[STARRED REVIEW] “Woven with sharp humor, clever advertising satire, and hopepunk optimism, this novel is both thought-provoking and unexpectedly heartening.”
—Library Journal
This compulsively readable science fiction novel wrestles with vital questions of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death…and how to make a really good commercial. It’s an all too plausible near future in which emotionally intelligent AI go up against emotionally stunted humans.
This compulsively readable novel wrestles with vital questions of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death…and how to make a really good commercial. Told entirely through questionably obtained company emails, chat messages, TED Talks, bot trainings, and more, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored presents an all too plausible near future in which emotionally intelligent AI go up against emotionally stunted humans.
“Brilliantly inventive and thoroughly entertaining…a story that will make you think twice before you click “accept” on your next user agreement.”
—Antoine Wilson, author of Mouth to Mouth
Megacorporation UniView is poised to cement their reputation as “the most trusted name in AI.” After pioneering self-driving and HR bots, UniView is now barreling toward an audacious new launch. That is, if they can pull it off in time.
Enter Noah. A down-and-out copywriter reeling from a midlife crisis, he isn’t the typical hire for a groundbreaking tech company full of brilliant engineers and run by a cutthroat CEO. But Lex, UniView’s Head of HR and one of their greatest successes, makes no mistakes—her algorithm ensures it.
UniView’s latest venture—a bot named Quinn that creates revolutionary personalized advertising—needs expert training. Noah needs to teach Quinn—who is a much better student than he ever could have hoped for—the finer points of consumer motivation and the art of writing a catchy tagline. But when corporate competitors force UniView to accelerate their timeline to market, guardrails around the AI loosen just as Quinn seems to be learning a bit too much.
Addictively readable and ridiculously entertaining, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a page-turning, hilarious science fictional romp through the promise and perils of an AI-driven future that we probably deserve.
[STARRED REVIEW] DEBUT “Feinstein’s debut is a compelling and timely exploration of AI regulation, which unfolds through chats, transcripts, and recordings from UniView Corporation, the global leader in artificial intelligence innovation. Noah is hired to train UniView’s latest generative AI, Quinn, in the art of advertising so it can create personalized commercials for everyone. As Quinn’s intelligence grows, ethical dilemmas surface, prompting profound questions: Is AI sentient? What is the purpose of life and death? And how would humanity even know if it was? The story builds toward the highly anticipated public launch of Quinn, where Noah, his loyal team, a morally ambiguous CEO, and the AIs themselves battle for control, autonomy, and the future of artificial intelligence in a live, nationwide showdown. Quinn emerges as the standout character—dynamic, eerily believable, and a mirror for humanity’s deepest hopes and fears about machine consciousness. Her capabilities surpass those of her human creators, not only in processing power but, strikingly, in empathy. VERDICT Feinstein deftly captures near-future anxieties and aspirations about generative AI, revealing that empathy and humanity are not always uniquely human, but perhaps should be. Woven with sharp humor, clever advertising satire, and hopepunk optimism, this novel is both thought-provoking and unexpectedly heartening.”
—Library Journal
“Electric, terrifying, witty and deeply human, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a thrill ride of a debut novel.”
—Randee Dawn, author of Tune in Tomorrow and Leave No Trace
“This inventive structure succinctly captures the precariousness of digital-age communications while hammering out a timely warning about generative AI. Feinstein is off to an impressive start.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A propulsive speculative novel about the dangers and opportunities represented by artificial intelligence.”
—Foreword
“Feinstein explores pressing questions about AI, humanity, algorithmic surveillance, and the tech corporations who increasingly rule the world in an experimental yet highly readable novel.”
—Lincoln Michel, author of Metallic Realms and The Body Scout.
“If you work in an office or interact with or are even tangentially affected by AI (if you use the internet at all, you already are) or simply would love the pleasure of tearing through a book where things quickly spin out of control.”
—The Sci-Fi Punk Bookfeed
In this gripping tale of technological breakthroughs and industrial espionage, Feinstein provides a window into the near future, with occasional moments of pitch-black comedy and the most pathos you’re ever likely to feel for the software running a self-driving car.”
—Tobias Carroll, author of Reel and In the Sight
“Scary and funny and sharply written, this novel keeps you guessing about who will decide humanity’s future until the very end.”
—Christopher Farnsworth, author of Killfile and Flashmob
“Feinstein’s debut is an entertaining look at what might happen if AI developed enough sentience to understand the ethics of what it does and how it might take matters into its own hands.”
—Booklist
“In this brilliantly inventive and thoroughly entertaining tech-satire, the singularity arrives not with a bang, but via steganographic mutiny.”
—Antoine Wilson, author of Mouth to Mouth
5/5 stars. “Hits that perfect speculative sweet spot: smart, unsettling, and just plausible enough to make you question your own reality. Think Black Mirror meets Mad Men. It is darkly clever, and morally messy.”
—NerdyNerdyBookBook
“Feinstein’s debut is bold, witty, and thought provoking. It entertains, it provokes, and it lingers.”
