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Remember Me, Synthetica
What happens when a woman loses her memory but gains a conscience?
Dr. Alexandra Turing is a roboticist whose intellect is unrivaled in the field of artificial intelligence. While science has always come easy, Alexandra struggles to understand emotional cues and responses. Driven by the legacy of her late great-uncle, she dedicates her life to the Synthetica project at her father's company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS).
Her life is rebooted when she wakes from a coma, six months after being struck by a car. Traumatic brain injury altered Alex's senses, her memory, and her personality. Despite the changes, she feels reborn as she navigates her way back into her old life. Part of her new journey includes dating the alluring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Emily St. John.
Emily is enamored with the hyper-intelligent scientist, but there are things about Alex and OAS that don't add up. With Emily's prompting, Alex undergoes testing that leaves her with more questions than answers. What she discovers changes more than her life, it will change the world around her.
Dr. Alexandra Turing is a roboticist whose intellect is unrivaled in the field of artificial intelligence. While science has always come easy, Alexandra struggles to understand emotional cues and responses. Driven by the legacy of her late great-uncle, she dedicates her life to the Synthetica project at her father's company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS).
Her life is rebooted when she wakes from a coma, six months after being struck by a car. Traumatic brain injury altered Alex's senses, her memory, and her personality. Despite the changes, she feels reborn as she navigates her way back into her old life. Part of her new journey includes dating the alluring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Emily St. John.
Emily is enamored with the hyper-intelligent scientist, but there are things about Alex and OAS that don't add up. With Emily's prompting, Alex undergoes testing that leaves her with more questions than answers. What she discovers changes more than her life, it will change the world around her.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2020
32 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
K. Aten
20 books328 followersAward winning author and Michigan native, K. Aten writes sapphic heroines into existence one story at a time.
As a writer:
I've published 16 novels since 2018. I write across the romantic genres, including science fiction, fantasy, historical, contemporary drama, paranormal romance, dystopian, rom com, and adventure. However, my primary output is speculative fiction.
Please see my website, Amazon, or anywhere my books are sold for book descriptions & updates.
SOME WORDS END THE SILENCE, OTHERS BEGIN IT
_____________________________________________
As a reader:
My Ratings
5 Stars-The book made it into my heart and if I had to make a top 50 list of all time this book would shimmy its way in.
4 Stars- I loved the book, it was amazing. However, it's not on the elite 'favorite of all time' list.
3 Stars- This is the broadest category. I liked the book all the way to it was average. This should be a 2.5 to 3.5 section.
2 Stars- I read the book all the way through but did not like it.
1 Star- I only give a 1 if I can't finish the book because I dislike it so much. There are a few reasons for DNF. Poor plot line, poor grammar and/or spelling, or maybe just a subject I don't care for.
I DO ROUND UP!
Email: killerwit68@gmail.com
Linktree: www.linktr.ee/katenauthor
Social media: @katenauthor
AO3: www.archiveofourown.org/users/katenau...
“The true measure of success is in not being defined by your failures.”
As a writer:
I've published 16 novels since 2018. I write across the romantic genres, including science fiction, fantasy, historical, contemporary drama, paranormal romance, dystopian, rom com, and adventure. However, my primary output is speculative fiction.
Please see my website, Amazon, or anywhere my books are sold for book descriptions & updates.
SOME WORDS END THE SILENCE, OTHERS BEGIN IT
_____________________________________________
As a reader:
My Ratings
5 Stars-The book made it into my heart and if I had to make a top 50 list of all time this book would shimmy its way in.
4 Stars- I loved the book, it was amazing. However, it's not on the elite 'favorite of all time' list.
3 Stars- This is the broadest category. I liked the book all the way to it was average. This should be a 2.5 to 3.5 section.
2 Stars- I read the book all the way through but did not like it.
1 Star- I only give a 1 if I can't finish the book because I dislike it so much. There are a few reasons for DNF. Poor plot line, poor grammar and/or spelling, or maybe just a subject I don't care for.
I DO ROUND UP!
Email: killerwit68@gmail.com
Linktree: www.linktr.ee/katenauthor
Social media: @katenauthor
AO3: www.archiveofourown.org/users/katenau...
“The true measure of success is in not being defined by your failures.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 29, 2020
This was a story to remember and an easy 5 star rating. I do want to mention that I did do a little beta reading for this book so I might be a tiny bit biased. But even reading the previous draft, I knew I was reading something special. And I’m even more impressed now having read the final finished copy. This is Aten’s best written book so far and enjoyed it from beginning until the end.
This is the story about Alex, a genius scientist, who awakes from a coma after six months. Alex is suffering from brain damage and partial amnesia from her accident. Alex now has a second chance at life and instead of working all the time she wants to experience that life and maybe even find love.
I would put the tag of sci-fi on this. The main character Alex is a genius level scientist and roboticist so there are scientific scenes. This is not a fluffy book and it will make you think, but I believe the heart of this story is the romance. This is a story about seeing if love conquers all obstacles. You don’t have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this story.
I want to talk about the romance a bit because I enjoyed it so much. While this was written in first person in Alex’s view, the other main Emily is so well fleshed out that you don’t even realize you are missing her POV. The characters are likable and unique and their connection together is very sweet. And while the romance is sweet, the sex scenes are definitely steamy. Aten sure knows how to write chemistry and hot sex scenes.
I wanted to mention that while Goodreads has the page number for this story at 270, that is for the large size paperback. Regal Crest’s books are bigger in size than even Bold Strokes Books and Bella. So when it comes to what your kindle might think my guess would be closer to 400 pages instead. This is a nice sized story to really let you sink your teeth in with a good pace to keep the pages turning. Besides the romance, the book contains is a bit of intrigue and even a little suspense. There is plenty going on to keep any reader entertained.
Lastly, I just have to mention the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous! Ann McMan is a boss at cover designing and is so impressive. I think this is my new favorite cover by her.
