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A timely, beautifully observed debut novel set in near future New York about a young woman who finds herself tangled in a secret government project combating loneliness.
Lee’s life is perfectly mapped out. A top student and professor favorite, everyone expects her to land one of the coveted roles at a Big Five corporation. So when, upon graduating, Lee finds herself at a company no one’s heard of in the dead city of New York instead, her goals are completely upended.
In this new role, Lee’s task is to gather research to train an AI how to be a friend. She begins online and by studying the social circle of her outgoing roommate Veronika. But when it’s revealed that the company is part of a classified mission to solve loneliness—an emotion erased from society’s lexicon decades ago— Lee's determination to prove herself kicks into overdrive and she starts chasing bolder experiences for the AI.
How far will Lee go? As loneliness continues to spread, she must decide what she’s willing to give up for success and, along the way, learn what it means to be a true friend.
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ADVANCED PRAISE
“Loneliness & Company is a stunning novel, full of lyricism, brilliance, and quiet integrity, boldly tackling the most complex philosophical ideas… I’ll be thinking about this novel for a long time.” — Lara Vapnyar, author of DIVIDE ME BY ZERO
“Naturally intelligent. An inventive, timely, and perceptive story about human connection and being alive.” —Emily Austin, author of EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD
“In Dyroff’s deeply original novel, it is possible to see the future. Loneliness & Company invites us into a techno laden world that is not so far from our own. A riveting and unforgettable story of ambition that also reminds us how essential friendship is.” — Wendy S. Walters, author of MULTIPLY/DIVIDE
“With her debut, Dyroff has pulled off a truly impressive feat — writing a story about loneliness that isn't so much a cautionary tale, but a tender, heartfelt reminder to value your time on Earth and the people that make your days more than just a sunrise and a sunset. A new and talented writer to watch." — Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of PIZZA GIRL
“I was hooked from the start, and marveled at the poignancy of watching Lee relearn the basics of friendship for the sake of an AI program. Dyroff's brilliant story will make you want to hold all your real-friends closer.” —Jessica Francis Kane, author of RULES FOR VISITING
“Tender and hopeful, Dyroff's story glimmers with humor, empathy, and profound insights into the inner workings of the human heart and psyche. Her vision is utterly singular, captivating, and full of heart, reminding us of the incalculable intimacies of being alive. Reading this book felt like catching up with an old friend, or meeting a new one.” —Gina Chung, author of SEA CHANGE and GREEN FROG
“This book is funny, tender, strange, and modern. Dyroff has written a bildungsroman for the robot set, a profound look at human curiosity and longing in a finely wrought near-future New York. Loneliness & Company resonates and pops; it infiltrated my dreams.” —Kate Greene, author of ONCE UPON A TIME I LIVED ON MARS
“If one use for literature is to make us feel less alone, then the author has succeeded brilliantly with Loneliness & Company. This is a tender, visionary, wide-hearted book that offers itself as a course corrective to our hyper-quantified, algorithm-craven age.” —Hermione Hoby, author of VIRTUE
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