I listen to this as an audiobook and plan to read the second one on my Kindle. This checked all the boxes for me. definitely elements of hard science fiction (AI, tech, etc), but also real character growth, cultural friction, political intrigue, and a solid mystery. The romance is incredibly compelling and slow paced - utterly charming as it compliments the plot rather than becoming the plot. This isn’t a romance novel, but a science fiction novel that looks at love.