Styles of Joy: A Feel-Good Framework for Rediscovering Joy

by Sarah Catherine Perot

A USA Today Bestseller!

Through Styles of Joy, embark on an extraordinary journey blending the excitement of zero-to-one-hundred fandom with thoughtful reflections on joy—yours, mine, and ours. After a post-divorce and post-pandemic “grief sabbatical” took her to seventeen Harry Styles concerts across five countries in ten months, the author reveals how throwing out the rulebook can lead to profound personal joy. This narrative nonfiction series of heartwarming short stories is equal parts anthropological observations, unlikely fangirl manifesto, and reflection on life after loss.

Structured into four colorful yet thought-provoking parts, Styles of Joy prompts readers to examine joy in their own lives while enjoying tales from the author’s own adventures.
Cultivate – What brings you joy? Discover how to pay attention and learn to transform everyday moments into celebrations. Adopt – Are you adopting others’ joy as your own? Explore how looking for “joy in the wild” can enrich your own life. Protect – Are you protecting your joy and others’? Learn to maintain a positive mindset and support the well-being of yourself and those around you. Spread – Are you spreading joy? Be inspired by stories of any individual’s power to change the world with simple kindness. Discover ways to multiply joy in your community and beyond, creating a ripple effect that fosters a more connected, vibrant world.
Styles of Joy is a dynamic blend of personal anecdotes and practical wisdom, guiding you toward more joyful living."

Genres: Nonfiction

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[Crosby Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I ever wrote a book I would want it to be very similar to this one! I loved it so much. Joy is serious business and requires a lot of courage! Say it louder for the people in the back!

[Morgan Weisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCP is a college friend who has always been an incredible writer & storyteller — and we are so lucky for her vulnerability and sharing her path through grief to joy. There’s so much to connect with along her journey, and I truly cannot recommend enough. GO SC! 🍒🍒🍒

[Allie Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is serious business. I’m so glad we have SC Perot as our joy guide. This is a must-read. The writing is warm and inviting, like a joyful dinner with a friend. 🌈❤️💌✨🎶

[Talina Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just absolutely loved this book!!!! we also went to some of the same shows🥂👯‍♂️🍉🍒⭐️

[Laura Madison Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delightfully surprised by the depth of wisdom in what I presumed would be a bubblegum feel-good book. I now feel like I’d want to be friends with SC as I appreciate her attitude of being prepared for joy to parachute into our lives.

[Crystal Shreffler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Opens your eyes to finding peace and joy in all the things. Embracing others joy and staying positive even in our darkest days.

[Grace Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great audiobook for long walks. This seriously made me want to be a more joyful, positive and kind person in the most non cringey way. It also inspired a desire to make more friends outside my circle or in unique places/during unique experiences. It was a great reminder we can all choose joy and most of us are not doing that. If you need an uplifting listen for your walks, go for this!

[Cat Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give a heads up that SC is a friend of mine, and between Austin and our college days, I was there or nearby for many of these memories; However, even without my personal ties to the stories in this book and the author, I recommend this book with gusto. I’d describe this as memoir meets self help but without the self help cringe that sometimes peppers the genre. I found myself equal parts laughing, reflecting, and taking mental notes (I want to go back to the physical book now and write and highlight!). SC has an amazing knack for engrossing you in her stories while connecting them to larger learning moments to make life more full of joy. Just hours after listening to chapter 27, I shared the “negligence, recklessness, knowledge, intent” ladder with a friend as a way to reframe situations where you were hurt. SC sprinkles nuggets like this throughout the book that are incredibly practical and immediately useful. She is also able to touch on heavy topics with appropriate gravitas, never making a spectacle out of her or others’ grief. I highly recommend the audiobook, as she perfectly narrates it herself, making you feel like you’re sitting next to her with a glass of wine. But have the physical book ready to keep the life lesson nuggets in easy reach. I finished this book in 48 hours and found myself craving it during the moments I stepped away. Amazing work, SC! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and joy with us. May it be a catalyst for more joy in the wild.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a format I love: part memoir, part self-help, part sociological study, this one focused on joy. Although the underlying foundation is the author's experience becoming a Harry Styles groupie in the wake of her divorce, it wasn't as structured as maybe it could have been. There were lots of compelling anecdotes that the author had compiled from different parts of her life that built the promised framework for rediscovering - or even just identifying existing - joy.

