I absolutely adored this joyful memoir of the author’s decision to start a dog-walking agency in London in her twenties, which we follow as she navigates marriage and motherhood into her thirties.
I have such a hit and miss relationship with non fiction - usually it will take me months to get through, but I absolutely gobbled this up in one day! Although memoir, it reads like fiction and is just so warm, funny and relatable, whether you love dogs or not.
To be clear, I love dogs, and thankfully there were plenty of furry characters in this to keep me happy - each chapter is titled around a dog, whether that’s one Kate is walking through the agency, or her own lovely little Mabel. This book beautifully describes how unique and full of character each dog is - from the big Labrador that just can’t resist a muddy puddle (no matter how much the owner wants them to) to the pampered Italian pooch who can’t resist a Spag Bol. I just had a huge grin on my face the whole time I was reading about their adventures.
The thing which may surprise you in a novel about dog-walking, is just how astute the author’s observations of the human owners are. They are just as much a part of the story as the dogs, and range from the drunk and demanding to understanding and relaxed - these stories cracked me up even more than the dogs sometimes!
The author is also incredibly open and honest about things which we all worry about - growing up, finding a “suitable” career, trying for children, and moving on from the city. I just found this so easy to relate to and written in the kind of way that makes you feel like a friend is opening up to you rather than reading about a stranger’s experiences.
There are some incredibly moving moments - goodness knows I pretty much cried for a whole chapter, but overall this is one of the most uplifting books I’ve read recently, and I could happily have read about another hundred dogs Kate had walked! If you love either humans or dogs, this is a beautifully observed and witty look at both which I’d highly recommend.
I have such a hit and miss relationship with non fiction - usually it will take me months to get through, but I absolutely gobbled this up in one day! Although memoir, it reads like fiction and is just so warm, funny and relatable, whether you love dogs or not.
To be clear, I love dogs, and thankfully there were plenty of furry characters in this to keep me happy - each chapter is titled around a dog, whether that’s one Kate is walking through the agency, or her own lovely little Mabel. This book beautifully describes how unique and full of character each dog is - from the big Labrador that just can’t resist a muddy puddle (no matter how much the owner wants them to) to the pampered Italian pooch who can’t resist a Spag Bol. I just had a huge grin on my face the whole time I was reading about their adventures.
The thing which may surprise you in a novel about dog-walking, is just how astute the author’s observations of the human owners are. They are just as much a part of the story as the dogs, and range from the drunk and demanding to understanding and relaxed - these stories cracked me up even more than the dogs sometimes!
The author is also incredibly open and honest about things which we all worry about - growing up, finding a “suitable” career, trying for children, and moving on from the city. I just found this so easy to relate to and written in the kind of way that makes you feel like a friend is opening up to you rather than reading about a stranger’s experiences.
There are some incredibly moving moments - goodness knows I pretty much cried for a whole chapter, but overall this is one of the most uplifting books I’ve read recently, and I could happily have read about another hundred dogs Kate had walked! If you love either humans or dogs, this is a beautifully observed and witty look at both which I’d highly recommend.