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Mr. Yay
A hilarious, 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 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, 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 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 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, 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 identity crises they birth. If the past we remember has changed, are we who we think we are? Is anyone?
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Emily Jane
4 books346 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.
June 3, 2026
Mr yay review:
Fantastic book i first picked it up at the airport while walking around wondering “who is Mr yay” and finished it on my flight to a layover. At first I didn't want to get the book because last week I spent like 4 hours cleaning out my bookshelf and piled up like 40 books to donate and I could just wait till the library got it physically, or on audiobook. I am glad i got it though, but it is hard to think about an alternate universe where i didnt get the book and instead waited patiently to borrow it. I guess my eyes would probally feel less strained.
It was a wonderful book, somewhat easy to read i had to go back and read some pages just because I would get confused with the timeline stuff or the names but I felt like that added more to my reading of this book. I think Emily Jane described the feeling of being in an alternate universe very well. One time I was at the library procrastinating on a big project and I could feel the couch I was laying on and doomscrolling with no big looming assignment but I was actually standing in front of the recently aquirred shelf at the college library. Another time I was at the dinning hall I saw a stain on the floor and I thought I hears someone say “and then you were just a stain on the floor” and I couldn't move for a bit.
The children were a good mix of annoying and charming.
Things I thought were good
The raps surprisingly were good though this is the first book I have read (recently/remeber) that has lyrics in it
The dogs! So cute! Many things I could relate too
Things I wish were elaborated more on:
The wife/husband dynamic across the three friends
The dog, roxster loosing a leg in the little dog images between paragraphs
It would have also been cool to have another page in the book that is the same just slightly different.
Definetly will read the other books in the branches timeline.
Fantastic book i first picked it up at the airport while walking around wondering “who is Mr yay” and finished it on my flight to a layover. At first I didn't want to get the book because last week I spent like 4 hours cleaning out my bookshelf and piled up like 40 books to donate and I could just wait till the library got it physically, or on audiobook. I am glad i got it though, but it is hard to think about an alternate universe where i didnt get the book and instead waited patiently to borrow it. I guess my eyes would probally feel less strained.
It was a wonderful book, somewhat easy to read i had to go back and read some pages just because I would get confused with the timeline stuff or the names but I felt like that added more to my reading of this book. I think Emily Jane described the feeling of being in an alternate universe very well. One time I was at the library procrastinating on a big project and I could feel the couch I was laying on and doomscrolling with no big looming assignment but I was actually standing in front of the recently aquirred shelf at the college library. Another time I was at the dinning hall I saw a stain on the floor and I thought I hears someone say “and then you were just a stain on the floor” and I couldn't move for a bit.
The children were a good mix of annoying and charming.
Things I thought were good
The raps surprisingly were good though this is the first book I have read (recently/remeber) that has lyrics in it
The dogs! So cute! Many things I could relate too
Things I wish were elaborated more on:
The wife/husband dynamic across the three friends
The dog, roxster loosing a leg in the little dog images between paragraphs
It would have also been cool to have another page in the book that is the same just slightly different.
Definetly will read the other books in the branches timeline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2026
Mr. Yay was such a strange, emotional, and genuinely fun read. It has this perfect mix of humor, nostalgia, mystery, and chaos that somehow all works together so well. 🐶📺✨
What starts off feeling quirky and light slowly turns into something much deeper about memory, identity, friendship, and how unsettling it feels when the world around you suddenly stops making sense.
I loved the balance between the funny moments and the more emotional ones, and the Mandela effect explored as a scientific concept was so compelling. Going into this book I had no idea that a large focus would be of a failing marriage and how it can suddenly feel like you wake up one day and feel like you married a stranger. This was so relevant and so well executed.
Also: chaotic musicians making an album in LA, therapists unraveling, kombucha brewing raccoon people, and a dog that randomly appears and changes everything?
Absolutely yes.
