Having loved this author’s debut (Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder), I was excited to read this one and am happy to say that I really liked it!

This story had an intriguing premise and I thought it was well executed. I was a bit puzzled at the outset, wondering where the story was going but as it unfolded, the pieces unfurled cleverly and I was quickly drawn in.

I loved the way Joy was depicted as a quirky, morally complex character as summed up by these lines from the novel: (Joy had done both) “the right things for the wrong reasons, and the wrong things for the right reasons.” I liked parts of her despite some of her actions and liked the way the author fleshed out her character.

The writing was easy to read and I thought telling the story (largely) from the girls and Joy’s POVs worked well, as did the flashback chapters to Joy’s past. I also thought the pacing was good, leading to an emotional ending. There was also an epilogue but I almost wondered if I would have preferred a more ambiguous ending.

I was happy to read this solid sophomore novel by this author and look forward to reading more of her work.

Joy Moody plans to time-travel to 2050 with her twin daughters on their 21st birthday. The beginning had me wondering how I ended up with a science fiction book, but this isn't a science fiction book. Instead, this is a murder mystery with an eccentric cast of characters. It was a bit too drawn out for my taste, but it was pleasantly different.

After loving Lenny Marks, I was excited to receive an early widget of Joy Moody is Out of Time. This one didn't hit me quite the same way, but it's still an enjoyable, quirky book. It's more emotional than I originally thought it would be, and I feel sure that this book will have an audience that will truly love it. I applaud how Kerryn Mayne tackles the subject of behavioral health. It's thought provoking, and it would make a good book club read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book was not for me and I did not finish it.

Publishing August 19th

3.5 rounded up

Joy Moody's daughters Cassiopeia and Andromeda are destined for greatness. At nearly 21 years old, Cassie and Andie know that Joy isn't their birthmother, but that she's kept them safe since they were sent from the future. And they expect that they will be traveling on their birthday back into the future, where they are daughters of the future revolution.

As you may have guessed, Cassie and Andie have lived a very sheltered life, working in their mother's laundromat and being homeschooled. There's a cast of usual characters the girls know, but for the most part they have remained close to home and under the watchful eye of Joy. But as Joy begins to lose track of memories and reality, their story will come under scrutiny.

This was a really unusual story, and I wished more time was spent on the neighbors, but I enjoyed the way the girls were cared for and protected, albeit within their bubble.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Joy Moody owns and runs a laundromat with her twin daughters but turns up dead on the twins’ 21st birthday.

This was a wild ride!!! A mystery that takes you on a journey to find out what happened to Joy and everything that lead to that point. Between multiple POVs and some time jumps, this moved at a nice pace. All the characters were lovable. Overall, quite a sad story (but with a happy ending) about found family, love, and the lengths someone will go to protect others and themselves.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Since I loved the author’s debut novel, I was hoping for more of the same. Quirky characters dealing with heavy issues but somehow the book manages to feel light anyway, kind of like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. And while we kind of get a little of that in this book, it isn’t anything like what I was expecting. Let me explain.

We first meet Joy Moody on what turns out to be the last afternoon of her life, when she’s with her twin daughters on the exact moment of their 21st birthday. She’s raised Cassiopeia (Cassie) and Andromeda (Andie) as secluded and protected as possible. They were home-schooled, and work with Joy in her laundromat below their apartment in a Melbourne suburb. The first scene opens with the twins being ready to time travel to 2050 to save the world and finally meet their parents. Obviously, this doesn’t occur, and it becomes clear that maybe Joy hasn’t been honest with Cassie and Andie about more than just the time travel.

The story takes place in four parts: Life in a Laundromat, Death in a Laundromat, Dear Customer, and Under New Management. While each section were all related and in a consecutive fashion (with some flashbacks), there were disjoints between some of the different parts. Cassie and Andie are approaching their 21st birthdays in Part 1, and we see what their life with Joy as their mother is like.

It is without question that Joy loves these girls and is willing to do anything she can to ensure their safety. As for how far she’ll go made me feel as though it was too far. I can understand homeschooling, especially by someone with advanced schooling. But she doesn’t allow them access to the outside world, exactly—they don’t have a television, don’t have cell phones, don’t have a computer, not even a tablet. They can’t talk to strangers (aka make friends) because it could give away their location and put them in danger. So whatever Joy says is what these girls have grown up believing, and they have no idea how unnatural this is for two girls of their age. Joy still controls as much of their lives as she can in the hopes of keeping them safe.

