Dans Mon Catalogue

Hardcover, 282 pages

English language

Published Aug. 18, 2021 by Mariner Books.

ISBN:: 9780358447719

(1 review)

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 …

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.

3 editions

Robert Kingett reviewed Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage

It broke me.

5 stars

This book broke me, but in a good way. I've sometimes held the belief that horror, especially gothic horror, can reveal a lot about the human spirit just as a Rom Com can. They both have their place, and if you can make it through this book, it has a lot of lessons to teach the gay community about religious acceptance, rape, and consent.

Make no mistake, this book is not a happy book. The content warnings would take up multiple paragraphs, but the big ones are,

rape.

Sexual assault.

Ageism.

Death.

drugs.

Religious abuse.

Religious trauma.

Suicide.

Depression.

Self harm.

That being said, this book has a very powerful message. I didn't like the fact there appeared to only be one Black character though. In essence, the Black character did have a lot of agency. Nothing bad happens to him by the end. He sticks up for himself, whereas …

This book broke me, but in a good way. I've sometimes held the belief that horror, especially gothic horror, can reveal a lot about the human spirit just as a Rom Com can. They both have their place, and if you can make it through this book, it has a lot of lessons to teach the gay community about religious acceptance, rape, and consent.

Make no mistake, this book is not a happy book. The content warnings would take up multiple paragraphs, but the big ones are,

rape.

Sexual assault.

Ageism.

Death.

drugs.

Religious abuse.

Religious trauma.

Suicide.

Depression.

Self harm.

That being said, this book has a very powerful message. I didn't like the fact there appeared to only be one Black character though. In essence, the Black character did have a lot of agency. Nothing bad happens to him by the end. He sticks up for himself, whereas all the other characters sink under their own traumas and hardships.

Ultimately, this book has a lot of lessons gay people should listen to. I did like, at the end, religion helps in healing, and isn't painted as just this bad thing.

This book will never be for everyone. It's too dark and sad. Still, this book is worth a read, especially the audio version, narrated by Kevin R Free. You have to be in a good headspace to read this book. It casts a terrifying spotlight on how dangerous gay elites can be when they have money, fame, and nothing else.

Subjects

Thriller
LGBT
Domestic Abuse
Classism
Religious trauma
Sexual assault