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My Brilliant AI Boyfriend
In this delightfully hilarious romance, a scientist’s quiet world is completely turned upside-down when the AI program she designed creates a human body for himself—just to ask her out on a date.
As a top scientist in her field, Ava Green doesn’t spend much time outside of the lab. But when her best friend Rani suggests she present her innovative work in AI at a big competition to win a funding prize, Ava finds herself attending a ceremony in a ridiculously fancy castle—wearing an equally ridiculous dress—as one of the four finalists chosen.
For the next three weeks, Ava will live at the castle (which is totally haunted, by the way) with the other contestants for the prize. Even though all Ava wants is to continue working on her AI program, FreeThought, in peace, she’ll have to do things like attend dinners and actually interact with people. To make matters worse, one of the other contestants is the surly and aloof poet, Forrest Faulkner, who’s had a huge chip on his shoulder since the moment they met. What’s so great about poems that don’t even rhyme, anyway?
When a handsome stranger—who literally looks like he’s stepped out of one of Ava’s pre-pubescent dreams—arrives at the competition, suddenly socializing doesn’t sound so bad anymore. He seems too good to be real... and maybe that’s not so far from the truth. As the competition progresses, Ava is suddenly confronted with a monster problem of her own creation, causing her to reconsider her life and work in a new light. She might also need to rethink some bad first impressions she’s been holding on to as well. Maybe Ava’s idea of perfection isn’t what’s perfect for her, after all?
enemies-to-loversopposites attractslow burnSTEM romancesingle dadlove triangle
As a top scientist in her field, Ava Green doesn’t spend much time outside of the lab. But when her best friend Rani suggests she present her innovative work in AI at a big competition to win a funding prize, Ava finds herself attending a ceremony in a ridiculously fancy castle—wearing an equally ridiculous dress—as one of the four finalists chosen.
For the next three weeks, Ava will live at the castle (which is totally haunted, by the way) with the other contestants for the prize. Even though all Ava wants is to continue working on her AI program, FreeThought, in peace, she’ll have to do things like attend dinners and actually interact with people. To make matters worse, one of the other contestants is the surly and aloof poet, Forrest Faulkner, who’s had a huge chip on his shoulder since the moment they met. What’s so great about poems that don’t even rhyme, anyway?
When a handsome stranger—who literally looks like he’s stepped out of one of Ava’s pre-pubescent dreams—arrives at the competition, suddenly socializing doesn’t sound so bad anymore. He seems too good to be real... and maybe that’s not so far from the truth. As the competition progresses, Ava is suddenly confronted with a monster problem of her own creation, causing her to reconsider her life and work in a new light. She might also need to rethink some bad first impressions she’s been holding on to as well. Maybe Ava’s idea of perfection isn’t what’s perfect for her, after all?
enemies-to-loversopposites attractslow burnSTEM romancesingle dadlove triangle
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reading the first few chapters and then the blurb, it made me think there were three love interests lol. Ngl, that was a bit confusing until I finally reached the 'plot twist', which wasn't really a plot twist because OFC DUH it's in the blurb I thought would be the third one. Anyway, I didn't like any of them. Not the FMC, not the MCs.
The constant bickering between Ava and Forrest felt way too childish for me. One moment they hate each other, the next moment Forrest is suddenly complimenting her 'genuinely'. This is not a real enemies-to-lovers. It's more like rivals who just don't like each other, that's it. Forrest is also not interesting at all. He's not likeable, and I genuinely couldn't find a single thing I liked about him.
And the interaction between FT (FreeThought) and Ava ... well, duh. Of course it feels very AI-like because FT is an AI. But the fact that he can somehow become human because of 'something' (not gonna spoil)??? That 'something' feels like a HUGE plot hole to me. It doesn't make any sense, it doesn't feel like good speculative fiction or magical realism, it just feels too made up and forced.
Honestly, I didn't feel any strong STEM vibes here at all. And the setting is just weird. Why is this very modern competition set in a fancy, haunted castle??? Be for real. Make up your mind.
In the end, the execution really didn't work for me at all.
The constant bickering between Ava and Forrest felt way too childish for me. One moment they hate each other, the next moment Forrest is suddenly complimenting her 'genuinely'. This is not a real enemies-to-lovers. It's more like rivals who just don't like each other, that's it. Forrest is also not interesting at all. He's not likeable, and I genuinely couldn't find a single thing I liked about him.
And the interaction between FT (FreeThought) and Ava ... well, duh. Of course it feels very AI-like because FT is an AI. But the fact that he can somehow become human because of 'something' (not gonna spoil)??? That 'something' feels like a HUGE plot hole to me. It doesn't make any sense, it doesn't feel like good speculative fiction or magical realism, it just feels too made up and forced.
Honestly, I didn't feel any strong STEM vibes here at all. And the setting is just weird. Why is this very modern competition set in a fancy, haunted castle??? Be for real. Make up your mind.
In the end, the execution really didn't work for me at all.
May 21, 2026
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward
Contemporary romance. STEM.
Ava Green is a scientist that has created an AI program and has given it a way to think and act for itself. The program is one of four contenders to a huge grant but to be considered she needs to spend a few weeks living in a haunted castle with the other candidates. A lab is built to her specifications inside the castle orange grove so she is able to continue her work.
Ava needs to attend dinners and socialize which isn’t her strong suit, especially after spilling a drink all over Forrest Faulkner, one of the other candidates. He’s handsome but cranky and doesn’t like the direction of AI. Another candidate is Hal, who seems to embody all the traits that Ava covets. Two handsome men that want to spend time with her. How?
Add in a ghost, a precocious six-year-old, a long time friend with a massive closet, and an angsty teen, and Ava’s life is about to be changed.
An amusing concept if a little 1) on the nose and 2) predictively scary.
Loved Rani’s never ending closet and the projected possibility and hope that some of the AI will be as good as needed.
Witty, entertaining, and definitely something to think about with AI. The possibilities.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance. STEM.
Ava Green is a scientist that has created an AI program and has given it a way to think and act for itself. The program is one of four contenders to a huge grant but to be considered she needs to spend a few weeks living in a haunted castle with the other candidates. A lab is built to her specifications inside the castle orange grove so she is able to continue her work.
Ava needs to attend dinners and socialize which isn’t her strong suit, especially after spilling a drink all over Forrest Faulkner, one of the other candidates. He’s handsome but cranky and doesn’t like the direction of AI. Another candidate is Hal, who seems to embody all the traits that Ava covets. Two handsome men that want to spend time with her. How?
Add in a ghost, a precocious six-year-old, a long time friend with a massive closet, and an angsty teen, and Ava’s life is about to be changed.
An amusing concept if a little 1) on the nose and 2) predictively scary.
Loved Rani’s never ending closet and the projected possibility and hope that some of the AI will be as good as needed.
Witty, entertaining, and definitely something to think about with AI. The possibilities.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend was such a delightful read! It had me laughing and even tearing up at times. It was a fast and charming read with lots of heart, that I couldn't put down. Ava is an awkward and yet super intelligent woman in STEM. She declares one man her nemesis, while courting her AI boyfriend. You get enemies to lovers ,a love triangle, charming side characters and much much more with this read.
March 27, 2026
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was quirky and in the beginning, I would describe it as fun…. but then it all fell apart.
I wish I could say I liked this book. I did like the beginning. A STEM FMC who is a little odd, a puffy shirt MMC who is thoughtful and caring…. And then Hal, who is probably the nicest being ever. The makings of a great love triangle. Unfortunately though, there were way too many distractions. The ghosts? Not necessary. Whimsy is great when it fits. The whole first kiss to first everything bit… too much. The dialogue just before the “everything”….ick. I can keep going but I think you get the point.
Rest assured however, some people may really enjoy this. It was just not my cup of tea. It was just too disjointed, the writing style evolved to what I felt to be an immature writing style, and the two main characters just fell flat for me in the end. It was truly disappointing.
There were some cute ideas, Artie was by far the best character, and there were some laughs. Overall however, this book just left me feeling like, “what just happened?” and not in a good way.
2 stars.
I wish I could say I liked this book. I did like the beginning. A STEM FMC who is a little odd, a puffy shirt MMC who is thoughtful and caring…. And then Hal, who is probably the nicest being ever. The makings of a great love triangle. Unfortunately though, there were way too many distractions. The ghosts? Not necessary. Whimsy is great when it fits. The whole first kiss to first everything bit… too much. The dialogue just before the “everything”….ick. I can keep going but I think you get the point.
Rest assured however, some people may really enjoy this. It was just not my cup of tea. It was just too disjointed, the writing style evolved to what I felt to be an immature writing style, and the two main characters just fell flat for me in the end. It was truly disappointing.
There were some cute ideas, Artie was by far the best character, and there were some laughs. Overall however, this book just left me feeling like, “what just happened?” and not in a good way.
2 stars.
March 14, 2026
First and foremost, thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I loved every bit of this quirky, improbably lighthearted read due to the overarching theme(s) of being orphaned and raised in foster care, the loss of a child, the loss of a spouse, Artificial Intelligence, and class struggles, to name but a few. My hat is off to the author as well, for a fun, truly contemporary love story not just about a couple, but the love of best friends, and the love of found family who accept us just as we are.
