Goodbye for Now

June 11, 2012
Sam Elling is a brilliant software engineer for an online dating company, but his own love life is nonexistent—until he programs a matching algorithm that sets him up with his co-worker Meredith. Their giddy romance is interrupted by the sudden death of Meredith’s beloved grandmother, and her grief inspires Sam to create RePose, software that scans e-mails, video chats, text messages, and other electronic communications to create an artificial intelligence that can communicate as if it were the deceased person. Meredith finds e-mailing with her dead granny so pleasurable that she and Sam decide to offer the service to others. But going public results in unforeseen consequences—from the types of conversations people want to have with their DLO (Dead Loved One) to rancor from religious groups concerned with the metaphysical impact of technological immortality. A surprising twist forces the characters to confront the question of whether RePose is a blessing or a burden in the complicated process of grieving. Though the conceit of chatting with the dead occasionally feels stretched for filler, Frankel (The Atlas of Love) addresses thorny questions with thought and care.

August 1, 2012
The Social Network meets One Day in an attractive love-and-loss story that applies new technology to the job of soothing broken hearts. Frankel's (The Atlas of Love, 2010) inviting second novel comes with a cyber plot twist that demands significant suspension of disbelief. For readers who can, their reward is a cute romance between Sam Elling and Meredith Maxwell, singletons who work at a computer dating service in Seattle. Software engineer Sam writes a brilliant new algorithm that will outstrip all previous matchmaking efforts and tests it on himself. The result is Meredith--a perfect fit--but also termination of employment, since the algorithm will destroy the business through its success. When Meredith's grandmother, Livvie, dies, Sam creates another algorithm, piecing together Livvie's emails and video chats, allowing Meredith to carry on communicating with her electronically. And so RePose is born, a controversial business that offers the bereaved the opportunity to stay in computer dialogue with their lost loved ones, provided they have left an electronic memory. The value of this comes home to roost when the plot takes a dark turn, leaving one half of the couple struggling, with RePose's assistance, to live, love and let go. An excess of ethics overshadows the simple love story, but there's no denying Frankel's warmth, wit and ingenuity in this cleverly conceived charmer.

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March 1, 2012

Sam Elliot meets love-of-his-life Meredith at the Internet dating company where they both work, then gets fired when a competitor starts getting all the business. To comfort Meredith when her grandmother dies, Sam draws on all of grandma's emails, Facebook posts, and Skype to create a computer program that simulates one last conversation between her and Meredith. And so the couple's new company, RePose, is born. This novel was the talk of Frankfurt, selling to over 20 territories. Don't miss out.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2012
Sam Elling is a brilliant software engineer, so brilliant that he develops an algorithm to find not just a date but a soul mate. It works so well that after he's matched with Meredith Maxwell, he's fired by his online dating company and his algorithm is banned, for while new registrations are soaring, monthly fees are plummeting. Unemployed and in love, Sam seeks to help Meredith when her beloved grandmother, Livvie, dies. With an algorithm using previous electronic communication between Meredith and Livvie, he sets up dead mail between them. When Meredith asks for video, he adds that, and soon Sam, Meredith, and her cousin establish RePose, offering survivors communication with their DLOs (dead loved ones). Ethical and religious issues arise (as when parents of terminally ill children spend time videotaping rather than living in the moment), and Sam has qualms about how helpful his service really is until he needs it himself. Frankel (The Atlas of Love, 2010) presents a fascinating concept as she keenly and sensitively explores themes of love and loss in this tearjerker centered on technology that pushes the boundaries of artificial intelligence. A compelling novel that tugs at the heartstrings; keep tissues handy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)