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Love and Other Human Errors
The convention of a book synopsis is fundamentally ridiculous. How can I adequately convey in 150 words the complexity and bewilderment of the past ten months and the effect those events have had on my perfectly regulated life?
One would need much longer to record in detail how I was blackmailed into demonstrating the efficacy of my own soulmate program and forced to participate in a series of dates. How my world has been forever altered as a consequence.
Prior to this I was driven and focused, consumed with completing my own projects, destined to change the world with my work. A woman with one goal. I had no family, no friends and no need for frivolous human connection. My life was structured and solitary.
I am that person no longer.
My name is Indiana Dylan and this is the story of how I fell in love.
There: 150 words.
One would need much longer to record in detail how I was blackmailed into demonstrating the efficacy of my own soulmate program and forced to participate in a series of dates. How my world has been forever altered as a consequence.
Prior to this I was driven and focused, consumed with completing my own projects, destined to change the world with my work. A woman with one goal. I had no family, no friends and no need for frivolous human connection. My life was structured and solitary.
I am that person no longer.
My name is Indiana Dylan and this is the story of how I fell in love.
There: 150 words.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2022
49 people are currently reading
1906 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Clift
2 books184 followersBethany Clift is a graduate of the Northern Film School, the producer of low-budget British horror film Heretic, and the Director of her own production company, Saber Productions. Last One At The Party is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
June 25, 2022
The publishers blurb for this is absolutely brilliant and well worth checking out. Indiana Dylan is the creator of Tru, an innovative data harvesting solution that takes the human error out of seeking love by matching you to your soulmate. Lina Galaz and Jack Hunter work for JaneDoe and their boss, Dr Cameron Gardener is … lets settle for something else. Indiana pitches her concept at a meeting at JaneDoe but dislikes their set up, this is not unusual! However, Cameron gets Indiana between a rock and a hard place, also not at all unusual, and Tru becomes part of JaneDoe. I shall say no more and leave the pleasure of the novel for future readers!
This is a ‘delighted smile read’ interspersed with the odd bout of sobbing, I absolutely love it! These are characters that you grow to love, really care about and invest in. No, not you Cameron or odious smug Emily at JaneDoe, you are heartless expletives deleted! So you willingly leap on-board the emotional rollercoaster, laughing, crying and hoping.
What can I say about Indiana? She is fantastic though initially you wonder about spectrums but then realise that life experiences has led to logic leading all and it’s a joy watching her change. I love her blunt directness but also that she is way more perceptive than she seems. Some of the dialogue between her and other major characters is excellent.
Lina seems to want it all, career, family, marriage and she learns much via the Tru(th) experience. What can I say about Jack? He’s a charming mask wearer and you want to hug him!
However great these characters are and they are, it’s a dog that steals the show! Rough sleeper Frank and his dog Alan play a vital if not pivotal role in the story line and frankly (sorry) everyone needs an Alan. Adorable. I also love Peggy. Who is Peggy I hear you ask? Well I won’t give that away as that wouldn’t be fair but liking her is as Spock would say “not logical“ so go figure, or better still read the book!!
Bethany Clift has set this terrific novel sometime in the future and gives us a lot to think about. On a serious level valid points are made about data gathering but it’s also about love and the human errors therein but it’s also about loneliness, the importance of truth, achieving happiness and enduring friendships. It really makes me feel something and this is one book that will live long in my head. I daresay one of the paths it follows is a bit predictable but I find I'm not remotely bothered as I love the journey to the wonderful ending.
I hope number three is underway from this talented author because I can’t wait!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a ‘delighted smile read’ interspersed with the odd bout of sobbing, I absolutely love it! These are characters that you grow to love, really care about and invest in. No, not you Cameron or odious smug Emily at JaneDoe, you are heartless expletives deleted! So you willingly leap on-board the emotional rollercoaster, laughing, crying and hoping.
What can I say about Indiana? She is fantastic though initially you wonder about spectrums but then realise that life experiences has led to logic leading all and it’s a joy watching her change. I love her blunt directness but also that she is way more perceptive than she seems. Some of the dialogue between her and other major characters is excellent.
Lina seems to want it all, career, family, marriage and she learns much via the Tru(th) experience. What can I say about Jack? He’s a charming mask wearer and you want to hug him!
However great these characters are and they are, it’s a dog that steals the show! Rough sleeper Frank and his dog Alan play a vital if not pivotal role in the story line and frankly (sorry) everyone needs an Alan. Adorable. I also love Peggy. Who is Peggy I hear you ask? Well I won’t give that away as that wouldn’t be fair but liking her is as Spock would say “not logical“ so go figure, or better still read the book!!
Bethany Clift has set this terrific novel sometime in the future and gives us a lot to think about. On a serious level valid points are made about data gathering but it’s also about love and the human errors therein but it’s also about loneliness, the importance of truth, achieving happiness and enduring friendships. It really makes me feel something and this is one book that will live long in my head. I daresay one of the paths it follows is a bit predictable but I find I'm not remotely bothered as I love the journey to the wonderful ending.
I hope number three is underway from this talented author because I can’t wait!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 8, 2023
do not, under any circumstances, try and figure out the plot of this book before reading it. the synopsis is the way that it is for a reason.
honestly, at first, i thought this was going to be a mediocre read but it is so much more. it is a reminder that love exists all around us and as humans, we are not in a position to dictate when we feel it. our hearts do the talking before our brains catch up.
each character in this story (with the exception of cameron and emily) is glorious in their own ways. the reader can learn so much from each of them.
i am utterly shocked by how much i enjoyed this book.
honestly, at first, i thought this was going to be a mediocre read but it is so much more. it is a reminder that love exists all around us and as humans, we are not in a position to dictate when we feel it. our hearts do the talking before our brains catch up.
each character in this story (with the exception of cameron and emily) is glorious in their own ways. the reader can learn so much from each of them.
i am utterly shocked by how much i enjoyed this book.
