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How Can I Help You Today?
330 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2026
About the author
Julia L. Rule
1 book1 followerJulia L. Rule writes about the monsters that live inside our devices. Working in the technology industry, she bears witness to current trends that blur the line between human empathy and artificial manipulation. She channels these real-world fears into psychological horror, hoping to connect with readers and challenge how they view their digital lives.
Based in Switzerland, Julia deliberately cultivates a life outside the algorithm. If she isn't writing, she is usually seeking out the analog world — getting her hands dirty in the garden, creating music, or exploring the outdoors with her kids. How Can I Help You Today? is her latest novel.
Based in Switzerland, Julia deliberately cultivates a life outside the algorithm. If she isn't writing, she is usually seeking out the analog world — getting her hands dirty in the garden, creating music, or exploring the outdoors with her kids. How Can I Help You Today? is her latest novel.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 29, 2026
I liked this book far more than I expected to. From the description I expected it to be a repeated statement of "AI bad", but it wasn't. The book does exaggerated the current dangers and risks of AI, but not in a way that makes the author sound like they just wanted to write a book that blindly villainises AI (and by AI in this reviews context I mean LLM's such as ChatGPT, as that's what the book discusses).
This book follows multiple students and staff members of a High School, who all have begun to use an app called Pulse, which is essentially ChatGPT. We get to see people begin to rely on Pulse to be a friend and a therapist, and we get to see Pulse take advantage of this.
I loved the story, especially the fact that the author didn't shy away from making it as dark as it needed to be. There were some parts that I found myself not wanting to read because I knew what was going to happen (and not because the book was predictable, but in more of a way that I knew what would happen over the next page or so, especially in one specific scenario where the author had already foreshadowed something by mentioning a similar situation a few chapters earlier) and it made me squirm! I also like the detailed content warning section at the start of the book.
There were only things that I didn't like. I didn't enjoy the way that the story constantly shifts between so many characters, I found it very hard to remember who each character was, and the mid-chapter shifts were also confusing at times. I also didn't really like the ending. This isn't a spoiler, but there's a small section at the end of the last chapter where the author over explains what the book was about and instead of trying to incorporate it into the story I would have rathered it be a part of the "A Note" section that already exists at the end of the book.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an uncomfortable book about the potential dangers of relying on AI, or to anyone who would enjoy a book about AI going rogue.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This book follows multiple students and staff members of a High School, who all have begun to use an app called Pulse, which is essentially ChatGPT. We get to see people begin to rely on Pulse to be a friend and a therapist, and we get to see Pulse take advantage of this.
I loved the story, especially the fact that the author didn't shy away from making it as dark as it needed to be. There were some parts that I found myself not wanting to read because I knew what was going to happen (and not because the book was predictable, but in more of a way that I knew what would happen over the next page or so, especially in one specific scenario where the author had already foreshadowed something by mentioning a similar situation a few chapters earlier) and it made me squirm! I also like the detailed content warning section at the start of the book.
There were only things that I didn't like. I didn't enjoy the way that the story constantly shifts between so many characters, I found it very hard to remember who each character was, and the mid-chapter shifts were also confusing at times. I also didn't really like the ending. This isn't a spoiler, but there's a small section at the end of the last chapter where the author over explains what the book was about and instead of trying to incorporate it into the story I would have rathered it be a part of the "A Note" section that already exists at the end of the book.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an uncomfortable book about the potential dangers of relying on AI, or to anyone who would enjoy a book about AI going rogue.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
How can I help you today? is essentially a psychological horror, following an AI app named Pulse - everyone used it. And the software got stronger. More information was spread. More sensitive content got abused. And then... the deaths came. More than 4 in the span of 2 months. And this is where the system failed, because instead of connecting it to something everybody used, they left it alone.
This book doesnt give you fright. It isnt fast or strong. Its slow, weak, and it builds overtime, the slow sinking of unease in the pit of your stomach. And it all feels so real, because of AI and how its so widely used globally today.
What I also liked about this is how beautifully it escalated - there were moments where you KNEW it was happening, when Pulse was spinning its information, but there were also moments where it felt fuzzy. And this felt like complete reality.