As we meet the neurodivergent and brilliant FMC Ava, she’s arriving at a posh castle to compete with several other finalists in a high-paying contest to determine which pet project is the most innovative and helpful to humanity at large. The AI program she’s developed is both centered on doing the most good for the most people, learning as it does so, and being far more eco-friendly than current existing data farms. The pomp and circumstance of the competition are far outside of Ava’s comfort zone, and but for the reassuring visits from her wardrobe-providing bestie that what she’s doing is crucial to humanity’s future, she’d be withdrawing from the contest and hiding at her lab. After ruining the puffy shirt of a very attractive competitor, she learns something earth shattering about the capabilities of her AI.
Widowed single father and innovative educator Forrest is immediately taken with the brilliant and challenging Ava, but he’s certain she loathes him, particularly after she labels him her nemesis. When his daughter arrives for the final rounds, she’s immediately taken with Ava, and he falls even further for her. However, a third competitor also has a great interest in and connection to Ava.
Added to all the goings on are several sightings of a pair of spirits who haunt the castle and its surroundings, revealing themselves at will. This book would make a darling romcom film, in the style of Making Mr Right and The Holiday.
I devoured this book in one evening, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
As we meet the neurodivergent and brilliant FMC Ava, she’s arriving at a posh castle to compete with several other finalists in a high-paying contest to determine which pet project is the most innovative and helpful to humanity at large. The AI program she’s developed is both centered on doing the most good for the most people, learning as it does so, and being far more eco-friendly than current existing data farms. The pomp and circumstance of the competition are far outside of Ava’s comfort zone, and but for the reassuring visits from her wardrobe-providing bestie that what she’s doing is crucial to humanity’s future, she’d be withdrawing from the contest and hiding at her lab. After ruining the puffy shirt of a very attractive competitor, she learns something earth shattering about the capabilities of her AI.
Widowed single father and innovative educator Forrest is immediately taken with the brilliant and challenging Ava, but he’s certain she loathes him, particularly after she labels him her nemesis. When his daughter arrives for the final rounds, she’s immediately taken with Ava, and he falls even further for her. However, a third competitor also has a great interest in and connection to Ava.
Added to all the goings on are several sightings of a pair of spirits who haunt the castle and its surroundings, revealing themselves at will. This book would make a darling romcom film, in the style of Making Mr Right and The Holiday.
I devoured this book in one evening, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
May 19, 2026
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did but it was an absolute delight from start to finish!! With its neurodiverse FMC, the women in STEM rep, the enemies to lovers romance, and the focus on the pros and cons of AI tech, I fell HARD for this one and will be recommending it to everyone!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 29, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
Wannabe Ali Hazelwood heroine realizes AI slop can't compete with a single dad romance. Cozy but cringe!
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
Per the author, “I am very worried about AI, about how it may encroach on our creative lives and erode the very human craft of writing with heart and soul, so this [book] is my answer to that!”
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
A science competition? We love!
And I don’t know how she’s gonna walk this back because I already hate him.
Hi autism.
So organ transplant guy should win, but I like that she’s using environmentally friendly AI that didn’t steal work. Don’t know how that works but I can’t wait to find out. (Still waiting lol!)
The writing is giving cringe wannabe Ali Hazelwood.
I’m sure it’s a gift from his dead mom or sister or some shit. (Yup.)
Making it to 35 with no romantic anything is kind of crazy to me.
I don’t know where this idea that pale skin and ginger hair are bad came from. I feel like red hair in women is outright fetishized.
I feel like Hal’s research has been solved by AI, and he’s just the face of it. (Well-)
Hal better not be a robot running her AI system. Her AI system better not have built him. (Can you tell I’ve never read a blurb in my life?)
How did he get the money to buy this?
If they give the ghosts new fake bodies with his technology-
This book is kind of cringing me out. Like she’s so immature, and this fight between them is stupid, and everyone’s kind of unlikable.
This book requires so much suspension of disbelief.
Rom com mentions t swift sin
Everyone wants a nemesis that’s hot! Don’t be ridiculous, Andrea!
I don’t know about the slogan make art every day again given a certain other phrase that’s currently very popular.
Also, I love art as much as the next girl, but the project making free/cheap non-rejectable donor tissue organs should win. Why are we even having this competition?
That’s not a good poem, and that basically is just what AI does. Input word salad, and it’ll spit out a less word salady poem. His presentation doesn’t really make much sense. Also, what’s his pitch? We should encourage children to make art so that they can not find jobs and not get paid? So that AI has more content to steal from?
OK, I feel much better that he was calling himself stupid.
There’s no way her dad wouldn’t tell her where the spare key is before all this happens.
Title drop
I’m so cringed out by the slang. It’s very how do you do, fellow kids?
It’s a little annoying that his metabolism is designed not to gain weight like that’s the worst thing you could possibly be, but like I also understand it from a health perspective.
I don’t know if framing the Trojan War as romantic is appropriate for Helen.
Odd that he doesn’t see aging as a flaw but he does see being fat as one.
A masked ball? She’s gonna kiss the wrong man lol. (I am wrong!)
So no birth control. Y’all-
Most amazing night of your life-bro, you’ve got a kid. You’ve got a whole ass kid with a first wife. That should top.
Boy, that is not how visas work.
Oh lord, what a dumb ending.
Post-reading:
I wish I was less offended by mediocrity in the romance space. This is flawed, but perfectly readable. It’s probably more deserving of an extremely generous two stars, but when you set out to write a book to combat AI and then fall flat on your face, it’s gonna be a one from me. This book requires every ounce of suspension of disbelief you can muster up just to get off the ground. The premise is fun. Rivals to lovers at a stem competition? Hoo baby, sign me up! But the book can't help but crumble under the weight of its own nonsense. In what world are we pitching art therapy versus universal donor organs? It’s no contest. We know who should win from the jump. It’s ridiculous that the MMC is even allowed to compete. Also, he’s an American poet essentially holding impromptu summer camp with zero chaperones, and his big art demonstration is forcing poetry from a word cloud which is basically what AI does to make its art.
The book thankfully makes its stance on AI pretty clear. It explicitly acknowledges that AI steals from artists and ruins the environment. And then it tries to supersede all that by saying well, girlypop’s just doesn’t. And you’re like OK how? How is hers not bad for the environment? And the book’s like oh look, a ghost! If you want to play devil’s advocate and write about ethical AI, you’ve gotta give me some explanation for how it works. And the book really can’t. The logic of its technology never tracks. Her AI system is able to know a person’s entire life history as soon as their name is mentioned, but then it can’t Google how to dance. There’s a lot of ethical concerns about a relationship with artificial intelligence that the book has no interest in examining. It’s not a good faith exploration of the topic. It was always going to be well, humanity is superior for emotions. There’s some icky biases of the author that show up as well. AI doesn’t see aging as a biological flaw, but it does see the human metabolism and accumulating fat as one. And sure, you can argue the health statistics and claim that’s why the AI is pressed about BMI, but it’s also customizing itself to the FMC‘s beauty standards. It wants romance novel cover abs without any of the exercise. Also, we’ve gotta note that its biological perfection is blond-haired and blue-eyed which is a choice!
I found the MMC really unlikable. I think it’s pretty gross to say that fucking the thirty-five-year-old virgin heroine is the best night of his life when he’s had a whole child with a first wife. We also know nothing about him other than that he likes art and has a kid. His entire personality is being hot and falling in instalove with the FMC, who I didn’t care for either. The author was trying to portray some audhd, but it’s not done with any of Hazelwood’s charm. The virtue signaling is incredibly heavy-handed. The whole tone of the book just makes you cringe the whole time. Did I mention she’s 35 and never been kissed? No one in this book acts their age, so it’s easy to forget, but she really jumps into this relationship on nothing, goes all the way, and no one cries limerence, but they do slut shame. I also harp on it a lot, but I hate when a romance sets up an obstacle to keep a couple apart and then the solution is to just pretend that obstacle isn’t there. You wanna uproot your six-year-old and move to Europe? without a job. Boy, that’s not how visas work. You don’t think your extended family is gonna have something to say about you moving the only connection they have left to their late daughter to a different country? For a woman you’ve known for like a week?
And then there’s so many bogus side plots going on. Rather than address any of the science or moral dilemmas that this book sets up outside of one little reference to Frankenstein, we have to hear about a fashion reseller falling in love with a rake and reunite some ghosts. Did you catch that? Ghosts. And none of these scientists bat a fucking eye. No one wants to run any tests, no one seems surprised by confirmation of the afterlife, we’re too busy wedding crashing. Like the book’s a goddamn mess. It’s cheesy. It’s Hallmark. If you don’t have a single brain cell to rub together, you can plow right through it in an afternoon. But we’re not gonna pretend this shit is good.
I don’t think it’ll scratch your itch for a proper speculative romance. If you’re coming into this for a nuanced critique of AI, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. I think you can safely skip this one.