This book made me laugh, made me question reality a little bit, and somehow left me feeling weirdly hopeful by the end. Definitely recommend if you like speculative fiction with heart, mystery, and very odd vibes. 🎈
Special thank you to Emily Jane for gifting me an advance copy of her book, she is definitely an author to look out for.
What starts off feeling quirky and light slowly turns into something much deeper about memory, identity, friendship, and how unsettling it feels when the world around you suddenly stops making sense.
I loved the balance between the funny moments and the more emotional ones, and the Mandela effect explored as a scientific concept was so compelling. Going into this book I had no idea that a large focus would be of a failing marriage and how it can suddenly feel like you wake up one day and feel like you married a stranger. This was so relevant and so well executed.
Also: chaotic musicians making an album in LA, therapists unraveling, kombucha brewing raccoon people, and a dog that randomly appears and changes everything?
Absolutely yes.
This book made me laugh, made me question reality a little bit, and somehow left me feeling weirdly hopeful by the end. Definitely recommend if you like speculative fiction with heart, mystery, and very odd vibes. 🎈
Special thank you to Emily Jane for gifting me an advance copy of her book, she is definitely an author to look out for.
May 27, 2026
Emily Jane’s books always leave me saying, “What did I just read?” in the absolute best way possible. Her quirky, zany, completely unexpected storytelling style has become one of my favorite reading experiences, and somehow every new release surprises me all over again.
Mr. Yay not only lived up to the sky-high expectations I’ve come to have for Emily Jane’s books — it might actually be my new favorite.
This book gives us rappers, dogs, a crumbling marriage, alternate versions of reality where the differences are subtle but deeply impactful, and underneath all the wonderfully weird chaos, a story about figuring out who you are and what path you truly want to take. It’s funny, bizarre, heartfelt, and completely impossible to predict.
If you’re looking for something wildly original, endlessly entertaining, and full of heart, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up immediately.
And a special thank you to Emily Jane for sending me my very first physical ARC ever. This copy is genuinely so special to me, and I’ll cherish it forever. 🤍
Mr. Yay not only lived up to the sky-high expectations I’ve come to have for Emily Jane’s books — it might actually be my new favorite.
This book gives us rappers, dogs, a crumbling marriage, alternate versions of reality where the differences are subtle but deeply impactful, and underneath all the wonderfully weird chaos, a story about figuring out who you are and what path you truly want to take. It’s funny, bizarre, heartfelt, and completely impossible to predict.
If you’re looking for something wildly original, endlessly entertaining, and full of heart, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up immediately.
And a special thank you to Emily Jane for sending me my very first physical ARC ever. This copy is genuinely so special to me, and I’ll cherish it forever. 🤍
June 2, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Every version of the universe is made better by dogs. And now ours is made more fun by Emily Jane’s novels. She brings her trademark irreverent humor, quirky characters, cultural insights with unique sci-fi touches, poignant moments, love of animals, and wonderful weirdness to Mr. Yay.
In Mr. Yay, Emily Jane asked: What if one day, half the population woke up with one memory of things, and the other half woke up remembering something else? And then she had lots of fun running with it. And as a reader, so did I.
Thanks to Emily Jane and Hyperion Avenue for the gifted book. All opinions expressed are my own.
In Mr. Yay, Emily Jane asked: What if one day, half the population woke up with one memory of things, and the other half woke up remembering something else? And then she had lots of fun running with it. And as a reader, so did I.