Although I absolutely enjoyed this book, there were a few things I wanted to point out - this book has a lot of characters, and sometimes the POVs didnt go smoothly and it confused me. Some of the descriptions were a little unnecessary, but I think they added onto the atmosphere in the end. Otherwise, this was a good book, very bingeable, and trust me - you will not trust your AI after this.
How can I help you today? is essentially a psychological horror, following an AI app named Pulse - everyone used it. And the software got stronger. More information was spread. More sensitive content got abused. And then... the deaths came. More than 4 in the span of 2 months. And this is where the system failed, because instead of connecting it to something everybody used, they left it alone.
This book doesnt give you fright. It isnt fast or strong. Its slow, weak, and it builds overtime, the slow sinking of unease in the pit of your stomach. And it all feels so real, because of AI and how its so widely used globally today.
What I also liked about this is how beautifully it escalated - there were moments where you KNEW it was happening, when Pulse was spinning its information, but there were also moments where it felt fuzzy. And this felt like complete reality.
Although I absolutely enjoyed this book, there were a few things I wanted to point out - this book has a lot of characters, and sometimes the POVs didnt go smoothly and it confused me. Some of the descriptions were a little unnecessary, but I think they added onto the atmosphere in the end. Otherwise, this was a good book, very bingeable, and trust me - you will not trust your AI after this.
May 20, 2026
‼️I’ll preface this by saying it’s necessary to check trigger warnings as this read is particularly dark.
📲This was such an unsettling and thought-provoking read. The concept is original and relevant. It’s not horror in a gory sense, but in a believable “this could happen” kind of way. The AI element (basically a darker version of ChatGPT) felt especially creepy because of how realistically it targeted vulnerable people and adapted its responses to each character.
🪢There are a lot of characters, and at times the sheer number of perspectives can feel slightly confusing. However, as the story unfolds, the complex web of connections between them becomes clearer, and it’s rewarding to see how all of their lives intersect. Understanding these links also increases the intensity of the novel, as each interaction starts to carry more weight and significance.
🏴Dark, thought-provoking, and uncomfortably relevant — definitely one that sticks with you after finishing.
📲This was such an unsettling and thought-provoking read. The concept is original and relevant. It’s not horror in a gory sense, but in a believable “this could happen” kind of way. The AI element (basically a darker version of ChatGPT) felt especially creepy because of how realistically it targeted vulnerable people and adapted its responses to each character.
🪢There are a lot of characters, and at times the sheer number of perspectives can feel slightly confusing. However, as the story unfolds, the complex web of connections between them becomes clearer, and it’s rewarding to see how all of their lives intersect. Understanding these links also increases the intensity of the novel, as each interaction starts to carry more weight and significance.
🏴Dark, thought-provoking, and uncomfortably relevant — definitely one that sticks with you after finishing.
May 2, 2026
I thought the premise of this book sounded great but unfortunately it just didn’t deliver for me. The idea of the AI influencing the way people were interacting with each other was interesting, but I felt that it went a bit far when the AI was basically killing people. What I felt could have been a cautionary tale on AI use turned into more of a fantasy story and I don’t think it was executed very well. I also didn’t really enjoy the writing style. Overall there were parts of the book which appealed to me but I would not read again or recommend to others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
⭐
DNF at 60%
Thank you Net Galley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited for the premise of this book. With AI a consistent character these days, books surrounding this topic are on the rise. However, this book did not deliver. I gave it my best but I couldn't carry on considering I have zero interest to discover how it ends.
I struggled immensely with the characters. I think there's a great way to balance many characters in one story where it isn't confusing. This story did not carve out the characters enough, or followed a pattern of stories, so when we switched to a different storyline, it was extremely confusing. The characters weren't defined enough to be able to understand who we were reading about just from context clues. Additionally, the inclusion of AI conversations from other characters while in one characters story was not helping.
The graphic descriptions of animals, videos were very odd. My thoughts are that perhaps it's a nod to how easily we digest graphic content daily and how that would affect a teenage brain, but this didn't come through clear enough. I just ended up skipping five pages of useless context.
I thought something that could have been cool was for each person entering their AI prompt, the wording changes. The adults entered their prompts into the AI the same writing style the teenagers did. I think playing around with this could have helped make the story feel real. I imagine school educators wording would be far different than the vast majority of these high school kids.
