Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage

46 reviews

arlingtonchamberofgay's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

In Yes, Daddy, Jonah dances the line between rags and riches, climbing the ladder of wealth the only way that many of us working class queers can: through our bodies. Parks-Ramage does a brilliant job conveying just how quickly survivors start reasoning away the abuse in an effort to stay sane and hold on to their life. The constant internal dialogue of “i’m doing this to survive” and “this isn’t fucking normal”, back and forth, over and over again, that damaging spiral of mental turmoil that just chips away at your mental health. He also explores the way that evangelical christianity is woven into our culture and often follows us long after we’ve left, even sometimes calling us back before falling out again. 
As a trans, queer, sexual assault survivor with religious trauma and a plethora of daddy issues, this book got to me in a way I wasn’t fully expecting. But it brought words to the things that I’ve only ever kept to myself or told few friends. So thank you. Here’s to my fellow survivors. Let’s knock ‘em dead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Homophobia, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse

miranda_graham's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Drug use

Moderate: Drug abuse

lucajgrainger's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Rape, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

telliot's review

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I really enjoyed this book, it was heart-wrenching and emotional. My perspective on Jonah shifted a few times throughout the book, but at the end I was happy he finally got an ending that felt suited to him.
Although while reading it I could help but think about how a major plot point was basically a stolen Seinfeld plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Rape, and Confinement

asreadbykhyla's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was an easy 5 stars for me!!! While it was a heartbreaking story, I felt like there was so much pure truth in it as well! It was heartbreaking but also shined a light on how truly fucked up people with power can be! And while Jonah is an incredible flawed character, I really enjoyed how honest he was with us as the readers! Mace deserved better!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Cursing

delecterble's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Incest

eeefann125's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Homophobia, Drug use, Dementia, Abandonment, Suicide, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Outing, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Pedophilia, Body shaming, and Addiction

gay_for_jay's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

4.5 stars out of 5

Books about religious trauma and the LGBTQIA+ community are normally books that I avoid because of the parallels to my own story. However, I wanted to see this book through. As I continued to read and listen (I borrowed the audiobook from the local library) I found myself becoming emotionally attached to Jonah and his story due the similarities (minus conversion therapy). Jonah is portrayed as a write and it is clearly reflected in the way “he” writes a love letter to self on his journey of discovery and forgiveness. More importantly, I think Jonah is writing to liberate “you.”

Yes, Daddy was an enthralling book that I found difficult to read (again personal connections), but even harder to put down. My sole critique is I wish there was a content warning listed somewhere in the book prior to starting, so one can prepare themselves of the potential journey they are about to embark upon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Drug use

arbramirez's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Drug use, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Outing, Self harm, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit

vexatiousbird's review

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

It does well at depicting escalating abuse and makes it clear why the protagonist doesn’t leave after the early warning signs, and it’s written in a conversational style that makes it a quick read. The protagonist is intentionally unsympathetic to highlight how even unsympathetic people can be victims, but that presents a challenge for the reader. At least for me, the basic sympathy for his suffering and desire for him to escape terrible abusive circumstances didn’t extend to much longer term emotional investment in him as a character in the extended aftermath. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Drug use, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide and Violence

Minor: Incest