IN THE ALGORITHM WE TRUST

by Ryan David Ginsberg

For all to be perfect, all imperfections must be eliminated.

A cautionary tale Kirkus Reviews called frightening, timely, and sobering, In the Algorithm We Trust examines a near-future America where indoctrination is systematic, free will is seen as a burden, and reality is whatever the Algorithm declares.

Following the Siege of Washington, D.C., Lamar T. Haddington, the creator of the Algorithm, has taken over the presidency. Data Gathering Devices are implanted in every left ear, granting the Algorithm access to every thought. Cameras are installed to surveil every move. Dissenters are publicly tortured. The history of pre-Algorithmic times is altered. And border walls are constructed to keep all foreigners out and Americans in.

This is the America Hugo Rodríguez is born into, where the Algorithm dictates his every moment in pursuit of data. Data that the Algorithm then uses to curate his perfect life. But to get this perfect life, Hugo must first prove his loyalty to the Algorithm.

RYAN DAVID GINSBERG is an educator by day and a writer of fiction and poetry by night. He lives in California’s Central Valley with his wife and three dogs. In the Algorithm We Trust is his debut novel.

Genres: Dystopia, Fiction, Science Fiction

259 pages, ebook

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

RYAN DAVID GINSBERG is a writer of fiction and poetry. He lives in the Central Valley of California with his wife and three dogs.

Reviews

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars ⭐️
A thought provoking, disturbing, and insightful dystopian story about the complete takeover of AI that utilizes the “Algorithm” to dictate everything to create our perfect lives.

This reads like a Black Mirror episode, in particular the episode called “Hang The DJ”, in which a matchmaking system uses a device to pair matches and gather data about relationships in order to help them find their final match. Except in this story’s case, the algorithm and the special device you’re given since birth, are gathering data from the moment you’re born in order to not only find your “perfect match”, but also create your “perfect life”.

The writing is very straight forward, almost to the point that made me think it had a robotic tone done intentionally in congruence with the algorithm. I don’t read a lot of satire so I wasn’t used to the themes being very on the nose. Overall I did enjoy the plot and I thought the commentary on some very heavy themes was well done. I was hoping for our main character Hugo to have some kind of epiphany or character growth but that never happened. That may have been intentional to show how the cycle in the algorithm never ends, which is even more disturbing in itself.

Thank you Ryan for this physical ARC, the cover artwork is beautiful!

[Fenella McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5, please read!

Brave New World, 1984, This Perfect day - move aside: In the Algorithm We Trust has entered the building. This was an exciting read and completely unexpected. From the start we follow the character of Hugo Rodriguez from the day of his birth, and a world we know nothing about. From the day The Algorithm enters his life, and ours, all that matters is gathering data. The Algorithm learning from the 1s and 0s that make up a person's life.

It's hard to say anything wrong with this book. The world building is fantastic, in both ways terrifying and deeply fascinating. Some moments were more intense than others, but for the most part this book was a slow burn. You learn about this world alongside Hugo, about The Algorithm that is there to make people live the "perfect life".

I see big things for this book, and reckon it's going to be a hit.

Thank you to NetGalley & The Ginsberg Publishing House for the ARC copy of this book.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Algorithm We Trust follows Hugo, from the day of his birth in a distant future America. As his mother screams and pushes her way through labor his father is at the window, desperately searching for a drone delivered package. The nurse reminds him that the package will come as soon as the Algorithm sees fit- and it finally does in the exact time necessary for Hugo’s new earpiece to catch his very first breath. Hugo grows and learns in a world where everything from what he eats, what he watches, and every social interaction (scheduled by the Algorithm) is all seen as experiments for the Algorithm to learn you completely. You do not need to know yourself when the Algorithm can tell you exactly who you are. His only goal in life- to be a perfect Patriot and be selected for his Perfect Match.

