I much enjoyed this vividly different, quirky novel about love, loyalty, and family.

Plot: Twins Addie (Andromeda) and Cassie (Casseiopia) grew up with their mum, Joy, being told since they were 10 that they were left in Joy's care by their birth parents, who came from the future and need them to be protected from The People in order to come back at the right time and fight for the revolution. Is it the truth? Or something more sinister? As the day to return comes closer, the girls will find out what's going on.

Hard to say more without spoilers.

This kept me on my toes, giving over information as necessary to keep it mysterious and compelling. It's a slow burn drama, but with a lot going to keep you immersed in the story.

The characters are well fleshed out, each with a distinct personality, and actions to match. The story moves deftly between views, mostly of Joy, Cassie, and Andie, but also the police detective who is investigating a death and Monty, one of the family's neighbors.

I loved the author's debut novel, and I liked this even better. It's well plotted and tight. Like the first book, this gets really bad before the tide turns and things work out in a way that makes you cheer. It reminded me of my favorite Aussie author, Liane Moriarty, especially Apples Never Fall, with the FMC Joy and even a reference to tennis, plus the female detective.

I'm not sure I loved the ending, although I was expecting it. It's something to ponder, which is a good sign. I also don't love using jumping between timelines as a plot device, although it was easy to follow.

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerryn Mayne, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

I didn’t expect this to be an emotional mystery! In fact, I thought I was going to read something quirky, fun, and silly. Instead, Joy Moody is Out of Time is more emotional with a few uplifting moments to even it out. I did enjoy the plot though. It’s intriguing and unique and I think many readers will enjoy it for that alone. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready for the emotional tone, and it took away from my enjoyment. Sometimes readers love stories with lots of emotion and other times we need something silly to pass the time. In any event, the book IS good, and I know many readers will adore it.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐

I’d like to thank Kerryn Mayne and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

My full review contains (in my opinion) spoilers. So if you’d like to avoid that, please only read my first paragraph for a general sense of the book. I will indicate when my full review begins.

This book is quirky and bends genres and for that I give it kudos. It was nice reading a book that wasn’t cookie cutter and felt original. I did have some issues with pacing that caused me to lose interest but it did not stop me from finishing the book. I believe a lot of the “issues” I had with this book were intentional and required me to think a little deeper after finishing the book (which isn’t a bad thing!) Overall, I think this is a good book. If you’re looking for something that’s different, has interesting characters, and makes you think, I’d recommend this one.


*Full Review Below - Spoilers ahead*

So, as I was sitting here typing out my review, I realized a lot of the things I was confused on or maybe didn’t care for, was 100% intentional lol

I was confused in the beginning because I didn’t know where the story was going or even what genre this book was - intentional. Due to Joy’s circumstances, we’re following an unreliable narrator so yeah, it’s going to be confusing/frustrating because the character doesn’t know what’s going on either! To Joy, the twins are her life, there is nothing more important than them, so we only really see her interactions and feelings towards the twins.

No emotional connection to the side characters - intentional. Joy kept her relationship with Monty a secret because the twins were her life. She didn’t want anything or anyone distracting her from that considering what she went through to keep them in the first place. You don’t understand in the second half of the book why these 3 strangers want to help and protect the twins because the twins don’t understand either. They weren’t allowed to develop deep emotional connections with these people. It was all surface level because Joy was protecting them.

But, I say all this having read the entire book. I did have issues getting through the first half, it lost my interest several times. I was confused for a lot of it and the pacing to me felt like it dragged a little. The second half of the book picked up substantially and it captured my attention more. Overall, this is a good book that does have depth to it. I’m happy I finished the book and got to understand Joy Moody more and why she really was out of time lol

4 ⭐️

4 incredible bunch of atoms stars

Joy Moody runs a laundromat, Joyful Suds, with her twin daughters. She’s kept them very isolated because on their 21st birthdays, they are going to time travel and fulfill their destinies to save the world.

The twins, Cassie and Andy, are prepared for their future lives, but are starting to question some things now. And Joy is truly out of time, as she’s found dead on the twins’ birthday.

We know that Joy dies, but we are slowly told the circumstances as the book progresses. Meanwhile, Cassie and Andy have to learn to function in a world without Joy to lead them.

This very original plot kept me interested, although it had a slow start. I’m so glad that I stuck with it, because the ultimate conclusion was both fulfilling and a bit of a surprise.

I enjoyed Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder so much, when I found out the author had another book out, I jumped on the chance to read it.

This book was great, just like the first. In Lenny, I loved the odd main characters and the twists that brought us to the end. And this book felt so much the same. Joy, Cassie, and Andie were such great characters. I really felt for the girls and hated what Joy had done in raising them like she did, even if she did it all out of love. Watching the mystery unfold was so interesting, and I loved the way the girls and their neighbors came together in the end.