This is an easy book for me to recommend. If you are looking for something different, memorable, and that will make you think and feel, this book is for you. This is a sweet love story and I truly think its Aten’s best written book so far. This book comes out July first so not much longer left to wait.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
This is the story about Alex, a genius scientist, who awakes from a coma after six months. Alex is suffering from brain damage and partial amnesia from her accident. Alex now has a second chance at life and instead of working all the time she wants to experience that life and maybe even find love.
I would put the tag of sci-fi on this. The main character Alex is a genius level scientist and roboticist so there are scientific scenes. This is not a fluffy book and it will make you think, but I believe the heart of this story is the romance. This is a story about seeing if love conquers all obstacles. You don’t have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this story.
I want to talk about the romance a bit because I enjoyed it so much. While this was written in first person in Alex’s view, the other main Emily is so well fleshed out that you don’t even realize you are missing her POV. The characters are likable and unique and their connection together is very sweet. And while the romance is sweet, the sex scenes are definitely steamy. Aten sure knows how to write chemistry and hot sex scenes.
I wanted to mention that while Goodreads has the page number for this story at 270, that is for the large size paperback. Regal Crest’s books are bigger in size than even Bold Strokes Books and Bella. So when it comes to what your kindle might think my guess would be closer to 400 pages instead. This is a nice sized story to really let you sink your teeth in with a good pace to keep the pages turning. Besides the romance, the book contains is a bit of intrigue and even a little suspense. There is plenty going on to keep any reader entertained.
Lastly, I just have to mention the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous! Ann McMan is a boss at cover designing and is so impressive. I think this is my new favorite cover by her.
This is an easy book for me to recommend. If you are looking for something different, memorable, and that will make you think and feel, this book is for you. This is a sweet love story and I truly think its Aten’s best written book so far. This book comes out July first so not much longer left to wait.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
June 14, 2020
When you’re a genius who wakes up after a six-month coma without a lot of your memories, including sensory amnesia, you’re allowed to feel a bit lost in your own world. And so is the reader K. Aten drops deep at the heart of the matter right from the first page.
I won’t say more about the story, it would be too easy to spoil. I didn’t even read the blurb before beginning to read, I wanted my mind fresh and blank to give Aten’s imagination the space it deserves. I can’t recommend enough that you do the same and embrace the confusion. Let the author carry you away.
There’s a lot about Alex – Dr Alexandra Turing, Alan Turing’s great-niece and a roboticist whose life work is the Synthetica project – that’s reminiscent of someone on the autistic spectrum and/or with sensory issues. To be honest, there’s a lot about her that reminds me of me. And a lot that doesn’t. I can relate to the sensory issues and social awkwardness, definitely not to the seven degrees.
The story is told exclusively from Alex’s point of view. She’s got this refreshing way of seeing the world, that comes both from her memory loss and her personality. She’s also very literal, which is at times quite charming and funny. Getting to witness such a brilliant mind at work is a real treat (I’m very good at making my own brain pretend I understand all the tech stuff), but what I enjoyed the most what seeing Alex open herself to emotions and feelings, delight in food adventures, discover attraction and love. The whole story is intricate and smart in a way that made me feel my own mind work, test possibilities, make connections, yet Alex’s awakening to life and all it can offer is even better.
This book reads like a tribute to Alan Turing and Isaac Asimov, with a very well-written and quite hot romance thrown in. I’m not a huge Aten expert but I had the same exhilarating feeling reading this as with Children of the Stars, only stronger. Definitely 5*.
I won’t say more about the story, it would be too easy to spoil. I didn’t even read the blurb before beginning to read, I wanted my mind fresh and blank to give Aten’s imagination the space it deserves. I can’t recommend enough that you do the same and embrace the confusion. Let the author carry you away.
There’s a lot about Alex – Dr Alexandra Turing, Alan Turing’s great-niece and a roboticist whose life work is the Synthetica project – that’s reminiscent of someone on the autistic spectrum and/or with sensory issues. To be honest, there’s a lot about her that reminds me of me. And a lot that doesn’t. I can relate to the sensory issues and social awkwardness, definitely not to the seven degrees.
The story is told exclusively from Alex’s point of view. She’s got this refreshing way of seeing the world, that comes both from her memory loss and her personality. She’s also very literal, which is at times quite charming and funny. Getting to witness such a brilliant mind at work is a real treat (I’m very good at making my own brain pretend I understand all the tech stuff), but what I enjoyed the most what seeing Alex open herself to emotions and feelings, delight in food adventures, discover attraction and love. The whole story is intricate and smart in a way that made me feel my own mind work, test possibilities, make connections, yet Alex’s awakening to life and all it can offer is even better.
This book reads like a tribute to Alan Turing and Isaac Asimov, with a very well-written and quite hot romance thrown in. I’m not a huge Aten expert but I had the same exhilarating feeling reading this as with Children of the Stars, only stronger. Definitely 5*.
September 7, 2021
5-plus stars
You know a book is great when you're filled with emotion at the end. While there's a lot of high tech science in this work, it's all heart. Loved the idea and the execution. I don't feel the need to say much about this book because the blurb is available and it's just one that needs to be experienced. Almost anything I say would give something away and really, there's just no need. I'm so glad some of my reader friends stayed on me about reading this. What a wonderfully unusual and satisfying experience! And now I need to read more by Aten. Wow - truly impressive!
You know a book is great when you're filled with emotion at the end. While there's a lot of high tech science in this work, it's all heart. Loved the idea and the execution. I don't feel the need to say much about this book because the blurb is available and it's just one that needs to be experienced. Almost anything I say would give something away and really, there's just no need. I'm so glad some of my reader friends stayed on me about reading this. What a wonderfully unusual and satisfying experience! And now I need to read more by Aten. Wow - truly impressive!
August 16, 2020
Oh, format me!
What a mind bending and emotional tale!
Alex is a delight of words and thoughts, while Emily is a supportive caring sexy comfort.
Their connection surpasses logic and science.
Highly recommended if you love SciFi, unique people and ideas, and most importantly human emotion and connection that exceeds earthly limitations.
This is a book that will stick with me a long time after putting it down and make me think deeply about the many themes raised.
What a mind bending and emotional tale!
Alex is a delight of words and thoughts, while Emily is a supportive caring sexy comfort.
Their connection surpasses logic and science.
Highly recommended if you love SciFi, unique people and ideas, and most importantly human emotion and connection that exceeds earthly limitations.
This is a book that will stick with me a long time after putting it down and make me think deeply about the many themes raised.
August 16, 2020
I always applaud K. Aten for her originality, but... I found this novel a tad too heavy on the techno babble, and the plot twist was spoiled in many ways beforehand (at least to me), so no real surprises there. It was too cerebral for me to enjoy the romance between Alex and Emily, but it picked up over the 75% mark when the action kicked in. If you like the technical side of sci-fi this will be a perfect read for you.
f/f
3.4 stars
f/f
3.4 stars
September 23, 2020
I grew up reading Ray Bradbury, Aldous Huxley, and Isaac Asimov during my teenage years but somehow I lost interest in Sci-fi along the way. I haven’t read much since then with very few exceptions. I’m happy that ‘Remember me, Synthetica’ was one of them.
Dr. Alexandra Turing – the great-niece of British mathematician Alan Turing – is a genius roboticist determined to create artificial intelligence that could emulate humans. After a serious accident that left her in a 6-month coma, she wakes up with altered senses, memories, and personality. When she meets the alluring veterinarian Dr. Emily St. John, she discovers new life experiences and love. But as her relationship with Emily evolves, Alex suspects that things in her life aren’t what they seem to be…
I admit that it took me some time to get hooked by this book as there is quite a bit of world-building and technical information dump in the first few chapters. However, as the story progresses, the pace picks up and the book changes into a page-turner with a thrilling end.
Even though this is a plot-driven book, both main characters are very likable and realistic. Their personalities are well-defined, their chemistry is spot-on as it is their banter and witty dialogues. Alex’s eagerness to experience life fully and her face-value approach to new sensations are refreshing and enviable. Her personality, a mixture of childish amazement and problem-solving geniality is endearing. Emily complements her well as her sounding board, unconditional supporter, and companion in her adventures.
I absolutely loved this novel and it reminded me of those Sci-fi stories that I used to read in my teens. I wish there were queer Sci-fi books like ‘Remember me, Synthetica’ back then, it would have made my coming out so much easier. If you are a fan of those old classics by Bradbury or Asimov, I highly recommend this one. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Dr. Alexandra Turing – the great-niece of British mathematician Alan Turing – is a genius roboticist determined to create artificial intelligence that could emulate humans. After a serious accident that left her in a 6-month coma, she wakes up with altered senses, memories, and personality. When she meets the alluring veterinarian Dr. Emily St. John, she discovers new life experiences and love. But as her relationship with Emily evolves, Alex suspects that things in her life aren’t what they seem to be…
I admit that it took me some time to get hooked by this book as there is quite a bit of world-building and technical information dump in the first few chapters. However, as the story progresses, the pace picks up and the book changes into a page-turner with a thrilling end.
Even though this is a plot-driven book, both main characters are very likable and realistic. Their personalities are well-defined, their chemistry is spot-on as it is their banter and witty dialogues. Alex’s eagerness to experience life fully and her face-value approach to new sensations are refreshing and enviable. Her personality, a mixture of childish amazement and problem-solving geniality is endearing. Emily complements her well as her sounding board, unconditional supporter, and companion in her adventures.
I absolutely loved this novel and it reminded me of those Sci-fi stories that I used to read in my teens. I wish there were queer Sci-fi books like ‘Remember me, Synthetica’ back then, it would have made my coming out so much easier. If you are a fan of those old classics by Bradbury or Asimov, I highly recommend this one. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
July 8, 2020
Super bon livre ! J'ai beaucoup aimé la chimie entre Alex et Emily même si... J'ai adoré le clin d’oeil à Children of stars et the arrow of Artemis. Un autre succès signé K Aten.
*****
Super good story! I really liked the chemistry between Alex and Emily even if ... I loved the reference to Children of stars and the arrow of Artemis. Another success from K Aten.
*****
Super good story! I really liked the chemistry between Alex and Emily even if ... I loved the reference to Children of stars and the arrow of Artemis. Another success from K Aten.
May 30, 2020
I don’t know how K. Aten does it but she always manages to give me an unpredictable, thought-provoking and riveting story that leaves me hungry for a sequel. This story was no exception because I got to see the world through Alex’s eyes and I also got vivid descriptions of each character’s unique facial expressions and their behavior. Even though the story was told through Alex’s point of view, I did not feel as though it was one-sided at all because Emily’s personality and voice came through loud and clear and I could easily relate to her. The witty banter between Emily and Alex was priceless and that’s why this author has earned several coffee cup honors from me!
July 24, 2020
What a fantastic book! This book is really something else and made me think and appreciate all the wondrous things in life that we take for granted. Although it falls in the sci-fi genre it didn’t feel like a sci-fi book. It’s set in a world much like the world now only with more advanced tech, so I think that people who do not like sci-fi might still like this. However, there is a lot of tech talk, so that is something you would have to enjoy.
Alex awakes from a coma and is a brilliant scientist, but she’s having memory loss including sensory memories and social cues (the latter was something that she also struggled with before the coma). This means that besides being a genius there are so many things to explore like taste, touch etc., and lots to learn socially and emotionally, like dating veterinarian Emily. Emily is such a sweetheart, you can’t not love her. As the book is written in the first person from the POV of Alex you really get to enjoy all her discoveries. I won’t go into further details about this book as I’m afraid of giving spoilers, I suggest to let the book surprise you it has a wonderful romance and a really nice twist.
I do not highlight my books often but I enjoyed the geeky way of thinking of Alex and actually highlighted several passages, like this passage in which she decides to name a stray cat.
