Yes, Daddy

Yes, Daddy

  • Downloads:6267
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-06-06 08:52:14
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Jonathan Parks-Ramage
  • ISBN:0358447712
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

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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Reviews

lucyreads_

4。5 stars! RTC。

Hillary Thacker

I went into this book thinking it was going to be something different。 The first 2/3 of the book was captivating, although some parts were very hard to read。 The final 1/3 of the book just kind of lost me。 Overall, very well written but if you have a hard time reading graphic sexual violence, this book is not for you。

Emily

parts of this are super gripping and incisive, and I LOVE a second-person POV (even when the execution is iffy)。 ultimately I think this tries to do too much and ends up painting with too broad a stroke。 some of the religion stuff did, I think, get too heavy handed BUT I loved some of it anyway (“they were my father, they were the Father, and I was always, in my mind, the son” — whew that’s my shit)

Ryan Kelly

Wow。 As many have mentioned VERY dark。 But I have to say this is incredible。 It all feels a little fantasy when talking about the highs but then Parks-Ramage knows how to rip you down from the high you're riding。 This book may seem like a simple thriller but really, the story is what happens after the thriller。 What a wonderful debut。 Wow。 As many have mentioned VERY dark。 But I have to say this is incredible。 It all feels a little fantasy when talking about the highs but then Parks-Ramage knows how to rip you down from the high you're riding。 This book may seem like a simple thriller but really, the story is what happens after the thriller。 What a wonderful debut。 。。。more

Dre Ferreira

Jonah is asked to testify in court that he and several other men had been assaulted, held and raped by famous playwright Richard。 In a moment of fear and anxiety he decides to lie on the stand and state that nothing of the likes had ever happened。 Thus ends the opening scene of Yes, Daddy as we’re flashed back to 2009, two years prior to the case, to witness where the story begins。 Jonah Keller, broke, near homeless and disillusioned with his dreams in New York City decides to orchestrate a ‘cha Jonah is asked to testify in court that he and several other men had been assaulted, held and raped by famous playwright Richard。 In a moment of fear and anxiety he decides to lie on the stand and state that nothing of the likes had ever happened。 Thus ends the opening scene of Yes, Daddy as we’re flashed back to 2009, two years prior to the case, to witness where the story begins。 Jonah Keller, broke, near homeless and disillusioned with his dreams in New York City decides to orchestrate a ‘chance’ meeting with Richard Shriver, infamous playwright who he believes can make all his dreams reality。 Quickly, their meeting evolves into a summer affair, and just as quickly as that into a nightmare of abusive, violent behavior。 While not always the best to those around him, the novel does really well with exploring how past traumatic events have shaped Jonah’s present and how he internalizes his abuse at the hands of Richard。 Moving between his present and memories of his years in conversion therapy, Jonathan Parks-Ramage expertly unveils the facets of Jonah’s character that make him real, flawed and well written。The book loses steam in the last act which fast forwards some years after the opening scene set in 2011 to display the lasting effects of Jonah’s life long abuse, often charting off into semi random vignettes of moments that impact Jonah, but is able to really hone and recenter the story back on what makes the novels fantastic in those 30 pages as it displays what you’re meant to take from it: the never ending journey of Jonah and the boys healing, the ways we can reconcile and not with estranged family and how either choice is valid and how we can begin to learn that we don’t deserve the pain we’ve been inflicted。 Content warning for rape and sexual assault in first person, drug use, drugging of people, sex slavery, human trafficking, kidnapping, death, suicidal ideation, physical abuse, conversion therapy 。。。more

Shea

I took this on vacation expecting it to be a thrilling beach read。 Alert! Not a beach read! But, I did gobble this up。 Wow, where do I even begin。 I love the conversation this book starts about desire, power dynamics, and trauma (where it begins and how it unfurls。) The first two thirds are truly page-turning, watching Jonah and Richard’s relationship bloom and combust。 But I think novel wasn’t successful in terms of being a Gothic。 If I didn’t read “scorching modern gothic” on the inside flap, I took this on vacation expecting it to be a thrilling beach read。 Alert! Not a beach read! But, I did gobble this up。 Wow, where do I even begin。 I love the conversation this book starts about desire, power dynamics, and trauma (where it begins and how it unfurls。) The first two thirds are truly page-turning, watching Jonah and Richard’s relationship bloom and combust。 But I think novel wasn’t successful in terms of being a Gothic。 If I didn’t read “scorching modern gothic” on the inside flap, I wouldn’t have known it was Gothic。 I also thought the last third didn’t land like the first two: quick, unnecessary events that didn’t amount to anything and made me go “ugh”。 But this is good if you’re into dark shit。 。。。more

Lisa Welch

This one is dark and very hard to read at times (trigger warnings for sexual assault and drug use), but this is going to lead to some great book club discussions。 This one tackles many themes including trauma, class differences, religion, sexuality。 I forget so much about the books I read, but I know that this one will be sticking with me。

Fernanda (blueandtheravens)

3,75🌟

Colton Collins

Did not finish。 Got about halfway through and realized that it wasn’t for me。Lots of really gruesome stuff — including an extremely graphic rape scene。 Also the writing wasn’t all that great in my opinion。

Oliver

I desperately wanted to love this, and did not。 It's a good concept (I nearly wrote 'fun concept' but it IS NOT) but not terribly well executed, unfortunately。 The writing is ok, the structure is messy, there is a lot of past and current abuse which feels weirdly light? and the whole thing is overlong。 There is also way too much Sassy Gay-ing。 It's very 'first book', with a lot of disparate elements and none of them given the attention they deserve。My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetG I desperately wanted to love this, and did not。 It's a good concept (I nearly wrote 'fun concept' but it IS NOT) but not terribly well executed, unfortunately。 The writing is ok, the structure is messy, there is a lot of past and current abuse which feels weirdly light? and the whole thing is overlong。 There is also way too much Sassy Gay-ing。 It's very 'first book', with a lot of disparate elements and none of them given the attention they deserve。My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the ARC。 。。。more

Hunter Burke

This was a real mixed bag for me, but what I can say with complete certainty is that this book needs content warnings。 Seriously。 If you are triggered by rape, substance abuse, suicide, or violence, this probably isn’t the novel for you。 What I expected when I first heard about this book was a pulpy, summer thriller that would keep me on my toes。 And there are moments where Yes, Daddy lives up to that。 The first two thirds of this novel are quick, glossy, and at times sexy before devolving into This was a real mixed bag for me, but what I can say with complete certainty is that this book needs content warnings。 Seriously。 If you are triggered by rape, substance abuse, suicide, or violence, this probably isn’t the novel for you。 What I expected when I first heard about this book was a pulpy, summer thriller that would keep me on my toes。 And there are moments where Yes, Daddy lives up to that。 The first two thirds of this novel are quick, glossy, and at times sexy before devolving into a twisted nightmare of a summer in the Hamptons。 Jonah is a compelling enough protagonist that fulfills the standards tropes of the genre: down on his luck, complicated past, looking for love in all the wrong places。 When at its best, this novel shows shades of Get Out and Netflix’s You。 And if that’s all that Jonathan Parks-Ramage was going for, I think this novel would’ve worked a lot better for me。 I think that Yes, Daddy falters because it’s trying to accomplish too many things。 It tries to be a gay pulp thriller, a take down of Twitter and cancel culture, an exploration of the complicated relationship between sexuality and organized religion, and an exploration of the crooked, nonlinear journey towards healing。 There are so many disparate pieces being juggled here, many of which aren’t introduced until the third act, and they don’t always congeal。 There is such a stark tone shift in the third act, and it takes a while to adjust to what’s being explored in the novel’s conclusion。 That being said, I found the ending to be extremely emotionally resonant, which speaks to Jonathan Parks-Ramage’s abilities as a writer。 The plotting may have felt a little uneven, but there is a raw emotionality present in the writing that kept me engaged in Jonah’s emotional journey。 His reconciliation with his father was genuinely moving, and I think a fantastic ending point for a novel that’s ultimately about the complicated relationships we have with our fathers and the way they manifest in various facets of our lives。 My only other gripe here is that BDSM and kink are included in this novel specific to the rape and sexual assault that occurs。 I find it really frustrating that most times whenever BDSM or kink are used in media, it’s portrayed as negative and harmful。 This is so often not the case, and this portrayal leads to the type of discourse we’ve been seeing on Twitter and TikTok lately about having kink at Pride。 I’m just patiently waiting for a piece of media that portrays the BDSM community in a healthy, accurate, and positive light。All that aside, I did genuinely enjoy this novel。 I think the biggest issues here come down to tone and intention。 It’s difficult to be a pulpy thriller and a genuine look at trauma and the healing process。 But Jonathan Parks-Ramage definitely has promise, and I’m interested to see what his next novel is going to be。 。。。more

Theodore Martinez

First book of #pride month reading done and oh boy is it a doozy。 #YesDaddy by @jprampage is an easy contender for the best book I’ve read in 2021。。Yes, Daddy is a first person narrative told from Jonah Keller’s perspective。 Jonah has moved to NYC with dreams of becoming a playwright only to find himself living in a rundown sublet, working extra hours as a waiter to make rent, and completely alone。 After coming across a photo of Richard Shriver, an accomplished playwright with a proclivity for y First book of #pride month reading done and oh boy is it a doozy。 #YesDaddy by @jprampage is an easy contender for the best book I’ve read in 2021。。Yes, Daddy is a first person narrative told from Jonah Keller’s perspective。 Jonah has moved to NYC with dreams of becoming a playwright only to find himself living in a rundown sublet, working extra hours as a waiter to make rent, and completely alone。 After coming across a photo of Richard Shriver, an accomplished playwright with a proclivity for younger men, Jonah hatches a plan to meet and seduce him。。Richard invites Jonah to spend the summer with him in the Hamptons in his iron fence enclosed compound, schmoozing industry big shots and living the life of kept man。 What follows instead is the summer from hell, filled with violence and plots of revenge。。This book is seriously f@%€ed。 Trigger warnings: rape and sexual assault, violence, abuse, drug use, forced drug use, conversion therapy, trauma, abandonment。 With so many trigger warnings you may be asking why Yes, Daddy has become a front runner for best book of the year for me。 Well, that’s because it’s honest in its discussions on each topic。 While I personally have not experienced the things Jonah has gone through, predation by older, wealthier men is all too common within the gay community。 Further, though the #metoo movement has dwindled some, sexual assault within the lgbt community is often under discussed and under represented。。Yes, Daddy is a difficult book to read, but even more difficult to put down。 Jonah’s story is raw but well crafted。 The writing style is unique and purposeful。 It is at once a deeply moving account of trauma, a thriller focused on sex and violence, and a warning about the treachery of powerful men。。Without a doubt, the only star rating I can give it is。。。。⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 。。。more

Christina。escapes。reality

。。“The things we worship eat us alive。”。Today I’m throwing you my review for #yesdaddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage。 Holy hell strap in for a ride folks:。Well。 This is a wild domestic thriller。 It’s got similarities to #theseviolentdelights and #mydarkvanessa 。 We follow our protagonist Jonah, who moves from Illinois to NYC to focus on his dreams of becoming a playwright, as well as his sanity。 After growing up in a home with a powerful megachurch minister as a father, forcing conversion therapy and 。。“The things we worship eat us alive。”。Today I’m throwing you my review for #yesdaddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage。 Holy hell strap in for a ride folks:。Well。 This is a wild domestic thriller。 It’s got similarities to #theseviolentdelights and #mydarkvanessa 。 We follow our protagonist Jonah, who moves from Illinois to NYC to focus on his dreams of becoming a playwright, as well as his sanity。 After growing up in a home with a powerful megachurch minister as a father, forcing conversion therapy and the “perfect Christian family” ideals onto him, Jonah leaves and moves into a rundown sublet in Bushwick, working at a restaurant to barely make rent。 He hatches a plan to seduce the successful screenwriter, author, and playwright, Richard Shriver to help kickstart his plans。 Jonah succeeds, and is invited to Richard’s estate in the Hamptons, where lavish dinners, pool dates, and Richard’s close artist friends are plentiful, as well as a surprisingly attractive gay waitstaff, who seem to be sporting ugly bruises…。JON, VERY IMPRESSED! I felt the angst thee ENTIRE time。 Literally such an unsettling feeling of unease and malaise in the pit of my stomach, just knowing Jonah’s future is so dependent on Richard’s interest in him。 Watching him go from knight to pawn made you resonate with Jonah’s devastation; Parks-Ramage is very crafted in placing the reader in the mind of the characters, to feel Jonah’s isolation and despondence in these moments, to feel confined and helpless, seemingly without a way out。 This is a very dark and disturbing read, touching on the extremes of psychological abuse, gaslighting, and domination。。Your heart will break in Jonah’s torment and the abuse he endures; it seemed like as soon as Jonah was able to find a helping hand, that hand turned around and slapped him across the face (and the ass!)。 There is a bunch of internal conflict surrounding Jonah’s perception of religion and acceptance in His heavenly realm。 This book circulates around topics of redemption and absolution, forgiveness and consent。 Yes, Daddy touches on the #metoo movement in a male’s perspective, which is equally as important and highly underrepresented, so I commend Parks-Ramage in placing attention to this as well。 An alarming and heart-pounding read, #yesdaddy is an intense domestic thriller that will have you racing through the pages。 Congrats Jonathan on this intense and captivating read!。Rating: 4。5/5 。。。more

Sarah Bischoff

this booook was alllooot。 not what i was expecting but i really enjoyed it。

Alexis Pottebaum

DEVASTATING。

Philip

Not all gay-centric stories need to be the requisite YA fantasies (ex。 Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda) or coming-out conflicts (ex。 Boy Erased) or summer romances (ex。 Call Me By Your Name) or grief memoirs (ex。 Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies)。 I am glad that there is space for more subversive stories that present some of the more sordid things that gays at some point (sadly and tragically) either brush up against or navigate head on。I'm cautious to say that I enjoyed Yes, Daddy - it was an exhi Not all gay-centric stories need to be the requisite YA fantasies (ex。 Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda) or coming-out conflicts (ex。 Boy Erased) or summer romances (ex。 Call Me By Your Name) or grief memoirs (ex。 Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies)。 I am glad that there is space for more subversive stories that present some of the more sordid things that gays at some point (sadly and tragically) either brush up against or navigate head on。I'm cautious to say that I enjoyed Yes, Daddy - it was an exhilarating, disturbing experience and certainly not for all tastes。 I think the book loses steam in the second half when it tries to do a little too much, be a little larger and significant than it should be。 If the author had stuck to the propulsive style and content of the first half and continued to ride the wave of the immediacy of the plot (ex。 stayed at the compound) this would have been a corker of a book。 。。。more

emmilina

Poor Jonah! I didn’t care for the ending。

Lindsay

I truly don’t know how I can construct a review to do this book any justice。 Let me first say to not let this fun cover fool you - Parks-Ramage dives into VERY serious topics within these pages, so be aware of just about every trigger warning。We often hear #metoo stories from the female perspective, but what about the men? What about males who are abused by others who hold strong positions of power and exploit those underneath them? Because, yes - it happens, and here Park-Ramage gives this gro I truly don’t know how I can construct a review to do this book any justice。 Let me first say to not let this fun cover fool you - Parks-Ramage dives into VERY serious topics within these pages, so be aware of just about every trigger warning。We often hear #metoo stories from the female perspective, but what about the men? What about males who are abused by others who hold strong positions of power and exploit those underneath them? Because, yes - it happens, and here Park-Ramage gives this group a voice and a heartbreaking story of the damaging effects of this sexual exploitation。 You are going to weep for Jonah and wish all the good things for him the entire time。Parks-Ramage touches on many tough topics here, but one I was thoroughly impressed with and appreciated was the issue of being queer in the church。 He discusses conversion therapy and how detrimental it can be。 While I know my Jesus loves everyone, there are still people everywhere in the church that condemn homosexuality and refuse to accept the queer population and this is a serious mental battle for these groups。 The way he executed the topic of faith was done so beautifully and I wish I had space to share the quotable moments I highlighted。This was such an important story that needed to be told and I can’t believe it was a debut。 It’s out now and I highly encourage you to add it to your shelf this month。VERDICT: 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 。。。more

chloe

That was。。。 wild。

Xgahkcpgnnb

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Deb

This is super dark, and hard to read, but hard to walk away

Tammy Feeney

This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I really liked the writing style。 The characters were enticing, the story was juicy。 It’s the type of thriller that keeps you guessing。

Sean Gold

An amazing, gut wrenching story that had me wanting more from start to finish。 For such an important and needed story in the LGBT community。 I hope this opens up more serious concessions that are needed in today’s world。 This book causes a love-hate relationship with the main character in an adventurous way! Definitely a good book for pride month。

Brook

The first half of this book is fire。 Propulsive, seedy, excellent characterization。 It is the thriller I expected when I bought this book。 That last half, however, reads like a depressing memoir as the narrator tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and heal his trauma。 Realistic? Yes。 Satisfying? No。