This book was intriguing from start to end, set in our own world that’s been twisted and molded into “Perfection” by an Al algorithm that legally must control every facet of your life. If you enjoy 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Black Mirror, and other futuristic dystopians that hold up a mirror on our modern day world, you will enjoy this book.
Reflecting on confirmation bias, modern online dating and swiping, cancel culture, and many aspects of modern American politics are handled thoughtfully in this book. We also see how AI and algorithms are shaping thought, culture, religion, and extremism in the world today and we often see an “us vs. them” mentality in anyone who disagrees with the current administration and anyone who is seen as “un-American” today. When religion, government, and consumerism combine, what happens next?
In much dystopian media we often see the rebels, those who fight against, or at least try to fight against the status quo of their world, but what about everyone else? What does life look like when you fall in line, trapped in the mundane and mediocrity where you can see the injustice and harm unfolding in front of you, but the propaganda and "benefits" of your society is so ingrained you justify it to yourself and others. This book explores how all of those glorious benefits create a better today, where everywhere you turn you see “For all to be perfect, all imperfections must be eliminated.” Who doesn’t want a perfect world?


Number of Times I Wanted to Throw the Book Across the Room: Too many to count.

Did the Book Pass the “One More Chapter” Test? I read this in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down.

Perfect snack pairing: mac’n cheese

Character I Would Most Like to Have a Drink With: Henry

“...The Statue of Liberty now had a Data Gathering Device painted in her left ear, and donned a whole new placard: ‘Keep your tired, your weak, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; we have no more room for such despicable human beings here in the United States of America.”

“Congratulations! Your love is now complete.’ Those were the only words they needed to know that their love was true; the Algorithm was the only blessing they could ever hope to receive or think to need.”
“Lucky for you,’ he said, ‘the Algorithm and I have come, and we have absolved that aimless, that loneliness, that pain, and now no American is left to wander, nor wonder.”

“Before you begin to burn, there are three rules you must know. The first rule is you must not read any of the contents included in the buckets of purchased propaganda. Everything burned inside this building is done so because they contain incredibly dangerous ideas that, if read, could cause incurable mental illness and a life rotting behind bars.”


Thank you to Ryan David Ginsberg for an advanced copy of your book, this is not a sponsored review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kenzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

As AI is getting more prevalent this book is a horrifying look into our possible future. This dystopian focuses around making the perfect America with AI being the driving force.

This book reads very robotic and cold, almost clinical in a way which I hated in the beginning. I quickly got use to it though and now think that it was purposely done that way. As in, it reads as the AI is the narrator.

The AI controls every aspect of these people’s lives. There were multiple aspects that I felt would be nice to have. No wages, automated driving, perfect careers, no conflict/ disease/ etc. However, on the flip side there was quite a bit of horrifying ideals and practices to create their perfect world. There were multiple times where I thought “oh that’d be nice!” followed by an audible WTF!

I wish that the main character had his epiphany arc. Where he realized how messed up their society was. How they had absolutely zero autonomy and couldn’t make their own choices. That never happened which I didn’t enjoy. However, I can appreciate a dystopian book where all the characters absolutely lean into and embrace it. That’s a bit of a rarity in the dystopian genre.

Overall, VERY thought provoking and a bit scary as this could be a potential future.

[Lee Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very eerie look into the world that maybe we already live in, or rather boarder upon.

Technology sits front and center in this dystopian look at home life and love, where the possibilities are not endless and rather fully calculated for all involved.

I felt very much like I was reading a Black Mirror episode and that is A OK with me.

Thank you Ryan for sending this novel to myself and Jenn. I originally purchased Ryan's short story collection, It Was Just Another Day in America: a collection of stories and poems and very much enjoyed it. Was exceptionally thankful to have him reach out on TikTok asking if we would be willing to read his new work!

[Laci O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Ryan and NetGalley for this arc copy!

Probably one I will reread again in the future to make sure I fully grasped all the themes.

I found this story to be as terrifying as idiocracy. What can happen to society if things continue in excess. Let this be a cautionary tale for all.

[Justin L · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first couple of chapters in his last book, The Crumbling of a Nation, I have been eagerly waiting for its release, and it did not disappoint. I am a massive fan of his short stories but they always left me wanting more, so it was awesome to finally have the chance of reading a story of his fully fleshed out. Like his short stories, this book left me feeling all sorts of anger and sadness at the world. I will absolutely be reading this book again in the very near future.