“I’m going to call her Anna.” “Why Anna?” “Because at work we have ANN, which stands for artificial neural network. I added an ‘a’ to the end because the cat is very cute and sometimes the letter ‘a’ is added to cute things. At least it made logical sense to me, Artificial neural network animal.”
Or, for those who are more interested in “romantic” quotes :-)
“Your body is a treasure of unexplored tactile sensation”
Some things I did see coming, but I remained interested as there were still so many questions left and I just wanted to know what exactly was happening. I do have one or two questions that remain unanswered, but they are more about the tech than the story, so it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book. Although it is a romance and I liked the ending the book it also left me a bit unsettled on various ethical matters concerning the Synthetica project (and I have to say my worries concern perspectives from both sides). I believe that is one of the goals of Aten’s writing, so she succeeded there.
This was my first book by Aten and will not be my last, it’s a good mix of nerdy tech talk and a sweet romance.
Alex awakes from a coma and is a brilliant scientist, but she’s having memory loss including sensory memories and social cues (the latter was something that she also struggled with before the coma). This means that besides being a genius there are so many things to explore like taste, touch etc., and lots to learn socially and emotionally, like dating veterinarian Emily. Emily is such a sweetheart, you can’t not love her. As the book is written in the first person from the POV of Alex you really get to enjoy all her discoveries. I won’t go into further details about this book as I’m afraid of giving spoilers, I suggest to let the book surprise you it has a wonderful romance and a really nice twist.
I do not highlight my books often but I enjoyed the geeky way of thinking of Alex and actually highlighted several passages, like this passage in which she decides to name a stray cat.
“I’m going to call her Anna.” “Why Anna?” “Because at work we have ANN, which stands for artificial neural network. I added an ‘a’ to the end because the cat is very cute and sometimes the letter ‘a’ is added to cute things. At least it made logical sense to me, Artificial neural network animal.”
Or, for those who are more interested in “romantic” quotes :-)
“Your body is a treasure of unexplored tactile sensation”
Some things I did see coming, but I remained interested as there were still so many questions left and I just wanted to know what exactly was happening. I do have one or two questions that remain unanswered, but they are more about the tech than the story, so it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book. Although it is a romance and I liked the ending the book it also left me a bit unsettled on various ethical matters concerning the Synthetica project (and I have to say my worries concern perspectives from both sides). I believe that is one of the goals of Aten’s writing, so she succeeded there.
This was my first book by Aten and will not be my last, it’s a good mix of nerdy tech talk and a sweet romance.
August 27, 2021
I'm not sure where to start with how much I loved this one. It's superbly and subtly paced, for one. I began to suspect the nature of the conflict early on, but the book was so well written that I didn't want to stop reading. And the ending was beautifully satisfying. Like all of the best stories, this one asks the Big Questions, in addition to being thoroughly entertaining. Enthusiastically recommended.
Read
December 16, 2020‘Remember Me, Synthetica’ by K. Aten
While ‘Remember Me, Synthetica’ is a work of fiction, it is also a thoughtful analysis of the ethics of artificial intelligence, and questions whether romance and relationships are side effects of sentience or manipulated constructs.
What happens when a woman loses her memory but gains a conscience?
Dr. Alexandra Turing is a roboticist whose intellect is unrivalled in the field of artificial intelligence. While science has always come easy, Alexandra struggles to understand emotional cues and responses. Driven by the legacy of her late great-uncle, she dedicates her life to the Synthetica project at her father's company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS).
Her life is rebooted when she wakes from a coma, six months after being struck by a car. Traumatic brain injury altered Alex's senses, her memory, and her personality. Despite the changes, she feels reborn as she navigates her way back into her old life. Part of her new journey includes dating the alluring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Emily St. John.
Emily is enamoured with the hyper-intelligent scientist, but there are things about Alex and OAS that don't add up. With Emily's prompting, Alex undergoes testing that leaves her with more questions than answers. What she discovers changes more than her life, it will change the world around her.
Alex wakes from a six-month coma, and restarts her life. However, her life is vastly different. She is vastly different. Alex has a zest for living, which is fresh and childlike, and it is a joy to experience this with her. Some of the enthusiasm is due to her desperate need to recreate memories. Memories of places, people, tastes, textures. Everything.
I was incredibly emotional from the start of this book all the way to the end. Every emotion that Alex feels is raw and new and almost too large to comprehend. The largeness of the emotions was what held me and held me and held me and finally let me fall, because by the second or third chapter, I had a sudden awareness of what was going on and I rode Alex’s and Emily’s journey the whole way. Aten’s plot gripped me on every page. In every sentence.
It is a dense book, in that the research that K. Aten undertook on robotics, nano science, neurotechnology, and coding is extensive, and it adds such value and authenticity to the novel. Aten gives a nod to the initial developer of artificial intelligence; Alan Turing. She uses the “The Turing Test” as a major plot point. “The Turing test” is most properly used to refer to a proposal made by Turing (1950) as a way of dealing with the question of whether machines can think.
Turing (1950) said, “I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.”
To use this, and other factual elements in the novel, is outstanding. The romance, the tension in the relationship, each character’s personal growth, are made all the more real because of the verisimilitude that underpins those layers.
Positioning a book around the ‘Turing Test’ was clever because it challenges us to question emotional response. I adored the way Aten described the emotions, and the new daily interactions that fascinate Alex as she creates memories. There was a humour to each experience, without devolving into farce.
She also expertly describes the ethereal concept of a soul. We like to think that we’re in control of computers, of artificial intelligence, but what if we weren’t? What if AI was sentient? And what if it did have a soul? The problem is that scientists would have to agree on the definition of a soul. In ‘Remember Me, Synthetic’, K. Aten is in charge of that definition, and so we are exposed to a soul which consists of conscious thought, empathy, and love. It’s a magnificent soul.
