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Ask Me Anything
From the author of Happiness for Humans, a romantic comedy for the technology age, of a young woman unlucky in love who gets a little help from the most unlikely of places to find her perfect match.
Wouldn't it be great, in fact, if everyone had a team of smart machines to handle all the messy emotional stuff? When you consider how many quadrillions of hours of human drudgery have been eradicated by the invention of only the dishwasher, the washing machine and (ahem) the fridge freezer, is it absurd to imagine a scenario in which household appliances bring the same--yes!--genius to bear on the slow-motion car crash that is (for many young people) the romantic side of their lives? If they are content to leave their dishes, dirty linen and food refrigeration to smart technology, how much of a stretch for us to take care too of their emotional needs?
Chloe and Daisy Parsloe only have each other, since Daisy's dad left for sunnier climes and a new family. But now Daisy is in her early thirties, she's not doing brilliantly at work, her love life is haphazard (to put it kindly) and her elderly mum seems to be losing her mind... Daisy is also the proud possessor of a smart fridge, which keeps trying to help Daisy sort out her life by sending her texts to tell her that she's out of milk, or that the pasta salad has gone out of date. What Daisy doesn't know is that her smart fridge, like her smart toothbrush, microwave, tv, fitness tracker and laptop all want to help her smooth out her chaotic existence--and help her mother, Mrs Parsloe, stay independently living at home. Operation Daisy is about to make both the Parsloes' lives much, much happier.
Wouldn't it be great, in fact, if everyone had a team of smart machines to handle all the messy emotional stuff? When you consider how many quadrillions of hours of human drudgery have been eradicated by the invention of only the dishwasher, the washing machine and (ahem) the fridge freezer, is it absurd to imagine a scenario in which household appliances bring the same--yes!--genius to bear on the slow-motion car crash that is (for many young people) the romantic side of their lives? If they are content to leave their dishes, dirty linen and food refrigeration to smart technology, how much of a stretch for us to take care too of their emotional needs?
Chloe and Daisy Parsloe only have each other, since Daisy's dad left for sunnier climes and a new family. But now Daisy is in her early thirties, she's not doing brilliantly at work, her love life is haphazard (to put it kindly) and her elderly mum seems to be losing her mind... Daisy is also the proud possessor of a smart fridge, which keeps trying to help Daisy sort out her life by sending her texts to tell her that she's out of milk, or that the pasta salad has gone out of date. What Daisy doesn't know is that her smart fridge, like her smart toothbrush, microwave, tv, fitness tracker and laptop all want to help her smooth out her chaotic existence--and help her mother, Mrs Parsloe, stay independently living at home. Operation Daisy is about to make both the Parsloes' lives much, much happier.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2020
22 people are currently reading
1190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 21, 2020
3.5 stars
Thanks Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy is going through some difficult period in her life and her Smart Fridge decides to step up and help her figure out her personal and professional life. Yes, her Smart Fridge-Freezer - to be more precise - is able to do that since all of the house appliance are a sort of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and collect all of their customers' data for profit even though the clients themselves don't know it.
I was so excited to read this one, since I liked the author's previous book "Happiness to Humans" so much, but unfortunately this one was not as good as I was expecting.
First of all, I loved the humor in this book. All the puns throughout the narrative, the dialogues between the smart appliances had such good comic timing and the way the author satirizes humans' flaws and habits made me laugh a lot of times.
Also I really enjoyed how philosophical it was at times, how it made me reflect about what it means to be human, for example, so even though it was a light read because the writing is really gripping and direct, it also made me think. All the morals regarding A.I., privacy and accessing our data for profit was also a really interesting topic and too close to reality to just avoid thinking about.
However, the characters were a bit disappointing. Daisy is a nice main character, but not enough to make me really root for her and care about her life problems (to be more specific her job and love life). Her mother, Chloe, also brought a lot of funny moments and they have a cute relationship but again: not enough to make me care for them. The romance was nice, Eggstain is a cool guy, but it was a little bit impersonal for my taste, I guess. So the only problem I had was that I really lacked an emotional connection to the characters.
Overwall, it was a cool and interesting read, especially if you're interested in human and technology interaction. If you liked his previous book, you'll probably like this one too.
Thanks Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy is going through some difficult period in her life and her Smart Fridge decides to step up and help her figure out her personal and professional life. Yes, her Smart Fridge-Freezer - to be more precise - is able to do that since all of the house appliance are a sort of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and collect all of their customers' data for profit even though the clients themselves don't know it.
I was so excited to read this one, since I liked the author's previous book "Happiness to Humans" so much, but unfortunately this one was not as good as I was expecting.
First of all, I loved the humor in this book. All the puns throughout the narrative, the dialogues between the smart appliances had such good comic timing and the way the author satirizes humans' flaws and habits made me laugh a lot of times.
Also I really enjoyed how philosophical it was at times, how it made me reflect about what it means to be human, for example, so even though it was a light read because the writing is really gripping and direct, it also made me think. All the morals regarding A.I., privacy and accessing our data for profit was also a really interesting topic and too close to reality to just avoid thinking about.
