AND THEN THERE WAS YOU by Sophie Cousens

4 stars

Romantasy meets sci-fi when 31-year-old Chloe Fairway signs up for a dating service recommended by a girlfriend, Perfect Partner, that’s cloaked in mystery. Chloe has been wallowing in life stagnation: living at home with her parents, working for an abusive boss who promised her screenwriting experience but instead has her doing coffee runs, and finally broken up with an overly controlling boyfriend. With her ten-year Oxford University reunion coming up, Chloe books an appointment with Perfect Partner hoping to find a date that can shield her from her insecurity about all the glittering successes of her classmates.

This perfect date turns out to be a very gorgeous, courteous, understanding AI robot who passes as the ideal human. He’s been programmed based on a detailed, lengthy questionnaire that Chloe fills out and that features a mash-up of her favorite men from novels as well as movie star looks. On a 2-week trial run, Chloe takes her android date, Rob, to her reunion weekend. And he does impress everyone- while encouraging Chloe to begin writing again to taking up running to meet her fitness goals. As Chloe reconnects with old friends and flames, she begins to realize that humans offer things that even perfect robots cannot.

The story takes a far-fetched premise and imbues it with warmth and humor, while simultaneously musing about an AI romance-driven future, especially as current news stories feature people in love with AI chat bots.

Thanks to Putnam and NetGallley for an advanced reader’s copy,

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.