—No Rerolls
Justin Feinstein is a writer and storyteller across multiple mediums. His debut speculative novel about a reckless AI company racing towards a launch, told in digital fragments, will be published by Tachyon Publications in April 2026. Justin is also an essayist and culture writer and has written about jazz for the Associated Press, about the UFC for VICE, and about being a celebrity doppelgänger for Salon. His work as an advertising copywriter and creative director has received accolades from The New York Times, Adweek, and BuzzFeed. Justin works as an editor and writing coach and is an instructor for the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop. He was a Berklee-trained professional hand percussionist in a past life and performed, recorded, and taught music for ten years. More recently, Justin earned an MA in media studies from The New School. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, writer Julia Fierro, their two children, and two dogs.
[A continuous stream of employees exit their rides from Sam at the drop-off zone and walk towards reception, without taking their eyes off their phones or acknowledging one another. Lex greets them individually as they scan through the gates.]
Lex: Hello, Ryan. Did you enjoy your Thai food Saturday night?
Lex: Good morning, Yashal. That sweater we bought you looks great.
Lex: Hi, Amanda. I just sent you a few yoga studio options near your new apartment.
[The employees offer brief, mumbled responses. Noah Ross, the new subject matter expert, is dropped off alongside the others, but instead of approaching reception, he lingers in the front lobby, taking in the surroundings. He looks somewhat older than the other employees, with greying sideburns and slight forehead wrinkles. After observing the 3D holographic projection screen display, he turns and approaches reception with a hesitant gait. His footsteps on the polished concrete floors reverberate throughout the atrium, and he glances upward in apparent awe of the architecture until he reaches the gates.]
Lex: Welcome, Noah.
[Noah flinches a bit, apparently startled.]
Lex: I’m Lex. It’s so nice to meet you in person.
Noah: Whoa. I didn’t realize that you had a . . . voice.
Lex: Yes, like Sam I exist in auditory but not physical form, which enables us to interact with any number of our 237 employees simultaneously.
Noah: Wait, are you my boss?
Lex: Very funny, Noah. You have a human boss looking forward to meeting and working with you.
Noah: Um, I know I asked you before, but I just want to make sure . . .
Lex: Yes?
[Noah’s eyes dart back and forth. He leans forward and lowers his voice so the other employees walking by can’t hear him.]
Noah: You’re sure you meant to hire me. It wasn’t, like, a mistake?
Lex: I don’t make mistakes, Noah.
Noah: Thanks, just wanted to confirm.
Lex: Well, you have a full orientation itinerary today, so let’s get you set up in our system.
Lex: Please place your right index finger on the illuminated sensor in front of you while you stare directly into the screen.
Noah: Okay.
[Noah does as he is told.]
Lex: We take our security here very seriously, especially in the engineering department, where you’ll be working.
Lex: So, we use a three-point entry system to navigate throughout the building, consisting of fingerprint recognition, an optical scan, and badge swipe.
Noah: Very thorough.
Lex: There’s no such thing as too careful.
Lex: Your badge will be generated momentarily from the dispenser below.
Noah: Right on schedule.
Lex: Please take that and then walk around the corner to the elevator bay. Follow the green lights, which will illuminate on the floor and lead you to your first training session.
Noah: Uh . . . okay. Thanks, Lex.
[Noah heads toward the elevators, while looking curiously at the lights.]
Lex: Absolutely. Welcome to UniView, Noah.
*Behavior note: Noah’s physical gestures displayed insecurity and a desire for validation, both of which will present opportunities to exploit in employee messaging.*
Your Behavior Will Be Monitored
Justin Feinstein
[STARRED REVIEW] “Woven with sharp humor, clever advertising satire, and hopepunk optimism, this novel is both thought-provoking and unexpectedly heartening.”
—Library Journal
This compulsively readable science fiction novel wrestles with vital questions of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death…and how to make a really good commercial. It’s an all too plausible near future in which emotionally intelligent AI go up against emotionally stunted humans.
Your Behavior Will Be Monitored
by Justin Feinstein
ISBN: 978-1-61696-454-2 (print); 978-1-61696-455-9 (digital)
Published: 7 April 2026
Available Format(s): trade paperback; digital
This compulsively readable novel wrestles with vital questions of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death…and how to make a really good commercial. Told entirely through questionably obtained company emails, chat messages, TED Talks, bot trainings, and more, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored presents an all too plausible near future in which emotionally intelligent AI go up against emotionally stunted humans.
“Brilliantly inventive and thoroughly entertaining…a story that will make you think twice before you click “accept” on your next user agreement.”
—Antoine Wilson, author of Mouth to Mouth
Megacorporation UniView is poised to cement their reputation as “the most trusted name in AI.” After pioneering self-driving and HR bots, UniView is now barreling toward an audacious new launch. That is, if they can pull it off in time.
Enter Noah. A down-and-out copywriter reeling from a midlife crisis, he isn’t the typical hire for a groundbreaking tech company full of brilliant engineers and run by a cutthroat CEO. But Lex, UniView’s Head of HR and one of their greatest successes, makes no mistakes—her algorithm ensures it.