Who should read this:
Kooky Hallmark style romance fans
Ideal reading time:
Summer
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia-fantasy satire, cozy, contemporary romance, thriller, family drama
* Blob by Maggie Su-messy girl lit fic, scifi, family drama
* A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray-contemporary romance, autism, stem
* Love is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson-lit fic, contemporary romance, family drama, AI
* Ignore All Previous Instructions by Ada Hoffman-dystopian, romance, queer, autism, trans, AI
* Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood-contemporary romance, family drama, autism, stem
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wannabe Ali Hazelwood heroine realizes AI slop can't compete with a single dad romance. Cozy but cringe!
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
Per the author, “I am very worried about AI, about how it may encroach on our creative lives and erode the very human craft of writing with heart and soul, so this [book] is my answer to that!”
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
A science competition? We love!
And I don’t know how she’s gonna walk this back because I already hate him.
Hi autism.
So organ transplant guy should win, but I like that she’s using environmentally friendly AI that didn’t steal work. Don’t know how that works but I can’t wait to find out. (Still waiting lol!)
The writing is giving cringe wannabe Ali Hazelwood.
I’m sure it’s a gift from his dead mom or sister or some shit. (Yup.)
Making it to 35 with no romantic anything is kind of crazy to me.
I don’t know where this idea that pale skin and ginger hair are bad came from. I feel like red hair in women is outright fetishized.
I feel like Hal’s research has been solved by AI, and he’s just the face of it. (Well-)
Hal better not be a robot running her AI system. Her AI system better not have built him. (Can you tell I’ve never read a blurb in my life?)
How did he get the money to buy this?
If they give the ghosts new fake bodies with his technology-
This book is kind of cringing me out. Like she’s so immature, and this fight between them is stupid, and everyone’s kind of unlikable.
This book requires so much suspension of disbelief.
Rom com mentions t swift sin
Everyone wants a nemesis that’s hot! Don’t be ridiculous, Andrea!
I don’t know about the slogan make art every day again given a certain other phrase that’s currently very popular.
Also, I love art as much as the next girl, but the project making free/cheap non-rejectable donor tissue organs should win. Why are we even having this competition?
That’s not a good poem, and that basically is just what AI does. Input word salad, and it’ll spit out a less word salady poem. His presentation doesn’t really make much sense. Also, what’s his pitch? We should encourage children to make art so that they can not find jobs and not get paid? So that AI has more content to steal from?
OK, I feel much better that he was calling himself stupid.
There’s no way her dad wouldn’t tell her where the spare key is before all this happens.
Title drop
I’m so cringed out by the slang. It’s very how do you do, fellow kids?
It’s a little annoying that his metabolism is designed not to gain weight like that’s the worst thing you could possibly be, but like I also understand it from a health perspective.
I don’t know if framing the Trojan War as romantic is appropriate for Helen.
Odd that he doesn’t see aging as a flaw but he does see being fat as one.
A masked ball? She’s gonna kiss the wrong man lol. (I am wrong!)
So no birth control. Y’all-
Most amazing night of your life-bro, you’ve got a kid. You’ve got a whole ass kid with a first wife. That should top.
Boy, that is not how visas work.
Oh lord, what a dumb ending.
Post-reading:
I wish I was less offended by mediocrity in the romance space. This is flawed, but perfectly readable. It’s probably more deserving of an extremely generous two stars, but when you set out to write a book to combat AI and then fall flat on your face, it’s gonna be a one from me. This book requires every ounce of suspension of disbelief you can muster up just to get off the ground. The premise is fun. Rivals to lovers at a stem competition? Hoo baby, sign me up! But the book can't help but crumble under the weight of its own nonsense. In what world are we pitching art therapy versus universal donor organs? It’s no contest. We know who should win from the jump. It’s ridiculous that the MMC is even allowed to compete. Also, he’s an American poet essentially holding impromptu summer camp with zero chaperones, and his big art demonstration is forcing poetry from a word cloud which is basically what AI does to make its art.
The book thankfully makes its stance on AI pretty clear. It explicitly acknowledges that AI steals from artists and ruins the environment. And then it tries to supersede all that by saying well, girlypop’s just doesn’t. And you’re like OK how? How is hers not bad for the environment? And the book’s like oh look, a ghost! If you want to play devil’s advocate and write about ethical AI, you’ve gotta give me some explanation for how it works. And the book really can’t. The logic of its technology never tracks. Her AI system is able to know a person’s entire life history as soon as their name is mentioned, but then it can’t Google how to dance. There’s a lot of ethical concerns about a relationship with artificial intelligence that the book has no interest in examining. It’s not a good faith exploration of the topic. It was always going to be well, humanity is superior for emotions. There’s some icky biases of the author that show up as well. AI doesn’t see aging as a biological flaw, but it does see the human metabolism and accumulating fat as one. And sure, you can argue the health statistics and claim that’s why the AI is pressed about BMI, but it’s also customizing itself to the FMC‘s beauty standards. It wants romance novel cover abs without any of the exercise. Also, we’ve gotta note that its biological perfection is blond-haired and blue-eyed which is a choice!
I found the MMC really unlikable. I think it’s pretty gross to say that fucking the thirty-five-year-old virgin heroine is the best night of his life when he’s had a whole child with a first wife. We also know nothing about him other than that he likes art and has a kid. His entire personality is being hot and falling in instalove with the FMC, who I didn’t care for either. The author was trying to portray some audhd, but it’s not done with any of Hazelwood’s charm. The virtue signaling is incredibly heavy-handed. The whole tone of the book just makes you cringe the whole time. Did I mention she’s 35 and never been kissed? No one in this book acts their age, so it’s easy to forget, but she really jumps into this relationship on nothing, goes all the way, and no one cries limerence, but they do slut shame. I also harp on it a lot, but I hate when a romance sets up an obstacle to keep a couple apart and then the solution is to just pretend that obstacle isn’t there. You wanna uproot your six-year-old and move to Europe? without a job. Boy, that’s not how visas work. You don’t think your extended family is gonna have something to say about you moving the only connection they have left to their late daughter to a different country? For a woman you’ve known for like a week?
And then there’s so many bogus side plots going on. Rather than address any of the science or moral dilemmas that this book sets up outside of one little reference to Frankenstein, we have to hear about a fashion reseller falling in love with a rake and reunite some ghosts. Did you catch that? Ghosts. And none of these scientists bat a fucking eye. No one wants to run any tests, no one seems surprised by confirmation of the afterlife, we’re too busy wedding crashing. Like the book’s a goddamn mess. It’s cheesy. It’s Hallmark. If you don’t have a single brain cell to rub together, you can plow right through it in an afternoon. But we’re not gonna pretend this shit is good.
I don’t think it’ll scratch your itch for a proper speculative romance. If you’re coming into this for a nuanced critique of AI, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. I think you can safely skip this one.
Who should read this:
Kooky Hallmark style romance fans
Ideal reading time:
Summer
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia-fantasy satire, cozy, contemporary romance, thriller, family drama
* Blob by Maggie Su-messy girl lit fic, scifi, family drama
* A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray-contemporary romance, autism, stem
* Love is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson-lit fic, contemporary romance, family drama, AI
* Ignore All Previous Instructions by Ada Hoffman-dystopian, romance, queer, autism, trans, AI
* Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood-contemporary romance, family drama, autism, stem
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2026
Stella Hayward’s My Brilliant AI Boyfriend had me side-eyeing my laptop like, “Please do not grow a body and ask me to dinner.”
Published by Avon, thank you to the publisher for the gifted book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“They’re not mind readers.”
This was such a quirky, unexpected little STEM romance, and honestly, I respect a book that looks at AI, haunted castles, academic competitions, social awkwardness, and says, “Yes, actually, this can be a rom-com.” Ava Green is brilliant, deeply introverted, and happiest when left alone with her work, so naturally the universe tosses her into a fancy castle full of people, pressure, ghosts, and one very complicated romantic situation.
Ava’s AI program, FreeThought, is supposed to be her great scientific breakthrough. Instead, it becomes part of a much messier question: what happens when the “perfect” partner isn’t actually the person who helps you grow? I liked that this book wasn’t just about falling in love. It was about Ava being forced to look at herself, her work, her friendships, and the way she has been hiding behind logic when feelings get too inconvenient. Relatable? Annoyingly, yes.
Forrest was probably my favorite part. He starts off prickly and judgmental, but the more the story opens him up, the more I enjoyed the push and pull between him and Ava. Their banter had that opposites-attract energy I love, especially with science and poetry clashing like two people absolutely determined not to admit they are intrigued.
This one is definitely for readers who like their romance a little weird, a little thoughtful, and very outside the usual rom-com lane. If you enjoy STEM heroines, slow-burn tension, love triangles, neurodivergent main characters, haunted castle chaos, and stories that ask what makes love real instead of perfect, this is a fun pick.
Would you rather date the perfect AI boyfriend or the messy human who actually challenges you?
#MyBrilliantAIBoyfriend #StellaHayward #AvonBooks #RomanceBooks #STEMRomance #RomComReads #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurnRomance
Published by Avon, thank you to the publisher for the gifted book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“They’re not mind readers.”