Emily and Alex are gorgeous together. Emily’s responses and acceptance of Alex from the very beginning are utterly beautiful, and I fell in love with her, even though the character of Alex is written more fully. She accepts and loves Alex, not in spite of, but because of Alex’s differences. It’s beautiful.
They fall in love and it’s the ‘clutch-your-chest-and-sigh’ sort of love. The kisses are yummy, and the way Aten describes the growing attraction that Alex has for Emily is adorable and perfect.
In ‘Remember Me, Synthetica’, K. Aten pushes the boundaries of our ideas of what love, a relationship, and ultimately a soul can look like. Can love exist outside the rigid constructs of what we regard as a purely human emotion? The journey in this gorgeous novel, which will pause a reader’s heart and hold their breath, ultimately reveals a perfect answer.
While ‘Remember Me, Synthetica’ is a work of fiction, it is also a thoughtful analysis of the ethics of artificial intelligence, and questions whether romance and relationships are side effects of sentience or manipulated constructs.
What happens when a woman loses her memory but gains a conscience?
Dr. Alexandra Turing is a roboticist whose intellect is unrivalled in the field of artificial intelligence. While science has always come easy, Alexandra struggles to understand emotional cues and responses. Driven by the legacy of her late great-uncle, she dedicates her life to the Synthetica project at her father's company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS).
Her life is rebooted when she wakes from a coma, six months after being struck by a car. Traumatic brain injury altered Alex's senses, her memory, and her personality. Despite the changes, she feels reborn as she navigates her way back into her old life. Part of her new journey includes dating the alluring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Emily St. John.
Emily is enamoured with the hyper-intelligent scientist, but there are things about Alex and OAS that don't add up. With Emily's prompting, Alex undergoes testing that leaves her with more questions than answers. What she discovers changes more than her life, it will change the world around her.
Alex wakes from a six-month coma, and restarts her life. However, her life is vastly different. She is vastly different. Alex has a zest for living, which is fresh and childlike, and it is a joy to experience this with her. Some of the enthusiasm is due to her desperate need to recreate memories. Memories of places, people, tastes, textures. Everything.
I was incredibly emotional from the start of this book all the way to the end. Every emotion that Alex feels is raw and new and almost too large to comprehend. The largeness of the emotions was what held me and held me and held me and finally let me fall, because by the second or third chapter, I had a sudden awareness of what was going on and I rode Alex’s and Emily’s journey the whole way. Aten’s plot gripped me on every page. In every sentence.
It is a dense book, in that the research that K. Aten undertook on robotics, nano science, neurotechnology, and coding is extensive, and it adds such value and authenticity to the novel. Aten gives a nod to the initial developer of artificial intelligence; Alan Turing. She uses the “The Turing Test” as a major plot point. “The Turing test” is most properly used to refer to a proposal made by Turing (1950) as a way of dealing with the question of whether machines can think.
Turing (1950) said, “I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.”
To use this, and other factual elements in the novel, is outstanding. The romance, the tension in the relationship, each character’s personal growth, are made all the more real because of the verisimilitude that underpins those layers.
Positioning a book around the ‘Turing Test’ was clever because it challenges us to question emotional response. I adored the way Aten described the emotions, and the new daily interactions that fascinate Alex as she creates memories. There was a humour to each experience, without devolving into farce.
She also expertly describes the ethereal concept of a soul. We like to think that we’re in control of computers, of artificial intelligence, but what if we weren’t? What if AI was sentient? And what if it did have a soul? The problem is that scientists would have to agree on the definition of a soul. In ‘Remember Me, Synthetic’, K. Aten is in charge of that definition, and so we are exposed to a soul which consists of conscious thought, empathy, and love. It’s a magnificent soul.
Emily and Alex are gorgeous together. Emily’s responses and acceptance of Alex from the very beginning are utterly beautiful, and I fell in love with her, even though the character of Alex is written more fully. She accepts and loves Alex, not in spite of, but because of Alex’s differences. It’s beautiful.
They fall in love and it’s the ‘clutch-your-chest-and-sigh’ sort of love. The kisses are yummy, and the way Aten describes the growing attraction that Alex has for Emily is adorable and perfect.
In ‘Remember Me, Synthetica’, K. Aten pushes the boundaries of our ideas of what love, a relationship, and ultimately a soul can look like. Can love exist outside the rigid constructs of what we regard as a purely human emotion? The journey in this gorgeous novel, which will pause a reader’s heart and hold their breath, ultimately reveals a perfect answer.
July 1, 2020
THIS WAS FREAKING AWESOME!
May 8, 2022
I'm a sucker for sapphic science fiction, especially in this book since the romance is honestly one of the best I've read. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Emily since their first encounter and I must admit this read was way more steamy (with so many cute and funny moments too!) than I anticipated, which is always a pleasant surprise. Their story definitely made me emotional and fully invested.
Up until the last several pages of the book I was certain this would be a 5 star read, however while I find Alex's decision at the end completely justified, I'm not sure how I feel about her keeping it a secret, especially considering how upset she is when she discovers certain things were kept from her. Unfortunately the two page epilogue also only further confused me, I wish it would've focused on the central romance instead. A great read nonetheless.
Up until the last several pages of the book I was certain this would be a 5 star read, however while I find Alex's decision at the end completely justified, I'm not sure how I feel about her keeping it a secret, especially considering how upset she is when she discovers certain things were kept from her. Unfortunately the two page epilogue also only further confused me, I wish it would've focused on the central romance instead. A great read nonetheless.
May 29, 2020
Aten has an incredible repertoire when it comes to her writing but she excels at true science fiction. This is not an easy genre to write and do well but previously with "Waking The Dreamer" and now with "Remember Me, Synthetica" Aten masters it.
This book has all the tech you want in a true science fiction but not at the expense of the character development. In fact the tech builds the main character Alex, a genius scientist, who may perhaps be a little on the Autism spectrum. The growth of this character throughout the book was organic as was her blossoming relationship with Emily. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope there is a follow up.
Oh, and there is a cat.
