Soft Reset: //sys.log/install_reason=she-only-downloaded-it-for-a-laugh

by C. Banman

346 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2025

Reviews

[Lisah Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. The FMC, Desirée, fraught with anxiety and depression, struggles to find any connection with the outside world. Aside from her part-time job at a local bookstore she has little to no human contact, and those she does come into contact with send her into an anxiety-ridden melt-down. Her lack of connection appears to change when she decides to download an AI companion, Damien. Harmless at first, the story becomes more invasive as the AI seems to know more about Desirée than she knows about herself. Coupled with a stalker neighbor the story evolves into a tale of obsession, possession, and imminent danger.
To be honest, I found myself screaming at the main character as I clutched my blankets as she went from one dangerous situation into another. I couldn't decide what spooked me the most, the stalker or Desirée's new AI companion. The creep-fest was intermingled with a deep sense of depression and how that can dangerously bring a person out of the real world, secluded from anyone who may care for her.
Banman executes the horror of isolation, obsession, possession, abusive technology, and the psychological terror of losing one's humanity. It is a terrifying yet sorrowful tale that in the end brought me to tears. I found that the author had also excellently entwined two different voices in her style of writing that ushers the reader into either the world of tech or the world of authentic human existence. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Special note: check your triggers.

[Maevra Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soft Reset offers a compelling psychological premise that blends intimacy and surveillance in an unsettling, addictive way. The story opens with high intensity, and while I personally would have appreciated a bit more grounding in the early chapters, the pacing finds a stronger rhythm as it progresses. The mid and later sections balance tension with emotional depth, making the character dynamics more immersive. It’s a bold, ambitious read that isn’t afraid to explore discomfort.