Ordinary Joy: A Realistic Guide to Being Yourself

by Kim-Joy

A non-judgemental guide to finding your own kind of joy

Kim-Joy rose to fame in 2018 following her appearance on The Great British Bake Off, where she was best-known for her cute, quirky bakes and radiant positivity. Before her appearance on the show, Kim-Joy worked in the NHS as a qualified Wellbeing Practitioner, supporting and treating patients with anxiety and depression, while facing mental health difficulties of her own.

Filled with funny, relatable moments from Kim-Joy’s life, along with a practical toolkit to navigate being ‘different’, Ordinary Joy is a moving and inclusive guide to finding joy, sometimes in the unlikeliest of places. Kim-Joy shares stories, reflections, questions and prompts to help you get to know yourself better, to help you live more authentically.

From how to set boundaries and say no, to saying yes to the right things and people, along with simple ways to celebrate your differences, Ordinary Joy reminds you that you belong.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2025

About the author

She was born in Belgium to an English father and Malaysian-Chinese mother and now lives in Leeds with her partner.
Kim-Joy rose to fame having made it to the final of the Great British Bake Off 2018 with her unique, intricate baked creations that captured the hearts of the nation.
Her iced woodland creatures, space turtles and beautifully decorated cakes - along with her calmness and vibrant positivity - put a smile on everyone's face and Kim-Joy has since earned a legion of baking fans around the world.
Having previously worked in mental health, she now devotes her time to creating cakes and treats that bring a little Kim-Joy to as many people as possible.

Reviews

[Amy Backes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful for this book that saved me from a recent reading slump! If I had enough hours in the day, I would have finished it in a single day. It was so easy to read but still substantive and thought provoking. Kim-Joy’s anecdotes really illustrated the key points she was making in each chapter, and the suggestions were very helpful. She distilled complex topics down and provided easy to understand descriptions and tips for your own life. This book was a joy to read, and I’ll be recommending it to friends and family!

[Devon Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wholesome feel-good self-help book!! It honestly felt like every chapter was written just for me. It definitely won’t be for everyone, but if you connect with the topics I’d highly recommend it. Journaled alongside it and ended up feeling really positive after reading it.

[Rose Scholefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully designed and written in nice, chunked out information. I would certainly recommend it to a few young people that I feel would really benefit!