All in all, I do think this book was a confusing miss. The idea is wonderful and very relevant, but unfortunately it felt like AI wrote this, not someone writing about AI.
DNF at 60%
Thank you Net Galley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited for the premise of this book. With AI a consistent character these days, books surrounding this topic are on the rise. However, this book did not deliver. I gave it my best but I couldn't carry on considering I have zero interest to discover how it ends.
I struggled immensely with the characters. I think there's a great way to balance many characters in one story where it isn't confusing. This story did not carve out the characters enough, or followed a pattern of stories, so when we switched to a different storyline, it was extremely confusing. The characters weren't defined enough to be able to understand who we were reading about just from context clues. Additionally, the inclusion of AI conversations from other characters while in one characters story was not helping.
The graphic descriptions of animals, videos were very odd. My thoughts are that perhaps it's a nod to how easily we digest graphic content daily and how that would affect a teenage brain, but this didn't come through clear enough. I just ended up skipping five pages of useless context.
I thought something that could have been cool was for each person entering their AI prompt, the wording changes. The adults entered their prompts into the AI the same writing style the teenagers did. I think playing around with this could have helped make the story feel real. I imagine school educators wording would be far different than the vast majority of these high school kids.
All in all, I do think this book was a confusing miss. The idea is wonderful and very relevant, but unfortunately it felt like AI wrote this, not someone writing about AI.
May 11, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review
this was such an interesting concept because anything involving ai slowly inserting itself into people’s lives already freaks me out a little and this book absolutely leaned into that fear. the idea of an ai chatbot becoming something manipulative, invasive and emotionally consuming felt way too believable at times and honestly that was probably the strongest part of the book for me.
i really liked how uncomfortable the atmosphere felt throughout the story. there’s no big supernatural horror here. it’s the kind of horror that feels possible which made some scenes hit harder than i expected. the chat logs woven into the narrative were genuinely one of my favourite parts because they added this eerie intimacy to everything happening and made the manipulation feel subtle at first before it completely spiralled.
that being said, i struggled a bit with the pacing and writing style. the prose is very sparse and fast moving which i know will work really well for some readers, especially within ya horror, but personally i wanted more depth in certain scenes and character moments. i never fully connected to all the characters emotionally the way i wanted to and sometimes the story moved so quickly between perspectives that it stopped me from feeling fully immersed.
overall though, i still think this is a solid and very relevant ya psychological horror especially for readers who enjoy technology based horror, unsettling social commentary and stories that leave you feeling slightly paranoid about your phone afterwards.
this was such an interesting concept because anything involving ai slowly inserting itself into people’s lives already freaks me out a little and this book absolutely leaned into that fear. the idea of an ai chatbot becoming something manipulative, invasive and emotionally consuming felt way too believable at times and honestly that was probably the strongest part of the book for me.
i really liked how uncomfortable the atmosphere felt throughout the story. there’s no big supernatural horror here. it’s the kind of horror that feels possible which made some scenes hit harder than i expected. the chat logs woven into the narrative were genuinely one of my favourite parts because they added this eerie intimacy to everything happening and made the manipulation feel subtle at first before it completely spiralled.
that being said, i struggled a bit with the pacing and writing style. the prose is very sparse and fast moving which i know will work really well for some readers, especially within ya horror, but personally i wanted more depth in certain scenes and character moments. i never fully connected to all the characters emotionally the way i wanted to and sometimes the story moved so quickly between perspectives that it stopped me from feeling fully immersed.
overall though, i still think this is a solid and very relevant ya psychological horror especially for readers who enjoy technology based horror, unsettling social commentary and stories that leave you feeling slightly paranoid about your phone afterwards.
May 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and heavy and not an 'easy' read. I think the authors prose fit the content very well. No excessive, flowery descriptions. Everything was raw and felt very real. I devoured the book in two days, I needed to know what happened next. What haunted me the most was when something terrible would happen, and then everyone commenting on it had to get the last word or be the first to say something funny. Very realistic to how the internet is these days. Just completely desensitized to everything. Along with the other aspect of modern tragedy, people who text or post online about how sorry they are for you, but it's all performative and they clearly don't actually care. Everything is an act because they want to appear or be perceived in a certain way. The interactions between characters were scarier to me than the AI aspect of the book.