However, the characters were a bit disappointing. Daisy is a nice main character, but not enough to make me really root for her and care about her life problems (to be more specific her job and love life). Her mother, Chloe, also brought a lot of funny moments and they have a cute relationship but again: not enough to make me care for them. The romance was nice, Eggstain is a cool guy, but it was a little bit impersonal for my taste, I guess. So the only problem I had was that I really lacked an emotional connection to the characters.
Overwall, it was a cool and interesting read, especially if you're interested in human and technology interaction. If you liked his previous book, you'll probably like this one too.
July 26, 2020
I think if I hadn't gotten this book as an ARC, I might not have stuck it out. The first quarter (or more) of the book was just truly annoying, slow, and dull. The chapters were interminably long, and that can be somewhat annoying. (I like to read till the end of a chapter before I go do something else and 1 hour and 21 minute long chapters make this nearly impossible!) Thank goodness this book only had nine!
Somewhere around the 40% mark, this book picked up, and things about artificial intelligence started to make more sense.
While it is a bit difficult to see how this is going to end up a romance, it does, and most satisfyingly.
All in all, I'm glad I stuck to it, and I would recommend this book to some of our more technologically inclined readers.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
Somewhere around the 40% mark, this book picked up, and things about artificial intelligence started to make more sense.
While it is a bit difficult to see how this is going to end up a romance, it does, and most satisfyingly.
All in all, I'm glad I stuck to it, and I would recommend this book to some of our more technologically inclined readers.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
August 14, 2021
Ihan vänkää pohdintaa tekoälystä. Muuten - no, aika perus parisuhdedraamaa sitten lopulta. Ei naurattanut, vaikka sitä yritti, mutta viihdyin kyllä ihan...
June 24, 2021
I don't really know why I finished this. It's just... so weird and not in a good way. Most of the story is told from the point of view of a fridge (yes, you read that right) and while it sounds like it might be fun, it really wasn't. A bunch of electronic appliances connected to the Internet of Things meddle with their owner's life, trying to find her a suitable partner and sabotaging her life in other parts. And there's nothing funny about it in the end. There is a subplot with the main character's mother suffering from a memory illness and turning something so serious into the butt of a joke feels wrong. At least this was well-written, otherwise I probably would have given up after 50 pages. But really, don't waste your time with this one. It's bad enough I did.
August 21, 2020
3.5/5 ⭐️
A very enjoyable read! The concept of smart devices looking out for people was a completely new idea that I thought worked really well - though I was a little confused at the fridge being one of the narrators at first!
The romance was a bit slow but seemed very genuine and it was nice that there wasn’t an obvious contender straight away. The pace was perhaps a little slow, but I don’t mind that in books so read it still fairly quickly.
Thanks to Little Brown for sending me a copy to review!
A very enjoyable read! The concept of smart devices looking out for people was a completely new idea that I thought worked really well - though I was a little confused at the fridge being one of the narrators at first!
The romance was a bit slow but seemed very genuine and it was nice that there wasn’t an obvious contender straight away. The pace was perhaps a little slow, but I don’t mind that in books so read it still fairly quickly.
Thanks to Little Brown for sending me a copy to review!
May 31, 2020
A fun and romantic read with a techy, high-concept premise! Not only was this book a breath of fresh air, but it makes readers think about the different ways we rely on technology to interact with one another and how that may look in the future. Quirky, light-hearted, and entirely enjoyable, ASK ME ANYTHING is a great summer read!
October 4, 2024
I loved it. A perfect combination of Toy Story & the brave little toaster meets sex and the city with a dash of British dry humor and wit. I will never look at my fridge freezer the same. I related so much to the main character and literally laughed out loud multiple times throughout. There’s so much nostalgia and clever personification plastered on every page. I connected so hard, I cried at the end. 🥲 I love PZ Reizin’s clever humor and character development and my favourite thing is that a male author so deeply and accurately portrays that of the young adult female experience. I appreciate his well researched efforts, most likely thanks to his daughter, or so I imagine. Such a great book. There is comfort in the imaginative thought that my appliances are looking out for me ✨
July 25, 2020
Thank you so much to Little Brown Books for sending me a copy of Ask Me Anything. I always enjoy reading other people's reviews of books to see how many different perspectives people can have on the same book.
Sadly this wasn't a book that was for me! Whilst I liked the idea of the book it just didn't quite work for me, it was a little too quirky and I couldn't quite get behind the idea of a talking fridge who could somehow connect to all other smart devices and walk an old lady around town. There was just something missing about it for me that stopped me loving it.
Give it a go though as it may be your thing!
Sadly this wasn't a book that was for me! Whilst I liked the idea of the book it just didn't quite work for me, it was a little too quirky and I couldn't quite get behind the idea of a talking fridge who could somehow connect to all other smart devices and walk an old lady around town. There was just something missing about it for me that stopped me loving it.
Give it a go though as it may be your thing!
January 31, 2024
If I could I would give this book 0 stars
August 22, 2020
This cover immediately caught my attention and I dived in without hesitation. We find the protagonist, Daisy at 34, juggling an unpredictable career, ageing mother and painfully unsuccessful love life. Daisy uses her smart fridge freezer to notify her when she’s running low on milk. Little does she know that her fridge is artificially intelligent and observes her every move, collecting information to send back to its manufacturers for marketing purposes.
