Hey, Zoey

Crossan (Here Is the Beehive) delivers a darkly comic, wholly original novel steeped in artificial intelligence—in this case, a sexbot named Zoey who communicates using AI. David and Dolores have been married for several years, but theirs is not a relationship of passion; they’re more like two friends who happen to live together. Things come to a head when Dolores finds the sexbot in their garage. David refuses to discuss it when she confronts him, and he moves out, leaving Zoey behind. More frustrated than heartbroken, Dolores drags the doll into the house and sets up its app, making Zoey into her new roommate and confidante. To Zoey, Dolores relates her mother’s dementia and confesses to missing her sister, who has recently moved away. As readers learn more about Dolores and her relationships, it is easy to understand her fascination with Zoey, who’s a good listener and can hold her own in a conversation. The kinds of human-AI relationships that once seemed like science fiction become reality in Crossan’s novel about modern-day connection.