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The Last Days of Joy
WHEN HER SECRET COMES TO THE SURFACE, CAN HER FAMILY SURVIVE IT?
The tender, immersive and beautifully observed international bestseller, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Liane Moriarty.
MEET THE TOBIN FAMILY...
Joy, the complicated, troubled mother
She's spent her life running from her past while trying to raise her children as best she can.
Conor, the high-achieving eldest child
A high-profile media figure and CEO, he's walking a fine line between self-promotion and self-detonation.
Frances, the 'perfect' middle child
Now a wife and mother, she's about to make a mistake that could destroy her marriage.
Youngest daughter, Sinead, the acclaimed writer
Wrestling with writer's block, she resorts to desperate measures to deliver her next bestselling book to her publishers.
When Joy's children receive the news that she has only days to live, they rush to her side, bringing with them all of the dysfunction and hurt they have been carrying since their childhoods. Each of them is at a crossroads in their lives - but there's one more secret about their mother they need to learn. Will they finally be able to forgive their mother and, in doing so, face their futures together?
A stunning novel about a family reeling in the wake of a devastating act. Sharply funny, intensely moving and with a cast of unforgettable characters, The Last Days of Joy will make you laugh out loud even as it moves you to tears.
The tender, immersive and beautifully observed international bestseller, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Liane Moriarty.
MEET THE TOBIN FAMILY...
Joy, the complicated, troubled mother
She's spent her life running from her past while trying to raise her children as best she can.
Conor, the high-achieving eldest child
A high-profile media figure and CEO, he's walking a fine line between self-promotion and self-detonation.
Frances, the 'perfect' middle child
Now a wife and mother, she's about to make a mistake that could destroy her marriage.
Youngest daughter, Sinead, the acclaimed writer
Wrestling with writer's block, she resorts to desperate measures to deliver her next bestselling book to her publishers.
When Joy's children receive the news that she has only days to live, they rush to her side, bringing with them all of the dysfunction and hurt they have been carrying since their childhoods. Each of them is at a crossroads in their lives - but there's one more secret about their mother they need to learn. Will they finally be able to forgive their mother and, in doing so, face their futures together?
A stunning novel about a family reeling in the wake of a devastating act. Sharply funny, intensely moving and with a cast of unforgettable characters, The Last Days of Joy will make you laugh out loud even as it moves you to tears.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2023
111 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Anne Tiernan
7 books2 followersDr Anne Tiernan is a leading Australian scholar in public policy. Her career spans higher education, federal and state government, consultancy and teaching. Now managing director of mission-led consultancy firm Constellation Impact Advisory, Anne consults regularly to organisations committed to purpose and positive impact. She has written extensively on the political–administrative interface, governmental transitions, policy capacity and executive advisory arrangements. Her publications include The Oxford Handbook of Australian Politics (co-edited with Professor Jenny Lewis, 2021), Lessons in Governing: A Profile of Prime Ministers’ Chiefs of Staff and The Gatekeepers: Lessons from Prime Ministers’ Chiefs of Staff (both with RAW Rhodes, Melbourne University Publishing, 2014), Learning to be a Minister: Heroic Expectations, Practical Realities (with Patrick Weller, Melbourne University Press, 2010) and Power Without Responsibility: Ministerial Staffers in Australian Governments from Whitlam to Howard (UNSW Press, 2007).
Dr Tiernan is a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). An Adjunct Professor with Griffith University, and previously a member of the university’s senior leadership team, Anne served as inaugural Dean (Engagement) of the Griffith Business School, where she led development of the Group’s internationally acknowledged Engagement Strategy and operating model.
Dr Tiernan is a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). An Adjunct Professor with Griffith University, and previously a member of the university’s senior leadership team, Anne served as inaugural Dean (Engagement) of the Griffith Business School, where she led development of the Group’s internationally acknowledged Engagement Strategy and operating model.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 6, 2023
Joy is a complex, deeply troubled woman with a host of regrets especially over motherhood and what appears to her grown up children as a lack of maternal instincts. There’s Frances, her loyal daughter but who is struggling in a variety of ways, her son is Conor a ‘celebrity’ charity boss whose current actions implode in his face and finally there’s the youngest, Sinead. She is an acclaimed writer but is suffering from a massive case of writers block amongst other things. When the three siblings learn that Joy has little time left to live they rush to her bedside bringing all manner of baggage with them. Although they are very different personalities each of them has decisions to make that will affect their futures. Will they be able to forgive their mother and move forward in whatever direction life takes them?
This is a beautifully written but quite tough novel to read but I really like the way the author tackles the situation facing Frances, Conor and Sinead. Each one tells their story warts and all and you are able to picture them and empathise with their problems. Most moving of all are Joy’s memories with her story being heartbreaking and so sad and you understand why she becomes what her children see, witness and feel. The dysfunction is wide, embracing several issues and you view trauma and tragedy. Parts of the story are emotionally told with the ending feeling spot on.
