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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This book was an okay book. I struggled with wanting to continue reading because the pacing was a little too slow for my liking. I was nervous initially that the dog was going to be the romantic interest but thank god, he is not. Overall, I thought the concept was interesting, but I really struggled to connect with the characters, and I don't think this is a book for me.
Thank you Avon and netgalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Avon and netgalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review!
Genie comes from a magic family, which she doesn’t believe one bit. Yeah, she can sometimes predict the weather, and yeah, her grandmother can read palms, but she figures it is all coincidences. And can’t everyone do that sort of thing? So when her grandmother tells her that for her 30th birthday, she is going to grant a wish, Genie’s eyes glaze over, and she takes it with a huge grain of salt.
So, what does she wish? That her beautiful golden retrieve rescue dog, that she loves, could be human, so she could have the same kind of love from a man that she gets from a dog.
So, yes, she is surprised when the wish is granted, and Rory is not happy about being human, other than finally being able to eat chocolate.
It is a cute story, with Rory making many observations about how humans just needed to communicate more, and play more.
But Rory doesn’t like being human, and Genie needs her dog back, but the only way to to complete a quest, to find the woman she used to be, before bad things happened in the past.
It is a cute story. Rory is a great character. And anytime one of the characters askes how Rory can, for example, read, Genie says magic works in weird ways.
While it is light most of the time, there are some heavy bits, as we find out what trauma happened to Genie to bury her feelings these past ten years or so.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book comes out the 8th of July 2025.
So, what does she wish? That her beautiful golden retrieve rescue dog, that she loves, could be human, so she could have the same kind of love from a man that she gets from a dog.
So, yes, she is surprised when the wish is granted, and Rory is not happy about being human, other than finally being able to eat chocolate.
It is a cute story, with Rory making many observations about how humans just needed to communicate more, and play more.
But Rory doesn’t like being human, and Genie needs her dog back, but the only way to to complete a quest, to find the woman she used to be, before bad things happened in the past.
It is a cute story. Rory is a great character. And anytime one of the characters askes how Rory can, for example, read, Genie says magic works in weird ways.
While it is light most of the time, there are some heavy bits, as we find out what trauma happened to Genie to bury her feelings these past ten years or so.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book comes out the 8th of July 2025.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
A silly, goofy time where everyone will be so glad that the dog turned human is not the romantic interest. That would certainly feel icky to be the least. Instead we have an adorkable next door neighbor who is incredibly supportive and generally lovely. All the characters were a bit whimsical, and I loved the connections they had with one another. Also, getting a dog's perspective on being human was a blast! I would certainly recommend this to just about anyone! Side note: there is essentially no spice, a positive or negative depending on preferences. I am certainly going to be making some videos to recommend this to my friends and followers!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
This British magical realism rom-com took me by surprise with its easy charm and humor, though I would more likely shelve it in women’s fiction. It’s perfect for dog lovers (which I am not, but that didn’t stop me).
The romance is very slow burn, and it doesn’t really get going until the end of the book. The door is also firmly closed. It’s friends to lovers/neighbors, so there’s good tension there, but boy oh boy, are the main characters oblivious.
The story is most effective when centering on the FMC’s struggles. There isn’t a trigger warning at the beginning at the book, but there should be - well into the book, a tragic backstory is revealed.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this E-arc. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
I enjoyed this book, it was a quick light hearted read that had some moments of emotional growth for the characters. That being said, I think this book was a solid 3.5 stars.
We start of with Genie who gets granted a birthday wish she doesn't take seriously and ends up turning her dog into a human. Cute interactions, short hi jinks and some soulful moments ensue. All this with what i found to be an annoying build up to the two leads finally admitting what is obvious from the beginning of the book. Don't get me wrong I like slow-burn and building but this just seems to be a constant avoidance and miscommunication which just left me frustrated. I do understand that the FMC had to go through some growth to get to that point but I really feel like it was drawn out.
