How to Build a Robot (Boyfriend): A Cozy Novel of Science, Female Friendship, and Hot Robots

by Liz Shannon Miller

Genres: Romance

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Liz Shannon Miller is an LA-based journalist and author who loves pop culture, cats, science fiction, and romance. After studying screenwriting at USC, Liz went on to a variety of assorted jobs, including serving as a staff writer on G4's ATTACK OF THE SHOW, writing dialogue for the U.S. Army, and covering the online video world as a tech reporter. She is currently senior entertainment editor at Consequence, and her work has also been published by Vulture, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Collider, The AV Club, Paste, The Verge, and more.

Reviews

[Tara]

Thank you to Liz Shannon Miller, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who loved Weird Science growing up, I was ready for a gender bend version. I was not disappointed at all! This book is so well done, I’m impressed it’s a debut. Bob is the best and I wish we got more time with him. I’m itching to find out what’s next.

✔️ Sci-Fi Romance
✔️ Women in Stem
✔️ Creator to Lovers
✔️ Robot Sex Ed
✔️ Advisor to Lovers

[Kara]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up, but I loved this genre-defying sci-fi rom-com! I loved Bob, the titular robot, and I could relate to both of the scientists even though they were really different from each other. Even though the author discusses in the foreword how she feels some of the ideas in the book are already behind our current thinking about AI, I thought this was a nice take on when can be done with technology when the motivation isn’t money. Also, this is a lighter book but it raised some questions about consent and different types of uneven power relationships that were thought-provoking but didn’t overshadow the main storyline. This book was surprisingly touching, too. The only reason I didn’t finish it sooner was that I wanted it to last longer. Highly recommend!

[Megan]

This is so charming and unpredictable. I laughed out loud multiple times and couldn’t wait to get back to it every night. Three cheers for girls, girlhood, science, and hot robots. And Dev Patel as Naveen if this ever gets made into a movie? Just an idea!

[Elisabeth]

A funny and sweet story about friendship and romance and what it means to be human.