The standout character for me is Sinead although against expectation I grow to like them all. It isn’t all a tale of woe and I really do appreciate the odd snippets of well placed humour.
Overall, although this is not an easy read I’m so glad to have done so as Anne Tiernan is clearly a very talented writer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hachette Books, Ireland for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a beautifully written but quite tough novel to read but I really like the way the author tackles the situation facing Frances, Conor and Sinead. Each one tells their story warts and all and you are able to picture them and empathise with their problems. Most moving of all are Joy’s memories with her story being heartbreaking and so sad and you understand why she becomes what her children see, witness and feel. The dysfunction is wide, embracing several issues and you view trauma and tragedy. Parts of the story are emotionally told with the ending feeling spot on.
The standout character for me is Sinead although against expectation I grow to like them all. It isn’t all a tale of woe and I really do appreciate the odd snippets of well placed humour.
Overall, although this is not an easy read I’m so glad to have done so as Anne Tiernan is clearly a very talented writer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hachette Books, Ireland for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2023
NZ-based Irish author has written a gorgeous, engrossing family drama about three siblings, Conor, Frances and Sinéad, and their mother Joy, who has one last devastating secret to share before she dies.
The three siblings have their own trials and tribulations in life and are forever scarred by their tumultuous, dysfunctional upbringing. When their mother Joy makes a shock decision, the reverberations shakes the family to its core, in this novel that asks what does it mean to survive and to thrive in the aftermath of a tragedy?
I loved this one. It grabbed me from the very first chapter. The writing is authentic and honest, the characters are beautifully realised, and the plot kept me turning pages. 4/5⭐️
Many thanks to @hachetteireland for the advance copy. The Last Days of Joy was published on 30 March and is available now.
The three siblings have their own trials and tribulations in life and are forever scarred by their tumultuous, dysfunctional upbringing. When their mother Joy makes a shock decision, the reverberations shakes the family to its core, in this novel that asks what does it mean to survive and to thrive in the aftermath of a tragedy?
I loved this one. It grabbed me from the very first chapter. The writing is authentic and honest, the characters are beautifully realised, and the plot kept me turning pages. 4/5⭐️
Many thanks to @hachetteireland for the advance copy. The Last Days of Joy was published on 30 March and is available now.
April 28, 2023
NZ-based Irish author Anne Tiernan has written a gorgeous, engrossing family drama about three siblings, Conor, Frances and Sinéad, and their mother Joy, who has one last devastating secret to share before she dies.
The three siblings have their own trials and tribulations in life and are forever scarred by their tumultuous, dysfunctional upbringing. When their mother Joy makes a shock decision, the reverberations shakes the family to its core, in this novel that asks what does it mean to survive and to thrive in the aftermath of a tragedy?
I loved this one. It grabbed me from the very first chapter. The writing is authentic and honest, the characters are beautifully realised, and the plot kept me turning pages. 4/5⭐️
Many thanks to @hachetteireland for the advance copy. The Last Days of Joy was published on 30 March and is available now.
The three siblings have their own trials and tribulations in life and are forever scarred by their tumultuous, dysfunctional upbringing. When their mother Joy makes a shock decision, the reverberations shakes the family to its core, in this novel that asks what does it mean to survive and to thrive in the aftermath of a tragedy?
I loved this one. It grabbed me from the very first chapter. The writing is authentic and honest, the characters are beautifully realised, and the plot kept me turning pages. 4/5⭐️
Many thanks to @hachetteireland for the advance copy. The Last Days of Joy was published on 30 March and is available now.
September 30, 2025
Big thanks to Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Irish debut author Anne Tiernan leaves her mark on the contemporary fiction slash family saga book world with a delightful yet moving read.
The Last Days Of Joy tells the story of Joy who has moments to live and her dysfunctional children.
Joy’s offspring have arrived to spend the last days with their mother who is dying and has a secret that must be told.
Conor, the eldest and the most career minded or so he thinks.
Frances, the awkward middle child who is thinking about infidelity.
The youngest, Sinead has writers block and is about to do something bad to create the next big bestseller
They have come to spend the last days by their mother’s side.
But could their complex lives and the secret be their downfall….
Who doesn’t love a messy family with mystery…..
The plot was mighty and put a spotlight on finding your way in the world and how it all went dreadfully wrong.
Equal measures of lighthearted and somber with a big dose of funny.
I expect I will pick up Anne’s next book which has already been published.
Irish debut author Anne Tiernan leaves her mark on the contemporary fiction slash family saga book world with a delightful yet moving read.
The Last Days Of Joy tells the story of Joy who has moments to live and her dysfunctional children.
