A review by guylou
Dog Days by Ericka Waller

emotional funny inspiring 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

4.0

DOG DAYS by Ericka Waller exceeded my expectations with its poignant exploration of loss, resilience, and human connection. The initial impression from the blurb suggests a light-hearted tale centered around dogs, yet Waller skillfully delves into the complex lives of George, Lizzie, and Dan. George's grumpiness and resistance to change, Lizzie's scars and emotional barricades, and Dan's hidden struggles create a raw and gritty narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of Brighton. The dogs, Poppy, Maud, and Fitz, are not mere accessories but characters with their own distinct personalities, thanks to Waller's unique style. As the characters' stories intertwine, the novel becomes an emotionally charged journey, defying the initial expectation of a feel-good read. DOG DAYS is a compelling, unconventional narrative that captures the essence of life's challenges and the transformative power of canine companionship.

✏ Favourite quote: "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."