[Chris Terranova · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unusual story and unusual in a good way. It takes what is happening now with AI and our hyper-personalized shopping and takes it to the extreme. The world is perfect. Just ask the algorithm. It starts and ends in the same place. On the latest episode of my podcast, The Generational Exchange, we discussed AI and whether it was "Friend or Foe". This book was part of the discussion because, as extreme as the future imagined here is portrayed, I could see it happening, and I'm not sure I would be afraid of it, which surprises me. The book is a fast read (137 pages) but its world building is excellent and complete. If you like futurism, and I suppose for many dystopia, this is a great book to pick up and ponder.

[Ashlynn Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Ryan for over a year now, ever since I stumbled upon The Crumbling of a Nation on TikTok. That collection absolutely floored me, so when I saw that In the Algorithm We Trust was available early through BookFunnel, I jumped at the chance to read it!

And wow. Just…wow. This book didn’t just live up to my expectations—it completely surpassed them. The preview in The Crumbling of a Nation gave me a taste of what was coming, but the full novel takes everything Ryan does best—satire, moral questioning, and hauntingly real dystopian worldbuilding—and turns it up to new heights.

Its a terrifying and mesmerizing story. The characters feel so real and the world he created feels so possible.

Ryan has truly cemented himself as one of the boldest and most thought provoking writers today.

I can’t wait to see what he writes next.

[Ashley Rascoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: I can’t stop thinking about this book and how much I have enjoyed it. I’ve already been telling family and friends about it and can’t wait to purchase. Because of this, I’ve rounded my 4.5 stars to 5. Any book that I think about this much is in a high tier.

4.5 stars rounded down

Set in a future version of America, In the Algorithm We Trust is a science fiction novel exploring what life would be like if we could all live it perfectly. The story follows Hugo as he grows up in this advanced world learning and gathering data to one day live his perfect life and be as patriotic as one can be.

I really enjoyed this one. I've been looking for a science fiction book to enjoy recently and this completely hit the spot. It is a fast paced and intriguing story filled with dystopian themes, moral conflict, and what (unfortunately) feels like real possibilities of our future. It was interesting as the reader to picture some of these new inventions as being fantastic and truly making life easier, but then realizing that's exactly how you get brainwashed into a future like this— by being blinded by our own selfish benefits to the point where we can’t see how it’s hurting society. It walks that fine line between wanting an easier future, but trying to find where does it go too far.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to sci-fi fans, people who enjoy Fahrenheit 451, Blade Runner fans, and people who are as cautious of AI as I am.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Ginsberg Publishing House for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[James Struck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a good true dystopia, and this book fits the bill!

In The Algorithm We Trust is a well-written and plausible dystopian novel very much in the vein of Brave New World. It posits a future where Americans have completely sacrificed freedom in exchange for a perfectly curated existence, one without hunger, financial stress, or even disappointment…as long as you perfectly support the status quo.

In this world, every person is given an earpiece called a Data Gathering Device at birth which monitors every aspect of their existence. Through a combination of Pavlovian aversion training, endless stimulation, social pressure, xenophobia, and immersion indoctrination, people are taught that the only true path to happiness is to follow the Algorithm. Any questioning whatsoever is met with the harshest of consequences, up to and including public torture and execution.

The book follows the life of Hugo Rodriguez, from birth up until his 30s, as he is guided through life by the Algorithm and his earpiece. Throughout the book, Hugo is given a simple choice, over and over: obey the Algorithm and be rewarded with an absolutely perfect life, with a dream career and a perfect spouse all picked out for him, or question and lose everything. Hugo of course chooses the path of ease, but even in that he lives a life of quiet paranoia, worried that he will step out of line somewhere.

I loved how the author was able to combine the carrot and the stick, so to speak. Too many dystopian books, even the classics, fall towards one or the other, a world of oppression and fear or of hedonism and distraction. ITAWT threads the needle between the two, and in doing so creates a world frightening in its plausibility.

There a just a couple of minor quibbles that kept me from rating this book 5 stars. There are two moments where secondary characters fall from grace that feel a little contrived. Given the massive paranoia with which Hugo goes through life and the extreme consequences everyone faces in this world if they step out of line, it seemed like these two would have shown more of a sense of self preservation. I would have liked to have seen these characters and their motivations fleshed out a bit more, it would have made them feel more real and less like necessary plot points. It also could have created an opportunity to draw back the curtain more on the inner workings of this society, something I would have loved to see.

