Inthis“deeplyoriginal“(ElifBatuman)and“violentlyfunny“(MyriamGurba)story,ayounglawyerfinallyconfrontsherdarkpastsoshecanliveinamorepeacefulfuture.Totheoutsideobserver,Vivianisasuccessstory--adedicatedlawyerwhoadvocatesformentallyillpatientsataNewYorkCitypsychiatrichospital.Privately,Viviancontendswiththememoriesandaftereffectsofherbadchildhood--compoundedbytheeverydaystressesofbeingaBlackLatinxwomaninAmerica.Shelivesinaconstantstateofhypervigilantawarenessthatmakesevenasimplesubwayrideintoaheart-poundingdrama.Foryears,Vivianhasself-medicatedwithamixofdating,dieting,darkhumorandsmokingweedwithherBFF,Jane.ButafterafamilyreunionpromptsViviantotakeaboldstep,shefindsherselfaloneinnewandterrifyingways,withoutevenJanetoconfidein,andshestartstounravel.Willshefindawaytorepairwhatmattersmosttoher?Adebutfromastunningtalent,Post-traumaticisanewkindofsurvivornarrative,featuringacomplexheroinewhoisblazingly,indeliblyalive.Withrazor-sharpproseandmordantwit,ChantalV.Johnsonperformsanextraordinaryfeat,deliveringapsychologicallyastutestoryabouttheaftermathoftraumathatsomehowmanagestobrimwithwarmth,laughter,andhope.
