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GOOD JOY, BAD JOY
Mikki Brammer
St Martin’s Press
May 5, 2026
304 pages
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This is the story of Joy Bridport. She is a spry and active 89 year old woman who lives life as a rule follower, because “the world would be in chaos if people didn’t follow rules”. She was brought up to always do the right thing. She is giving, she is generous. She always tries to see the best in other people. But, she also lacks confidence.
She is offset by her good friend Hazel, a friend since childhood. Complete opposites in stature and personality. Hazel shares that she has cancer and is dying.
Now, Joy decides that it’s time to bend some of the rules, it’s time to set herself free. The reader follows Joy’s journey. While she is very supportive of Hazel, she is also experiencing growth within herself. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not quite within the law.
Both of these characters are realistic, their relationship is symbiotic. There are flashbacks to Joy’s earlier life. It helps the reader to understand her mindset. While I want to cheer her on, I’m also feeling a little apprehensive about her choices.
Joy’s journey actually turns out to be one of self-discovery. She learns a lot about herself and her relationships with other people. The ending is satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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