This story follows Genesis, a 17 year old from New Jersey. She is getting an abortion. The story goes through the timeline following the abortion and flashbacks in a play format from the events leading up to the abortion. It was a very character-rich, character-driven story and I really enjoyed it. The writing style was so easy to read and so easy to really connect with Genesis and her life. I wish there was a little more about her parents and family in the book and would ready a second one about it - 100 percent. However, it was still a wonderful read. It really handled touchy subjects well IMO.

This is a stunning book that almost made me cry multiple times while I was reading. I enjoy books with different formats and instantly wanted to read this book. Half of the novel is written in prose where we are getting what is happening to our main character, Genesis, after she has an abortion. (This is not a spoiler because it mentioned in the description) The other half of the book is written in a script format showing what happened to Genesis in the past. We switched back and forth between these two different times learning bits and pieces of the story overtime. I am going to say that this was a bit jarring at times. The formatting and the way that Bonnie wrote was beautiful but the switch took me out two or three times.


I recommend this to anyone that wants to be touched by a beautiful book. It is sad but also heartwarming at the same time. I will definitely be buying this book for myself. Gorgeous.

From page one this book dives, unapologetic and unafraid, into an incredibly controversial topic. And, for the most part, it does so effectively.

The book opens with our protagonist, Genesis, walking out of the procedure room post-abortion only to find that her boyfriend, who had accompanied her, has left her stranded. As the book progresses, we see Gen trying to come to terms with what’s happened, what it means and how experiences from her past shaped who she is now and who she will become.

With a fast-paced plot and a compelling premise, this book was difficult to put down. So difficult, in fact, that I finished it in two sittings.

As I moved through the book, I developed a legitimate investment in Genesis. I felt for her and I wanted the best for her. To me, any book that can garner this authentic emotional connection is a worthwhile read.
While I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it, my one complaint is that it felt… unfinished. Throughout the book Pipkin danced around the protagonist's relationship with her now ex-boyfriend (obviously ex, I mean, he left her at an abortion clinic mid procedure… that’s way worse than breaking up with someone on a post-it)
I wanted to see more so I could better understand his motivation. I don’t really ascribe to the idea that Gen is 100% right and her ex 100% wrong. There was more to see, but it wasn’t shown. This left me frustrated.

Really, she failed to develop any of the characters, save Genesis, in any meaningful way. Her friend, her mom, her cousin – all got cursory introductions and minimal backstory. While it’s understandable that Pipkin may not have wanted to dedicate copious amounts of time to these secondary characters – as doing so would detract from the main point of the book – this lack of development made these characters appear a bit too flat and hampered their believability.

Pipkin does use flashback effectively throughout, adding some depth to the character and enabling her readers to better empathize with this young, lost teen. If anything, I wish she had used the technique a bit more heavily as a tool to develop these secondary characters.

Ultimately, “Aftercare Instructions” was a successful exploration of this complex topic. It reminded me of Amy Efaw’s “After” with its grit and largely uncensored exploration of the physical and emotional ramifications of an unintended pregnancy. In the tradition of Angela Johnson’s “The First Part Last” it provides a cautionary reminder of how serious the consequences for unprotected adolescent exploration can be.

When I heard of this book I knew I needed it. I don't think I've ever read a YA book about abortion. I'm sure there are more, but this is the first one I've read. I knew it would play heavily on the feels and that's exactly what I wanted.
Peter and Genesis are very happy until they become pregnant and they decide not to keep it. Peter leaves her at the abortion clinic with no explanation or anything. Genesis' family life isn't so great and Peter was her calm through that storm. When he leaves they break up and she doesn't know up from down anymore. As the story goes on, she finally learns how to be by herself.
I LOVED the writing style in this one. It was told as a regular story (with some bad ass chapter titles by the way!) mixed with some chapters that were written as a play would be written. It was pretty awesome and made for a great way to do storytelling. The bits that were like a stage play were more flashbacks and the way it was written helped to not make it choopy or too long.
I also loved the message. It's teaching girls not to be ashamed of what they choose to do with their body. And she did it in such a non-preachy way. To be honest, it mostly empowered Genesis in my eyes because she wasn't afraid. At that age, I'm sure many would be terrified to do what she did. And it made Peter look even more spineless.
But the number one thing I loved about this book was the main character. Genesis was absolutely amazing. She took control of what she wanted in the midst of all the terrible things that were happening in her home life. I was so happy she was able to take control of her own life. And then the way it all turned out in the end showed just how amazing her character growth was. I won't go too much into it so I don't give away the plot, but her story was amazing.
I haven't seen many of my friends/followers read this, but you all really should! It has such a great message. I was addicted to this book. I found myself reading it anywhere I could. I understand this subject topic is upsetting to some, but I can also see anyone who misses out on this book being upset that they missed it.

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.

Aftercare Instructions By Bonnie Pipkin

I give this novel a 2 out of 5. That is being rather generous but it did make me go aww a few times at some of the romance parts. In fact had this just been a story about Genesis meeting Seth at a party and him and her falling into a whirlwind love this book would have been pretty great and would have gotten a much higher rating.


In Aftercare Instructions, we meet a girl named Genesis at a Planned Parenthood clinic right her boyfriend Peter ditches her while she in getting an abortion. Sounds interesting, right? Too bad the actual story that follows doesn’t quite ever get there. The characters suffer from a lack of development because of an overreaching number of subplots that just bury both their personalities and the unique actual plot that the book should shine for.
First let’s talk about the characters,
Genesis.
• Main character
• Had an abortion
• Had a boyfriend
• Has dead dad
• Has mother who can’t cope with dead dad
• Has pushed away everyone because of dead dad and unstable mother
Peter
• Christian
• Was Genesis’s boyfriend
• Left her at Planned Parenthood
Deliah
• Genesis’s cousin
• Lives in New York
• So cool
• Edgy hipster poet type


Seth
• Lives in New York
• Hipster artist
• Manic pixie dream boy who only exists to further Genesis’s story
• NOT REALLY NEEDED
Alright so not the plot,
SO it all starts at Planned Parenthood. Genesis is getting an abortion and as she walks out to the waiting room to leave she finds her boyfriend and her ride back home to New Jersey has ditched her. She manages to find her way to her cousin Deliah’s dorm and hangs out there for a day while she sleeps away the memory of being left at Planned Parenthood.
Genesis than spends the next few days telling her friend Rose about the abortion and how crappy her boyfriend is all the while wondering when Peter (the boyfriend) is going to call to explain his absence. School happens and Genesis is the center of the rumor mill… again. But this time not because of a dead dad but because it has gotten out that Peter and her are over. She freaks out and tries even more desperately to get ahold of him so she can figure out what’s going on. Then a rumor happens that he is already dating someone else, so Gen beats her up and gets suspended.
Best friend Rose to the Rescue!!!! Rose decided the best thing to do is get drunk so they go to Deliah’s friend’s birthday party where Genesis meets Seth. Now Seth is a nice guy throughout the whole book Seth is a decent dude and it sucks that he has a lack of personality and that he showed up in Genesis’s life 2 days after her life exploded. She gets blackout drunk they makeout, she wakes up the next day in her own bed (thank god for friends) and realizes her phone is missing. She left it when she went to his apartment the night before. When she goes to retrieve it, he explains he is an acting student (OMG SHE LOVED ACTING BEFORE HER DAD DIED) there is an audition the next day and she should totally go to that and also maybe date him.

This whole romantic subplot is so cringy because if you remember from paragraphs before she just wants to talk to her shitty boyfriend about how much she still wants to be with him. Also she just had a pretty traumatic surgery done so her mindset isn’t right at all. But there you have it she is trying to figure out her new relationship with Seth while trying to figure out her relationship with Peter all while trying to get into an off off Broadway show.
It really is sad that this book suffered from the lack of a clear direction while being pulled in too many directions. You lose character development and a lot of emotions that could have been beneficial to the success of the book. In this case it almost felt like a writer using a current topic in hopes that it will help boost novel recognition without actually wanting to write about the topic.

This book is messy, It shows the real emotions, weight, and struggles of making a decision for you, in spite of what other people may tell you. It shows the bravery in choosing for yourself. Aftercare Instructions helps to fill a hole in YA by talking openly about an abortion. Unintended pregnancies are real and they deserved to be represented in YA literature. Genesis was so real and raw throughout the whole story. She has struggled with her parents, her living situation, and now has to deal with the aftermath of an abortion. I felt so deeply for her. I really enjoyed the style of this book--with flashbacks and theatrical stage directions. It's a unique format to tell a common story. Genesis and Bonnie Pipkin will resonate with readers.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genesis, named for the band, is hurting. Her life has been full of pain and letdowns. Gen tells her story of being abandoned at an abortion clinic in New York City. As promised, she told no one about the pregnancy, not even her best friend, but Peter ditched her and now she needs help. She's from New Jersey and has to make her way back home on her own. Dark and disturbing, Aftercare Instructions focuses on Genesis's post-abortion fallout, as she tries to understand her failed relationship and figure out when she and Peter grew apart. As Gen spirals out of control to forget Peter and the pain of losing him, she needs to figure out who she is on her own.

This unique storyline is interspersed with procedural and post-procedural instructions, flashbacks to her relationship with Peter, while revealing Gen's current struggle to forgive or forget Peter. As if this wasn't unique enough, Pipkin incorporates a four act throughout the novel play that gives voice to those in Gen's life.

THOUGHTS: Aftercare Instructions gives teens an intimate view of one girl’s choices and the repercussions of them. Descriptions of sex, abortion, and teen binge drinking may not be suitable for younger readers.

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.

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.

This was a hard book to read because Genesis's pain at Peter's betrayal feels so raw. I think in some books with teen pregnancy and abortion at the center, the author sometimes can color the experience negatively. I was glad that Pipkin didn't do this. I felt sympathetic toward Genesis. Her emotions were so vivid. I also really liked the format of this book, the way it revealed a little of the story at the time gave it real weight.

The book begins by showing all the anguish of Genesis in being alone in a clinic to have an abortion, she believed that the boyfriend (whose has a moralist family) would accompany her as he had promised. They believed that love pears forever but Peter lost himself at the first opportunity of difficulty. Genesis will now have to face once again a moment of pain and sorrow completely alone.

Unable to open her heart to anyone about what happened, she tries to move on and rediscover herself, try to figure out what went wrong in her relationship and try to overcome the tragic loss of her father in the past.

The book alternates present as long as titles of aftercare instructions with the past counted in the form of acts of a theatrical play. With a flowing writing and a strong and well built plot we followed the growth journey of Genesis. It is a book about maturity, resilience, the power of false moralism in people's lives, and about friendship and family care.

I found great the biblical choice of the names of the main characters and how the book dealt with a strong theme in a real way and at the same time without losing the sweetness.
5 / 5stars
Kisses, Myl

Both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time! This normally isn't the type of book I read, especially since it is told in a strange way, but the story still managed to flow in a great way.

Sorry, it just didn't work out for me.

A book in play format is nice (when done right, though generally still isn't something I would just read), but make the whole book that. Not random parts here and there. It was jarring and it dragged me out of reading. One moment you would be in the present, and then poof back to the past with sentences like: Then he stepped in the room. X: Hi. Y: Hi.

The MC was so naive and meh. Instead of just trusting someone, her best friend for example, she kept silent about her pregnancy? Sorry, but no boy would tell me to shut up about something so important. Especially if said boy wants an abortion. I would tell my friend. I would drag her with me.
Plus really, he ditched you but you can't stop thinking about how amazing he is/was? *sighs*

Instead of accepting help from that one girl she drags her body, fresh out of an abortion clinic, to a place that is familiar to her. Really? Just accept the damn help already. Your body needs to recover.

