Book Review | Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage

Jonah Keller left a troubled home for New York City with dreams of becoming a screenwriter. Broke and yearning for a connection to the rich and famous, he sets up a meeting with famed playwright, Richard Shriver. They start a passionate affair and Jonah happily accepts Richard’s invitation to spend the summer at an estate in the Hamptons. Surrounded by Richard’s wealthy friends and flocked by handsome waiters, Jonah’s dream relationship soon starts to sour and turns into a nightmare.

I need to tell the story of what happened to us. Even if the only person listening is me. 

Yes, Daddy is an explosive gothic thriller that pulls no punches. Don’t let the lovely pastel cover fool you – this is not a steamy romance with a happy ending. The book deals with abuse, power, and homophobia in graphic, gut-wrenching terms. Opening with a shocking scene at a rape trial in the prologue, I thought I knew where this story was going. But I had no idea the emotional rollercoaster that awaited me as I ventured into this world.

Jonah is a naive young man with big dreams. His narration feels a little detached yet his despair at his dwindling money and desperation to be part of the exclusive wealthy is palpable. He gets pulled into a circle of powerful men led by his boyfriend, Richard. Anyone can see this is heading into a disaster, yet Jonah wanted badly to believe he is valuable and loved. He meets young men employed as the waitstaff at the Hamptons house and looks down on them. But when things get from bad to worse, they are the only ones who are on his side.

I thought Jonah is a complex character who is not immediately likeable or easily trusted. This is a deliberate choice because it asks what happens when the victim isn’t perfect? The book highlights the way male sexual abuse victims are seen, especially when they are queer. Jonah isn’t the only victim of Richard and his friends, yet Jonah is the only voice we get. He was hurt, and he too hurt others. The book reveals his background gradually and we begin to understand why Jonah is the way he is. It’s when trauma is unresolved, and the cycle continues, only the perpetrator changes. Can he reconcile his decisions, regrets and choices so that he can begin to heal and move on?

I found it hard to read this book and when I was done, I felt wrung out. While this is fiction, the circumstances are familiar enough that you can find similarities to real-life cases of Hollywood sexual abuse. Yet not all of those abusers are punished, and there are no easy answers here either. Justice isn’t easy to obtain, the public can turn on you and even your family can betray you. Unsurprisingly, Jonah’s desire for a relationship with Richard arises from his harrowing relationship with his religious father. The book goes into the devastating effects of conversion therapy and religious hypocrisy. It shows how some young gay men are forced to do terrible things in order to survive because their own families refuse to accept them.

I’m not a fan of the ending which to me doesn’t ring true for Jonah. There are a few threads that are left unresolved and characters that are left behind. But seeing where Jonah came from, I can understand where he ended up. It’s about wanting to close the circle of hurt and find closure. I wanted him to be free, away from everyone who has ever hurt him.

Yes, Daddy is a complicated, unapologetic take on abusive relationships and the complicity of victims. It will make you angry and sad and disgusted, yet perhaps hopeful too. A compelling debut and recommended.

CW: graphic descriptions of rape, sexual assault, physical violence, substance abuse, conversion therapy, suicide

I received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley for review purposes.

About the author: Jonathan Parks-Ramage

Photo by Andrii Leonov