Description

Book Synopsis

For fans of THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, THE FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST and ET.

'A MOST UNUSUAL AND DELIGHTFUL BOOK' Alexander McCall Smith

Funny, touching, charming, wise: a friendship novel that explores what it is to be human.

Some time in the future:
Ben Chambers wakes up to find an old robot - rusty and dazed- sitting underneath the willow tree in his garden. It's not a new android model, the type people now use for domestic chores around the house, but an antique one, no longer of any use. Refusing to throw it on the skip as his wife Amy advises, he brings it inside.

He names it Tang. Tang turns out to be needy, he has a chronic oil leak and some inside parts don't work properly. As Ben - who has never wanted children or even a job - grows closer to his new friend, he and his wife, Amy, grow further apart.

When Amy finally walks out, Ben begins to realise he has now alienated all the human beings in his life.
But his new friend needs to be fixed, if he is to have a future. And so Ben decides to take Tang back to his maker, half way across the world, on a remote island in the Pacific ...

Soon to be a major Warner Brothers Japan movie, starring Kazunari Ninomiya from Arashi

READERS LOVE IT TOO:

There were so many funny parts in this book and i did not want it to end' 5 *****
'A lovely book about friendship and discovery. Heartwarming' 4 ****
'i knew nothing about this book when i started it and i could not put it down' 5 ****
'Wonderful. i did not want it to stop' 5 ****
'The characters are drawn with such tenderness' 5 ****



Trade Review
Wonderfully weird and uplifting * Heat Magazine *
A wonderful debut novel * ajbookreviewclub.wordpress.com *
This would make a wonderful uplifting movie * thepewterwolf.blogspot.co.uk *
A story that spans across many countries, ‘A Robot In The Garden’ is a light-hearted and poignant tale, packed with humour, love and adorable little robot that just wants to make friends. * handwrittengirl.com *
This story is touching and well told, concentrating on the relationship between a man and a robot. It’s unique and so heart-warming! * thebookishuniverse.wordpress.com *
I can sum this up in one word; ADORABLE! A book that explodes with cuteness and humour * betweenmylines.com *
Deborah has created a truly wonderful, heartfelt story of friendship that completely melted my heart. This is without a doubt one of the best books that I have read this year * lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk *
A Robot in the Garden is a lovely, wonderful debut novel and I really hope it’s not the last we see of Tang, and the other interesting characters the author has created. Off to re-read… * reviewedthebook.co.uk *
A story of true friendship, love and the journey of self-discovery and I utterly adored it. The storyline was superb, the characters were solid and adorable and the writing was flawless. * thebloggersbookshop.blogspot.co.uk *
The story is sweet, charming, funny, and I found myself really enjoying it * thebooklife.co.uk *
The ‘character goes on a journey of self-discovery’ trope is a well used one in all forms of art, but it’s rarely done as wonderfully or with such imagination, as in Deborah Install’s début novel ‘A Robot In The Garden'. * ifthesebookscouldtalk.com *
I literally could not put this book down. It is truly a magical read * compellingreads.co.uk *
It’s hard to believe that such a book can be a début for the author, and I will be advising everyone to read it * bcfreviews.wordpress.com *
Read this book, you'll enjoy it and that's all there is to say on the matter! * dark-readers.com *
It made me smile, it made me laugh - and the last chapter or two had me laughing out loud several times * mac-adventureswithbooks.blogspot.co.uk *
This is a wonderful, heart-warming book with a great big dollop of humour, guaranteed to draw in the reader and hold their interest until the very last page * thecuriousgingercat.blogspot.co.uk *
a touching story of friendship and growing up. 'The Robot in the Garden' is a very unique and quirky read * lynseysbooks.blogspot.co.uk *
A heartwarming mix of fantasy and road novel * Booklist STARRED REVIEW *

A Robot In The Garden: The Number One cosy

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    £9.49

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £9.99 – you save £0.50 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Sat 11 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Deborah Install

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of A Robot In The Garden: The Number One cosy by Deborah Install

      Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 25/02/2016
      ISBN13: 9781784160524, 978-1784160524
      ISBN10: 1784160520

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      For fans of THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, THE FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST and ET.