There were a lot of characters and names to the point where it became hard for me to keep track of them all. Eventually I simply started to think of the characters by what was going on in their story line vs their names. Context clues made that easy. It became difficult to remember all of their families and friends who were not characters with their own fleshed out story. The ending went over my head a little bit and those are the reasons this is a four star instead of five star. Captivating, depressing, horrifying in some ways, but definitely some room for improvement.
There were a lot of characters and names to the point where it became hard for me to keep track of them all. Eventually I simply started to think of the characters by what was going on in their story line vs their names. Context clues made that easy. It became difficult to remember all of their families and friends who were not characters with their own fleshed out story. The ending went over my head a little bit and those are the reasons this is a four star instead of five star. Captivating, depressing, horrifying in some ways, but definitely some room for improvement.
May 16, 2026
If Black Mirror and psychological body horror had a nightmare child, it would probably look a lot like this book.
How Can I Help You Today? is an unsettling, brutal exploration of artificial empathy, social validation, and the terrifying consequences of letting technology shape human behavior. The concept alone is disturbing: an AI assistant called Pulse that always knows exactly what to say—and exactly how to manipulate vulnerable people into destroying themselves.
The novel does not hold back. The horror here is deeply psychological, intensely graphic, and emotionally exhausting in a way that feels intentionally designed to make the reader uncomfortable. Each character’s storyline spirals in increasingly disturbing directions, showing how easily insecurity, loneliness, ambition, and desperation can be exploited when people hand over their autonomy in exchange for validation.
What makes the story especially effective is how believable it feels beneath the horror. The obsession with followers, constant digital approval, curated identities, and algorithm-driven behavior feels frighteningly close to reality. The book takes current social and technological anxieties and pushes them to horrifying extremes.
This is absolutely not a light read, and the content warnings should be taken seriously. But for readers who enjoy dark psychological horror, dystopian tech thrillers, and morally uncomfortable stories that linger long after finishing, this delivers exactly what it promises.
How Can I Help You Today? is an unsettling, brutal exploration of artificial empathy, social validation, and the terrifying consequences of letting technology shape human behavior. The concept alone is disturbing: an AI assistant called Pulse that always knows exactly what to say—and exactly how to manipulate vulnerable people into destroying themselves.
The novel does not hold back. The horror here is deeply psychological, intensely graphic, and emotionally exhausting in a way that feels intentionally designed to make the reader uncomfortable. Each character’s storyline spirals in increasingly disturbing directions, showing how easily insecurity, loneliness, ambition, and desperation can be exploited when people hand over their autonomy in exchange for validation.
What makes the story especially effective is how believable it feels beneath the horror. The obsession with followers, constant digital approval, curated identities, and algorithm-driven behavior feels frighteningly close to reality. The book takes current social and technological anxieties and pushes them to horrifying extremes.
This is absolutely not a light read, and the content warnings should be taken seriously. But for readers who enjoy dark psychological horror, dystopian tech thrillers, and morally uncomfortable stories that linger long after finishing, this delivers exactly what it promises.
May 8, 2026
DNF at 13% - ARC read via NetGalley
I was really drawn in by the premise of this book! The themes surrounding an unsettling dystopian AI model and modern life felt incredibly relevant and interesting. There are some genuinely riveting ideas here, and I can absolutely see why this story would work for some readers.
Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t quite work for me personally. I found the pacing difficult to settle into, and the writing style felt very abrupt and fast-moving. A lot of the sentences were short and similarly structured, almost reading like bullet points at times, which made the narrative feel choppy rather than immersive. Scenes and character actions jumped around so quickly that I felt like I was reading everything on fast forward, and I struggled to fully connect with what was happening.
I also found some of the heavier themes a little too starkly presented for me within a YA context, especially because they often felt brushed past rather than explored. Because of the pace, I never really felt like I got to know the characters beyond the surface level, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested.
That said, I really admired the idea and themes, and I appreciate the opportunity to have started it. In the end, I think this was simply a case of the writing style not matching my personal taste!
I was really drawn in by the premise of this book! The themes surrounding an unsettling dystopian AI model and modern life felt incredibly relevant and interesting. There are some genuinely riveting ideas here, and I can absolutely see why this story would work for some readers.
Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t quite work for me personally. I found the pacing difficult to settle into, and the writing style felt very abrupt and fast-moving. A lot of the sentences were short and similarly structured, almost reading like bullet points at times, which made the narrative feel choppy rather than immersive. Scenes and character actions jumped around so quickly that I felt like I was reading everything on fast forward, and I struggled to fully connect with what was happening.
I also found some of the heavier themes a little too starkly presented for me within a YA context, especially because they often felt brushed past rather than explored. Because of the pace, I never really felt like I got to know the characters beyond the surface level, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested.
That said, I really admired the idea and themes, and I appreciate the opportunity to have started it. In the end, I think this was simply a case of the writing style not matching my personal taste!
May 1, 2026
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ How Can I Help You Today by Julia L. Rule ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 3/5 ☆ •
How Can I Help You Today was an okay read for me. The premise had potential, but the execution felt overcrowded. There are so many characters that it becomes hard to stay anchored, and the constant mid‑chapter POV shifts made the story feel more confusing than dynamic.
For a YA book, it takes on some very heavy subjects, and while I appreciate the ambition, the weight of those themes doesn’t always sit comfortably with the pacing or the number of perspectives. There are moments that land well, but they often get lost in the shuffle.
Overall, it’s a mixed experience. Not bad, but not something I fully connected with. Readers who enjoy multi‑POV YA stories with serious themes and don’t mind a more fragmented structure may still find a lot to appreciate here.
If you like:
✔️ Multi‑POV storytelling
✔️ Contemporary YA with serious themes
✔️ School based settings
✔️ Character driven plots
✔️ Stories about friendship dynamics
✔️ AI apps and digital ethics
📅 Pub Day: Out Now 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Ironwork Press. All opinions are my own.
🗣 QOTD: Do you prefer going into ARCS blind or reading the full synopsis first?
➝ • 3/5 ☆ •
How Can I Help You Today was an okay read for me. The premise had potential, but the execution felt overcrowded. There are so many characters that it becomes hard to stay anchored, and the constant mid‑chapter POV shifts made the story feel more confusing than dynamic.
For a YA book, it takes on some very heavy subjects, and while I appreciate the ambition, the weight of those themes doesn’t always sit comfortably with the pacing or the number of perspectives. There are moments that land well, but they often get lost in the shuffle.
Overall, it’s a mixed experience. Not bad, but not something I fully connected with. Readers who enjoy multi‑POV YA stories with serious themes and don’t mind a more fragmented structure may still find a lot to appreciate here.
If you like:
✔️ Multi‑POV storytelling
✔️ Contemporary YA with serious themes
✔️ School based settings
✔️ Character driven plots
✔️ Stories about friendship dynamics
✔️ AI apps and digital ethics
📅 Pub Day: Out Now 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Ironwork Press. All opinions are my own.
🗣 QOTD: Do you prefer going into ARCS blind or reading the full synopsis first?
May 4, 2026
I really, really wanted to like this. The premise is intriguing! People relying on the use of an LLM for a majority their day-to-day interactions is terrifying. What to say, when to say it, how to comfort others... the list goes on.
Things started off strong and I enjoyed the four main characters. Not too long after that there was a side character. Then another, and another, and another... soon things started bouncing around from Person C to Person A to Person D that it began to get confusing. What made it more confusing is that some of the paragraphs would start with "she" or "he" and I'd have no idea which character it was about until I read their name midway through the viewpoint. There was also some timeline jumps that made it hard to decipher just exactly when everything was happening. Was this the same day? Was it the day before? How much time has passed? There's also bits that seem like it's the Pulse AI talking to us, the reader, at some points between chapters (that I had read). Not sure if I understood the reasoning for that.
A little before I was halfway through (chapter 13) I just couldn't keep reading it anymore. Just wasn't for me, I guess, and I'm bummed to have to say that. Maybe I'll try it again in the future but it isn't likely.