It focuses on a concept that I identified in my own writings, the Macro Joy (mine was Micro v. Macro Happiness at the level of the individual [and which Arthur Brooks has now also teased out]), which really gets to the sense of community that we are all seeking at the same time and as a result of the fact that it is in decline.

My favorite joy concept that she used repeatedly, "It's only random if you believe in random." I'm also going to listen to all of Harry Styles' music now to see what the fuss is about. Looking very forward to attending a talk by the author later this week!

[Sherie P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Puzzled how this book even got published…

The first few chapters are almost entirely about Harry Styles — songs, concerts, facts, fan signs, outfits, and more Harry. By chapter four, I was still waiting for an actual tip about finding joy. It often reads more like a personal diary of divorce recovery, travel logs, and fangirl moments than a self-help book.

When advice finally appears, it’s surface-level — things like “feed your dog mindfully,” and “use green pens instead of red”, buried under layers of celebrity obsession and memoir-style meandering.

If you’re a Harry Styles superfan, you’ll probably enjoy the endless concert recaps. But if you picked this up looking for insight, inspiration, or even practical tips on rediscovering joy, you’ll be left scratching your head.

The most joy I got? Finishing the book.
For a true joy boost, I’d recommend Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee or Wonder Seeker by Andrea Scher instead.

[Annie McArdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I finished a book that made me excited about living. And not the extraordinary moments, but the mundane, the every day. Yes! I get to do this!

Although I’m not going through a divorce and have never purposefully listened to Harry Styles, I found every chapter of this book hard-to-put-down.

SC’s personality, humor and authenticity radiate off the page as she tells us about grief and adventure and heartache and Harry and JOY.

I cried more times than I can count (balloon chapter anyone???) and giggled audibly too (I’ll never walk through the paper goods aisle of H-E-B the same).

What a gift this book is to all of us, at any life stage. To remember joy.

‘Thank you for your gifts SC’ (iykyk)

[Mal Killingstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, my book ratings heavily rely on how “un-put-downable” I find the book to be, and when I wasn’t reading this book, I wanted to be. I saved it for a a beach trip and am so glad i did, it put me in an extra bubbly mood the entire time. SC, an attorney by training, is an eloquent, clever, and charming author. Her vulnerability, deep thoughtfulness, and witty sense of humor make the ride she takes you very fun. I loved her concept of macro-joy, the CAPS method, and her take on jealousy. I wish every girl would read this. All in all this book will change the way you look at the world and go about your day in the best way possible. I cant wait to read what SC dishes out next!

[Charlotte Stedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A soup for the soul kind of book. What a refreshing fun inspiring read. Although knowing little about Harry Styles personally it’s important to highlight this doesn’t take away from the book. This book is part memoir with brave admissions and insights into the authors life & part self help, ways to bring your joy, how, why what when. This combination creates a reminder to all that joy is everywhere - you just have to be open to it. And “it’s only random if you believe in random” Find your big joys and small joys. Prompting me to enjoy more joy and spread it.

[Kristi Pharaon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often give 5 ⭐️ reviews, but this book begged for one. SC Perot put her heart and soul on these pages, and her journey is one that I think many people can relate to. Her framework for joy—from micro to macro—is woven into a story of healing and growth, and I was cheering for her (and joy!) through every chapter.

Looking for joy? Good read.
Reeling from grief? Good read.

[Anne Skipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprised by joy

I didn’t know I needed to read a book about joy. But I did. I love the pacing of the book and the honesty of the writer. I will share this book and hopefully spread a little joy of my own

[Heather Trumpfheller]

Not going to rate this book because that feels icky but as a Fan Girl of fans (including Harry’s House bandwagon fan), and someone who loves Joy + gratitude over jealousy — I liked the themes in this book and beauty in the little things

[Ellen Philipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

[Leigh Karro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book! It made me want to live life more fully. SC shares beautiful stories of how she found joy, and her writing makes you feel like you're having dinner with a friend. She’s an excellent storyteller, and I’ll likely reread it again!