Joy Hunter

Messy Faceplants, Radical Love, and the Journey That Changed Everything

By: Alexis Jones

Narrated by: Alexis Jones

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A timely, colorful, and cinematic memoir chronicling one woman’s journey to rediscover her own power, resilience, and happiness

“Joy Hunter gives us all permission to be human and invites us to radically love ourselves for exactly who we are.”—KRISTEN BELL

I took a bone-deep breath as we drove away from my state, my city, my street, and my house, escaping my life and leaving behind all my broken parts.

With a successful speaking career putting her on the road 250 days a year, a slew of prestigious awards for her activism, the hugely successful book I Am That Girl, and a happy marriage, Alexis Jones was living a seemingly charmed life. But the principles of self-care, setting boundaries, and eschewing perfectionism that she espoused in her talks didn’t seem to translate into her own life; she still never seemed to feel “enough” inside. Then, in a matter of months, things started to fall apart on the outside, too: She discovered that the man she’d always called dad was not her biological father, she had a devastating miscarriage, and the pandemic sidelined her travel schedule—and paycheck. A self-described “productivity junkie,” she was forced to slow down for the first time in her life.

Hoping that time away would be a good distraction from all the chaos and heartbreak, Alexis rented an RV and set out for the open road to explore the rugged American west with her husband and their best friend. For her, the trip was both healing and disruptive. In the presence of nature’s majesty, she re-learned the art of sitting still and surrendering to the unknowable; along treacherous hiking trails she wrestled with her self-doubt and fear of failure; and through profound conversations with friends old and new, she reconnected to the power of sisterhood and began to rebelliously reconsider her priorities and ambitions—for herself and whatever shape her family might take going forward.

A soulful memoir of seeking and finding, Joy Hunter traces Alexis’s quest to reclaim her voice and find wholeness within. Along the way she discovers that there is always purpose to our pain and that happiness is not something that can simply be checked off a list. Joy, it turns out, is not a destination; it’s a way of life.

©2023 Alexis Jones (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Motivational speaker and former 'Survivor' contestant Alexis Jones shares stories of her life that come straight from her heart.... Her experience as a seasoned speaker allows her to maintain a good pace as she effectively narrates her own story." (AudioFile)

“Alexis Jones is wicked smart and totally captivating in every sense of the word. Joy Hunter may be her greatest feat yet. It's a story that is graced with her grit, grace, love, and the deep wisdom that she found on the other side of crushing heartbreak. This inspiring book reminds us all that even in the face of our hardest, darkest moments, joy still exists.”—Marie Forleo, New York Times bestselling author of Everything is Figureoutable

“A decade and a half of friendship later and Alexis Jones continues to inspire me with her humor and brave vulnerability in talking about the things we’re told to bury. Joy Hunter gives us all permission to be human and invites us to radically love ourselves for exactly who we are.”—Kristen Bell

Incredible and Inspiring!

What an incredible book! I love her story, her vulnerability, and her courage to take risks! 10/10 on this book as well as her other book “I am that girl”.

Joy!

Alexis is a great storyteller. I hope many young women will read and find the courage to follow their divine callings. I love a memoir read by the author.

Interesting and Inspiring

Well paced story keeps your attention from start to finish, and leaves you feeling ready to head out on your own joy hunting adventure.

Loved it!!

Very uplifting. Currently going through a rough time and listening to this really reminded me that I’m not the only one struggling, that it will get better.

Meh.

I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I were in a different place in life. I got this book because Ed Myletts recommendations are usually top notch. Joy Hunter left me hangin’.

Performative narration

I was really excited about this book…while the story itself is well written, I was unable to get past the narration. Her style of narration felt performative and disingenuous. I stopped listening about halfway through.

It’s her journey - don’t look for much else here

Alex tells the story of her journey. It’s entertaining and easy to listen to but doesn’t leave a great deal to work with personally - so don’t expect much.