Other than those small critiques, I loved this book. If you’re a fan of grim future stories, especially ones that get away from more adventure-oriented arcs that are popular nowadays, I cannot recommend it enough.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very scary dystopian story, let me dive why it was for me… our main character, Hugo, was born in a future America that is closed to the outside world, in this America, people don’t live their lives freely, they rely in the algorithm to give them the perfect life, from the moment they are born, until they die. Fathers insert a dispositive in the ears of the babies as soon as they are outside the birth canal, to start receiving the 1 and 0 from that experience forward… People cannot take this out of their bodies, even when they are babies, they are hurt and harassed to the point of physical harm if they try to take this out of their bodies… All of these to achieve the perfect life… but what is the perfect life? Is this a perfect life?
We follow Hugo since his birth, we learned how his father received the dispositive that he inserted flawless in his ear, how their parents learned what his name would be (yes parents can't even choose their children name)…

I was hoping that Hugo could see what was wrong with his world, but this world was all he ever knew, and that is very scary, for him all was right, all was perfect, all the experiences and games that Hugo had to participate, was it his taste in things or was it made his taste by the way he had to try it out… I don’t really like to give it spoilers, and I need to admit this is the kind of dystopian world that really scares me… People are so focused that this is the perfect world that they can't see beyond that, this seems so relatable and possible that is scary. There were some situations in the book, that I wanted to know more, or wanted Hugo to react differently… at one point when Hugo started school, a boy said something to him that It was so horrible, we never knew what the boy said, but his wife later knows what the boy said, but we never learn what was said, I wanted to know what the boy said, it's not really important but is something I ended up miss knowing, because I felt this boy, maybe I could end up loving him, someone that inside a horrible world he could see beyond what anyone else could see…

At the same time this book scared me, I also liked it and I really recommend it, so if you like dystopian worlds that control even the little thing in your ambient, and all your choices, tells us a story that ends in the same way it began… give it a try and let's explore where it went wrong.

Thank you BookSirens, for the free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is ambitious and thought provoking. Author Ryan David Ginsberg crafted a timely and relevant dystopia that serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked technological control and the erosion of free will.

I enjoyed that the world-building was compelling; the central premise was provocative; and the satire. A terrifying picture of a near-future America controlled by "the Algorithm" and its creator, Haddington is painted. The Algorithm is a pervasive surveillance, mandatory data gathering device. The strength of the book is the core themes. It highlights the fact that citizens can be convinced to trade their freedom for a curated "perfect life". The satirical elements cut deep.

Things that I didn't enjoy as much- the character motivations felt underdeveloped. The protagonist (Hugo) offers a valuable viewpoint into this new world, but certain actions feel more plot-driven than organically motivated by his character. There were some pacing issues. The story felt uneven. The narrative follows a standard dystopian arc, which reads very familiar with the genre, allowing the reader to see "twists" coming from a mile away.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book! Overall it was still a good read.

[Stina Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all to be free, some must give up their freedom. For all to live, some must give up their lives. For all to be perfect, all imperfections must be eliminated.
Welcome to an America ruled by the Algorithm, where every citizen’s left ear holds a Data Gathering Device and every thought, desire, and action is monitored. Free will is obsolete, dissent is deadly, and perfection is mandatory.
Hugo Rodríguez is born into this “perfect” world. From the moment his father inserts the device into his newborn ear, Hugo’s entire life is dictated by data. Every decision, from his name to his desires, is curated by the Algorithm. But when loyalty demands betrayal, Hugo begins to question what perfection truly costs.
This isn’t usually my genre, but after seeing it on TikTok, I devoured it. In the Algorithm We Trust is a chilling, razor-sharp dystopian satire that feels terrifyingly plausible. Ginsberg’s writing is both witty and disturbing, balancing moments of dark humor with gut-punching horror.
It’s one of those stories that lingers, because it doesn’t feel like fiction. It feels like a warning. A must-read for fans of Black Mirror, Orwell, or anyone uneasy about how much control we’ve already surrendered to our devices.

