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pghtaylorsversion's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is too beautiful to summarize in a review. ❤️🩹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Homophobia, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicide
sh_m22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was emotionally devastating!!! I have never cried so many times when reading a book before. This novel perfectly captures the reality of humans, all their ugly parts. With a focus on trying to cope with loss and mental illness and how the companionship of a dog and the responsibility of owning a pet heals you and forces you to get better and keep on going. I cannot reccomend this book enough and is definitely my book of the year so far! Please read content warnings before deciding to pursue this book as it deals with a lot of heavy and potentially triggering themes. And have tissues handy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Cancer
Moderate: Child death
fd62442's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Self harm, Cursing, Cancer, and Bullying
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I really wish I had read more reviews before delving into this book, as it is very, very mismarketed in my opinion. This is really not acceptable, as a lot of the content in this book is heavily traumatic and triggering, and not handled in a way that is suitable for many readers who have experienced the issues described. If you find yourself often distressed by difficult content in books, I'd advise skipping this one, or at least checking the content warnings on reviewing platforms. It is really not responsibly marketed; the blurb's trite assertion that this is a book about "three people learning to make connections and find joy in living off the leash" is pretty horrible, actually, when re-read after finishing the novel. That is one of the key reasons my star rating is so low, despite the fact that the quality of the prose and character development is quite strong. The author is definitely talented, and actually I would like to read her work again, but this is a really flawed book that needed much more sophisticated and involved work from the editorial and marketing teams.
I've seen a lot of reviews comparing this book to Eleanor Oliphant I'd Completely Fine, but I would absolutely disagree. Eleanor Oliphant is a story which allows the reader to really and thoroughly work through the main character's trauma and the obstacles she encounters alongside her; despite some heartbreaking lows, there is an overall sense of hope. This book almost completely lacks that for me, as two of the three main narratives end in different kinds of tragedy.
However, the worst tragedy of this book happens far, far too close to the end of the book, leaving the reader with no opportunity to process it. You have no sense of recovery; one of the main character's finds their lover dead after he has committed suicide, and there is very detailed description of the scene. There is no time for the character to heal, and we're even made to understand that he is never able to really open his heart to romantic love again, and only settles for a relationship that he's moderately happy in.
There is also a depiction of a woman with ASD, exacerbated by postpartum depression/PTSD after a miscarriage. This could have been a really nuanced and incisive opportunity for representing a neurodiverse character who has gone through a common but deeply traumatic life event; instead, the plot twist in her arc is demeaning and reductive as it is revealed that she turned to domestically abusing her husband as a coping mechanism. Although I am certain this has happened in real life on occasions, it is a deeply irresponsible way to present a character who many readers will be looking to in order to feel represented and seen.
I was also incredibly infuriated by the prologue/opening scene, which shows a snapshot of the three main characters and their respective secondary characters, all well and relatively happy. This lulls the reader into a false sense of security, indicating that you will get a hopeful and uplifting conclusion, but as I've outlined above, you really don't. I do not have a problem with books that show life's problems sometimes cannot be easily, wholly resolved. There is plenty of room in the market for heavier books which look at the sadder parts of reality. But it is so incredibly irresponsible and infuriating to see a book which is completely presented through its marketing and its opening moments as a hopeful, uplifting read, but that will have many of its readers walking away feeling deeply upset, even actively distressed by how some of the themes are handled.
I've seen a lot of reviews comparing this book to Eleanor Oliphant I'd Completely Fine, but I would absolutely disagree. Eleanor Oliphant is a story which allows the reader to really and thoroughly work through the main character's trauma and the obstacles she encounters alongside her; despite some heartbreaking lows, there is an overall sense of hope. This book almost completely lacks that for me, as two of the three main narratives end in different kinds of tragedy.
There is also a depiction of a woman with ASD, exacerbated by postpartum depression/PTSD after a miscarriage. This could have been a really nuanced and incisive opportunity for representing a neurodiverse character who has gone through a common but deeply traumatic life event; instead, the plot twist in her arc is demeaning and reductive
I was also incredibly infuriated by the prologue/opening scene, which shows a snapshot of the three main characters and their respective secondary characters, all well and relatively happy. This lulls the reader into a false sense of security, indicating that you will get a hopeful and uplifting conclusion, but as I've outlined above, you really don't. I do not have a problem with books that show life's problems sometimes cannot be easily, wholly resolved. There is plenty of room in the market for heavier books which look at the sadder parts of reality. But it is so incredibly irresponsible and infuriating to see a book which is completely presented through its marketing and its opening moments as a hopeful, uplifting read, but that will have many of its readers walking away feeling deeply upset, even actively distressed by how some of the themes are handled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Miscarriage, Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
alexiswiththefreckles's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I went into this expecting a light-hearted story where dogs create a warm and fuzzy feeling. That is not the case. Instead, they are more akin to background cast in a play. The real focus here is on the humans and all of their flaws. There were lines scattered throughout the book that I think Waller really hit the nail on the head in describing what it means to be human, and I love finding those like buried treasure. However, I do like an unlikeable character every now and then.. but George was too much and I found his chapters hard to read. Character growth did feel a little too concentrated to the last 10% of the book, but that's just me being picky.
Overall, a story that tackles loss with brutal honesty and reminds us that our canine friends are always there to remind us to be human.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
Overall, a story that tackles loss with brutal honesty and reminds us that our canine friends are always there to remind us to be human.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Miscarriage and Homophobia
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