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 Liane Moriarty, Marian Keyes, and Carley Fortune.

"Oh. My. God. The opening of this story was phenomenal. I was hooked from that first chapter, well done Anne Tiernan!" 5 star Goodreads review

"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" Goodreads review

"It is so very brilliantly written. It's one that will stay with me for a long time" 5 star Goodreads review

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 complex family dynamics, the intricacies of motherhood, marriage, and infidelity, and the lingering power of past trauma, which echoes down generations.

'Deeply moving and full of hope, this book broke my heart a little' Jacqueline Bublitz

'The Last Days of Joy examines family, mental health and motherhood and is already being described as a worthy successor of Meg Mason's Sorrow And Bliss' Irish Independent

'The Last Days of Joy is a page turner, portraying the madness and messiness of family life. This novel is full of humanity, its cast of characters all at the centre of tragedy, but coupled with Tiernan's deliciously dark humour and sharp observations on modern life--it works brilliantly. I loved it!' Elaine Feeney

'Moving, funny, sharp, and beautifully written, The Last Days of Joy is an absolutely stunning debut. I laughed and cried my way through and can't wait to read the next Anne Tiernan' Andrea Mara

'A bittersweet tale of family betrayal and healing that will keep you engrossed to the last word' Irish Mail on Sunday

'This is Tiernan's first novel, but you wouldn't know it from the skilled storytelling, and the real wisdom that lies alongside a vein of dark humour' Sunday Independent

'The Last Days of Joy is a debut of fluent prose, discerning insights and colourful characterisation. Each of the siblings is distinctly drawn; Tiernan has a nose for engrossing scenarios that will keep readers turning the pages' Irish Times