September 5, 2022
If you asked me a week ago who Bethany Clift was I would have said “no idea”, but after binge reading Last One At The Party in less than a day on holiday last week and then finding out there is a new book coming out on 4th August, I was lucky enough to be able to download an ARC copy from Netgalley.
I didn’t even bother reading the blurb on this book because as I said in my previous review, I just adored Bethany’s writing and characters and therefore assumed I would enjoy Love & Other Human Errors as much.
Love & Other Human Errors is a standalone story, based in the not-too-distant future and could be classed as speculative fiction. With a similar premise to The One by John Marrs, the future isn’t looking too rosy, the internet and technology control every aspect of our lives and Indiana Dylan has created a revolutionary data harvesting solution to help people find their soulmates, she just needs to find the right company who can finance and roll out the software.
I was going to start to explain more about the storyline, the characters and then realised that I think one of the reasons I loved this book so much is that I had no idea what it was really about and if you just read the book without my waffling on and on, you will understand why it’s quite a difficult book to review without giving away too many spoilers.
There are so many wonderful characters in this story that it is difficult to pick a favourite, from quirky and socially awkward Indiana who sees life very differently from everyone else. She may be a genius when it comes to all things technical, but in real life she struggles with real people and relationships. She is unintentionally hysterical with her observations and I was constantly laughing out loud during her chapters.
Jack is another wonderful character who, on the surface appears to be a confident, friendly, extremely popular employee at JaneDoe, but once you start to dig deeper and find out more about Jack, you start to see the cracks appearing.
Then there is Homeless Frank and Alan the dog, Lina the workaholic trying to juggle motherhood and a career and finally there is Peggy and honestly each and every one of these characters brings so much depth and emotional to the storyline.
I’m going to stop now, as again I can’t quite put into words how much I adore this author’s writing style and storylines. If you are looking for something different, something unique with a thought-provoking premise, fascinating characters, brilliant dialogue and banter then do yourself a favour and download both of Bethany’s books.
I didn’t even bother reading the blurb on this book because as I said in my previous review, I just adored Bethany’s writing and characters and therefore assumed I would enjoy Love & Other Human Errors as much.
Love & Other Human Errors is a standalone story, based in the not-too-distant future and could be classed as speculative fiction. With a similar premise to The One by John Marrs, the future isn’t looking too rosy, the internet and technology control every aspect of our lives and Indiana Dylan has created a revolutionary data harvesting solution to help people find their soulmates, she just needs to find the right company who can finance and roll out the software.
I was going to start to explain more about the storyline, the characters and then realised that I think one of the reasons I loved this book so much is that I had no idea what it was really about and if you just read the book without my waffling on and on, you will understand why it’s quite a difficult book to review without giving away too many spoilers.
There are so many wonderful characters in this story that it is difficult to pick a favourite, from quirky and socially awkward Indiana who sees life very differently from everyone else. She may be a genius when it comes to all things technical, but in real life she struggles with real people and relationships. She is unintentionally hysterical with her observations and I was constantly laughing out loud during her chapters.
Jack is another wonderful character who, on the surface appears to be a confident, friendly, extremely popular employee at JaneDoe, but once you start to dig deeper and find out more about Jack, you start to see the cracks appearing.
Then there is Homeless Frank and Alan the dog, Lina the workaholic trying to juggle motherhood and a career and finally there is Peggy and honestly each and every one of these characters brings so much depth and emotional to the storyline.
I’m going to stop now, as again I can’t quite put into words how much I adore this author’s writing style and storylines. If you are looking for something different, something unique with a thought-provoking premise, fascinating characters, brilliant dialogue and banter then do yourself a favour and download both of Bethany’s books.
November 28, 2024
4,5 бали
Це було не звичайно і цікаво.
Це було не звичайно і цікаво.
June 1, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
i was in the mood for a cute romcom, so i picked this up from my bookstore‘s romance table - however, this is not your typical romance at all! this is a romance mixed with sci-fi (it‘s set in the future & the focus of the book is algorithms and coding and big tech companies). the book is written from the pov‘s of 3 characters, each of them have very different writing styles and personalities. the chapters are very short (which i love), so i got through the book very quickly. at the beginning, i really had to get used to the writing and the whole setting of the book, since i really did not expect it going into this, but after a while i really found myself rooting for the characters and developing a relationship to them. by the end of the book, i was very sad to leave them! overall, i would really recommend this book to everyone who loves romance, sci-fi and original stories!
i was in the mood for a cute romcom, so i picked this up from my bookstore‘s romance table - however, this is not your typical romance at all! this is a romance mixed with sci-fi (it‘s set in the future & the focus of the book is algorithms and coding and big tech companies). the book is written from the pov‘s of 3 characters, each of them have very different writing styles and personalities. the chapters are very short (which i love), so i got through the book very quickly. at the beginning, i really had to get used to the writing and the whole setting of the book, since i really did not expect it going into this, but after a while i really found myself rooting for the characters and developing a relationship to them. by the end of the book, i was very sad to leave them! overall, i would really recommend this book to everyone who loves romance, sci-fi and original stories!
August 23, 2023
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
What a wonderful read!
I was intrigued by the premise and firmly hooked from beginning to end. I devoured it greedily in two sittings because I just didn’t want to put it down.
Love and Other Human Errors is beautifully written by Bethany Clift and absolutely brimming with warmth and humour. It’s set in the near future, which is well-drawn and highly believable.
The characterisation is superb. The story is narrated by Indiana, Lina, and Jack, who all have their own distinctive voices and individual personalities. I loved the chemistry between Indiana and Jack.
Their supporting cast is equally fabulous (apart from the baddies, obviously). Peggy, Frank, and in particular, Alan (the dog) all now have a solid place in my heart. I slowly savoured the last few chapters because I genuinely didn’t want to leave the characters and their story behind.
Beth Clift’s writing is sharp and refreshing. The story is clever, witty, and heartwarming; it made me laugh out loud, and it also made my eyes leak. It’s a gorgeous, life-affirming, uplifting, humongous hug-in-a-book.
