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Mr. Yay
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Expected 2 Jun 26A hilarious, delightful genre-blending speculative novel about rappers and dogs, love and marriage, private detectives, nostalgia, and embracing your true self, in a world where the past is different than what you remember.
Budding musician Fatty Bratty wakes up in his terrible apartment to a random dog. A dog that acts like he belongs there. Except Bratty doesn’t own a dog. He always wanted to but never did. So maybe this random dog is a sign: screw his parents’ expectations. Forget business school. Instead, over a manic week, he and his best friend write and record their first rap album. They call themselves Mr. Yay.
Bratty’s therapist Miriam remembers a different Mr. Yay, the one from the old children’s TV show, the washed-up actor turned first mate who sailed a boat captained by a dog and taught people to be themselves. To just be. But strangely, her husband, Jack, has no memory of the old show at all.
As Mr. Yay climbs the charts with his rap songs, Miriam watches her life unravel. Jack is increasingly absent, more secretive, reckless—he hardly resembles the man she married. Their friends start acting weird too: drinking excessively, splurging on motorcycles, quitting their jobs, not washing their hair, harboring raccoons. Jack also doesn’t remember things he should about his relationship with Miriam. But he suspects his memory hole is more than it seems. It’s not just that he’s forgotten the Mr. Yay show—it’s that, on the internet, and according to the studio and half the population, there is no Mr. Yay. There never was.
Witty, heartfelt, deeply weird and utterly original, Mr. Yay explores how we grapple with inexplicable sudden shifts in the world around us, and the conspiracy theories and identity crises they birth. If the past we remember has changed, are we who we think we are? Is anyone?
Budding musician Fatty Bratty wakes up in his terrible apartment to a random dog. A dog that acts like he belongs there. Except Bratty doesn’t own a dog. He always wanted to but never did. So maybe this random dog is a sign: screw his parents’ expectations. Forget business school. Instead, over a manic week, he and his best friend write and record their first rap album. They call themselves Mr. Yay.
Bratty’s therapist Miriam remembers a different Mr. Yay, the one from the old children’s TV show, the washed-up actor turned first mate who sailed a boat captained by a dog and taught people to be themselves. To just be. But strangely, her husband, Jack, has no memory of the old show at all.
As Mr. Yay climbs the charts with his rap songs, Miriam watches her life unravel. Jack is increasingly absent, more secretive, reckless—he hardly resembles the man she married. Their friends start acting weird too: drinking excessively, splurging on motorcycles, quitting their jobs, not washing their hair, harboring raccoons. Jack also doesn’t remember things he should about his relationship with Miriam. But he suspects his memory hole is more than it seems. It’s not just that he’s forgotten the Mr. Yay show—it’s that, on the internet, and according to the studio and half the population, there is no Mr. Yay. There never was.
Witty, heartfelt, deeply weird and utterly original, Mr. Yay explores how we grapple with inexplicable sudden shifts in the world around us, and the conspiracy theories and identity crises they birth. If the past we remember has changed, are we who we think we are? Is anyone?
448 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
8 people are currently reading
7685 people want to read
About the author
Emily Jane
4 books339 followersEmily Jane is the USA Today bestselling author of fun, heartfelt, genre-bending novels. She grew up in Boise, Boulder, and San Francisco. She earned her B.A. in psychology from the University of San Francisco and her J.D. from the UC Law San Francisco. She lives on an urban farm in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, Steve, their two kids, three cats, and a husky.
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December 9, 2025AUTHOR NOTE:
This book is weird, delightful and so much fun!!!
Inspired by my little brother and his brief, glorious career as a rapper, my neighborhood friends and our fabulous parties, all the great kids in my life, and, of course, the dogs, I wrote this wild ride of a book. It made me cry happy tears. I hope you all love it.
Spoiler, in case you worry: the dogs will all be okay.
This book is weird, delightful and so much fun!!!
Inspired by my little brother and his brief, glorious career as a rapper, my neighborhood friends and our fabulous parties, all the great kids in my life, and, of course, the dogs, I wrote this wild ride of a book. It made me cry happy tears. I hope you all love it.
