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devirnis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, and Grief
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
This is the first book by Steven Rowley that I’ve read and I look forward to reading everything he’s ever written. And Michael Urie’s narration was perfect.
Lily and the Octopus filled me with so much love and also such a deep sadness; just like I knew it would. The way I immediately knew at the beginning, the way I sobbed uncontrollably and then cried with happiness at the end! I was glad I finished this book while I was home alone so I could freely feel and release all these emotions.
Dog lovers be warned. This will rip your heart out. But it will also heal you. Steven doesn’t leave you a blubbering mess.
“BEGIN. THE. STORY. OF. ME!” ~ Lily
Lily and the Octopus filled me with so much love and also such a deep sadness; just like I knew it would. The way I immediately knew at the beginning, the way I sobbed uncontrollably and then cried with happiness at the end! I was glad I finished this book while I was home alone so I could freely feel and release all these emotions.
Dog lovers be warned. This will rip your heart out. But it will also heal you. Steven doesn’t leave you a blubbering mess.
“BEGIN. THE. STORY. OF. ME!” ~ Lily
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Grief, Cancer, Violence, and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
Minor: Excrement, Self harm, Addiction, Infidelity, and Vomit
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
3.25
Finished reading: March 28th 2024
“If you spend your entire life trying to cheat death, there's no time left over to embrace life.”
I love books with animals playing an important role in the plot, so I'm still not sure how Lily And The Octopus has escaped my radar for this long. I loved the sound of the bond between main character Ted and his elderly dog Lily, and I even added it to my list of 2024 priorities in the hope I would read it sooner than later. It still took me longer than expected to actually pick it up, but what I didn't expect either was that I was going to end up having mixed thoughts instead. Things started out on a high note and initially I was loving the unique and whimsical writing style where the dog Lily has her own voice and the main character has active conversations with her. It had all the signs of becoming a high rating, but I have to say that this same uniqueness started to grate after a while. I mean, don't people around Ted see that he is completely delusional? Still, I was intrigued and entertained enough to keep reading, up until that ridiculous and overlong boat scene. This is exactly where the story lost me, and the pace was getting slower and slower even before that. That said, there were some nice deeper messages and definitely prepare to have some tissues at hand just in case. Lily And The Octopus had a fantastic start and I enjoyed the ending and message, but it was the middle where everything just became too muddled and over the top for me. I was enjoying the magical realism, but that part just took things WAY too far for me and completely ruined the reading experience (especially since it didn't even make sense). Anyhow, I can't deny that it is a story you won't forget any time soon either way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Vomit, Animal death, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, and Mental illness
heatherhazereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
I finished this at 3 in the morning while laying awake in bed. My face and hair soaked as tears (eye rain!) just deluged down my face. I went into this book blindly, not knowing the hold that Lily (and Ted) would have on my heart and I'm not sure I'll recover. I did, however, read some reviews as I progressed through the book and was intrigued at the volume of negative ones. I get it that the voice of Lily when the author incorporated the exclamation points was annoying and the Octopus stuff was kind out there but GUYS - the beauty in the relationship of this man and his beloved dog was stunning, even when it was simply in the routine and mundane. It represented humankind and the bond with his K9 best friend in the most precious and heartbreaking way.
If you've ever loved a dog, especially during a time when the love of said dog felt like the only scaffolding holding you up from certain demise, you need to read this book. You need to meet Lily and her octopus. Wow.
If you've ever loved a dog, especially during a time when the love of said dog felt like the only scaffolding holding you up from certain demise, you need to read this book. You need to meet Lily and her octopus. Wow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Animal death
asienerbrown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Terminal illness
coreycbrewer's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness
julianairving's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
prairieraven's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sobbed so much. Heartbreaking and an amazing book in the worst way (all the feelings and grief)
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, Cancer, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Car accident, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
nukie19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
craftyanty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
I decided to read this book because of how much I loved The Guncle, but I really didn't know what to expect with this one. What a pleasant surprise!
Steven Rowley has a way of writing about grief like no one else I've read. He ties in humor, sadness, anger, and all the feelings.
If you decide to read this, do yourself a favor, and get the audiobook. Michael Urie brings the story to life as the narrator, and does an AMAZING job, especially voicing Lily.
Steven Rowley has a way of writing about grief like no one else I've read. He ties in humor, sadness, anger, and all the feelings.
If you decide to read this, do yourself a favor, and get the audiobook. Michael Urie brings the story to life as the narrator, and does an AMAZING job, especially voicing Lily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief