JoylandJoyland
Score Modern
What it's about
Summer 1973, North Carolina: college student Devin Jones takes a job at a small amusement park called Joyland, doing maintenance, wearing the mascot costume and entertaining children. There he learns about a gruesome murder that took place in the park's Haunted House and was never solved.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 32 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a nostalgic, bittersweet coming-of-age mystery from Stephen King.
You'll love it if you liked
11/22/63
Different Seasons
Ordinary GraceGood to know
It's short for King and more mystery than horror.
By the numbers
- Readers39 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #262 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #891 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1649 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
More by Stephen King
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
The Stand11/22/63
ItIf you like this, read next
The Bottoms
The Thirteenth Tale
The Butcher Boy
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Long Way Down
House of LeavesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Joyland worth reading?
Yes. It spent 32 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,649 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Joyland about?
Summer 1973, North Carolina: college student Devin Jones takes a job at a small amusement park called Joyland, doing maintenance, wearing the mascot costume and entertaining children. There he learns about a gruesome murder that took place in the park's Haunted House and was never solved.
How long does it take to read Joyland?
About 8 hours (309 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Joyland?
If you liked it, try 11/22/63 by Stephen King, Different Seasons by Stephen King or Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.