. I thought this would be a lot more lighthearted and fun but it was more than that and Im happy. It was such a human story about little appliances. I caught myself crying over our sweet little brave Scout more than once. The world in this is unfortunately starting to look more like ours, with people becoming more reliant on AI and Teslas and all that so it was getring scary at points to see how a group of appliances, a boy, a elderly man and his daughter could fight against something that large but this book left me so hopeful. A comp book for this would be Remarkably Bright Creatures which also made me so happy to be human even though one of the characters was an octopus. I have a bad habit of personify inanimate objects such as all my stuffed animals, a clock that looks a bit wonky, a Christmas ornament thats missing an eye, so I knew I'd enjoy this book and I know its only January but this is my favorite book I've read so far this year! I'm so happy for the ARC. Please pick this up later this year in April
Brave Little Toaster meets 1984. This is such a wonderful book, I can't believe im crying over a roomba. The story follows Scout, a roomba like vacuum cleaner (who named herself after the character from to kill a mockingbird) as she and other household appliances such as Fridge, Clock and Auto try to protect their human and his home from the Grid. I thought this would be a lot more lighthearted and fun but it was more than that and Im happy. It was such a human story about little appliances. I caught myself crying over our sweet little brave Scout more than once. The world in this is unfortunately starting to look more like ours, with people becoming more reliant on AI and Teslas and all that so it was getring scary at points to see how a group of appliances, a boy, a elderly man and his daughter could fight against something that large but this book left me so hopeful. A comp book for this would be Remarkably Bright Creatures which also made me so happy to be human even though one of the characters was an octopus. I have a bad habit of personify inanimate objects such as all my stuffed animals, a clock that looks a bit wonky, a Christmas ornament thats missing an eye, so I knew I'd enjoy this book and I know its only January but this is my favorite book I've read so far this year! I'm so happy for the ARC. Please pick this up later this year in April
February 22, 2026
thanks to atria books and net galley for this arc!
this book has such an interesting premise, but i think the execution was a bit of a miss for me. it tried to play both into the "cozy" genre and be a dystopian at the same time, but i personally think that doesn't work. in my opinion, dystopians shouldn't be cozy - they should be gritty and dark, but most importantly, there needs to be tension. the characters are being watched and monitored the whole book by "the grid", but the tension isn't there and they don't really seem to care at all, except to occasionally be like oh stop talking. but then they just say everything the next scene, so why did they even bother? the lean into the "cozy" genre made it seem like the book couldn't commit to actually saying anything.
the characters are fairly enjoyable, although basic and not totally fleshed out. i liked scout (the sentient roomba) and all the other electronics as they had distinct personalities that generally revolved around their functions. i thought the introduction of the human characters was interesting, but i wasn't expecting the focus to shift so much to them. also i thought it was weird that there was no reaction when the appliances all suddenly started talking to them - even if the humans know that they can speak, they clearly don't (at least not regularly). i would be surprised if my vacuum cleaner randomly decided to talk to me one day
overall, it's a very easy and straightforward read. there are some issues in the beginning with the flashbacks and how confusing they are to come in and out of, but those go away after the first few chapters. also, the ending was a bit unresolved. however, i think there are definitely people who would enjoy this story, especially if you enjoy the cozy sci-fi type of books
this book has such an interesting premise, but i think the execution was a bit of a miss for me. it tried to play both into the "cozy" genre and be a dystopian at the same time, but i personally think that doesn't work. in my opinion, dystopians shouldn't be cozy - they should be gritty and dark, but most importantly, there needs to be tension. the characters are being watched and monitored the whole book by "the grid", but the tension isn't there and they don't really seem to care at all, except to occasionally be like oh stop talking. but then they just say everything the next scene, so why did they even bother? the lean into the "cozy" genre made it seem like the book couldn't commit to actually saying anything.
the characters are fairly enjoyable, although basic and not totally fleshed out. i liked scout (the sentient roomba) and all the other electronics as they had distinct personalities that generally revolved around their functions. i thought the introduction of the human characters was interesting, but i wasn't expecting the focus to shift so much to them. also i thought it was weird that there was no reaction when the appliances all suddenly started talking to them - even if the humans know that they can speak, they clearly don't (at least not regularly). i would be surprised if my vacuum cleaner randomly decided to talk to me one day
overall, it's a very easy and straightforward read. there are some issues in the beginning with the flashbacks and how confusing they are to come in and out of, but those go away after the first few chapters. also, the ending was a bit unresolved. however, i think there are definitely people who would enjoy this story, especially if you enjoy the cozy sci-fi type of books
March 9, 2026
ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this arc in return for an honest review!
The Brave Little Toaster but make it a Roomba! This book was adorable! Very cute and cozy and the perfect book to snuggle up with if you’re having a tough day. Like a hug from your grandma, this book will wrap you up and make sure you are comfy and cozy, and will ask if you need another blanket or pillow before you go to sleep. Glenn Dixon’s prose is lovely and really paints a picture of a snowy Canadian town. I felt this book wanted to be more than it was at times and needed to flesh out more of the central conflict and a more established villain. However, this book is definitely for the cozy crowd who might not really need a major conflict for plot.
