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Aftercare Instructions
Troubled. That's seventeen-year-old Gen 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 a pregnancy. The betrayal causes Gen to question everything.
As Gen pushes herself forward to find her new identity without Peter, the flimsy story of their undying love begins to unravel. But it's when Gen lets go of her past, the one she thinks she knows, that she's able to embrace the complicated, chaotic true story of her life.
As Gen pushes herself forward to find her new identity without Peter, the flimsy story of their undying love begins to unravel. But it's when Gen lets go of her past, the one she thinks she knows, that she's able to embrace the complicated, chaotic true story of her life.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
27 people are currently reading
3407 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Pipkin
3 books93 followersBonnie 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
July 5, 2017
I'd rate this 4.5 stars.
Sometimes a character, and by extension, a book, wears its heart on its sleeve. You just can't help but be moved by what the author puts their character through, and you think about what it might be like for those actually dealing with these situations. Such was the case for me with Bonnie Pipkin's wonderful new book, Aftercare Instructions . I found it thanks to an advertisement on Goodreads, and I don't think I'll get it out of my head anytime soon.
"Sometimes you make a choice that can save your life. You might make your choice for one reason, before the real reason even becomes clear. Like this morning when I refused the sedation. The reason was because I wanted to feel it. I wanted to feel my choice as it left my body. I didn't know it would actually make all the difference in the world when my one, and only one, escort bailed mid-procedure, and I found out by walking into the waiting room, scanning a sea of hopeful eyes, and finding absolutely nowhere safe or familiar to land. In that moment, I was thrown into the deep, deep water. And in the deep, deep water, there is no way to breathe. Yet somehow, something propels you forward. Survival mode, I think it's called."
Seventeen-year-old Genesis Johnson has been struggling for some time. Her life was turned upside down when her actor and playwright father (and drug addict) died of a heroin overdose, and her mother has never been able to get back to reality. Genesis finds herself caring for her mother instead of vice-versa, after a problem with one of her prescriptions (it wasn't a suicide attempt) lands her in the hospital, and causes Gen's grandparents to take custody of her younger sister. Gen is just trying to get by the best she can.
When her classmate, Peter Sage, takes an interest in her, she doesn't know what to do. This is the first time in her life she's really been excited about someone, but she is so afraid to let her guard down. She knows that Peter's ultra-religious mother disapproves of Gen and her family, especially when the truth about how her father died becomes public. She warns Peter that her emotional baggage will be too much for him to handle, but he convinces her that loving a person means loving everything about him, so she lets herself fall. Hard.
But when Gen becomes pregnant unexpectedly, the difference in her and Peter's worlds becomes abundantly clear. Although they agree that her getting an abortion is the only right choice, it causes friction in their relationship, and she promises not to tell anyone else their secret. When Peter abandons her at the abortion clinic during her procedure, she feels utterly betrayed, and starts to question all of the things they said to one another and the promises they made.
"Now that he's gone, I know nothing has healed under the patchwork job he did. There aren't any instructions anywhere on what to do when your dad dies like he did and then your boyfriend leaves you at Planned Parenthood while you're getting an abortion."
How do you find the strength to keep going when all you want to do is curl into a ball and retreat from the world? How do you keep helping those who depend on you and not shut out those who care about you? But perhaps most importantly, how do you realize that as much as you can think of nothing except your own crises, your own pain, you need to realize that others around you have their own issues, and want you to help them and understand them as they do the same for you?
Aftercare Instructions demonstrates that just because your life may seem as if it is falling apart, there's only so much you can push people away and mistreat them before they abandon you when you need them most, even if you can't focus on anything but your own problems. It's a book about coming to terms with a painful legacy we may have had nothing to do with, but realizing that it doesn't give you carte blanche to inflict pain on others or hurt others. It's also a book about finding the strength to let go of your burdens and try again, perhaps not full steam ahead, but slowly, gingerly, until you can stand on your own.
I really liked this book, even though Gen wasn't always the most sympathetic character. Pipkin's storytelling is unique, as she juxtaposes chapters dealing with Gen's current situation, with scenes from a play which portray the evolution of her relationship with Peter and the crises they face. This is one of those books where you wonder how no adults really caught on to everything that was going on, but given Gen's family situation, it isn't surprising.
There is a lot of angst in this book, but it's not melodramatic, or overly angsty, like many YA books are. Sure, many people might not think that the crisis of first love is that big of a deal, but given everything else in the book, you can understand why.
Ultimately, this isn't a book for everyone, especially if you're bothered by issues like abortion and underage drinking, but this is a moving, thought-provoking, well-written story, once again proving the quality of YA fiction out there today. I can't wait to see what comes next for Pipkin.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Sometimes a character, and by extension, a book, wears its heart on its sleeve. You just can't help but be moved by what the author puts their character through, and you think about what it might be like for those actually dealing with these situations. Such was the case for me with Bonnie Pipkin's wonderful new book, Aftercare Instructions . I found it thanks to an advertisement on Goodreads, and I don't think I'll get it out of my head anytime soon.
"Sometimes you make a choice that can save your life. You might make your choice for one reason, before the real reason even becomes clear. Like this morning when I refused the sedation. The reason was because I wanted to feel it. I wanted to feel my choice as it left my body. I didn't know it would actually make all the difference in the world when my one, and only one, escort bailed mid-procedure, and I found out by walking into the waiting room, scanning a sea of hopeful eyes, and finding absolutely nowhere safe or familiar to land. In that moment, I was thrown into the deep, deep water. And in the deep, deep water, there is no way to breathe. Yet somehow, something propels you forward. Survival mode, I think it's called."
Seventeen-year-old Genesis Johnson has been struggling for some time. Her life was turned upside down when her actor and playwright father (and drug addict) died of a heroin overdose, and her mother has never been able to get back to reality. Genesis finds herself caring for her mother instead of vice-versa, after a problem with one of her prescriptions (it wasn't a suicide attempt) lands her in the hospital, and causes Gen's grandparents to take custody of her younger sister. Gen is just trying to get by the best she can.
When her classmate, Peter Sage, takes an interest in her, she doesn't know what to do. This is the first time in her life she's really been excited about someone, but she is so afraid to let her guard down. She knows that Peter's ultra-religious mother disapproves of Gen and her family, especially when the truth about how her father died becomes public. She warns Peter that her emotional baggage will be too much for him to handle, but he convinces her that loving a person means loving everything about him, so she lets herself fall. Hard.
But when Gen becomes pregnant unexpectedly, the difference in her and Peter's worlds becomes abundantly clear. Although they agree that her getting an abortion is the only right choice, it causes friction in their relationship, and she promises not to tell anyone else their secret. When Peter abandons her at the abortion clinic during her procedure, she feels utterly betrayed, and starts to question all of the things they said to one another and the promises they made.
