Joyland
A STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM ONE OF THE BEST-SELLING AUTHORS OF ALL TIME!
The #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.
"I love crime, I love mysteries, and I love ghosts. That combo made Hard Case Crime the perfect venue for this book, which is one of my favorites. I also loved the paperbacks I grew up with as a kid, and for that reason, we’re going to hold off on e-publishing this one for the time being. Joyland will be coming out in paperback, and folks who want to read it will have to buy the actual book." –Stephen King
- Pages
- 283
- First published
- June 4, 2013
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
More editions
▾
Pick a cover to preview.
Shelved by 3 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished July 11, 2026
Joyland follows Devin Jones, a college student who takes a summer job at a North Carolina amusement park in the early 1970s. During what becomes a life-changing summer, he navigates heartbreak, forms unexpected friendships, and learns about the unsolved murder of a young woman whose ghost is rumored to still haunt the park’s haunted house. As Devin searches for answers, the story becomes just as much about growing up, grief, healing, and finding yourself as it is about solving a mystery. King has such a gift for bringing places to life, and Joyland is no exception. The park feels like a real place full of history, charm, and nostalgia, and the characters are equally unforgettable. They all have their own little quirks, memorable sayings, and personalities that make them feel like people you’ve actually met. Joyland itself becomes a character of its own, making it feel like a place you could actually visit. It’s one of those stories that feels completely one of a kind. While the murder mystery and coming-of-age story were my favorite parts, my only real complaint is that I was hoping for a little more of the supernatural throughout the novel. The ghostly elements are there, but they’re much more subtle than I expected and don’t really take center stage until the end. I went in wanting a bit more of that eerie atmosphere woven throughout the story. Even so, this is another reminder that some of King’s best work isn’t about the scares—it’s about the people. Joyland is heartfelt, nostalgic, bittersweet, and quietly emotional, making it a story that sticks with you long after the mystery has been solved. [Find my reviews on Bookstagram🫶🏻](https://www.instagram.com/literarily_laurynn?igsh=aTh6eTZ6dGwxMXpy&utm_source=qr)