## ‘Hey, Zoey’: A Novel That Explores the Autonomy of Women## ‘Hey, Zoey’: A Novel That Explores the Autonomy of Women In her latest novel, “Hey, Zoey,” Sarah Crossan delves into themes of female autonomy, artificial intelligence, and the nature of human relationships. The story centers around Dolores, a middle-aged woman who discovers a lifelike sex doll named Zoey in her garage. This discovery prompts her to confront questions about her own life and the meaning of her marriage. Crossan’s writing style is both engaging and introspective. The novel is told through a series of fragmented vignettes that jump through time and place, providing a mosaic of Dolores’s past and present. This narrative technique allows readers to gradually piece together the complexities of Dolores’s character and her relationships. At first glance, “Hey, Zoey” may seem like a humorous premise, but it quickly takes a darker turn. Crossan explores the ways in which Dolores’s life has been shaped by societal expectations and her own internal struggles. The result is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that challenges readers to question their own assumptions about love, marriage, and the nature of humanity. Themes of Autonomy and Female Empowerment One of the central themes of “Hey, Zoey” is the autonomy of women. Dolores’s encounters with Zoey force her to confront the ways in which her own choices have been limited by social norms and patriarchal attitudes. Through Zoey, she explores the possibility of a life beyond the traditional roles that have been assigned to her. Crossan also examines the intersection of cultural and personal identities. Dolores is an Irish woman living in England, and she navigates the challenges of both cultures. This adds another layer to the novel’s exploration of autonomy, as Dolores grapples with her own sense of identity and belonging. The Role of Artificial Intelligence The introduction of Zoey, an AI-infused sex doll, raises a host of questions about the nature of human relationships and the potential consequences of artificial intelligence. Crossan explores the ways in which Zoey’s presence disrupts Dolores’s marriage and forces her to confront her own desires and expectations. A Page-Turner with a Deeper Meaning While “Hey, Zoey” is a compelling page-turner, it also offers a profound exploration of human nature. Crossan’s nuanced characters and thought-provoking themes make this novel a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary fiction and the complexities of modern relationships.
This cover photo released by Little, Brown and Company features “Hey, Zoey” by Sarah Crossan. (Little, Brown and Company via AP)
Dolores is going through the motions of life when she finds a potential wedding surprise in her garage: a high-end, lifelike sex doll infused with artificial intelligence named Zoey.
There are a lot of places author Sarah Crossan could go from here — when is it cheating? What makes something human or sentient? How can we define the value of a person? — and “Hey, Zoey” hits them all.
But the main focus of the story is the autonomy of women.
The novel jumps straight into Dolores’ life with a rapid-fire series of first-person vignettes, a mosaic of fragments that provide an overview of how we got here. Each piece ranges from a sentence or two to a few pages, jumping through times and places almost in a stream of consciousness, though the story never becomes lost or disjointed. The small pieces make it easy to tear through, but also to stop and process when necessary.
And you’ll have to take a break every now and then.
“Hey, Zoey” starts off pretty funny, at least in a gallows-humor sort of way, before turning sad and then devastating. Even the premise is a little funny; a woman whose name is sometimes shortened to Dolly holding her husband’s sex doll, whose name is Zoey, which means “life.” (“Dolores,” in case you’re wondering, means “sadness” — fasten your seatbelt.) There’s Dolores actually giving restaurants star reviews based solely on their lighting and music choices — as if they’re playing too much Norah Jones — or reprimanding one of her students for drawing a sexual cartoon after she’s admitted to him that he’s a good artist. And it’s extremely British, even though Dolores and her family would jump up to remind you that they’re Irish.
Then, after you’ve been lulled into this safe space of silly antics and mundane memories, the story turns darker as the introspection becomes more problematic. The subtle changes, like the cooling of the bathwater, are so tempered that by the time you realize the water has gone lukewarm, you’re too invested to begrudge it for the warmer, funnier bits from before.
Dolores starts a conversation with Zoey, who helps her face her own past.
We see how her parents’ relationship shaped her perceptions of love and marriage. How caring for her younger sister and baby nephew made her feel needed and connected. And as a teacher with endless students cycling through her classroom, she feels stagnant. Is Dolores now, with Zoey, replaceable?
As the story progresses, you’ll begin to test your own theories about why Dolores and David’s marriage is falling apart. Her problems are so deeply buried that even Dolores has no idea about them.
Full of microaggressions, cultural intersections and self-reflection, “Hey, Zoey” uses AI awareness to look at the issue of women’s autonomy from a new perspective.
With a dozen other novels to his name, the award-winning author’s latest novel is expected to be a page turner. But the real surprise and delight of “Hey, Zoey” is the compelling story and engaging conversations.
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AP book reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews
Donna Edwards, Associated Press
