Palaver

Palaver by Bryan Washington Pre-Order November 4th 2025

A life-affirming novel about family, forgiveness, and the ways we find home.

From Bryan Washington, the award-winning author of Memorial and Lot, comes Palaver—a tender, deeply human story about a mother and son rebuilding their bond across continents and cultures.

In Tokyo, a young man drifts between his job as an English tutor and long nights at his favorite gay bar, where he’s formed a chosen family far from his hometown of Houston. Estranged from his mother for nearly a decade, he’s found comfort in distance—until she shows up unannounced on his doorstep just before Christmas.

Separated by years of silence (and his cat), mother and son clash immediately. She’s haunted by memories of her childhood in Jamaica and her own brother’s failings. He’s struggling to forgive the past and face the loneliness he’s built around himself. Yet, through shared meals, tentative conversations, and an unexpected trip to Nara, both begin to rediscover what it means to belong—and to love.

Moving seamlessly between Houston, Jamaica, and Japan, Palaver explores identity, queerness, family, and the power of connection. Written with Washington’s trademark warmth, humor, and insight, this unforgettable novel affirms that home isn’t just a place—it’s the people we choose and the bridges we rebuild.