Mattie, Milo, and Me: A Memoir

by Anne Abel

Anne grew up in an abusive home, leading to severe depression and a determination to do better as a mother. One of her sons wants a dog from the time he is a baby; Anne very much does not. For years she appeases him with creatures who live in cages and tanks, but on his tenth birthday she can no longer say no—and she proceeds to fall in love with their new four-legged family member, Mattie. Then Mattie dies a sudden and tragic death, and Anne feels herself begin to sink back into depression.

Trying to cope, she immediately adopts Milo—a dog who, unbeknownst to her, has already been returned to the rescue by several families due to his aggressive behavior. But even after she realizes Milo is dangerous, she’s committed to trying to give him a chance at a good life.

Anne’s journey takes the reader from dog school into the deep woods as she perseveres with Milo’s lifelong rehabilitation and her unwavering efforts to be a good mother to her sons. Working with Milo strengthens Anne and expands her ability to love. Ten years later, when Milo dies, Anne faces another close the door to that part of her heart, or risk loving another dog after two tragic losses?



"… a certain kind of pet lover, looking for a comforting reminder of the powerful bond that can occur between animals and humans, may finish this book teary-eyed.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“Mattie, Milo and Me is a warm memoir about a woman’s connection to—and transformation because of—her dog.”
— Foreword Reviews

“Abel debuts with a heart-warming memoir spotlighting the intense bond between dogs and their owners. . . . Animal lovers will relish the central role that Abel’s pets play in her wellbeing throughout the narrative.”
— BookLife

“A moving and fearless exploration of resilience, atonement, and the healing power of the link between people and their furry companions. Abel’s writing is both introspective and heart-wrenchingly honest.”
– The Book Revue

“Mattie, Milo, and Me began as the winning story at a Moth StorySLAM in NYC. The story of Anne and her dog Milo captured the hearts of the audience. She wrote this memoir to answer the many questions posed by people who wanted to know more. This is one of those books you won’t want to put down, but also one you won’t want to finish.”
— Inga Glodowski, The Moth

“I love Mattie, Milo, and Me. It had me laughing out loud—yet it’s so touching that it had me in tears, too. This book is brilliant. Anne’s joys and struggles are relatable. I learned a lot. I highly recommend Mattie, Milo, and Me.”
— Natalie Aronow, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

“Mattie, Milo, and Me is a beautifully written book. This memoir takes you on an emotional ride. You’ll laugh, cry, and want to hug a dog by the end. A must-read.”
— Gary and Allie Vider, Metro Pets NYC

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2024

About the author

Anne Abel is an author, storyteller and influencer. Her first memoir, “Mattie, Milo, and Me,” about unwittingly rescuing an aggressive dog, was inspired by her Moth StorySLAM win in New York City. It was published in 2024. Her second memoir, “High Hopes,” is about fighting depression by following Bruce Springsteen’s Australia tour, at the age of 60, even though she hates to travel and hates to be alone, and hadn’t known what a Bruce Springsteen was a year earlier. This story won a Moth StorySLAM in Chicago. It will be published by She Writes Press on Sept. 23, 2025, Bruce Springsteen’s 76th birthday. In January 2025, she was featured on Newsweek.com: “Boomer’s Story About How She Met Husband of 45 Years Captivates Internet.” Her credentials include an MFA from The New School for Social Research, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a BS in chemical engineering from Tufts University. She has published on topics ranging from dogs lovable and difficult, to coping with depression, family dysfunction, generational trauma, overcoming writer’s block and being a FaceTime grandmother. She has freelanced for multiple outlets and formerly wrote a weekly column, “The Homefront,” for Main Line Welcomat. She taught English and creative writing at the Community College of Philadelphia. Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Andy, and Wendell, a one-year-old cavapoo.

Reviews

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about rescuing, and being rescued, of love and loss, and loss once again, and of finding the strength to love once again. A story of growing up in a home where she wasn’t loved or wanted, and was abused emotionally by her parents even after she married, and had a family of her own.

This story begins with a heartbreaking and tragic loss, one that will impact her whole family. In the years leading up to this, Anne had never wanted a dog, but one of her sons has been wanting a dog since he was very young, and she finally gives in on his tenth birthday. Enter Mattie. This is when and who she finds a new kind of love. With Mattie. Years pass, the children are now older, and one day there’s a tragic accident, and Mattie dies. Anne knows herself, how easily depression can pull her in, and so she decides to adopt another dog, Milo.