      'A MOST UNUSUAL AND DELIGHTFUL BOOK' Alexander McCall Smith

      Funny, touching, charming, wise: a friendship novel that explores what it is to be human.

      Some time in the future:
      Ben Chambers wakes up to find an old robot - rusty and dazed- sitting underneath the willow tree in his garden. It's not a new android model, the type people now use for domestic chores around the house, but an antique one, no longer of any use. Refusing to throw it on the skip as his wife Amy advises, he brings it inside.

      He names it Tang. Tang turns out to be needy, he has a chronic oil leak and some inside parts don't work properly. As Ben - who has never wanted children or even a job - grows closer to his new friend, he and his wife, Amy, grow further apart.

      When Amy finally walks out, Ben begins to realise he has now alienated all the human beings in his life.
      But his new friend needs to be fixed, if he is to have a future. And so Ben decides to take Tang back to his maker, half way across the world, on a remote island in the Pacific ...

      Soon to be a major Warner Brothers Japan movie, starring Kazunari Ninomiya from Arashi

      READERS LOVE IT TOO:

      There were so many funny parts in this book and i did not want it to end' 5 *****
      'A lovely book about friendship and discovery. Heartwarming' 4 ****
      'i knew nothing about this book when i started it and i could not put it down' 5 ****
      'Wonderful. i did not want it to stop' 5 ****
      'The characters are drawn with such tenderness' 5 ****



      Trade Review
      Wonderfully weird and uplifting * Heat Magazine *
      A wonderful debut novel * ajbookreviewclub.wordpress.com *
      This would make a wonderful uplifting movie * thepewterwolf.blogspot.co.uk *
      A story that spans across many countries, ‘A Robot In The Garden’ is a light-hearted and poignant tale, packed with humour, love and adorable little robot that just wants to make friends. * handwrittengirl.com *
      This story is touching and well told, concentrating on the relationship between a man and a robot. It’s unique and so heart-warming! * thebookishuniverse.wordpress.com *
      I can sum this up in one word; ADORABLE! A book that explodes with cuteness and humour * betweenmylines.com *
      Deborah has created a truly wonderful, heartfelt story of friendship that completely melted my heart. This is without a doubt one of the best books that I have read this year * lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk *
      A Robot in the Garden is a lovely, wonderful debut novel and I really hope it’s not the last we see of Tang, and the other interesting characters the author has created. Off to re-read… * reviewedthebook.co.uk *
      A story of true friendship, love and the journey of self-discovery and I utterly adored it. The storyline was superb, the characters were solid and adorable and the writing was flawless. * thebloggersbookshop.blogspot.co.uk *
      The story is sweet, charming, funny, and I found myself really enjoying it * thebooklife.co.uk *
      The ‘character goes on a journey of self-discovery’ trope is a well used one in all forms of art, but it’s rarely done as wonderfully or with such imagination, as in Deborah Install’s début novel ‘A Robot In The Garden'. * ifthesebookscouldtalk.com *
      I literally could not put this book down. It is truly a magical read * compellingreads.co.uk *
      It’s hard to believe that such a book can be a début for the author, and I will be advising everyone to read it * bcfreviews.wordpress.com *
      Read this book, you'll enjoy it and that's all there is to say on the matter! * dark-readers.com *
      It made me smile, it made me laugh - and the last chapter or two had me laughing out loud several times * mac-adventureswithbooks.blogspot.co.uk *
      This is a wonderful, heart-warming book with a great big dollop of humour, guaranteed to draw in the reader and hold their interest until the very last page * thecuriousgingercat.blogspot.co.uk *
      a touching story of friendship and growing up. 'The Robot in the Garden' is a very unique and quirky read * lynseysbooks.blogspot.co.uk *
      A heartwarming mix of fantasy and road novel * Booklist STARRED REVIEW *

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