But for the reader, things become clear that not all is well in Joy Moody’s world. Her lies are finally starting to unravel. She was confident that she would have more time to deal with the fallout of her lies, but that isn’t how things work out at all. The first lie unravels a whole web of lies that Joy has woven around the girls for their entire lives. And in the first part, we get to viscerally feel that love and wonder that Joy has for her daughters, despite the poor decisions that she has made more than once.

Alongside the story of the twins time travel is Joy’s favorite sci-fi series, and it’s clear that Joy heavily borrowed from the books to edit the real background of the girls. Who is their father? Where is he? She completely avoids these questions by telling them that she was tasked with keeping them safe and sending them to 2050 on their 21st birthday to save thew world and be able to meet their real parents.

Part 2 focuses on Joy’s death, and the shock of having it investigated as a possible murder. This is where the neighbors play a little more of an active role in the story—these three characters, Monty, Linh, and Ellen played pretty significant parts in the story of the Moodys, but there’s only really a lukewarm delve into their characters and I wish I could have seen a more complete picture of these side characters.

The first two parts were more slow-paced, but the switch is flipped in the second half and things move much faster. Andie was always the sister to question more, and she had already started to questions parts of what Joy has told them about their life and history. She has become more friendly with the tattoo artist living next door, Linh, and spending more time with her, eventually ordering a DNA test. Cassie, on the other hand, believes more strongly in the tales Joy has told them. So when the detective investigating Joy’s death has multiple conversations with the twins, it really forces Andie to confront the fact that she was right about Joy not being honest, and Cassie is rocked by the realization that everything she was told was a lie. But this section felt a little more hopeful for them, in that they were starting to accept a new reality that had nothing to do with what they had been told.

In the last part, these two young women learn about what happened to their mother, Britney. They always knew that Joy wasn’t their biological mother, but knew nothing about who that was. I was heartbroken for these girls when they learn some facts that had been kept from them—who their real parents and where they are, they aren’t heroes of a revolution, but they do have some strongly supportive friends and each other, but also learn how strong they can be on their own.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite work from Mayne, but it wasn’t bad. I did want to learn what had happened in the past and where the twins did come from, but the answer wound up feeling a bit over the top to me, and was a bit jarring to learn. The plot threads were all tied up beautifully, which made me happy to see, but I struggled with how unrealistic Joy’s actions felt to me, even after learning about the past version of Joy. I adored the characters of the twins, and appreciated how differently she made them personality-wise because it made it feel a lot more believable (ask anyone who knows twins). Some people were never able to tell them apart, and others knew right away. This one dealt with heavier topics than the previous one, including divorce, infidelity, grief, terminal illness and the choice of who to tell about it, the aftermath of a murder, and addiction, but it didn’t manage to carry over the light tone and easy to empathize with MC. I found myself liking Joy less and less as the book went on, but enjoyed seeing the twins blossom once they were free from Joy’s controlling ways. To sum up, don’t go into this expecting another Lenny Marks, but enjoy it for what it is and you should be okay. I’m not mad about the time I took to read this one, and still plan on reading what Mayne comes out with next before making up my mind. Sophomore books are hard, from what I hear from authors.

Kerry Mayne's Joy Moody Is Out Of Time is a compelling, edgy novel that expertly weaves together multiple narrators and timelines to create a richly layered story. The narrative structure is intricate yet engaging, pulling the reader through various perspectives that offer fresh insights and emotional depth at every turn.

The characters are undoubtedly the novel's strongest asset. Each one is distinct, memorable, and vibrantly crafted, making it easy to invest in their journeys and dilemmas. Joy Moody herself is particularly fascinating, with complexities that keep you hooked from start to finish.

Mayne doesn't shy away from bold storytelling choices, pushing the boundaries with an edgy, thought-provoking plot that keeps readers on their toes. The shifts between timelines are handled with finesse, adding a dynamic quality to the pacing.

Time travel is one of the things that most of us would love to try. For Joy Moody, she knows that her twins will be leaving her someday to travel to the future and save the world. She has raised her girls to know they’ll be going on their 20th birthdays. Only her girls don’t share the belief.

Cassiopeia and Andromeda were born nearly 21 years ago. Raised by their mum Joy, they’ve always known they have a bigger purpose in life. To return to the year 2050 and save the world. Only as they get closer to the time of their impending travel, their mother seems to become more unstable. Cassie, the more compliant twin, is prepared, but nervous. Andie is the twin most likely to rebel, and she’s starting to.

They live in a suburb of Melbourne, just a short way from the beach. Their little house is behind their mum’s shop, Joyful Suds, a laundromat. The girls have always worked in the laundromat - folding clothes, cleaning, taking orders. Joy is a rather strict disciplinarian. The twins are not allowed to wander far from home, they’ve never gone to a traditional school, and they have no television, mobile phones, or computers. Other than traveling to the future, these two are not prepared for life.

