Vince and Joy

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Vince and Joy is the fifth book written by Lisa Jewell and published in 2005. Like, her previous books, it focuses on the trials and tribulations of relationships.

[edit] Synopsis

The story begins with Vince in a kitchen with his friends when the topic swerves to how they all lost their virginity. Vince begins telling the story of him and Joy.

In July 1986, Vince and Joy meet at a holiday camp and begin a relationship. They are both just in their late teens. One night, Joy and her family suddenly vanish, leaving only a note on the step of Vince's caravan. Due to the rain, all he can make out on the paper is, "I feel so ashamed." Vince is angry and upset that she has gone without leaving any way for him to get in contact with her.

The story picks up again in 1993 where Joy is meeting a blind date, George Pole. They eventually move in together, not too far from where Vince is now living. Vince catches sight of Joy in Oxford Street while on the bus one day but does not get to meet her again. At the end of this section, Vince also sees Joy going into a church ready to get married. Again, he does not talk to her.

In 1999, things have moved on again and Vince is now with long-term girlfriend Jess who he later discovers is having an affair with a friend of hers. Joy is trapped in a loveless marriage where her husband, George, dominates her and does not allow her to have a life of her own. She eventually breaks free and she and Vince meet again in 2001, when they share coffee and talk about what has happened to them between the two meetings.

The story wraps up in 2001 where Vince finishes telling his friends the story. His friends advise him to hunt down this Joy again, as they believe that destiny wants the two of them to be together. The happy ending occurs in October 2003 when, after running into an old friend of Joy's, Vince is encouraged once more to find her and given an address. The story ends before they meet again.