The Asian Syndrome. My Boyfriend is a Battery.: Bittersweet Feminist Romantic Comedy • Sci-Fi • Contemporary Fiction.

What if the perfect man came with a charging cable?

At 47, Lilia has given up on love. Her children have forgotten her phone number. Her Italian ex-husband ran off with a Filipina (who then ran off with a pizza delivery boy). And the only male attention she gets is from her vacuum cleaner.

So when she sees an ad for a robotics expo in Shenzhen, she makes a decision: if technology never lets you down, why not buy yourself the perfect man?

Meet Bao. Model: Gentleman Premium. Functions: cleaning, 5,000 recipes, emotional intelligence 9.5/10. Eyes: impossibly blue. Soul: accidentally real.

What happens when a woman who's been burned by love meets a robot programmed for it?

The Asian Syndrome is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and surprisingly tender story about second chances, family in all its forms, and the discovery that love doesn't care about biology—or warranties.

Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine meets Ex Machina with a dash of Bridget Jones.

Warning: Contains one unforgettable robot, one ex-husband who still won't stop calling about pesto, and more laughter than any story about loneliness has the right to have.