Good Joy, Bad Joy: A Novel

· Macmillan Audio · Narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell and Maggi-Meg Reed
6 reviews
Audiobook
11 hr 5 min
Unabridged
Eligible
Want a free 15 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline. 
Add

About this audiobook

"Narrators [Kimberly M.] Wetherell and [Maggi-Meg] Reed portray Joy at different stages of her life, each capturing her qualities with remarkable authenticity. Their performances add warmth and charm to this heartfelt story."— Library Journal

"Kimberly M. Wetherell gives an endearing performance...and Maggi-Meg Reed narrates with innocence and audacity." — BookPage

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

"Narrators [Kimberly M.] Wetherell and [Maggi-Meg] Reed portray Joy at different stages of her life, each capturing her qualities with remarkable authenticity. Their performances add warmth and charm to this heartfelt story."— Library Journal "Kimberly M. Wetherell gives an endearing performanc...

Discover more

Ratings and reviews

6 reviews
Lorena Dinger
May 11, 2026
I loved this touching story of 89-year-old widow Joy, who has always tried to do what's expected of her. When she learns that her best friend Hazel is dying, Joy decides it's time to start breaking some rules. I really enjoyed her journey of self-discovery & how her relationships evolved. The story is told entirely from Joy’s perspective, but one storyline is in the present, & one traces Joy’s relationships with her family & Hazel from when she was 7. This worked well, & I enjoyed the surprises.
Did you find this helpful?
Terri Chlapek
May 5, 2026
This was an incredibly lovely book full of quirkiness, friendship, love and truly finding yourself. It's a book of dying, but more so a book of living life to the fullest. It's a book of being alone--or thinking you're alone until you realize that you are surrounded by people who love you. What a fantastic, fun trip down the road of life! Joy is in her eighties, her best friend is dying and Joy is determined to do things she has never done before to cheer up Hazel. It just might work...unless Joy ends up in jail! I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell and Maggi-Meg Reed. It was a truly delightful narration. I especially loved the voice of older Joy. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.
Did you find this helpful?
Eileen Soulliere
July 9, 2026
Good Joy, Bad Joy has become my favorite book. A beautiful story about friendship and kindness and realizing the importance that exists in all of us. I'm truly looking forward to more that Mikki has to offer. A definite 6 out of 5.
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Mikki Brammer is an Australian journalist based in New York City, by way of France and Spain. She is the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover and writes about design, architecture and art for publications such as Architectural Digest, Dwell and ELLE Decor.
Mikki Brammer is an Australian journalist based in New York City, by way of France and Spain. She is the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover and writes about design, architecture and art for publications such as Architectural Digest, Dwell and ELLE Decor.

Rate this audiobook

Tell us what you think.

Listening information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.