Once Milo enters her life, she begins to see how aggressive he is, but unlike the others who Milo had been temporarily adopted by, only to be returned, she is determined to help him any and every way that she can.

She brings him to a dog training school, which is a long and winding road, as Milo isn’t really interested in being rehabilitated. Eventually her determination, despite the frustration as she begins this journey, her belief in Milo is eventually rewarded. But, as we know, the life of a dog is all too brief, and when she is faced with that loss once more, she wonders if she is willing, able to risk another broken heart.


Pub Date: 23 Apr 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by She Writes Press

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want a book that will make you sob like a baby over your dog for an entire afternoon? This was such a beautifully written and engrossing memoir about love and loss and learning to grow together and love again. The book opens with Anne’s beloved and well behaved dog, Mattie being killed in a tragic accident, and then follows her growth when she adopts Milo, the defiant, seemingly untrainable good boy at heart. Throughout the book, Anne also discusses her own ups and downs with her depression. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but if you are a dog person, you will laugh, cry, cringe in solidarity, cry some more, and ultimately be touched.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be an awesome book about dogs but damn. I can understand the woman being an abused kid but she uses it as an excuse throughout the book. I have an itemized list of grievances up to the point where I simply could not handle her stupidity or ignorance any longer and quit the book.

1. She stays in contact with her abusive mother and in doing so exposes her own children to the grandmother’s abuse.

2. She mentions that her back yard was fenced in yet she let her first dog run out the front door then is surprised when she gets run over by the ups guy.

3. She replaces her dog with another in 26 hours after the first was killed.

4. She has to call a therapist to decide if getting a dog to keep herself out of depression was more important than her kids’ need for time to mourn the loss of their dog.

5. She is surprised and then judgmental when breeders won’t give her another fucking dog so soon after the first died and so near to Christmas. She was LITERALLY calling breeders within hours of the first dogs’ death.

6. She is surprised that Milo doesn’t act as well as Mattie when Mattie came from a breeder and Milo came from a shelter.

7. Apparently she had NEVER walked the first dog on a leash because she had no idea how it worked with an untrained dog.

8. She is angry when the new untrained dog doesn’t know how to walk on a leash.

9. She takes a rescue into a dog park after only having it for a day, not knowing it’s temperament or aggressiveness around other dogs.

10. Allows one of her children to watch the dog alone, still while not knowing the temperament of the dog (that she’s had now for what 2 days?) and is surprised and upset when the dog bites her kid while her kid was running around the room.

I’m sure it gets better from there and she trains the dog or whatever but at this point I was so mad at this ignorant woman that I could not go any further. I dnf’d it at around 20%

[Helen Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Ann is an abused child who tries very hard and succeeds mostly to overcome her subsequent depression. Dogs give her purpose and love. It’s wonderful and touching.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a great book! I ended up starting this book while I was on a city bus and ended it on a bus again. I could barely contain my tears.
This book really shows how dogs can make such a huge impact on our lives. And the time and attention paid to a dog who is out of control to turn them into a mostly perfect dog.
I recommend this book to all dog lovers.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mattie, Milo and Me” by Anne Abel is a heartfelt and emotional memoir, and nonfiction book. This is a memoir that is about dogs, and the importance of the connection between owners and their pets. I appreciate Anne Abel’s honesty and candor about her feelings. Coming from an abusive home, the author has a loving husband and two sons that she treats with respect and attention. The author also experiences a tragic loss after the death of her dog Mattie. Anne Abel explains the periods of depression that she can go through, and decides to adopt another dog.

Milo is a handsome dog, but has been returned to the shelter twice, after his former owner’s couldn’t handle him. Milo has an Alpha personality and is very intelligent, energetic, and determined. At first, the author and her family hadn’t been told about his circumstances, and he was very difficult, if not dangerous. Through determination, courage, and tenacity, the author was able to help Milo, and Milo, in turn became a loving member of the family. The author also wasn’t afraid to ask for help from others.

I highly recommend this thought-provoking book to others, especially dog and pet lovers. I was touched by Milo’s journey as well as the authors. It is a reminder to keep trying your best, and making a positive difference.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: physical abuse, emotional abuse, animal cruelty (in the past)

One of my pet peeves is when someone adopts a pet without knowing anything about that kind of pet. If you are also bothered by this, you may be as infuriated as for most of this book. Even by the end of the book, Anne is still so resistant to dog training because she “doesn’t want to manipulate or control” her dog like a “trained circus animal” even though dog training is about keeping you and your dog safe and is very much necessary!!! She seems to believe that training your dog is only necessary if they’re out of control like Milo was. In reality, if she had done dog school with Mattie, she would have been so much better equipped to help Milo. ANYWAY.

There’s a great story in here, but the writing quality just wasn’t there, especially in the dialogue. That said, it’s hard not to fall in love with Milo by the end, which saved it a little bit.

[Air · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so important and it really exposes exactly how it feels to grow up in an un-loving home full of chaos and destruction. It shines a beautiful yet sad light on how it feels to be a grown up product of that with kids who now rely on you in the ways you always needed as well. Dogs are gorgeous souls and can bring so much joy to a family and life. It’s hard to manage through their end and even harder when you don’t know how to grieve in the first place. Plus dogs with behavioral issues can definitely stir the need for perfection and I really loved how the author wrote those thoughts. This was such a good read!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just started reading a book kindly provided by its author. I had no expectations for this book, and I'm generally a very slow reader who falls asleep at the beginning of a page. I told myself - you should read at least two pages and that will be enough... and after a couple of hours, I find myself in the middle of the book and unable to stop. "Mattie, Milo and Me" is a work about the best bark coaches and love. Who teaches whom? Do we train dogs or do dogs train us...

[Cara Achterberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming memoir about losing the perfect dog and then adopting a difficult dog and persevering. I learned some training tricks, but mostly I admired this woman who didn’t give up. I was captivated by this story illustrating the power dogs have to teach us about our own hearts.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I like the premise of the book, it became very painful to read. It became so detailed with each training session.

I also found the author to be a bit pompous with her name dropping - son at Harvard, Lulu, cars, etc.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I’m the wrong audience for blow by blow dog training, but this was just “cute” for me.

[Susan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a dog lover and an Occupational Therapist I really loved this book. It brought the basis of OT theory to light, productive activity leads to healing and health. Anne, is a victim of childhood trauma who finds herself and her mental health in the daily challenge of taming her rescued dog, Milo. The routine she develops not only saves her pup but herself as well.
.

[Jean Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars….and I am not a dog person but oh how I loved Milo an Anne too. I think we would be great friends.

[Gingerholli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this author on instagram. I think she’s interesting !

[Travis Pulse Jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly and unnecessarily exaggerative. Milo is described in many negative terms: violently aggressive, a lost hope, unable to be “salvaged”, etc.. All just such horrible ways to empathize the struggle of adopting a rescue. The reality of this was that she, nor her family, were fit to own a dog. This is built up in the early chapters - she hammers away at the fact that all of her sons wanted dogs so bad they cared so deeply for other pets. This was a “see we are a family that can take care of a dog” preface. It was evident throughout the book that this was not true. Anne got Milo selfishly then denounced him for every shortcoming and hides it in a way that makes it seem like she’s taking responsibility and being persistent and strong to make this dog be like Mattie. It all just feels very performative. Also, the owner of the rescue that Milo came from has called her out for defamation stating that he, his rescue, and the two trainers mentioned, all denied specific instances in this book. Take that for what you will.

Additionally, the author of this book is a complete narcissist (see all of her social media). She puts on the facade of sweet old woman, but again, everything feels very performative and odd. She’s an influencer. Look her up, promise you’ll find some interesting stuff.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mattie, Milo, and Me had the emotional depth of an angsty teenager’s diary that somehow made it into a friend’s publishing pipeline. The writing is sappy, self-indulgent, and painfully overwritten, filled with excessive detail and dialogue that add nothing but drag and unnecessary detail. The author’s voice lacks the insight or nuance you’d expect from a published memoir; it’s all surface-level sentiment and no real soul. Why is this so well received???

