The Next Mrs. Parrish

This particular theme is on prominent display throughout each plotline in the novel—all of the story’s antagonists are focused on manipulating others to serve their own agenda, and their efforts are so unscrupulous that even their targets must resort to similar tactics to counter such psychological abuse. Notably, Amber and Jackson act as the primary agents of manipulation, for they actively wield their charm and deceit as weapons to control those around them. For example, Amber’s ability to exploit vulnerabilities and twist perceptions is most evident in her interactions with Jackson, Daisy Ann, and her stepdaughters, Tallulah and Bella. Far from fostering genuine relationships or honoring the needs of younger minds, Amber instead views people as means to an end, and her every move is predicated upon the belief that she has the right to exploit others for her own gain. Even her more honest emotions are steeped in this toxic mindset, for although she sometimes responds to setbacks with genuine anger, resentment, or envy, her reactions are based on the misguided premise that the world owes her something, and she believes that she has the right to collect on this perceived debt in any way she sees fit. Whether she is criticizing Daisy Ann’s hard-won wealth or resenting Daphne for nebulous reasons of rivalry, Amber’s compulsion for manipulation is driven by her need to control and dominate, and she often uses her knowledge of others’ weaknesses to finesse outcomes in her favor.

For this reason, Amber and Jackson are ironically well-matched as a couple, for he engages in similar forms of manipulation, and their every interaction together becomes a powerful battle of wills as each character seeks to outthink the other. Even when they are ostensibly working in tandem, the specter of betrayal dogs their every step, and just as Amber plots to cut ties with Jackson and defy his will, Jackson takes steps to foil Amber’s plans even as he outwardly appears to help execute them. This dynamic is fully revealed in the novel’s climactic scenes as Amber finally realizes that Jackson has foiled her plans by secretly allying himself with Daisy Ann.

In addition to his malicious and underhanded business dealings, Jackson’s manipulation takes on a deeply sinister note in his interactions with his ex-wife, for he schemes to ruin her reputation and permanently separate her from her daughters, then escalates his behavior to directly threaten the safety and well-being of his children. Additionally, just like Amber, he also callously uses his son Jax as a convenient prop in these schemes rather than seeing the boy as a vulnerable human being who deserves love and protection. Ultimately, Jackson gives in to his own narcissistic tendencies and willingly prioritizes his own desires over the well-being of those around him, and this fatal flaw eventually leads to his downfall.

Ironically, the most successfully manipulative character in the novel is also the most inherently moral. While Daisy Ann does actively engage in several layers of manipulation, agreeing to help Jackson while also secretly plotting to bring both him and Amber to their knees, she also maintains her sense of integrity throughout these prevarications. Her underlying motivation is her saving grace, for while Amber and Jackson both act to enrich themselves at the expense of others, Daisy Ann’s sole motivation is to achieve justice for those who deserve it: her father, Daphne, Tallulah, and Bella. Upon achieving her goals, she is finally able to relinquish the uncompromising mindset that compelled her to investigate Amber to the detriment of her own family’s well-being, thereby relinquishing her use of manipulation as well.