"Now that he's gone, I know nothing has healed under the patchwork job he did. There aren't any instructions anywhere on what to do when your dad dies like he did and then your boyfriend leaves you at Planned Parenthood while you're getting an abortion."
How do you find the strength to keep going when all you want to do is curl into a ball and retreat from the world? How do you keep helping those who depend on you and not shut out those who care about you? But perhaps most importantly, how do you realize that as much as you can think of nothing except your own crises, your own pain, you need to realize that others around you have their own issues, and want you to help them and understand them as they do the same for you?
Aftercare Instructions demonstrates that just because your life may seem as if it is falling apart, there's only so much you can push people away and mistreat them before they abandon you when you need them most, even if you can't focus on anything but your own problems. It's a book about coming to terms with a painful legacy we may have had nothing to do with, but realizing that it doesn't give you carte blanche to inflict pain on others or hurt others. It's also a book about finding the strength to let go of your burdens and try again, perhaps not full steam ahead, but slowly, gingerly, until you can stand on your own.
I really liked this book, even though Gen wasn't always the most sympathetic character. Pipkin's storytelling is unique, as she juxtaposes chapters dealing with Gen's current situation, with scenes from a play which portray the evolution of her relationship with Peter and the crises they face. This is one of those books where you wonder how no adults really caught on to everything that was going on, but given Gen's family situation, it isn't surprising.
There is a lot of angst in this book, but it's not melodramatic, or overly angsty, like many YA books are. Sure, many people might not think that the crisis of first love is that big of a deal, but given everything else in the book, you can understand why.
Ultimately, this isn't a book for everyone, especially if you're bothered by issues like abortion and underage drinking, but this is a moving, thought-provoking, well-written story, once again proving the quality of YA fiction out there today. I can't wait to see what comes next for Pipkin.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
May 13, 2018
4☆ A Coming of Age Story
Aftercare Instructions is a story of heartache, coming of age, abortion, friendship and family.
At first l wasn't too sure about the style of writing. It's written as half an account from Genesis after her abortion and the other half is written as a drama play with acts and scenes. It took me a while to get used to is as I was getting a lil confused.
I didn't particularly like the play script sections I thought the writing was strong enough without adding the use of a script to tell Genesis story of her life leading up to her abortion.
Genesis was pregnant with Peter's baby. He abandons her at the clinic and she has to deal with everything on her own.
Rose her best friend wishes she had told her but she is there to support her now.
Peter is a coward and instead of standing up and supporting her he leaves her alone and scared. I really didn't like Peter. He is Genesis's first love and yet he breaks her heart and betrays her.
Genesis hasn't had life easy. Her relationship with her mother is fraught and it clearly comes across that she is the adult.
It's no wonder she clings onto Peter when he shows her attention and love.
She is very strong, yet vulnerable I really liked. I wanted to give her a hug. No one should have to face an abortion on their own. Especially a 17year old girl.
Aftercare Instructions is exactly the right title for this book. Each chapter gives an aftercare instruction that Genesis should follow after her abortion.
This is a raw heart breaking account of a young teenagers story as she battles through love, life, heartbreak, loss, drama and changes.
It's emotional, thought provoking and will tug at your heart strings.
This book does contain sensitive subjects that some May find hard to read such as drug use, abortion and mental health.
I really enjoyed reading Aftercare Instructions once I looked past the play script. If you enjoy thought provoking reads of coming of age stories then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to Legend Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Aftercare Instructions is a story of heartache, coming of age, abortion, friendship and family.
At first l wasn't too sure about the style of writing. It's written as half an account from Genesis after her abortion and the other half is written as a drama play with acts and scenes. It took me a while to get used to is as I was getting a lil confused.
I didn't particularly like the play script sections I thought the writing was strong enough without adding the use of a script to tell Genesis story of her life leading up to her abortion.
Genesis was pregnant with Peter's baby. He abandons her at the clinic and she has to deal with everything on her own.
Rose her best friend wishes she had told her but she is there to support her now.
Peter is a coward and instead of standing up and supporting her he leaves her alone and scared. I really didn't like Peter. He is Genesis's first love and yet he breaks her heart and betrays her.
Genesis hasn't had life easy. Her relationship with her mother is fraught and it clearly comes across that she is the adult.
It's no wonder she clings onto Peter when he shows her attention and love.
She is very strong, yet vulnerable I really liked. I wanted to give her a hug. No one should have to face an abortion on their own. Especially a 17year old girl.
Aftercare Instructions is exactly the right title for this book. Each chapter gives an aftercare instruction that Genesis should follow after her abortion.
This is a raw heart breaking account of a young teenagers story as she battles through love, life, heartbreak, loss, drama and changes.
It's emotional, thought provoking and will tug at your heart strings.
This book does contain sensitive subjects that some May find hard to read such as drug use, abortion and mental health.
I really enjoyed reading Aftercare Instructions once I looked past the play script. If you enjoy thought provoking reads of coming of age stories then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to Legend Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
October 31, 2023
When I first heard about this book, I knew I had to snatch it up, because I can't say that I've ever read a YA contemporary book that was willing to tackle abortion as a main topic - especially not in a pro-choice lighting. As a tremendous advocate for keeping one person's opinions out of another person's uterus, I was almost a little bit wary - would this book be problematic? Would it highlight abortion as an act of evil, or a move of desperation from a teenage girl not yet fit for motherhood?
It turned out that I was cautious for no good reason. Not only did this book paint abortion in a fairly neutral shade, it turned out that the abortion wasn't even necessarily the main plot line. I mean, yes, it was certainly the catalyst for everything that happened in the book, but Bonnie focused a great deal more on Peter leaving Gen, Gen's grief over her dad's passing and her mother's mental health illnesses, and Gen finding healing anywhere she could get it - in the arms of her best friend, her loving cousin, or the new shaggy-haired boy from New York who drags her back into the theatre that her father loved so much.
There is a lot of back story to Gen's situation, but Bonnie tackles it so smoothly by alternating present-day chapters with flashbacks in the format of a play's script. It makes for such an enjoyable and easy read that I finished it in two sittings, in the same day. Not only is the formatting and writing style likable, but the characters themselves are just genuinely enjoyable and real-feeling. Despite Gen being seventeen years old, Bonnie didn't play into the guise of the "all high schoolers are evil except the protagonist" trope; instead, Gen is surrounded by a lot of genuinely decent people, and - at risk of posing a small spoiler - even the douchey ex-boyfriend isn't all bad in the end (though he's still pretty crummy).
