59 reviews for:

I, Cosmo

Carlie Sorosiak

4.21 AVERAGE


Are you more of a cat person or a dog person? While I personally think there’s only one answer to this (both, always both), Carlie Sorosiak’s novels, I, Cosmo and My Life as a Cat, will delight fans of either species. Sorosiak’s first middle-grade novel, I, Cosmo, is narrated by Cosmo, a 13-year-old Golden Retriever. As the oldest member of his family (in human years), Cosmo feels duty bound to protect his humans, especially 12-year-old Max. When Max’s parents begin to argue, Max comes up with a plan to keep the family together. He and Cosmo will enter a dance contest and show his parents what a great team they make. To help Max, Cosmo will put aside his aching legs and fear of the dog next door, and learn how to truly dance.

Funny, warm-hearted and endlessly lovable, I, Cosmo is a sensitive depiction of family life and the bond that can develop between humans and animals. It will have special resonance for anyone who has ever had the privilege of growing up alongside a dog.


I love that Cosmo is a senior dog!


I've always been a sucker for dogs on book covers and this was no exception. Going into this read, I was a bit nervous but could you blame me after "Marley and Me". No. You can't. Nevertheless, this family-filled fluff of a tale was a refreshing break from all the overhyped basic reads I have picked up the last few days. This heartwarming story is about Cosmo, a 13 year old 'older brother' who is dealing with the everyday challenges and struggles of his family day to day lives, arguments, fights, and let's not forget to throw in dance competitions. It was such a sweet and endearing to read from Cosmos POV and to see his perspective on things. Despite the fact that this is ideal for children to middle grade, even adults such as myself can still be immersed in this cute and short read.

This book is one of the sweetest books I’ve ever read, hands down.

I love dogs. I love them so much. My girlfriend often tells me that I act around dogs like I act around babies (and I love babies too). If I see a dog in the street, you bet your ass I’m stopping to talk to it or smile at it, or ask its owner to please pet it. I think dogs are just great.

So, imagine my joy when stumbling upon this book told from the point of view of a dog.

I, Cosmo is told by Cosmo, a golden retriever who isn’t as spry as he used to be, but who loves his family so much that he would do anything for them (including eating an offensive Christmas tree ornament and almost choking to death on it). Cosmo has been with the family since he was a puppy, before the children were around, but when he met the oldest son he decided that he was going to protect him for all he was worth.

But unfortunately, Cosmo is being faced by a problem that he can’t solve – the likely divorce of his family.

Cosmo, however, decides that that isn’t going to stop him, and does everything in his power to make sure that the family stays together. And in his doggy mind, that means becoming a television star.

Honestly, it makes sense when you read the book.

This book is an absolutely adorable story of family love and change, and how sometimes things don’t work out, but the right people can make any situation better. In the background of the story are themes of PTSD and anxiety, growing up, and the different kinds of love a family provides. And the book also has a lovely little side lesson for Cosmo along the way in the shape of a sheepdog and some terrible misunderstandings on Cosmo’s part.

I loved reading this book, and I think that anybody who loves dogs should definitely read it too. I’ll tell you from now, the dog doesn’t die at the end, so all dog lovers are definitely safe with this one. It’s very well written and has some A-plus metaphors in it too, and I really think that more people should read it so that it can become a TV show.

All in all, a 5/5 for the most wholesome book I’ve ever read.


Amazing! A great wholesome read, a leap from the fact I usually read thrillers so I’m happy I read this books to breach out. I would recommend you give it a go it’s a great book for everyone :)

NetGalley provided me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review and…wow. This book tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry.

This book is absolutely for anyone who has ever loved a dog. It’s told from the point of view of Cosmo, a thirteen year old Golden Retriever. The narration could not be any cuter as he navigates his struggles as he just tries to love his boy. And…

*****DOES THE DOG DIE SPOILER ALERT COMING UP*****

The goodest boy lives. This is a big deal for me, because I feel like the dog dies in all of the most popular dog books out there (I’m looking at you, Marley & Me). That devastates me every single time.

Between Cosmo’s laugh-out-loud narration, and the ongoing story in the background, you can’t help but get sucked in to rooting for this adorable pup and his best friend, Max, as they learn how to “doggie freestyle,” which is another term for dancing with a dog.

They think they’re doing it in order to never be separated. But, you learn as you read the story, that their bond is so strong, no one would ever want to tear them apart. Cosmo and Max are the ultimate best friends.

This book had a happy ending, and yet I still wanted to run home and hug my puppies all night. It really underlines the close relationship between humans and their pets, as told from the dog’s point of view. It deserves nothing less than five stars from me!

Disclaimer: I'm a human in my sixties, and a cat person, and definitely a Singin' in the Rain over Grease kind of guy -- not the target audience for this middle-grade j-fic story. While peeling off the "New" label to move the book to my library's regular shelf, I flipped it open (as I often do) and read a line: the narrator was discussing his aching body; I had just been on my knees on the hard floor, shelving children's books -- instant connection -- this book was not going to the shelf until I finished it.

Animal stories, especially animal-narrated stories, are the perfect outsider-looking-in point of view for showing humans how to be human. I'm still in the glow of Hollow Kingdom, and this feel-good story fits right in with that tradition. I also have a preference for a good-natured but unreliable narrator, and again, Cosmo is the dog for that job. His matter-of-fact commentary on his own dog behaviors supplies the humor that helps keep this divorce story bearable. His acceptance of Noodles (the hyperactive, untrainable little-dog) is one of the small details showing Cosmo's character that gives weight to his observations of the humans in his life, while his paranoia about the neighbors' sheepdog keeps the reader from accepting everything he says at face value. Cosmo is a much better role model than the elderly human grandparents in the story.

No great surprises; plenty of feels. For readers past middle age (C'mon people -- read kids' books!), the brief section near the end, where Cosmo speculates on his family's trajectory after he is gone is especially touching.

I'm really looking forward to this author's new cat book.
adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Ik houd van boeken met niet-menselijke hoofdpersonen. Ik ben dol op honden en hun manier van doen. Toen ik dit boek in de winkel zag liggen in Noorwegen sloeg ik meteen aan op de cover. De tekst op de achterflap maakte dat ik dit boek direct wilde.

Cosmos family is falling apart.
And its up to Cosmo to keep them together.
He knows exactly what to do.
Theres only one problem.

Cosmo is a Golden Retriever.


Heerlijk! Net als [b:The Art of Racing in the Rain|3153910|The Art of Racing in the Rain|Garth Stein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377206302l/3153910._SY75_.jpg|3175590]! En dat boek vond ik echt geweldig. Dit boek kwam wat langzamer op gang, het duurde wat langer tot ik goed in het verhaal zat en het verhaal wat diepgang kreeg. Vandaar dus geen 5*

Maar toen schoot het ook direct mijn hart in.. Een heel mooi boek over de liefde van een hond voor zijn gezin en andersom, en de toegevoegde waarde van een huisdier aan het gezinsleven. Bomvol liefde. En daarom dus wel 4 :)

Officieel is dit een jeugdboek. Er is niets aan het plot inderdaad dat ongeschikt is voor kinderen, het is een heerlijk verhaal. Maar ik vind de schrijfstijl en de snelheid van het verhaal (of dus juist het ontbreken ervan) niet heel jeugdboekachtig..

I think this is now one of my favourite books. I love how it is from a dog's perspective rather than a humans and the bond between Cosmo and max is the bond every dog owner has and it's friendship you can't break.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is a dog owner or an animal lover but this book is for everyone as it has alot of humor and it does pull at you heart but not too much.
One thing the book shows even when things get tough you can get through it and everything will work out for the best.