Aftercare Instructions

Everyone is raving about Aftercare Instructions|Bonnie Pipkin’s electric|format-crushing debut about furious friendship|crazy love|and unexpected hope: “Important|fierce. Pipkin stole my heart with this book.” —A.S. King|author of Still Life with Tornado “Mighty|innovative|and nearly impossible to put down.” —David Arnold|author of Kids of Appetite “An illuminating|beautiful portrait.” —Kathleen Glasgow|author of Girl in Pieces “A riveting novel as powerful as it is essential.” —Robin Wasserman|author of Girls on Fire “Troubled.” That’s seventeen-year-old Genesis according to her small New Jersey town. She finds refuge and stability in her relationship with her boyfriend|Peter—until he abandons her at a Planned Parenthood clinic during their appointment to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The betrayal causes Gen to question everything. As Gen pushes herself forward to find her new identity without Peter|she must also confront her most painful memories. Through the lens of an ongoing four act play within the novel|the fantasy of their undying love unravels line by line|scene by scene. Digging deeper into her past while exploring the underground theater world of New York City|she rediscovers a long forgotten dream. But it’s when Gen lets go of her history|the one she thinks she knows|that she’s finally able to embrace the complicated|chaotic true story of her life|and take center stage. Aftercare Instructions|a debut full of heart and hope|follows Gen on a big-hearted journey from dorm rooms to diners to underground theaters—and ultimately|right into listeners' hearts.