In Our Likeness by Bryan VanDyke is an unputdownable Science-Fiction book that captivates from the very first page. Graham Gooding is a likable, yet flawed "every man" main character and feels relatable throughout the whole novel. The pacing of the story is wonderful, and broken into five parts. What if AI was real - could be REAL? That's the question that VanDyke's clever ideas and thought-provoking themes weave seamlessly throughout the narrative, leaving readers both intellectually stimulated and emotionally engaged. I was left wondering "what if?" The book delves into important overarching themes, like trust and honesty, and right and wrong, that resonate long after the final page is turned, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a thought provoking experience. 4 stars - highly recommended!

I clipped along at a face pace through In Our Likeness, a novel that paints a strong picture of a tech founder CEO, Warwick; his COO, Graham; and a head of software engineering, Nessie. There is also the algorithm Nessie designed for Warwick's company and which Graham discovers is not just learning at amazing speeds, but filling in changes in the real world, given the right input. I stopped often to marvel at the author's lovely turn of phrases both in descriptions of New York City, where the story is set, and in the thoughts and observations of the characters. The story also touches on tech & social issues in a fun way, though I found myself wishing that the inevitable output corruption of an algorithm allowed to influence the real world (as they all do, but not in such a visceral way as this one) was treated with a bit more authorial fascination to how close this corruption is to our current world, and less dream-like, Matrix-movie-like scenes. The book touched on ideas on the realities of technology and society I wanted to spend more time with throughout.

Another fault for me was having a female character (view spoiler), which seemed not up to the level of ideas the story alludes to in its telling. Nessie's technical and communication skills leveraged while being a woman in tech are otherwise great and I wanted better for her than that. The ending was strong and haunting, and I feel fine recommending this well-observed story for anyone looking for a tech thriller with literary DNA (or is it RNA?). I just wished this story had felt safe to lean in to the rich and fertile soil of where tech and life meet and the resonant and confrontational ethics that place invokes. The story seemed to side with plot rather than deeper ideas the characters could confront about their work and lives, perhaps to the detriment for readers more familiar with landscape of these modern-day & historical confrontations between tech and society. However, In Our Likeness makes for a snappy, enjoyable, and relevant-to-now story for general fiction audiences and you won't regret picking it up!

Thank you to Little A for providing this e-book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.