This book likely owes its bestseller status to the fact that it’s about dogs, not because it’s particularly well-written or moving. If you’re a diehard fan of formulaic pet-loss-redemption arcs, you might be more forgiving. But if you expect memoirs to offer fresh perspective, emotional complexity, or literary merit, skip it. This one’s all bark and no bite.

[Afriyani Khusna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir written by Anne Abel about her dogs, Mattie and Milo, taught me several things about love. There are things that make you fall in love easily, and there is also love that requires effort and hard work. Anne fell in love with her first dog, Mattie, at first sight. Mattie was a dog that gave a lot of love and spread joyful, positive energy. His loss was so sudden—this sweet dog was hit by a truck delivering packages that happened to pass in front of their house.

Anne, who had spent her life struggling with depression caused by the toxic upbringing of her parents, couldn’t bear Mattie’s passing. Less than a week after losing her beloved dog, she told her husband and children about her desire to adopt another one. Eventually, she and her family chose Milo. Anne felt a connection with Milo when their eyes met.

Unexpectedly, Milo was nothing like what Anne had hoped for. He was a large, dominant, and aggressive dog who needed special training. This memoir details Anne’s struggle to tame Milo and make him easier for people to love. She failed many times and even considered returning Milo to the shelter, but in the end, she couldn’t do it.

Eventually, her efforts paid off, and when Milo passed away, I cried my heart out. I was deeply immersed in the memoir and their time together. Anne’s writing made me feel like I truly knew Milo, as if he were my own dog. When she wrote about his passing, I also felt abandoned and wept. I am proud of Anne for never giving up on Milo, and I am proud of Milo for being such a smart dog who ultimately won Anne’s heart.


Memoar yang ditulis oleh Anne Abel terkait anjingnya Mattie dan Milo membuatku belajar beberapa hal tentang cinta. Ada sesuatu yang membuatmu jatuh cinta dengan mudah, ada juga cinta yang didapat dengan usaha dan kerja keras. Anne jatuh cinta pada Mattie anjingnya yang pertama pada pandangan pertama, Mattie adalah anjing yang memberi banyak cinta dan menyebarkan energi positif yang menggembirakan. Kehilangannya pun begitu tiba-tiba, anjing manis itu mati tertabrak truk yang sedang mengantarkan paket dan kebetulan lewat di depan rumah mereka. Anne yang selama hidupnya masih berjuang melawan depresi yang disebabkan pola asuh kedua orangtuanya yang toksik tak sanggup menghadapi kepergian Mattie. Belum genap seminggu dari kepergian anjing kesayangannya itu,ia menyampaikan pada suami dan anak-anaknya akan keinginanya untuk mengadopsi anjing lagi. Akhirnya, ia dan keluarganya pun memilih Milo. Anne merasakan ada koneksi dengan Milo saat mata mereka beradu. Diluar dugaan, Milo tak seperti yang Anne harapkan. Milo adalah anjing besar dominan galak yang butuh latihan khusus. Memoar ini akan menceritakan dengan detail perjuangan Anne dalam menaklukkan Milo dan membuat Milo lebih mudah untuk dicintai banyak orang. Berkali-kali Anne gagal dan punya keinginan mengembalikan Milo untuk dikembalikan ke pusat penampingan tapi akhirnya tak dilakukan. Sampai akhirnya perjuangannya berhasil dan pada saat Milo pergi selama-lamanya aku menangis berurai air mata. Aku terhanyut dalam memoar dan kebersamaan mereka. Tulisan anne membuatku sangat mengenal Milo dan merasa bahwa ia juga anjingku. Pada saat Milo diceritakan pergi, aku juga menangis karena merasa ditinggalkan. Aku bangga dengan Anne yang tak menyerah akan Milo dan Bangga pada Milo yang cerdas dan berhasil membuat Anne jatuh cinta padanya.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story appeals to me, because I also experienced the pain of loss and the struggles that come with growing up in a family, that is very demanding. Fighting depression and even loneliness (the feeling that never goes away even at times when surrounded by caring friends and relatives), was the core of my own life and it always a part of the healing to listen someone’s similar share.

It revolves around a person who grew up in a household with love deficiency, enduring emotional abuse from her parents even after she got married and started her own family. You can feel the weight of carrying such a burden, the constant battle to find love and acceptance in the midst of turmoil.

