A Woman, a Plan, an Outline of a Man

A modern exploration of growing up female—and its aftermath. In this moving debut, one woman picks up the pieces of the typical all-American girlhood. With wry humor and raw emotion, Sarah Kasbeer re-examines the most painful experiences of her youth, including a violent boyfriend and a sexual assault. Her vivid descriptions of growing up in Illinois recall the coming-of-age memoirs of Mary Karr, but written for the #MeToo era. As an adult living in New York during this clarifying cultural moment, she has no choice but to reckon with her trauma. Artful and entertaining, these essays explore sexuality, desire, privilege, shame, and the ways we find to heal.