Thanks to Emily Jane and Hyperion Avenue for the gifted book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Take a wild, multiversal journey into the absurd in Emily Jane's latest genre-bender, Mr. Yay. Budding musician Bratty's life takes a turn for the decidedly strange when a mysterious dog suddenly appears in his apartment, leading to a total upheaval of his life as he traverses across the country on a music-making adventure with his best friend as the rap superstar, Mr. Yay. Meanwhile, Bratty's therapist, Miriam, finds herself similarly thrust headfirst into the strange and unusual. For starters, there's the matter of her husband's suspicious behavior and their dog's sudden distrust of him. And then, there's her client, Bratty's, newfound fame as Mr. Yay—a name that dredges up long-lost memories of a children's television show featuring a pirate and his dog. Except nobody besides Miriam has any memory of Mr. Yay, the TV character. What ensues is a midnbending, multiversal exploration of forgotten memories, distrust, and staying true to oneself no matter the cost. If you've ever read one of Emily Jane's books, then you know exactly what to expect here—chaos, absurdity, and a healthy dose of warm, fuzzy feelings.
Mr. Yay is the latest entry in Jane's loosely-connected "Branches" series, and like those previous installments, it revels in all manner of over-the-top ideas and genre-blending delights. But while some of her previous books dived headfirst into their otherworldly, supernatural, and utterly strange ideas, Mr. Yay keeps its multiversal ambitions mostly in the background, choosing instead to focus on messier, human emotions. At the heart of Mr. Yay's chaos rests a story about a group of characters desperately trying to find their place in the world. You've got Bratty's longing to make a name for himself outside of his father's weighty expectations of him, and you've got Miriam's devotion to holding onto her failing marriage despite seemingly hopeless odds. At the intersection of those stories lies a weird, hopeful tale about perseverance and staying true to oneself no matter the odds, wrapped around an immensely silly and delightfully weird multiversal extravaganza. Put simply, there's nothing else like Mr. Yay, and it's all the better for it.
With Jane's gift for creating deeply unique and quirky characters who always manage to feel immensely real and relatable grounding things, Mr. Yay revels in its weirdness as much as it delights in showcasing all the messy, silly, utterly joyfoul ways we can deal with all the strangeness the world throws at us. It's a quick, breezy read that's perfect for anyone looking for something a bit more out of the box to read.
Note: A review copy of Mr. Yay was provided by the publisher.
Reviewed as part of Geek Vibes Nation's Summer 2026 book round-up.
Mr. Yay is the latest entry in Jane's loosely-connected "Branches" series, and like those previous installments, it revels in all manner of over-the-top ideas and genre-blending delights. But while some of her previous books dived headfirst into their otherworldly, supernatural, and utterly strange ideas, Mr. Yay keeps its multiversal ambitions mostly in the background, choosing instead to focus on messier, human emotions. At the heart of Mr. Yay's chaos rests a story about a group of characters desperately trying to find their place in the world. You've got Bratty's longing to make a name for himself outside of his father's weighty expectations of him, and you've got Miriam's devotion to holding onto her failing marriage despite seemingly hopeless odds. At the intersection of those stories lies a weird, hopeful tale about perseverance and staying true to oneself no matter the odds, wrapped around an immensely silly and delightfully weird multiversal extravaganza. Put simply, there's nothing else like Mr. Yay, and it's all the better for it.
With Jane's gift for creating deeply unique and quirky characters who always manage to feel immensely real and relatable grounding things, Mr. Yay revels in its weirdness as much as it delights in showcasing all the messy, silly, utterly joyfoul ways we can deal with all the strangeness the world throws at us. It's a quick, breezy read that's perfect for anyone looking for something a bit more out of the box to read.
Note: A review copy of Mr. Yay was provided by the publisher.
Reviewed as part of Geek Vibes Nation's Summer 2026 book round-up.
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 received from NetGalley
3 stars
This is one strange trip, which is exactly what I hope for and expect from this author. However, unlike my other reading experiences with Jane's work, this one was a bit bumpy.
