After being targeted, slut-shamed, and worse, Aviva decides to move somewhere new and start over.
Of course, in the age of Google, thats easier said than done.
Her most recent novel, 2014sThe Storied Life of A.J.
Fikry,spent four months on theNew York TimesBestseller List.
Her books have been translated into over thirty languages.
Young Jane Youngwill be available Aug. 22.
Until then, see the exclusive cover reveal below, along with an excerpt from the book.
Maybe Aviva has found her calling, I thought.
Maybe politics is her calling?
I asked her, So you like working with the congressman?
I dont work with him directly, not really.
What do you do, then?
Its boring, she said.
Your first real job!
I dont get paid, she said.
So its not a real job.
Still, this is exciting stuff, I said.
Tell me, my daughter.
What do you do?
I get the bagels, she said.
Okay, what else?
They send me to Kinkos.
But what are youlearning?
How to photocopy double-sided, she said.
How to make coffee.
Aviva, come on, give me one good story to take back to Roz.
I didnt take this job so youd have stories for Roz Horowitz.
Something about the Congressman.
Mom, she said impatiently.
Theres nothing to tell.
The Congressmans in DC.
I mainly work with the campaign staff.
So you like it?
She took a deep breath.
Mommy, she said, Im in love.
I realized that we werent.
Its early, she said.
But I think I love him.
She shook her head.
I dont want to say too much.
Did you meet him at school?
I dont want to say too much.
Okay, I said.
Well, tell me one thing.
Does he love you, too?
Aviva flushed prettily, like when she was a baby and had a fever.
I felt like she wasnt saying something.
It is probably obvious what she wasnt saying, but it didnt occur to me.
She was only twenty years old, just a kid, a good girl.
I didnt believe that my Aviva could get herself mixed up in something dirty like that.
I had faith in her.
How old is he?
The worst I thought was that he could be older.
Older, she said.
Not as old as Daddy.
Well, thats something, I said.
Mom, hes married, Aviva said.
Oh God, I thought.
But hes unhappy, she said.
My love, I cant caution you strongly enough hey dont get yourself mixed up in someone elses marriage.
I know, she said.
In this life and the next one, all you have is your good name.
Aviva began to cry.
Thats why I had to tell you.
You must end this, Aviva.
This cant go on.
I know, she said.
Stop saying I know!
I know doesnt mean anything.
Say Ill do it, and then go do it.
Nothing has happened yet.
No one knows except me.
Promise me you wont tell Daddy.
I was anxious so I went overboard with offerings for Avivas dorm.
The timing isnt right.
Oh Aviva, I said.
Thats what every married man says.
He will never break up with the wife.
No, Aviva said, its true.
He has a very good reason he cant break up the marriage right now.
Yeah, I said, what?
I cant tell you, she said.
I want to hear thisvery good reason.
Mom, she said.
How can I advise you if I dont know the details?
If I tell you the reason, youll know who it is, Aviva said.
Maybe not, I said.
You will, she said.
What difference does it make if I know who it is?
Im not going to tell anyone.
Im a vault when it comes to you.
The reason isshe pausedthe reason is because he is in the middle of a re-election campaign.
Oh God, I said.
Aviva, you must end this.
Think of his wife
Shes awful, Aviva said.
You always said that yourself.
Then think of his sons.
Think of his constituency, of the people who have voted for him.
Think of his career.
Think of your own!
Think of your reputation!
And if thats not enough, think of Daddy and of me and of Grandma!
Stop being a drama queen.
No one will ever find out.
Well keep it a secret until he can get divorced, Aviva said.
You have to end this.
Or if you cant end this, put it on ice until he gets the divorce.
If its really love, it will keep until next year.
Aviva nodded in a considering way, and I thought I might be getting through to her.
She kissed me on the cheek.
This must be what its like when your child joins a cult.