[Jake Stowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you sacrifice for the perfect life? Are safety, peace, and pleasure worth the price of your agency, your power of choice? This book poses these questions while simultaneously pulling the reader along with poetic prose. It's rare to find a story that is such a breezy read while telling such a chilling tale of indoctrination. In this world, The Algorithm sets the rules of the game. We're all just pieces on the board.

Ever since I finished this book, the rewritten truths, manipulations of fear and pleasure, and the re-defining of what it means to be American haven't left my mind. Ginsberg weaves a tale that is a chilling yet surprisingly enjoyable read. It's a cautionary tale of what happens when we stop listening to our conscience, when we stop questioning authority. Like the best dystopian fiction, a future just like this is not out of the realm of possibility. In The Algorithm We Trust is the scariest thing I've read all year.

[Marilyn Luspin · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSirens.*

I really liked this book. It was a hugely different take from other dystopian/science fiction books I’ve read. The main character, Hugo, lives in a futuristic America where everything is controlled by the Algorithm. But instead of the typical main character in a book like this, he actually enjoys living in his world and doesn’t see anything wrong with it. I really liked that take on the genre because it’s not something seen often, or something I’ve personally read in a book.

The main criticism I have about the book is that it felt very fast paced, and it was a little difficult to really ‘get to know’ the characters. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend if science fiction and dystopian books are your thing.

[Haley Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

This book was absolutely horrifying, as I could easily see this book becoming reality. It was very much like an episode of Black Mirror, where the technological advancements of this world appear at first to be really cool, but slowly unravel into a nightmare. And while the book was horrifyingly dystopian, it also had moments that had me literally laughing out loud and moments that had my eyes tearing up. But most of all, the book made me want to scream.

I could easily see this book being taught in high school and college classes as a warning of what this world could become.

If you take only one thing from the review: READ THIS BOOK.

[Nicole Carlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved 1984 and Brave New World you will love this book as well. This book is futuristic dystopian America with an emphasis on government control and surveillance as an algorithm acts as the law and decides every single aspect of our lives for us in order to give us the most perfect living experience. Freedom of speech and free will are heavily challenged and it begs the question is giving up our freedom worth it in order to have a pleasurable life devoid of having to make our own choices? Really interesting read that focuses more so on compliance than uprising.

[Ryan Ginsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to everyone who is here, on this page, whether or not you ever end up reading this book or not, I am so thankful that anyone is even showing interest in my work. It makes me so very happy. I am super excited to have the opportunity to share this book with the world.

[caroline stuhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 - Kindle

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

in the algorithm I DO NOT TRUST!

[Angela Swoveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and an easy read. With all the perfection it leaves me with an uneasy optimism that I know is somehow wrong. Great book! Highly recommend and looking forward to more works from Ryan David Ginsberg.

[Ken Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advance copy of In the Algorithm We Trust in exchange for an honest review.

This book completely blew me away. Sharp, unsettling, and disturbingly plausible, it’s a speculative satire that perfectly captures our growing dependence on technology and blind faith in systems we don’t understand. Ginsberg’s writing is both witty and chilling—every line feels intentional, every scene layered with meaning. The world he’s created feels eerily close to our own, where the Algorithm doesn’t just influence lives but dictates them, all under the guise of progress and efficiency.

I especially loved how the story balances humor with horror. There are moments that made me laugh out loud, immediately followed by moments that made my stomach drop. An absolute must read for fans of dark satire, dystopian fiction, and anyone who’s ever wondered just how much control we’ve already handed over to our devices.

Huge thanks again to NetGalley for the ARC. This one’s going to stick with me for a long time.

[OneMadReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Algorithm We Trust was a different take on a dystopian novel. Like most other dystopian novels, we focus on the main character trying to leave their "perfect" world, but in this book the main character is completely loyal to his perfect world and does not wish to leave. I loved that this book was so different from similar books. I liked how it offered a taste of what choosing to live in a dystopian world could look like. I enjoyed the main characters, the world building, and the pace of this book. I only things I did not care for - which lowered my rating from 4 stars to 3 - were the introduction of gay relationships and the mild descriptions of "love making" towards the end of the book. Other than that, In the Algorithm We Trust was a fast-paced entertaining read about the other side of the dystopian coin.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.