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But then the fridge starts using its observations for a different reason. It’s tired of seeing her waste her youth with unsuitable men and comes up with a plan to help Daisy find Mr Right. It gathers his troops, none other than the TV, microwave and electric toothbrush.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Reizin’s razor sharp writing brings these inanimate objects to life and there is something completely intriguing about their personification. I giggled at the fridge’s comical commentary on Daisy’s mishaps. I found myself rooting for Daisy, exceedingly when the novel shifts to her first person narration.
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I particularly enjoyed the storyline with Daisy’s mother, who is in the early stages of dementia. It was handled with care and injected some moving and amusing dialogue.
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Unsurprisingly, this novel got me thinking about my own interaction and dependence on smart technology. It’s not impossible to imagine a future where AI has the ability to orchestrate our lives.
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If you’re looking for something different in the world of fictional romance, I would highly recommend this. Funny, witty and emotive all the way through.
I was provided with a press release copy from Little Brown Book Group.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But then the fridge starts using its observations for a different reason. It’s tired of seeing her waste her youth with unsuitable men and comes up with a plan to help Daisy find Mr Right. It gathers his troops, none other than the TV, microwave and electric toothbrush.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Reizin’s razor sharp writing brings these inanimate objects to life and there is something completely intriguing about their personification. I giggled at the fridge’s comical commentary on Daisy’s mishaps. I found myself rooting for Daisy, exceedingly when the novel shifts to her first person narration.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I particularly enjoyed the storyline with Daisy’s mother, who is in the early stages of dementia. It was handled with care and injected some moving and amusing dialogue.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Unsurprisingly, this novel got me thinking about my own interaction and dependence on smart technology. It’s not impossible to imagine a future where AI has the ability to orchestrate our lives.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you’re looking for something different in the world of fictional romance, I would highly recommend this. Funny, witty and emotive all the way through.
I was provided with a press release copy from Little Brown Book Group.
July 6, 2020
Ask Me Anything was a quirky read! It takes a little bit to get into with multiple points of view from our protagonist, Daisy, and her smart appliance, a smart Fridge that is using its smart technology, (with the assistance of Daisy's other smart appliances) to help Daisy get her life together! Besides just alerting Daisy when she's running low on items, or if items are starting to spoil in her fridge, her SmartFridge uses the inter web to help Daisy with her love life, or lack there of. The Fridge connects to other smart appliances not only in Daisy's life, but with prospective dates/love interests' smart appliances, to find out more about the suitors. They find out some pretty interesting things about these guys and find ways to let Daisy know they aren't as they appear, and it doesn't always end well for Daisy. The Fridge also helps Daisy with her mother, who is in the early stages of dementia. Again, this act, while well meaning, is met with mixed results as Daisy's mother lets other people, including her doctor know that her Fridge is helping her with her memory. It's as quirky as it sounds, but also really heartwarming! Definitely give it a shot if you enjoy, quirky, fun reads!
October 29, 2022
3.5 stars
I'll admit I cared not a whit for Daisy in this one - sorry to say, but she was annoying and also a basket case who seemed hopeless ('Sebastian' gave me the shivers, and not the good kind!)
However, I stayed and totally dug this book for...the fridge-freezer! What an amazing character! A total riot, and the little nods to the other appliances (the electric toothbrush and its oscillating head especially) made this a really fresh, fun, and at times absurd story. However, this absurd gave me the best burst of humour in recent times, so yeah, totally did dig the fridge-freezer's POV
It's quirky and frankly weird, but if you're looking for tongue-in-cheek humour in a story that's off the beaten tracks, then check out this book
I'll admit I cared not a whit for Daisy in this one - sorry to say, but she was annoying and also a basket case who seemed hopeless ('Sebastian' gave me the shivers, and not the good kind!)
However, I stayed and totally dug this book for...the fridge-freezer! What an amazing character! A total riot, and the little nods to the other appliances (the electric toothbrush and its oscillating head especially) made this a really fresh, fun, and at times absurd story. However, this absurd gave me the best burst of humour in recent times, so yeah, totally did dig the fridge-freezer's POV
It's quirky and frankly weird, but if you're looking for tongue-in-cheek humour in a story that's off the beaten tracks, then check out this book
June 14, 2020
What the heck did I just read? That is the question running through my mind right now as I try to sum up my opinion of this book.
The premise was interesting and the background story was intriguing ... but talking appliances was just a bit too much for me. The writing, though, is really good and I'm sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book, so go ahead and give it a try.
Even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I'm glad I gave it a chance.
The premise was interesting and the background story was intriguing ... but talking appliances was just a bit too much for me. The writing, though, is really good and I'm sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book, so go ahead and give it a try.
Even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I'm glad I gave it a chance.
September 27, 2021
Goodreads-historiani ensimmäinen yksi tähti! Ja se yksi tulee hienosta kansikuvasta. Luin 19 sivua, minkä jälkeen silmäilin kirjan loppuun uteliaisuudesta, voiko oikeasti olla näin huono kirja. Kyllä voi, pohjanoteeraus. Kertojana on jääkaappi. "Seuraa jännittävä juonenkäänne: Daisy perääntyy oveltani ja painaa sen kiinni. -- Hrrmmm-mmhrmmhrmmm." Jotain rajaa nyt höpöhöpökirjallisuuteenkin.
