From the moment I read the title The Automatic Noodle, I knew I was in for something delightful—and wow, it delivered. Cozy? Yes. Thought-provoking? Definitely. Slightly obsessed with noodles more than ever? Also yes.

This novella is a beautiful blend of friendship, found family, and resilience wrapped up in a futuristic world that feels just a little too real. Even when everything around them was falling apart (literally and emotionally), the characters kept moving forward—with a kind of optimism that made me cheer them on the entire way.

What really surprised me was how this short and snuggly read managed to sneak in some seriously deep commentary about our world—tech, society, and survival…👀💭

And let’s talk about the audio! The narrator absolutely nailed it—comforting, engaging, and the perfect voice for a cozy sci-fi adventure.

Huge thanks to my book bestie @entrelibrosyestanterias for convincing me to request this ARC (best peer pressure ever), and to Annalee Newitz and Macmillan Audio for the chance to review this noodleish story!

Would recommend to: fans of cozy sci-fi, found family vibes, and stories that make you feel warm and make you think.

This book was an absolute delight! I enjoyed every second of it! It was a perfect low stakes cozy scifi book set in the future in a noodle shop, where robots are just trying to get by and not only make delicious food but later a community.

I listened to the audio book and thought the narrator did a fantastic job capturing the different characters and setting the tone in each scene. Im definitely going to be checking out more of their books!

I really wanted to like this book! The premise sounded like the perfect book for me: a cozy sci-fi with robots running a restaurant! Yes!

The positives: The narrator did a great job and had a soothing voice. It was short. I loved the cover! So bright and definitely attracted me to it.

A lot of the book I just didn’t understand. My takeaway was it was about cultural problems in our society not so discreetly disguised (e.g., “robophobia” was mentioned several times). My biggest problem was that the story wasn’t sweet or cozy or anything. It was just really boring.

I am looking forward to the cozy robot sci-fi genre to expand now, though!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

When I started this cozy futuristic book, I wasn’t expecting the social criticism at all. I loved the way the author portrayed it and the different personalities of the characters. Definitely a must read !

The vibes on this were definitely cozy, despite the story actually dealing with a lot of heavy topics: discrimination, PTSD, sexism, online harassment, and personhood. The multiple characters each got a moments spotlight to share their backstories, despite the short length of the book. Even with all that this novella was trying to tackle, there was only one storyline that I felt was wrapped up too quickly and easily. I enjoyed the hopeful tone and ending.

'Automatic Noodle' had an intriguing setup—robots waking up in a dystopian future, facing the mystery of survival. The premise seemed set for a sci-fi exploration, but the narrative quickly introduced political themes, including California’s fight for independence, along with analogies that felt more reflective of present-day sentiments than a futuristic world.

While the gritty depiction of society added weight to the story, the restaurant-focused plot felt somewhat at odds with the overarching tone. With humanity in such a bleak state, the idea of building a cozy dining experience didn’t quite align with the larger themes at play. Ultimately, I found myself wishing the book had fully committed to either a allegorical societal commentary or the quirky sci-fi restaurant concept, rather than blending both.

Though the story had a unique premise, I wasn’t invested enough to continue. Readers who appreciate speculative fiction with political undercurrents may find more enjoyment here, but it wasn’t the experience I was looking for. I do think the narrator did a nice job though.

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for access to this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This novella is a cute and quick story following a group of robots opening their own noodle shop in a slightly oppressive world. The crew of robots is fleshed out and I was genuinely rooting for each one of them. Also I am now craving noodles like crazy. A solid and sweet book that I highly recommend.

“Ta da! This smells like victory, my friend. Humans will definitely spend coin to taste this.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan.audio for an arc of the book.

The second disclaimer is that - any book that makes me cry is 5 stars and this one definitely did and earned its 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I sincerely hope Tor follows the route they took with Martha Wells, and Becky Chambers and commissions more books following these characters from Annalee Newitz. The characters are too cute and warm to just leave at one installment. Also the audiobook narrator Em Grosland was excellent.

