Perris, California

by Rachel Stark

In this unforgettable debut 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 by first 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, transformative 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 .

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story’s good, but with a huge caveat: almost every page contains distracting (and glaring) grammatical flaws. Mostly along the lines of “she wasn’t going to do that no more”, or “she come up on a fork in the road”, or “there wasn’t no sense in it.” (These are not quotes from the book - they’re examples of the types of grammatical flaws to which i’m referring.) These frequent grammatical problems occur both within dialogue and in the third-person narrative. The latter type is just unacceptable to my reading sensibilities.

I’m hoping that the narrative is substantially cleaned up before final publication, as i read an Advance Reader’s Copy. My star rating assumes as much. If not, i’d still give it 3 stars for the surprisingly strong story line and character development. I admire and respect the message of the ending, as well.

I can confidently recommend this to local readers, with only the caution about the grammar.

[Rebecca Silvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really moving book. I feel like I've read so many books with similar themes - abuse, poverty, and rural America are a few of Oprah's favourite things - but this book really manages to be original and stand out. The main character, Tessa, is never simplified, or reduced to being an archetype. She is complex, equally relatable, and unknowable. A few big things happen in this book, and quite a few little things, and it isn't always possible to tell the difference between them. I think that's the beauty and the power that sets Ms. Stark's storytelling apart. The book just sparkles with all the little moments that make up a life, the impossibility of knowing what it all means while we're living it, and the importance of having a few good anchor points to hold it all together. I'm very glad I read this book

[Azizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel Stark's debut novel Perris, California immediately intrigued me because Perris is super close to the the city I live in. While I have never lived there, I have driven through it many times and even worked in a factory in Perris when I was in my early 20's. I have a very specific perspective of Perris and it is different than what Stark's novel depicted. This likely shaped my experience with the book, but I digress.

The main character Tessa has an unstable home life that is exacerbated by the loss of her mother when she is a young girl. She is left to fend for herself while living with her mom's boyfriend, a man who is brutally violent and neglectful. Over time, Tessa comes in contact with people who are able to provide support and love, the necessary components for healing and moving forward.

I enjoyed some parts of the book and empathized with some of the characters; however, it wasn't enough for me to truly love the book. The narrative is a mix of flashbacks and flash forwards which made the reading a bit disjointed, and I felt a good bit of distance from the characters. Also, it felt like too many storylines were at play and none of them were fully developed. I wanted more focus on Tessa's relationship with Mel or more emphasis on her relationship with Henry. In any event, I know that there is an audience of readers who will absolutely love Perris, California because it has romance, tragedy, redemption, and family love- all elements of a good book. It just wasn't for me.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, great. Now what am I going to do? I miss this book already.

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

READALONG • REVIEW

Perris, California
Rachel Stark

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the @tandemcollectiveglobal readalong of Perris, California with a great group of readers! I loved hearing everyone's thoughts as we read along.

In this poignant coming-of-age debut novel, Tessa, pregnant with baby number three and living in a trailer on her mother-in-law’s property, crosses paths with a woman from her past — causing her to question the trajectory of her life.

Through lyrical prose and richly drawn characters, Stark navigates themes of violence, trauma, motherhood, and queerness. Brilliantly capturing the complexities of the human experience, Perris, California is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. This one is deserving of all the praise its been receiving.

📌 Worth noting: I started this one in audiobook format, but quickly realized I preferred it in print. 💛

📌 Available now!

Thank you #partner @penguinpress for my #gifted copy
[AD•PR]

[Leanne Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
"Each other is the whole of what we've got. People are there for us to love. It ain't the other way around. It's the greatest and most excruciating gift of life."
"I think mamas are mostly always trying their best It just looks different depending on the cards they are dealt and the hurt they are holding."

I love stories about people who try their best to do the right thing, even as they trip and fall along the way. And as a social worker, the stories of these people, who have been through heartbreak and struggle, cruelty and loss, and still maintain such capacity to love and be loved rang so very true for me. 99% of us are doing our best with the lives we've been given, and this book possibly did a better job of showing this truth than any I have read. If you are ok with a slower paced book that examines the ties between people and how we hold onto one another in the best and worst of times, I highly recommend this. Stark writes these characters with such dignity and full humanity. It's a beautiful read.

