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Circuitry #1
Circuitry
Humans are very confusing. Especially in high school. They all want to be unique, but they hate being different. They make up complicated rules about dating and friendship and then get upset with anyone who can’t keep up with them. And the people who say they “hate drama” are the ones who cause the most of it.
Noelle 0-3409-16 isn't actually human. She's a humanoid android, the first "maton" to be created as a baby and raised among human children. The world's only maton with a chance at gaining legal human status.
Her human peers aren’t always nice to her, and the program requirements can be overwhelming, but Noelle serves as a beacon of hope for millions of mata. Truth is, though, she’d give it all up in a nanosecond for a chance at having even one real friend.
Then there's Jakob. Noelle is thankful she doesn't have any romantic programming. Because if she did, she'd have to worry about the fact that she can't stop thinking about the color of his eyes . . .
Noelle 0-3409-16 isn't actually human. She's a humanoid android, the first "maton" to be created as a baby and raised among human children. The world's only maton with a chance at gaining legal human status.
Her human peers aren’t always nice to her, and the program requirements can be overwhelming, but Noelle serves as a beacon of hope for millions of mata. Truth is, though, she’d give it all up in a nanosecond for a chance at having even one real friend.
Then there's Jakob. Noelle is thankful she doesn't have any romantic programming. Because if she did, she'd have to worry about the fact that she can't stop thinking about the color of his eyes . . .
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 8, 2026
Circuitry is the kind of YA sci-fi that sneaks up on you and stays.
The premise: Noelle 0-3409-16 is a maton — a humanoid android. Unlike other mata, she was created as an infant and raised with human kids in order to test if a maton can become legally human. If she succeeds, she becomes a beacon of hope for millions. If she fails… well. The pressure is immense. And underneath all of that, she's just a teenage girl trying to survive high school.
What I loved:
1. Noelle. I am so protective of her. She is logical, literal, trying so hard to decode friendship, dating, popularity — rules that were never programmed into her. Her human peers aren't always kind to her, and watching her try to make sense of people who say they hate drama but cause the most drama was both infuriating and so, so relatable. She is soft and brave and more human than most of the humans around her.
2. Jakob. He sees Noelle, not the experiment. Their dynamic is slow, sweet, and full of that ache of "I'm not supposed to feel this." No insta-love, just genuine connection.
3. The themes. This book asks the big questions — what is humanness? Who gets to decide who is a person? — but it does it through the lens of high school hallways, mean girls, and first crushes. It never feels preachy, just deeply felt.
Justine Alexi's writing is intimate and warm. You feel like you're inside Noelle's head, learning how to be human right alongside her.
This is for fans of character-driven sci-fi, outsider protagonists, found family, and soft slow-burns that hurt in the best way. Think Pinocchio meets The Breakfast Club.
Thank you to Justine Alexi for Noelle. She proves that humanity isn't about circuitry — it's about heart.
I need Book 2 immediately.
The premise: Noelle 0-3409-16 is a maton — a humanoid android. Unlike other mata, she was created as an infant and raised with human kids in order to test if a maton can become legally human. If she succeeds, she becomes a beacon of hope for millions. If she fails… well. The pressure is immense. And underneath all of that, she's just a teenage girl trying to survive high school.
What I loved:
1. Noelle. I am so protective of her. She is logical, literal, trying so hard to decode friendship, dating, popularity — rules that were never programmed into her. Her human peers aren't always kind to her, and watching her try to make sense of people who say they hate drama but cause the most drama was both infuriating and so, so relatable. She is soft and brave and more human than most of the humans around her.
2. Jakob. He sees Noelle, not the experiment. Their dynamic is slow, sweet, and full of that ache of "I'm not supposed to feel this." No insta-love, just genuine connection.
3. The themes. This book asks the big questions — what is humanness? Who gets to decide who is a person? — but it does it through the lens of high school hallways, mean girls, and first crushes. It never feels preachy, just deeply felt.
Justine Alexi's writing is intimate and warm. You feel like you're inside Noelle's head, learning how to be human right alongside her.
This is for fans of character-driven sci-fi, outsider protagonists, found family, and soft slow-burns that hurt in the best way. Think Pinocchio meets The Breakfast Club.