So when they find Joy dead one morning, their lives are turned upside down, and they are forced to learn how to be independent.

Great story. So fascinating how isolated the two girls were growing up and how immature they truly were for being 21. The series of events that lead to Joy’s passing are told in current time and the past. How Joy comes to take care of the twins, the conviction she has of going to the future, the twins reluctance to go. It’s all so fascinating the way that Mayne has put this tale together. Interesting premise and execution.

Definitely recommend.


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3.5⭐️

I'm slightly conflicted on this. The premise was fabulous; a woman lying to her twins for years about them being the savior of the future world and getting so caught up in the delusion that she died before she could tell the truth set the perfect start to this story. I thought I was getting into a cult book with Joy's insistence that people are looking for the twins and that Cassie and Andie would leave the present day during the Supermoon on their birthday and be transported into the future where they would save everything. It gave major Heavens Gate leaving on the Hale-Bopp comet vibes. But as the truth was revealed about all the secrets that Joy kept over the years and how lost she was in the delusion and why this happened, I felt like there was a twist that I wasn't expecting.

I did struggle with the pace, though. At times the story felt rushed and like there was so much going on that needed to be solved as soon as possible. At other times things really dragged. The references to Joy's past almost felt repetitive until we actually got to see the truth surrounding the twins birth. And while her response to her situation makes since, Cassie's naivety felt very grating and made it hard to pull for her.

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC to me!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. Unfortunately this book did not work for me and I did not finish it.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time is one of the most original and entertaining books I've read (or listened to, as the case may be) in some time! I also loved Kerryn Mayne's first book, Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, so I'm thinking she is going to be a must-read author for me!
I mostly listened to the audiobook of Joy Moody Is Out of Time, although I did skim through some of the first chapters of the e-book to check out the spellings of some of the names of characters and places (just to satisfy my own curiosity); whichever format you choose, you will be entertained! At the end of the first chapter, I found myself wondering why I'd picked a sci-fi book? But as the story unfolded, I realized that I didn't. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say this is a quirky story about Joy Moody and her twin almost-21-year-old daughters that focuses not only on the "meaning" of motherhood but also friendship and other bonds. The story alternates between the perspectives of Joy and her daughters Andie and Cassie. The twins have led a sheltered life, which makes for some entertaining situations, and Joy herself is a unique character, to say the least. I loved the plot and how I rarely had any idea where the story was going. The characters are interesting and original.

I got both the audio and print version of this book. This is my review for the audiobook.
Although at times the beginning of this novel seemed slow, it morphed into a real favorite for me! Joy Moody, former social work and divorces, has raised twin girls who are about to turn 21. Cassie and Andie have always known that Joy is not their biological mother. But the origin story she tells them is that they were born in the future, 2050. On their 21st birthday, the twins will time travel to 2050 to take their rightful place in the fight against a dictatorial and corrupt government.

Joy inherited her property from her father, one of a cluster of townhouses with businesses on the first floor. Her business is a laundromat. Joy is a real control freak when it comes to her daughters. Since their birth was off the record, she home schooled them. But she also made sure they had no television, no computers and no real access to the modern world except to the extent they served laundromat customers. As the big day approaches, Andie is suspicious Joy has been lying to them. Cassie is loyal to Joy and believes they will soon disappear from their little community that includes Monty the locksmith; Lynne the tattoo artist and Ellen the retired lawyer. Despite Joy's curmudgeonly personality and tight leash on her girls, she does permit their friendships with the neighbors.

The story unfolds in a way that is totally absorbing and mostly upbeat in spite of some deaths. The twins total lack of sophistication in the face of an unexpected situation brings them to the attention of many, but their natural smarts help them weave through an entertaining plot line that picks up big time from about 1/4 of the novel to the very satisfying way.

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book because I wasn't interested in the characters, and the plot was a bit too strange. I made it to 35 percent. My rating is based on the portion I read.

At first I thought I was going to read a sci-fi novel and became a little concerned, but I kept going and devoured the entire audiobook in one afternoon. It had an intriguing plot, Joy Moody owner of a laundromat, mother to twin girls has lied to them their entire lives and is battling an illness. A crime mystery written in dual timeline and multiple POVs, Cassie and Andy with the help of a detective and friends deconstructed the lies Joy Moody raised them on.

What a strange & wonderful book! I had read Mayne’s previous book (Lenny Marks Away With Murder) & was enthralled & surprised by its creativeness. And now she’s done it again. The title & cover gave me a certain expectation & happily it’s so much more or so much different than I had anticipated.