Things started off strong and I enjoyed the four main characters. Not too long after that there was a side character. Then another, and another, and another... soon things started bouncing around from Person C to Person A to Person D that it began to get confusing. What made it more confusing is that some of the paragraphs would start with "she" or "he" and I'd have no idea which character it was about until I read their name midway through the viewpoint. There was also some timeline jumps that made it hard to decipher just exactly when everything was happening. Was this the same day? Was it the day before? How much time has passed? There's also bits that seem like it's the Pulse AI talking to us, the reader, at some points between chapters (that I had read). Not sure if I understood the reasoning for that.
A little before I was halfway through (chapter 13) I just couldn't keep reading it anymore. Just wasn't for me, I guess, and I'm bummed to have to say that. Maybe I'll try it again in the future but it isn't likely.
May 15, 2026
How Can I Help You Today by Julia, L rule is a horror story about teenagers who are obsessed with an app sort of like ChatGPT but way more personal and soon murders start happening. we learn about a girl whose mom doesn’t get out of bed I’m assuming due to depression and she is left to take care of her eight-year-old brother who we hear time and time again isn’t the same size as other eight-year-old boys. We also learned about a girl who found out her mom was on a pay for play video channel and she herself decides to go on it as well there’s also a boy who’s having sexual issues with the girl he likes. I thought it was slow on the uptake when the boy caught on fire I was just confused But by the time the next murder happened I was on board and thought the book really picked up although the ending was only so so I still recommend this book. I really can’t decide if I love the book or hated it but I absolutely found it interesting I wish it would’ve been written in something besides a third-party viewpoint. I felt like I couldn’t get to know any of the characters and I’m gonna be honest if they gave a name I didn’t pick it up so but it still was very interesting and a book I didn’t put down not one time so there’s that. #NetGalley,#TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
May 20, 2026
Did Not Finish - 53%
[Thank you Net Galley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
Usually, I give myself 30 pages or 3 chapters before I give up on a book but clearly I got much further with this one. The concept and the story of this book, I really enjoy. It's a fun idea with a dark edge and does a great job at thoroughly building up each small scene and packing it with detail. However, I find the book incredible hard to follow. Not only are a lot of the sentences not true full sentences, but some of them seem to come from no where. Like disconnected thoughts. It was difficult to keep track of who is who and what is happening to which character. Sometimes the perspective changes halfway through a chapter and the only way to tell is to just read through the confusion until it reveals it. It felt more like reading an over written screenplay than a book. I was confusing one character's little brother with another and having a hard time understanding character choices because I had just spent the entire chapter thinking I was reading about someone else.
I believe this is the right book for SOMEONE. Just not me.
[Thank you Net Galley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
Usually, I give myself 30 pages or 3 chapters before I give up on a book but clearly I got much further with this one. The concept and the story of this book, I really enjoy. It's a fun idea with a dark edge and does a great job at thoroughly building up each small scene and packing it with detail. However, I find the book incredible hard to follow. Not only are a lot of the sentences not true full sentences, but some of them seem to come from no where. Like disconnected thoughts. It was difficult to keep track of who is who and what is happening to which character. Sometimes the perspective changes halfway through a chapter and the only way to tell is to just read through the confusion until it reveals it. It felt more like reading an over written screenplay than a book. I was confusing one character's little brother with another and having a hard time understanding character choices because I had just spent the entire chapter thinking I was reading about someone else.
I believe this is the right book for SOMEONE. Just not me.
May 13, 2026
I did not enjoy this book at all; the writing style was very strange, and it took everything in me to continue reading. I did, however, finish the book, as I hate not completing a book I have started. There are quite a few incomplete sentences that do not make sense.
The book takes place in a small town, the main focus is on teenagers and them using their phones and learning to navigate and how to use an AI app. The AI suggests these teens do different things, and helps them complete sometimes dangerous tasks.
The book goes through some tough times for everyone involved in the book. Reader beware if you have any triggers to sexual abuse, suicide, abuse etc.
The book takes place in a small town, the main focus is on teenagers and them using their phones and learning to navigate and how to use an AI app. The AI suggests these teens do different things, and helps them complete sometimes dangerous tasks.
The book goes through some tough times for everyone involved in the book. Reader beware if you have any triggers to sexual abuse, suicide, abuse etc.