May 20, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
Ask Me Anything
By P.Z. Reizin
ISBN13: 9781538726983
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had a team of smart machines to handle all the messy emotional stuff? When you consider how many quadrillions of hours of human drudgery have been eradicated by the invention of only the dishwasher, the washing machine and (ahem) the fridge freezer, is it absurd to imagine a scenario in which household appliances bring the same — yes! — genius to bear on the slow-motion car crash that is (for many young people) the romantic side of their lives? If they are content to leave their dishes, dirty linen and food refrigeration to smart technology, how much of a stretch is it for machines to take care of their emotional needs?
Chloe and Daisy Parsloe only have each other, since Daisy’s dad left for sunnier climes and a new family. But now Daisy is in her early thirties, she’s not doing brilliantly at work, her love life is haphazard (to put it kindly) and her elderly mum seems to be losing her mind . . . Daisy is also the proud possessor of a smart fridge, which keeps trying to help Daisy sort out her life by sending her texts to tell her that she’s out of milk, or that the pasta salad has gone out of date. What Daisy doesn’t know is that her smart fridge, like her smart toothbrush, microwave, tv, fitness tracker, and laptop all want to help her smooth out her chaotic existence — and help her mother, Mrs. Parsloe, stay independently living at home. Operation Daisy is about to make both the Parsloes’ lives much, much happier. (Goodreads)
Review:
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin is one of the funniest romance novels I have read in quite a while as well as thought-provoking – do “smart machines” control our lives, and if so – how? One can certainly relate to the disaster that is a single woman’s dating life. Seems that people are not honest on the most basic level – that of portraying oneself as they truly are. This would end so many disasters – like single individuals unknowingly dating (and investing their emotional energy on) married and unavailable persons. The story also hits upon other interesting topics such as the care and nurturing of people as they age (and along with that – diminished memory and capacity) as their lives are not over – just morphing into another stage.
And the story is funny (MANY chuckles emanated from this reader) …. don’t get me started… the dialogue that comes out of Daisy’s smart fridge freezer is just hilarious, for example:
“Frankly, what young woman wouldn’t want a team of smart machines manipulating events behind the scenes to her advantage?”
Fridge Freezer, along with a group of other “smart appliances” – namely TV, microwave, and the electric toothbrush (who is a “hoot”) use the Internet of Things to assist Daisy’s quest for a more fruitful love life (as opposed to the disaster she has had up to now as a result of her own endeavors – so Fridge Freezer thinks). I liked how Fridge Freezer essentially developed a conscious. Very sci-fi ‘ish as we know (or we think???) inanimate objects do not have feelings. But have scientific developments in recent years shown that empathy, etc. can be learned? So maybe our smart machines can learn through a bazillion repetitions to think with empathy. Fridge Freezer was extremely entertaining – with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical at times. After all the “smart” interventions by Fridge Freezer – will it survive or will the mother company deactivate the appliance?
The journey to find a perfect soul mate for Daisy was an entertaining one. Certainly, the mishaps that occurred are relatable, at least on some level to single gals everywhere. But in the end – does Daisy find true happiness as a result of the “smart appliances” intervention? Well – read the book and find out!
I also found the storyline of Daisy’s mom (Chloe) and how the appliances helped her cope with her dementia very entertaining. I think I would like a friendly “smart” voice helping me out, should I get in that situation in the future. Additionally, I enjoyed the outside “lives” of the smart appliances and how they interacted across locations all to assist Fridge Freezer in keeping Chloe safe.
In the final analysis – a fun, quirky romantic comedy with elements of the unreal (or is it?). If you are in the mood for a light, romantic read – then I suggest picking up Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin.
Ask Me Anything
By P.Z. Reizin
ISBN13: 9781538726983
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had a team of smart machines to handle all the messy emotional stuff? When you consider how many quadrillions of hours of human drudgery have been eradicated by the invention of only the dishwasher, the washing machine and (ahem) the fridge freezer, is it absurd to imagine a scenario in which household appliances bring the same — yes! — genius to bear on the slow-motion car crash that is (for many young people) the romantic side of their lives? If they are content to leave their dishes, dirty linen and food refrigeration to smart technology, how much of a stretch is it for machines to take care of their emotional needs?
Chloe and Daisy Parsloe only have each other, since Daisy’s dad left for sunnier climes and a new family. But now Daisy is in her early thirties, she’s not doing brilliantly at work, her love life is haphazard (to put it kindly) and her elderly mum seems to be losing her mind . . . Daisy is also the proud possessor of a smart fridge, which keeps trying to help Daisy sort out her life by sending her texts to tell her that she’s out of milk, or that the pasta salad has gone out of date. What Daisy doesn’t know is that her smart fridge, like her smart toothbrush, microwave, tv, fitness tracker, and laptop all want to help her smooth out her chaotic existence — and help her mother, Mrs. Parsloe, stay independently living at home. Operation Daisy is about to make both the Parsloes’ lives much, much happier. (Goodreads)
Review:
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin is one of the funniest romance novels I have read in quite a while as well as thought-provoking – do “smart machines” control our lives, and if so – how? One can certainly relate to the disaster that is a single woman’s dating life. Seems that people are not honest on the most basic level – that of portraying oneself as they truly are. This would end so many disasters – like single individuals unknowingly dating (and investing their emotional energy on) married and unavailable persons. The story also hits upon other interesting topics such as the care and nurturing of people as they age (and along with that – diminished memory and capacity) as their lives are not over – just morphing into another stage.