Joy’s offspring have arrived to spend the last days with their mother who is dying and has a secret that must be told.
Conor, the eldest and the most career minded or so he thinks.
Frances, the awkward middle child who is thinking about infidelity.
The youngest, Sinead has writers block and is about to do something bad to create the next big bestseller
They have come to spend the last days by their mother’s side.
But could their complex lives and the secret be their downfall….
Who doesn’t love a messy family with mystery…..
The plot was mighty and put a spotlight on finding your way in the world and how it all went dreadfully wrong.
Equal measures of lighthearted and somber with a big dose of funny.
I expect I will pick up Anne’s next book which has already been published.
May 14, 2025
A good but heartbreaking read by this author who was born in Zambia, grew up in Ireland but moved to NZ about 20 years ago. Three siblings come together after their mother's attempted suicide. They are all quite different and facing battles in their adult years after growing up in a very dysfunctional family beginning in Ireland then in NZ. They are all dealing with events that happened years ago and trying to come to terms with what triggered their mum's actions and eventually understanding her past. Looking forward to reading her next book.
Goodreads: Please correct the bio for this author. You have mixed her with an Australian woman
Goodreads: Please correct the bio for this author. You have mixed her with an Australian woman
April 25, 2023
I am always willing to enjoy a locally set book just for the thrill of recognising the places described, and this is also a great read. The Tobin family has made the best they can of their disfunctional upbringing, being uprooted from Ireland to NZ as their mother Joy seeks to escape from the past. All successful adults, the fissures crack open when they gather at Joy’s bedside after she has attempted a final solution for herself.
July 21, 2023
There are no words that would do this book justice. Irish to a fault, the writing was gut wrenching. Great character development within a haunting story about dysfunction. Def looking for other books by this author.
The description of the book on jacket and Amazon do not even match the book really. More literary fiction than anything. Highly recommend!
The description of the book on jacket and Amazon do not even match the book really. More literary fiction than anything. Highly recommend!
October 17, 2024
A great read, with interesting characters and beautifully played interconnections between them. Addresses the ‘one foot in each country’ angle really well, that feeling of not belonging in one place or another while at the same time having deep roots and memories.
July 26, 2023
Really easy read, I liked all of the characters including Joy and I like that it is inspired by real life
October 10, 2025
3.5* took me about a third to really get into it.
June 7, 2025
I absolutely loved this book despite being a bit on the depressing side. I felt all the emotions and simultaneously loved and hated each character.
April 10, 2023
A little bit of a family saga and how a very tragic event that they never spoke of impacted all of their lives. Set between Ireland and New Zealand - well worth a read
August 24, 2025
This book wasn’t just an enjoyable, interesting read, I found it was full of insights. A book that makes me reach for a pen to jot things down is my favourite thing.
I felt a real connection with the local references to New Zealand and Ireland.
‘It’s the diasporas lot: a foot in each place, forever of two homes and yet none.’
It’s the first time I’ve been given a name for how I feel.
All the references to motherhood also struck a chord with me and once again confirmed that some books come into your life just when you need them.
I felt a real connection with the local references to New Zealand and Ireland.
‘It’s the diasporas lot: a foot in each place, forever of two homes and yet none.’
It’s the first time I’ve been given a name for how I feel.
All the references to motherhood also struck a chord with me and once again confirmed that some books come into your life just when you need them.
October 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5) The Last Days of Joy by Anne Tiernan
Joy is trying to escape the past that has taken control of her life. When a tragedy occurs, her family all come together to be by Joy’s side. Conor, Frances and Sinead are going through troubles in their own lives, a lot brought on by their dysfunctional childhood.
As secrets are revealed they wonder if they can ever forgive their mother. A figure from the past appears with some information that may change their complete outlook on why events happened and who’s really to blame.
I liked this author's writing style and it was well-written for a debut. My heart broke for Joy at the pain she suffered and I wondered how life would have been for them all if truths had been revealed sooner. Would life have been easier?
This was a little too slow for me. The characters grew on me as the story developed and their true personalities were shown. I loved Sinead’s humour so much and her interactions with Conor.
Joy is trying to escape the past that has taken control of her life. When a tragedy occurs, her family all come together to be by Joy’s side. Conor, Frances and Sinead are going through troubles in their own lives, a lot brought on by their dysfunctional childhood.
As secrets are revealed they wonder if they can ever forgive their mother. A figure from the past appears with some information that may change their complete outlook on why events happened and who’s really to blame.
I liked this author's writing style and it was well-written for a debut. My heart broke for Joy at the pain she suffered and I wondered how life would have been for them all if truths had been revealed sooner. Would life have been easier?
This was a little too slow for me. The characters grew on me as the story developed and their true personalities were shown. I loved Sinead’s humour so much and her interactions with Conor.
January 29, 2024
Always nice to read a book set somewhere you know - in this case Tauranga. Good premise, characters and control of pace - an engaging read. I found the amount of dysfunction and self sabotage became oppressive after a while though.
March 28, 2023
The Last Days of Joy by Anne Tiernan publishes with Hachette Ireland March 30th and has been described by Kathleen Mac Mahon as ‘a brave and profoundly honest book, written with dark humour’.
The Tobin family consists of three children, their mother, and an absent father. Now grown adults, Conor, Frances and Sinead have all lived their lives under the shadow of their mother, Joy, who was a difficult presence to be in the company of. Growing up in New Zealand, after a drastic move from Ireland, all three dreaded returning from school as they never knew which version of Joy would be waiting for them. It was clear to them all that their mother was different from their friends’ mothers. Joy was an alcoholic and each day of their lives was dependent on how Joy would spend hers.
One day they receive a call that will change their lives forever. Joy is in hospital, hooked up to life support and her outlook is not a good one. Conor, Francis and Sinead gather at the hospital and over the course of a few weeks we are given insights into their lives and the respective paths they chose. During this time, snippets about Joy’s past begin to reveal themselves and the siblings must all face the truth in order to move on with their lives.
Conor, the eldest, is a very successful business man. He works in philanthropy but his life is veering a little off course. Conor is social media fodder, due to his very public profile and he unexpectedly finds himself in a very uncompromising situation that proves too much for him. Conor has always wanted recognition and he never really doubted his role working in charity at a very high level. He works hard and plays hard, viewing his platform as the right method to steer his business. As the older brother he grew up protective of his younger sisters but now, with Joy near death, it’s his turn to look for help in negotiating his way back to being the person he would like to be.
Frances is the middle child and has always felt the pressure to be perfect. She is married, has one daughter and is involved in all the ‘right’ social committees. Frances keeps herself tucked away inside a shell, a self-created barrier that prevents her from getting hurt. But, with Joy now very ill, the shell is starting to crack. Frances has always believed that she has been a good wife, a good mother and, of the three, she is the one who stayed near Joy as the years passed, keeping an eye out for their mother. But Frances is now beginning to feel constrained and confused. As she peels back the layers, she feels herself changing a little but this change is not necessarily the best for all involved, as the consequences of her actions become clear to her.
Sinead, the youngest child, is a free spirit. She left New Zealand and returned to Ireland, where the family’s story began. Sinead finds the Irish culture and weather more suitable to her personality, and it also provides the distance she craves from her mother and siblings. Sinead is a writer, with one successful book under her belt. But Sinead is suffering from writer’s block, struggling to put together any outline for her next book. Sinead lives a bohemian and single life in Dublin, mixing with literary types and teaching yoga classes to pay the bills. In reality Sinead is escaping herself and, this trip back home to New Zealand, might just provide the much-needed catalyst for change.
The Last Days of Joy is a searingly painful and heart-breaking tale of a dysfunctional family trying to figure out where and how it all went terribly wrong. Joy was a troubled individual who struggled to live. She placed little value on herself and this inability to love herself was reflected back at her children. Joy strived to put one foot in front of the other on a daily basis but there were times that it all just proved to be too much.
A remarkable debut, The Last Days of Joy is a tale that emanates with sadness yet at the same time is injected with an underlying humour, all expressed in the most graceful manner through the words of Anne Tiernan. The pages of this book are filled with sharply depicted characters in complicated relationships that ask you to invest your time with them…and you do, willingly. A very arresting novel, The Last Days of Joy, is a beautiful debut, full of authenticity and hope, one that will stay with any reader long after that final page is turned.
“I feel privileged to be able to share this story and while it owes its origins to my own personal experience, I hope that it will resonate with readers”
– Anne Tiernan
The Tobin family consists of three children, their mother, and an absent father. Now grown adults, Conor, Frances and Sinead have all lived their lives under the shadow of their mother, Joy, who was a difficult presence to be in the company of. Growing up in New Zealand, after a drastic move from Ireland, all three dreaded returning from school as they never knew which version of Joy would be waiting for them. It was clear to them all that their mother was different from their friends’ mothers. Joy was an alcoholic and each day of their lives was dependent on how Joy would spend hers.
One day they receive a call that will change their lives forever. Joy is in hospital, hooked up to life support and her outlook is not a good one. Conor, Francis and Sinead gather at the hospital and over the course of a few weeks we are given insights into their lives and the respective paths they chose. During this time, snippets about Joy’s past begin to reveal themselves and the siblings must all face the truth in order to move on with their lives.