Joy has been preparing her twin daughters to travel into the future since they were ten years old. Telling them that they’re important & necessary in 2050. But what started out as tale to hide the truth, is now muddled in Joy’s cancer ridden brain. She’s mixing things up & now the impending twenty first birthday deadline is fast approaching. As reality & fiction collide, all three Moody women’s lives will be completely upheaved.

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book similar to this. It’s extremely unique. I had no idea what it was going & at the 50% mark it took another leap (a good one). This author is extremely gifted, so one of a kind. I don’t want to say more about the plot so others can be as entertained as I was. This author needs to be on your TBR list.

🧺

Read if you like:
* The Endless Vessel by Charles Soule
* Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Joy Moody’s twin daughters are special. They are from the future and she is getting ready to have them return home. Their birth parents are coming on the girls’ twenty-first birthday for a round trip back to the year 2050. Cassiopeia and Andromeda are the Daughters of the Revolution and getting them ready has been Joy’s whole life. Too bad she’s the only one who knows that it’s all a lie - or is she the only one?

What a freaking trip Kerryn Mayne takes us on. I picked this book a while ago and I forgot all about what it was about. So when I started reading it, I was like wtf?! Joy is out of her mind! Her poor kids! It takes a moment after all the last page is turned to sit back and think about how diabolical it all is. According to Mayne, the story started out about a “strung-out mother with twin girls in the suburbs” and it evolved to this version is absolutely awesome.

Cassie and Andie have been completely isolated with the exception of working in their Mom’s business. They have been homeschooled. They haven’t been allowed any friends, electronics, and books that haven’t been screened by Joy. Cassie’s perception of the world is very innocent and naive. Whereas Andie started questioning the “truth” when she was about 14-years-old. This questioning leads Andie weeks before their 21st birthday to take action and from there another trail of events are born. The conundrum of how to feel about the parent who raised you to believe all of these things is beautifully written by Mayne. There are so many emotions involved and it’s all right there on the pages.

The search for all of the truths among the lies is absorbing. Then the author adds in other “truths” to the storyline and we have Joy Moody Is Out of Time. It’s an intricate tale of misconceptions.

There is a mystery here, but it’s not so much a murder mystery as a family fiction piece with death thrown in. There are red herrings and lots of crumbs to follow. I didn’t guess the ending and I love that.

Romances also are included, but they are background ties to the women. Cassie wanted to take chances, but was scared to. Andie is so ready to jump into a relationship with her “best friend”. Joy sacrificing love for her kids. The romances add sweetness to the story. There was a moment where I worried that one of the potential romances could take a dark turn - I kept saying “No, no, no.” I was afraid to turn the page (chuckle) to see what would happen, but needed to know all of the same.

I would normally give this story a five-star review, but at almost the end there is a mistake among the characters. The girls are eating their favorite sandwiches. Someone remarks about Andie choosing the Filet-O-Fish, which is her established favorite in the story. Then that same person watches Andie put condiments on her burger. (Cassie got the burger.) The sentences happen consecutively. Now I think I know what the intent was as Andie was thinking that she wished she had a connection to someone and the author was trying to create the connection in this one scene. (I’m trying so hard NOT to give anything away here😆.) (Loc. 4285)

The secondary cast is diverse and sweet (with the exception of a few). Monty suffers from diabetes. Ellen is agoraphobic. Linh is Vietnamese and queer. They are all vital to the storyline and I crush on all of them 😆.

I became invested in this family. When characters become important is the best part of the book for me. Mayne does an excellent job of creating a family that you want to survive the trip to the future. We make our own families and Joy Moody is an excellent example of found families.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time wasn’t what I was expecting it to be but I’m not disappointed. It has depth, pain, anger, and a murder. Isn’t that everything we want in a good book? 😆

This could not keep my attention. I found the writing style very bland, and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Joy was unredeemable, and Andie and Cassie’s behavior was unbelievable, even given their situation. The mystery itself was alright, so maybe I just was not in the mood for this. The second half is more compelling than the first, but it took a while to get there.

I really loved Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, and this was just as good! This character driven story was quirky and fast paced. The premise of this story was really unique. I really connected with the characters, especially Joy, our FMC who is the mother to twins. Even though she may not be the most conventional mother, I found myself really liking her character.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When I started this book, I was expecting something more sci-fi heavy. However, I'm not disappointed. This hit me in the feelings. Its such a beautiful heartwarming and also heartwrenching story of the lengths of a mother's love, devotion, and protectiveness of her children.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.