TBR: After the Ink Dries by Cassie Gustafson

Warning: This book contains sensitive topics such as suicide and sexual assault.

After the Ink Dries is a deeply moving, evocative novel that tells the story of a 16-year-old girl
named Erica Walker who is sexually assaulted one night at a party by her boyfriend and some of
his fellow varsity lacrosse team members. The book takes readers through the deep shame,
pain, and embarrassment Erica has to endure and the ramifications for everyone involved.

The novel is extremely well-written. What makes it so effective and emotionally touching is the
characters themselves, who feel truly genuine. Their usage of slang, reactions to certain events,
and dialogue all feel natural. Gustafson is truly a talented writer in terms of how she makes
characters feel “alive.” I have to admit, the book made me emotional at a couple of parts, and
there’s no other way to put it other than saying it’s just powerful overall.

A unique aspect of this novel is how it tells the story from the perspective of one of the
perpetrators as well –Erica’s boyfriend, Thomas. This not only makes the story more complete
but also adds a very interesting element to it. Thomas experiences a huge dilemma from about
the middle to the end of the book that drives a lot of his part of the story, and he is shown to be
deeply conflicted and have many sides to him. I don’t want to give away too much, as that would
spoil the story and make it less emotionally impactful. Again, please note the warning above,
and if you do choose to read the novel, be prepared for an extremely poignant literary work.