Kelli Reynolds loves creating stories more than anything in the world. But on Callisto, a generative AI company called Inspiration owns everything and determines which stories can be told. Kelli's rare and coveted job, in which her autism is to her advantage, is editing AI output into "appropriate" stories for Inspiration's massive TV audience.

Reenter Kelli's ex-boyfriend Rowan, the person on whom Kelli based her proudest creation: the pirate Orlando. Back when they were teenagers, Kelli had thought that Rowan, a trans man, was her schoolmate Am, a girl. Rowan is tangled up in the black market to get money for gender affirming surgery. He needs Kelli's help with something … illegal.

So now Kelli has to decide: Will she risk the safe, tidy story of her life now for the world she once wished for? What would Orlando do?

Passionate, dangerous, and tender, Ignore All Previous Instructions is a sweeping, poignant novel about forbidden love, growing up, and fighting against censorship.

"A deliciously queer, timely ode to human creativity in an ever-more-algorithmic world."-Maria Dong, author of Liar, Dreamer, Thief