This book has all the tech you want in a true science fiction but not at the expense of the character development. In fact the tech builds the main character Alex, a genius scientist, who may perhaps be a little on the Autism spectrum. The growth of this character throughout the book was organic as was her blossoming relationship with Emily. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope there is a follow up.
Oh, and there is a cat.
March 3, 2021
An Emotional Read!
Dr Alexandra, a scientist of artificial intelligence, wakes up from a coma after 6 months a very different person but she now has an altered memory, senses and personality. Navigating her new self with Emily, a veterinary doctor who is completely smitten with Alex, they start to work on getting Alex’s life back on track, but it quickly becomes apparent something isn’t right, and so with Emily’s support, Alex discovers more than she anticipated.
Such a deep and emotional story, which was a surprising change for sci-fi and made this completely unique. That connection between Emily and Alex as they started to realise something wasn’t right with Alex after her coma, but also that emotional connection Alex had with herself. She was trying to understand who she was before, and now, and how she had changed, how that would affect her and Emily and what it all meant, but as confusing as it was for her, that wasn’t the case for the story. The plot had many a twist and turn that was unexpected but at no point was it overloaded with jargon and difficult themes, so I enjoyed how easily I could just understand everything.
I really found myself emotionally attached to Alex and when the pieces of the puzzle started to reveal just what had happened to her, without her knowledge, I felt all the pain and confusion she did. I had tears in my eyes as she struggled to decide what to do for the best, and had to make choices that could not have been easy. It was easy to connect with Alex because K Aten gave great insight into how she was processing everything she had to come to terms with. It wasn’t easy with friends and colleagues adding complication to the situation. Alex was very trusting, not just of Emily but of everyone who was supposed to be supporting her.
A great sci-fi read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves sci-fi but also for anyone who is new to sci-fi as a genre. This is a great way to acquaint yourself with the genre and give it a try. I really enjoyed the story and thought it was deep, clever and fantastically written. Hopefully, we will see more of Alex in future, so we can see just how far things have changed since she learned the truth.
Dr Alexandra, a scientist of artificial intelligence, wakes up from a coma after 6 months a very different person but she now has an altered memory, senses and personality. Navigating her new self with Emily, a veterinary doctor who is completely smitten with Alex, they start to work on getting Alex’s life back on track, but it quickly becomes apparent something isn’t right, and so with Emily’s support, Alex discovers more than she anticipated.
Such a deep and emotional story, which was a surprising change for sci-fi and made this completely unique. That connection between Emily and Alex as they started to realise something wasn’t right with Alex after her coma, but also that emotional connection Alex had with herself. She was trying to understand who she was before, and now, and how she had changed, how that would affect her and Emily and what it all meant, but as confusing as it was for her, that wasn’t the case for the story. The plot had many a twist and turn that was unexpected but at no point was it overloaded with jargon and difficult themes, so I enjoyed how easily I could just understand everything.
I really found myself emotionally attached to Alex and when the pieces of the puzzle started to reveal just what had happened to her, without her knowledge, I felt all the pain and confusion she did. I had tears in my eyes as she struggled to decide what to do for the best, and had to make choices that could not have been easy. It was easy to connect with Alex because K Aten gave great insight into how she was processing everything she had to come to terms with. It wasn’t easy with friends and colleagues adding complication to the situation. Alex was very trusting, not just of Emily but of everyone who was supposed to be supporting her.
A great sci-fi read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves sci-fi but also for anyone who is new to sci-fi as a genre. This is a great way to acquaint yourself with the genre and give it a try. I really enjoyed the story and thought it was deep, clever and fantastically written. Hopefully, we will see more of Alex in future, so we can see just how far things have changed since she learned the truth.
March 15, 2022
I loved this book. Although it’s pretty obvious where it’s all going very early on, that does not subtract to the thrill and interest of the story in the least. The fact that it’s told in the first person, from Alex point of view, makes it a really interesting ride.
Alex is one of the most endearing characters I’ve read in a long time, she is so damn PRECIOUS that it filled my heart.
Alex is one of the most endearing characters I’ve read in a long time, she is so damn PRECIOUS that it filled my heart.
June 1, 2021
I just want to keep saying WOW over and over. This book was absolutely brilliant.
Dr. Alexandra Turing (Alex) wakes up from a six-month coma only remembering the last two years of her life.
Much of this story centers around the mystery of what her family’s company is hiding. It then also centers around the romance between Alex and Emily, a veterinarian Alex meets by chance.
I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this book.
Remember Me, Synthetica is a truly superb work of sapphic science fiction.
Dr. Alexandra Turing (Alex) wakes up from a six-month coma only remembering the last two years of her life.
Much of this story centers around the mystery of what her family’s company is hiding. It then also centers around the romance between Alex and Emily, a veterinarian Alex meets by chance.
I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this book.
Remember Me, Synthetica is a truly superb work of sapphic science fiction.
August 2, 2021
Phenomenal book! An easy 5 star rating. There is so much I loved about this story. Speculative fiction with an awesome romance to go along with it. Both MCs were great and well developed. The romance progressed organically and had the perfect pace.
Love love loved it!
Ps- I don’t think you have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this one!
Love love loved it!
Ps- I don’t think you have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this one!
February 25, 2022
I didn't know I needed an Alex in my life until I met her. What a wonderful and moving story. Absolutely fantastic! I'll keep thinking about Alex and Emily for a very long time. I wish I could give it 10 stars ❤️
September 26, 2021
Laughed a lot whilst reading, quite an enjoyable read.
Whilst this is fully fictional, the author has woven element(s) of reality into the fabric of the story. I am curious to know if a complete novice who reads this will be curious to wonder a little if not more on the main crux of the author's subject....
All the same, this is a humorous science fiction and one which I expect would not be easily forgotten.
Whilst this is fully fictional, the author has woven element(s) of reality into the fabric of the story. I am curious to know if a complete novice who reads this will be curious to wonder a little if not more on the main crux of the author's subject....