All in all, I enjoyed being in Gen's head. I liked watching her cope with her father's death and Peter's disappearance. I felt sorry for her as she explained how her mother's grief had made her a shell of a human being, and I ached right alongside her when things went south with her mom's mental health. I rooted for the new guy, cheered for the badass friends who supported her, and was overall really pleased that I picked this title up. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, solid YA contemporary about grief, love, friendship, and healing.
Thank you to Bonnie Pipkin and the lovely folks at Flatiron for sending me an ARC of this book! All opinions here are my own.
It turned out that I was cautious for no good reason. Not only did this book paint abortion in a fairly neutral shade, it turned out that the abortion wasn't even necessarily the main plot line. I mean, yes, it was certainly the catalyst for everything that happened in the book, but Bonnie focused a great deal more on Peter leaving Gen, Gen's grief over her dad's passing and her mother's mental health illnesses, and Gen finding healing anywhere she could get it - in the arms of her best friend, her loving cousin, or the new shaggy-haired boy from New York who drags her back into the theatre that her father loved so much.
There is a lot of back story to Gen's situation, but Bonnie tackles it so smoothly by alternating present-day chapters with flashbacks in the format of a play's script. It makes for such an enjoyable and easy read that I finished it in two sittings, in the same day. Not only is the formatting and writing style likable, but the characters themselves are just genuinely enjoyable and real-feeling. Despite Gen being seventeen years old, Bonnie didn't play into the guise of the "all high schoolers are evil except the protagonist" trope; instead, Gen is surrounded by a lot of genuinely decent people, and - at risk of posing a small spoiler - even the douchey ex-boyfriend isn't all bad in the end (though he's still pretty crummy).
All in all, I enjoyed being in Gen's head. I liked watching her cope with her father's death and Peter's disappearance. I felt sorry for her as she explained how her mother's grief had made her a shell of a human being, and I ached right alongside her when things went south with her mom's mental health. I rooted for the new guy, cheered for the badass friends who supported her, and was overall really pleased that I picked this title up. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, solid YA contemporary about grief, love, friendship, and healing.
Thank you to Bonnie Pipkin and the lovely folks at Flatiron for sending me an ARC of this book! All opinions here are my own.
December 1, 2016
An incredibly brave book that examines abortion, grief, adolescent relationships, and heartbreak in a timely and authentic way.
August 18, 2017
*Disclaimer: An ARC of Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars rated up.
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Initial Post Reading Thoughts:
Wow. This book was amazing. Super fast paced while also dealing with some really dark and hard hitting topics. It was so beautifully written and it felt like it came straight from the heart of the author. This is definitely one that's worth checking out.
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What I Liked
The Hard Hitting Topics. Saying that this book deals with a lot of topics is an understatement. From abortion to drugs to suicide and religion. At time it definitely felt like a lot, but we’ll get into that a little later. What I liked about how this book dealt with all of these hard hitting topics was that it did so unapologetically. The author didn’t look down on anyone and she talked about everything without judgement. Aftercare Instructions is definitely a very heavy kind of contemporary novel.
Fast Pace. This book was super fast paced and a very quick read. I listened to it as an audiobook and while it said it was 6 hours long it felt even shorter than that. It was written so beautifully and with just the right amount of detail and description to keep it moving at a great pace.
Felt True & Real. There was something about this book that felt very truthful and as though the author write it straight from the heart. Upon reading the acknowledgements at the end of the novel, it seems as though Aftercare Instructions and its themes are very personal for the author. I think that fact alone helped contribute to how real and raw this book was.
Formatting. Aftercare Instructions had pretty unique formatting as the flashback scenes were written as acts in a play while the scenes that take place in the present are written as an Aftercare Instruction as those found in a pamphlet after any medical procedure/surgery. I really enjoyed this aspect as both of these themes (even though pretty different from one another) both fit into this story and its main character.
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What I Didn’t Like
Too Much Too Quick. As mentioned above, Aftercare Instructions deals with a lot of heavy topics and at times it almost felt like too much too quickly. I didn’t mind all of these themes being covered, but the story itself takes place over the course of like 2-3 weeks max and I just found it slightly hard to believe that everything that happened could have happened so quickly.
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Overall, Aftercare Instructions was a very hard hitting and emotional novel. I really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait to see what Bonnie Pipkin releases next!
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#ARCAugust
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May 26, 2017I wouldn't put this in the camp of "like Jandy Nelson and Rainbow Rowell" at all when it comes to contemporary YA. It's got more edge than either of them and it's got less literary angling than Nelson. There's also virtually no quirkiness nor witty banter a la Rowell. So don't go in expecting that. If that comp is code for THIS IS CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION there are so many better comps. Siobhan Vivian, maybe? Amy Reed? CK Kelly Martin? Trish Doller?
This is an excellent debut novel about a girl named Genesis (after the band and after the Bible) who has an abortion. Peter, the baby's father, leaves her alone at the Planned Parenthood, and the story weaves backwards and forwards from that moment. The flashbacks are written in play format, with the three act structure, and it's woven in smartly, as Gen is a former actress. This is a well-paced story about a girl growing up in a dysfunctional household marred by drug addiction and mental illness, as well as a family that's literally in pieces.
The voice is fresh, the style is engaging, and it tackles so many tough topics in a thoughtful way. Many might find Gen to be "unlikable" -- she is, after all, starting with an abortion and then evading everyone in her family who loves her and oh, she leaves a party to make out with the ex when she brought her new love interest along for the ride -- but she's just making poor choices in light of having a million pounds of expectations upon her.
Sign me up for the next Pipkin read.
This is an excellent debut novel about a girl named Genesis (after the band and after the Bible) who has an abortion. Peter, the baby's father, leaves her alone at the Planned Parenthood, and the story weaves backwards and forwards from that moment. The flashbacks are written in play format, with the three act structure, and it's woven in smartly, as Gen is a former actress. This is a well-paced story about a girl growing up in a dysfunctional household marred by drug addiction and mental illness, as well as a family that's literally in pieces.
The voice is fresh, the style is engaging, and it tackles so many tough topics in a thoughtful way. Many might find Gen to be "unlikable" -- she is, after all, starting with an abortion and then evading everyone in her family who loves her and oh, she leaves a party to make out with the ex when she brought her new love interest along for the ride -- but she's just making poor choices in light of having a million pounds of expectations upon her.
Sign me up for the next Pipkin read.
