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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dog Days is a book that will stay with me for a long time. The story rotates through three main characters lives, exploring love, loss, and moving on with soulful class and gentle wit. It is light, easy reading and I loved it from the first chapter. Waller deals with intense topics in a way that is emotionally intelligent. She doesn't sugar coat, minimise, or stigmatise her characters challenges or their behaviour. The book doesn't feel like it is trying to fix anyone, and because of this it is relatable and heartfelt. Guided by the unconditional love of animals, Dog Days is a journey through complex feelings, mistakes, and life. It balances tentative joy tastefully against heartbreak to form the perfect 'learning to love' tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dog Days ended up being so much more than I expected it to be. I expected it to be a story about our dogs meaning so much to us, which it was, but not in the way I expected. And spoiler alert: no dogs die!
The author weaves together 3 stories: George, who recently lost his wife and did not want to take care of the dog she left him; Dan, a therapist who finds himself attracted to a patient; and Lizzy, who is living with a women's shelter with her son and doesn't tell us a lot about what brought her there.
I thought this book was a good slice of life, showing how we deal with struggles and grow from them, always with our dogs by our side. However, I don't think this book focuses on the dog as much as the title would have you think.
In the beginning, I almost wrote this book off as being a knockoff of A Man Called Ove, but it was not. However, I do think it is parallel and people who like Bachman will probably like this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
The author weaves together 3 stories: George, who recently lost his wife and did not want to take care of the dog she left him; Dan, a therapist who finds himself attracted to a patient; and Lizzy, who is living with a women's shelter with her son and doesn't tell us a lot about what brought her there.
I thought this book was a good slice of life, showing how we deal with struggles and grow from them, always with our dogs by our side. However, I don't think this book focuses on the dog as much as the title would have you think.
In the beginning, I almost wrote this book off as being a knockoff of A Man Called Ove, but it was not. However, I do think it is parallel and people who like Bachman will probably like this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Suicide
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to the author, publishers Doubleday online book club The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this for free. This is an honest and voluntary review.
Break out the hankies, Dog Days is an emotional rollercoaster. By turns, funny, frustrating and heartbreaking this story of a group of damaged individuals getting through their lives with a dog at their side is one I’m really sad to have finished. I will miss Dan, Lizzie and yes, even cantankerous old George.
Dan is a counsellor who has OCD. Counting helps him feel in control. His dog Fitz and his cousin Luke are his best friends, but the way new counselling client Atticus is making him feel is something he doesn’t even share with Luke.
Fact-loving Lizzie is readjusting to life in a woman’s shelter with son Lenny. She likes her life to be ordered, and doesn’t want to talk about what happened before she came to the shelter. She begrudges walking the shelter’s dog Maud at first.
George is angry. His wife Ellen died. She did everything for him, cooked, cleaned, and ran interference to protect the world from his bad manners and bad temper. Now she’s dead and she’s left behind a noisy puppy called Poppy and a series of letters.
Dog Days isn’t really about the dogs, although we do have flashes of what they might be thinking about the situation. The dogs are the ones who offer the no judgement love and support each of the main characters need though.
None of the characters are perfect. At times George’s behaviour is downright outrageous and I lost a lot of the early sympathy I had for his grief.
Dan is lovely, and his burgeoning relationship with Atticus is warm and lovely.
Lizzie is complicated. Her story arc involves a lot of spoilers, so I won’t say anything more, but she is probably the storyline with the most interesting questions and reflections for the reader about their attitude to her circumstances and personality.
Overall this is a fantastic story balancing an easy read with some real reflective moments. All told by well-drawn and engaging characters and their dogs.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We delve into the lives of 3 main characters - George, a cantankerous old man who has lost his Ellen, and is grieving and learning to live again; Dan, a shy counsellor with OCD who is finding a way to be happy with his identity; and fact loving Lizzie is living in a women’s refuge with her son, Lenny, and is weighed down by her own scars and secrets.
💭’𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝...𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨.’
