Rules of Day Drinking

Joy Montgomery is a thirty-seven-year-old professional who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. She is more than ready to settle down and get married, and when she meets Ryan at her friend’s wedding, she thinks her time has finally come. Things go awry however, and her relationship falls apart when what she thought was a marriage proposal turns into an embarrassing misunderstanding. Joy goes to win back Ryan and ends up walking in on Ryan with her coworker and former sorority sister, Carmen. Completely heartbroken, Joy decides to take her friend Liz up on her offer for drinks and learns to let lose, have fun, and not take everything so seriously. Liz walks Joy through her various rules for curing a hangover, turning a walk of shame into a walk of fame, and of course: the rules of day drinking. Joy continuously finds herself in hilarious, ridiculous situations brought on by partying and alcohol, while learning to be independent and not rely on someone else to make her happy. When Joy is forced to see Carmen and Ryan again at her friend’s house warming, she learns that not only did Ryan sleep with Carmen after their breakup, but had been seeing her during the early stages of their relationship too. That dick! Angry and hurt, Joy goes to the bar looking for Liz and instead meets a handsome stranger named Alex. He is kind and understanding and Joy starts to believe in love again. When Liz says all guys are the same, Joy gets angry and the two get in a huge fight. Joy has fantasized about punching Carmen in her stupid face many times before, but when Carmen comes in being bitchy, this time Joy snaps. They get in a huge fist fight in the middle of the office that results in them both getting fired and ending up in a hospital. Ryan visits Joy and the two say a final goodbye. Liz and Joy make up as well and Joy helps Liz prepare for a date. Liz finally learns how to be an adult and not hold everyone at a distance, and Joy realizes she can be happy with or without a man in her life. The story ends at the bar, Liz and her new boyfriend, Joy and Alex, all happily drinking together embarking on the next chapter of their journeys.