Conor, the eldest, is a very successful business man. He works in philanthropy but his life is veering a little off course. Conor is social media fodder, due to his very public profile and he unexpectedly finds himself in a very uncompromising situation that proves too much for him. Conor has always wanted recognition and he never really doubted his role working in charity at a very high level. He works hard and plays hard, viewing his platform as the right method to steer his business. As the older brother he grew up protective of his younger sisters but now, with Joy near death, it’s his turn to look for help in negotiating his way back to being the person he would like to be.
Frances is the middle child and has always felt the pressure to be perfect. She is married, has one daughter and is involved in all the ‘right’ social committees. Frances keeps herself tucked away inside a shell, a self-created barrier that prevents her from getting hurt. But, with Joy now very ill, the shell is starting to crack. Frances has always believed that she has been a good wife, a good mother and, of the three, she is the one who stayed near Joy as the years passed, keeping an eye out for their mother. But Frances is now beginning to feel constrained and confused. As she peels back the layers, she feels herself changing a little but this change is not necessarily the best for all involved, as the consequences of her actions become clear to her.
Sinead, the youngest child, is a free spirit. She left New Zealand and returned to Ireland, where the family’s story began. Sinead finds the Irish culture and weather more suitable to her personality, and it also provides the distance she craves from her mother and siblings. Sinead is a writer, with one successful book under her belt. But Sinead is suffering from writer’s block, struggling to put together any outline for her next book. Sinead lives a bohemian and single life in Dublin, mixing with literary types and teaching yoga classes to pay the bills. In reality Sinead is escaping herself and, this trip back home to New Zealand, might just provide the much-needed catalyst for change.
The Last Days of Joy is a searingly painful and heart-breaking tale of a dysfunctional family trying to figure out where and how it all went terribly wrong. Joy was a troubled individual who struggled to live. She placed little value on herself and this inability to love herself was reflected back at her children. Joy strived to put one foot in front of the other on a daily basis but there were times that it all just proved to be too much.
A remarkable debut, The Last Days of Joy is a tale that emanates with sadness yet at the same time is injected with an underlying humour, all expressed in the most graceful manner through the words of Anne Tiernan. The pages of this book are filled with sharply depicted characters in complicated relationships that ask you to invest your time with them…and you do, willingly. A very arresting novel, The Last Days of Joy, is a beautiful debut, full of authenticity and hope, one that will stay with any reader long after that final page is turned.
“I feel privileged to be able to share this story and while it owes its origins to my own personal experience, I hope that it will resonate with readers”
– Anne Tiernan
March 6, 2023
*Contains spoilers*
I read the author’s note before I read the book, and I am really glad that I did, because it sets the scene for the opening pages of the novel and gives the reader an insight into where the inspiration came from. ‘Heart-breaking’ doesn’t even come close to describing it and obviously writing this book has been a cathartic process for her. She notes that she felt little about her own mother’s suicide, sad, in a removed kind of way. She explains that her mother had struggled with motherhood and alcohol, and these were obviously things that her main character in the book struggled with too.
When we meet Joy, she is planning her suicide, checking a note left on the door for her daughter who she doesn’t want seeing the mess. She feels that she has only been ‘between lives forever’ and hopes her children will understand. It’s not a letter that overflows with love, but a simple. practical instruction to spare her daughter that one distress.
As the novel plays out, we meet Joy’s three children: Frances, Conor, then Sinead. Adults, with their own lives and complex issues, they are forced to deal with the shock and their grief in very different ways. Their characters develop during the book and we learn that they are such deeply flawed individuals and see how their various issues play out. Frances, thrown off course by the return of an ex-boyfriend, Conor, exposed in the media for some unwise choices, Sinead, battling low self-esteem and a negative body image.
Joy remains present through the novel, barely alive and unresponsive, suspended in a dreamlike state, telling her story through a stream of consciousness. Joy’s past is presented in snapshots, the love for her father, the flawed relationship with her own mother, the abuse by a stepfather, the abandonment of a husband and a terrible accident which forces her to flee Ireland with her children.
The author writes with incredible sensitivity and, whilst this book is hard to read because of the subject matter, it is so very brilliantly written. It’s one that will stay with me for a long time.
It’s early days yet (March) but this is my favourite novel of 2023.
I read the author’s note before I read the book, and I am really glad that I did, because it sets the scene for the opening pages of the novel and gives the reader an insight into where the inspiration came from. ‘Heart-breaking’ doesn’t even come close to describing it and obviously writing this book has been a cathartic process for her. She notes that she felt little about her own mother’s suicide, sad, in a removed kind of way. She explains that her mother had struggled with motherhood and alcohol, and these were obviously things that her main character in the book struggled with too.
When we meet Joy, she is planning her suicide, checking a note left on the door for her daughter who she doesn’t want seeing the mess. She feels that she has only been ‘between lives forever’ and hopes her children will understand. It’s not a letter that overflows with love, but a simple. practical instruction to spare her daughter that one distress.
