Audiobook Review - Joy Moody is out of Time

Title: Joy Moody Is Out Of Time

Author: Kerryn Mayne

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Contemporary + Mystery

{Thank you @macmillan.audion for the #gifted audiobook!  It was narrated by Annie Maynard, who I found talks a little fast, so I had to slow down my normal listening speed.  No biggie!}

I absolutely loved and adored author Kerryn Mayne’s debut novel—Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder.  She is gifted in writing a little bit of a unique and quirky story, lovable characters, and a light mystery to keep the reader engaged.  So naturally I was so excited to read Joy Moody.  I first tried this one a couple months ago when I was traveling and I just couldn’t get into it after 10-15%, so I set it aside.  I recently picked it up again as pub day was approaching and was worried this was going to be a DNF more me.  You see when it begins I felt like it had a bit of an identity crisis.  We meet Joy Moody and her twin daughters—Cassiopeia and Andromeda—who believe they will be leaving behind the family laundromat—Joyful Suds—where they work and live to time travel to 2050.  The girls have been told from a young age that they are vital to the future and they must stay hidden and safe.  I didn’t know if I was reading a time travel, satire, or sci-fi book, honestly!  But, it was an easy story, so I pushed on.  It eventually found it’s footing and I ended up adoring this one!

It’s told in four parts + a must read epilogue titled JOY:

1. Life in a Laundromat

2. Death is a Laundromat 

3. Dear Customer 

4. Under New Management 

As Cassie and Andie’s 21st birthdays are approaching, Joy has told them that this upcoming birthday would be significant and everything will change.  Well, Joy was right, everything does change, but not how she thought it would.  The girls find their mother dead and as they have been sheltered from the world, are simply not prepared.  This book has a coming-of-age feel as you get to the bottom of the mystery—why did Joy keep these girls so hidden?