Spoiler, in case you worry: the dogs will all be okay.
January 17, 2026
Two completely different universes collide in Emily Jane’s upcoming fourth novel.
Well, might be more than two universes. And er, they’re only slightly different, thanks to a little detail here and there. And, uh, not “collide” so much as smush together. Kinda overlapping.
You expected straightforward from the Queen of Quirk, the creator of a genre all her own?
Bradford walks out on his parents during Thanksgiving, abandoning business school plans and heading west. There he hooks up with his old buddy Tom, and together they create a rap duo: Bradford as the DJ, Fatty Bratty, and Tom as Mr. Yay. And when Bratty posts an edgy and funny video, the group goes viral.
Miriam is his therapist, who’s got problems of her own. Her husband has gone off the rails, constantly at work, being secretive about his laptop, and with all new likes. For example, she makes meat loaf, his favorite childhood dish…and he says he’s never liked it. And neither he nor the universe can’t remember the spirited and popular TV show she grew up watching. The title: Mr. Yay.
So…who’s this Mr. Yay? The first mate to a dog captain on a ship with self-actualizing animals? Or a young, up-and-coming hip-hop star?
And does it even matter?
Jane delivers the plot with much the same style and structure of her debut, On Earth as It Is on Television (which itself reminded me of Don DeLillo's White Noise). It’s life, slowly drifting along, weird stuff happening here and there. Miriam and Brad are on the phone once in a while, but they’re trying to manage apart. I liked them both and appreciated the struggles. Brad trying to make an artist’s life in defiance of his parents’ expectations, Miriam trying to get her family and marriage back. Loved the music-making experience, and I wonder who wrote those rap lyrics? Not a connoisseur of anything in that music genre (at least not since 1993) but good lines in there.
Just past the halfway point, we get a reveal, a sense that the Mr. Yays might come together. That makes it something of a thriller: where’s Mr. Yay? What’s the deal with the animals, asking where is he (telepathically, of course)? Is Jack who he says he is, and for that matter, is Miriam? It was a fun ride from there.
The writing might very well be Jane’s best. There were several passages I snapped and kept on my phone. She tapped into some philosophy, dropping some inspirational quotes about why living the way you want is OK. She wove those deftly into dialogue and character thoughts. They were poetic at times, a nice touch to a madcap tale.
And not to give it away, but a great ending. Pulls things together nicely.
My big takeaway? It’s OK to be weird. To be yourself. Much like either Mr. Yay might say (or his author). It was so refreshing, even heartwarming. And we came to it through the strife of two very different, but very down-to-earth, people.
Another triumph for Emily Jane!
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced, signed copy in return for an honest review. Mr. Yay will be released June 2, 2026.
Well, might be more than two universes. And er, they’re only slightly different, thanks to a little detail here and there. And, uh, not “collide” so much as smush together. Kinda overlapping.
You expected straightforward from the Queen of Quirk, the creator of a genre all her own?
Bradford walks out on his parents during Thanksgiving, abandoning business school plans and heading west. There he hooks up with his old buddy Tom, and together they create a rap duo: Bradford as the DJ, Fatty Bratty, and Tom as Mr. Yay. And when Bratty posts an edgy and funny video, the group goes viral.
Miriam is his therapist, who’s got problems of her own. Her husband has gone off the rails, constantly at work, being secretive about his laptop, and with all new likes. For example, she makes meat loaf, his favorite childhood dish…and he says he’s never liked it. And neither he nor the universe can’t remember the spirited and popular TV show she grew up watching. The title: Mr. Yay.
So…who’s this Mr. Yay? The first mate to a dog captain on a ship with self-actualizing animals? Or a young, up-and-coming hip-hop star?
And does it even matter?