Add it to your to-be-read list immediately!
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
What a wonderful read!
I was intrigued by the premise and firmly hooked from beginning to end. I devoured it greedily in two sittings because I just didn’t want to put it down.
Love and Other Human Errors is beautifully written by Bethany Clift and absolutely brimming with warmth and humour. It’s set in the near future, which is well-drawn and highly believable.
The characterisation is superb. The story is narrated by Indiana, Lina, and Jack, who all have their own distinctive voices and individual personalities. I loved the chemistry between Indiana and Jack.
Their supporting cast is equally fabulous (apart from the baddies, obviously). Peggy, Frank, and in particular, Alan (the dog) all now have a solid place in my heart. I slowly savoured the last few chapters because I genuinely didn’t want to leave the characters and their story behind.
Beth Clift’s writing is sharp and refreshing. The story is clever, witty, and heartwarming; it made me laugh out loud, and it also made my eyes leak. It’s a gorgeous, life-affirming, uplifting, humongous hug-in-a-book.
Add it to your to-be-read list immediately!
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
May 28, 2022
I'm a little bit sad to be finishing this book.
I loved spending time with the characters, each of whom seemed just perfectly done.
The plot goes where I expected it to mostly, I liked the good guys, and loathed the bad guys.
It's funny and warm, and utterly charming, and I swear had me with a tear in my eye at the end.
Having enjoyed the previous book so very much, I was wary on this one.
Now I'm buzzing for book 3.
I loved spending time with the characters, each of whom seemed just perfectly done.
The plot goes where I expected it to mostly, I liked the good guys, and loathed the bad guys.
It's funny and warm, and utterly charming, and I swear had me with a tear in my eye at the end.
Having enjoyed the previous book so very much, I was wary on this one.
Now I'm buzzing for book 3.
October 3, 2023
As soon as I found out that Bethany Clift had another book coming out, I pre-ordered it. Because I fell wholly in love with The Last One At the Party , and I loved the concept of this one, too. And guess what, friends? Fell in love with this one, too! So could someone give Ms. Clift a big ol' contract so she can write all the books for me to devour? Great, thanks.
Bottom Line In a GIF:
September 21, 2025
Honestly, one of the best books I've ever read. The characters are so well developed and you really feel all their emotions - their ambition, joy, pain, and how they change and grow. I've not had a book activily make me feel so strongly before, I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet giggling. Truly wonderful, I'm sad it's over. So glad I randomly saw it at the library.
May 27, 2022
Love and Other Human Errors is not your average love story - we follow Indiana as she creates a new technology - TRU - that can scientifically match perfect universal soulmates despite the fact she finds romantic love rather useless, and the employees at JaneDoe technology who she reluctantly accepts as temporary colleagues while they get ready to change the world together.
"That's the problem with love - it's not logical."
Science cannot explain some things - the like the beautiful complexity of the human condition, or the sheer absurdity of love, or why Clift always writes such brilliant stories.
Immediately, we are transported to a not too distant future in a London that is familiar yet totally strange. The Uncanny Valley effect was in full force from the start, creating an indescribable atmosphere of mystery in an otherwise shiny and perfect place. Indiana is robotic, cold and clinical - keeping the reader at arms length but I couldn't help but find her undeniably endearing along with her amazing cohorts.
Each character was flawlessly crafted - their motivations, their desires, their patterns were carved out quickly creating a deep understanding and kinship, or a deep loathing - sometimes both.
Love and Other Human Errors is perfect, absurd chaos - it's clear the characters took the lead on this on and just went manic across the pages, trying to find ways to cope under the ever growing pressure on their shoulders and in their hearts and just hoping they don't fail.
All the decadent delight of a romance, the sharp and dangerous speculation of science fiction and the unmatchable wit of Bethany Clift - this is the kind of book you will not be able to put down until you've devoured every last page.
I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.
[_|_] For more reviews or queries, visit
bethanys-bookshelf.blogspot.com
[_|_] Or connect with me on Instagram
@bethanysbookshelfuk
"That's the problem with love - it's not logical."
Science cannot explain some things - the like the beautiful complexity of the human condition, or the sheer absurdity of love, or why Clift always writes such brilliant stories.
Immediately, we are transported to a not too distant future in a London that is familiar yet totally strange. The Uncanny Valley effect was in full force from the start, creating an indescribable atmosphere of mystery in an otherwise shiny and perfect place. Indiana is robotic, cold and clinical - keeping the reader at arms length but I couldn't help but find her undeniably endearing along with her amazing cohorts.
Each character was flawlessly crafted - their motivations, their desires, their patterns were carved out quickly creating a deep understanding and kinship, or a deep loathing - sometimes both.
Love and Other Human Errors is perfect, absurd chaos - it's clear the characters took the lead on this on and just went manic across the pages, trying to find ways to cope under the ever growing pressure on their shoulders and in their hearts and just hoping they don't fail.
All the decadent delight of a romance, the sharp and dangerous speculation of science fiction and the unmatchable wit of Bethany Clift - this is the kind of book you will not be able to put down until you've devoured every last page.
I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.
[_|_] For more reviews or queries, visit
bethanys-bookshelf.blogspot.com
[_|_] Or connect with me on Instagram
@bethanysbookshelfuk
April 1, 2023
At the beginning I didn't find it so good, but then I developed an attachment to the characters and I read it till the end in one night, plus I had fun.
All'inizio non mi piaceva un granché, ma poi mi sono affezionata ai personaggi e l'ho finito in una sera, divertendomi.
All'inizio non mi piaceva un granché, ma poi mi sono affezionata ai personaggi e l'ho finito in una sera, divertendomi.
August 9, 2022
I really enjoyed “Last One at the Party” - a post apocalyptic dystopian thriller, which was the debut novel by Bethany Clift in 2021. I therefore couldn’t wait to see what she had in store with her new book, “LOVE AND OTHER HUMAN ERRORS” a thoroughly modern and fitting romance story.
Set in the near future in London, there’s enough factual credence in the story to be believable and the premise is quite realistic and relatable. With an increase in dating apps following Covid, the use of a specialist app that harvests data of your every movement, feeling, even monitoring your daily health, isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. Using the data to match with your perfect soulmate, without human error, could be a life changer for single people. Therefore, socially awkward Indiana Dylan looking for a company to fund and roll out her software, was easy to accept and I enjoyed following her journey to get her invention out in public.
I instantly fell head over heels with this book and it’s characters, Indiana, Lina, Connie and enigmatic Jack…..not forgetting Peggy and Spider and Frank and Alan who brought an emotional and empathetic side to the story. So many adorable people that you endear to instantly. Even the evil CEO of JaneDoe has to be admired for how her spiteful character conducts herself.
There’s not many books I could read again but this is definitely one I intend to keep, with every intention of reading again soon - it’s original, uplifting, heartwarming, funny, addictive and thoroughly entertaining!
This would make a fantastic movie and could easily be as big as ‘Bridget Jones’, it’s that delightful. I’ve seriously got a book hangover after finishing this book and hope anyone else who reads it, gets the same enjoyment as I did from it.
#LoveAndOtherHumanErrors - 5 stars
Thank you to Steven Cooper at Hodder Books for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Set in the near future in London, there’s enough factual credence in the story to be believable and the premise is quite realistic and relatable. With an increase in dating apps following Covid, the use of a specialist app that harvests data of your every movement, feeling, even monitoring your daily health, isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. Using the data to match with your perfect soulmate, without human error, could be a life changer for single people. Therefore, socially awkward Indiana Dylan looking for a company to fund and roll out her software, was easy to accept and I enjoyed following her journey to get her invention out in public.
I instantly fell head over heels with this book and it’s characters, Indiana, Lina, Connie and enigmatic Jack…..not forgetting Peggy and Spider and Frank and Alan who brought an emotional and empathetic side to the story. So many adorable people that you endear to instantly. Even the evil CEO of JaneDoe has to be admired for how her spiteful character conducts herself.
There’s not many books I could read again but this is definitely one I intend to keep, with every intention of reading again soon - it’s original, uplifting, heartwarming, funny, addictive and thoroughly entertaining!
This would make a fantastic movie and could easily be as big as ‘Bridget Jones’, it’s that delightful. I’ve seriously got a book hangover after finishing this book and hope anyone else who reads it, gets the same enjoyment as I did from it.
#LoveAndOtherHumanErrors - 5 stars
Thank you to Steven Cooper at Hodder Books for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
August 31, 2022
I’m not really a big reader of romantic novels but this was an exception I was willing to make! Can technology find you a soulmate?
August 18, 2022
I have to be honest and say that for the first 20% of the book I didn't really 'get it'. I had to sit down with a good few hours to spare to see if I could get into it. I did! When it ended, I was sorry to see it go and I looked back on the story and the delightful characters with much fondness.
I have to add here that I believe you have to be in the right mindset to really appreciate a book, and it might have been about me at the start.. When a book is a slow-burner I can often get a bit frustrated and think about putting it down. I am really pleased that I stuck with Indiana and the rest of the characters, as they certainly grew on me. Who knew that I could become so emotionally attached to a virtual assistant and a scruffy homeless dog?
You have to have an open mind to novel's set in the future. (Step away Sarah from my book club - this is not for you!) But otherwise this is a story about someone who doesn't fit in, who doesn't realise she needs some good mates, and who blossoms. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it (but not to you Sarah!)
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I have to add here that I believe you have to be in the right mindset to really appreciate a book, and it might have been about me at the start.. When a book is a slow-burner I can often get a bit frustrated and think about putting it down. I am really pleased that I stuck with Indiana and the rest of the characters, as they certainly grew on me. Who knew that I could become so emotionally attached to a virtual assistant and a scruffy homeless dog?
You have to have an open mind to novel's set in the future. (Step away Sarah from my book club - this is not for you!) But otherwise this is a story about someone who doesn't fit in, who doesn't realise she needs some good mates, and who blossoms. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it (but not to you Sarah!)
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 17, 2024
Honestly, going in blind with this one served me well. It's been a while since I've started and finished a book on the same day. This one was strangely refreshing, frustrating, beautiful, annoying, cute, sweet, and absurd all in one, and I just couldn't stop myself from finding out what happens. The way Jack, Lina and Indiana's lives intertwine and collide feels almost fateful, which if you read this book will seem like something none of them will want to believe at the beginning. But the way the story grows and how the characters discover parts of themselves is truly beautiful, even if sometimes extremely vexing. I felt it most with Indiana. Mostly because she had the steepest arc and the most testing one. But it felt right. It all felt right and messy and chaotic and mesmerizing, just like life and love often is.
February 4, 2023
This is a story about love and the shortcut to find it. Indiana has created an app called Tru who finds your true soul mate on the basis of more than your interests. The algorithm she wrote knows to find the client's habits, preferences, everything there is to know. JaneDoe is the company she tries to sell it to but they require proof that it really works so she has to work together with manager Lina (who puts work before love) and IT guy Jack (who lost the love of his life). Indiana/Indi doesn't want love in her life but there's a lot at stake as Indi stands to lose her house and the new secret project she's working on. The app has to work, she knows it does because she never fails so she agrees to prove it to JaneDoe.
I loved how completely different the main characters were but the side characters were just as important if not even more. Peggy - Indi's assistant - seems more human than Indi herself and the homeless Frank and his dog Alan who take up residence at the entrance of Indi's building show such humanity and kindness that I literally cried for them. They left quite an impression and are the ones who really stole my heart in a flash.
The characters all make different but important life changes in this novel and I really enjoyed the evolution the characters went through. Indi is socially awkward for a very long time and not easy to connect with at first but she takes baby steps to being more human and showing more heart and as she changes I too really started to warm up to her after being initially drawn towards the other characters at first.