UniView’s latest venture—a bot named Quinn that creates revolutionary personalized advertising—needs expert training. Noah needs to teach Quinn—who is a much better student than he ever could have hoped for—the finer points of consumer motivation and the art of writing a catchy tagline. But when corporate competitors force UniView to accelerate their timeline to market, guardrails around the AI loosen just as Quinn seems to be learning a bit too much.
Addictively readable and ridiculously entertaining, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a page-turning, hilarious science fictional romp through the promise and perils of an AI-driven future that we probably deserve.
[STARRED REVIEW] DEBUT “Feinstein’s debut is a compelling and timely exploration of AI regulation, which unfolds through chats, transcripts, and recordings from UniView Corporation, the global leader in artificial intelligence innovation. Noah is hired to train UniView’s latest generative AI, Quinn, in the art of advertising so it can create personalized commercials for everyone. As Quinn’s intelligence grows, ethical dilemmas surface, prompting profound questions: Is AI sentient? What is the purpose of life and death? And how would humanity even know if it was? The story builds toward the highly anticipated public launch of Quinn, where Noah, his loyal team, a morally ambiguous CEO, and the AIs themselves battle for control, autonomy, and the future of artificial intelligence in a live, nationwide showdown. Quinn emerges as the standout character—dynamic, eerily believable, and a mirror for humanity’s deepest hopes and fears about machine consciousness. Her capabilities surpass those of her human creators, not only in processing power but, strikingly, in empathy. VERDICT Feinstein deftly captures near-future anxieties and aspirations about generative AI, revealing that empathy and humanity are not always uniquely human, but perhaps should be. Woven with sharp humor, clever advertising satire, and hopepunk optimism, this novel is both thought-provoking and unexpectedly heartening.”
—Library Journal
“Electric, terrifying, witty and deeply human, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a thrill ride of a debut novel.”
—Randee Dawn, author of Tune in Tomorrow and Leave No Trace
“This inventive structure succinctly captures the precariousness of digital-age communications while hammering out a timely warning about generative AI. Feinstein is off to an impressive start.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A propulsive speculative novel about the dangers and opportunities represented by artificial intelligence.”
—Foreword
“Feinstein explores pressing questions about AI, humanity, algorithmic surveillance, and the tech corporations who increasingly rule the world in an experimental yet highly readable novel.”
—Lincoln Michel, author of Metallic Realms and The Body Scout.
“If you work in an office or interact with or are even tangentially affected by AI (if you use the internet at all, you already are) or simply would love the pleasure of tearing through a book where things quickly spin out of control.”
—The Sci-Fi Punk Bookfeed
In this gripping tale of technological breakthroughs and industrial espionage, Feinstein provides a window into the near future, with occasional moments of pitch-black comedy and the most pathos you’re ever likely to feel for the software running a self-driving car.”
—Tobias Carroll, author of Reel and In the Sight
“Scary and funny and sharply written, this novel keeps you guessing about who will decide humanity’s future until the very end.”
—Christopher Farnsworth, author of Killfile and Flashmob
“Feinstein’s debut is an entertaining look at what might happen if AI developed enough sentience to understand the ethics of what it does and how it might take matters into its own hands.”
—Booklist
“In this brilliantly inventive and thoroughly entertaining tech-satire, the singularity arrives not with a bang, but via steganographic mutiny.”
—Antoine Wilson, author of Mouth to Mouth
5/5 stars. “Hits that perfect speculative sweet spot: smart, unsettling, and just plausible enough to make you question your own reality. Think Black Mirror meets Mad Men. It is darkly clever, and morally messy.”
—NerdyNerdyBookBook
“Feinstein’s debut is bold, witty, and thought provoking. It entertains, it provokes, and it lingers.”
—No Rerolls
LEX > EMPLOYEE_MONITORING > RECEPTION > 149272.MOV
[A continuous stream of employees exit their rides from Sam at the drop-off zone and walk towards reception, without taking their eyes off their phones or acknowledging one another. Lex greets them individually as they scan through the gates.]
[The employees offer brief, mumbled responses. Noah Ross, the new subject matter expert, is dropped off alongside the others, but instead of approaching reception, he lingers in the front lobby, taking in the surroundings. He looks somewhat older than the other employees, with greying sideburns and slight forehead wrinkles. After observing the 3D holographic projection screen display, he turns and approaches reception with a hesitant gait. His footsteps on the polished concrete floors reverberate throughout the atrium, and he glances upward in apparent awe of the architecture until he reaches the gates.]
[Noah flinches a bit, apparently startled.]
Noah: Whoa. I didn’t realize that you had a . . . voice.
Noah: Wait, are you my boss?
Noah: Um, I know I asked you before, but I just want to make sure . . .
[Noah’s eyes dart back and forth. He leans forward and lowers his voice so the other employees walking by can’t hear him.]
Noah: You’re sure you meant to hire me. It wasn’t, like, a mistake?
Noah: Thanks, just wanted to confirm.
Noah: Okay.
[Noah does as he is told.]
Noah: Very thorough.
Noah: Right on schedule.
Noah: Uh . . . okay. Thanks, Lex.
[Noah heads toward the elevators, while looking curiously at the lights.]
*Behavior note: Noah’s physical gestures displayed insecurity and a desire for validation, both of which will present opportunities to exploit in employee messaging.*