Great story, well worth the read!

"Joy Moody is Out of Time" is an exceptional read that has quickly become my favorite book of the year. This novel is a captivating blend of mystery and intrigue, seamlessly weaving a beautifully dark atmosphere with laugh-out-loud moments that catch you off guard. It's the kind of book that makes you chuckle at times when you might not expect to, which adds a unique charm to the story.

The characters are wonderfully enigmatic, each one quirky and lovable in their own right. I felt a deep connection to them, as they navigated their complex lives filled with ups and downs. The author, Kerryn Mayne, has created a remarkable cast that resonates with readers, making their journeys memorable and engaging.

If you’re looking for a book to add to your must-read list, "Joy Moody is Out of Time" deserves a top spot. It's a delightful mix of humor and darkness that keeps you guessing until the very end.

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for the advance reading copy. The book is set to be released on August 19, 2025, so make sure to grab a copy from your local bookseller!

Although I may have liked Mayne's debut Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder a bit more, I enjoyed this sophomore novel of hers. Mayne crafts unique plots that keep the reader engaged, and this one definitely had me guessing (not in an intense thriller-y way, but rather a puzzle-y kind of way) about many things throughout the book. Mayne is excellent at developing her characters, and I loved the bonds that all of the characters at Station Street had - it feels like the kind of place we would all like to live. I would have liked to have read a bit more about the secondary Station Street characters so I had a better sense of them before the end, but there were a lot of moving pieces with this one, and I can see how the secondary characters sometimes fell to the back burner. Definitely pick this one up if you are looking for a unique mystery that won't keep you awake at night.

This is not a traditional mystery. Lies and secrets have permeated twins Cassie's and Andie's lives. Their mother Joy keeps a tight reinon them as they grow up in their family laundromat. They are naive and know very few people. The twins are nervous as they approach their 21st birthday where the future is about to start. When Joy dies unexpectedly, it shakes up what they know about their lives. The story is mainly told through Cassie's, Andie's, and Joy's point of view. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. While the story dragged a little a couple of times, I liked the book overall. The story is original, intriguing, and has a couple of twists. I really like how their neighbors were so supportive to the twins.

This book is packed with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story unfolds through multiple points of view and shifts in timeline, which can be a bit confusing at times. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review!

I have not had such great luck with books lately. I had two DNFs before I started this one and was almost about to give up.

But I didn’t give up. And even if you think that the beginning of this book is a little out of this world for you, it will be explained. Trust me.

This is a double murder mystery that spans 21 years. It also speaks lovingly about community and family that is chosen not just family by blood. I liked that.

Thank you to St Martins Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I highly recommend it!

"From the author of the beloved novel Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder comes another quirky and irresistible crime novel.

Strange things are happening behind the bright pink facade of Bayside's premier laundromat, Joyful Suds, home to Joy Moody and her twin daughters.

For much of their lives, Joy has been lying to Cassie and Andie. What started as a colorful tale to explain how the twins came to live with her grew over the years and was always something she meant to set straight. Joy really did think she had more time. Worse still, Joy is struggling to define the truth from the lies.

The girls have long believed they are vital to the future and must stay hidden to stay safe. Joy has told them that their impending twenty-first birthday is significant; they will step into their roles as leaders of a revolution and life as they know it will change. Joy was right - everything will change, just not in the way they expected. On Andie and Cassie's birthday, Joy Moody is found dead and her girls face a world they are not prepared for without their mother. Joy Moody is out of time... in more ways than one."

Unless she helps her children from beyond the grave...

Much like Mayne's Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder, Joy Moody is Out of Time had me from the very beginning. In one of the reviews quoted in the front matter of this ARC, someone described Lenny Marks as both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I think that's a perfect description of this book as well. A complete gut punch of a book, but I couldn't put it down. The titular Joy Moody runs a laundromat in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, and she has raised twins Andie (Andromeda) and Cassie (Cassiopeia) in almost complete isolation because she tells them that that they are actually from the future, and that they will have to return to their real timeline and real parents on the day of their 21st birthday. The book opens on that day as the three of them wait to be transported to the future, but it doesn't happen. I honestly had no idea how this story was going to unfold and would never have predicted most of it. Told through alternating perspectives (mostly Cassie, Andie, and Joy) and at different points throughout Cassie and Andie's lives, the story that unfolds is engrossing and truly so sad, but with a lot of lot of heart. I cried more than once, and I wouldn't recommend this for someone looking for a light, fluffy read. But if you're in the mood for something a little heavier and pretty engrossing, this is a good one. Content warnings for death (on page), marital infidelity, serious illness, and substance abuse (off page).