So yeah, it did sound great, but sadly I was mostly frustrated by the character and the story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

I was really hesitant going into this book. I wasn't sure if any author would be able to portray such an intense topic well. But, I am happy to report I have found a new favourite book.

The book follows seventeen-year-old Genesis, or Gen as many call her, and opens with her walking into the waiting room of Planned Parenthood after terminating an unwanted pregnancy, looking for her boyfriend, Peter who brought her... and left her there. This story is not only about the choice Gen makes but how she moves forward without Peter who has apparently fallen off the face of the planet. Gen's home life isn't great either: after her father died of a drug overdose, her mother hasn't been able to hold it together. Gen struggles to care for her mother and herself.

Obviously, this book addresses the big elephant in the room: abortion. I'm not going to get into the politics of it, I'm just going to talk about Pipkin's portrayal of it in the story. The book isn't really about an abortion so much as it is about the "after" of an abortion. Each of the chapters is headered (headed?) with an instruction that one is supposed to follow after the procedure. We don't really see a lot of the discussion between Peter and Gen to get the abortion, there are snippets here and there but this book isn't so much about the decision to have an abortion but what happens after. I think it would have been hard to deal with this book if it was more about the decision.

Moving onto the book more as a whole, I loved it. The writing style was phenomenal and I flew through every chapter at lightning speed. Each chapter alternates with a play script, theatre is an important part of this book, and is set in the past, giving an impromptu acted flashback. I really loved this technique not only because I've recently discovered I really enjoy reading plays, but also because it was an easy way to differentiate timelines. Anything in the script format was a flashback. It helped ensure everything flowed and it was an interesting addition to the story.

I really loved the characters of this book, Gen was a really great, well-rounded character and her support system of her best friend Rose, her cousin Delilah, even her grief-stricken mother was fleshed out. After reading a couple books before this where the characters were flat, I loved how Pipkin gave every single one, even the minor characters, a distinct personality.

I adored every aspect of this story, I was immediately swept up into the story and I couldn't stop until it was done. Even now that I've finished it, I can't stop thinking about it. It has been so long since I've felt this way about a book and to know that it's only Pipkin's debut... I think I found another auto-buy author!

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1967813508

The review is my own and does not represent any organization I belong to.

Aftercare Instructions had been one of my Can't Wait Wednesday picks, and I had some great expectations for it. I must say, this book more than met my expectations. It left me with so many feels. It's a story imbued in heartbreak and heartache, but it also attests to the power of friendship and inner strength.

I fully embraced Genesis, flaws and all. She had to deal with her father's death. She had to assume the role of responsible adult and take care of her mother, when she should have been taking care of her. She had to watch her little sister be taken from her home. She had to make a hard choice to abort her unborn child with no real support from her boyfriend. She had to emerge from the procedure to find herself abandoned, once again. This girl kept getting knocked down, and sometimes she made made some poor choice in the throes of her emotions, but she soldiered on. I just really admired her inner strength.

She had a wonderful support system in Rose and Delilah. Sometimes Gen did not utilize them, because she was keeping so many secrets, but when she opened up, things improved. She was very lucky that these two were quite persistent. Gen kept giving the "okay" line, but they were not buying it. They showed up and were there for her when she needed them.

I loved the format. Each chapter began with post-procedure aftercare instructions, which related to the chapter, and I liked the way it set the stage. The story was told as a traditional narrative, which was interspersed with flashbacks written in a play format. I liked the differentiation between past and present, and thought it worked quite well. I also liked the way Pipkin led us through the rise and fall of Gen and Peter's relationship. These peeks into their past helped coupled with facts presented by Gen's friends helped me better understand why this relationship was broken.

With respect to Peter and Gen's relationship, I actually really like where Pipkin brought it. It was realistic. If you really consider everything surrounding the rise and demise of this union, it made sense. I also love that she gave me closure. Pipkin beautifully wrapped up those storylines and answered those big questions.

"I watched the laughter slide off his face. I wanted to dive for it. To pick it up off the floor and reattach it to him. To us. "

I read a lot, and I don't normally comment on the writing, but when there is something stylistically that captures my attention, I am strongly compelled to say something. Pipkin's writing was something special. There were so many times in this book, where she evoked such strong physical reactions from me through her word usage and phrasing. UGH! It's so hard to explain, but there were instances when the writing matched my racing heart or my sinking feelings. I was fully drawn and found myself lost in her words several times in this book, and I found it to be quite a magnificent experience.

Yes, this book deals with a lot of heavy issues. Yes, this book is sad, but it is imbued with hope, and in the end....

And he says, "Are you okay?"
I shouldn't be.
And it doesn't come with any guarantees.
But the answer is finally yes

This is the first YA book I’ve read that has dealt with the sensitive and extremely relevant topics of teenage pregnancy and choosing abortion. We definitely need more of these heavy-hitting subjects because despite the tendency for society to pretend sex doesn’t happen in high school, it does and a lot. Kids make mistakes, especially when it comes to mixing alcohol and unprotected sex (which is not even the case in this story, the condom actually breaks). This is 100% a story that needed to be written, explored, and experienced. Okay, let me get off of my soapbox about this and talk about the book.

The story centers around a girl who is very much in love with her boyfriend, they have sex, and unfortunately the condom breaks and she ends up pregnant. He comes from a very traditional, upper class, church-going family, and has been raised to believe abortion is the highest form of sin, much worse than the pre-martial sex he indulged in. Gen comes from a broken family. Her father OD’d, her mother is dangerously depressed, and she is left to pick up the pieces after their tragic loss. Their home situations are vastly different and yet, he adores her quirkiness and her big heart. He is compassionate and understands her home life is less than ideal and he’s there for her when some truly devastating and horrific stuff happens. So what’s the problem?

This dynamic is not explored. I loved that they came from families that are basically opposites. That despite everything working against them socially, they inherently understood each other. And yet, the story structure…doesn’t work well with the plot. It’s a series of flashbacks to how they fell in love and the current heartbroken times post-abortion. It’s nostalgic and dreamy and rose-tinted, despite the hospital visits and everything else. The very problematic issue of Peter’s personal, religious beliefs are pretty much glossed over and the catty former friend who wants to sink her claws into Peter is front and center. Why? I don’t understand. Maybe the author wanted to take another route or didn’t want to get too political or preachy or something? I’m not sure. But these extremely important details were not talked about except in minor passing and at the end. I feel like the drama was displaced. I would have liked a little more exploration of these conflicts and it’s just lots of reflection.

The abortion scene itself. There are no words. The emotions, the confusion, the heartbreak, there’s also a weird need to “punish” herself and so that she feels the loss. It’s powerful and hits hard. And what’s worse, what really, truly broke my heart was the betrayal. You need someone to hold your hand. To be there. And for someone to desert you during such a critical time. How can you ever forgive that?

The plot is all over the place. It’s sporadic and random and then add in the flashback scenes and it felt like the story didn’t know what it wanted to be. I totally understand being confusion, reckless, and the emotional chaos that can cause someone to make bizarre choices but I guess the pieces didn’t fit well together. This book deals with so many heavy themes and it felt…lighter than expected? I mean abortion, drug overdosing, suicide…it’s as hard as it gets.

However, the story was enjoyable. I liked the weird romance that sprung up out of Gen’s heartbreak. It was uplifting and adorable, and he definitely brightens her life.

What an absolutely profound and NECESSARY novel. Pipkin handles a very delicate subject with sensitivity and grace and I truly believe that Genesis is a character that every girl will rally behind. This is a book that not only deserves a place on YA library shelves but needs one. I cannot sing the praises of this book enough and hope that every library, whether it be public, school, or home, find a place for this absolute gem of a debut.