A Book Review
As a fan of The Collected Regrets of Clover, I was beyond excited to receive an advanced reader copy of Good Joy, Bad Joy. When I love a story and a character as deeply as I loved Clover, all I could hope was that the protagonist of Mikki Brammer’s next novel—Joy—might carve out a similar place in my heart.
And she has.
Perhaps even more than Clover.
In Good Joy, Bad Joy, Brammer introduces us to an entire cast of deeply lovable characters, including Hazel, Joy’s friend of more than eighty years, among many others. The story is told from Joy’s perspective and moves between present day and the past, gradually revealing the love, friendship, and pain that has—and continues to—shape who Joy is.
This kind of time-hopping structure can sometimes feel disorienting, but Brammer weaves past and present together with remarkable ease. I found myself wanting to savor every page. Yet the more I learned about Joy and the people whose lives have intersected with hers, the hungrier I became for what came next. And then, far too soon, I reached the end.
Joy’s story is filled with genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, balanced by so many tender ones. By the final pages, my face actually hurt—from smiling, and from the tears that had casually drifted down my cheeks throughout. Happy tears. Bittersweet ones, too.
As a writer myself, one of my goals with every piece I write is to become better than I was before. Good Joy, Bad Joy showcases the remarkable growth Brammer has experienced since her debut. This novel is a beautifully rendered meditation on aging, on love, and on squeezing every possible ounce out of life—no matter how old you are or what choices you’ve made along the way.
Lately, I’ve been especially drawn to stories that feature aging protagonists who defy stereotypes, and this book is a standout among them. It’s the kind of story I can’t help but recommend widely. There is so much here for readers in every season of life.
Brammer has firmly become one of my favorite authors, and I already find myself eager to get lost in the pages of whatever she writes next.
P.S. One of my very favorite stories from Joy’s past involves a character named Percy. I won’t say more—no spoilers—but it’s just one of many reasons you should immediately add this beautiful book to your wish list.
Lisa M. Gott 