As the novel plays out, we meet Joy’s three children: Frances, Conor, then Sinead. Adults, with their own lives and complex issues, they are forced to deal with the shock and their grief in very different ways. Their characters develop during the book and we learn that they are such deeply flawed individuals and see how their various issues play out. Frances, thrown off course by the return of an ex-boyfriend, Conor, exposed in the media for some unwise choices, Sinead, battling low self-esteem and a negative body image.
Joy remains present through the novel, barely alive and unresponsive, suspended in a dreamlike state, telling her story through a stream of consciousness. Joy’s past is presented in snapshots, the love for her father, the flawed relationship with her own mother, the abuse by a stepfather, the abandonment of a husband and a terrible accident which forces her to flee Ireland with her children.
The author writes with incredible sensitivity and, whilst this book is hard to read because of the subject matter, it is so very brilliantly written. It’s one that will stay with me for a long time.
It’s early days yet (March) but this is my favourite novel of 2023.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
*Review Copy
'The Last Days of Joy' is a phenomenal debut novel from Anne Tiernan, an Irish woman who lives in New Zealand with her family.
The titular Joy is also an ex-pat, moving to New Zealand with her three young children after a tragedy many years ago.
Joy's eldest daughter Frances doesn't have a great relationship with her mother, and she's also struggling to connect with her own teenage daughter and keep her marriage intact after reconnecting with an old flame.
Joy's son Conor is a successful, wealthy businessman and philanthropist, but will his new relationship with a much younger employee put his career at risk?
Joy's youngest daughter Sinéad has moved back to Dublin and is struggling with addiction and writer's block after having had enormous unexpected success with a tell-all book about her childhood.
The three siblings are called to Joy's bedside in NZ when she takes steps to end her life - so if suicide or suicidal ideation could be upsetting to you, I would approach this one with caution.
I found the book incredibly gripping, I think I read it in two short sittings - as someone who has not always had a great relationship with a parent, parts of it really hit home. The line "It seems as though she spent much of her childhood on edge, watchful, looking for clues" really got to me because I could identify with it so much.
In a way I found the book incredibly cathartic - there comes a point with strained parental relationships where you can either let it completely dictate your life or you can acknowledge it and move on - and I think it was written beautifully.
I'm not sure I always understood the chapters from Joy's perspective, they were more stream-of-consciousness style, but I appreciated their inclusion.
It's an accomplished debut, and one of the author's notes with reference to her own late mother at the end made me cry.
Thank you to @hachetteireland for sending me a copy, on a personal note I can sometimes struggle with books about difficult mothers and I think this was a really healing read for me.
Shoutout to the fellow parents breaking cycles ❤️x
'The Last Days of Joy' is a phenomenal debut novel from Anne Tiernan, an Irish woman who lives in New Zealand with her family.
The titular Joy is also an ex-pat, moving to New Zealand with her three young children after a tragedy many years ago.
Joy's eldest daughter Frances doesn't have a great relationship with her mother, and she's also struggling to connect with her own teenage daughter and keep her marriage intact after reconnecting with an old flame.
Joy's son Conor is a successful, wealthy businessman and philanthropist, but will his new relationship with a much younger employee put his career at risk?
Joy's youngest daughter Sinéad has moved back to Dublin and is struggling with addiction and writer's block after having had enormous unexpected success with a tell-all book about her childhood.
The three siblings are called to Joy's bedside in NZ when she takes steps to end her life - so if suicide or suicidal ideation could be upsetting to you, I would approach this one with caution.
I found the book incredibly gripping, I think I read it in two short sittings - as someone who has not always had a great relationship with a parent, parts of it really hit home. The line "It seems as though she spent much of her childhood on edge, watchful, looking for clues" really got to me because I could identify with it so much.
In a way I found the book incredibly cathartic - there comes a point with strained parental relationships where you can either let it completely dictate your life or you can acknowledge it and move on - and I think it was written beautifully.
I'm not sure I always understood the chapters from Joy's perspective, they were more stream-of-consciousness style, but I appreciated their inclusion.
It's an accomplished debut, and one of the author's notes with reference to her own late mother at the end made me cry.
Thank you to @hachetteireland for sending me a copy, on a personal note I can sometimes struggle with books about difficult mothers and I think this was a really healing read for me.
Shoutout to the fellow parents breaking cycles ❤️x
April 20, 2023
When Joy's children receive the news that she has only days to live, they rush to her side, bringing with them all of the dysfunction and hurt they have been carrying since their childhoods. Each of them is at a crossroads in their lives - but there's one more secret about their mother they need to learn. Will they finally be able to forgive their mother and, in doing so, face their futures together?