Nowadays cozy sff is introducing new subgenres unto itself- we have everything from low stakes cozy fantasy to cozy romance to cozy spooky to cozy mystery to even cozy grief. This is simultaneously all of that and not any one of that individually. Ideally, I want my cozy reads to have low stakes and a focus on food or have food play a major part, have a lot of different character interactions, and make the reader feel safe and peaceful. This book has all of that and also adds kindness, community, and a lot of character growth.

Right from the first chapter, I was sold on the characters. For a novella, the amount of depth, realism to the setting, and the balance with which the backstories of each character was covered was perfect. I enjoyed each character’s arc. The robots trying to make jokes was so heartful and endearing. The description of noodles also instantly made me hungry.

There also was careful critique and commentary centered around the immigrant experience and other social issues. The way it was layered in is masterful. It was never overbearing and the whole tone of the book continued to retain its cozy flavor throughout. And a surprisingly good amount of philosophy is mixed in too. It is impossible to not be moved by Staybehind’s journey in this story.

In conclusion, I loved this novella and everyone should pick it up when it comes out. It is less than 200 pages and only 4 hours on audio. It’s a bunch of adorable robots starting a hand pulled noodle shop - how can you not? Do it. I’m extremely serious.You will get this and be greatly rewarded. And soon Tor and Newitz will announce a sequel and I will be greatly rewarded too.

ARC Review! 4.75 stars from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished Automatic Noodle by AnnaLee Newitz and it's due out August 5.
It's a cozy sci-fi novella set in San Fran in 2067 after the war between California and the USA and Cali has granted bots some freedom and rights but not all.
I love exploring the human condition through the use of Robots and you'll see the parallels with each robot character here as they serve up some tasty noodles!
It ended kinda abruptly but I'd like another story set in this same world.

This was a cute short story about robots who decide to open their own noodle shop amidst a segregated and oppressive environment.

The cozy vibes and beautiful imagery were on point. I loved the descriptions of the cafe they open and the noodles they create. The characters were well thought out and felt real. The audiobook narrator did a great job bringing this story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Automatic Noodle was such a delightful and refreshing read! A team of robot chefs wake up in an abandoned restaurant and decide to bring it back to life and give it a new spirit. This was cozy, heartwarming, and still timely and relevant. It's a must read!

The narration was immaculate! While there is a wide cast of characters, I found the narration to provide clarity and deepen my understanding as I listened!

This was such a wonderful novella!

While the characters were definitely robots, it was easy to fall in love with them in only a few pages. They all had distinct personalities, and distinct challenges and successes, which is so hard to do in such a few pages! I also loved the futuristic CA setting. Especially timely considering everything going on in the US.

The narrator was perfect, and I highly recommend the audiobook. But bring a snack, you will be hungry after.

This was a really interesting read. Cozy Sci-Fi that uses AI robots to reflect on issues of who is considered legal and worthy of rights, segregation, found family, self-expression, online trolls, and other issues. The conversations, different points of view, and creative ways of working in a system that is set up against you were interesting and thought-provoking. It was a short read that really made me think. I didn't always agree with all of the views that were presented, but I feel like that was the point. To show creatively, varying opinions to a dramatic, possible situation.

Loved the narrator.

I struggled a bit at the beginning, wanting to know HOW this future world ended up in this state, and was reminded by a friend that sci-fi doesn't have to explain how it got where it is. The world-building just needs to be solid enough so you can experience the story as it is told. Once I sat in the present of the book, I really enjoyed it.

This excellent sci-fi novella follows a group of Human Equivalent Intelligence (HEI) bots who start their own noodle restaurant when their bosses abandon them. A malicious anti-bot review bombing campaign threatens to destroy their business, but their skills-- and their community--help them win out in the end. I think fans of Becky Chambers will find a lot to love in this one. If you're looking for a fun, found family sci-fi novella, this is it.

This book is going to be great for Becky Chambers lovers.

We are following 4 robots in a post war San Francisco. They decide that they are going to open a noodle restaurant as they navigate being back “online”.

This is a low stakes sci-fi novella and while I don’t love cozy, I really enjoyed the representation in this book. The author did a great job of showcasing real world issues, marginalized groups, bigotry, etc.