[Rhonda Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy the dialect in this book, everyone sounded like they were from some backwoods farm. Maybe if I weren’t from the area I wouldn’t have realized that. Also I found the storyline a bit weak.

[holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was extremely compelling. i'm in shambles

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking debut about family, trauma, love, loss and sacrifice told through flashbacks and alternating POVs as we get to know various members of a poor lower class family trying to eke out a living while still longing for paths not taken.

Tessa is pregnant with her third child but also has buried long held feelings for her former best friend, Mel. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Melissa Lenhardt's The secret of you and me.

This one had me tearing up and empathizing for its various characters the way only the best writers can. I can't wait to read more from this new author! Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can’t say I liked much about this book other than the cover. By the end I was skimming. It started off ok but I quickly realized the author’s writing style just isn’t for me. It felt contrived, the dialogue was off.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anticipated the author’s debut novel Perris, California, after reading GR reviews and liking the setting and Interesting synopsis. Very disappointed by the audiobook narration, so I bought the print book to finish it, hoping my perception would improve. I didn’t enjoy the writing style or characters.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong debut that had me curious from the beginning. The intense opening scene sets the book up to be a heart-wrenching story where you can’t help but want to root for the main characters. This book is sad, but there’s also hope. I can’t wait to read her next book!

[meg mccrady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably best book I’ve read this year - one of those ones you look forward to finding time to read it and stay up way too late to keep going. Beautifully written

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit Kingsolver, a little bit Steinbeck, a bit about someone stuck in a closet, worked for me.

[Tabitha McHale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Themes:

📚 Complex characters
📚 Rural America
📚 Heart-wrenching
📚 Resilience
📚 Dual Timelines
📚 Friendship
📚 Womanhood Bonds
📚 Author Debut

Rachel Stark’s debut novel follows a woman named Tessa who’s childhood was filled with abuse and neglect by the hands her step-father and step-brother but she found comfort during those times in her friend, Mel. Mel was her savior and the love of her life back then, until they weren’t allowed to see eachother anymore. Flash forward, Tessa is now 27, pregnant with her third child, lives in a trailer on her mother-in-law’s property in Perris, California and just ran into Mel again after all these years. Mel is back to care for her ailing mother and the sight of seeing her again has Tessa reliving her past and questioning the foundations to the life she’s built. This story was complex, heartbreaking and an emotional rollercoaster. Stark’s wrote a story full of emotional depth and a debut novel that will stay with the reader for some time.

Thank you Tandem Collective Global, Rachel Stark & Penguin Press for the free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Ani ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and bittersweet coming-of-age story, this novel follows Tessa, a young woman pregnant with her third child, as she reflects on her youth and the relationships that have shaped her—both with an old love and her complicated family.

Right from the first page, I was hooked. Tessa is rescued and taken in by her new family, who I instantly liked. From there, the story jumps between Tessa’s present and past, offering glimpses into her life and the lives of the people around her, giving us a deeper understanding of who she is.

This is a story about family, love, and figuring out where you belong. It’s about finding your place in the world, building meaningful relationships, and eventually coming to terms with who you really are and what you’re meant to do.

While this isn’t a fast-paced or action-packed book, its quiet charm will still captivate you, making you smile, cry, and feel a little sad when you have to say goodbye to the characters once you turn the final page.

[Julie Scalzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️- “Each other is the whole of what we’ve got. People are there for us to love. It’s ain’t the other way around. It’s the greatest and most excruciating gift of life.”

The main character of this book is Tessa. Tessa is a pregnant mother of two living in Perris, Texas. Her childhood was full of pain, abuse, and loss. She found shelter with her now husband and his mother, but she still carries a lot of the pain with her. When an old flame of hers, Mel, returns, she is flung back into the dark places of her teenage years, and the strong feels she still harbors for Mel.

I loved this book. It definitely has dark parts, and a large part of it feels very melancholy, but I also found that it demonstrates the beauty of the human spirit. Tessa is a character I really felt for, and I loved how the author switched perspectives to help me better understand other characters as well.