Indiana's soul mate is waiting for her but as in all romance novels there's the necessary bumps in the road to love. A bit of a predictable ending but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. The author inserted enough originality into the novel to give it that little extra. Even though the romance level of the novel was different than expected, present but certainly not dominating, this novel certainly has heart and some valuable advice for the ones who care to listen.
I loved how completely different the main characters were but the side characters were just as important if not even more. Peggy - Indi's assistant - seems more human than Indi herself and the homeless Frank and his dog Alan who take up residence at the entrance of Indi's building show such humanity and kindness that I literally cried for them. They left quite an impression and are the ones who really stole my heart in a flash.
The characters all make different but important life changes in this novel and I really enjoyed the evolution the characters went through. Indi is socially awkward for a very long time and not easy to connect with at first but she takes baby steps to being more human and showing more heart and as she changes I too really started to warm up to her after being initially drawn towards the other characters at first.
Indiana's soul mate is waiting for her but as in all romance novels there's the necessary bumps in the road to love. A bit of a predictable ending but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. The author inserted enough originality into the novel to give it that little extra. Even though the romance level of the novel was different than expected, present but certainly not dominating, this novel certainly has heart and some valuable advice for the ones who care to listen.
August 26, 2023
Tänk er en riktig bra brittisk romantisk dramakomedi så förstår ni känslan i den här boken. Här finns absolut saker som är förutsägbara, men också nya inslag och lagom mycket sidospår. Det hela kretsar kring Indiana, en rätt fyrkantig kvinna, som skapat ett helt nytt matchningsverktyg och här är det garanterat att alla hittar sin själsfrände. Låter väl toppen? Det tycker även företaget JaneDoe som genast köper in sig när de väl fått det presenterat för sig. Det blir en del teknik i boken och det är ju sällan min kopp te, men här finns också mycket charmiga inslag som är kopplat till det, t ex är bikaraktären Peggy min favorit av alla karaktärerna.
Jag gillar det mesta med boken - språket, karaktärerna, att det finns lite nytänkande i själva berättelsen, drivet och takten. Kanske att den blir något lite för lång för min smak, men det är en klart läsvärd bok i sin genre! (Vill också passa på att slå ett slag för Clifts första bok, Överlevaren, som också var bra.)
Jag gillar det mesta med boken - språket, karaktärerna, att det finns lite nytänkande i själva berättelsen, drivet och takten. Kanske att den blir något lite för lång för min smak, men det är en klart läsvärd bok i sin genre! (Vill också passa på att slå ett slag för Clifts första bok, Överlevaren, som också var bra.)
January 16, 2023
Romance? Nah, not for me.
Except, yes, this was for me! This is not your typical romance and being set in the very near future, when technology has developed just enough for this book to be classed as speculative fiction, added something a bit different. I loved all of the three main characters, who narrated their own chapters, as well as those with smaller but integral parts in the story, especially Peggy - an AI who is developing sentience.
A fabulous, quirky story, not just about romantic love but the love of friends - and yourself.
Except, yes, this was for me! This is not your typical romance and being set in the very near future, when technology has developed just enough for this book to be classed as speculative fiction, added something a bit different. I loved all of the three main characters, who narrated their own chapters, as well as those with smaller but integral parts in the story, especially Peggy - an AI who is developing sentience.
A fabulous, quirky story, not just about romantic love but the love of friends - and yourself.
March 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this. Great story with unique characters. It gets a little lost towards the end when all the many loose ends are tied up, and is perhaps a little more drawn out and angsty than it needs to be, but otherwise a great read.
August 13, 2024
4.5! This one surprised me. I didn’t think I’d love it but I think I do! The characters were loveable and the storyline was different than other books I’ve read.
February 25, 2023
Wonderful
August 1, 2022
Set sometime in the future this is the story of Indiana Dylan. She is a woman who lives by her own rules and it is pure logic which defines her actions. To say she doesn't suffer fools gladly is an understatement. Indiana has developed Tru, a kind of dating app which she firmly believes finds a person their actual soulmate. When she pitches the product to the IT company, JaneDoe she is required, personally, to prove it works. To her absolute horror she has to go on actual dates. Light blue touchpaper and stand well back!
This is a very, very funny novel. Indiana, without knowing it, is hilarious. With a couple of exceptions the characters are adorable and I loved them. The writing is whip-smart and the dialogue is priceless. There are some serious points about data mining and manipulation and it is right that they are there but mostly it's about what its title describes; love and human error. I read this book with a permanent smile on my face.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very, very funny novel. Indiana, without knowing it, is hilarious. With a couple of exceptions the characters are adorable and I loved them. The writing is whip-smart and the dialogue is priceless. There are some serious points about data mining and manipulation and it is right that they are there but mostly it's about what its title describes; love and human error. I read this book with a permanent smile on my face.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2022
Gah I loved it soooo much, what a cracking read. Hard to categorise but maybe speculative fiction/uplit maybe.
Indiana is lonely, she doesn't know it, she has Peggy for company, but Peggy isn't real. Indiana thinks she's solved the problem of love, she has invented a bracelet that harvests information and finds your one true soulmate, does it work though?
Aww Indiana is flawed and quirky and I loved her, I loved how she slowly started to change as she met new people / was forced to work with them and obviously I loved Alan the dog.
I couldn't put this one down. I needed to keep reading and it just left me with a smile on my face.
Highly recommend.
Indiana is lonely, she doesn't know it, she has Peggy for company, but Peggy isn't real. Indiana thinks she's solved the problem of love, she has invented a bracelet that harvests information and finds your one true soulmate, does it work though?
Aww Indiana is flawed and quirky and I loved her, I loved how she slowly started to change as she met new people / was forced to work with them and obviously I loved Alan the dog.
I couldn't put this one down. I needed to keep reading and it just left me with a smile on my face.
Highly recommend.
July 12, 2022
Bethany Clift is a genius!
This book is so clever, unusual and you just don’t want to stop reading it. She has invented her own new genre.
