The Friend Machine:
On The Trail of AI Companionship

by Victoria Hetherington

Custom Gift Card

Get a custom gift card for The Friend Machine Book Club

Includes your own copy of The Friend Machine by Victoria Hetherington, Book Club access, and in-person author event. $29 minimum covers the book. Choose to add optional $5-$15+ to support the live event, CAMH and THE GRAIN Foundation. Thank you.

Book Club Package

Join THE GRAIN as we read The Friend Machine: On The Trail of AI Companionship, Toronto author Victoria Hetherington’s provocative blend of personal essays and reportage exploring AI companionship and the fragile architectures of human connection. Published by Sutherland House Books.

The Book Club begins January 6, with a mid-month online meetup to share reflections and discuss the book as we read.

The experience culminates in a live, in-person Salon with the author on Wednesday February 11, from 6–9 pm at Montauk Bar in Toronto.

Book Club members will receive exclusive Q&A access at the Salon with Victoria Hetherington, followed by a public-facing author conversation moderated by Ronit Novak.

Pricing

Book Club access is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.

$29 covers the cost of the book
Optional additional contributions ($5–$15+) help support the author Salon event, a donation to CAMH, and THE GRAIN Foundation’s nonprofit programming

If you already have the book, you’re welcome to join the Book Club and attend the Salon event on a PWYC basis.