On a rare gloriously sunny day in Seattle, six women gather to celebrate their friends Kate's recovery from cancer. Wineglass in hand, Kate strikes a bargain with them: to celebrate her new lease on life, she'll do the one thing that's always terrified her --- white-water rafting. But if she goes, each of them will also do one thing they always swore they'd never do --- and Kate is going to choose their adventure, from getting a tattoo to learning to bake bread to reconciling with a former friend.

Shimmering with warmth, wit, and insight, Joy for Beginners is a celebration of life; unexpected, lyrical, and deeply satisfying.