Thank you to Justine Alexi for Noelle. She proves that humanity isn't about circuitry — it's about heart.
I need Book 2 immediately.
September 12, 2026
**ARC READ**
Noelle is a Mata, a human android, who is aiming to achieve legal human status. In order to do so, she must complete objectives to assist in her research for human behavior. One of her objectives: make a friend. But how can she make a friend when it seems as though everyone despises her simply for what she is?
Phenomenal short book. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about humanity through Noelle's perspective, and it definitely mirrored prejudices we have against people who look or act different than we expect. It also mirrored how we approach support groups, and lack of accepting and standing up for those that we claim we want to learn from and try to help. It also brought up a lot of things about humanity that makes readers take pause and look at their own lives and how we treat others. Truly looking forward to book 2!!
Noelle is a Mata, a human android, who is aiming to achieve legal human status. In order to do so, she must complete objectives to assist in her research for human behavior. One of her objectives: make a friend. But how can she make a friend when it seems as though everyone despises her simply for what she is?
Phenomenal short book. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about humanity through Noelle's perspective, and it definitely mirrored prejudices we have against people who look or act different than we expect. It also mirrored how we approach support groups, and lack of accepting and standing up for those that we claim we want to learn from and try to help. It also brought up a lot of things about humanity that makes readers take pause and look at their own lives and how we treat others. Truly looking forward to book 2!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story reads like a typical Rom-Com set in High School, but with a twist. Noelle is a maton, an automaton who is the first of her kind, attending High School as a research project on what it means to be human.
Giving a new perspective on the high stakes social dynamics of High School, Circuitry is a John Hughes movie in novel form. Told through the eyes of its automaton main character this story is a cute, quick read with some deeper undercurrents around morality, individuality and what it really means to be human.
Giving a new perspective on the high stakes social dynamics of High School, Circuitry is a John Hughes movie in novel form. Told through the eyes of its automaton main character this story is a cute, quick read with some deeper undercurrents around morality, individuality and what it really means to be human.
August 30, 2026
Review of Advanced Reader Copy
Oh, I loved this book! Noelle was such an interesting character to follow through the process of understanding what it means to be a person while surrounded by others who struggle with the same question and try to become someone else. The development of relationships was undoubtedly the most enjoyable aspect of this book, particularly of Noelle’s attempts to understand what she actually wants in her life.
Oh, I loved this book! Noelle was such an interesting character to follow through the process of understanding what it means to be a person while surrounded by others who struggle with the same question and try to become someone else. The development of relationships was undoubtedly the most enjoyable aspect of this book, particularly of Noelle’s attempts to understand what she actually wants in her life.
Review of advance copy
Review from Advanced Reader Copy from Author.
I liked what the author was doing in this book by showing that everyone has issues that other people might not realize. Sometimes it’s hard to know what someone else is going through. I also think they did a good job with the message about bullying and how it’s important to stand up and speak when you see or deal with something that is not okay. I think the book had a good meaning behind it but I do wish it was longer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an interesting read. At times I felt like I was missing something from another book or universe, but I think ultimately the story just jumped right into the world. I’d like to see what happens going forward in this series. It was very different from other books I read but I enjoyed it. I wish it was a bit longer so I’m hoping that’s the case for the next book. Good read that went super fast! Thank you to the author for an arc copy for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Noelle is a student navigating high school while learning to fit into human society. She’s a unique individual and I loved watching her journey to connect. This was a quick read which left me wanting more. Being on book 2!
Thank you to the author, Justine Alexi, for a free ARC copy. This voluntary review is my honest opinion.
Thank you to the author, Justine Alexi, for a free ARC copy. This voluntary review is my honest opinion.
September 14, 2026
**ARC Read**
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. It was a very quick read and I can’t wait to read the next one. I loved the character development and the non human-human emotions and feelings.
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. It was a very quick read and I can’t wait to read the next one. I loved the character development and the non human-human emotions and feelings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Very cute high school rom-com with a twist.
Well written and moves at a good pace. Excited to read book 2!
- Advanced Copy Reader
Well written and moves at a good pace. Excited to read book 2!
- Advanced Copy Reader
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews