Perris, California Audiobook By Rachel Stark cover art

Perris, California

A Novel

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Perris, California

By: Rachel Stark
Narrated by: Alex McKenna
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“A glorious debut...it will rouse your deepest well of empathy.” —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

“This novel will live alongside classics of young womanhood.” —Susan Straight, author of bestsellers Mecca and In the Country of Women


In this unforgettable first novel, twenty-seven-year-old Tessa, pregnant with her third child and living in a trailer on her mother-in-law’s property, encounters the woman she used to love—leading Tessa to question the very foundations of the life she’s built

Abandoned first by her father and then her mother, as a girl Tessa is left to live with her abusive stepfather and stepbrother. She survives by finding reserves of strength in herself, and by the surprising, trans-formative love of another teenage girl, Mel, who sees through Tessa’s tough exterior to the vulnerable, scarred, loving woman inside. When she suddenly loses Mel, too, Tessa stumbles into a saving grace of a different kind with Henry and his mama, Angie, becoming a mother and finding herself in a familial existence that somehow carries her into adulthood—until the day she runs into Mel, who has just returned to Perris after years away.

Filled with violence, tragedy, tenderness, longing, and the unvarnished courage of women living in a mostly unseen America, Perris, California is the utterly gripping story of Tessa’s journey from trauma to healing, and it introduces us to one of the most indelible female characters since Bone Boatwright in Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina or Ruth Langmore in Ozark. Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Small Town & Rural Literature & Fiction Genre Fiction

Critic reviews

Advance praise for Perris, California

“An emotionally charged portrait of two women’s painful family histories and their uneasy reunion in California’s Inland Empire . . . Fans of Dorothy Allison or Pam Houston ought to seek this out.” —Publishers Weekly

“An extraordinary debut that insists that we can—and must—mend each other.” —Kirkus (starred review)

“Some stories grab you, shake you to the core, and never let you go, demanding you to stare into the heart of human depravity and resilience. Other stories capture you by stealth, quiet beauty unfolding in ordinary moments: a conversation ’round a table, the unexpected smile of a neighbor, the wind on your face as you run. Harrowing, evocative, and deeply moving, Perris, California does both. Rachel Stark reminds us that in the smallest acts of kindness center the most enormous acts of love. This is a remarkable novel of human beings fully being—where what we do to each other sits side by side with what we do for each other.” —Sarah Blake, author of The Postmistress

“Perris, California is a remarkable, audacious, and truly original debut. Stark’s characters are incandescent in their fierce desire not just for survival but for love and redemption. This novel will live alongside classics of young womanhood by Kaye Gibbons, Helena Maria Viramontes, Maya Angelou, and yes, Dorothy Allison.” —Susan Straight, author of bestsellers Mecca and In the Country of Women

“Rachel Stark’s beautiful debut novel is a gripping portrayal of generational trauma suffered by women living in rural poverty. But this heartbreaking story is ultimately one of healing and hope as she reminds us of our capacity for forgiveness and understanding.” —Tracey Lange, author of We Are the Brennans

“Perris, California is a glorious debut from the magnificent Rachel Stark who writes from the soul when she is not writing from the heart. This is a novel set in the invisible America, the land of hopes and dreams if one happens to be lucky. Tessa has bouts of luck and longing, amidst circumstances out of her control. This is not only a story of trauma and survival, it will rouse your deepest well of empathy and have you rooting for a woman you may have never met. You will know her now, in this dazzling debut.” —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone
All stars
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Beautifully layered narrative which will grip you to the end. Wonderful storytelling with strong female characters who have surprisingly touching and complex relationships with each other. The story unfolds towards a very satisfying ending, and I wanted to read it again the moment I finished.

Beautiful and gripping

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This story shows the reader how we humans and our families are complicated and complex. But also how challenging and difficult a humans journey can be. It tells the story of a young woman, Tessa, who goes through many unspeakable events in her life but she continues to be a fierce fighter. In the end she becomes the mother she wanted herself. There are many great characters brought to life by the author Rachel Stark. I can see this book as a great and heartfelt movie that brings the audience to realizations of their own life experiences and families.

Love prevailing in a challenging life.

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Really great story! Some hard parts to get through, but that is life. The characters are very relatable. Lots of variety in this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sat in my car for an hour, just to finish the book.

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This book was alternately heart wrenching and uplifting and will bring you to tears one moment and have you laughing out loud the next. It follows a young woman and her family as they all struggle with the events of their lives both present and past and how they all fit together both as individuals and together. It gave me vibes of Hillbilly Elegy, as the struggles of poverty are present but it was the people that stole my breath with how they dealt with their problems. These characters will be living in my brain for a while I am sure! Alex McKenna knocked it out of the park with this narration! Her voice completely brought these characters to life for me! I will definitely be looking for more books by Rachel Stark and books narrated by Alex McKenna!
So Freaking Good!

Gripping Story!

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This book is wonderful. It’s heartbreaking but also so lovely. I loved everything about this book.

Beautifully written

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