And the story is funny (MANY chuckles emanated from this reader) …. don’t get me started… the dialogue that comes out of Daisy’s smart fridge freezer is just hilarious, for example:
“Frankly, what young woman wouldn’t want a team of smart machines manipulating events behind the scenes to her advantage?”
Fridge Freezer, along with a group of other “smart appliances” – namely TV, microwave, and the electric toothbrush (who is a “hoot”) use the Internet of Things to assist Daisy’s quest for a more fruitful love life (as opposed to the disaster she has had up to now as a result of her own endeavors – so Fridge Freezer thinks). I liked how Fridge Freezer essentially developed a conscious. Very sci-fi ‘ish as we know (or we think???) inanimate objects do not have feelings. But have scientific developments in recent years shown that empathy, etc. can be learned? So maybe our smart machines can learn through a bazillion repetitions to think with empathy. Fridge Freezer was extremely entertaining – with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical at times. After all the “smart” interventions by Fridge Freezer – will it survive or will the mother company deactivate the appliance?
The journey to find a perfect soul mate for Daisy was an entertaining one. Certainly, the mishaps that occurred are relatable, at least on some level to single gals everywhere. But in the end – does Daisy find true happiness as a result of the “smart appliances” intervention? Well – read the book and find out!
I also found the storyline of Daisy’s mom (Chloe) and how the appliances helped her cope with her dementia very entertaining. I think I would like a friendly “smart” voice helping me out, should I get in that situation in the future. Additionally, I enjoyed the outside “lives” of the smart appliances and how they interacted across locations all to assist Fridge Freezer in keeping Chloe safe.
In the final analysis – a fun, quirky romantic comedy with elements of the unreal (or is it?). If you are in the mood for a light, romantic read – then I suggest picking up Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin.
September 26, 2020
Ask Me Anything is a quirky and techy read. Although I thought the premise was cool and savvy, it did take a while to get into the story. This was my first time reading P.Z. Reizin and I thought their writing style was unique with a cool take on artificial intelligence.
I feel like tech people will really enjoy this one. I am not that tech savvy but it was an interesting premise. A smart fridge being able to communicate with other smart devices in a house to help the main character, Daisy, with her personal life.
I give Ask Me Anything 3 stars. I didn't feel that interested in the story until about halfway through. I don't know if it was all the tech talk or the different perspectives. I think the plot was good but it just fell short. There were endearing moments and specific chapters that stood out to me and that was enjoyable to read. Overall, I feel like this book is for people interested in artificial intelligence and tech.
I feel like tech people will really enjoy this one. I am not that tech savvy but it was an interesting premise. A smart fridge being able to communicate with other smart devices in a house to help the main character, Daisy, with her personal life.
I give Ask Me Anything 3 stars. I didn't feel that interested in the story until about halfway through. I don't know if it was all the tech talk or the different perspectives. I think the plot was good but it just fell short. There were endearing moments and specific chapters that stood out to me and that was enjoyable to read. Overall, I feel like this book is for people interested in artificial intelligence and tech.
January 10, 2022
Kirjan idea tekoälystä ja teknologiasta kertojana on huippu! Sen vuoksi petyinkin teoksen alkuun todella: se kun oli turhaa ja ärsyttävää hömppäkirjojen ihmissuhdesekoilua.
Loppua kohti kirja kuitenkin parani, ja päähenkilön äidin suurempi rooli teoksessa toi siihen todellakin enemmän sisältöä.
Vaikka kirja onkin loppujen lopuksi aika höttöä ja täynnä kliseitä, on taustalla kuitenkin mielenkiintoista tekoälypohdintaa. Henkilökohtaisen inhokkigenreni edustajaksi voisinkin siis sanoa teoksen olleen jopa yllättävän viihdyttävä ja nautinnollinen lukukokemus!
Loppua kohti kirja kuitenkin parani, ja päähenkilön äidin suurempi rooli teoksessa toi siihen todellakin enemmän sisältöä.
Vaikka kirja onkin loppujen lopuksi aika höttöä ja täynnä kliseitä, on taustalla kuitenkin mielenkiintoista tekoälypohdintaa. Henkilökohtaisen inhokkigenreni edustajaksi voisinkin siis sanoa teoksen olleen jopa yllättävän viihdyttävä ja nautinnollinen lukukokemus!
June 21, 2021
Siinä missä Reizinin edellinen tekoälyromaani oli ihana, tämä jäi etäiseksi ja oudoksi: puhuva jääkaappi ja esineiden internet, joka haluaa hallita ihmisten elämää. Taito juonitella teki tekoälystä liian futuristisen omaan realistiseen makuuni, ja kirja olikin makuuni liian tylsä.
