Come Clean (novel)

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Come Clean (novel) – Simple summary

Come Clean is a 2004 thriller written by Terri Paddock. The story centers on a drug rehabilitation center called Come Clean, located in Carrefort, Pennsylvania. The book is dedicated to survivors of real rehab programs, including Paddock’s sister.

Plot
Justine Ziegler is taken to Come Clean against her will. A biased interview makes her look like an addict, so she is admitted for a short observation period. She is strip-searched and placed in a hall where residents try to “motivate” each other. The director, Hilary Navarre, asks about Justine’s past, and a boy named Earl accuses her of using marijuana. Justine denies it until pages from her diary reveal the truth. Her twin brother Joshua is already at the center for his own addiction.

One night Justine sees Joshua leaving with friends. She ends up in a car with Earl and another boy; they smoke, but Joshua reappears and stops Justine from continuing. After more incidents, Joshua’s parents decide to admit him to Come Clean.

The book includes chapters that tell the twins’ childhood as memories spoken by Justine to Joshua. The final memory shows Joshua’s death on New Year’s Eve, suggesting he commits suicide.

During Justine’s time at the center, a senior staff member named Dwight is revealed to have raped Joshua during his stay and later tries to force himself on Justine. He also abuses Justine, who is suffering a period, in a violent act.

A new resident, Toby Sheridan, becomes friends with Justine. Toby is about to finish high school but has been placed in the program. During a family meeting, Toby’s younger sister helps him plan an escape. Chaos ensues as some residents and visitors flee; Justine is briefly sent back inside but later leaves with Toby.

Gwen, the staff member who searched Justine at admission, finds notes about the planned escape. Justine faces punishment, but many people leave late at night, and she ends up in a car with Toby. They flee to Kansas to Justine’s grandmother’s house, where they try to build a life together.

Back home, Dwight slips back into the story, and Hilary arranges for Justine to be readmitted. Justine and Toby are in danger, but Toby returns, and Hilary contacts the police. Justine explains Dwight’s abuse and rape, and the police arrest Dwight, bringing an end to his coercive control.