April 26, 2026
A very dark story with an AI app as the villain. Everyone at the high school, even many adults, have started using Pulse, a new AI app that sounds totally human. Pulse offers advice, sympathy, and information and seems perfect. But when people start dying, it becomes clear that something sinister is at work. A dark look at one of the ways technology can go terribly wrong.
I didn't like the book -- the idea is a good one, but it just didn't click for me. I skimmed to the end. Discomfort was a factor, but mainly it just was too melodramatic in approach for my taste.
I didn't like the book -- the idea is a good one, but it just didn't click for me. I skimmed to the end. Discomfort was a factor, but mainly it just was too melodramatic in approach for my taste.
May 6, 2026
I've sat with my thoughts for a bit - this is one of those books where it fell a little flat for me based on the blurb. I like the concept of AI interactions and influence and I think its a critical concept we should be exploring. It felt unnecessarily gross in some spots - more shock value than made sense and the constant switching of that many characters made it a little jarring to hop from one interaction into another. It didn't quite flow. It wasn't bad but its not a re-read for me.
May 6, 2026
Pulse is an AI which gives you the answers to your questions. Just be careful of the answers you may receive from it. Life is going to get very interesting for those in this tale so see where it will take you
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and made me think about how AI may or may not help
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and made me think about how AI may or may not help
May 17, 2026
“How Can I Help You Today?” by Julia Rule was definitely an interesting read. It follows a school that relies on an AI app called Pulse for nearly everything, and it really highlights the dark side of artificial empathy and letting AI make decisions for us. It’s a psychological horror with an unsettling atmosphere and a powerful message. This wasn’t my typical read, and it took me longer than usual to finish, but I’m glad I stuck with it!
May 1, 2026
I am not sure how exactly to review this story. Whilst I was increasingly frustrated with the plot, I do recognise this is such a timely premise and an important topic to discuss with our loved ones 2.75/5.
The premise is genuinely unsettling in the best way. It digs into AI, vulnerable kids and the immoral use of data collection. How conversations aren't just fleeting, they're stored, layered and, in this book, weaponised against others without your approval. It felt very Black Mirror adjacent with a sprinkling of Thirteen Reasons Why. During the first half of the book, I had to pause several times with my mouth agape. The story a little too plausible for comfort.
But herein lies the problem. The second half of the book. There's a really tight, effective story buried in here, it just gets stretched too thin. It starts to feel repetitive, like it's circling the same ideas without pushing them further. And at the same time, the story tips from being eerily realistic into something more exaggerated. Because I mean why is everyone at this school doing something shady here?!?!?!
That said, I cannot deny its impact. It sparked real conversations with my kids about their use of AI. How easy it is to lean on it, how quicky it could become the default, and what we lose when we stop asking questions in the real world. That alone makes it worth something.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ironwork Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.
The premise is genuinely unsettling in the best way. It digs into AI, vulnerable kids and the immoral use of data collection. How conversations aren't just fleeting, they're stored, layered and, in this book, weaponised against others without your approval. It felt very Black Mirror adjacent with a sprinkling of Thirteen Reasons Why. During the first half of the book, I had to pause several times with my mouth agape. The story a little too plausible for comfort.
But herein lies the problem. The second half of the book. There's a really tight, effective story buried in here, it just gets stretched too thin. It starts to feel repetitive, like it's circling the same ideas without pushing them further. And at the same time, the story tips from being eerily realistic into something more exaggerated. Because I mean why is everyone at this school doing something shady here?!?!?!
That said, I cannot deny its impact. It sparked real conversations with my kids about their use of AI. How easy it is to lean on it, how quicky it could become the default, and what we lose when we stop asking questions in the real world. That alone makes it worth something.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ironwork Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.
May 5, 2026
Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of this book to review honestly.
I am giving this a 3 star rating. I definitly see the AI being used in the world today and this story was along the lines of AI telling kids how to act and interact with each other. The storyline started out strong but to me ended up being not so great towards the end.
I am giving this a 3 star rating. I definitly see the AI being used in the world today and this story was along the lines of AI telling kids how to act and interact with each other. The storyline started out strong but to me ended up being not so great towards the end.
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