June 20, 2017
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
4.5*
First, I must say, the topic of abortion is one that is woefully unspoken about in most books. I love that the author and publisher took such a heavy, important topic and channeled it into a really responsible, well-thought out novel. Lest we get into some kind of political/religious debate, no one enjoys talking about this sort of thing, but unintended pregnancies are a real part of people's lives. And I feel like young people especially have so few places to turn (in most cases, anyway) in the event that this happens to them. I can't imagine the havoc this kind of decision would wreak on a young woman's life, so I absolutely applaud this book for handling the subject so respectfully, and so honestly.
I loved that the author didn't make this exclusively about Genesis's decision, though. She portrayed Genesis as a well-rounded and thoughtful young woman with a lot of promise. But she also shows the difficulty of Gen's life, her family, her boyfriend (who you'll probably want to punch, just saying). And of course, the aftermath of her life changing decision to end her pregnancy. Genesis was confident of her choice, but that doesn't mean it didn't still have a huge impact, and I loved how honest that felt.
We get glimpses into how Genesis got to the point she is at, how her relationship evolved, how her home life was, as the story goes on. These are told as a play script, which was fun- and made it really easy to decipher what parts were flashback and which were present time, and I appreciated that.
Bottom Line: This is a lovely story, woven by both past and present situations, that not only shines a light on the effects of a young woman's decision, but how her life continues and how she grows after the decision.
*Copy provided for review
4.5*
First, I must say, the topic of abortion is one that is woefully unspoken about in most books. I love that the author and publisher took such a heavy, important topic and channeled it into a really responsible, well-thought out novel. Lest we get into some kind of political/religious debate, no one enjoys talking about this sort of thing, but unintended pregnancies are a real part of people's lives. And I feel like young people especially have so few places to turn (in most cases, anyway) in the event that this happens to them. I can't imagine the havoc this kind of decision would wreak on a young woman's life, so I absolutely applaud this book for handling the subject so respectfully, and so honestly.
I loved that the author didn't make this exclusively about Genesis's decision, though. She portrayed Genesis as a well-rounded and thoughtful young woman with a lot of promise. But she also shows the difficulty of Gen's life, her family, her boyfriend (who you'll probably want to punch, just saying). And of course, the aftermath of her life changing decision to end her pregnancy. Genesis was confident of her choice, but that doesn't mean it didn't still have a huge impact, and I loved how honest that felt.
We get glimpses into how Genesis got to the point she is at, how her relationship evolved, how her home life was, as the story goes on. These are told as a play script, which was fun- and made it really easy to decipher what parts were flashback and which were present time, and I appreciated that.
Bottom Line: This is a lovely story, woven by both past and present situations, that not only shines a light on the effects of a young woman's decision, but how her life continues and how she grows after the decision.
*Copy provided for review
May 21, 2018
Seventeen year old Gen is taken taken by her boyfriend to clinic to have an abortion. After her obortion she expected Peter to come and collect her, but he has disappeared. A page turner with a heartbreaking story. I definitely recommend reading this book. Find Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin at Legend Press. The blog tour banner is amazing for this book, you can see it on my blog site favouritenovels.wordpress.com or Twitter@ favouritenovels
July 18, 2017
I'm tempted to give this 5 stars just because Bonnie Pipkin was willing to take on the topic of teenage abortion. However moving, realistic and moving this book might be it didn't bring me to tears; and while I'm not one to cry easily at all a five star book of this sort probably would have gotten me there. The ending is a bit too weak for me given the harsh content of the overall book.
Aftercare Instructions is set-up in a clever way. The past is read as screenplay entries and the present as first person narrative from our lead gal, Genesis. This is a story of hardship. The kind that comes along and you have no control over (like loosing a parent) and the kind of hardship where you made a choice at some point (or multiple points) and now you need to accept it and move on.
There are so many great moments in this book. Especially the beginning and when Genesis meets a boy. Both handled in a very realistic and surreal way. Exactly how I myself have felt in the past; both as a teenager and an adult. Sometimes you're just there for the ride and can only think about the immediate step in front of you. It's clear to me that Pipkin has experienced this first hand and she displays the distance, but intense emotion really well on the page.
My biggest disappointment here is that our lead gal doesn't seem to give much thought to her abortion after the fact. While this may be what some girls do in real life; I have to say that it would have been nice to see more agony over the morals, concerns and emotions of her choice. Additionally the part the 'boyfriend' plays in the abortion decision is downplayed overall and the ending didn't do him any justice.
As a woman who cannot have children, and it is believed that I miscarried a baby at 19; I can say that the whole realm of babies is a difficult place for me sometimes. Most days I'm happy to see my friends have little ones and be the one in five whose unable to carry. But occasionally I wonder what it might be like to hold my own baby in my arms. These types of thoughts all happen to a woman at some point no matter what her decisions are or where fate may take her. I think it's important more of these discussions happen openly among women and that our society accept that whether people like it or not getting pregnant doesn't come with a survey to fill out or pre-screening. We need to continue to offer support and options; pre and post sexual intercourse in order to ensure that both women and men feel they have played a part in decisions.
Overall this is a wonderful debut YA book that tackles a couple difficult topics. I think Pipkin has talent and in a couple more books she will hopefully hit her stride as a YA writer whose willing to tackle the heavy stuff and keep the emotions raw and real.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Aftercare Instructions is set-up in a clever way. The past is read as screenplay entries and the present as first person narrative from our lead gal, Genesis. This is a story of hardship. The kind that comes along and you have no control over (like loosing a parent) and the kind of hardship where you made a choice at some point (or multiple points) and now you need to accept it and move on.
There are so many great moments in this book. Especially the beginning and when Genesis meets a boy. Both handled in a very realistic and surreal way. Exactly how I myself have felt in the past; both as a teenager and an adult. Sometimes you're just there for the ride and can only think about the immediate step in front of you. It's clear to me that Pipkin has experienced this first hand and she displays the distance, but intense emotion really well on the page.
My biggest disappointment here is that our lead gal doesn't seem to give much thought to her abortion after the fact. While this may be what some girls do in real life; I have to say that it would have been nice to see more agony over the morals, concerns and emotions of her choice. Additionally the part the 'boyfriend' plays in the abortion decision is downplayed overall and the ending didn't do him any justice.
As a woman who cannot have children, and it is believed that I miscarried a baby at 19; I can say that the whole realm of babies is a difficult place for me sometimes. Most days I'm happy to see my friends have little ones and be the one in five whose unable to carry. But occasionally I wonder what it might be like to hold my own baby in my arms. These types of thoughts all happen to a woman at some point no matter what her decisions are or where fate may take her. I think it's important more of these discussions happen openly among women and that our society accept that whether people like it or not getting pregnant doesn't come with a survey to fill out or pre-screening. We need to continue to offer support and options; pre and post sexual intercourse in order to ensure that both women and men feel they have played a part in decisions.
