AN Off Year

“Zulkey’s smart, keenly observed, and witty first novel should be read by everyone who’s ever felt paralyzed thinking about the future.”—John Green, New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars

“Original and distinctive, yet has satisfying echoes of seminal coming-of-age classics.”—Nathan Rabin, American film critic and author of The Big Rewind

After a lifetime of following the rules, Cecily Powell surprises everyone by arriving for her freshman year of college . . . and turning around. There are infinite possibilities for Cecily’s unexpected gap year. She could volunteer or travel around the world—but for now, Cecily is content to do absolutely nothing.

What follows is a year of self-doubt and self-discovery during which Cecily must ask herself for the first time: what does she really want to do with the rest of her life?

With humor and authenticity, Claire Zulkey perfectly captures the tension, heartbreak, and quirky irony of a wholly unexpected gap year.