It was sweet and I think a lot of people will enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC!

Crypto and AI robots? I really don't want to read about any of this shit in sci-fi.

Why would anyone write about AI robots and make them behave like humans? Cause these are the least artificial robots I've ever met.

Beyond that this is a cozy sci-fi novella with no real plot. Just a bunch of robots trying to run a restaurant, so I guess it's sci-fi Legends & Lattes.

The robot trying to keep humans away and make it a robot only space pissed me off, but I don't give the book 1 star because the character was genderfluid, even though I don't get why a robot would have a gender in the first place. Fuck it, 1 star.

Automatic Noodle was super short, super fun and quirky and I loved every minute of it. Sentient robots rebuilding a restaurant while trying to solve who is tanking their reviews on a Yelp type platform. It was campy and enduring at the same time. I found my heart breaking for the bots (especially Staybehind) and I was rooting for them to find success at every turn. I received an early audiobook copy of this via NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. Em Grosland did a spectacular job narrating and bringing all of the service bots to life. This was my first Annalee Newitz novella, but I really enjoyed their writing style. I look forward to reading more of their work in the future.

Rating: Loved It, 4.5, rounded up

This is the perfect kind of cozy, low-stakes SFF that I want. It's sweet, cozy, reflective, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.

In this we follow a group of bots in post-war San Francisco. The owners shut them down and fled back to the United States. What commences is following the group of four bots: Sweetie, Hands, Staybehind, and Cayenne figuring out a way that they can pay their debts and survive in a world in which they are considered people but are still othered for being robots. They open a restaraunt and must find a way to overcome the bigots who start review bombing them. They build a home and a community and it was very sweet. Their experiences stand in as a metaphor for groups who are continually othered in our society for their race, gender identity, sexual preferences, etc.

Overall, it was a short and sweet story that I greatly enjoyed. The characters are extremely endearing, and I love the community that they make for themselves.

Em Grosland does a fantastic job as the narrator as well. The narration is engaging and brought added depth to the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Automatic Noodle releases August 5, 2025.

Look, I was not emotionally prepared to fall in love with a crew of semi-decommissioned robots trying to reopen a noodle shop in post-war California. But here we are. Automatic Noodle is cozy sci-fi with a backbone—equal parts warm hug and quiet rebellion, and somehow, in under 200 pages, it made me want to fight for a better world and also eat an irresponsible amount of noodles.
This novella lives in that rare, sweet spot where low-stakes doesn’t mean low-impact. The plot? Simple: four bots—Staybehind, Sweetie, Hands, and Cayenne—wake up to find their restaurant shut down and their future on the chopping block. Instead of giving up or going quietly, they take matters into their own mechanical hands, restart the restaurant, and try to make enough money to keep their autonomy. Capitalism, but make it adorable.
What really got me was how genuine the relationships felt. Each bot has such a distinct voice, and watching them work through old trauma, institutional robophobia, and their own fears while still finding joy in cooking and community? Yeah, I got emotional. I wasn’t ready to care this much about a robot who collects mismatched dishware or one who nervously over-seasons everything because it’s how they cope.
And the food descriptions? Criminal. I don’t know what Newitz was trying to pull with the lovingly described broths and hand-cut noodles, but I found myself craving secondhand robot food like it was a religion.
If I had one minor critique, it’s just that I wanted more. More time with these characters, more depth in the worldbuilding, maybe just a little more breathing room in the story’s resolution. But honestly, that’s a compliment in disguise—I wasn’t ready to leave the Automatic Noodle behind.
If you’re into found family, anti-fascist robot resilience, and comfort reads that still manage to say something meaningful, you’ll want this one on your shelf. Just make sure you have snacks handy. Preferably with chili oil. The audiobook is very well done and added a genuine coziness to the book.
Thanks to Tordotcom for the advanced physical ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC

I love Annalee Newitz.

Automatic Noodle follows a group of robots who find themselves without owners, with nothing better to do, they reopen the noodle shop that they worked at previously. These robots are compassionate and dislike their "employer" just as much as human employees do. This novella is a hopeful examination of what AI could be (at least I hope so).

I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Em Grosland.