What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 08:48:15
20 copies available
U.S. only
The Outer Country: A Novel
Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 08:48:15
20 copies available
U.S. only
This tender, elegant debut examines the struggle of keeping a family together when secrets threaten to pull it apart.
"Both a book of demons and a book of uncommon grace; an instant classic in the queer canon. Davin Malasarn is an exquisite writer of the heart.”—Justin Torres, author of Blackouts
Estranged sisters Manda and Siripon have not seen each other in years when Manda travels to Los Angeles for the birth of Siripon’s son, Ben. The women have lived separate lives since they were teenagers in Phet Buri, Thailand, when their parents decided to send one of their children to America, the foreign land they call “the Outer Country.” As the eldest and the protector of her younger siblings, Manda assumed she would be the first to go. To her shock, their parents chose Siripon, the reliable, obedient second child instead. With one parental choice, the sisters became rivals.
Following their cool separation across continents, the sisters reunite to raise Ben. Manda, outrunning a devastating tragedy from her past, becomes a second mother to him, an only child who fills her with fierce joy. But as Ben grows increasingly effeminate, that joy turns to fear. Believing that the spirit of a woman has attached itself to her beloved nephew – and that her sister won’t do what has to be done to fix matters – Manda secretly arranges a Buddhist exorcism for him. The ceremony sets off a decade of anxiety-induced vomiting, with Ben becoming the object of torment and bullying at school, even as his memory of the ritual fades into early childhood oblivion.
As Ben grows into his own queer self-becoming, he must confront the scars of his exorcism and learn how to live amidst the family damage, where one has to tread softly. But how long can a family go on with secrets so large pressing on their chests?
From the mangrove forests of Phet Buri to a modest stucco bungalow in Los Angeles to the ivy and sandstone quadrangles of Stanford, The Outer Country is at once epic and intimate in scope, a breathtaking journey across borders and generations.
"Both a book of demons and a book of uncommon grace; an instant classic in the queer canon. Davin Malasarn is an exquisite writer of the heart.”—Justin Torres, author of Blackouts
Estranged sisters Manda and Siripon have not seen each other in years when Manda travels to Los Angeles for the birth of Siripon’s son, Ben. The women have lived separate lives since they were teenagers in Phet Buri, Thailand, when their parents decided to send one of their children to America, the foreign land they call “the Outer Country.” As the eldest and the protector of her younger siblings, Manda assumed she would be the first to go. To her shock, their parents chose Siripon, the reliable, obedient second child instead. With one parental choice, the sisters became rivals.
Following their cool separation across continents, the sisters reunite to raise Ben. Manda, outrunning a devastating tragedy from her past, becomes a second mother to him, an only child who fills her with fierce joy. But as Ben grows increasingly effeminate, that joy turns to fear. Believing that the spirit of a woman has attached itself to her beloved nephew – and that her sister won’t do what has to be done to fix matters – Manda secretly arranges a Buddhist exorcism for him. The ceremony sets off a decade of anxiety-induced vomiting, with Ben becoming the object of torment and bullying at school, even as his memory of the ritual fades into early childhood oblivion.
As Ben grows into his own queer self-becoming, he must confront the scars of his exorcism and learn how to live amidst the family damage, where one has to tread softly. But how long can a family go on with secrets so large pressing on their chests?
From the mangrove forests of Phet Buri to a modest stucco bungalow in Los Angeles to the ivy and sandstone quadrangles of Stanford, The Outer Country is at once epic and intimate in scope, a breathtaking journey across borders and generations.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2026
The Outer Country
The ties of family and generational trauma are explored through a story spanning decades. Manda the estranged older sister of Siripon has come to America to escape a haunting tragedy and help raise Siripon’s newly born son, Ben. Worried about his effeminate mannerisms Manda and her brother-in-law secretly organize a Buddhist ceremony to fix what they don’t understand leaving Ben with vomit inducing anxiety lasting for years.