Overall this is a wonderful debut YA book that tackles a couple difficult topics. I think Pipkin has talent and in a couple more books she will hopefully hit her stride as a YA writer whose willing to tackle the heavy stuff and keep the emotions raw and real.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
June 19, 2017
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I am a broken human. Genesis and her story have absolutely broken me.
This book is a beautiful exploration of mental health, death, addiction, teen pregnancy, abortion, love, heartbreak, friendship & family and I love it.
It's raw and it's gritty and it's hard to read at times but it's worth it. I laughed and cried. I was angry and thrilled. I loved and hated characters.
This book will make you think and it will make you feel and you should read it.
I am a broken human. Genesis and her story have absolutely broken me.
This book is a beautiful exploration of mental health, death, addiction, teen pregnancy, abortion, love, heartbreak, friendship & family and I love it.
It's raw and it's gritty and it's hard to read at times but it's worth it. I laughed and cried. I was angry and thrilled. I loved and hated characters.
This book will make you think and it will make you feel and you should read it.
August 15, 2016
This was beautiful and fun and full of imperfect characters and the importance of friendship and I LOVE what it adds to the conversation in YA.
January 15, 2020
UNPOPULAR OPINION COMING THROUGH!
Note: I received a copy from the publisher via Net Galley.
Note: I received a copy from the publisher via Net Galley.
January 14, 2020
See more amazing (!!) reviews like this one at the bandar blog.
This is a quick-paced, easy-to-read, YA contemporary novel about a young girl who is abandoned by her boyfriend at Planned Parenthood while she has an abortion. While I did enjoy the novel and the emotional journey that Gen (our main character) goes through, I did not find the book as poignant as some of the novels that are in the same genre (Eleanor & Park, I’ll Give You the Sun).
What I liked:
1. I did enjoy the rawness and explicitness of the abortion aspect (before you get too worried, it's not extremely explicit by any means. It just goes a tad bit beyond "had an abortion," which I appreciated).
2. It was quite ambitious with the amount subjects that are covered (maybe too much so?). What I really admired was that none of these taboo subjects are really looked down upon by our narrator: drugs, religion, abortions, underage drinking. Really no one is painted out to be the one true bad guy (no matter how much I might have thought they should have been villainized!). Everyone in this book makes mistakes.
3. The formatting was fun. Each chapter set in current time is titled based on an "aftercare instruction" for an abortion, and each flashback is written as a script or screenplay.
4. I enjoyed the efficient writing. Pipkin didn't belabor various aspects of the plot. It's a very quick read, and if it had been much longer, it wouldn't have been as engaging.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys controversial subjects in their contemporary reads. Just don't expect things to get too heavy or emotionally profound.
This is a quick-paced, easy-to-read, YA contemporary novel about a young girl who is abandoned by her boyfriend at Planned Parenthood while she has an abortion. While I did enjoy the novel and the emotional journey that Gen (our main character) goes through, I did not find the book as poignant as some of the novels that are in the same genre (Eleanor & Park, I’ll Give You the Sun).
What I liked:
1. I did enjoy the rawness and explicitness of the abortion aspect (before you get too worried, it's not extremely explicit by any means. It just goes a tad bit beyond "had an abortion," which I appreciated).
2. It was quite ambitious with the amount subjects that are covered (maybe too much so?). What I really admired was that none of these taboo subjects are really looked down upon by our narrator: drugs, religion, abortions, underage drinking. Really no one is painted out to be the one true bad guy (no matter how much I might have thought they should have been villainized!). Everyone in this book makes mistakes.
3. The formatting was fun. Each chapter set in current time is titled based on an "aftercare instruction" for an abortion, and each flashback is written as a script or screenplay.
4. I enjoyed the efficient writing. Pipkin didn't belabor various aspects of the plot. It's a very quick read, and if it had been much longer, it wouldn't have been as engaging.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys controversial subjects in their contemporary reads. Just don't expect things to get too heavy or emotionally profound.
April 22, 2023
2.5 stars. The first chapter of this book made me go "YES THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING" but it sadly did not quite live up to my own hype. This book had so much promise! But I feel like there were a couple of real issues with it that made my enjoyment dwindle steadily as each chapter went on. The first was that the voice was all over the place. One chapter it was your contemporary voice, the next it was almost stream of consciousness. I would imagine that the author wanted to tie this in with Genesis's mental state, but to me it just read as poorly edited.
The second, and probably bigger issue I had, was that this book tried to do way too much in way too short a time. It was a book about teen abortion (but only peripherally, only as the cause of action,and that was a major disappointment), it was a break-up book, it was a mental health book, it was a family dynamics book, it was a drug abuse book, it was a friendship book, a new romance book, a New York book, a theater book...I could seriously go on here. When it started I thought this book was going to delve very specifically into teen romance, teen pregnancy, into Genesis's autonomy with a boyfriend from a very religious family. That was a story I wanted to get into more. But this was just allllll over the map, so that we only got snippets of each story arc.
If the book had been more focused, had known the story it wanted to tell and really told it, I think it would have been infinitely more enjoyable and emotionally hard-hitting.
The second, and probably bigger issue I had, was that this book tried to do way too much in way too short a time. It was a book about teen abortion (but only peripherally, only as the cause of action,and that was a major disappointment), it was a break-up book, it was a mental health book, it was a family dynamics book, it was a drug abuse book, it was a friendship book, a new romance book, a New York book, a theater book...I could seriously go on here. When it started I thought this book was going to delve very specifically into teen romance, teen pregnancy, into Genesis's autonomy with a boyfriend from a very religious family. That was a story I wanted to get into more. But this was just allllll over the map, so that we only got snippets of each story arc.
If the book had been more focused, had known the story it wanted to tell and really told it, I think it would have been infinitely more enjoyable and emotionally hard-hitting.
Read
February 7, 2017Still trying to figure out what to say about this book, but I do know that in a time it seems impossible for me to focus on reading anything (hence being behind on my GR challenge for the first time in forever and also Currently Reading 400 books), I was totally sneaking reads of this one when I should've been getting dressed to go out, and sped through it like I haven't through anything in a longass time.
August 22, 2017
I really enjoy and appreciate this novel.
This is a really great narrative on abortion and how you never know what someone is going through and it's not your choice to say what someone can do with their body.
I don't really have any qualms with this book, I just can't give it a full five stars for some reason. I would highly recommend, though.
This is a really great narrative on abortion and how you never know what someone is going through and it's not your choice to say what someone can do with their body.
I don't really have any qualms with this book, I just can't give it a full five stars for some reason. I would highly recommend, though.
July 2, 2017
Messy and beautiful. I finished this one in a day. Full review soon.