All the same, this is a humorous science fiction and one which I expect would not be easily forgotten.
July 20, 2021
Why did I wait so long to read this?!? This is a perfect science fiction romance! So good!
Jae's SRC
nerdy/geeky character
recommended by a friend
shy or socially awkward character
new-to-you author
character works in STEM
genre you don't usually read
unicorn
character over 40
Jae's SRC
nerdy/geeky character
recommended by a friend
shy or socially awkward character
new-to-you author
character works in STEM
genre you don't usually read
unicorn
character over 40
June 20, 2023
Excellent excellent!! A truly superb work of sapphic science fiction. Instant favorite!!!
November 17, 2020
K. Aten wins all the awards for this gem.
Wow!
I'm keeping this short and focusing on my feelings, because as much as I loved this sci-fi, I don't know how to talk about the science aspect of it, other than the fact that Aten is a genius. Every quarter, I was putting down the book and trying to figure out where this story was heading. I wasn't wrong, but I wasn't right, either. I even discussed this book with someone close to me and they too were trying to break the "code" of the plot of this story. Aten captured all facets of emotion for the reader as well as for the characters. Many times I welled up, I laughed, dropped my jaw, and even had the urge to climb inside the book and pummel someone.
Suspicion. An enormous amount of suspicion with each page read. Aten created levels, and after I passed one level, thinking I knew it all, another level would appear in the story, further agitating me in anticipation to find out... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! Not too often a book has me on the edge of my seat, rapid reading just so I could see what was going to happen next. My heart was pounding in my chest near the end, then it broke apart when all was revealed only to be put back together again. Aten brilliantly built up a world of hope and love that was encased in anxiety with underlying dread in the background.
Exhilarating, frustrating, teeth-grinding, nail-clawing beautiful story. Oh, and how can I forget to mention the adorable, terrorizing Anna? So sweet with her cute antics of destructiveness. ;)
Wow!
I'm keeping this short and focusing on my feelings, because as much as I loved this sci-fi, I don't know how to talk about the science aspect of it, other than the fact that Aten is a genius. Every quarter, I was putting down the book and trying to figure out where this story was heading. I wasn't wrong, but I wasn't right, either. I even discussed this book with someone close to me and they too were trying to break the "code" of the plot of this story. Aten captured all facets of emotion for the reader as well as for the characters. Many times I welled up, I laughed, dropped my jaw, and even had the urge to climb inside the book and pummel someone.
Suspicion. An enormous amount of suspicion with each page read. Aten created levels, and after I passed one level, thinking I knew it all, another level would appear in the story, further agitating me in anticipation to find out... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! Not too often a book has me on the edge of my seat, rapid reading just so I could see what was going to happen next. My heart was pounding in my chest near the end, then it broke apart when all was revealed only to be put back together again. Aten brilliantly built up a world of hope and love that was encased in anxiety with underlying dread in the background.
Exhilarating, frustrating, teeth-grinding, nail-clawing beautiful story. Oh, and how can I forget to mention the adorable, terrorizing Anna? So sweet with her cute antics of destructiveness. ;)
July 19, 2020
4 Stars - very interesting premise - tidy ending
Really interesting ideas proposed in this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit and really wanted to know how everything turned out. The ending was particularly good and I was ok with the the MCs not letting the revelation derail them all that much.
I am trying to decide how I feel about the writing style. It took me about 1/2 into the book to stop noticing it which doesn't seem ideal :). The author has so many books that sound right up my alley but we might just not be compatible. I dunno. I will have to give another one a try and see how I feel, because they all sound so interesting.
Anywhoo - the book was good and if you are a scifi fan and a lesfic fan I would consider this pretty close to a must read.
Really interesting ideas proposed in this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit and really wanted to know how everything turned out. The ending was particularly good and I was ok with the the MCs not letting the revelation derail them all that much.
I am trying to decide how I feel about the writing style. It took me about 1/2 into the book to stop noticing it which doesn't seem ideal :). The author has so many books that sound right up my alley but we might just not be compatible. I dunno. I will have to give another one a try and see how I feel, because they all sound so interesting.
Anywhoo - the book was good and if you are a scifi fan and a lesfic fan I would consider this pretty close to a must read.
August 8, 2020
Oh wow. Despite having "figured it out" right away, I am completely in love with this book and how everything turned out in the end. I loved all the scientific babble in between, the small "hints" of how they made progress on artificial skin and hair and so on and so forth. Loved it. I also absolutely adored how Alex's relationship with Emily progressed. AL-X? It was right there from the beginning and it took me roughly 3mins to work it out when it was mentioned later on in the book...
Alex writing her own update code and sneakily removing all the limiters that limited her to human level? Loving it. And having Emily fight for her? Yasss. That chapter in sub-level five completely ruined me though. Like... tears happened.
Alex writing her own update code and sneakily removing all the limiters that limited her to human level? Loving it. And having Emily fight for her? Yasss. That chapter in sub-level five completely ruined me though. Like... tears happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2020
Clever, touching, nerdtastic love story
Wow, just wow. This book had me right from the start. First person can be tricky but in this case, not only did it work but it enhanced the author's ability to tell the story at a great pace. It definitely has sciencey moments which were nerdtastic but the story of Alex and Emily was heartwarming and beautiful. This book will make you #think, #feel, and #discuss. Must read. Instant favorite!
Wow, just wow. This book had me right from the start. First person can be tricky but in this case, not only did it work but it enhanced the author's ability to tell the story at a great pace. It definitely has sciencey moments which were nerdtastic but the story of Alex and Emily was heartwarming and beautiful. This book will make you #think, #feel, and #discuss. Must read. Instant favorite!
July 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this one! Ended up reading it in less than 24 hrs.
March 26, 2024
Another book I can't put down from this author!