The story begins with a devastating and tragic event that impacts the entire family. Leading up to this incident, Anne, the main character, had never desired to have a dog, but one of her sons had been asking for it. On his tenth birthday, Anne finally gave in to his wishes, and Mattie, a dog becomes the source of a new love in Anne's life.

As the years pass and the children grow older, a dreadful accident occurs - Mattie is gone.

Aware of her susceptibility to depression, Anne decides to adopt another dog, Milo. In this decision, I see the resilience and hope that resides within us, even in the face of despair because it takes immense courage to open our hearts again after experiencing such pain.

Upon Milo's arrival, Anne soon discovers his aggressive nature, and the struggle to connect with Milo, to help him overcome his challenges, reminds me of the battles I have faced in my own life. Anne enrolls Milo in a dog training school.
She embarks on a long and challenging journey, which correlates with our own personal growth and transformation. It is a testament to belief that change is possible, even in the face of adversity.

Although Milo initially shows no interest in changing, Anne's determination eventually pays off. This is a reminder that with dedication and patience, we can overcome the hurdles that stand in our way and a testament to the resilience that lies within us, even when we feel defeated.

However, as we all know, the lifespan of a dog is tragically brief, and, when faced with another heart-wrenching loss, Anne questions whether she is willing and capable of risking another heartbreak.

In the end, this story is a reminder that despite the pain and hardships we face, there is always hope for healing, growth, and the capacity to love again - just like Anne finds comfort and love in the companionship of her dogs, we too can find strength and love amidst our own personal journeys.

[Kerry | KerryGetsLiterary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @shewritespress, Chris at @booksforwardpr, and author @annesimaabel for my ARC!

This is a book for dog lovers. But be warned, sometimes it's hard to read.

After growing up in an abusive home, Anne was determined to be a better parent than hers were. She also has severe depression. For years, her son wanted a dog, and she's always been able to avoid it with smaller pets like frogs and hamsters. She finally gives in on her son's tenth birthday and falls in love with little Mattie. After Mattie's sudden and tragic death, Anne's depression is swift and brutal. Attempting to cope, she immediately adopts a new dog named Milo, unknowing that he has been returned twice because of his aggressive behavior. But Anne doesn't return him, and she doesn't give up on giving Milo a good life.

As a dog lover, I very much appreciated Anne's determination and commitment to Milo. Too many dogs are abused and abandoned every day, failed by humans who are supposed to love them. While I didn't always agree with the training advice she received, I loved Anne's tenacity to help Milo and acceptance of her responsibility to provide the best life possible for him. Adopting an animal is not easy, especially one like Milo who needed tons of work and care. Anne's struggles and triumphs are relatable to anyone who has adopted a difficult dog, and to those who have experienced depression.

I enjoyed reading about Milo's progress. Every time he got it right, I internally cheered and outwardly smiled. I loved watching him improve with each training session.

⚠️Please note that this memoir opens with Mattie's tragic death and it is graphic and heartbreaking. There is also description of animal cruelty and abuse from the past, and child abuse.

While some parts are definitely difficult to read, the overall story is one of hope and will steal your heart. I both laughed and cried, and immediately hugged my babies when I finished. The only thing I wished it included were photos of the dogs!

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful and emotional story. We are who we are as a result of the experiences we have had along the way. the author share with her history of abuse and the horrors it entailed to the wonderful life she created with her beloved husband, two wonderful kids and her
fabulous Wheaten, Mattie. When Mattie is taken from her in a tragic manner, she becomes depressed and knows that though not the same, but that another dog may help to heal her broken heart. Their journey is difficult and frustrating, but with love, determination and a lot of help along the way they find a way to integrate the troubled pup into a safe and secure dog. Dogs like humans, are a both a product of nature and nurture and like with humans, love, constancy and kindness can change our lives. A very emotional read so have a box of tissues on hand as the little pocket back wont be enough. I did have a bit of a tough time when I read the first chapter. I knew it was about the loss of the authors soul dog, but when I read it was a Wheaten Terrier I lost it and had to put it down as I recently lost my 15.5 year old rescue Wheaten Terrier soul dog. Got her when she was 6 and she was the best girl ever so it took me a bit to be able to read a paragraph with bursting into tears. So glad I went back and finished. A beautiful story of life, resilience, love and how a dog can truly make our world so much better.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review. My gratitude to all who made this happen.