July 12, 2020
This was cute, it was emotional and I enjoyed it - but there was just something missing. Battling between a 3.5 and a 4 star rating!
April 19, 2023
What an important and powerful book. Wow.
EDIT: It's taken me some time to think about what I want to say about Bonnie Pipkin's debut. It is a suckerpunch of a novel, a look at how Genesis' decision affects her, her boyfriend, her life, and her actions. It's not about pregnancy or abortion, it's not a pro-abortion or pro-life book (though I mean she gets an abortion so there is that), it's about religion and friendship and grief and love. All kinds of love: friendship and romance and familial. It's about fathers and daughters. And best friends. And first loves, whether that's people or things you enjoy doing. It's about being scared and chickening out but finally owning up to it. It's about the way being on stage makes you feel alive, alive, alive. It's about one girl and her journey. I don't want to say too much to give it away. Going into this book with an blank slate is absolutely what you need to do. It's a must-read.
EDIT: It's taken me some time to think about what I want to say about Bonnie Pipkin's debut. It is a suckerpunch of a novel, a look at how Genesis' decision affects her, her boyfriend, her life, and her actions. It's not about pregnancy or abortion, it's not a pro-abortion or pro-life book (though I mean she gets an abortion so there is that), it's about religion and friendship and grief and love. All kinds of love: friendship and romance and familial. It's about fathers and daughters. And best friends. And first loves, whether that's people or things you enjoy doing. It's about being scared and chickening out but finally owning up to it. It's about the way being on stage makes you feel alive, alive, alive. It's about one girl and her journey. I don't want to say too much to give it away. Going into this book with an blank slate is absolutely what you need to do. It's a must-read.
April 13, 2017
When Genesis walks into the Planned Parenthood in Manhattan, she knows her life will never be the same. What she doesn't expect is that her boyfriend, Peter, will not be there waiting for her when she walks out. But Peter has deserted her at the time she needs him most, setting off a week that is unpredictable, emotional, and cathartic. Genesis will never be the same, but is that for the better?
This was a book that took some getting used to, but it explores some really tough issues in a very authentic way, so I applaud its daring. I wasn't into the style (switching from prose to play script and back) in the beginning because it felt forced, but as I grew to understand Genesis's character, it ended up fitting well. This was not as emotionally difficult a read as Allegedly, but it could still have some trigger warnings. Overall, I'm satisfied by what happened here, and I'm glad this book exists.
This was a book that took some getting used to, but it explores some really tough issues in a very authentic way, so I applaud its daring. I wasn't into the style (switching from prose to play script and back) in the beginning because it felt forced, but as I grew to understand Genesis's character, it ended up fitting well. This was not as emotionally difficult a read as Allegedly, but it could still have some trigger warnings. Overall, I'm satisfied by what happened here, and I'm glad this book exists.
January 10, 2017
Full review to come closer to release date on Books and Ladders !
This was really enjoyable and I loved the story and the characters but I wasn't a huge fan of the format with the flashbacks being in script. I think I would have enjoyed it more without that aspect. But I still really liked it!
This was really enjoyable and I loved the story and the characters but I wasn't a huge fan of the format with the flashbacks being in script. I think I would have enjoyed it more without that aspect. But I still really liked it!
August 9, 2017
I really liked this book! It feels very realistic and I've never been in a situation like Genesis's, so it was very interesting to read about that. The story about Genesis's mother disappointed me, though, because I can't believe that someone could lie about something so important (hopefully that's not too spoilery).
August 26, 2016
Absolutely wonderful, but it's not out til Summer 2017 so I'll hold off on a rating/review until the fall at least!
September 16, 2016
I read an early copy of this novel, and it is a brave, bold, beautiful story. I couldn't put it down.
August 4, 2017
4 stars. Review to come.
August 17, 2017
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
"The Thing I Wish I'd Known:
-I love you doesn't come with any guarantees."
Aftercare Instructions was one of those books that I went into expecting to like, but not love as much as I did. It was probably one of the best books that I've read in 2017, and maybe one of the most emotional novels that I've read to date. It's not the kind of book that had me crying the entire time that I read it, but it was one of those books that made me actually feel throughout every single chapter - from sadness to happiness to anger and back again, all while throwing in a bunch of other emotions, too.
The main character of the story, Genesis, finds herself at a family planning clinic with her boyfriend, Peter, with the intention of terminating a pregnancy that neither of them wanted or were ready to face. Peter has always been wonderful and loving toward Genesis, and she felt that she needed him and would be with him always - that is, until he leaves her there while she is having the procedure, which causes her to need to find her own way home and to deal with the abortion by herself, as well as the after effects and emotions that she would be faced with.
Not only does Genesis already have the reputation of being "troubled," she now has to face that reputation alone with only her best friend for guidance - and she finds herself having to deal with the breakup with her and Peter, even though she is in no way ready to move on.
Perhaps one of the neatest things about this book is the fact that during all of this, there is also a four act play going on in between the chapters of the book (which are actually titled by "aftercare instructions" themselves). During the acts of the play, we get to revisit some of Genesis's most precious memories, which make up her entire relationship with Peter, from the first time they met onward. This part of the book is creative and full of vital information for the reader, as it allows you to really get inside Genesis's head and see what makes her character tick. I think this interesting part of the book was probably my absolute favorite aspect, as it's rare to see books written this way and it's a creative way to incorporate memories.
Another thing I loved about this book was Genesis's character herself. She is full of emotions and she tries her hardest to be a good person, despite all of the stuff that she's been faced with over the years. I can't imagine having what happened to her happen to me, and I honestly thought she was a strong character. Genesis is someone to look up to, and I hope others who read her story can think of her that way, too.
I didn't care too much for Peter's character, as it was obvious that he only thought of himself and what he wanted, but it's obvious why his character was written the way that he was, and I think the author did a splendid job tearing his and Genesis's relationship apart, and then allowing the reader see it develop through the memories. It was a creative way to weave all of the parts of the story together.
I love that Aftercare Instructions doesn't focus on making things better magically or making it seem as though these things don't actually happen to real young adults (and older adults, too!) everywhere. Instead, it brings to light the things that really do happen, and that while it can feel quite emotional at times (or all the time, in the case of this book), things do happen, and they do need to be dealt with. Giving positive messages that essentially, everything negative does eventually pass, is a great way to help others through some messy situations that they may feel alone in.
I can't praise this book enough. I know some people will dislike it and refuse to read it because it deals with abortion, but you have to realize that it deals with SO much more than that. Sure, the main character has an abortion in the beginning of the book, but that isn't the main focus here. The main focus is what happens afterward. After the procedure. After the character's relationship falls apart. After she is betrayed and has to learn to trust again. After she has to figure out who she is and what her place in the world will be.
