A bold and inventive novel about real romance in the virtual workplace where the lines between virtual reality and human interaction start to blur, surrendering to the messiness of life might just be the only option. A humorously disarming love story that comes wrapped up in technology and familial drama.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨

I really did not read this one in moderation. It completely captured me from beginning to end and I consumed it in two days - spending all of my non reading time thinking about it and when I could get back to it!

I was drawn in by this fantastic cover art and promises of “if you like tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow (which I did) you will love this” (which I did).

I really really really loved this. World building was brilliant - didn’t really feel like I was in something that wasn’t realistic at all - but still far removed from my day to day experience enough that it felt like somewhat of an escape. As a big (early seasons) Westworld fan I was initially sceptical when I read the blurb thinking it was perhaps too “inspired” but it didn’t feel that way at all.

Loved being in the VR world from the viewpoint of not the participant but the content moderator - felt like it was a fresh POV.

I must have missed somewhere before commencing that this was a love story and thus was not expecting it at all but it was such a nice surprise and I found myself really rooting for Girlie and William. Their chemistry was very well done and I could really feel the tension between these two social strugglers through the pages. I appreciated that it wasn’t the centre of the story but still significant.

Side character of Dr Perera was a personal favourite of mine - enjoyed everything that his character brought to the story - and Mona too - the perfect addition to really get William to win over the reader.

Thankyou NetGalley and Allen and Unwin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review - I will very happily be recommending this to friends, family, reader and book clubs!

This will make a great book club book because there is so much to discuss.