[Julie Busa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
The only negatives for me were:
1. I would have liked to hear more about Mattie.
2. The only reason I’m bringing this up is because I found it very distracting. The teenage children and the 20+ year old calling their parents mommy and daddy. It’s absolutely fine if they call their parents that, but I had to keep reminding myself that they weren’t small children.
3. Some of the training advice was questionable, but that was the norm back then.
Now the positives:
I know this story took place many years ago. The climate today when it comes to pets is at a point where people will not stand for a pet that’s anything less than perfect. The fact that Anne, who was not an experienced dog owner, and in no way prepared to deal with a difficult dog, stood by him and never once truly wavered, is admirable. Obviously, her upbringing played a factor in the decisions she made with Milo and in how she raised her children. Also, the instincts she had in how to manage and work with Milo were spot on. I very much admire Anne for not only not giving up on Milo, but loving him even when it was a struggle. Most people these days would have given up on him and he would have been euthanized. What a shame that would have been. Anne deserves all of the praise and accolades and I am deeply sorry she had parents that refused to recognize and acknowledge that. I’m thankful for the author sharing her story.

[AnaLisa Falvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I commend her for being able to keep such a violent dog. But I guess since by that point all her kids were teens/adults, it was less of a safety issue. I couldn't have done it I know that. She was resilient with Milo and was to her benefit. And after losing both Mattie and Milo, similarly to my reactions to losing 3 of my elderly dogs I had for 14 years in 13 months time myself was absolutely devastating and making a decision to want or need another dog is a tremendous decision. As a mom and a fur-mom, I completely get it. Though, I'm not entirely sure why she couldn't just accept and seek mental help when both dogs died. But she loved her dogs, and I appreciate the love we have for our animals. But there were just too many repetitive phrases and too many adjectives to describe the same things. There was a constant emphasis on being a good mom, and yet doing some things I question a good mother would do. I guess none of my issues are with the plot but the writing itself. If you can get past the writing, it's a good sweet story, but just the writing was just... not good.... At least for me. I did finish it in less than a day so it was a quick read!

Thank you to Goodreads for the ARC.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this was a very well written story about relationships, heartbreak, family, love and animals of course. I could feel a lot with Anne about being confused with handling a dog for the first time, following certain orders when they do not sit right with you, I could feel the misery when nothing works and you feel lost.

But.

It is not okay to cage a dog. It is not okay to refuse to walk a dog. It is not okay to use a shock collar. It is not okay to only ever let the dog out in the yard. It is not okay to work only on obedience training. It is not okay to want to be an alpha. It is not okay to mold a dog to your likeness. It is not okay to not give your dog a voice. It is not okay to use vinegar spray. It is not okay to yank a dog so much. It is not okay to push a knee in his chest even when it seems it hasn’t affected him. It has. It is not okay to not do research on dog’s mental health and just follow one dog trainer. Those kind of actions hurt dogs and finally they emotionally shut down.

Many not okays and I trully hope that what people take from this book is about the power of love, perseverance and building healthy relationship and NOT all the “tips and tricks” that Anne was taught in her doggy school and utterly made her believe that she did good with dogs.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Devoured it. Read it in a day. As an animal lover and mom to four furry, four-legged children, I could 100% relate with her feelings of elation as well as anguish as she navigated the highs and lows of living with her dogs.

My family was in a situation much like Anne’s: a child repeatedly asked for a dog, we repeatedly put her off for years, then COVID happened and we relented. We did a ton of research and ended up with the sweetest Shih Tzu, a dog who is nearly identical to Mattie in temperament. So, I fully felt everything she felt when describing Mattie and the tragic way in which she was taken from them.