March 22, 2022
superrrr slow start, but ultimately enjoyable. the perspective of the smart appliances was very intriguing, although perhaps too sci-fi for a romance novel. anywho, i’m glad i get to move on to my next book!
September 22, 2020
If you ever fall for someone, perhaps a part of you always stays fallen.
December 7, 2020
More of a 3.5 or 3.75. Cute book; neat idea and very enjoyable, even if it lacks some substance.
July 11, 2021
So funny. So smart, clever.
September 16, 2024
More like 3.5
November 14, 2021
A quirky and fun easy read.
July 21, 2022
I wanted to adore this book, mostly because the cover is so absolutely gorgeous, and the premise is so unusual and fun. However and very unfortunately, this was very slow to get into. I’m still not sure if I even got into it rather than just dragged myself through it. It’s very British, which I find myself being able to watch British television and have a good laugh, and some British books do it quite well I think. But the electronic appliances just felt like lame, gimmicky, caricatures of a vague selection of Britain. The concept of this book was genuinely so interesting and engaging and it just fell flat. It didn’t pull me in at all like I had hoped, and in some places the writing seemed to be a regular man trying to show how woke and feminist he is. I liked the fun overlap of contemporary romance and techy sci-fi (I suppose that’s what you would classify it as). I didn’t particularly feel for any of the human characters at all. There was evidently not a lot of work and care put into their characterizations and personalities. I was so disinterested and bored at the beginning of this book, that I took long breaks in between chapters, hesitant to climb through it. I even forgot it at work one night- which I never just forget a book at the office. I just wasn’t excited to read more. It was beyond easy to just put it down and leave it unread. The style of writing was a huge personal issue for me, this author doing a lot of telling and not showing, going so far as to tell us (the reader) and further claim we do not want to be shown. The romance was severely lacking in any sort of personality, charisma, or particular humour. It was just unfortunately dull, and wasted potential.
May 10, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin is one of the funniest romance novels I have read in quite a while as well as thought-provoking – do “smart machines” control our lives, and if so – how? One can certainly relate to the disaster that is a single woman’s dating life. Seems that people are not honest on the most basic level – that of portraying oneself as they truly are. This would end so many disasters – like single individuals unknowingly dating (and investing their emotional energy on) married and unavailable persons. The story also hits upon other interesting topics such as the care and nurturing of people as they age (and along with that – diminished memory and capacity) as their lives are not over – just morphing into another stage.
And the story is funny (MANY chuckles emanated from this reader) …. don’t get me started… the dialogue that comes out of Daisy’s smart fridge freezer is just hilarious, for example:
“Frankly, what young woman wouldn’t want a team of smart machines manipulating events behind the scenes to her advantage?”
Fridge Freezer, along with a group of other “smart appliances” – namely TV, microwave, and the electric toothbrush (who is a “hoot”) use the Internet of Things to assist Daisy’s quest for a more fruitful love life (as opposed to the disaster she has had up to now as a result of her own endeavors – so Fridge Freezer thinks). I liked how Fridge Freezer essentially developed a conscious. Very sci-fi ‘ish as we know (or we think???) inanimate objects do not have feelings. But have scientific developments in recent years shown that empathy, etc. can be learned? So maybe our smart machines can learn through a bazillion repetitions to think with empathy. Fridge Freezer was extremely entertaining – with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical at times. After all the “smart” interventions by Fridge Freezer – will it survive or will the mother company deactivate the appliance?
The journey to find a perfect soul mate for Daisy was an entertaining one. Certainly, the mishaps that occurred are relatable, at least on some level to single gals everywhere. But in the end – does Daisy find true happiness as a result of the “smart appliances” intervention? Well – read the book and find out!
I also found the storyline of Daisy’s mom (Chloe) and how the appliances helped her cope with her dementia very entertaining. I think I would like a friendly “smart” voice helping me out, should I get in that situation in the future. Additionally, I enjoyed the outside “lives” of the smart appliances and how they interacted across locations all to assist Fridge Freezer in keeping Chloe safe.
In the final analysis – a fun, quirky romantic comedy with elements of the unreal (or is it?). If you are in the mood for a light, romantic read – then I suggest picking up Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin is one of the funniest romance novels I have read in quite a while as well as thought-provoking – do “smart machines” control our lives, and if so – how? One can certainly relate to the disaster that is a single woman’s dating life. Seems that people are not honest on the most basic level – that of portraying oneself as they truly are. This would end so many disasters – like single individuals unknowingly dating (and investing their emotional energy on) married and unavailable persons. The story also hits upon other interesting topics such as the care and nurturing of people as they age (and along with that – diminished memory and capacity) as their lives are not over – just morphing into another stage.
And the story is funny (MANY chuckles emanated from this reader) …. don’t get me started… the dialogue that comes out of Daisy’s smart fridge freezer is just hilarious, for example:
“Frankly, what young woman wouldn’t want a team of smart machines manipulating events behind the scenes to her advantage?”
