Joy for Beginners
A Novel
Indie Next Pick — Library Journal Top Ten Women’s Fiction
“You can be broken, or you can be broken open. The choice is yours…”
A group of seven women gather for an outdoor candlelit dinner in Seattle to celebrate their friend Kate’s recovery from cancer. Wineglass in hand, Kate makes a pact with them: to start her new lease on life, she’ll overcome her fears and go white-water rafting down the Grand Canyon. But if she goes, each of them must also do one thing in the next year that is new or difficult or scary—and Kate gets to choose their challenges.
Praise
“Sensual…evocative…A book designed to both fill you up and make you hungry for life.”
— Publisher’s Weekly
“This is realistic fiction set in our world—and yet there is something subtly magical (and wholly wonderful) about it. Joy for Beginners is a true delight.”
— Bookreporter
“Bauermeister has created a cast of textured and nuanced characters who individually and as a group speak to what makes women interesting and enigmatic. Her prose is velvety smooth, revealing life at once mournful and auspicious. Joyful, indeed.”
— Library Journal, starred review
“Moving, touching, wonderfully written; inspiring to read.”
— Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
“A literary confirmation of the power of friendship.”
— Carol Cassella, author of Oxygen
“A warm and elegant portrayal of what makes women, well, women: strength, succor, healing, forgiveness, and ultimately, connection.”
— Jennie Shortridge, author of When She Flew
“This book is a joy to read.”
— Stephanie Kallos, author of Broken for You
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