Oh. My. God. The opening of this story was phenomenal. I was hooked from that first chapter, well done Anne Tiernan!
We are given a dysfunctional family. Three siblings, a mother who has struggled to be the mother they needed, while also battling substance abuse, all coming together as they realise that Joy is about to die. Joy is complicated. She has complex web of troubled regrets that her children have never quite known about or understood.
It's not an easy read. Sinead, Connor and Frances all struggle with their own issues, some of which are a result of the lack of motherly instinct their mother had. However, you see them each grow and learn to deal with their own issues in a beautiful way.
Go in knowing some of the complex issues this novel explores - suicide and alcohol abuse among them - but it's a phenomenal read nonetheless.
Oh. My. God. The opening of this story was phenomenal. I was hooked from that first chapter, well done Anne Tiernan!
We are given a dysfunctional family. Three siblings, a mother who has struggled to be the mother they needed, while also battling substance abuse, all coming together as they realise that Joy is about to die. Joy is complicated. She has complex web of troubled regrets that her children have never quite known about or understood.
It's not an easy read. Sinead, Connor and Frances all struggle with their own issues, some of which are a result of the lack of motherly instinct their mother had. However, you see them each grow and learn to deal with their own issues in a beautiful way.
Go in knowing some of the complex issues this novel explores - suicide and alcohol abuse among them - but it's a phenomenal read nonetheless.
March 16, 2023
To the Māori of New Zealand, the silver fern represents new life and new beginnings. This is exactly what Joy longed for when she escaped Ireland - for herself and her three children.
A deeply troubled mother, she has spent her life running from the past. Frances, her ‘perfect’ daughter, is about to make a mistake that could destroy her own marriage. Conor, the eldest and high-profile charity CEO, is walking a fine line. Sinead, the baby and acclaimed writer, is struggling with her next career move.
When Joy’s children learn that there has been an “incident”, they (and their problems) rush to her bedside in Tauranga. In doing so, they unearth the hurt and dysfunction that has plagued them since their childhood in Ireland.
A beautifully written story of trauma and tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Ireland and Anne Tiernan for access to this e-ARC. “The Last Days of Joy” will be published on March 30th.
A deeply troubled mother, she has spent her life running from the past. Frances, her ‘perfect’ daughter, is about to make a mistake that could destroy her own marriage. Conor, the eldest and high-profile charity CEO, is walking a fine line. Sinead, the baby and acclaimed writer, is struggling with her next career move.
When Joy’s children learn that there has been an “incident”, they (and their problems) rush to her bedside in Tauranga. In doing so, they unearth the hurt and dysfunction that has plagued them since their childhood in Ireland.
A beautifully written story of trauma and tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Ireland and Anne Tiernan for access to this e-ARC. “The Last Days of Joy” will be published on March 30th.
April 11, 2023
THE LAST DAYS OF JOY - ANNE TIERNAN:MY REVIEW 🗞
Told from the perspective of Joy Tobin to start,we hear how she intends to end her own life. Then,the subsequent calls to her family from the neighbour who finds her. Joy wasn't successful in her attempt,so the 3 grown children assemble by her comatose bedside.
It's a sad story. We hear how Joy's life wasn't easy growing up and therefore wasn't the mother she'd hoped to be herself. Her 3 children Frances,Conor and Sinead all have their own busy,and somewhat dramatic lives going on..but take it in turns despite the past, to sit with Joy.
Detailed descriptions of ICU goings on,and end of life care, made this a hard pill to swallow and I was stood bawling in parts at the parallels to my own life lately..just a mention for anyone going through similar. 💜 Despite the floods,it was well written and Annes definitely one to watch.
BOOKWORMS RATING: 📒 📒 📒 📒
Told from the perspective of Joy Tobin to start,we hear how she intends to end her own life. Then,the subsequent calls to her family from the neighbour who finds her. Joy wasn't successful in her attempt,so the 3 grown children assemble by her comatose bedside.
It's a sad story. We hear how Joy's life wasn't easy growing up and therefore wasn't the mother she'd hoped to be herself. Her 3 children Frances,Conor and Sinead all have their own busy,and somewhat dramatic lives going on..but take it in turns despite the past, to sit with Joy.
Detailed descriptions of ICU goings on,and end of life care, made this a hard pill to swallow and I was stood bawling in parts at the parallels to my own life lately..just a mention for anyone going through similar. 💜 Despite the floods,it was well written and Annes definitely one to watch.
BOOKWORMS RATING: 📒 📒 📒 📒
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2023
I was given this book as a reprieve from my "usual doom and gloom of crime novels"... which is rather ironic as it's full of tragedy and trauma!
It promised "laugh out loud" hilarity, so perhaps I missed something because I don't recall laughing out loud! However... it was a great book, detailing four very complex characters and portraying some very traumatic events. I started off despising Joy, but felt a lot of empathy for her by the end of the book and I'm pleased that her children were able to work through their trauma and find peace with her too.
