joy moody is out of time by kerryn mayne

Joy told her twin, 21 year old daughters, Cassiopea and Andromeda, that on their 21st birthday they will be taken to 2050. She runs the Joyful Suds Laundromat. The girls were homeschooled, no TV, no internet, to keep them safe. Their neighbor Monty loves them and runs his own business. Joy also has a terminal glioblastoma and hasn’t told anyone. Cassie and Andie are going to time travel to 2050 in order to save the world.

This book has really different pacing. You can’t think of it as beginning-middle-end. It goes in a different direction at 50% of the way through, which is pretty intriguing. The characters are easy to love but their behaviors are confusing. I didn’t love it, but some will! I liked it and I’m glad I read it.

Although the blurb suggests magic/fantasy, it’s more of a mystery or coming of age book. If you’re in the mood for something different, put this in your TBR.

Audiobook review- appreciate the performance. Australian narrator and good dialogue. This story is good an audio.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC. book to be published 8/18/25