I loved reading about Anne’s resilience with Milo, as I’m not so sure I would have been able to continue to work with him after he’d bitten two of my children but, like Anne, I don’t think I would have been able to send him back either. I just felt very immersed in Anne’s world and would happily read a follow up about her life with any future dogs. A must-read for animal lovers.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book "Mattie,Milo, and Me:A Memoir> by Anne Abel. Anne writes a loving book about her life with her dogs Mattie, a small Bichon frise, a sweet low maintenance little dog they had for seven years. Mattie tragically died when she was hit by a UPS driver. actually this was the very beginning of the book. The heartbroken family reminisce about the sweet well behaved little dog who gave them seven years of happiness. Anne decided they needed to get another dog immediately. So within days she goes to an animal rescue est. when she gets there the man who runs the place tells her he has a dog in mind for her. His name is Milo he is 18 months old and he feels she would be a good person to take him home. the family finds out right away that Milo a larger dog is very strong willed, can be aggressive and needs to learn to behave. The family enrolls Milo in classes for dogs to Learn how to behave. Anne is the one who will take Milo to months of classes to teach him to behave and be a "good dog" A nice read about a devoted woman who is working hard to get this rambunctious, dog to be a "Good boy" I enjoyed reading this book about Anne Abel's dogs.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Anne, for sharing your story and your love for dogs! This not only touched my heart but resonated with me and my experiences.

When Anne’s son begged for a dog, she had no idea how that would change her life. Mattie was a furball full of energy and love, always ready to greet Anne and the boys. But when Mattie was hit and killed by a driver, Anne was devastated and heartbroken.

Struggling with wanting to get a new dog to help ease the emptiness, yet not wanting to replace Mattie, Anne adopts Milo. But Milo is not as easy-natured as Mattie was - in fact, he even seems hard to love.

But because Anne stayed committed to training and loving Milo, he would become a treasured family member. This is a heartwarming story about how animals enrich and leave paw prints in our lives, and it speaks to how we must be responsible pet owners, too.

I am a huge dog lover and firmly believe in and support rescue, so again, thank you, Anne and your family, for loving Mattie, Milo, Ryan, and Sam.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @annesimaabel for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

[CindyGil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filed with moments of sadness and joy and describes how the narrator came to adopt Milo. The author is a gifted story teller. My only complaint is that the end felt like a hallmark movie which didn’t follow the general mode and pace of the story. I understand the need for a happy ending but given the journey of parenting two legged or four legged creatures we all know it’s all an open ended adventure. Still this is a minor complaint. I would have suggested hearing more about how Milo did over the latter part of his life instead of suddenly being unable to complete his daily wilderness treks due to cancer. Since Milo was getting regular care is this something vets don’t pick up on unless sudden symptoms appear? I guess I wanted more of Milo.
Similarly, I wish Mattie would have figured more in the narrative. I loved how the author brought her up throughout the story it made the reader feel like she was along for the journey.
In the end, I was felt grateful picking up this book. My reasons for reading it is that my kids want a dog too and I like Anne want to be a good parent and feel the urge to give in. The book has encouraged me to move forward and prep for it.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating memoir, highlighting two related strands: the author’s abuse-laden childhood (and beyond) and her proof that she could be competent, loved, loving, and strong and resilient.

Nestled between snippets of memory of her life growing up and too-long scenes of dogwalking, dogtraining, and dogdependence (I’m not a dog-owner, but care for the ones in my extended family), were the kernels of her truth coming to the fore.

That what comes before is but a prelude to the after.

But that the after is not set in stone. Or, as we learn, on asphalt.

While the book is sometimes tedious in its dogdetails, (I wish I could have added one more star), Anne, a long-ago friend, manages to make us feel her, feel for her, and ultimately root for the challenge to be met, providing us with an emotional treat for finishing these 274 pages that may last a bit longer than the rewards her dogs received for obeying her short and simple commands.

[Sonny Caterini · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is beach-read vibes (besides the fact that its kinda sad)
I don't want to be too harsh but I was sooo not into the writing style... the dialog made me cringe sooo hard! But also, that is kind of what made it enjoyable because it was so easy to read. I felt like a high schooler could have written it lol. It did remind me of how many different writing styles there are because I tend to veer towards writers with a similar style – which is very different from this book.
But I did like that it made me think so much about how different cats and dogs are because I am currently in my cat era. So it actually was lowkey useful in developing the syllabus I created about cats, which made it a worthwhile read. I got this book for free from the animal shelter I volunteer at, they just had a pile that said take one. Also of course she went to the new school I am plagued by new school writers idk how this keeps happening to me but it makes me laugh