A look at the things that connect families together across generations and countries. As well as an exploration of what it means to come into your own queer identity. Each character is delivered and painted in shades of grey. No one is simple, each person has their positive and negative aspects and are given equal examination through descriptive and often poetic prose. The things we do in the name of love for one and the way that person may see those actions as hurtful instead. I rarely say this but the book could have afforded to be probably an extra hundred pages in order to allow the characters to breathe even more, and even without, it’s an impressive debut novel following in the footsteps of authors like Justin Torres (unsurprisingly an advocate of this novel).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC for review purposes.
The ties of family and generational trauma are explored through a story spanning decades. Manda the estranged older sister of Siripon has come to America to escape a haunting tragedy and help raise Siripon’s newly born son, Ben. Worried about his effeminate mannerisms Manda and her brother-in-law secretly organize a Buddhist ceremony to fix what they don’t understand leaving Ben with vomit inducing anxiety lasting for years.
A look at the things that connect families together across generations and countries. As well as an exploration of what it means to come into your own queer identity. Each character is delivered and painted in shades of grey. No one is simple, each person has their positive and negative aspects and are given equal examination through descriptive and often poetic prose. The things we do in the name of love for one and the way that person may see those actions as hurtful instead. I rarely say this but the book could have afforded to be probably an extra hundred pages in order to allow the characters to breathe even more, and even without, it’s an impressive debut novel following in the footsteps of authors like Justin Torres (unsurprisingly an advocate of this novel).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC for review purposes.
May 8, 2026
This week, Davin Malasarn released his debut novel, The Outer Country. Two sisters leave their home in Phet Buri, Thailand to make a new life in Los Angeles, all the way in the “Outer Country,” the United States. First Siripon arrives, developing her career as a nurse, marrying fellow Thai immigrant Kamron, and having a son, Ben, in 1978. Siripon’s older sister Manda arrives the day Ben is born, and together, the four of them become a family unit. But as the years pass and Ben grows into adulthood, the many fractures within the family spread. Will they be irrevocably divided, or will they still find a path forward?
What I Liked:
- Thai culture and immigrant experience. The Outer Country is the first book I’ve read that centers Thai people. Manda, Siripon, and Kamron are all immigrants from Thailand, learning to make Los Angeles their new home despite language barriers, religious differences, and unfamiliar foods. Conversely, Ben grows up in California, mastering English when his family still struggles, assimilating to American culture while his family holds onto Thai traditions in certain ways. I enjoyed seeing the three adults navigate their new life, but I also appreciated the juxtaposition between them and Ben.
- Examining four members of a somewhat dysfunctional family. Ben, Siripon, Manda, and Kamron are the main characters that the chapters generally focus on. Sometimes we see them in broad strokes, and sometimes we get more intimate details, like their secret thoughts and fears. They all have good and bad in them, but none of them seem to fit well together. Those cracks only show more with time.
- Queer acceptance. One of the most important themes here is Ben’s queerness. As a kid, he shows his more feminine side, leading his aunt and father to bring in a monk to exorcise a girl’s spirit from his body. They fear him being gay, and this is the solution they find. But it has terrible consequences that persist for years, leaving Ben to suffer. Ultimately, Ben is indeed gay, and his family must learn to accept him as he is.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Abrupt ending. As I reached the final pages, it felt like there was still so much left unresolved. By the time an important subject is brought up, readers are left to wonder which way it would go. This is a book, with enough themes and characters, that may have benefited from a slightly longer page count and more resolution.
Final Thoughts
The Outer Country is a beautifully written and poignant novel spanning Thailand and California, from the 1970s through the end of the century. The prose is at once stark and intimate, and I felt for the characters, especially Ben and Siripon. I do wish there was more tying it all together by the end, but it was still a moving work of literary fiction. I look forward to reading more from Davin Malasarn.