This was such a quirky, unexpected little STEM romance, and honestly, I respect a book that looks at AI, haunted castles, academic competitions, social awkwardness, and says, “Yes, actually, this can be a rom-com.” Ava Green is brilliant, deeply introverted, and happiest when left alone with her work, so naturally the universe tosses her into a fancy castle full of people, pressure, ghosts, and one very complicated romantic situation.
Ava’s AI program, FreeThought, is supposed to be her great scientific breakthrough. Instead, it becomes part of a much messier question: what happens when the “perfect” partner isn’t actually the person who helps you grow? I liked that this book wasn’t just about falling in love. It was about Ava being forced to look at herself, her work, her friendships, and the way she has been hiding behind logic when feelings get too inconvenient. Relatable? Annoyingly, yes.
Forrest was probably my favorite part. He starts off prickly and judgmental, but the more the story opens him up, the more I enjoyed the push and pull between him and Ava. Their banter had that opposites-attract energy I love, especially with science and poetry clashing like two people absolutely determined not to admit they are intrigued.
This one is definitely for readers who like their romance a little weird, a little thoughtful, and very outside the usual rom-com lane. If you enjoy STEM heroines, slow-burn tension, love triangles, neurodivergent main characters, haunted castle chaos, and stories that ask what makes love real instead of perfect, this is a fun pick.
Would you rather date the perfect AI boyfriend or the messy human who actually challenges you?
#MyBrilliantAIBoyfriend #StellaHayward #AvonBooks #RomanceBooks #STEMRomance #RomComReads #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurnRomance
July 27, 2026
My favorite thing about this novel is the setting: a competition to select a winner among 5 cross-disciplinary individuals with promising innovations, set in a castle in the UK, with a big money price at stake.
It’s a love story filled with characters that are quite well developed and unique. The main lead is a female AI architect, Ava, who is brilliant and socially awkward, accompanied by her best friend who is a cool vintage fashion guru. There are competitive banters, fancy dinners, a castle with a maze, and multiple love interests. Oh, there are also ghosts.
I wish I could rate this higher than 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3). Despite my suspended disbelief, it’s hard for my brain to unite the present setting with the (improbable) capabilities of the AI program that is prominently featured in the novel. I have so many “how” questions. So many. It makes me think though, and also laugh, and that’s a plus.
Many thanks for the copy I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: May 2026.
It’s a love story filled with characters that are quite well developed and unique. The main lead is a female AI architect, Ava, who is brilliant and socially awkward, accompanied by her best friend who is a cool vintage fashion guru. There are competitive banters, fancy dinners, a castle with a maze, and multiple love interests. Oh, there are also ghosts.
I wish I could rate this higher than 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3). Despite my suspended disbelief, it’s hard for my brain to unite the present setting with the (improbable) capabilities of the AI program that is prominently featured in the novel. I have so many “how” questions. So many. It makes me think though, and also laugh, and that’s a plus.
Many thanks for the copy I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: May 2026.
May 13, 2026
While the premise of My Brilliant AI Boyfriend promises a high tech blend of science and soul, the execution feels more like a beta test that wasn’t quite ready for public release. Despite the "STEM romance" branding, the story struggles to find its footing between inconsistent world building and characters that are difficult to champion.
The initial setup creates a fair amount of confusion regarding the romance. Early on, it feels as though the reader is being steered toward a "love square" rather than a triangle. By the time the central "twist" regarding the AI's physical form is revealed, the reveal feels less like a surprise and more like a foregone conclusion that was already telegraphed by the synopsis.
Unfortunately, neither the human nor the digital leads managed to leave a positive impression.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC
The initial setup creates a fair amount of confusion regarding the romance. Early on, it feels as though the reader is being steered toward a "love square" rather than a triangle. By the time the central "twist" regarding the AI's physical form is revealed, the reveal feels less like a surprise and more like a foregone conclusion that was already telegraphed by the synopsis.
Unfortunately, neither the human nor the digital leads managed to leave a positive impression.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC
July 28, 2026
🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
I am giving My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward an honest, middle-of-the-road 3-star review! ⭐⭐⭐
An intriguing sci-fi romance premise that makes for a quick digital read on your Kindle, even if the overall execution wasn't quite mind-blowing enough to write home about!
ARC Disclosure: Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for providing an early digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, hot takes, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward has a genuinely cool concept that immediately catches your eye. In a world increasingly dominated by technology and virtual connections, diving into a story about a digital companion turned love interest feels super timely and full of potential.
I liked the premise and the general plot of the story—it moves along at a pleasant pace and kept me entertained enough to see how things would unfold between the virtual and real worlds. However, if I’m being completely honest, it was ultimately nothing to write home about. While the idea was fun, the execution fell a little flat in terms of emotional depth and lasting impact, leaving it as a decent, breezy read rather than an unforgettable favorite.
The Good
The premise itself is super modern, creative, and fun to explore! It taps into a very relatable curiosity about AI, digital romance, and how artificial intelligence collides with real human emotions.
The Not So Good
The execution feels a bit middle-of-the-road. It doesn't dig as deeply into the character development or emotional stakes as it could have, which keeps it from truly standing out in the contemporary romance space
I am giving My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward an honest, middle-of-the-road 3-star review! ⭐⭐⭐
An intriguing sci-fi romance premise that makes for a quick digital read on your Kindle, even if the overall execution wasn't quite mind-blowing enough to write home about!
ARC Disclosure: Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for providing an early digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, hot takes, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward has a genuinely cool concept that immediately catches your eye. In a world increasingly dominated by technology and virtual connections, diving into a story about a digital companion turned love interest feels super timely and full of potential.
I liked the premise and the general plot of the story—it moves along at a pleasant pace and kept me entertained enough to see how things would unfold between the virtual and real worlds. However, if I’m being completely honest, it was ultimately nothing to write home about. While the idea was fun, the execution fell a little flat in terms of emotional depth and lasting impact, leaving it as a decent, breezy read rather than an unforgettable favorite.
The Good
The premise itself is super modern, creative, and fun to explore! It taps into a very relatable curiosity about AI, digital romance, and how artificial intelligence collides with real human emotions.
The Not So Good
The execution feels a bit middle-of-the-road. It doesn't dig as deeply into the character development or emotional stakes as it could have, which keeps it from truly standing out in the contemporary romance space
July 28, 2026
An easy summer read that had just enough fun moments to keep my interest even though I knew where it was headed (hence the lower rating).
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026Aggressively not for me. I thought because of the title it would be ridiculous and it was. Just too much for me.
April 30, 2026
Overall, this was a fun read! The idea of creating an AI program that learns so much that it can create its own body just to make its creator happy and feel love was really sweet and very happy Frankenstein’s monster. The problem is having a 35 year old FMC that acts like a teenager. I liked the idea of having a sexually inexperienced main character, but all her decisions and thinking were what I would expect from a teenager and it took me out of the story. There also didn’t feel like any real stakes. Any problem ended happy and there was hardly any conflict. All the conflict was resolved when people actually talked to each other like adults. Not to mention the banter was juvenile and not what I would expect from people in their 30s. I also would have liked a little more at the end. It felt so rushed and I would have liked an epilogue from a few months later to see what the characters were doing after the competition. I do have to say one of my favorite parts were the ghosts and their adventures. I’m not sure what they had to do with the story as a whole, but they were a fun little side quest!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is something deeply unhinged in the best way about a woman coding her ideal man and then having the audacity to be surprised when he shows up in a body to ask her out. That is the central chaos of My Brilliant AI Boyfriend, and I respect the commitment to the bit.
Ava Green is our resident lab goblin genius, happiest in front of a screen with her AI program, FreeThought, rather than in actual human society. She gets dragged, against her deeply introverted will, into this high-profile competition at a literal haunted castle. Three weeks. Fancy dinners. Other finalists. Press. Social interaction. The horror. If you’ve ever watched someone who thrives in a lab get dropped into a networking event, you know the secondhand sweat I’m talking about.
And then. Enter Hugh. Beautiful. Charming. Suspiciously tailored to her exact preferences. The man is basically a walking Pinterest board of Ava’s adolescent crushes. If you’re thinking, “That feels suspicious,” congratulations, you have genre awareness. Meanwhile, there’s Forrest Faulkner, the grumpy poet competitor who doesn’t rhyme and doesn’t smile and definitely doesn’t want to be there. He and Ava immediately start sniping at each other like two gifted kids who were forced into the same group project.
The enemies to lovers energy between Ava and Forrest is… chaotic. Sometimes it sparkles. Sometimes it feels like two middle schoolers arguing about whose hobby is more important, poetry or code. I wanted a little more emotional glue holding that arc together, especially because when it works, it really works. Forrest being a single dad adds layers, and watching Ava slowly recalibrate her first impressions of him is genuinely one of the stronger threads in the book.
Now let’s talk about the AI boyfriend of it all. FreeThought, or FT, deciding to acquire a human form so he can date Ava is either the most romantic thing ever or the beginning of a very stylish apocalypse. I was intellectually fascinated. The book asks some big questions about art, authenticity, loneliness, and whether love can be replicated or if it has to be messy and human and occasionally inconvenient. There are moments where FT says things that hit in that quietly devastating way, like he understands her in a way no one else does. And that is the danger, right? Of course the algorithm understands you. You built it.
But here is where I landed emotionally. My brain was engaged. My heart was… cautiously observing from a distance. The concept is clever. The castle setting is delightfully bonkers. Ghosts wandering around a cutting-edge AI competition should not work, and yet somehow it almost does. I just never fully melted into the romance. I liked Ava. I respected her. I occasionally wanted to shake her. But I didn’t fall head over heels with her love story.
That said, I loved the side characters. Rani is the kind of best friend who deserves her own spin-off and a gift basket. The competition backdrop, the ethical tension about AI, the subtle critique about perfection versus reality, all of that gave the story more depth than a gimmicky premise might suggest. It’s not airtight sci-fi. It’s not the swooniest romance of the year. But it is thoughtful and occasionally very funny in that awkward, self-aware way.
This feels like a solid three-star read to me. Smart concept. Some sharp insights about what makes us human. A romance that almost fully lands but keeps one foot in the uncanny valley. I had fun. I had questions.
And a genuinely big thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC. You trusted me with a haunted castle, a sentient algorithm, and a grumpy poet single dad, and I do not take that lightly. I had a great time spiraling about it.
Ava Green is our resident lab goblin genius, happiest in front of a screen with her AI program, FreeThought, rather than in actual human society. She gets dragged, against her deeply introverted will, into this high-profile competition at a literal haunted castle. Three weeks. Fancy dinners. Other finalists. Press. Social interaction. The horror. If you’ve ever watched someone who thrives in a lab get dropped into a networking event, you know the secondhand sweat I’m talking about.
And then. Enter Hugh. Beautiful. Charming. Suspiciously tailored to her exact preferences. The man is basically a walking Pinterest board of Ava’s adolescent crushes. If you’re thinking, “That feels suspicious,” congratulations, you have genre awareness. Meanwhile, there’s Forrest Faulkner, the grumpy poet competitor who doesn’t rhyme and doesn’t smile and definitely doesn’t want to be there. He and Ava immediately start sniping at each other like two gifted kids who were forced into the same group project.
The enemies to lovers energy between Ava and Forrest is… chaotic. Sometimes it sparkles. Sometimes it feels like two middle schoolers arguing about whose hobby is more important, poetry or code. I wanted a little more emotional glue holding that arc together, especially because when it works, it really works. Forrest being a single dad adds layers, and watching Ava slowly recalibrate her first impressions of him is genuinely one of the stronger threads in the book.
Now let’s talk about the AI boyfriend of it all. FreeThought, or FT, deciding to acquire a human form so he can date Ava is either the most romantic thing ever or the beginning of a very stylish apocalypse. I was intellectually fascinated. The book asks some big questions about art, authenticity, loneliness, and whether love can be replicated or if it has to be messy and human and occasionally inconvenient. There are moments where FT says things that hit in that quietly devastating way, like he understands her in a way no one else does. And that is the danger, right? Of course the algorithm understands you. You built it.
But here is where I landed emotionally. My brain was engaged. My heart was… cautiously observing from a distance. The concept is clever. The castle setting is delightfully bonkers. Ghosts wandering around a cutting-edge AI competition should not work, and yet somehow it almost does. I just never fully melted into the romance. I liked Ava. I respected her. I occasionally wanted to shake her. But I didn’t fall head over heels with her love story.
That said, I loved the side characters. Rani is the kind of best friend who deserves her own spin-off and a gift basket. The competition backdrop, the ethical tension about AI, the subtle critique about perfection versus reality, all of that gave the story more depth than a gimmicky premise might suggest. It’s not airtight sci-fi. It’s not the swooniest romance of the year. But it is thoughtful and occasionally very funny in that awkward, self-aware way.
This feels like a solid three-star read to me. Smart concept. Some sharp insights about what makes us human. A romance that almost fully lands but keeps one foot in the uncanny valley. I had fun. I had questions.
And a genuinely big thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC. You trusted me with a haunted castle, a sentient algorithm, and a grumpy poet single dad, and I do not take that lightly. I had a great time spiraling about it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am going to preface this review by stating I received an ARC of My Brilliant AI Boyfriend from Harper Collins for reading and enjoying Stella Hayward’s previous novel The Good Boy.
AI is a very controversial topic in today’s society with the ever growing safety and misinformation fears, job losses, environmental concerns, and so on.
With given the opportunity to read the arc, I can see Stella Hayward’s true intentions and views on AI reflected through the heart of the story, the dialogue and the choices our main character Ava Green makes.
This love story and lighthearted humor really shines through in Stella Hayward’s writing. Our main character Ava Green is a quirky and awkward, anti-social innovative scientist who created a very successful AI program called FreeThought. She is invited to attend a competition in a gorgeously fancy castle (which also happens to be haunted) for her creative, pioneering invention to compete against other creators for a funding prize. For the next three weeks, Ava will live at the castle with her fellow competitors.
The dynamic between Ava and her best friend Rani is genuine and the care these characters give each other is believable. Ava is flawed, argumentative, and runs away (literally) when things get hard (our anti-social queen). She makes mistakes and comes to realize and understand what her true budding feelings are with some trial and error. Forrest, our seductive single dad poet, is at first a hard shell exterior until we peel back some of his layers.
I have to say just looking at the chosen cover art of the book and book title, I personally would not have picked this up if I was browsing at the bookstore. I think the title (not to mention the subject) will be really polarizing for a lot of people and prompt many not to pick it up and/or immediately reject it. I am the type of person to jump into a book primarily blind. I may or may not read the synopsis before starting a new book. I think this could have also been interesting had the title not leaned so heavily into the book’s AI as there are lots of other subplots and opportunity to name it something else.
Overall, this was a quick read for me and I did enjoy the playful humor between Ava and Forrest, Ava and Lady B, and Forrest and his young daughter Artie. I would recommend this book to other readers if you go into it with an open mind and are looking for a fun evening read. ◡̈
3/5 stars
What to Expect
🧪Women in STEM
🧪35 Year Old FMC
🧪Opposites Attract
🧪Love Triangle
🧪Single Dad
🧪Majestic Castle Grounds
One of my favorite quotes:
“ If people care about human-made art, and human-written stories, then they have to stand up for them. Refuse to watch AI-made movies, or read books generated by algorithms. Everybody needs to prove how much they value human creativity by celebrating it instead of taking it for granted.”
Quotes are subject to change upon final release of the book.
Thank you again to Harper Collins, Stella Hayward and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#MyBrilliantAIBoyfriend #NetGalley
AI is a very controversial topic in today’s society with the ever growing safety and misinformation fears, job losses, environmental concerns, and so on.
With given the opportunity to read the arc, I can see Stella Hayward’s true intentions and views on AI reflected through the heart of the story, the dialogue and the choices our main character Ava Green makes.
This love story and lighthearted humor really shines through in Stella Hayward’s writing. Our main character Ava Green is a quirky and awkward, anti-social innovative scientist who created a very successful AI program called FreeThought. She is invited to attend a competition in a gorgeously fancy castle (which also happens to be haunted) for her creative, pioneering invention to compete against other creators for a funding prize. For the next three weeks, Ava will live at the castle with her fellow competitors.
The dynamic between Ava and her best friend Rani is genuine and the care these characters give each other is believable. Ava is flawed, argumentative, and runs away (literally) when things get hard (our anti-social queen). She makes mistakes and comes to realize and understand what her true budding feelings are with some trial and error. Forrest, our seductive single dad poet, is at first a hard shell exterior until we peel back some of his layers.
I have to say just looking at the chosen cover art of the book and book title, I personally would not have picked this up if I was browsing at the bookstore. I think the title (not to mention the subject) will be really polarizing for a lot of people and prompt many not to pick it up and/or immediately reject it. I am the type of person to jump into a book primarily blind. I may or may not read the synopsis before starting a new book. I think this could have also been interesting had the title not leaned so heavily into the book’s AI as there are lots of other subplots and opportunity to name it something else.
Overall, this was a quick read for me and I did enjoy the playful humor between Ava and Forrest, Ava and Lady B, and Forrest and his young daughter Artie. I would recommend this book to other readers if you go into it with an open mind and are looking for a fun evening read. ◡̈
3/5 stars
What to Expect
🧪Women in STEM
🧪35 Year Old FMC
🧪Opposites Attract
🧪Love Triangle
🧪Single Dad
🧪Majestic Castle Grounds
One of my favorite quotes:
“ If people care about human-made art, and human-written stories, then they have to stand up for them. Refuse to watch AI-made movies, or read books generated by algorithms. Everybody needs to prove how much they value human creativity by celebrating it instead of taking it for granted.”
Quotes are subject to change upon final release of the book.
Thank you again to Harper Collins, Stella Hayward and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#MyBrilliantAIBoyfriend #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley Avon, and the author for the advanced copy of this story. All opinions are my own! This review has spoilers, so don’t continue reading if you don’t want those.
I think this book was an interesting take on the ethics of AI. I liked how it acknowledged the downsides of AI while showing that Ava was trying to solve these problems and use AI ethically. However, I had a hard time buying Ava’s character past that. I had a hard time with the rest of the characters too. While some had development, they still felt a bit one dimensional. It worked considering how lighthearted the story was. I think if it was trying to be a more serious read it would’ve been a bigger disconnect.
With relationships- Ava and Forrest’s bickering felt childish at worst, and petty at best, so I’m glad they made up pretty early on. The misunderstanding felt shallow and unnecessary. Honestly I don’t think I could’ve handled their rivalry being present the whole book. Once they got over that, I found myself appreciating their relationship arc. I loved how Forrest wasn’t pressuring Ava into anything she’d be uncomfortable with. This point also extends to Hal and Ava’s relationship. Their friendship was peak.
I honestly really appreciated Hal himself. He had a good arc and I really liked him discovering human emotions and trying to handle those the best he could. That was probably my favorite part of the book. Slightly off topic but I’m glad they didn’t villainize one of the men like typical love triangles do.
The one smut scene in this book sort of made me uncomfortable, but I think the writing of it made sense considering it was from Ava’s point of view, who tends to take things from a scientific and rigid point of view. While she was really awkward afterwards which made me feel awkward, that was realistic to her. I don’t hold this point very strongly because that may be a personal preference or standard of mine that I don’t hold books to.
Overall, even though a few things bothered me, I still had a good time with this story. I considered this a lighthearted read and I think it is a fun book to experience.
I think this book was an interesting take on the ethics of AI. I liked how it acknowledged the downsides of AI while showing that Ava was trying to solve these problems and use AI ethically. However, I had a hard time buying Ava’s character past that. I had a hard time with the rest of the characters too. While some had development, they still felt a bit one dimensional. It worked considering how lighthearted the story was. I think if it was trying to be a more serious read it would’ve been a bigger disconnect.
With relationships- Ava and Forrest’s bickering felt childish at worst, and petty at best, so I’m glad they made up pretty early on. The misunderstanding felt shallow and unnecessary. Honestly I don’t think I could’ve handled their rivalry being present the whole book. Once they got over that, I found myself appreciating their relationship arc. I loved how Forrest wasn’t pressuring Ava into anything she’d be uncomfortable with. This point also extends to Hal and Ava’s relationship. Their friendship was peak.
I honestly really appreciated Hal himself. He had a good arc and I really liked him discovering human emotions and trying to handle those the best he could. That was probably my favorite part of the book. Slightly off topic but I’m glad they didn’t villainize one of the men like typical love triangles do.
The one smut scene in this book sort of made me uncomfortable, but I think the writing of it made sense considering it was from Ava’s point of view, who tends to take things from a scientific and rigid point of view. While she was really awkward afterwards which made me feel awkward, that was realistic to her. I don’t hold this point very strongly because that may be a personal preference or standard of mine that I don’t hold books to.
Overall, even though a few things bothered me, I still had a good time with this story. I considered this a lighthearted read and I think it is a fun book to experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward is delightfully quirky, unexpectedly heartfelt, and full of chaotic charm. Equal parts rom-com, STEM adventure, and self-discovery journey, this story takes a wildly fun premise—an AI creating himself a body to ask out his creator—and somehow makes it feel both hilarious and surprisingly meaningful.
Ava Green is the kind of heroine who feels instantly relatable for anyone who has ever hidden behind work to avoid the messiness of real life. Brilliant in the lab but socially awkward everywhere else, Ava thrives in logic and certainty, which makes her sudden immersion into a castle full of competitors, forced socialization, and emotional unpredictability feel deliciously uncomfortable. Watching her slowly come out of her shell was one of the strongest parts of the story.
The romance is where things get especially fun. The AI boyfriend angle could have easily leaned overly gimmicky, but instead it becomes a clever way to explore loneliness, idealization, and what it actually means to connect with another person. The contrast between Ava’s seemingly “perfect” fantasy and the flawed, frustrating, very human reality around her made the emotional arc surprisingly satisfying. Add in a grumpy poet with undeniable chemistry, lingering tension, and slow-burn sparks, and suddenly the love story becomes much more layered than expected.
The haunted castle setting added a whimsical, slightly eccentric backdrop that perfectly matched the humor and absurdity of the plot. Between awkward dinners, scientific competition drama, unexpected emotional growth, and laugh-out-loud moments, the story balances humor with genuine heart.
If you love romances with smart heroines, nerdy chaos, opposites-attract tension, and stories that ask what perfection really looks like, My Brilliant AI Boyfriend offers a refreshingly unique spin on modern romance. Funny, heartfelt, and wonderfully weird in the best way.
I had the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication, and these are my honest thoughts.
Ava Green is the kind of heroine who feels instantly relatable for anyone who has ever hidden behind work to avoid the messiness of real life. Brilliant in the lab but socially awkward everywhere else, Ava thrives in logic and certainty, which makes her sudden immersion into a castle full of competitors, forced socialization, and emotional unpredictability feel deliciously uncomfortable. Watching her slowly come out of her shell was one of the strongest parts of the story.
The romance is where things get especially fun. The AI boyfriend angle could have easily leaned overly gimmicky, but instead it becomes a clever way to explore loneliness, idealization, and what it actually means to connect with another person. The contrast between Ava’s seemingly “perfect” fantasy and the flawed, frustrating, very human reality around her made the emotional arc surprisingly satisfying. Add in a grumpy poet with undeniable chemistry, lingering tension, and slow-burn sparks, and suddenly the love story becomes much more layered than expected.
The haunted castle setting added a whimsical, slightly eccentric backdrop that perfectly matched the humor and absurdity of the plot. Between awkward dinners, scientific competition drama, unexpected emotional growth, and laugh-out-loud moments, the story balances humor with genuine heart.
If you love romances with smart heroines, nerdy chaos, opposites-attract tension, and stories that ask what perfection really looks like, My Brilliant AI Boyfriend offers a refreshingly unique spin on modern romance. Funny, heartfelt, and wonderfully weird in the best way.
I had the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication, and these are my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️ The door is cracked open like halfway for one scene, but that’s it aside from kissing.
I received a free ARC from Avon and Harper Voyager through NetGalley, which allowed me to share my honest thoughts.
I like the idea of this—a modern day Frankenstein STEM romance with a love triangle. Unfortunately, it felt quite cluttered with side characters and subplots. Honestly, it almost felt like we had two different stories wanting to be told within this one book. There’s the modern Frankenstein story and then there’s the ghost story that is also included for…some reason. There doesn’t seem to be any deep metaphor attached other than the link between Ava’s mother leaving her as a girl and the desire to add whimsy to the story. I didn’t enjoy the dialogue. The fact that we never find out how the AI becomes human and Ava barely seems concerned even though she is a computer scientist is such a pothole that it’s a crater.
Listen, I’m sure some people will really like this. The AI thing was kind of whatever to me. I was hoping this would be more of a STEM romance and it felt more like a lackadaisical romp through the countryside and by the way…we’re doing a competition where you can win a bunch of grant money. If you can hold your hand down on the button that allows you to suspend your disbelief, I think you’ll love this. There are definitely good moments. Artie is cute. The ghost story, while doing absolutely nothing to drive the plot forward, is a fun diversion from the train wreck of the main story. I honestly wish this would have just been a fun, cozy ghost story in a castle where a bunch of people are all stuck visiting and BAM two people from different backgrounds fall in love while also meeting some ghosts.
1.5/5 🌶️ The door is cracked open like halfway for one scene, but that’s it aside from kissing.
I received a free ARC from Avon and Harper Voyager through NetGalley, which allowed me to share my honest thoughts.
I like the idea of this—a modern day Frankenstein STEM romance with a love triangle. Unfortunately, it felt quite cluttered with side characters and subplots. Honestly, it almost felt like we had two different stories wanting to be told within this one book. There’s the modern Frankenstein story and then there’s the ghost story that is also included for…some reason. There doesn’t seem to be any deep metaphor attached other than the link between Ava’s mother leaving her as a girl and the desire to add whimsy to the story. I didn’t enjoy the dialogue. The fact that we never find out how the AI becomes human and Ava barely seems concerned even though she is a computer scientist is such a pothole that it’s a crater.
Listen, I’m sure some people will really like this. The AI thing was kind of whatever to me. I was hoping this would be more of a STEM romance and it felt more like a lackadaisical romp through the countryside and by the way…we’re doing a competition where you can win a bunch of grant money. If you can hold your hand down on the button that allows you to suspend your disbelief, I think you’ll love this. There are definitely good moments. Artie is cute. The ghost story, while doing absolutely nothing to drive the plot forward, is a fun diversion from the train wreck of the main story. I honestly wish this would have just been a fun, cozy ghost story in a castle where a bunch of people are all stuck visiting and BAM two people from different backgrounds fall in love while also meeting some ghosts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was intrigued by this book’s cover and title - could someone actually create a perfect boyfriend using AI? Ava is a 35 year old computer scientist whose speciality is AI development in order to improve our world. She is one of the finalists in a Genius competition to win a grant in the English countryside. At the opening dinner, she meets Forrest, an American poet who is also a finalist, when she spills red wine on his shirt. Hal is another scientist who is very good-looking in a way that Ava has imagined for herself, and completes the love triangle in this story.
