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When Joni Died
When she was a child, Joni Arable was told that God didn’t want her wearing yellow sandals, or writing scary stories, or questioning authority figures. She was also told her parents shunned her Aunt Dottie for being a “liberal atheist.” Joni never bought that vague excuse, but the message was question the faith, you’ll be disowned. Now, twenty-four and desperate to live her life fearlessly and without permission from anyone else, Joni is going to do something drastic. Against her mother’s warnings, she’s going to take a trip out west with her estranged Aunt Dottie. She’s decided she’s going to write scary stories again. She’s going to wear whatever she feels like. And she’s going to find out the real reason why her parents disowned her aunt.
273 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
May 1, 2026
When Joni Died by Steven Bailey was a truly interesting and emotionally engaging read. The story itself was just beautiful—there’s a quiet depth to the way it unfolds that really pulls you in and keeps you thinking long after you’ve put it down. Bailey does a great job capturing the complexity of relationships, grief, and faith in a way that feels genuine and heartfelt.
One of the things that stood out to me most was how relatable the emotional experiences were, especially when it comes to the dynamics within a church community. Even though I don’t personally belong to a church like the one portrayed in the book, I still found myself connecting with many of the feelings and perspectives of the characters. That says a lot about how well those emotions were written.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that I found myself wanting a bit more at the end—particularly regarding the church and any consequences or resolution tied to it. It felt like there was more to explore there, and I would have loved a deeper sense of closure.
Overall, this was a moving and thoughtful read that I’m really glad I found it in a little free library.
Favorite Quotes:
— We wanted you to grow with the seeds of the spirit, not the weeds of the enemy.
—One’s ability to drive a car has nothing to do with their decision to bang strangers.
— The church wants to build walls and perfect everyone who doesn’t meet their standards of biblical interpretation, but they really need to be building a mirror.
One of the things that stood out to me most was how relatable the emotional experiences were, especially when it comes to the dynamics within a church community. Even though I don’t personally belong to a church like the one portrayed in the book, I still found myself connecting with many of the feelings and perspectives of the characters. That says a lot about how well those emotions were written.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that I found myself wanting a bit more at the end—particularly regarding the church and any consequences or resolution tied to it. It felt like there was more to explore there, and I would have loved a deeper sense of closure.
Overall, this was a moving and thoughtful read that I’m really glad I found it in a little free library.
Favorite Quotes:
— We wanted you to grow with the seeds of the spirit, not the weeds of the enemy.
—One’s ability to drive a car has nothing to do with their decision to bang strangers.
— The church wants to build walls and perfect everyone who doesn’t meet their standards of biblical interpretation, but they really need to be building a mirror.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review