"A philosophically stimulating novel crackling with emotional liveliness.' -KirkusReviews
"Fletch Fletcher's JOYPUNKS is a sharp, gritty novel that examines predetermined mortality through the lens of addiction and friendship. Packed with booze, drugs, and existential dread, it's a wild debut that swings big and lands punches with its bruised-heart energy."- Indie Reader
Fletch Fletcher's debut novel; A countercultural stick of dynamite
Danny is an ordinary teenager who lives in a world in which everyone has the chance to find out the day they die when they turn 18. On his 18th birthday, Danny finds out that he is going to die when he is only 27. This sets him down a path of bohemian decision-making that winds up with him living with a hippie named Naomi and a drug dealer named Brian. The three of them, all destined to die before thirty, live a life of excess in a mad search for meaning before it's too late.
To make matters worse, the religious elite believe that your death date is a sign of morality. They judge Danny and others like him as sinners who are paying for their lack of character. These beliefs are only reinforced by the emergence of "Pacts," an agreement that you will commit a serious crime with a day left in exchange for the money.
Set in the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona, Joypunks is a book filled with booze, sex, drugs, strippers, robberies, and the gritty lifestyle of those struggling with their mortality. Will Danny be able to rein his morality in or will he wind up dying in a ditch somewhere?
Fletch (Jack) Fletcher is an author, comedian, and part-time bartender. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a BFA in film and a minor in creative writing, Fletch moved to NYC to pursue a career in standup comedy. He has been performing since he was 17 when he had to use fake IDs to sneak into clubs just to get some stage time. He now resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
Joypunks is a resonant sci-fi novel that explores mortality, addiction, and what it means to be human in the face of it all. Thoughtful and emotionally layered, it balances life’s darker moments with flashes of real beauty. One line that stuck with me: “You need to seek out the beauty in this world and respond in kind.” It’s a powerful read — especially for those who’ve faced addiction or loved someone who has.
Joypunks is a raw and gritty novel that dives deep into the lives of three young adults living on the edge. Set in Flagstaff, Arizona, the story explores themes of mortality, morality, and the search for meaning in a world that judges them harshly. With a mix of intense emotions and wild adventures, this book keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you're into stories that challenge societal norms and make you think, Joypunks is definitely worth a read.