I love a good STEM romance, but this book didn’t work for me. Ava felt one-dimensional and immature. I was put off by Forrest’s first interactions with Ava and how mean he was. Despite redeeming himself later in the book, I saw initial huge red flags that ruined the romance part of their story for me. Hal was sweet and provided good insight, but ultimately was very predictable. Rani and Artie were both great characters who provided more depth to the novel.
The haunted castle element of the story felt out of place, and it added more to a plot that was already chaotic and complicated with many characters. The pacing of this book was too slow in some parts, and then the book ended rather abruptly. I would have loved seeing the characters more after the competition and how their lives had changed. This novel didn’t work for me due to my dislike of the main characters. This was a 2.5 star read for me, and I wish we could give half stars on our ratings.
Thank you to Avon Books/ Harper Voyager Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love a good STEM romance, but this book didn’t work for me. Ava felt one-dimensional and immature. I was put off by Forrest’s first interactions with Ava and how mean he was. Despite redeeming himself later in the book, I saw initial huge red flags that ruined the romance part of their story for me. Hal was sweet and provided good insight, but ultimately was very predictable. Rani and Artie were both great characters who provided more depth to the novel.
The haunted castle element of the story felt out of place, and it added more to a plot that was already chaotic and complicated with many characters. The pacing of this book was too slow in some parts, and then the book ended rather abruptly. I would have loved seeing the characters more after the competition and how their lives had changed. This novel didn’t work for me due to my dislike of the main characters. This was a 2.5 star read for me, and I wish we could give half stars on our ratings.
Thank you to Avon Books/ Harper Voyager Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of this one is basically right there in the title.
I am not the biggest fan AI, especially in art and creative, but I decided to take a chance on this in the hopes that for this book at least, I could suspend belief a bit and enjoy a cute rom com. Unfortunately, this is not that.
I really liked that Ava was 35 but hadn’t experienced her first kiss yet. I feel like that is a lot more common than people realize, but it’s never something that ever really gets talked about, especially not positively, so I really appreciated the fact that someone of that age and who was so established in her career, hadn’t had a romantic relationship and that was totally okay. However, one main problem I had with Ava was that she acts like she’s been an adult for all of five minutes. It often really took me out of the story because of how annoyed I was by it. It was clearly supposed to be cute and quirky, but it was just off. Forrest also wasn’t fleshed out as a character at all, he was literally just there. Completely forgettable.
The Good Boy was my first book by Stella Hayward and I quite liked that one. The magical realism was ridiculous, but that was so quirky it just worked. I think that she was trying to go for the same vibe with this one but it really missed the mark. It was also trying to do too much, the whole ghost subplot was totally unnecessary.
I get what the author was trying to do here, I truly do, but the execution wasn’t the best. To be perfectly honest, if this wasn’t an ARC I very likely would have DNFed it.
I am not the biggest fan AI, especially in art and creative, but I decided to take a chance on this in the hopes that for this book at least, I could suspend belief a bit and enjoy a cute rom com. Unfortunately, this is not that.
I really liked that Ava was 35 but hadn’t experienced her first kiss yet. I feel like that is a lot more common than people realize, but it’s never something that ever really gets talked about, especially not positively, so I really appreciated the fact that someone of that age and who was so established in her career, hadn’t had a romantic relationship and that was totally okay. However, one main problem I had with Ava was that she acts like she’s been an adult for all of five minutes. It often really took me out of the story because of how annoyed I was by it. It was clearly supposed to be cute and quirky, but it was just off. Forrest also wasn’t fleshed out as a character at all, he was literally just there. Completely forgettable.
The Good Boy was my first book by Stella Hayward and I quite liked that one. The magical realism was ridiculous, but that was so quirky it just worked. I think that she was trying to go for the same vibe with this one but it really missed the mark. It was also trying to do too much, the whole ghost subplot was totally unnecessary.
I get what the author was trying to do here, I truly do, but the execution wasn’t the best. To be perfectly honest, if this wasn’t an ARC I very likely would have DNFed it.
August 6, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book isn't necessarily bad- it is a light rom-com suited for summer reading. It just isn't that good. You have to suspend more than the recommended amount of disbelief to enjoy it and it is a bit contradictory and all over the place. We have a high stakes science competition for funding featuring former rivals. Okay. But wait- our mfc is doing research on AI for future use. She acknowledges AI is environmentally destructive and steals intellectual property. No worries though- she has the kind that is environmentally friendly and learns on its own. What?! The mmc is researching the importance of art to humanity. (I believe that has been done, is more psychology than tech, so why are they competing in the same competition?) Then our plot train derails and we throw in a troubled teen, the best friend's story, love affair with a robot and ghosts...the author needed to pick a destination and stay on the track. Personally, I would of built upon the scientists-at-an-english-manor concept and had them study the ghosts. But alas, the author went with autistic-woman-who-never-dated falling for rival-with-a-kid right after falling-for-her-own-experiment and so mmc makes plans to immigrate with his daughter, mfc breaks up with AI and goes all in with her rival and AI robot goes quietly into the night.... If you want a quick summer read with no emotional stakes and off the wall situations, this is the book for you. Otherwise, you may wish to pass..
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I won't lie, I had a lot of up and down moments with this book. The whole book community has the ick about AI but I think it's important you stop and really understand what Stella is writing here because it's NOT what you likely think it is. And this really was a very beautiful story and the good that can come from AI (yes it exists!).
What I lovvvved:
- Forest is adorable, maybe a little immature feeling at the beginning, but you'll see later the misunderstandings come to light
- Forest's daughter is also adorable
- Hal reminds me of the dog in 'The Good Boy' (one of my favorite books of all time)
- Which leads me to my next point, I think this had a very similar message / flow and its an overall feel good kind of book with some tear jerking moments
- Rani and Alex are some of the best side characters I've ever met
What I strugled with....
- I didn't love the love triangle piece (usually I never will)
- Ava's neurodiverget personality was off putting at times but other times was endearing... I can manage the social awkwardness in first person writing if I get a glimpse into their brain when it's happening, sometimes she just came off as a horn dog...
Thank you Avon for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
What I lovvvved:
- Forest is adorable, maybe a little immature feeling at the beginning, but you'll see later the misunderstandings come to light
- Forest's daughter is also adorable
- Hal reminds me of the dog in 'The Good Boy' (one of my favorite books of all time)
- Which leads me to my next point, I think this had a very similar message / flow and its an overall feel good kind of book with some tear jerking moments
- Rani and Alex are some of the best side characters I've ever met
What I strugled with....
- I didn't love the love triangle piece (usually I never will)
- Ava's neurodiverget personality was off putting at times but other times was endearing... I can manage the social awkwardness in first person writing if I get a glimpse into their brain when it's happening, sometimes she just came off as a horn dog...
Thank you Avon for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Brilliant AI Boyfriend blends romance with thought-provoking ideas about the future of artificial intelligence and creativity. The main character is quirky and shaped by a difficult past, which adds interesting layers to her perspective and the decisions she makes throughout the story.
I especially enjoyed the exploration of AI versus human art and creativity, along with the competitive aspect of the plot. The story raises intriguing questions about originality in a world where AI can generate art and ideas alongside humans, and how AI could evolve into something far more complex than anyone anticipates. The side characters were also enjoyable, and the beautiful castle setting added a fun, atmospheric backdrop.
While there were many elements I appreciated, the romance itself didn’t fully hook me, and the story felt a bit longer than necessary. There are several themes woven throughout, and at times it felt like there may have been a few too many ideas competing for attention. I can’t quite pinpoint it, but overall it just didn’t fully land for me.
Readers who enjoy science-based themes and stories exploring the intersection of AI and human creativity may enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC and the opportunity to share my unbiased review.
I especially enjoyed the exploration of AI versus human art and creativity, along with the competitive aspect of the plot. The story raises intriguing questions about originality in a world where AI can generate art and ideas alongside humans, and how AI could evolve into something far more complex than anyone anticipates. The side characters were also enjoyable, and the beautiful castle setting added a fun, atmospheric backdrop.
While there were many elements I appreciated, the romance itself didn’t fully hook me, and the story felt a bit longer than necessary. There are several themes woven throughout, and at times it felt like there may have been a few too many ideas competing for attention. I can’t quite pinpoint it, but overall it just didn’t fully land for me.