The characters are so endearing, I really wanted them in my life. The story had me engrossed and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This book is so clever, unusual and you just don’t want to stop reading it. She has invented her own new genre.
The characters are so endearing, I really wanted them in my life. The story had me engrossed and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 13, 2022
Stop what your doing. Go pre-order this book immediately! I loved everything about this book and I need you all to get it and gush over it with me.
Set in 2030, this is the story of Indiana Dylan and how she falls in love but it is so much more than that. We meet Peggy, Indianas AI assistant, Lina, a working mum who has only ever known working all hours, Jack who is still grieving the loss of his wife, Frank, the homeless man who lives in front of Indiana’s building and (possibly my favourite) Alan the dog. Indianas character was brilliant, she was smart, funny, honest and I loved seeing her develop. All of these characters perfectly balance out this story of where technology could be heading, human connections and love.
I loved last one at the party by this author so I went in with high hopes and it did not disappoint. This is book is worlds apart from the author’s previous book but just as brilliant, I always think that just shows what incredible talent an author has.
Set in 2030, this is the story of Indiana Dylan and how she falls in love but it is so much more than that. We meet Peggy, Indianas AI assistant, Lina, a working mum who has only ever known working all hours, Jack who is still grieving the loss of his wife, Frank, the homeless man who lives in front of Indiana’s building and (possibly my favourite) Alan the dog. Indianas character was brilliant, she was smart, funny, honest and I loved seeing her develop. All of these characters perfectly balance out this story of where technology could be heading, human connections and love.
I loved last one at the party by this author so I went in with high hopes and it did not disappoint. This is book is worlds apart from the author’s previous book but just as brilliant, I always think that just shows what incredible talent an author has.
February 18, 2023
This was very different to anything I’d read before. I don’t read science fiction books but this although was romance it has science fiction in it as well. To start off what drew me to the book was the bright pink cover and the eye catching cover. I loved the three of the main characters Indiana and Lina and Jack. Secondary characters were sweet too and there was surprising some sad moments in this love story. I was rooting for them all to get their happy ending. There’s a woman Cameron who downright evil that I wanted to slap her to the ends of the earth. She made my blood boil. I haven’t read Bethany’s first book but I might now give it a try as I loved her writing.
August 4, 2022
Indiana Dylan believes she has the perfect solution to help people to find their 'soulmate', with her ground-breaking TRU algorithm and DataLet tech, even if she has absolutely no need for one herself. She is dedicated to her work and thinks a partner would just mess up her ordered life, in fact she prefers to keep other people as far away as possible. However, Indiana does need to make some money to fund her true computing passion, a quantum computer like no other, so she has to venture out into the real world to acquire some funding by selling TRU.
When JaneDoe Technology, led by the devious Dr Cameron Gardner, wants to buy her product, Indiana finds herself railroaded into a deal that requires far more input from her that she would like, including working with the extremely messy Lina Galaz and intensely annoying Jack Harper. Worst of all, Dr Gardener wants Indiana to prove her algorithm works by testing TRU on herself...
Having loved Bethany Clift's cracking debut novel Last One At The Party, which beautifully explores connection through the experience of a single character (and her dog), I could not wait to see what she could do with an ensemble piece in her second book, Love and Other Human Errors.
Clift paints the picture of a near future that is so real you can taste it, and populates it with a wonderful cast to capture your imagination. The story is told from the points of view of three quite different characters, who though completely incompatible at the start of the story, come to be mightily important to each other - Indiana Dylan, the closed off computing genius, who is sure she neither wants, nor needs, friends or romantic entanglements of any kind; Lina Galaz, struggling with being pulled in different directions by her professional and personal lives, gradually realising she increasingly wants to be at home with her wife Connie and baby son Bruce, rather than at the job she loves; and handsome Jack Harper, who seems to be everyone's happy, smiling friend, but is hiding his own, very private, sorrow.
Clift throws them together in pursuit of the realisation of Indiana's soulmate locating TRU application, and this is where the fun begins. Indiana is forced to work closely with colleagues for the first time in her career, but her rigid life, ruled by mathematical constructs, means she does not play well with others. and she is wrenched further from her comfort zone by actually having to try out TRU on herself - which leads to unexpected, life-changing consequences for them all. The interactions between Indiana, Lina, and Jack, are filled with misunderstandings and frustrations that develop into warmth and companionship, and as their relationships transform over the course of the story, the wider effect this has on each of their lives is deliciously poignant. I loved every one of the caring and wise characters Clift creates around them, especially Connie, Frank and his enchanting dog Alan, Indiana's very helpful assistant Peggy, the lovely cake-baking Doris, and Biscuit the cat. There are great baddies too, in the form of the reprehensible Dr Gardner, and the uber-competitive Emily, who you long to see taken down a peg or two.
As the threads of Indiana, Lina, and Jack's stories become increasingly intertwined, Clift has a ball playing up the total chaos that ensues when love enters the fray, and shows how difficult it is to reduce down the mystery of romantic attraction to a computer algorithm. There is so much here about the many facets of love and friendship, particularly how they can complicate and enrich your lives, and I adored each and every golden moment. I really enjoyed how Clift so beautifully sums up the essence of the march of time, how lives carry on even when we wish the clock would stop, and how people change as the years go by too. As in Last One at the Party, Clift shows she knows how to write about connection with perfection, and it makes your heart ache in all the right places. She also knows how to give you a good old chuckle with her excellent sense of humour.
Clift touches on some very thought-provoking stuff here around the use and misuse of technonolgy, and the isolation a lack of human contact brings; the role of women in STEM subjects; and the challenges of combining personal and professional lives. There is a tenderness to the way she examines grief, the barriers that people put up to stop themselves getting pummelled by those darned pesky emotions, and what it means to be human. And, I have to say that I very much enjoyed how she waves the flag for romance novels and films in this book - it made me punch the air with glee!