Jane delivers the plot with much the same style and structure of her debut, On Earth as It Is on Television (which itself reminded me of Don DeLillo's White Noise). It’s life, slowly drifting along, weird stuff happening here and there. Miriam and Brad are on the phone once in a while, but they’re trying to manage apart. I liked them both and appreciated the struggles. Brad trying to make an artist’s life in defiance of his parents’ expectations, Miriam trying to get her family and marriage back. Loved the music-making experience, and I wonder who wrote those rap lyrics? Not a connoisseur of anything in that music genre (at least not since 1993) but good lines in there.
Just past the halfway point, we get a reveal, a sense that the Mr. Yays might come together. That makes it something of a thriller: where’s Mr. Yay? What’s the deal with the animals, asking where is he (telepathically, of course)? Is Jack who he says he is, and for that matter, is Miriam? It was a fun ride from there.
The writing might very well be Jane’s best. There were several passages I snapped and kept on my phone. She tapped into some philosophy, dropping some inspirational quotes about why living the way you want is OK. She wove those deftly into dialogue and character thoughts. They were poetic at times, a nice touch to a madcap tale.
And not to give it away, but a great ending. Pulls things together nicely.
My big takeaway? It’s OK to be weird. To be yourself. Much like either Mr. Yay might say (or his author). It was so refreshing, even heartwarming. And we came to it through the strife of two very different, but very down-to-earth, people.
Another triumph for Emily Jane!
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced, signed copy in return for an honest review. Mr. Yay will be released June 2, 2026.
November 24, 2025
ARC for review. To be published June 2, 2026.
4.3 stars
At some point in the wacky, wonderful book, someone describes what is going on as a “trans dimensional altercation.” Is it? I really don’t have the slightest idea.
What I do know it’s that it’s two stories with a lot of characters. Miriam is a therapist. She is doing Zoom sessions with a recent college graduate called Bratty. Then the story follows both Miriam and Bratty through all the other aspects of their lives. Bratty’s parents (well, stepmom) hate him, well, because of everything he says and does. He doesn’t want to go to law school. He wants to rap with his best friend since childhood, Tom. He suddenly has a dog named Tux that he doesn’t remember getting. Tux is a great dog.
Miriam is married to Jack. They have two kids, and a dog name Roxstar. They are living the normal, upwardly mobile life. Jack works all the time.
Then so very much happens…a trip across the U.S., lots of interesting drama with the neighbors, drama with Bratty’s parents, a rap duo, problems in a marriage, a television program that only a few people remember existing, a Very Good Golden Retriever. It’s fun, it’s imaginative, I found it very compelling even though I get the impression it wasn’t written for me. It’s a look at roads not taken and how much in like is still open. Oh, and metaphysics. I really liked it.
4.3 stars
At some point in the wacky, wonderful book, someone describes what is going on as a “trans dimensional altercation.” Is it? I really don’t have the slightest idea.
What I do know it’s that it’s two stories with a lot of characters. Miriam is a therapist. She is doing Zoom sessions with a recent college graduate called Bratty. Then the story follows both Miriam and Bratty through all the other aspects of their lives. Bratty’s parents (well, stepmom) hate him, well, because of everything he says and does. He doesn’t want to go to law school. He wants to rap with his best friend since childhood, Tom. He suddenly has a dog named Tux that he doesn’t remember getting. Tux is a great dog.
Miriam is married to Jack. They have two kids, and a dog name Roxstar. They are living the normal, upwardly mobile life. Jack works all the time.
Then so very much happens…a trip across the U.S., lots of interesting drama with the neighbors, drama with Bratty’s parents, a rap duo, problems in a marriage, a television program that only a few people remember existing, a Very Good Golden Retriever. It’s fun, it’s imaginative, I found it very compelling even though I get the impression it wasn’t written for me. It’s a look at roads not taken and how much in like is still open. Oh, and metaphysics. I really liked it.
