He was also desperate to skip ahead, get there faster, wanted to be early for the future that had never once been promised; not even imagined. "Nice to meet you," she agreed, reaching for him, meeting him there
Oh my GOD! Elaine Castillo is a damn genius! How she is able to weave a budding relationship within a story about AI and corporate greed is BEYOND ME. Her prose is just beautiful, and so is her character development. She allows her main character, Girlie, to draw clear lines in the sand as definition but still grants her some give, so as to keep adding to that definition.
Her world building is so damn SMART! The new world AI of it all works hand in hand with Las Vegas, both being physical testaments to profitable entertainment. I am still in awe of how well Castillo was able to give detail to such a vast topic as Virtual Reality, while also saving room for the small glances and the 'reading between the lines' good romance is known for.
This book is beautifully complex within 300 pages. And I want so so much more of it. Thx to NetGalley for my early copy!!

This book is a whirlwind of witty banter, hidden secrets, and deep emotional exploration as Girlie tries to balance her skyrocketing career with a love that feels both impossible and necessary. Castillo nails the tension between the digital and real worlds, exploring how the future of love might look, but never lets you forget that some things, like human connection, can’t be controlled. It’s messy, it’s intense, and it made me want more!