Special thanks to One World and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
What I Liked:
- Thai culture and immigrant experience. The Outer Country is the first book I’ve read that centers Thai people. Manda, Siripon, and Kamron are all immigrants from Thailand, learning to make Los Angeles their new home despite language barriers, religious differences, and unfamiliar foods. Conversely, Ben grows up in California, mastering English when his family still struggles, assimilating to American culture while his family holds onto Thai traditions in certain ways. I enjoyed seeing the three adults navigate their new life, but I also appreciated the juxtaposition between them and Ben.
- Examining four members of a somewhat dysfunctional family. Ben, Siripon, Manda, and Kamron are the main characters that the chapters generally focus on. Sometimes we see them in broad strokes, and sometimes we get more intimate details, like their secret thoughts and fears. They all have good and bad in them, but none of them seem to fit well together. Those cracks only show more with time.
- Queer acceptance. One of the most important themes here is Ben’s queerness. As a kid, he shows his more feminine side, leading his aunt and father to bring in a monk to exorcise a girl’s spirit from his body. They fear him being gay, and this is the solution they find. But it has terrible consequences that persist for years, leaving Ben to suffer. Ultimately, Ben is indeed gay, and his family must learn to accept him as he is.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Abrupt ending. As I reached the final pages, it felt like there was still so much left unresolved. By the time an important subject is brought up, readers are left to wonder which way it would go. This is a book, with enough themes and characters, that may have benefited from a slightly longer page count and more resolution.
Final Thoughts
The Outer Country is a beautifully written and poignant novel spanning Thailand and California, from the 1970s through the end of the century. The prose is at once stark and intimate, and I felt for the characters, especially Ben and Siripon. I do wish there was more tying it all together by the end, but it was still a moving work of literary fiction. I look forward to reading more from Davin Malasarn.
Special thanks to One World and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks Netgalley for this opportunity!
The book covers a significant time span in the lives of two sisters who grew up in Thailand with the younger going off to the United States to study and become a doctor while the older sister, who expected to be picked to go, stayed behind, only to go to live with her sister once she was having a baby.
The main characters in this are not only the two sisters but also the younger sister's husband and their son. The approach to this book is really well done in terms of understanding generational and cultural expectations and how those change when you are no longer subjected to them in another country.
The downside is that this book could have been and probably should have been longer. Only the older sister was truly flushed out as a character with the younger sister being much more of a sympatheic "good mother" and the husband a very two dimensinoal alcholic father who also seems to not have any strength in this family at all.
The son is probably the only other character that we spend more time with and he turns out to be more of the main character than either of the sisters. Which almost doesn't fit the description of the book if you're expecting this to be a story about sisterly relationships. The son spends so much of the book dealing with true trauma forced upon him but yet as he grows older the description of how that impacts him becomes less and less clear.
Overall this is a good book, but I do feel the level of exploration into trauma and fleshing out of characters would have made this a stronger book
The book covers a significant time span in the lives of two sisters who grew up in Thailand with the younger going off to the United States to study and become a doctor while the older sister, who expected to be picked to go, stayed behind, only to go to live with her sister once she was having a baby.
The main characters in this are not only the two sisters but also the younger sister's husband and their son. The approach to this book is really well done in terms of understanding generational and cultural expectations and how those change when you are no longer subjected to them in another country.
The downside is that this book could have been and probably should have been longer. Only the older sister was truly flushed out as a character with the younger sister being much more of a sympatheic "good mother" and the husband a very two dimensinoal alcholic father who also seems to not have any strength in this family at all.
The son is probably the only other character that we spend more time with and he turns out to be more of the main character than either of the sisters. Which almost doesn't fit the description of the book if you're expecting this to be a story about sisterly relationships. The son spends so much of the book dealing with true trauma forced upon him but yet as he grows older the description of how that impacts him becomes less and less clear.
Overall this is a good book, but I do feel the level of exploration into trauma and fleshing out of characters would have made this a stronger book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2026
Did Manda's decision to have a monk conduct a sort of exorcism ceremony on her four year old nephew Ben alter not only their lives but the lives of her sister Siripon and brother in law Kamron? Siripon was sent to the US from Thailand by their family, where she meets Kamron and builds a life working as a nurse. After a tragedy at the school where she teaches, Manda follows, just in time for Ben's birth. She struggles with English but revels in her garden and most of all in Ben. And then she finds him dancing the female part in a Staying Alive. Ben becomes a boy who throws up when he's nervous, Kamron goes back to drinking. This shifts third person perspective between Siripon, Manda, Kamron and most poignantly Ben, who comes out to his mother as a young teen. His journey is tough, in part because of limits he imposes on himself, at least until he meets Collin and later enters Stanford. This has some surprising twists (no spoilers). It's an immersive novel of an immigrant family with wonderful detail. It's thoughtful and beautifully written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read and I'm eager to see more from Malasarn.
May 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel.
I've been in a bit of a slump with eARCs, but this one was really good. The story centers around a family that has sent its two eldest daughters to "The Outer Country," aka the US. The family has created a weird dynamic of competition between the daughters who are all seeking their parents' approval. The second eldest, Siripon, was sent to Los Angeles (over the eldest daughter, Manda) after college where she found a husband and had the first living son of the family, Ben (Rattawut).
The story begins when Manda arrives in LA to "help" Siripon raise her son. We follow that son from childhood through to college. What his mother doesn't know is that when Ben was about six years old, his aunt and father, Kamron, led an exorcism to rid Ben of the spirit that made him gay. That one act has ramifications that follow Ben as he grows up.
I really felt for Ben and for his mother. Siripon was made into a people pleaser, taking care of everyone and leaving herself with nothing. As Ben changes, Siripon begins to change as well.
This novel was so good. I'm getting a copy ASAP.
I've been in a bit of a slump with eARCs, but this one was really good. The story centers around a family that has sent its two eldest daughters to "The Outer Country," aka the US. The family has created a weird dynamic of competition between the daughters who are all seeking their parents' approval. The second eldest, Siripon, was sent to Los Angeles (over the eldest daughter, Manda) after college where she found a husband and had the first living son of the family, Ben (Rattawut).
The story begins when Manda arrives in LA to "help" Siripon raise her son. We follow that son from childhood through to college. What his mother doesn't know is that when Ben was about six years old, his aunt and father, Kamron, led an exorcism to rid Ben of the spirit that made him gay. That one act has ramifications that follow Ben as he grows up.
I really felt for Ben and for his mother. Siripon was made into a people pleaser, taking care of everyone and leaving herself with nothing. As Ben changes, Siripon begins to change as well.
This novel was so good. I'm getting a copy ASAP.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available May 2026.
What are the ties that hold a family together? And what if the truth will hurt the very thing you hold most dear? In The Outer Country, Davin Malasarn introduces us to the Chiwitchaiya family as they navigate their new life in America and maintain their family and cultural values. I especially enjoyed the character of Siripon and the way Malasarn captured the complicated nature of motherhood. Manda, Siripon's older sister and in many ways a foil, sometimes grated me. Most of all, I loved the way Malasarn treated the family with tenderness and care, showing that there is the possibility to change old narratives and heal family trauma. Malasarn's writing is descriptive, poetic, and emotionally resonant. Definitely read this debut!
Available May 2026.
What are the ties that hold a family together? And what if the truth will hurt the very thing you hold most dear? In The Outer Country, Davin Malasarn introduces us to the Chiwitchaiya family as they navigate their new life in America and maintain their family and cultural values. I especially enjoyed the character of Siripon and the way Malasarn captured the complicated nature of motherhood. Manda, Siripon's older sister and in many ways a foil, sometimes grated me. Most of all, I loved the way Malasarn treated the family with tenderness and care, showing that there is the possibility to change old narratives and heal family trauma. Malasarn's writing is descriptive, poetic, and emotionally resonant. Definitely read this debut!