This was a really unique book about an isolated family of three and how a family story becomes unraveled. It had good characters and as well-written. I love the idea of chosen family coming together.

This was an odd novel, and one I had a bit of trouble with, but in the end appreciated and enjoyed. I had been quite excited about the time travel aspect of the story and the raising kids in exclusion idea from the blurb. But it didn't really deliver or live up to the concept. I found the first half very slow and a bit dull. I found the concept interesting but I had trouble with the slowness of the unveiling and the lack of intrigue. I actually put the book down halfway through and was ready to not finish it, as it felt disappointing and I wasn't connecting with the story or main characters. I found some of the side characters to be cartoonish - the uncle in particular could have used a lot more nuance.

That being said, I did pick it up again after a few days and the second half felt much better, once there was a bit of a mystery to focus on. I liked the parts from the detective's perspective and it might have been more interesting to stay with her. I would have liked to see more depth and more intrigue into why Joy was the way she was, what led her to her decisions - there was just something missing for me here.

I can’t give a proper rating because I DNF.
I just couldn’t get into this book and each night that I opened it I struggled to stay engaged. I see some great reviews but this could just be a case of right book, wrong time but it’s more likely that the build up to the ending just took too long for me.

Not gonna lie—the cover totally grabbed me, and I’m so glad it did. Thankfully, the story inside lived up to it.

Joy and her twin daughters, Cassie and Andie, live a quiet, secretive life tucked behind their little laundromat. With just a few neighbors and customers in their orbit, Joy keeps a tight grip on their world. But her hold on reality—and her health—isn’t quite as steady, especially as her love for sci-fi starts to blur the lines between fact and fiction.

This book was a lot of things: frustrating, sad, heartwarming, and weirdly cozy. It took me on an emotional ride I didn’t expect, and I’m really glad I judged this one by its cover.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Joy Moody is Out of Time is quite the quirky little story. I enjoyed it on the whole, although some parts were a little odd and rushed/didn't seem to fit the story. The twins' relationship with the neighboring business owners and the sweetness discovered there redeemed a lot of the story.

I requested Joy Moody Is Out Of Time purely because I loved Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. I didn’t bother to read the blurb. Which led me to wondering just why the heck I requested a book that seemed to be about time travel. But no fears. This is not a sci-fi story.
Joy Moody has been lying to her twin daughters for their entire lives. She meant to eventually tell them the truth of how they came to be her daughters and that it didn’t involve bringing them back from the future. But she never quite got around to it. Now, it’s the lead up to their 21st birthday, the day they’re meant to return to the future. And time is running out in more ways than one. To go into any more detail would be to spoil it for others.
The book is described as a mystery and a crime thriller, but those aren’t really accurate descriptions even though there is a murder investigation. At heart, it’s much more of a family drama. Mayne has managed to craft a heartwarming story without veering into saccharine territory. The three women all have their quirks and their faults.
This character rich story explores motherhood, responsibility and trust. I came to love all the main characters; and quite a few of the secondary ones as well. Mayne has a comfortable writing style and each scene was well thought out and easy to envision.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne

Joy Moody will do anything for her girls, twins Cassie and Andie, who will be turning 21 soon. The girls have not had normal lives because their mother has had to protect them from people who may be hunting them down from the future. Because the girls have been isolated their entire lives this is all they know and they have nothing to tell them any different than what their mother has always told them.

But now things are changing. Joy is changing. She's getting confused, mixing up her stories with facts, beginning to believe what she has made up. Just what did she make up? It's impossible to know what is true, what is made up, and just what is going on with Joy and her daughters.

During Part I of the story, I wasn't sure I liked what I was reading. I like slow burns, I like stories that don't just lay everything out at once, but the first part didn't give me an assurance that what we were going to learn would be all that interesting, especially since we were getting so much from the viewpoint of a woman I didn't trust one iota. But then Part II comes and I became more invested in the story. Once Part III arrived, I was hooked. By then we will have lost an important character but we gain a few new characters and I wanted to know what happened and what was going to happen, even if I already had my suspicions.

The story takes time, it needs the time for it to set things up, and then the goods get spilt and all will be known. I like that even with several people who have had rough starts in life and made really bad decisions, the story shows that people can change, not all of them but some of them. For all the holding back Joy Moody does with her daughters, in the end she can't hold back anything, especially where her own life is concerned. This made for an interesting buddy read with Jayme, DeAnn, and Mary Beth.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC

Joy has told her daughters a lie their entire lives- they are from the future and will return there when the girls turn 21. Her twins believe her because of how isolated Joy kept them throughout their lives. This story was more character driven than I expected. While there are so many plot lines (they all eventually tie up nicely), this novel is about family at its core.