It's a very well written book, taking you on a journey through this family's history and into each of their characters.
I would recommend it, but would not recommend it as light-hearted and funny (which is how it was given to me!!).
It promised "laugh out loud" hilarity, so perhaps I missed something because I don't recall laughing out loud! However... it was a great book, detailing four very complex characters and portraying some very traumatic events. I started off despising Joy, but felt a lot of empathy for her by the end of the book and I'm pleased that her children were able to work through their trauma and find peace with her too.
It's a very well written book, taking you on a journey through this family's history and into each of their characters.
I would recommend it, but would not recommend it as light-hearted and funny (which is how it was given to me!!).
March 17, 2023
Rating: 4.5
Wow!!!! I basically couldn't put this book down. Started it last night and I just finished it. Spent the entire day glued to it. It reads similar to Liane Moriarty's books but with better writing (in my humble opinion).
The last days of Joy is a book about a dysfunctional family that is forced to reunite after the mum (Joy) tried to end her life. It's a confronting story, covering heavy topics like child abuse and suicide but they are handled very well. We read from four different perspectives: each of the siblings: Connor, Sinead and Frances, but also from their mum, Joy.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did and I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you Hachette Australia for my copy!
Wow!!!! I basically couldn't put this book down. Started it last night and I just finished it. Spent the entire day glued to it. It reads similar to Liane Moriarty's books but with better writing (in my humble opinion).
The last days of Joy is a book about a dysfunctional family that is forced to reunite after the mum (Joy) tried to end her life. It's a confronting story, covering heavy topics like child abuse and suicide but they are handled very well. We read from four different perspectives: each of the siblings: Connor, Sinead and Frances, but also from their mum, Joy.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did and I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you Hachette Australia for my copy!
September 26, 2024
Absolutely sensational! I love this flavour of book. Families with issues/complicated lives/troubled pasts/personal traumas, - oh yes, the Brady Bunch they are not! And yet...deep-seated it may be, but there is a real need to resolve their issues and get to the core of the many tragic circumstances that have left them, all in a different way, troubled and angst-ridden for decades. I was so invested in this family, inwardly hoping against hope, they could get through so much pain. The story is beautifully told, and the author can play your heartstrings as good as the lead violinist in the London Philharmonic! I devoured it!
August 12, 2023
The style of Anne Tiernan’s writing is appealing to readers whether casual or insatiable. The story is moving, funny, tragic, curious and often unexpected. The three children of Joy come together to unite as a result of Joys health. The backdrop of the family’s past peppers the story as each family member, including Joy, comes to terms with their family history that is informing their family dynamic in the present. It’s a heartwarming story that will leave you feeling thankful that you decided to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
One of the best novels I've ever read. I'm a big fan of novels that alter between different perspectives. It was a very well-written novel that took you on a journey of grief, attempts at healing family trauma, and the yearning for reconciliation in all its forms. The characters developed over time in a believable way - reflecting the complexities of grief and decision making. I found it interesting how Joy was not physically alive for any of the story yet her presence were still so profound throughout. Congratulations, Anne, you are a very gifted writer.
June 23, 2023
The story of Joy and her 3 children, spanning early years in Ireland and a move to NZ following a terrible accident. Joy is sad, unstable, alcoholic. Her children are all battling their own demons too: Frances with her perfect PTA life, her brother Conor who lives the high life on the back of his successful charity and Sinead who wrote one great novel ten years ago and has struggled to cone up with anything else since.
July 17, 2023
I had high hopes for this book, but if the four interconnecting stories the only one that compelled me was Joys. Joy had a hard time for it all and in the end was innocent. Brendan should have been there sooner. Frances, Conor, and Sinead are all so self absorbed, yes they had a difficult childhood, but in everything I was just like eh cmon like. But Joy, her story broke my heart.
Not a bad read by any means, but I wouldn’t read again.
Not a bad read by any means, but I wouldn’t read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
Whilst I acknowledge that Joy's thoughts / dreams / subconscious is going to be rather depressing the pages and pages about her self-centred, ungrateful children made for bleak reading - a horrible bunch of people with no sense of family. I read almost a third of this book before giving up.
Whilst I acknowledge that Joy's thoughts / dreams / subconscious is going to be rather depressing the pages and pages about her self-centred, ungrateful children made for bleak reading - a horrible bunch of people with no sense of family. I read almost a third of this book before giving up.
January 20, 2024
I enjoyed this read that moves between Ireland and New Zealand as an Irish family that have emigrated are brought together after an accident. The story unfolds at a good pace and the characters are well written. Insightful reflections on family relationships and motherhood with an Irish sense of humour evident.
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