September 12, 2025
Emily Jane has done it again! This amazing novel is a welcome and wonderful addition to Jane’s growing catalog of total bangers! She once again manages to meld the wacky and absurd with the genuine and heartfelt. Have you ever felt like you remembered something that never actually existed? Or have you ever felt like the past was more of a dream than something that actually happened? If so, you’re definitely gonna love this one. If not, you might still love it because it is so much more than just its bonkers premise. Mr. Yay is an exploration of what it means to be us. To be me. To be you. Are we actually who we think we are? Are our partners, our friends, our neighbors? Is the world what we think it is, or is it just a boat sailing the high seas being captained by a dog? After reading this book, I really don’t know anymore. I just know that I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read more from this truly talented artist. Emily Jane is doing something no one else is and I’m so here for it! I can’t wait to read more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received as a NetGalley arc in exchange for an honest review
Mr Yay is an extremely entertaining story that pulls elements of sci-fi and social commentary to share a story narrated by a host of characters. Each of them feels as though something is off and the world appears to shift and change before their eyes in strange and seemingly random ways. The main narrators are 1 part of the rap duo "Mr. Yay" and his therapist, who are confronted by waves of the Mandela Effect, along with their friends and family members.
The story is quirky and clever and an excellent exploration of what may happen if everyone's "what ifs" collide.
Mr Yay is an extremely entertaining story that pulls elements of sci-fi and social commentary to share a story narrated by a host of characters. Each of them feels as though something is off and the world appears to shift and change before their eyes in strange and seemingly random ways. The main narrators are 1 part of the rap duo "Mr. Yay" and his therapist, who are confronted by waves of the Mandela Effect, along with their friends and family members.
The story is quirky and clever and an excellent exploration of what may happen if everyone's "what ifs" collide.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Looking for a fun, zany, music filled adventure? This book will check all those boxes with zeal and style. No spoilers, aside from you will more than likely shed some happy tears at some point during the read. Emily Jane has such a unique voice in all of her books, but it really shines in Mr. Yay. Give it a read and rejoice in the weird, wild, wonderful world created by Emily Jane.
May 10, 2026
I never expected this random galley I pulled from the ARC shelf at work to become my favorite book I’ve read so far this year and also a book I would consider required reading for anyone who wants to understand me better as a person. Or maybe to understand themselves better. This book was funny and poignant and cathartic and oddball and STRANGE and also PERFECT. And now for the next six months at my bookstore job I am going to have to explain to people why they NEED to read a book called Mr. Yay. What the FUCK man.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emily Jane’s Mr. Yay is the kind of novel that quietly rearranges your perspective while you’re still turning the pages, and then has the audacity to linger in your brain afterward like a song you didn’t mean to get attached to. Many readers describe it as a multiverse story, and they’re not wrong, but that framing almost undersells what makes it so special. This feels less like hopping between parallel worlds and more like wandering down all the roads not taken, except now you have to emotionally process them instead of just wondering about them at 2 a.m.
What stands out most, echoed across so many glowing reviews, is how seamlessly Emily Jane weaves these intertwined yet distinct lives together. There’s a precision to it. Nothing feels gimmicky or overly conceptual, which is impressive considering this kind of story could very easily spiral into chaos. Instead, each thread deepens the others, creating a tapestry that feels intimate rather than sprawling. You’re not just observing alternate possibilities, you’re feeling them, which is both beautiful and slightly inconvenient for your emotional stability.
Mr. Yay himself is a brilliantly enigmatic anchor. Reviews often praise how he exists both as a guide and a mystery, and that duality gives the story a quiet tension. He doesn’t just connect worlds, he reframes them, gently nudging characters, and readers, into existential reflection. It’s like having a philosophical life coach who refuses to give straight answers but somehow still changes your life.
Stylistically, the writing is luminous without being indulgent. There’s a clarity and emotional intelligence that makes even the most complex narrative turns feel grounded. Readers frequently highlight how the prose elevates the structure rather than getting lost in it, and that balance is rare. Also rare is a book that makes you pause, think deeply, and then immediately text a friend something like, “I don’t know what this book is doing to me, but I think I like it.”
Ultimately, Mr. Yay isn’t just about “what if.” It’s about what is, across all the versions of ourselves we carry, the good, the bad, and the ones who probably made better life choices. It’s thoughtful, inventive, and deeply human, with just enough wit to keep you from spiraling entirely. A five-star read that rewards both the heart and the mind, and possibly demands a second read once you’ve recovered.
What stands out most, echoed across so many glowing reviews, is how seamlessly Emily Jane weaves these intertwined yet distinct lives together. There’s a precision to it. Nothing feels gimmicky or overly conceptual, which is impressive considering this kind of story could very easily spiral into chaos. Instead, each thread deepens the others, creating a tapestry that feels intimate rather than sprawling. You’re not just observing alternate possibilities, you’re feeling them, which is both beautiful and slightly inconvenient for your emotional stability.
Mr. Yay himself is a brilliantly enigmatic anchor. Reviews often praise how he exists both as a guide and a mystery, and that duality gives the story a quiet tension. He doesn’t just connect worlds, he reframes them, gently nudging characters, and readers, into existential reflection. It’s like having a philosophical life coach who refuses to give straight answers but somehow still changes your life.
Stylistically, the writing is luminous without being indulgent. There’s a clarity and emotional intelligence that makes even the most complex narrative turns feel grounded. Readers frequently highlight how the prose elevates the structure rather than getting lost in it, and that balance is rare. Also rare is a book that makes you pause, think deeply, and then immediately text a friend something like, “I don’t know what this book is doing to me, but I think I like it.”
Ultimately, Mr. Yay isn’t just about “what if.” It’s about what is, across all the versions of ourselves we carry, the good, the bad, and the ones who probably made better life choices. It’s thoughtful, inventive, and deeply human, with just enough wit to keep you from spiraling entirely. A five-star read that rewards both the heart and the mind, and possibly demands a second read once you’ve recovered.
Review of advance copy
Dreamlike and unabashedly weird, Mr. Yay is a novel of ideas, most of them pretty wacky. Budding musician Fatty Bratty wakes up in his ratty apartment to discover a dog he didn’t know he owned. But the dog food in the closet and the handy leash are a tip-off that the dog actually belongs to him. Over the course of several days, Bratty decides to ignore his annoying parents’ expectations. He drops out of college and joins his friend Tommy in L.A., where they form a rap act called Mr. Yay. Bratty’s therapist, Miriam, recalls a different Mr. Yay, the host of a groundbreaking children’s TV show, but her workaholic husband Jack doesn’t recall the show at all. As the story unspools, things get decidedly weirder. Bratty and Tommy record a rap album which, out of the blue, hits big. Miriam’s marriage unravels as her husband begins acting strangely — but not as strange as their friends, who drink to excess, splurge on motorcycles, and quit their jobs. Is reality getting a reboot, or is a nearby multiverse bleeding over into ours? As things spiral out of control, readers will root for Miriam, Bratty and the rest of the crew, striving to find their happy place in a world they hardly recognize. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the e-arc!
Emily Jane has done it again! Her sense of whimsy from her previous novels shines in Mr. Yay and I found this just as compulsively readable as her other books.
Mr. Yay follows Bratty and Miriam as they deal with major changes in their life that are connected to the children’s show Mr. Yay that seems to have mysteriously disappeared. The dissonance our main characters have to deal with keeps you invested as they try to figure out what the hell is going on.
It feels a little weird to say this novel felt more grounded than the others, but while there were unnatural animal gatherings and people appearing and disappearing in a moment, this story really focused on interpersonal relationships and the fantastical elements were a backdrop to those.
One of the things I really find invigorating about Emily Jane’s novels is that there’s always a sense of community - people coming together for something greater than themselves and it’s just a really good reminder that humanity doesn’t have to all bad in this day and age as long as we can find our communities.
Emily Jane has done it again! Her sense of whimsy from her previous novels shines in Mr. Yay and I found this just as compulsively readable as her other books.
Mr. Yay follows Bratty and Miriam as they deal with major changes in their life that are connected to the children’s show Mr. Yay that seems to have mysteriously disappeared. The dissonance our main characters have to deal with keeps you invested as they try to figure out what the hell is going on.
It feels a little weird to say this novel felt more grounded than the others, but while there were unnatural animal gatherings and people appearing and disappearing in a moment, this story really focused on interpersonal relationships and the fantastical elements were a backdrop to those.
One of the things I really find invigorating about Emily Jane’s novels is that there’s always a sense of community - people coming together for something greater than themselves and it’s just a really good reminder that humanity doesn’t have to all bad in this day and age as long as we can find our communities.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.
I loved every weird minute of this fun, silly, absurd novel. I have no idea what the plot really was, nor how to explain any of the Mr. Yay mystery. But in a nutshell: A failed-to-launch slacker decides to move in with his childhood best friend and start a rap duo called Mr. Yay. He meets regularly with his longtime therapist, who herself is experiencing the failure of her marriage. Alongside these two sort-of plots, something very weird is going on in the world: The therapist's friends and neighbors are changing, weird animal stuff happens, and almost nobody remembers that "Mr. Yay" was a famous kids' TV show. Why not? I have no idea. That's not the point! Just enjoy this batsh*t, fun novel!
I also have no idea how to categorize this novel. It's satire, but absurdist, but sci-fi, but mystery, but a tale of a failing marriage, but a comedy....all of the above. If you like original with a tinge of weird, this joyful, fun novel is for you.
It's one of the best books I've read so far in 2026. I've not read either of Emily Jane's previous books, but I will now.
I loved every weird minute of this fun, silly, absurd novel. I have no idea what the plot really was, nor how to explain any of the Mr. Yay mystery. But in a nutshell: A failed-to-launch slacker decides to move in with his childhood best friend and start a rap duo called Mr. Yay. He meets regularly with his longtime therapist, who herself is experiencing the failure of her marriage. Alongside these two sort-of plots, something very weird is going on in the world: The therapist's friends and neighbors are changing, weird animal stuff happens, and almost nobody remembers that "Mr. Yay" was a famous kids' TV show. Why not? I have no idea. That's not the point! Just enjoy this batsh*t, fun novel!
I also have no idea how to categorize this novel. It's satire, but absurdist, but sci-fi, but mystery, but a tale of a failing marriage, but a comedy....all of the above. If you like original with a tinge of weird, this joyful, fun novel is for you.
It's one of the best books I've read so far in 2026. I've not read either of Emily Jane's previous books, but I will now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mr. Yay is delightfully strange in the best possible way. It jumps between two aspiring rap musicians calling themselves "Mr. Yay" and a therapist with a struggling marriage and eccentric neighbors. Oh and there's an old children’s show (also named My. Yay) that most people can't remember even though it was a cultural phenomena. Author Emily Jane manages to weave everything together into something that feels a little chaotic but also very intentional.
The writing is sharp and playful, and the characters are easy to get invested in despite (or because of) how offbeat everything is.
It’s funny and surreal on the surface, but there’s a lot going on underneath about identity, ambition, and the paths we don’t take. Mr. Yay is weird, heartfelt, and surprisingly thoughtful.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC.
The writing is sharp and playful, and the characters are easy to get invested in despite (or because of) how offbeat everything is.
It’s funny and surreal on the surface, but there’s a lot going on underneath about identity, ambition, and the paths we don’t take. Mr. Yay is weird, heartfelt, and surprisingly thoughtful.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mr. Yay is a fever dream about two young men who follow their music (and a random dog) to become rap stars, but it's also about a therapist whose marriage is struggling, and it's about a famous children's show that most people can't remember at all and all traces of have vanished. Very well written, and I really cared about the characters and their futures.