I gulped this magnificent book down in one delectable bite, completely enamoured with the way Clift combines all the best elements of a romantic tale with a rollicking, dystopian sci-fi adventure. I laughed, I cried, I lapped up the will-they-won't-they suspense. I have read a lot of books this year, and many of them have completely bowled me over for a variety of reasons, but none of them has hit the I-don't-want-this-book-to-end sweet-spot that this one has. This is a serious contender for my book of 2022 - and it has the best blurb!
When JaneDoe Technology, led by the devious Dr Cameron Gardner, wants to buy her product, Indiana finds herself railroaded into a deal that requires far more input from her that she would like, including working with the extremely messy Lina Galaz and intensely annoying Jack Harper. Worst of all, Dr Gardener wants Indiana to prove her algorithm works by testing TRU on herself...
Having loved Bethany Clift's cracking debut novel Last One At The Party, which beautifully explores connection through the experience of a single character (and her dog), I could not wait to see what she could do with an ensemble piece in her second book, Love and Other Human Errors.
Clift paints the picture of a near future that is so real you can taste it, and populates it with a wonderful cast to capture your imagination. The story is told from the points of view of three quite different characters, who though completely incompatible at the start of the story, come to be mightily important to each other - Indiana Dylan, the closed off computing genius, who is sure she neither wants, nor needs, friends or romantic entanglements of any kind; Lina Galaz, struggling with being pulled in different directions by her professional and personal lives, gradually realising she increasingly wants to be at home with her wife Connie and baby son Bruce, rather than at the job she loves; and handsome Jack Harper, who seems to be everyone's happy, smiling friend, but is hiding his own, very private, sorrow.
Clift throws them together in pursuit of the realisation of Indiana's soulmate locating TRU application, and this is where the fun begins. Indiana is forced to work closely with colleagues for the first time in her career, but her rigid life, ruled by mathematical constructs, means she does not play well with others. and she is wrenched further from her comfort zone by actually having to try out TRU on herself - which leads to unexpected, life-changing consequences for them all. The interactions between Indiana, Lina, and Jack, are filled with misunderstandings and frustrations that develop into warmth and companionship, and as their relationships transform over the course of the story, the wider effect this has on each of their lives is deliciously poignant. I loved every one of the caring and wise characters Clift creates around them, especially Connie, Frank and his enchanting dog Alan, Indiana's very helpful assistant Peggy, the lovely cake-baking Doris, and Biscuit the cat. There are great baddies too, in the form of the reprehensible Dr Gardner, and the uber-competitive Emily, who you long to see taken down a peg or two.
As the threads of Indiana, Lina, and Jack's stories become increasingly intertwined, Clift has a ball playing up the total chaos that ensues when love enters the fray, and shows how difficult it is to reduce down the mystery of romantic attraction to a computer algorithm. There is so much here about the many facets of love and friendship, particularly how they can complicate and enrich your lives, and I adored each and every golden moment. I really enjoyed how Clift so beautifully sums up the essence of the march of time, how lives carry on even when we wish the clock would stop, and how people change as the years go by too. As in Last One at the Party, Clift shows she knows how to write about connection with perfection, and it makes your heart ache in all the right places. She also knows how to give you a good old chuckle with her excellent sense of humour.
Clift touches on some very thought-provoking stuff here around the use and misuse of technonolgy, and the isolation a lack of human contact brings; the role of women in STEM subjects; and the challenges of combining personal and professional lives. There is a tenderness to the way she examines grief, the barriers that people put up to stop themselves getting pummelled by those darned pesky emotions, and what it means to be human. And, I have to say that I very much enjoyed how she waves the flag for romance novels and films in this book - it made me punch the air with glee!
I gulped this magnificent book down in one delectable bite, completely enamoured with the way Clift combines all the best elements of a romantic tale with a rollicking, dystopian sci-fi adventure. I laughed, I cried, I lapped up the will-they-won't-they suspense. I have read a lot of books this year, and many of them have completely bowled me over for a variety of reasons, but none of them has hit the I-don't-want-this-book-to-end sweet-spot that this one has. This is a serious contender for my book of 2022 - and it has the best blurb!
August 24, 2022
I fell in love with this book from the first time I saw the cover - the pink makes my heart sing, and I love Bethany Clift's social media build up to her new books, she totally goes for it! So when I was approved on Netgalley I couldnt have been happier- and I am absolutely delighted to say I loved the bones of this book.
Its very different to 'Last One at the Party' which was a glorious read in itself, but that story is probably told now.
In Love and Other Human Errors, we're in a near future (2030 or so) where even more than now, businesses are desperate to get personal data from as many people as possible to find out everything they can and make money out of the information.
Indiana Dylan (such a cool name!) is an IT genius, thinking of solutions to problems that have never been solved before - and now she's trying to solve the mystery of love; how can you be sure that someone you match with now will continue to be the one for you? She's devised a programme called TRU which mixes your personal data and quantum somethings to find your one true soulmate. All the trials and tests so far have shown that it works - the data is true - so now she needs to grow her company and show the world what she can do. She's totally data-driven, not one for social niceties or messing around - she knows what her product can do.
Enter JaneDoe, a mega-company that might be able to back TRU. They will offer huge investment if they can be assured that it works, and they want Indiana to be the guinea pig. The numbers are crunched and she meets her assured soulmate, is this who she's been waiting for? Lina, a manager at JaneDoe, is assigned to work with Indiana to make sure the product does what its meant to. Also on the team is handsome layabout Jake, who charms his way through life without doing anything.
Its a romance story- so you know that there are going to be hiccups and misunderstandings along the way, and that what looks to be a perfect match at the start might turn out to be a bit more complicated. That's what we're here for - the moment the penny drops and love blossoms. Bethany Clift handles it perfectly, its not sickly sweet, or too cynical, its a perfectly executed futuristic romance. All the stars from me!
Its very different to 'Last One at the Party' which was a glorious read in itself, but that story is probably told now.
In Love and Other Human Errors, we're in a near future (2030 or so) where even more than now, businesses are desperate to get personal data from as many people as possible to find out everything they can and make money out of the information.