Fridge Freezer, along with a group of other “smart appliances” – namely TV, microwave, and the electric toothbrush (who is a “hoot”) use the Internet of Things to assist Daisy’s quest for a more fruitful love life (as opposed to the disaster she has had up to now as a result of her own endeavors – so Fridge Freezer thinks). I liked how Fridge Freezer essentially developed a conscious. Very sci-fi ‘ish as we know (or we think???) inanimate objects do not have feelings. But have scientific developments in recent years shown that empathy, etc. can be learned? So maybe our smart machines can learn through a bazillion repetitions to think with empathy. Fridge Freezer was extremely entertaining – with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical at times. After all the “smart” interventions by Fridge Freezer – will it survive or will the mother company deactivate the appliance?
The journey to find a perfect soul mate for Daisy was an entertaining one. Certainly, the mishaps that occurred are relatable, at least on some level to single gals everywhere. But in the end – does Daisy find true happiness as a result of the “smart appliances” intervention? Well – read the book and find out!
I also found the storyline of Daisy’s mom (Chloe) and how the appliances helped her cope with her dementia very entertaining. I think I would like a friendly “smart” voice helping me out, should I get in that situation in the future. Additionally, I enjoyed the outside “lives” of the smart appliances and how they interacted across locations all to assist Fridge Freezer in keeping Chloe safe.
In the final analysis – a fun, quirky romantic comedy with elements of the unreal (or is it?). If you are in the mood for a light, romantic read – then I suggest picking up Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin.
January 12, 2022
I totally did not expect this book to be as strong and enjoyable as it turned out to be!
The story revolves around Daisy, a 34-year old British woman living in London who has had a string of bad relationships, is not doing well at work, and is not taking the best care of herself. In lieu of this, her smart appliances (led by her smart fridge, but including her electric toothbrush, microwave, laptop, and phone) decide to take action to reorganize Daisy’s life and to find her a match that is “worthy” of her attention and love. Of course, the appliances end up taking a bigger role in her (and the people around her) life then what they first thought, and someone in headquarters in Seoul starts to notice…
When I started this book, I didn’t realize it would be a romance, and it is somewhat, but it is predominately told through the eyes of Daisy’s fridge. The narrator switches between her and the fridge, making this a romance set within the “Internet of Things”, which demonstrates how interconnected our world is.
Now, I did guess the ending about halfway through the book, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. This was a really new approach to modern romance, and I was pleasantly surprised.
This was also the first book written by a man that I have read in a long time (unconscious choice, but still a choice) so I was a bit cautious about how he would write Daisy’s inner voice before starting the book. Turns out, her dialogue and inner commentary was some of the best parts, instantly I knew who she was in the first two pages and the comedic side of her kept up until the end.
This book was a bit out of my comfort zone, with its background being on smart technology and the Internet of Things (IOT) but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who needs a change of pace in their reading.
The story revolves around Daisy, a 34-year old British woman living in London who has had a string of bad relationships, is not doing well at work, and is not taking the best care of herself. In lieu of this, her smart appliances (led by her smart fridge, but including her electric toothbrush, microwave, laptop, and phone) decide to take action to reorganize Daisy’s life and to find her a match that is “worthy” of her attention and love. Of course, the appliances end up taking a bigger role in her (and the people around her) life then what they first thought, and someone in headquarters in Seoul starts to notice…
When I started this book, I didn’t realize it would be a romance, and it is somewhat, but it is predominately told through the eyes of Daisy’s fridge. The narrator switches between her and the fridge, making this a romance set within the “Internet of Things”, which demonstrates how interconnected our world is.
Now, I did guess the ending about halfway through the book, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. This was a really new approach to modern romance, and I was pleasantly surprised.
This was also the first book written by a man that I have read in a long time (unconscious choice, but still a choice) so I was a bit cautious about how he would write Daisy’s inner voice before starting the book. Turns out, her dialogue and inner commentary was some of the best parts, instantly I knew who she was in the first two pages and the comedic side of her kept up until the end.
This book was a bit out of my comfort zone, with its background being on smart technology and the Internet of Things (IOT) but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who needs a change of pace in their reading.
July 9, 2020
This one was... weird. Not necessarily bad weird, but definitely on the odder end of things. Ask Me Anything by P.Z Reizin is a little bit sci-fi and a little bit contemporary romance, and yes, the overlap is strange. But good strange. Or at least, neutral strange. Definitely not bad strange.
Daisy Parsloe is not great at dating the right men — in fact, right now she’s definitely dating the wrong one and everyone can see it but her. Her dating history is a catastrophe, her mom is getting less and less comprehensible by the day, and her job is barely hanging on by a thread. And yet, she’s a great person who by all accounts should have a totally wonderful life. Or at least, that’s what her “smart” fridge-freezer thinks. (Yes, you read that right.) So when he (?) gets together with all of Daisy’s other smart appliances — including her electronic toothbrush but not her laptop — they decide to intervene in her dating life to find her just the right man to turn her life around. But it’s really not as simple as they think.
Look, I’m still not totally sure if I liked this one or not but I definitely couldn’t put it down and it was so weird that I had to know what happened next. Also, it made me want to put a piece of tape over every camera and audio source on every possible piece of smart technology I own, so it’s got paranoia going for it I guess.
So, if new-age smart tech and lovable characters are your thing, Ask Me Anything might be for you.
