Yes, Daddy
Books | Drama / American / General
3.3
(93)
Jonathan Parks-Ramage
"A gut-churning, heart-wrenching, blockbuster of a first novel . . . Parks-Ramage is an extraordinary new talent and Yes, Daddy is truly something special." --Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things A propulsive, scorching modern gothic, Yes, Daddy follows an ambitious young man who is lured by an older, successful playwright into a dizzying world of wealth and an idyllic Hamptons home where things take a nightmarish turn. Jonah Keller moved to New York City with dreams of becoming a successful playwright, but, for the time being, lives in a rundown sublet in Bushwick, working extra hours at a restaurant only to barely make rent. When he stumbles upon a photo of Richard Shriver--the glamorous Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and quite possibly the stepping stone to the fame he craves--Jonah orchestrates their meeting. The two begin a hungry, passionate affair. When summer arrives, Richard invites his young lover for a spell at his sprawling estate in the Hamptons. A tall iron fence surrounds the idyllic compound where Richard and a few of his close artist friends entertain, have lavish dinners, and--Jonah can't help but notice--employ a waitstaff of young, attractive gay men, many of whom sport ugly bruises. Soon, Jonah is cast out of Richard's good graces and a sinister underlay begins to emerge. As a series of transgressions lead inexorably to a violent climax, Jonah hurtles toward a decisive revenge that will shape the rest of his life. Riveting, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, Yes, Daddy is an exploration of class, power dynamics, and the nuances of victimhood and complicity. It burns with weight and clarity--and offers hope that stories may hold the key to our healing.
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More Details:
Author
Jonathan Parks-Ramage
Pages
288
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published Date
2021
ISBN
0358447712 9780358447719
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"I have to give Parks-Ramage credit where it is due: for a debut novel, it was very strong. The story had me hooked and turning the pages. I wanted to know what happened and what each character ended up doing. <br/><br/>TW: SA<br/><br/>My issue with the book is more a fault of my perception than one of the author's writing. After reading the jacket copy, I picked up the book imagining that the dark and twisted nature was more centered around murder. However, it turned out to be about rape and abuse. As a result, the book became something I would not have picked up had I known its true subject matter. I didn't know what I was in for, which definitely put a damper on my reading experience. <br/><br/>I've reread the jacket copy since finishing the book, and I can't tell if I feel misled by it; I don't know what I would recommend because giving away the abuse might've been seen as a spoiler. I'd love to hear what others think. <br/><br/>That being said, I did finish it because Parks-Ramage had me invested in discovering what happened to his characters. That's why it's getting four stars."
K R
Kayla Randolph
"This book is not for the faint of heart. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assault, mental and physical abuse, suicide, religious ideation.<br/><br/>Jonah is an aspiring writer that recently moved to New York City. He finds himself alone and broke - barely hanging on and about to get thrown out of the apartment he's not able to pay for. He then meets Richard, an older man that happens to be a famous play write. Jonah's life starts to look up as he starts a relationship with Richard. Richard starts helping him pay rent, takes him out to lavish, star studded parties, and invites him to stay the summer at his Hamptons home. Jonah is thrilled and eventually quits his serving job to spend the summer writing at Richards Hamptons compound that he shares with a few friends. Jonah can't seem to believe how lucky he is. Jonah's luck quickly turns as he realizes he's stepped into a nightmare. The events of that summer will forever shape his life and he'll struggle for many years to come. <br/><br/>This book is so heartbreaking. I spent 90% of the book completely ******, 70% completely horrified, and about 75% feeling completely sad and tender towards Jonah and the other characters. I don't want to give too much away. I will say that this book did a very good job at capturing how the times change, how victims are viewed by others and themselves, and how fame and money can mask a lot. <br/><br/>I would recommend this book to those that enjoy books that are a bit on the heavy side. If you have issues with any of the trigger warnings I listed above I'd say to move on from this one. It is heavy and stays with you after you've finished reading it."
Meg