What if your entire life was a lie—and the only way to uncover the truth was to become someone else? True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti is a gripping YA contemporary novel filled with secrets, deception, and the eerie influence of AI. Following Eleanor, a girl who infiltrates her famous father’s life under false pretenses, this story explores identity, technology, and the price of truth. With high-stakes drama, a dash of romance, and thought-provoking twists, this book is perfect for fans of intense family mysteries and drama thrillers.
Thank you to the author and TBR and Beyond Tours for including me on the book tour. Read my top 5 reasons to read True Life in Uncanny Valley below and be sure to enter the giveaway to win a copy of the book!
About the book:
Title: True Life in Uncanny Valley
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publishing date: March 18, 2025
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Synopsis:
From the acclaimed author of A Heart in a Body in the World comes the gripping story of a girl living a lie in order to find the truth about her family and herself.
Eleanor, like so many others, is used to watching her famous father from afar. To the world, Hugo Harrison is the brilliant and charismatic tech genius whose AI inventions seem to create a new, better reality. But to Eleanor, whose mother had an affair with Hugo years ago, he is something even more intriguing, and dangerous—a secret.
When Eleanor’s spying leads her to a posting for a live-in summer nanny job for Hugo’s young son—her half-brother—she knows she has to apply. This is finally her chance to learn about her father, his family, and the life that could have been hers. She only has to do one become someone else. With just a few well-placed lies, Eleanor is catapulted into an unfamiliar, intoxicating whirlwind of money and ego, and into a new romance with a cute boy who works for Hugo. But in a place where image is everything and reality can be rewritten, is anything real—even the Harrisons themselves?
Caught between her own secrets and the ones she’s uncovering about her father and his latest invention, Eleanor faces a question that technology can’t what is your true self, and how do you know when you find her?
My Top 5 Reasons to Read True Life in Uncanny Valley
1️⃣ A Bold and Intriguing Protagonist
Eleanor is the kind of main character who keeps you hooked from the first page. She’s determined, clever, and a little reckless—but in the best way. Her decision to infiltrate her father’s life as a nanny is bold, and watching her navigate her deception while searching for the truth is both nerve-wracking and exhilarating.
2️⃣ Family Drama at Its Peak
Who doesn’t love a juicy family secret? Eleanor’s father, Hugo, is a larger-than-life tech mogul, but to her, he’s the man who’s never acknowledged her existence. Sneaking into his world to uncover the truth makes for intense, high-stakes drama. With lies piling up and unexpected twists, every chapter pulls you deeper into the tension of Eleanor’s risky double life.
3️⃣ A Thought-Provoking Look at AI and Reality
Hugo Harrison isn’t just any rich and famous tech genius—his AI creations shape the way people experience the world. As Eleanor digs deeper, she begins to question what’s real and what’s been manipulated. The book raises fascinating questions about technology, identity, and whether we can trust what we see. Fans of Black Mirror or Westworld will love the eerie, thought-provoking themes.
4️⃣ A Summer Romance with a Twist 💕
Amidst the deception and secrets, Eleanor finds herself drawn to a boy who works for her father. But in a world built on image and illusion, can their connection be real? The romance adds an emotional depth to the story, blending tenderness with the ever-present tension of Eleanor’s lies.
5️⃣ A Fast-Paced, Suspenseful Story
From sneaking into a billionaire’s house to uncovering hidden truths, True Life in Uncanny Valley keeps the suspense high. There’s always something at stake, whether it’s Eleanor’s secret identity, the mysteries surrounding her father’s latest AI invention, or the unraveling of long-buried family truths. It’s impossible to put down!
Final Thoughts
Deb Caletti delivers a gripping, emotionally charged novel that blends contemporary drama with timely discussions on technology and identity. True Life in Uncanny Valley is a must-read for fans of YA thrillers, family secrets, and stories that keep you questioning what’s real until the very last page.
📖 Would you risk everything to uncover the truth? Pick up True Life in Uncanny Valley and find out!
About the author:
Deb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of nearly twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
Giveaway:
One (1) hardcover of True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti. USA only, ends April 30, 2025, at Midnight EST.
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