Indiana Dylan (such a cool name!) is an IT genius, thinking of solutions to problems that have never been solved before - and now she's trying to solve the mystery of love; how can you be sure that someone you match with now will continue to be the one for you? She's devised a programme called TRU which mixes your personal data and quantum somethings to find your one true soulmate. All the trials and tests so far have shown that it works - the data is true - so now she needs to grow her company and show the world what she can do. She's totally data-driven, not one for social niceties or messing around - she knows what her product can do.
Enter JaneDoe, a mega-company that might be able to back TRU. They will offer huge investment if they can be assured that it works, and they want Indiana to be the guinea pig. The numbers are crunched and she meets her assured soulmate, is this who she's been waiting for? Lina, a manager at JaneDoe, is assigned to work with Indiana to make sure the product does what its meant to. Also on the team is handsome layabout Jake, who charms his way through life without doing anything.
Its a romance story- so you know that there are going to be hiccups and misunderstandings along the way, and that what looks to be a perfect match at the start might turn out to be a bit more complicated. That's what we're here for - the moment the penny drops and love blossoms. Bethany Clift handles it perfectly, its not sickly sweet, or too cynical, its a perfectly executed futuristic romance. All the stars from me!
September 2, 2022
Indiana Dylan is a designer of TRU, a programme that uses quantum theory and data to match you to your soulmate. It means that you won’t have to waste your time going on dates that lead to nowhere. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
So, what’s the problem?
The problem is that Indiana Dylan doesn’t believe in love. She is a perfectionist, rigid in her thinking, and very direct to the point it becomes rude. Saying that, I laughed so hard at the remarks she made to people.
When she presents TRU to Dr Cameron Gardner, CEO of JaneDoe Technology Limited, she is made an amazing offer, which she begrudgingly accepts (or more likely, she is blackmailed into accepting it).
Soon, Indiana’s life changes forever with an influx of people in her quiet and isolated life. There’s Lina Galaz who works for Cameron, happy-go-lucky Jack Hunter, a software engineer also working at JaneDoe, and Frank, a homeless man with his dog, Alan.
Indiana’s life will never be the same again.
What an amazing story!
I loved Indiana as a character and her transformation that occurred in the book. From this logical and analytical woman, she became less of a robot, and more like a human.
Alan, the dog, was the best character in this story – I just adored him.
I must admit I didn’t like the working atmosphere at JaneDoe, it sounded stressful and unattainable to keep up with (unless you wanted to have a nervous breakdown!). Cameron was a true villain in the story, she reminded me of Cruella DeVil or Meryl Streep’s character in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
I truly loved this book and I urge for people to pick up a copy, you won’t be disappointed!
So, what’s the problem?
The problem is that Indiana Dylan doesn’t believe in love. She is a perfectionist, rigid in her thinking, and very direct to the point it becomes rude. Saying that, I laughed so hard at the remarks she made to people.
When she presents TRU to Dr Cameron Gardner, CEO of JaneDoe Technology Limited, she is made an amazing offer, which she begrudgingly accepts (or more likely, she is blackmailed into accepting it).
Soon, Indiana’s life changes forever with an influx of people in her quiet and isolated life. There’s Lina Galaz who works for Cameron, happy-go-lucky Jack Hunter, a software engineer also working at JaneDoe, and Frank, a homeless man with his dog, Alan.
Indiana’s life will never be the same again.
What an amazing story!
I loved Indiana as a character and her transformation that occurred in the book. From this logical and analytical woman, she became less of a robot, and more like a human.
Alan, the dog, was the best character in this story – I just adored him.
I must admit I didn’t like the working atmosphere at JaneDoe, it sounded stressful and unattainable to keep up with (unless you wanted to have a nervous breakdown!). Cameron was a true villain in the story, she reminded me of Cruella DeVil or Meryl Streep’s character in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
I truly loved this book and I urge for people to pick up a copy, you won’t be disappointed!
May 31, 2022
Lina, Jack and Indiana have put love on the back burner. Jack has been burnt by love and is still recovering, Lina is prioritising her work and Indiana doesn’t believe it’s important at all. Yet, Indiana has devised a piece of tech called TRU which uses computer algorithms to find your ultimate soulmate - the person who is perfect for you no matter what happens in your life. Jack, Lina and Indiana are tasked with working together to test TRU and roll it out worldwide - but what it TRU’s success is the worst thing that could ever happen to them?
Having loved the author’s debut novel, I was really excited for her next book. I have to be honest and say, I really struggled with this book. It’s set in the near future but I didn’t feel there was enough world building details to capture my attention like other speculative fiction I have read. I really didn’t warm to two of the main characters either and these two things together meant I found the first half of the book quite hard work. Around 50% my interest picked up and I enjoyed the second half of the book. My favourite characters were those in the background who were little life coaches to the main three - I am looking at you Doris, Frank and even you Alan, you’re such a good boy. I thought the interactions between Indiana and Peggy were really clever, especially the irony that one was distinctly more human that the other. The inevitable romance was written really well. The ending was really satisfying.
Though this didn’t blow my mind like Last One At The Party, I will definitely be back for the author’s next book.
Thank you to Bethany Clift, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Having loved the author’s debut novel, I was really excited for her next book. I have to be honest and say, I really struggled with this book. It’s set in the near future but I didn’t feel there was enough world building details to capture my attention like other speculative fiction I have read. I really didn’t warm to two of the main characters either and these two things together meant I found the first half of the book quite hard work. Around 50% my interest picked up and I enjoyed the second half of the book. My favourite characters were those in the background who were little life coaches to the main three - I am looking at you Doris, Frank and even you Alan, you’re such a good boy. I thought the interactions between Indiana and Peggy were really clever, especially the irony that one was distinctly more human that the other. The inevitable romance was written really well. The ending was really satisfying.
Though this didn’t blow my mind like Last One At The Party, I will definitely be back for the author’s next book.
Thank you to Bethany Clift, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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