Aftercare Instructions is amazingly written, heartbreaking, beautiful, and one of the most gripping books that I've read this year.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
"The Thing I Wish I'd Known:
-I love you doesn't come with any guarantees."
Aftercare Instructions was one of those books that I went into expecting to like, but not love as much as I did. It was probably one of the best books that I've read in 2017, and maybe one of the most emotional novels that I've read to date. It's not the kind of book that had me crying the entire time that I read it, but it was one of those books that made me actually feel throughout every single chapter - from sadness to happiness to anger and back again, all while throwing in a bunch of other emotions, too.
The main character of the story, Genesis, finds herself at a family planning clinic with her boyfriend, Peter, with the intention of terminating a pregnancy that neither of them wanted or were ready to face. Peter has always been wonderful and loving toward Genesis, and she felt that she needed him and would be with him always - that is, until he leaves her there while she is having the procedure, which causes her to need to find her own way home and to deal with the abortion by herself, as well as the after effects and emotions that she would be faced with.
Not only does Genesis already have the reputation of being "troubled," she now has to face that reputation alone with only her best friend for guidance - and she finds herself having to deal with the breakup with her and Peter, even though she is in no way ready to move on.
"There aren't any instructions anywhere on what to do when your dad dies like he did and then your boyfriend leaves you at Planned Parenthood while you're getting an abortion. Where are those instructions?"
Perhaps one of the neatest things about this book is the fact that during all of this, there is also a four act play going on in between the chapters of the book (which are actually titled by "aftercare instructions" themselves). During the acts of the play, we get to revisit some of Genesis's most precious memories, which make up her entire relationship with Peter, from the first time they met onward. This part of the book is creative and full of vital information for the reader, as it allows you to really get inside Genesis's head and see what makes her character tick. I think this interesting part of the book was probably my absolute favorite aspect, as it's rare to see books written this way and it's a creative way to incorporate memories.
Another thing I loved about this book was Genesis's character herself. She is full of emotions and she tries her hardest to be a good person, despite all of the stuff that she's been faced with over the years. I can't imagine having what happened to her happen to me, and I honestly thought she was a strong character. Genesis is someone to look up to, and I hope others who read her story can think of her that way, too.
I didn't care too much for Peter's character, as it was obvious that he only thought of himself and what he wanted, but it's obvious why his character was written the way that he was, and I think the author did a splendid job tearing his and Genesis's relationship apart, and then allowing the reader see it develop through the memories. It was a creative way to weave all of the parts of the story together.
"No one will hurt us. This is the most bullshit advice adults ever give. There's so much that will hurt us; it's how we take care of ourselves afterward that matters. The aftercare."
I love that Aftercare Instructions doesn't focus on making things better magically or making it seem as though these things don't actually happen to real young adults (and older adults, too!) everywhere. Instead, it brings to light the things that really do happen, and that while it can feel quite emotional at times (or all the time, in the case of this book), things do happen, and they do need to be dealt with. Giving positive messages that essentially, everything negative does eventually pass, is a great way to help others through some messy situations that they may feel alone in.
I can't praise this book enough. I know some people will dislike it and refuse to read it because it deals with abortion, but you have to realize that it deals with SO much more than that. Sure, the main character has an abortion in the beginning of the book, but that isn't the main focus here. The main focus is what happens afterward. After the procedure. After the character's relationship falls apart. After she is betrayed and has to learn to trust again. After she has to figure out who she is and what her place in the world will be.
Aftercare Instructions is amazingly written, heartbreaking, beautiful, and one of the most gripping books that I've read this year.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 29, 2018
Aftercare Instructions is the book we need in YA.
It's an honest, vulnerable, frank, and succinct story about family, relationships, and yes, abortion. But it's not an issue book about abortion. It's a book about the aftermath, or aftercare, about the thousands of decisions that happen in a family, in a friendship, in a relationship that lead to a single moment or pivotal point. It's about a person being made of so much more than one action that defines them. It's a true coming of age novel that's somehow extremely quick yet tells an extremely in depth story.
The story begins with Genesis, the protagonist, being abandoned by her boyfriend in an out of state Planned Parenthood after terminating an accidental pregnancy. From there the narrative shifts between the next week in Genesis' life, told through traditional chapters (each titled after an "aftercare instruction," such as "you may experience bleeding," "call if you develop a fever," etc. which I thought was really clever), and flashbacks that establish her and her boyfriend Peter's relationship, told in a play format. The entirety of the book is divided into a four act play structure. I'll admit I was dubious about the format as I haven't had a great experience with reading plays, but it was fantastic and provided such a great way to add depth and complexity to the story without making the flashbacks feel too long.
While the novel obviously dealt with reproductive health & issues, it was also so much more than that. Through Genesis' struggles, we see that though she has a troubled family, she has a strong support system that she's built outside of her immediate family, from cousins to friends to new acquaintances. We see her learn the importance of simply asking for help or allowing others to help us when we're overwhelmed or in need of support, which is such a simple message that so often gets overlooked. Genesis also has a complexity to her character that struck the right balance between being vulnerable while also being selfish, like any teenager can be. I loved how the characters were able to call each other out and put things into perspective despite what they had each been through, and that rather than argue when emotions ran high or horrible things happened, they often talked through their anger and agreed to do better and move on. It was refreshing to see characters, especially female characters, have healthy relationships that weren't without flaws, and that they proactively acknowledged them and learned from them.
Despite all of the other wonderful elements to Aftercare Instruction's plot, there's no denying that abortion is an important topic in the story, and it's the only YA book I have ever read before that openly discusses the topic, or has a prominent character go through with it. I cannot stress how important the portrayal of abortion is in this book. It doesn't sensationalize it, but it also doesn't skirt the gravity of the choice to terminate a pregnancy. While Genesis is confident that it was the right decision for her and Peter at the time, she does struggle with the emotions and physical side effects of the procedure. However, the book also does a good job at demystifying the procedure as well. The procedure is eventually described in a succinct way that gives readers an understanding of the medical procedure and recovery without diving into details that may be too graphic. It depicts the options patients have (such as sedatives vs. no sedatives), the proficient medical staff, and, of course, the after effects and post-procedure instructions. No matter your political views, unintended/unwanted pregnancies happen and it's satisfying to see the topic handled in a mature narrative that was obviously written with care and research. Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight has a wonderful review that explains how responsibly the topic was handled, so I encourage you to check out her review if you're interested in learning more about the book and the topics it handles!