L。 Rambit

Cripes, Yes, Daddy just gutted me。 Queer sexual trauma with a religious slant? Did you mean MY ENTIRE LIFE??? This was 280 pages of intensity。 It's emotionally cathartic in the way being beaten with a baseball bat is emotionally cathartic。 I almost tapped out several times because it hit way too close to home。 People trying to market this as an erotic thriller are nuts。 This。。。 No。 This is not erotic; this is pure horror。 And it's SUPPOSED to be pure horror。 It tells a story that needs to be tol Cripes, Yes, Daddy just gutted me。 Queer sexual trauma with a religious slant? Did you mean MY ENTIRE LIFE??? This was 280 pages of intensity。 It's emotionally cathartic in the way being beaten with a baseball bat is emotionally cathartic。 I almost tapped out several times because it hit way too close to home。 People trying to market this as an erotic thriller are nuts。 This。。。 No。 This is not erotic; this is pure horror。 And it's SUPPOSED to be pure horror。 It tells a story that needs to be told。 And if you know me, you KNOW I love a victim with edges。 I myself am not a perfect little angel of an abuse survivor, and neither is Jonah in this story。 That doesn't mean we deserved what happened to us; our story is still worth telling。 (Trigger warnings for domestic abuse, abuse of authority, rape (underage rape, sexual abuse re: religious authority, etc), trafficking, cults, religious trauma, conversion therapy。。。 The list goes on!) Anyway; this was fantastically written and fantastically paced, and I never want to read it again; it made me furious and sick to my stomach in turns。 Five stars aren't enough; give it ten stars。 Twenty。 Going on my 'best of 2021' list for sure。 This first-time author was perfect for the job; he managed to write a story of this heft while keeping it brisk and brief, never romanticizing the horror。 If "illegal gay sex ring in the Hamptons shortly before the #metoo movement strikes" sounds at all interesting to you, you must read this。 (And can I just say, I seriously appreciated the way the author twisted the 'toxic billionaire love interest is just traumatized from his own abuse, but he can be fixed by love!' trope onto its head? Yes, Richard was probably molested by his mother。 No, that doesn't make any part of his actions okay。 There is no reason and no excuse to rape another human being, ever, period。 I'm glad that was spelled out so clearly。 Christian Grey, he ain't。) 。。。more

Jennifer M。

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book。 Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either。 Giving it 2。5/5 Stars。

Yusuf Nasrullah

Began ferociously well as a thriller about the Sugar Daddy pursuit gone horribly wrong with emotional blackmail, physical assault, sexual degradation and all that shocking juicy readable stuff the author was trying to horrify and titillate readers with。 Then it suddenly became about forgiveness, reconciling with a hated father, thoughts of suicide and re-entry into a Church with an ex-gay pastor。 Too many buttons being pressed which derailed the plot and made the book more activism and less lite Began ferociously well as a thriller about the Sugar Daddy pursuit gone horribly wrong with emotional blackmail, physical assault, sexual degradation and all that shocking juicy readable stuff the author was trying to horrify and titillate readers with。 Then it suddenly became about forgiveness, reconciling with a hated father, thoughts of suicide and re-entry into a Church with an ex-gay pastor。 Too many buttons being pressed which derailed the plot and made the book more activism and less literature。 The ending was foul and I felt cheated。 Two stars for mostly unrealized potential! 。。。more

Eric

I read this very interesting book in one night。 When I first read it was an “upcoming release”, I knew it had to jump to the head of my reading list。 Set in NYC and Brooklyn-where I am a lifelong resident-it felt familiar。 In more ways then one。 It was a thought provoking, memory inducing, make you think, kind of bizarre read。 I cannot recommend this book highly enough。 So I shall。

Sanexiah

That was absolutely,,, horrifying

Shannon Yarbrough

Gosh, I'm really amazed at stuff that gets published these days in the gay fiction genre。 This book obviously stemmed from the #MeToo movement (Harvey Weinstein is even mentioned in the book), but it's as if the author wanted to just be sure to include every demeaning thing that can surface in gay culture: rape, incest, parental abuse, sex work, sexual harassment, conversion therapy, abandonment, suicide, online bullying。。。it just keeps going! Add to it an unlikable narrator who's just a petty, Gosh, I'm really amazed at stuff that gets published these days in the gay fiction genre。 This book obviously stemmed from the #MeToo movement (Harvey Weinstein is even mentioned in the book), but it's as if the author wanted to just be sure to include every demeaning thing that can surface in gay culture: rape, incest, parental abuse, sex work, sexual harassment, conversion therapy, abandonment, suicide, online bullying。。。it just keeps going! Add to it an unlikable narrator who's just a petty, pretentious, young NYC gay obsessed with his "svelte body" and you've got this book! It had potential to be an amazing horror story early on when Jonah becomes obsessed with the infamous playwriter Richard and is set on meeting him and becoming his lover。 We get a hint at Jonah possibly being almost psychotic and I couldn't wait to see what happened next。 BUT。。。it just turns into a predictable, sad hashtag from there。 Attention Publishers - Stop publishing this trash as fiction。 If it's a memoir, that's different。 Otherwise, you are just adding to the long list of degradation the LGBTQ community faces every day。 Fiction should be an escape from that。 Not a reminder。 。。。more