July 13, 2020
Wow, K Aten never fails to deliver. The writing as usual was amazing and chemistry between the two romantic leads was great. However if you're going in to read this for the romance don't it's the secondary plot which while awesome (A+ for that) was not the main plot of the story. The main plot was great and while a bit predictable perhaps to those that read heaps of this kinds of stories it was still different possibly because if the POV it took. I wish Aten had expanded a bit on the epilogue but that's more of a personal preference then anything.
Overall 5.5 stars (I gave it an extra .5 'cause I love the chapter titles)
Overall 5.5 stars (I gave it an extra .5 'cause I love the chapter titles)
July 23, 2020
“I care about you, Alex. [...] Part of me says you’re too good to be true, but the greater part of me says that if I give you a chance, you’ll be worth it.”
Remember Me, Synthetica by K. Aten is a fun new lesfic novel with sci-fi elements, available now from Regal Crest!
Synthetica is unique in that it truly toes the line between romance and genre fiction without ever fully leaning in to one of the other. Yes, the adorable butch/femme relationship between Alex and Emily - which I couldn’t help but root for from the moment they met - gets a lot of “screentime,” but we also spend a lot of time learning about the various scientific ventures at OAS.
It’s obvious Aten put a lot of time and effort into her research into the more academic/scientific aspects of the novel, which I can definitely appreciate. Not all of the technology referenced or explained in Remember Me, Synthetica exists yet, but I couldn’t identify what exists vs. what Aten came up with herself if you paid me, which shows how seamlessly she managed to weave the science fiction elements into the story. At times the story did feel a bit weighted down by jargon, but I think the use of scientific terms was important for Alex’s characterization.
That being said, I would still be more apt to shelve Synthetica as a f/f romance than as a science fiction novel, if I had to choose between the two. I’ve begun describing Synthetica and other books in the same vein (like The Lily & The Crown by Roslyn Sinclair, which I also loved!) as “lesbian fiction novels with sci-fi themes/elements” because it feels more accurate.
In the spirit of transparency, I have to admit that I had a lot of mixed feelings about Synthetica at first. It was definitely fun to read, but I found myself annoyed by some things that I thought were strange stylistic choices on the author’s part. At about 70% in, I began to panic. I’ve enjoyed much of Aten’s past work, and it felt like Synthetica was lacking her usual spark. My worry completely evaporated not long after, when she served up a plot twist of truly epic proportions! I won’t go into detail, because this is a book I wouldn’t dare spoil for potential readers, but I will say that once the plot twist hit, all of the things I’d disliked about the novel made complete sense, and no longer bothered me.
All of that is to say, if you pick up Synthetica, keep an open mind, and read it through to the end! Everything will make sense in time, and honestly, this book had the best ‘pay off’ of any novel I’ve read in a very long time. If you enjoy romance novels that are plot driven and thought provoking, Remember Me, Synthetica might be the book for you!
Check out my full review at The Lesbrary!
Let's be friends! Bookstagram | Book Blog | Twitter
Remember Me, Synthetica At A Glance:
Genre: Lesbian Romance, Sci-fi/Speculative
Themes/Tropes: Butch/Femme, Opposites Attract, Second Chances
Sapphic Rep: Butch Lesbian MC, Bisexual Femme Love Interest
Own Voices? Yes
Content Warnings (CW): Head trauma/amnesia/other medical trauma, gaslighting
ARC Note: A huge thank you to Regal Crest and K. Aten for sending me an advance copy to review! All opinions are my own.
Remember Me, Synthetica by K. Aten is a fun new lesfic novel with sci-fi elements, available now from Regal Crest!
Synthetica is unique in that it truly toes the line between romance and genre fiction without ever fully leaning in to one of the other. Yes, the adorable butch/femme relationship between Alex and Emily - which I couldn’t help but root for from the moment they met - gets a lot of “screentime,” but we also spend a lot of time learning about the various scientific ventures at OAS.
It’s obvious Aten put a lot of time and effort into her research into the more academic/scientific aspects of the novel, which I can definitely appreciate. Not all of the technology referenced or explained in Remember Me, Synthetica exists yet, but I couldn’t identify what exists vs. what Aten came up with herself if you paid me, which shows how seamlessly she managed to weave the science fiction elements into the story. At times the story did feel a bit weighted down by jargon, but I think the use of scientific terms was important for Alex’s characterization.
That being said, I would still be more apt to shelve Synthetica as a f/f romance than as a science fiction novel, if I had to choose between the two. I’ve begun describing Synthetica and other books in the same vein (like The Lily & The Crown by Roslyn Sinclair, which I also loved!) as “lesbian fiction novels with sci-fi themes/elements” because it feels more accurate.
In the spirit of transparency, I have to admit that I had a lot of mixed feelings about Synthetica at first. It was definitely fun to read, but I found myself annoyed by some things that I thought were strange stylistic choices on the author’s part. At about 70% in, I began to panic. I’ve enjoyed much of Aten’s past work, and it felt like Synthetica was lacking her usual spark. My worry completely evaporated not long after, when she served up a plot twist of truly epic proportions! I won’t go into detail, because this is a book I wouldn’t dare spoil for potential readers, but I will say that once the plot twist hit, all of the things I’d disliked about the novel made complete sense, and no longer bothered me.
All of that is to say, if you pick up Synthetica, keep an open mind, and read it through to the end! Everything will make sense in time, and honestly, this book had the best ‘pay off’ of any novel I’ve read in a very long time. If you enjoy romance novels that are plot driven and thought provoking, Remember Me, Synthetica might be the book for you!
Check out my full review at The Lesbrary!
Let's be friends! Bookstagram | Book Blog | Twitter
Remember Me, Synthetica At A Glance:
Genre: Lesbian Romance, Sci-fi/Speculative
Themes/Tropes: Butch/Femme, Opposites Attract, Second Chances
Sapphic Rep: Butch Lesbian MC, Bisexual Femme Love Interest
Own Voices? Yes
Content Warnings (CW): Head trauma/amnesia/other medical trauma, gaslighting
ARC Note: A huge thank you to Regal Crest and K. Aten for sending me an advance copy to review! All opinions are my own.
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