Overall: Aftercare Instructions is a stunning debut that clips along at an incredibly fast pace while still building a story of meaningful relationships and that tackles emotionally charged topics. It responsibly handles the topic of abortion, and is really a stand out for featuring a controversial topic in a debut novel. While I almost wish the novel had been a little longer so I could have learned more about Genesis' family, it's one of the most important books I read in 2017 and I'm glad to have finished my year reading it. I can't wait to see what topics Pipkin chooses to tackle in her future projects, and hope she continues to push the boundaries of YA content.
This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages
It's an honest, vulnerable, frank, and succinct story about family, relationships, and yes, abortion. But it's not an issue book about abortion. It's a book about the aftermath, or aftercare, about the thousands of decisions that happen in a family, in a friendship, in a relationship that lead to a single moment or pivotal point. It's about a person being made of so much more than one action that defines them. It's a true coming of age novel that's somehow extremely quick yet tells an extremely in depth story.
The story begins with Genesis, the protagonist, being abandoned by her boyfriend in an out of state Planned Parenthood after terminating an accidental pregnancy. From there the narrative shifts between the next week in Genesis' life, told through traditional chapters (each titled after an "aftercare instruction," such as "you may experience bleeding," "call if you develop a fever," etc. which I thought was really clever), and flashbacks that establish her and her boyfriend Peter's relationship, told in a play format. The entirety of the book is divided into a four act play structure. I'll admit I was dubious about the format as I haven't had a great experience with reading plays, but it was fantastic and provided such a great way to add depth and complexity to the story without making the flashbacks feel too long.
While the novel obviously dealt with reproductive health & issues, it was also so much more than that. Through Genesis' struggles, we see that though she has a troubled family, she has a strong support system that she's built outside of her immediate family, from cousins to friends to new acquaintances. We see her learn the importance of simply asking for help or allowing others to help us when we're overwhelmed or in need of support, which is such a simple message that so often gets overlooked. Genesis also has a complexity to her character that struck the right balance between being vulnerable while also being selfish, like any teenager can be. I loved how the characters were able to call each other out and put things into perspective despite what they had each been through, and that rather than argue when emotions ran high or horrible things happened, they often talked through their anger and agreed to do better and move on. It was refreshing to see characters, especially female characters, have healthy relationships that weren't without flaws, and that they proactively acknowledged them and learned from them.
Despite all of the other wonderful elements to Aftercare Instruction's plot, there's no denying that abortion is an important topic in the story, and it's the only YA book I have ever read before that openly discusses the topic, or has a prominent character go through with it. I cannot stress how important the portrayal of abortion is in this book. It doesn't sensationalize it, but it also doesn't skirt the gravity of the choice to terminate a pregnancy. While Genesis is confident that it was the right decision for her and Peter at the time, she does struggle with the emotions and physical side effects of the procedure. However, the book also does a good job at demystifying the procedure as well. The procedure is eventually described in a succinct way that gives readers an understanding of the medical procedure and recovery without diving into details that may be too graphic. It depicts the options patients have (such as sedatives vs. no sedatives), the proficient medical staff, and, of course, the after effects and post-procedure instructions. No matter your political views, unintended/unwanted pregnancies happen and it's satisfying to see the topic handled in a mature narrative that was obviously written with care and research. Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight has a wonderful review that explains how responsibly the topic was handled, so I encourage you to check out her review if you're interested in learning more about the book and the topics it handles!
Overall: Aftercare Instructions is a stunning debut that clips along at an incredibly fast pace while still building a story of meaningful relationships and that tackles emotionally charged topics. It responsibly handles the topic of abortion, and is really a stand out for featuring a controversial topic in a debut novel. While I almost wish the novel had been a little longer so I could have learned more about Genesis' family, it's one of the most important books I read in 2017 and I'm glad to have finished my year reading it. I can't wait to see what topics Pipkin chooses to tackle in her future projects, and hope she continues to push the boundaries of YA content.
This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages
March 14, 2017
I do not think I can say enough great things about this book. I do not think I can quantify how much I loved it. Aftercare Instructions is the story of Genesis Johnson, who is a senior in high school. Her father has died of a heroin overdose - which the entire school has found about. Her mother is not recovering from her father's death. Her sister lives with her mom's religious parents. Her life is her best friend, Rose, and her boyfriend, Peter, whose mother us uber religious and uber judgmental.
The book opens with Genesis getting an abortion in New York City and being left there by Peter. She is struggling with everything in her life. Peter's disappearance is worsened by the fact that he isn't talking to her. Her ex-best friend, Vanessa, likes Peter and leads Genesis to believe that Peter left Gen for Vanessa. There is a fight. There is a suspension. There is adventure. There is drama.
What made this book so great to me was Genesis' voice. She is strong, but vulnerable. She is tough, but has a soft heart. She misses her father, but knows she has to function for her mother's sake. She is an old soul, with a teenager's view of love. She is quick and witty and sarcastic. Most importantly to me, she is real. Very, very real. Bonnie Pipkin did such a fantastic job developing all of her characters in this book. Even the two dimensional characters pop off the page and come to life.
Don't read any more of my gushing about this book. Just get it and read it. You will love it.
I won this book from Goodreads and received no other compensation for my review. The opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
The book opens with Genesis getting an abortion in New York City and being left there by Peter. She is struggling with everything in her life. Peter's disappearance is worsened by the fact that he isn't talking to her. Her ex-best friend, Vanessa, likes Peter and leads Genesis to believe that Peter left Gen for Vanessa. There is a fight. There is a suspension. There is adventure. There is drama.
What made this book so great to me was Genesis' voice. She is strong, but vulnerable. She is tough, but has a soft heart. She misses her father, but knows she has to function for her mother's sake. She is an old soul, with a teenager's view of love. She is quick and witty and sarcastic. Most importantly to me, she is real. Very, very real. Bonnie Pipkin did such a fantastic job developing all of her characters in this book. Even the two dimensional characters pop off the page and come to life.
Don't read any more of my gushing about this book. Just get it and read it. You will love it.
I won this book from Goodreads and received no other compensation for my review. The opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
April 20, 2023
This was problematic. I really enjoyed reading it, and especially enjoyed how flashbacks are done in script format, but nonetheless, it was problematic. The entire book takes place after Gen's abortion, but other than her not being religious, we get no insight into her decision or thoughts afterwards. Instead, the entire book focuses on her being upset, seemingly about a boy. And she searches, spoiler alert but not really, for help in the form of a boy. And the solution is a boy. There was potential for her own autonomy, but I was quite disappointed in how things played out and in the focus of the book. I'm glad I read it and I'd definitely like to read more by this author as her style is lovely, but I can't recommend this.
September 7, 2017
I cried happy and sad and horrified. And I loved it the whole way through.
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