This book creeps up on you. It’s like you’re invited into these characters lives and after each page turn, you become more and more invested. I was laughing with them, feeling their pain, relating to their individual struggles like I was their friends. Each chapter is narrated from the perspectives of George, Dan and Lizzie, and we go back and forth between their lives, and it’s amazing how they connect and cross paths. So many surprising layers to this book!
While the humans are battling their own troubles, the dogs - Poppy, Maud and Fitz - are the loyal, caring companions that hold them together. Even if you are not a dog person (I am definitely one - want one so bad!!) you can’t help but be touched by the healing power and support of these furry creatures.
As well as the main characters and the main four-legged friends, there’s a host of other wonderful characters. Absolutely LOVE Betty and her relationship with George - their bickering and banter made me laugh out loud and it’s so endearing to see their relationship unfold before your eyes.
⚖️ I connected with this book so much. I wanted to look after these characters so much by the end! Funny, heartbreaking, relatable and hopeful all at once. Can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with these characters too!
💭’𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝...𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨.’
This book creeps up on you. It’s like you’re invited into these characters lives and after each page turn, you become more and more invested. I was laughing with them, feeling their pain, relating to their individual struggles like I was their friends. Each chapter is narrated from the perspectives of George, Dan and Lizzie, and we go back and forth between their lives, and it’s amazing how they connect and cross paths. So many surprising layers to this book!
While the humans are battling their own troubles, the dogs - Poppy, Maud and Fitz - are the loyal, caring companions that hold them together. Even if you are not a dog person (I am definitely one - want one so bad!!) you can’t help but be touched by the healing power and support of these furry creatures.
As well as the main characters and the main four-legged friends, there’s a host of other wonderful characters. Absolutely LOVE Betty and her relationship with George - their bickering and banter made me laugh out loud and it’s so endearing to see their relationship unfold before your eyes.
⚖️ I connected with this book so much. I wanted to look after these characters so much by the end! Funny, heartbreaking, relatable and hopeful all at once. Can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with these characters too!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Be aware there are trigger warnings of grief, self harm, homophobia, domestic abuse and suicide so if you’re not keen on those topics in books I would avoid it. It is a lovely story, with beautiful writing, but it’s always good to be aware of the content.
The book follows three people, George- an elderly man who has recently lost his wife, Dan- a therapist who doesn’t really know who he is, and Lizzie- a woman hiding from reality. We follow them as their lives change for better and worse.
George hates his dog (a sausage dog his wife bought before she died) Dan adores his dog, and Lizzie’s dog isn’t really hers but they have a connection anyway.
I own a dog myself, and I know how much a dog can help mental health so in some areas this book had really relatable moments.
It’s a really well written novel, the writing flows and I liked how it flipped between all the characters. They didn’t have a connection but at some points their lives would intersect.
There were twists, there were shocks, and there was a moment that made me cry.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
4.5/5 stars.
A brilliant read that shows just how much having a dog can help a person through their darkest days.
Be aware there are trigger warnings of grief, self harm, homophobia, domestic abuse and suicide so if you’re not keen on those topics in books I would avoid it. It is a lovely story, with beautiful writing, but it’s always good to be aware of the content.
The book follows three people, George- an elderly man who has recently lost his wife, Dan- a therapist who doesn’t really know who he is, and Lizzie- a woman hiding from reality. We follow them as their lives change for better and worse.
George hates his dog (a sausage dog his wife bought before she died) Dan adores his dog, and Lizzie’s dog isn’t really hers but they have a connection anyway.
I own a dog myself, and I know how much a dog can help mental health so in some areas this book had really relatable moments.
It’s a really well written novel, the writing flows and I liked how it flipped between all the characters. They didn’t have a connection but at some points their lives would intersect.
There were twists, there were shocks, and there was a moment that made me cry.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
4.5/5 stars.
A brilliant read that shows just how much having a dog can help a person through their darkest days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Grief
Minor: Homophobia