Thanks to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Emily Jane for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Emily Jane for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Emily Jane, as always, knocks it out of the (Great American Ball) park with this novel about the universe actively unraveling, if you are one of the people who cares enough to look closely, to remember. It's also about dogs, and about music, and about what it means to choose happiness over just going through the motions. Captain Barksford will show you the way. (For the record, I am from the Berenstein universe. There will be no further explanation.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another wildly original, heartfelt, and really weird genre blending novel from Emily Jane. Lighthearted, but surprisingly deep in the way it touches upon family dynamics, expectations, relationships, and the “what if” potentials. It’s satirical, absurdist, and a comedy all smashed together into something that works really well.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
April 5, 2026
3.5⭐️ This book is a weird, genre bending story that dives right into the Mandala Effect! I’ve always been a fan of Emily Jane’s quirky and fun writing style, but this plot fell a bit flat for me compared to her first two novels. I found myself wishing the pacing had picked up sooner rather than waiting for the climax. Still this was a solid and fun read overall!
April 11, 2026
*Received an advanced copy via Goodreads Giveaways*
3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4.
This was a fun, weird book. Enjoyed it. It’s like Everything Everywhere All At Once meets rappers, dogs, & Stepford Wives.
I do think there’s a lot of plot holes & plot lines that never really get addressed or any kind of closure in the end.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4.
This was a fun, weird book. Enjoyed it. It’s like Everything Everywhere All At Once meets rappers, dogs, & Stepford Wives.
I do think there’s a lot of plot holes & plot lines that never really get addressed or any kind of closure in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley*
Fans of the Berenstein Bears and the movie Shazaam starring Sinbad will love Mr. Yay. A novel that makes you question the very reality you live in. A great read.
4/5
Fans of the Berenstein Bears and the movie Shazaam starring Sinbad will love Mr. Yay. A novel that makes you question the very reality you live in. A great read.
4/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastically effective book with some great plotting and effective story throughout. it worked really well. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy
In true Emily Jane fashion, this book will make you hold on to your hat as you spin through the glittery tilt-a-whirl of a story. Fun, thought-provoking, just weird enough... it is a banger.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mr. Yay is stuck in my head like a great song. It has me questioning everything about the nature of the universe. Like Emily Jane's other books, Mr. Yay is fun and weird in the best way!
Review of advance copy received from Author
More detailed review to come after I finish it, but this is shaping up to be my favorite Emily Jane novel. The characters, the humor, the weirdness…. Just fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mr. Yay is another hit by Emily Jane! With dynamic characters, funky themes, and fantastic writing, Mr. Yay is a hard one to put down!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars! I love Emily Jane, and this book was no exception. This one felt a little rougher around the edges but it didn’t really matter because the book was loaded with characters and chaos and it plays out like a fever dream.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really never have the words to do Emily Jane's books justice. Mr. Yay has intriguing and interesting characters that are little bit odd (in the best ways). I love how Emily Jane always manages to keep her books lighthearted (the wittiness & sarcasm are so good) while also delving into deeper, more serious matters. I adore the relationships she builds....my favorite in this book is Miriam and Jack's, but Bratty and Tommy's friendship made me feel all things. The way she intertwined these two storylines and characters might seem weird at first, but I worked so well.
I always end Jane's books with good feelings (although this one came with several emotional parts), and Mr. Yay is no exception. I will be recommending this book to everyone and honestly I think Emily Jane is a highly underrated author and more people need to be talking about her! She is kind of her own genre of strange/emotional/witty/sci-fi/existential crisises and I am absolutely here for it! This is my favorite Jane book to date, and I didn't think it would top my feelings for American Warewolves, but it did!
Also I love the cover art (I'm a sucker for a fabulous cover).
*Helena can jump off a cliff.
*I need more Rory in my life.
*I love Jack.
*All the dogs tho ❤️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I always end Jane's books with good feelings (although this one came with several emotional parts), and Mr. Yay is no exception. I will be recommending this book to everyone and honestly I think Emily Jane is a highly underrated author and more people need to be talking about her! She is kind of her own genre of strange/emotional/witty/sci-fi/existential crisises and I am absolutely here for it! This is my favorite Jane book to date, and I didn't think it would top my feelings for American Warewolves, but it did!
Also I love the cover art (I'm a sucker for a fabulous cover).
*Helena can jump off a cliff.
*I need more Rory in my life.
*I love Jack.
*All the dogs tho ❤️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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