The side characters were a great addition and everyone no matter how briefly they were introduced were fleshed out well. Honestly I preferred every character that wasn't the main couple, I don't know if it's because I was annoyed with them or because I didn't connect or I found them dull? But, I did very much enjoy Rory and his development as a human. Between him and Grandma Marie I laughed and they had the most heartfelt dialogue. The climax with Rory's arc though was so quick it felt rushed. it was a good one but I didn't feel super satisfied. I wish we could have seen more of the conclusion and maybe even the future with an epilogue. Still he's the best boy.
Overall this was a sweet fluffy Rom-com book. You can tell how its going to end but, getting there was entertaining.
I enjoyed this book, it was a quick light hearted read that had some moments of emotional growth for the characters. That being said, I think this book was a solid 3.5 stars.
We start of with Genie who gets granted a birthday wish she doesn't take seriously and ends up turning her dog into a human. Cute interactions, short hi jinks and some soulful moments ensue. All this with what i found to be an annoying build up to the two leads finally admitting what is obvious from the beginning of the book. Don't get me wrong I like slow-burn and building but this just seems to be a constant avoidance and miscommunication which just left me frustrated. I do understand that the FMC had to go through some growth to get to that point but I really feel like it was drawn out.
The side characters were a great addition and everyone no matter how briefly they were introduced were fleshed out well. Honestly I preferred every character that wasn't the main couple, I don't know if it's because I was annoyed with them or because I didn't connect or I found them dull? But, I did very much enjoy Rory and his development as a human. Between him and Grandma Marie I laughed and they had the most heartfelt dialogue. The climax with Rory's arc though was so quick it felt rushed. it was a good one but I didn't feel super satisfied. I wish we could have seen more of the conclusion and maybe even the future with an epilogue. Still he's the best boy.
Overall this was a sweet fluffy Rom-com book. You can tell how its going to end but, getting there was entertaining.
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
This was a fun read, but some of the conceit didn't work for me based solely on my preferences. The characterization of Rory and his dialogue was top notch. The side characters like Nanna Maria and Granny Rita added a lot to the story. The bits with Kelly didn't add much and were a bit meandering, though. It was a funny and heartfelt read.
One Genies thirty birthday, her grandma gives her one wish and while not believing her grandmas magical gifts. She doesn’t take it seriously and wishes her dog was a human so her family wouldn’t worry about her being alone. The next morning she wakes up to a naked man asleep in her dogs bed.
It goes just as well as you would imagine. Finding out that the only way to turn him back into a dog is to work through her problems and reveal her feelings for her best friend, Miles.
I wasn’t too sure what I was getting into but I was really glad when this wasn’t a book about her falling in love with her dog in human form. I loved human Rory. His insight and humor added so much to the story. Mostly light hearted and unserious, but a few deep moments that pulled at my heart strings. Giving very much slow burn, which was frustrating at some points. Wishing they would just get it over and communicate. But overall I had a good time and am happy with how this book ended. Sweet, cute and heartwarming read. Will definitely be watching this author for future books!
It goes just as well as you would imagine. Finding out that the only way to turn him back into a dog is to work through her problems and reveal her feelings for her best friend, Miles.
I wasn’t too sure what I was getting into but I was really glad when this wasn’t a book about her falling in love with her dog in human form. I loved human Rory. His insight and humor added so much to the story. Mostly light hearted and unserious, but a few deep moments that pulled at my heart strings. Giving very much slow burn, which was frustrating at some points. Wishing they would just get it over and communicate. But overall I had a good time and am happy with how this book ended. Sweet, cute and heartwarming read. Will definitely be watching this author for future books!
The Good Boy by Stella Hayward was such a great and funny read! It had me giggling most of the time and occasionally frustrated (in the best way) because the two main characters just wouldn’t confess their feelings. The story also carried some heavier moments, touching on the loss of parental figures and infant loss, which broke my heart and even brought me to tears. While certain parts felt a bit dragged out—fewer chapters might have tightened the pacing—it was still a fun and engaging read overall.
Hands down, Rory was the star of the book and my absolute favorite character. Truly the best boy ever
Hands down, Rory was the star of the book and my absolute favorite character. Truly the best boy ever