Good Joy Bad Joy

By: Mikki Brammer

ISBN: 9781250284433

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: 05/19/2026

Format: Other

My Rating: TBR (ARC)

MAY 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

From the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she's been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there's a way for her to embrace the liberation that "Bad Joy" offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we're meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

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Praise

"This is a beautiful and moving story about friendship and second chances late in life. Uplifting, charming, and wonderful, it will make you call your oldest friend to say 'I love you, I’m so glad you’re alive, and also, please read this book.'"

—Annie Hartnett, author of The Road to Tender Hearts

"Good Joy, Bad Joy is a book that everyone should read. A beautifully reflective story of lifelong friendship, legacy, and what it truly means to lead a “good” life. I adored the colorful cast of characters, and watching Joy come of age—to her nineties! This was a deep, life affirming and entertaining experience full of hijinks, tender insights, and a reminder that it’s never too late to redefine your life."

—Natalie Sue, author of I Hope This Finds You Well

"Once again, Mikki delivers a beautiful story, one that balances the complexity of grief with moments of levity and warmth in the deft, unmistakable style she is becoming known for. Good Joy, Bad Joy is not only a multilayered love letter to the wonder and resilience of female friendship, but also a tender reminder that at any stage of life, even at 89, it is never too late to bloom, to forge new connections, and to rediscover joy."

—Jessica George, New York Times bestselling author of Maame

About the Author

Mikki Brammer is a writer from Tasmania, Australia, now based in New York City via France and Spain.

Her debut novel, The Collected Regrets of Clover, was a USA Today bestseller and is so far being published in more than 25 languages. It was named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by the New York Times, a Best Book of 2023 by NPR, and was a Book of the Month pick for May 2023. It was also nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Debut and Best Fiction. Her second novel, Good Joy, Bad Joy, will be published in May 2026.

In addition to fiction, Mikki writes about architecture, art, and design for publications including Architectural Digest, Dwell, ELLE Decor, and Metropolis. WEBSITE