Bradford, "Bratty," and Miriam are living very different lives but are connected through a therapist/client relationship, and you'll be glad of this. They BOTH badly need support, so at least one is getting it formally. Really strange things start to happen; some are immediately apparent, like the appearance of a dog that's apparently Bratty's, though Bratty doesn't know he has a dog, and others are increasingly strange, like Miriam's husband's utterly suspicious behavior. Both characters, Miriam more than Bratty, notice that things are changing but are also operating at different degrees of caring about why. As the novel unfolds, more and more oddities arise, including that some folks remember a character from their childhoods, Mr. Yay, as fundamental to their development, and others (in the same age group!) inexplicably have no clue who this character is. It's hard to know what's real and who is trustworthy as well as what is happening and why it matters.
In my previous experiences with this author, I've loved how strange the events become, but I also have come out of those experiences really enjoying the messaging, structure, and general world building. I did not strongly dislike this book, but I leaned more toward the dislike end of the spectrum. There's a lot of repetition by nature of the content and themes, and while all of the blurbing promises hilarity and some level of profundity here, I just...didn't totally find that.
I came in which such a strong opinion of this author and still feel that way, but this won't be the book I'm recommending for folks looking to get into Jane's writing. I'm looking forward to what Jane writes next because I know it will be fresh and unexpected (and that goes for this one, too).
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is one strange trip, which is exactly what I hope for and expect from this author. However, unlike my other reading experiences with Jane's work, this one was a bit bumpy.
Bradford, "Bratty," and Miriam are living very different lives but are connected through a therapist/client relationship, and you'll be glad of this. They BOTH badly need support, so at least one is getting it formally. Really strange things start to happen; some are immediately apparent, like the appearance of a dog that's apparently Bratty's, though Bratty doesn't know he has a dog, and others are increasingly strange, like Miriam's husband's utterly suspicious behavior. Both characters, Miriam more than Bratty, notice that things are changing but are also operating at different degrees of caring about why. As the novel unfolds, more and more oddities arise, including that some folks remember a character from their childhoods, Mr. Yay, as fundamental to their development, and others (in the same age group!) inexplicably have no clue who this character is. It's hard to know what's real and who is trustworthy as well as what is happening and why it matters.
In my previous experiences with this author, I've loved how strange the events become, but I also have come out of those experiences really enjoying the messaging, structure, and general world building. I did not strongly dislike this book, but I leaned more toward the dislike end of the spectrum. There's a lot of repetition by nature of the content and themes, and while all of the blurbing promises hilarity and some level of profundity here, I just...didn't totally find that.
I came in which such a strong opinion of this author and still feel that way, but this won't be the book I'm recommending for folks looking to get into Jane's writing. I'm looking forward to what Jane writes next because I know it will be fresh and unexpected (and that goes for this one, too).
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Read
May 24, 2026Somehow I'd never heard of the Mandela effect before reading Mr. Yay. I'll confess: I'm among those who believe there was once a cornucopia in the Fruit of the Loom logo.
Emily Jane's fourth novel arrives fully committed to its premise — a world where some people remember a beloved children's TV show called The Adventures of Mr. Yay, and some don't, and the gap between those two groups is quietly unraveling reality. It's a Mandela effect as plot engine, and on paper it's irresistible.
The novel runs two parallel threads. In one, Bradford Pierson — aka Fatty Bratty — walks out on his parents' expectations, heads to LA, and spends a manic week recording a rap album with his best friend. They call themselves Mr. Yay. In the other, Bradford's therapist Miriam watches her marriage and neighborhood destabilize as the people around her stop remembering things they should. The rap thread crackles. Bradford is good company — impulsive, funny, genuinely searching — and Jane handles the comedy of his ambitions with a light, sure touch. It's the best argument for the book.
The Miriam thread is where Mr. Yay runs into trouble. The central mystery — the missing show, the fractured collective memory — doesn't fully register until the 59-percent mark (by my Kindle's reckoning). Without that anchor, the accumulating strangeness in Miriam's world feels more atmospheric, less purposeful, and the novel's length begins to work against it. As a novella, it might have hit just right.
Jane is working in a mode that prizes warmth and comic texture over tight speculative architecture, and readers who come for the "wonderful weirdness" vibe will find plenty to enjoy. But readers who need the strange thing to be doing precise work will find themselves, as I did, occasionally skimming.
[Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]
Emily Jane's fourth novel arrives fully committed to its premise — a world where some people remember a beloved children's TV show called The Adventures of Mr. Yay, and some don't, and the gap between those two groups is quietly unraveling reality. It's a Mandela effect as plot engine, and on paper it's irresistible.
The novel runs two parallel threads. In one, Bradford Pierson — aka Fatty Bratty — walks out on his parents' expectations, heads to LA, and spends a manic week recording a rap album with his best friend. They call themselves Mr. Yay. In the other, Bradford's therapist Miriam watches her marriage and neighborhood destabilize as the people around her stop remembering things they should. The rap thread crackles. Bradford is good company — impulsive, funny, genuinely searching — and Jane handles the comedy of his ambitions with a light, sure touch. It's the best argument for the book.
The Miriam thread is where Mr. Yay runs into trouble. The central mystery — the missing show, the fractured collective memory — doesn't fully register until the 59-percent mark (by my Kindle's reckoning). Without that anchor, the accumulating strangeness in Miriam's world feels more atmospheric, less purposeful, and the novel's length begins to work against it. As a novella, it might have hit just right.
Jane is working in a mode that prizes warmth and comic texture over tight speculative architecture, and readers who come for the "wonderful weirdness" vibe will find plenty to enjoy. But readers who need the strange thing to be doing precise work will find themselves, as I did, occasionally skimming.
[Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]
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
I always have fun with Emily Jane's books!! This one wasn't my favorite as it took quite a while for the main plot to get going -- there was a lot of slow-building setup -- and I wasn't as invested in its characters as I was with American Werewolves or On Earth As it is On Television, but I did enjoy it!! it features her signature genre-blending far-reaching storylines that all connect in the end, quirky mischevious kids, loveable characters (and pets!), and a lighthearted tone. I was expecting the storyline to be split more evenly between Bratty and Miriam -- in fact it's more like 75% Miriam (if not more) and 25% Bratty. I didn't really have an Issue with this but I do feel like the marketing leans a lot more heavily on Bratty's storyline when really Miriam is the backbone of the book. I think it's really sweet that this was inspired by Jane's brother's brief stint as a rapper (and that she featured some of his lyrics in the book!) but something about the use of rap felt very surface-level like it wasn't engaging very deeply with rap culture or history...but I'm not really a rap fan so who am I to say anything about that? Overall not my fav Emily Jane but I love keeping up with all her releases! :) thanks to netgalley for the arc!
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 Author
“If it brings you joy, it’s never a waste of time.”
Massive thanks to the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Oh my god, I could not put this book down once I started. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I loved every second of this book.
The book opens with Bradford, or Bratty, who wakes up to. A random dog in his apartment. He always wanted a dog, but never had on and his apartment complex doesn’t allow dogs. Like a sign, he takes this as the moment to drop out of school and record a rap album with his best friend, and they call themselves Mr. Yay. Miriam, Bratty’s therapist, remembers a different Mr. Yay. This begins the unraveling of Miriam’s life as it feels like everyone around her starts to completely change.
Miriam is such a fabulous character. She feels crazy, and it’s easy to see why. It’s as if she’s the only one who remembers Mr. Yay as a children’s television show. Everyone around her suddenly starts to make wildly different lifestyle changes that feel out of character. She’s also concerned about her marriage that’s falling apart. Everything seems strange and like she’s fallen into this parallel universe. Her therapy conversations feel so grounding, and they’re so important to the overall story.
This book is funny and delightfully weird, but also incredibly poignant. It’s so beautifully written, and it feels like sometimes it shouldn’t work but it works perfectly. It explores mental health, marriage, love, nostalgia, and embracing your true self. Underneath a wild story is something that’s heartwarming and joyful. This book deserves so much more hype and I hope more people pick it up!