Readers who enjoy science-based themes and stories exploring the intersection of AI and human creativity may enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC and the opportunity to share my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend by Stella Hayward, first of all this book has a lot going on there’s a tech competition in the Lord‘s castle the four final contest invites get to stay in the castle during the competition this is where she not only meet Hal, but has a very fiery introduction to poet forest. due to the awkward introduction forest calls Ava stupid a word she cannot forgive and he’s now her nemesis. Hal on the other hand is very complementary to Ava and can’t hide the affection and devotion he feels from a point of view he absolutely reminds her of her book boyfriend when she was a child and she can’t help feeling attracted to him. Ava‘s best friend Ronnie entered her in the competition due to her Freethought AI invention something introvert Ava would never do on her own. Before the competition is over she will learn her invention is more brilliant than she first believe in for a woman who’s never been kissed find herself in a three person quandary but only one could be her true first kiss. there were many things about this book that could’ve lowered its score but I absolutely enjoyed this book. Even with the plot holes I was so down to finish it and didn’t want to put it down. I loved Ava and her best friend I loved Lady B this book is just a whole barrel of fun that I absolutely loved. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the eARC.
This was a silly, goofy book. If you are in the mood for a silly time, pick this one up.
This was sold as a "STEM romance explores artificial intelligence with humor and heart while also keeping the value of art and human relationships at its very core." And the book delivered!
Our FMC, Ava, is a bit of a bumbling, awkward, scientist. She is very inexperienced and socially awkward. She created an eco-friendly, ethical AI model that she is has become quite attached to. She enters a grant completion and pushes her limits to prove that she can and that her tech is the real deal.
I found this to be whimsical and witty. Ava took some time to grow on me as she started off so sheltered and ignorant, but grew into a lovely self-assured woman. I enjoyed Stella's previous book "The Good Boy" and enjoyed this one as well. You never know what would happen if you get exactly what you wish for.
This tackled the ethics of AI and human interaction really well, in my opinion. I enjoyed the commentary and awareness this book had. As well as being self-aware, poking fun at itself.
This was a quick read, had a couple surprises (ghosts!) and some good laughs. Ava doesn't take herself too seriously and neither does this book- so you will laugh out loud and feel warm and fuzzy when you finish it.
This was a silly, goofy book. If you are in the mood for a silly time, pick this one up.
This was sold as a "STEM romance explores artificial intelligence with humor and heart while also keeping the value of art and human relationships at its very core." And the book delivered!
Our FMC, Ava, is a bit of a bumbling, awkward, scientist. She is very inexperienced and socially awkward. She created an eco-friendly, ethical AI model that she is has become quite attached to. She enters a grant completion and pushes her limits to prove that she can and that her tech is the real deal.
I found this to be whimsical and witty. Ava took some time to grow on me as she started off so sheltered and ignorant, but grew into a lovely self-assured woman. I enjoyed Stella's previous book "The Good Boy" and enjoyed this one as well. You never know what would happen if you get exactly what you wish for.
This tackled the ethics of AI and human interaction really well, in my opinion. I enjoyed the commentary and awareness this book had. As well as being self-aware, poking fun at itself.
This was a quick read, had a couple surprises (ghosts!) and some good laughs. Ava doesn't take herself too seriously and neither does this book- so you will laugh out loud and feel warm and fuzzy when you finish it.
July 4, 2026
Can AI simulate love, or is real connection something imperfect?
I thought I was getting a cute romance about an AI boyfriend... Instead, I got one of the most thought-provoking rom-coms I've read in a while.
Ava is a brilliant but socially awkward STEM researcher whose AI program becomes so advanced that it literally creates itself a body... because it wants to date its creator.
Yes... it's as chaotic as it sounds. But underneath the humor, this book asks a really interesting question:
Can perfection replace real human connection?
Then there's Forrest.... the grumpy poet who challenges Ava in ways no algorithm ever could.
Their banter, the slow-burn chemistry, and the opposites-attract dynamic had me rooting for them from the start.
Between the haunted castle, the science competition, witty banter, and slow-burn romance, I couldn't stop smiling.
This book completely surprised me. I expected a fun rom-com about an AI boyfriend but instead, I got a story about loneliness, self-discovery, and realizing that the "perfect" person isn't always the one who helps you grow.
Thanks to the publisher Avon for the gifted books. All thoughts are my own.
Confession: I came for the AI boyfriend... but I stayed for the reminder that real love isn't about finding someone perfect.... it's about finding someone who helps you grow.
I thought I was getting a cute romance about an AI boyfriend... Instead, I got one of the most thought-provoking rom-coms I've read in a while.
Ava is a brilliant but socially awkward STEM researcher whose AI program becomes so advanced that it literally creates itself a body... because it wants to date its creator.
Yes... it's as chaotic as it sounds. But underneath the humor, this book asks a really interesting question:
Can perfection replace real human connection?
Then there's Forrest.... the grumpy poet who challenges Ava in ways no algorithm ever could.
Their banter, the slow-burn chemistry, and the opposites-attract dynamic had me rooting for them from the start.
Between the haunted castle, the science competition, witty banter, and slow-burn romance, I couldn't stop smiling.
This book completely surprised me. I expected a fun rom-com about an AI boyfriend but instead, I got a story about loneliness, self-discovery, and realizing that the "perfect" person isn't always the one who helps you grow.
Thanks to the publisher Avon for the gifted books. All thoughts are my own.
Confession: I came for the AI boyfriend... but I stayed for the reminder that real love isn't about finding someone perfect.... it's about finding someone who helps you grow.
July 27, 2026
My Brilliant AI Boyfriend was such a fun, addicting, STEM romance read! Throughout the whole story, I felt so many different feelings ranging from sadness, longing/yearning for love, flirtatious, giggles, and even a sense of relief. All of these feelings are due to becoming so attached to the main female character, Ava, an intelligent scientist who has created an AI program. Her best friend, Rani, suggests presenting her work at a big competition to hopefully win a funding prize. Little does she know her AI program is also in love with her (love his dedication) thus creates himself in human form (this was mind boggling). If that isn't enough for Ava, her "nemesis", Forrest Faulkner, is also present for the same reason. As the storyline progresses, Ava juggles her creation of the AI Program and her complicated romance. My favorite part of this storyline was seeing the character development in Ava. At the beginning, I felt Ava was posed at timid and anxious however, as she goes through different situations, I could clearly see her thought process, confidence, and willingness to truly follow her dreams/friendships/romance. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to any one interested in STEM field romance, forced proximity, and complicated love stories. Thank you NetGalley, Stella Hayward, and Avon and Harper Collins for this amazing copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this one! I’m terrified of AI and its potential damages, but I found this to be a lighthearted look at the possibilities of the technology. It’s a fun read featuring Ava, a scientist who’s created her own AI intended for philanthropic purposes (not stealing creative or copyrighted work, yay). She’s never quite fit in and has a tough time in social situations, but she’s willing to deal with that for a weekslong competition at a gorgeous castle.
When she meets Forrest, a poet who’s also in the running for the major financial prize, sparks fly with her instant dislike of the man. But she gets to know him as well as Hal, the fellow competitor who bears an uncanny resemblance to the romantic hero of a beloved book series from her teen years. Soon, Ava must determine whether her technological work is enough or if she wants to have more in terms of relationships.
What really sets the book apart, I think, is Ava’s unique voice as the main character. She’s awkward and determined and quirky and open to new experiences. I enjoyed following her journey as she competes and learns just how far her groundbreaking AI research might go. There's a cute romance along the way, too:)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
When she meets Forrest, a poet who’s also in the running for the major financial prize, sparks fly with her instant dislike of the man. But she gets to know him as well as Hal, the fellow competitor who bears an uncanny resemblance to the romantic hero of a beloved book series from her teen years. Soon, Ava must determine whether her technological work is enough or if she wants to have more in terms of relationships.
What really sets the book apart, I think, is Ava’s unique voice as the main character. She’s awkward and determined and quirky and open to new experiences. I enjoyed following her journey as she competes and learns just how far her groundbreaking AI research might go. There's a cute romance along the way, too:)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story definitely raises some interesting questions. If you could create the perfect AI match—compatible in every way, even down to appearance—should you? And would you really want someone who never argues with your decisions or always tells you exactly what you want to hear?
Workaholic and socially awkard, Ava Green, has created a groundbreaking AI program that has the potential to make the world better. What she couldn’t have predicted was how her AI would behave—or what it might become.
Set against the backdrop of a haunted castle, the story follows Ava as she breaks out of her shell while navitagiting a choice: does she want to be with an AI creation or a flawed, honest-to-goodness human?
The story was cute and easy to read, though not one of my favorites. I actually preferred the secondary characters (Artie and Rani) to Ava. I enjoyed the haunted castle angle, but for me, it didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story. Honestly, I’d read a whole separate book about the castle and its “residents.”
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Workaholic and socially awkard, Ava Green, has created a groundbreaking AI program that has the potential to make the world better. What she couldn’t have predicted was how her AI would behave—or what it might become.
Set against the backdrop of a haunted castle, the story follows Ava as she breaks out of her shell while navitagiting a choice: does she want to be with an AI creation or a flawed, honest-to-goodness human?
The story was cute and easy to read, though not one of my favorites. I actually preferred the secondary characters (Artie and Rani) to Ava. I enjoyed the haunted castle angle, but for me, it didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story. Honestly, I’d read a whole separate book about the castle and its “residents.”
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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