June 1, 2026
I'm always interested in generational stories and this one was well done! This novel was actually based on the author's experience with his aunt and father arranging a Buddhist exorcism when they find out he is queer. This is also a story between a pair of sisters long estranged by oceans and time, trying to find ways to reconnect and co-existent in the Outer Country (America). Each of these characters are neither black or white but morally gray, each trying to reckon with daily life. I gravitated to Ben's story because it was painful to see him go through so much after the exorcism, especially at school and at home. He started to come into his own as he continues to grow up and move away from what his parents and aunt expect of him.
May 29, 2026
I can already tell that this is a book that’s going to stay with me for a long time. It’s been about 2 weeks since I finished it and it’s still on my mind daily because the story was 1) super compelling and 2) unlike anything i’ve read before!!
as i get older, i’m understanding more and more that adults are often just doing the best they can in the way that they know how to. this felt so prevalent in this book, because some of the actions seem so outlandish to me on the surface, but the author does a good job at showing you the motivations behind their choices and how they made sense to the character. obviously this doesn’t erase any of the harm these choices resulted in, but that feels even more heartbreaking to me: knowing what the intentions were and seeing the actual fall out and harm caused in the aftermath.
i really appreciated how this story showed the struggle of immigrant parents and family and the generations after them who have to adjust to a new environment while also trying to hold on to their heritage. one of the parts that really stood out to me was when one of our main characters, Ben (who the story revolves around, even if he’s not the POV for the entire book), realizes that even though he wants to communicate with his mom he doesn’t really have a way to do so effectively (and in the way that he wishes to) because their main languages are no longer the same. the loss of language is something i’ve spoken to quite a few friends about— how we wish we could speak the languages of our grandparents and how languages can be lost within a few generations.
the ending for me was a bit abrupt and i do wish we got a little more closure, but overall i really liked this book and the stories it told.
thank you to One World Books for the free copy!!
as i get older, i’m understanding more and more that adults are often just doing the best they can in the way that they know how to. this felt so prevalent in this book, because some of the actions seem so outlandish to me on the surface, but the author does a good job at showing you the motivations behind their choices and how they made sense to the character. obviously this doesn’t erase any of the harm these choices resulted in, but that feels even more heartbreaking to me: knowing what the intentions were and seeing the actual fall out and harm caused in the aftermath.
i really appreciated how this story showed the struggle of immigrant parents and family and the generations after them who have to adjust to a new environment while also trying to hold on to their heritage. one of the parts that really stood out to me was when one of our main characters, Ben (who the story revolves around, even if he’s not the POV for the entire book), realizes that even though he wants to communicate with his mom he doesn’t really have a way to do so effectively (and in the way that he wishes to) because their main languages are no longer the same. the loss of language is something i’ve spoken to quite a few friends about— how we wish we could speak the languages of our grandparents and how languages can be lost within a few generations.
the ending for me was a bit abrupt and i do wish we got a little more closure, but overall i really liked this book and the stories it told.
thank you to One World Books for the free copy!!
June 3, 2026
Story of a family that moved to the Outer Country (aka US) and explores the challenges of navigating all areas of life. Explores the complex dynamics of family separated by distance and culture, the intricacies of marriage, children, generational trauma, affairs, and coming out.
I cannot speak to the accuracy of the culture portrayed but it felt believable.
I cannot speak to the accuracy of the culture portrayed but it felt believable.
May 18, 2026
Excellent. The author did a wonderful job of illustrating all of the characters' points of view. There were no real villains. Characters did awful things, but their actions made sense from their perspective. And some of them lamented those decisions.
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
Testttyuigvshsjsi
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Siripon's estranged sister, Manda, moves to the United States from Thailand to help with her baby, and becomes a second mother to him, but secrets both old and new threaten their family.
March 22, 2026
Generational epic about several generations of a family of Thai immigrants and how they deal with their lives and queerness. Solid read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews