- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Flatiron Books (June 27, 2017)
“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 readers' hearts.
So first off, this story takes place within the space of a week and its flashback are told in the form of a play with Acts and Scenes.
Our lead is Genesis who is involved with the somewhat upper-class fellow thesbian, Peter. Peter has an asshole of a mother. Peter is a very clean cookie, until he's not and Genesis is left ALONE AFTER SHE DEALS WITH ABORTING THEIR BABY. Peter is a prick.
Genesis is so in love with this douchebag that several times I find myself forgetting this is just within a week and I don't count the rest of their relationship. But still, MEGA DOUCHE MOVE.
Anyway, each chapter opens with, you guessed it! AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS for a women handling the termination of a pregnancy. It was very creative.
Now there is the family situation between Genesis, her younger sister and their mother. This managed to completely steal the story for me because it was truly a twist I didn't see coming and it made me so emotional.
Seth is a DARLING of a character and I am so happy that he wasn't wasted and gave Genesis some real strength. Loved Rose and Delilah as well.
I can't spoil because, ugh, it is so much but this was very intense and makes you say thanks Planned Parenthood.
WARNING : THIS IS HEAVY. Includes drug use, abortion, and suicide.
Aftercare Instructions: A Novel by Bonnie Pipkin via @amazon
Bonnie Pipkin believes in prose, performances, puppet shows, and public displays of affection. Originally from California, Bonnie now lives in Brooklyn. She has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaches literature courses at Kean University, officiates weddings, and looks after a very cute cat. Aftercare Instructions is Bonnie’s first novel.
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