Massive thanks to the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Oh my god, I could not put this book down once I started. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I loved every second of this book.
The book opens with Bradford, or Bratty, who wakes up to. A random dog in his apartment. He always wanted a dog, but never had on and his apartment complex doesn’t allow dogs. Like a sign, he takes this as the moment to drop out of school and record a rap album with his best friend, and they call themselves Mr. Yay. Miriam, Bratty’s therapist, remembers a different Mr. Yay. This begins the unraveling of Miriam’s life as it feels like everyone around her starts to completely change.
Miriam is such a fabulous character. She feels crazy, and it’s easy to see why. It’s as if she’s the only one who remembers Mr. Yay as a children’s television show. Everyone around her suddenly starts to make wildly different lifestyle changes that feel out of character. She’s also concerned about her marriage that’s falling apart. Everything seems strange and like she’s fallen into this parallel universe. Her therapy conversations feel so grounding, and they’re so important to the overall story.
This book is funny and delightfully weird, but also incredibly poignant. It’s so beautifully written, and it feels like sometimes it shouldn’t work but it works perfectly. It explores mental health, marriage, love, nostalgia, and embracing your true self. Underneath a wild story is something that’s heartwarming and joyful. This book deserves so much more hype and I hope more people pick it up!
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
Silent like a starfish.
Is Mr. Yay:
1) A hot new rap group
2) A sugary breakfast cereal
3) An old TV show that some people remember, but can't find evidence of on the internet
4) All of the above
5) None of the above
Emily Jane is back with a strange and wonderful twist on John Updike's suburban dramas, mixed with conspiracy theories, time blips, mayhem, dogs, and true love.
You never know what to expect from this author - space aliens, sea monsters, wealthy werewolves - she's done it all, and she never fails to surprise and delight.
This is definitely the feel-good novel of the summer.
Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for sharing.
Is Mr. Yay:
1) A hot new rap group
2) A sugary breakfast cereal
3) An old TV show that some people remember, but can't find evidence of on the internet
4) All of the above
5) None of the above
Emily Jane is back with a strange and wonderful twist on John Updike's suburban dramas, mixed with conspiracy theories, time blips, mayhem, dogs, and true love.
You never know what to expect from this author - space aliens, sea monsters, wealthy werewolves - she's done it all, and she never fails to surprise and delight.
This is definitely the feel-good novel of the summer.
Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for sharing.
Review of advance copy
Brentford wakes up and finds a dog staring at him, which is odd because Brentford doesn’t own a dog. Miriam is Brentford’s therapist and is trying to juggle her professional life, her husband’s constant working, and the needs of her two small children. Miriam is starting to notice that her husband and her friends are acting in more peculiar ways and that some things are just seeming off. Most significantly is Mr. Yay, Brentford’s new rap group with his best friend Tommy, or a children’s show that aired for years, or is it both? And why doesn’t everyone remember Mr. Yay the TV show?
I genuinely enjoyed this novel and found it equal parts funny, heartfelt, and thought provoking. I also really enjoyed the writing style mixing in rap lyrics, therapy sessions, and traditional storytelling. And even though this book is described as science fiction, it is really really light in that aspect, in my opinion, and reads much more like literary fiction.
For me, the main takeaway from this book was that you can always make a different choice and that your initial decisions do not have to define you. For a book with a somewhat silly premise, it really did make me think. This is a book that I believe will stick with me for a while.
I genuinely enjoyed this novel and found it equal parts funny, heartfelt, and thought provoking. I also really enjoyed the writing style mixing in rap lyrics, therapy sessions, and traditional storytelling. And even though this book is described as science fiction, it is really really light in that aspect, in my opinion, and reads much more like literary fiction.
For me, the main takeaway from this book was that you can always make a different choice and that your initial decisions do not have to define you. For a book with a somewhat silly premise, it really did make me think. This is a book that I believe will stick with me for a while.
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.
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