Scan barcode
breanakate's review
3.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Confinement
kloft1993's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Incest
apersonfromflorida's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse
danielghurst's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After a chilling prologue, Yes, Daddy takes the reader on a brooding and often brutal thrill ride. The clever narrative device and the heaviness of the language draw the reader into this world of desperation, sexual tension, and power plays. The first half of the book breezes by in a whirl of eerie events, odd characters, unabashed gayness, sexuality, and brutality, at times verging on camp.
The second half is more of a surprise. Several years later, Jonah has a more personal reckoning with what happened to him in the first half of the book, the others involved, and the childhood traumas that led him into such a dire situation. Mostly absent of thrills, the rest of the book moves more slowly and delves into societal critique around social media, mental health, religion, sexuality, and rape culture, particularly in regards to the gay community. Expect a more human story tinged with both despair and hope.
Non-exhaustive list of content warnings: rape, physical violence, underage drinking, sexual assault, kidnapping, infidelity, drug use, cruelty to animals, suicide, suicidal ideation, religious fanaticism
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Blood, Confinement, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Death, Violence, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Cursing
bookmarkedbya's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
hannia222's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tw: graphic violence (physical/sexual), rape, substance abuse, homophobia
Yes, Daddy follows Jonah Keller, a young, ambitious writer scraping by in New York, who schemes a meeting with the rich and successful Richard Shriver, a playwright himself. An affair, cemented in the imbalance of power, ensues, and what follows is a twisted tale of abuse and violence.
From the very beginning, Parks-Ramage peels away the layers of Jonah's character, hereby showing his vulnerability and how lack of validation leads to his later mistakes. These aspects alone make the novel worth a read - it is a character study, both of Jonah and of #MeToo. The critical exploration of trauma allows the reader to empathise with a very flawed, often even unlikable character - something essential in our time, where victim blaming is still commonplace.
The first 60% is truly impossible to put down. Although often painful to read, it is fast-paced and able to elicit strong emotional response often, without becoming over-the-top or unrealistic. The build up of tension is spaced out in a ways that give each twist a sense of realisation rather than shock. This was brilliantly done, considering that sexual abuse stories so often hide in plain sight in reality.
The next few chapters felt a bit all over the place, but to the book as a whole they remain relevant to Jonah's journey. The effects of his experiences never leave the story (rightfully), rather manifesting themselves in any and all aspects of his life. Towards the end a good pace is achieved again, and allows the novel to be tied up in a hopeful way. I also think the book deserves to be acknowledged for the constructive way it deals with therapy, forgiveness and religion - especially in the LGBTQIA+ community.
The use of the second person allows the book to feel even more personal, though never directed at the reader. Although I wouldn't say I have any special attachment to Jonah, his turmoil resonated with me from beginning to end. I unexpectedly found tears of anger streaming down my face as I made my way through this novel, crying at the injustice but also saddened by the fact that this is a book rooted in truth. It's a powerful story, strengthened by its implications and inspiration, that will stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Violence
bostonbooksandbubbles's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Torture, Slavery, Sexism, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Alcoholism, and Addiction
perfect_leaves's review
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Sexism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
readingrainbot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Suicide
bookishlybrief's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first half of the book were compelling and hard to read. It flails in the second half where the protagonist is reckoning with trauma and how to deal with it. The end was disappointing for sure given the promise of the front half.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Domestic abuse