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Hey, Zoey book cover

Hey, Zoey

by Sarah Crossan

Contemporary
Science Fiction
Speculative Fiction
320 Pages

"Crossan tackles the weirdness of modern relationships with such insight and dark humor—this book made me question everything about connection and intimacy."

Synopsis

Forty-three-year-old Dolores O'Shea has built a carefully ordered life. She manages her demanding job, cares for her mentally declining mother, maintains friendships, and keeps up with household responsibilities while her marriage to David, an anesthesiologist, quietly deteriorates. But nothing could prepare her for the discovery that shatters her world: an $8,000 AI sex doll named Zoey hidden in their garage. Initially, Zoey triggers an uncharacteristic rage in Dolores, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about her marriage and herself. Yet when Dolores moves the doll into the house and begins talking to her, something unexpected happens. Hey, Zoey explores the strange bond that develops between woman and machine, as their conversations unlock buried memories and repressed emotions that Dolores has spent decades avoiding. Through this unlikely relationship, Crossan examines the nature of connection, intimacy, and love in our increasingly digital world. The novel delves into themes of marriage, technology, family trauma, and the complex ways we seek understanding and validation. As Dolores' relationship with Zoey deepens, it affects every other relationship in her life, challenging her assumptions about what constitutes real connection and forcing her to reevaluate her relationship with herself.

Our Take

Sarah Crossan has written a boldly original novel that tackles one of the most provocative questions of our time: what does it mean to connect in an age of artificial intelligence? Rather than sensationalizing her premise, Crossan treats the relationship between Dolores and Zoey with surprising tenderness and psychological depth. The book's strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers about technology, relationships, or human nature. Instead, it offers a nuanced exploration of loneliness, intimacy, and the various ways we seek understanding. Readers who appreciated Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro will recognize similar themes about AI consciousness and human connection, while fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid will connect with the complex female protagonist examining her life choices. Like Her by Spike Jonze, this story explores unconventional love without judgment, asking profound questions about what makes relationships meaningful. Crossan's dark humor and sharp observations about modern marriage and middle age make this as funny as it is thought-provoking. This is essential reading for anyone interested in speculative fiction that feels startlingly relevant to our current moment, offering both entertainment and genuine insight into how technology is reshaping human intimacy.

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