[Di Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel hit me just where I needed to be hit this week. It’s kind of an emotional story about a young woman named Tessa that has lived her whole life in Perris, CA. She had a pretty awful childhood, being abandoned by first her father, and then her mother, left behind with an abuse step father and step brother. As a teenager, she finds a bit of happiness when she meets and falls in love with a girl named Mel, until Mel’s Catholic mother catches them and sends Mel away. Tessa is finally able to escape her home life after a particularly brutal night, and is taken in by a neighboring family. She grows up to marry Henry and have children of her own, but when Mel moves back to town, she begins to take a really hard look at her life, the choices she has made, and what she wants her life to look like going forward. I really liked all of the characters in this book, and enjoyed the story, even when it was pulling at my heartstrings.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-seven year old Tessa is pregnant with her third child when her complicated past returns in the form of her first love, Mel. Tessa, who lives in a trailer on her mother-in-law's property with her husband and their two young children, is prompted by Mel's return to confront both her past and present. Told primarily from Tessa's perspective and set in 1999 and 10 years prior, we also get flashbacks to other points in time as well as other character's perspectives, most notably those of Mel and Tessa's mother-in-law, Angie.

Perris, California is a deeply layered, interior story of women in a hardscrabble place exploring complicated female relationships. Though I enjoyed the book right from the start I found it to be one of those sneaky good stories that continues to evolve and deepen as it unfolds.

Recommended for fans of Elizabeth Wetmore's Valentine.

[Amy M. Mize · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library 📙: 4.5 🌟💫 Could someone please come hold this heart that’s just been ripped out of my chest? Well, this book had “tragedy” written all over it from page 1. But I still, STILL was not ready for that ending (not the epilogue - I mean the last chapter - iykyk). Following Tessa’s story as a an alternating “then and now” narrative heightened my sense of dread because I knew both timelines were headed in dark directions. I do, genuinely, feel that Tessa overcame so much and deserved so much better as an adolescent. My only complaint was the occasional narrator switches because they felt disruptive. This is a redemption story in many ways and the writing is excellent. But be prepared to sob 🥹

[Dineo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The definition of show and tell in a book. Just because I wasn't in the mood for this book, I genuinely think I need to stop going into books blind...not me thinking it was a cute sapphic romance 🥰; boy was I wrong. I think I tolerated the story and understood it more when things were explained and saw why Tessa was the way she was.

The writing wasn't for me. The dialogue was not it...and the grammar, two words: jump scare. I love pulling a one-eighty in the midst of a slump or reading way too much romance but this book did not do what I thought it would.

Have I learned my lesson? No...but if my next read is a DNF, you mind your business 👀.

[Melissa Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the writing in this book. It is a beautifully written story of a difficult life and all of the ins and outs of such a life. We meet Tessa, our main character in different parts of her life - when she is a teenager, trying to just survive life with her stepdad and stepbrother, and later in life when she has a family of her own with another baby on the way. We learn a lot about the struggles she faced getting from those teenage years through her current life.

Although this story has tough themes, it is also filled with hope and love.

[Ruthie Zolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars if I could. Lackluster and devoid of any bisexual romance I was promised. For some reason I read it quite quickly, though I found my eyes skimming over the graphic violence that was depicted unnecessarily. Couldn’t really tell if the grammatical errors were intentional, but the setting felt all kinds of off, like we were actually in 70s Southern America instead of California at the turn of the 20th century.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a challenge of reading a debut author. Amazing work from this author and really interesting story. The book deals with tough topics and choices we all make. Tessa is a strong female and reminded me of Ruth Langmore from Ozark. Viciously willing to fight for family and the people she loves.

[Niklas Braun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. It made me nostalgic for living in Riverside a bit. I liked the story but it was a bit dull at many points. I get that it was a slice of life though and might resonate more with Perris-ians. A bit sad though.

Good meth descriptions though

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Ashton Hillenbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to come back and write a better review bc I fear all of my neurotransmitters are fried from how perfect that book was

[Brooke]

DNF. This sounded really intriguing but the pacing and the writing style (there are so many grammatical errors) made it difficult to read. What a bummer

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was slow and fast, slow and fast, and I wish it had been more consistent. I admit I am not sure that makes a lot of sense.

[Patricia Geller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This tragic book should have been compelling and it was for many but I found myself a third through and found no urge to finish it. It is a painful story of poverty, brutality and loss. People found it redemptive but I just found it grueling.