Comfort & Joy

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah was originally published in 2005. When this book was released, Hannah had previously published 13 works. She is an American writer known for her exploration of relationships and emotional complexity. She lives in Washington State, where this novel takes place. Comfort & Joy follows Joy Candellaro, a high school librarian grappling with heartbreak after discovering her husband’s affair with her sister. Seeking an escape, Joy embarks on a journey that leads her to Rain Valley, a mysterious town where she meets a grieving father, Daniel, and his young son, Bobby, who are struggling to move forward after a devastating loss.

This guide uses the Kindle e-book version published by the Ballantine Books imprint from Random House Publishing Group in 2005. 

Content Warning: The novel includes graphic violence and injury and the physical and psychological effects on the people involved.

Plot Summary

Joy Candellaro is a high school librarian in Bakersfield, California. A year ago, she walked in on her husband, Thom, and sister, Stacey, sleeping together and lost the two most important people in her life. In the first chapter, Joy drives home from work to find Stacey waiting in her driveway.