The Brave Little Toaster but make it a Roomba! This book was adorable! Very cute and cozy and the perfect book to snuggle up with if you’re having a tough day. Like a hug from your grandma, this book will wrap you up and make sure you are comfy and cozy, and will ask if you need another blanket or pillow before you go to sleep. Glenn Dixon’s prose is lovely and really paints a picture of a snowy Canadian town. I felt this book wanted to be more than it was at times and needed to flesh out more of the central conflict and a more established villain. However, this book is definitely for the cozy crowd who might not really need a major conflict for plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very unique book about a sentient Roomba and other appliances! Who would've thought?
What I loved the most about this book is the near-future world setting. A world with AI where household appliances can do things on their own, handle housework, and even think about humans. In this case, a Roomba named Scout. I really liked her. She's curious, adventurous, always wanting to learn more, and you just honestly can't stop her!
This story can be very heartwarming and also make you want to laugh. And yes, don't forget the angst, because it explores grief too. I'll be damned if I say I didn't cry. Even tho, some parts are a bit predictable after reading the long blurb, the book is still engaging and enjoyable. Recommend!
What I loved the most about this book is the near-future world setting. A world with AI where household appliances can do things on their own, handle housework, and even think about humans. In this case, a Roomba named Scout. I really liked her. She's curious, adventurous, always wanting to learn more, and you just honestly can't stop her!
This story can be very heartwarming and also make you want to laugh. And yes, don't forget the angst, because it explores grief too. I'll be damned if I say I didn't cry. Even tho, some parts are a bit predictable after reading the long blurb, the book is still engaging and enjoyable. Recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Netgalley for the advance review copy! As always all opinions shared below are 100% my own.
Now that I stopped crying by my roomba's side, I think it's safe for me to write this review.
"The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances" by Glenn Dixon is what I can only describe as cozy dystopian sci-fi book that features a sentient roomba called Scout. In fact, all appliances in this universe have such advanced artifical intelligence that they have achieved sentience. While they do not feel emotions the way we as humans do, they come very close to emulating it or translating it through their circuits and wires.
The appliances live to serve an older couple as the wife battles with a terminal illness. They attempt to come to terms with what happens when she dies and what they could and should do to protect their surviving human master.
The future seems idyllic at first glance with roombas that can dust even the highest shelves and self-filling refrigerators, but soon enough the reader is exposed to the ugliness of a future where 'the Grid' controls everything.
As a software engineer myself, there were moments when I found myself questioning a decision or an assumption here and there, but ultimately I think this book is a great reminder of the beauty of being human.
And don't get me started on Scout. If you loved Disney's Wall-E, you will adoooore Scout. This little curious roomba made me put down the book several times to message a friend at 1 AM and sob about how much I love roombas and I should be kinder to mine.
That is what I meant when I said it is 'cozy'. There is grief, anger and hurt in this book, but when I stop to remember the highlights, they were all moments where technology and humanity came together to celebrate humans.
The only complaint I have was I wish it was longer. I feel like a lot was left ambiguous or unexplored by the time we read the epilogue. But maybe that's intentional? It's up to us to figure out the future we want?
If you're new to sci-fi, I think this is a great book to pick up as it's still rooted in daily life. If you're a sci-fi lover and you're looking for something cozier, this book is for you. If you've given your roomba a name, do yourself a favour and read this book.
https://www.instagram.com/moonlightcocoa/">Instagram
Now that I stopped crying by my roomba's side, I think it's safe for me to write this review.
"The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances" by Glenn Dixon is what I can only describe as cozy dystopian sci-fi book that features a sentient roomba called Scout. In fact, all appliances in this universe have such advanced artifical intelligence that they have achieved sentience. While they do not feel emotions the way we as humans do, they come very close to emulating it or translating it through their circuits and wires.
The appliances live to serve an older couple as the wife battles with a terminal illness. They attempt to come to terms with what happens when she dies and what they could and should do to protect their surviving human master.
The future seems idyllic at first glance with roombas that can dust even the highest shelves and self-filling refrigerators, but soon enough the reader is exposed to the ugliness of a future where 'the Grid' controls everything.
As a software engineer myself, there were moments when I found myself questioning a decision or an assumption here and there, but ultimately I think this book is a great reminder of the beauty of being human.
And don't get me started on Scout. If you loved Disney's Wall-E, you will adoooore Scout. This little curious roomba made me put down the book several times to message a friend at 1 AM and sob about how much I love roombas and I should be kinder to mine.
That is what I meant when I said it is 'cozy'. There is grief, anger and hurt in this book, but when I stop to remember the highlights, they were all moments where technology and humanity came together to celebrate humans.
The only complaint I have was I wish it was longer. I feel like a lot was left ambiguous or unexplored by the time we read the epilogue. But maybe that's intentional? It's up to us to figure out the future we want?
If you're new to sci-fi, I think this is a great book to pick up as it's still rooted in daily life. If you're a sci-fi lover and you're looking for something cozier, this book is for you. If you've given your roomba a name, do yourself a favour and read this book.
https://www.instagram.com/moonlightcocoa/">Instagram
March 16, 2026
Despite the title, I was expecting this to be a fairly upbeat read given that it’s about a Roomba…it is not!!! Pretty depressing honestly.
The story felt like it was trying to do too many things and I think the narrative suffered from that. I didn’t love the writing style either, it tended to repeat the same points over and over which made the book feel a lot longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the uniqueness of this book, but the execution just wasn’t quite right.
The story felt like it was trying to do too many things and I think the narrative suffered from that. I didn’t love the writing style either, it tended to repeat the same points over and over which made the book feel a lot longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the uniqueness of this book, but the execution just wasn’t quite right.
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