The novel opens in 1973 when Devin Jones, a student at the University of New Hampshire, makes

his first visit to a North Carolina amusement park called Joyland. He’s hoping to earn some money
taking a job at Joyland, and is also trying to distract himself from the knowledge that his girlfriend
Wendy will be spending all summer away from him, working in Boston with a friend. Devin is hurt
that Wendy has chosen Boston over North Carolina and spending the summer with him.

Devin rides some of Joyland’s rides and decides to take the job. His interview is conducted by the
park’s fortune teller, Madame Fortuna, who tells him he will meet two special children that summer.
One will be a girl with a red hat, and the other will be a boy with a dog. One of those children is
gifted with “The Sight.”

Soon, Devin finds a place to stay for the summer and makes friends with two other summer
employees, Erin Cook and Tom Kennedy. Devin learns park slang and the culture at Joyland, and
discovers he is good at “wearing the fur,” or dressing up as Howie the Hound, Joyland’s mascot. He
makes friends with a longtime carny, Lane Hardy. And one day, part of his summer fortune comes
true: he stops a little girl in a red hat from choking on a hot dog. Joyland’s owner personally thanks
Devin for intervening and saving her life.

Things aren’t all bliss at Joyland, though. Devin, Erin, and Tom hear about the grisly murder of a
girl, Linda Gray, by her boyfriend, who escaped justice. She was killed in the park’s haunted house,
and the rumor is that her ghost still haunts the ride. Tom claims he has seen the ghost, but refuses to
talk about it. The incident inspires Devin to research the murder, and Erin helps him track down
news articles. These articles say the murder was only the latest in a string of unsolved murders in
the area. Police have not been able to connect them together.

Devin’s heart is broken when Wendy breaks up with him. He is unable to eat or sleep, prompting
both Lane Hardy and Madame Fortuna to confront him with concern for his health. When summer
ends, Devin chooses to take time off from school and stay at Joyland, even as Erin and Tom depart
for their own universities. Erin worries about Devin, and agrees to continue researching Linda
Gray’s murder for him.

Missing his friends, Devin throws himself into his job. He meets a local woman named Annie, and
her son Mike, who has a dog. Devin realizes that Mike is the second child from Madame Fortuna’s
prediction. Mike is friendly, but Annie keeps her distance at first. Gradually, she warms to Devin,
and the three spend time together. Mike has a terminal illness and spends most of his time in a
wheelchair. He also displays signs of having The Sight. Mike knows he will die before he grows up,
but he does not seem to mind his fate. Devin arranges a private trip to Joyland for Mike. Alone in
the park, Mike’s powers of ESP help free the ghost of Linda Gray. Later that night, Devin loses his
virginity to Annie.

The town is preparing for a major upcoming storm. Erin calls Devin with information about the
case. Devin looks at photos from the scene and realizes the identity of the killer: Lane Hardy.
Worse, Lane guesses that Devin has put the pieces together. He confronts Devin in Joyland as the
storm arrives. Mike’s powers, and the ghost of former employee Eddie Parks, intervene: the boy
sends Annie to the park to shoot Lane dead before he can kill Devin.

In the end, Annie and Mike return to Chicago, and Devin finally returns to school. The next spring,
Mike dies. Devin and Annie reunite to spread the boy’s ashes in Heaven’s Bay. Devin becomes a
writer.