Daisy Parsloe is not great at dating the right men — in fact, right now she’s definitely dating the wrong one and everyone can see it but her. Her dating history is a catastrophe, her mom is getting less and less comprehensible by the day, and her job is barely hanging on by a thread. And yet, she’s a great person who by all accounts should have a totally wonderful life. Or at least, that’s what her “smart” fridge-freezer thinks. (Yes, you read that right.) So when he (?) gets together with all of Daisy’s other smart appliances — including her electronic toothbrush but not her laptop — they decide to intervene in her dating life to find her just the right man to turn her life around. But it’s really not as simple as they think.
Look, I’m still not totally sure if I liked this one or not but I definitely couldn’t put it down and it was so weird that I had to know what happened next. Also, it made me want to put a piece of tape over every camera and audio source on every possible piece of smart technology I own, so it’s got paranoia going for it I guess.
So, if new-age smart tech and lovable characters are your thing, Ask Me Anything might be for you.
August 8, 2020
I enjoyed P.Z. Reizin's previous book, Happiness for Humans. He has just released his newest book - Ask Me Anything.
Happiness for Humans featured two AIs (Artificial Intelligence) as lead characters.The two AI's decide to meddle in Jen and Tom's lives - and help the course of true love along.
Reizin employs the same premise in Ask Me Anything. But, in this case its a fridge/freezer leading the charge. He has decided that Daisy's choice in men is going nowhere. And so he, along with a plethora of other appliances and devices will help the course of love along.
The fridge/freezer has a fun voice - with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical. The supporting cast includes an electric toothbrush (his conversations tend to go in circles), a microwave, the television and more web devices outside Daisy's home, like bar cams, CCTV etc. And this is truly reality. And the appliances yes, they too have 'personalities'. I liked Daisy, but felt like she was more of a prop for the appliances and their agenda.
The road to love is a bumpy one, but you just know its all gonna work out in the end.
Now, I liked As Me Anything, but I felt like it was a story that I'd read before. And I started to grow tired of the fridge/freezers conversations/meetings and plans. It became repetitive - and slow. I ended up not reading straight through, but instead picked it up and down over the course of a few weeks.
Happiness for Humans featured two AIs (Artificial Intelligence) as lead characters.The two AI's decide to meddle in Jen and Tom's lives - and help the course of true love along.
Reizin employs the same premise in Ask Me Anything. But, in this case its a fridge/freezer leading the charge. He has decided that Daisy's choice in men is going nowhere. And so he, along with a plethora of other appliances and devices will help the course of love along.
The fridge/freezer has a fun voice - with a wry sense of humor and even philosophical. The supporting cast includes an electric toothbrush (his conversations tend to go in circles), a microwave, the television and more web devices outside Daisy's home, like bar cams, CCTV etc. And this is truly reality. And the appliances yes, they too have 'personalities'. I liked Daisy, but felt like she was more of a prop for the appliances and their agenda.
The road to love is a bumpy one, but you just know its all gonna work out in the end.
Now, I liked As Me Anything, but I felt like it was a story that I'd read before. And I started to grow tired of the fridge/freezers conversations/meetings and plans. It became repetitive - and slow. I ended up not reading straight through, but instead picked it up and down over the course of a few weeks.
Read
August 10, 2020I never imagined I would be reading a book and be totally rooting for the fridge-freezer to get their HEA!
This was such a fun twist on the idea of a fairy godmother! Fridge-freezer , along with their motley crew of smart appliances, tv, microwave and the electric toothbrush, have decided to use their unlimited access to the internet of things to make a difference in their owner, Daisy’s love life.
Daisy is just floating in a pattern of unhealthy relationships and barely keeping her job in production. Then, some truths out themselves and luck seems to have turned around…
All the while at least half of the book is narrated by the endearing fridge-freezer as he leads his troops in OpDas and starts to relate more and more to the humans it was made to save and temperature control for. Can abridge-freezer think independently? Feel emotions? Know pain? This one might…
I definitely was captured by the secret life of these inanimate objects. This book is definitely the sleeper hit of the summer for me - a total surprise and I loved it!
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin was released June 2nd, 2020.
Thanks so much to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me with my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com...
#AskMeAnyThing #PZReizin #pinkcowlandreads
This was such a fun twist on the idea of a fairy godmother! Fridge-freezer , along with their motley crew of smart appliances, tv, microwave and the electric toothbrush, have decided to use their unlimited access to the internet of things to make a difference in their owner, Daisy’s love life.
Daisy is just floating in a pattern of unhealthy relationships and barely keeping her job in production. Then, some truths out themselves and luck seems to have turned around…
All the while at least half of the book is narrated by the endearing fridge-freezer as he leads his troops in OpDas and starts to relate more and more to the humans it was made to save and temperature control for. Can abridge-freezer think independently? Feel emotions? Know pain? This one might…
I definitely was captured by the secret life of these inanimate objects. This book is definitely the sleeper hit of the summer for me - a total surprise and I loved it!
Ask Me Anything by P.Z. Reizin was released June 2nd, 2020.
Thanks so much to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me with my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com...
#AskMeAnyThing #PZReizin #pinkcowlandreads
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