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Before You Loved Me
To The Buddy Dog, Scarlett smells like strawberries and sunshine – a world away from the scents of danger, decay, and death that plagued his old life in Doha.
Rescuing him from a dog-fighting ring, Scarlett brings Buddy home to Dubai. With Scarlett, Buddy forgets what it feels like to be hungry, or have a foot kick him in his side, or to feel alone.
But he never forgets the smells. So, when Scarlett falls for the enigmatic Finn, Buddy can’t understand why she can’t smell the burning rubber and fizzing adrenaline emanating from him. But instead of running away, Scarlett gets trapped tighter and tighter in Finn’s grip.
Before You Loved Me is an uplifting tale about two journeys out of abuse and the profound impact of a dog’s unwavering love.
Rescuing him from a dog-fighting ring, Scarlett brings Buddy home to Dubai. With Scarlett, Buddy forgets what it feels like to be hungry, or have a foot kick him in his side, or to feel alone.
But he never forgets the smells. So, when Scarlett falls for the enigmatic Finn, Buddy can’t understand why she can’t smell the burning rubber and fizzing adrenaline emanating from him. But instead of running away, Scarlett gets trapped tighter and tighter in Finn’s grip.
Before You Loved Me is an uplifting tale about two journeys out of abuse and the profound impact of a dog’s unwavering love.
241 pages, Paperback
Published September 11, 2023
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 12, 2023
I was recently sent a copy of this by The Dreamwork Collective* to read and review…
Due to the recent events in the region, I was in no mood to read and put this book aside. A few weeks passed by and I had missed reading and missed heartwarming content, so I picked it up again after seeing another Bookstagrammer post about how much she was enjoying reading it.
And boy was I glad I picked it up again! It was exactly what I needed to read.
The book tells the heartbreaking, and heart-mending, story of the most adorable dog, The Buddy Dog. Yes, that’s his name: The Buddy Dog.
Told in the POV of the dog, which was extremely different and enjoyable to read, the story alternates timelines and settings taking us through Buddy’s history and present as well as the people, good and bad, he meets along the way.
I will keep this review spoiler-free, as I do with most of my reviews, and talk about the emotional roller coaster it took me on instead. I genuinely smiled, cried, felt anger, despair, sadness, grief and hope all while reading this. It was a needed reminder that life can be cruel sometimes and while we cannot always control what happens around us, we can always control how we react to it. Staying resilient and keeping faith in a better future are an absolute takeaway from this story.
I would like to commend Samantha Gregson, the author, for choosing to tell the story through Buddy’s point of view – it added a lot of context and a different take on how absorbed we can be in how we see the world. I loved how she captured Buddy’s innocence and interpretations of the happenings around him – it was very well done! She would describe a balding male head as “had no fur on it”, for example and this is how I always imagined dogs would frame things!
I also loved how relatable the setting is, from areas and countries we are familiar with, to references to current events and cultural norms. There was even a character named Rana and I smiled from ear to ear reading that as I have never read my name in a book before!
And don’t think I didn’t notice that Anna Karenina reference when Scarlett started reading to Buddy. That was a great surprise and yet another reason to love Scarlett and her character.
I highly recommend this book. It was a short, fun and extremely emotional read. As a dog mom and super fan, I might be biased but don’t take my word for it, read all the other reviews – they pretty much all say the same thing.
*The Dreamwork Collective is a publishing company based in Dubai, UAE.
Due to the recent events in the region, I was in no mood to read and put this book aside. A few weeks passed by and I had missed reading and missed heartwarming content, so I picked it up again after seeing another Bookstagrammer post about how much she was enjoying reading it.
And boy was I glad I picked it up again! It was exactly what I needed to read.
The book tells the heartbreaking, and heart-mending, story of the most adorable dog, The Buddy Dog. Yes, that’s his name: The Buddy Dog.
Told in the POV of the dog, which was extremely different and enjoyable to read, the story alternates timelines and settings taking us through Buddy’s history and present as well as the people, good and bad, he meets along the way.
I will keep this review spoiler-free, as I do with most of my reviews, and talk about the emotional roller coaster it took me on instead. I genuinely smiled, cried, felt anger, despair, sadness, grief and hope all while reading this. It was a needed reminder that life can be cruel sometimes and while we cannot always control what happens around us, we can always control how we react to it. Staying resilient and keeping faith in a better future are an absolute takeaway from this story.
I would like to commend Samantha Gregson, the author, for choosing to tell the story through Buddy’s point of view – it added a lot of context and a different take on how absorbed we can be in how we see the world. I loved how she captured Buddy’s innocence and interpretations of the happenings around him – it was very well done! She would describe a balding male head as “had no fur on it”, for example and this is how I always imagined dogs would frame things!
I also loved how relatable the setting is, from areas and countries we are familiar with, to references to current events and cultural norms. There was even a character named Rana and I smiled from ear to ear reading that as I have never read my name in a book before!
And don’t think I didn’t notice that Anna Karenina reference when Scarlett started reading to Buddy. That was a great surprise and yet another reason to love Scarlett and her character.
I highly recommend this book. It was a short, fun and extremely emotional read. As a dog mom and super fan, I might be biased but don’t take my word for it, read all the other reviews – they pretty much all say the same thing.
*The Dreamwork Collective is a publishing company based in Dubai, UAE.
March 14, 2025
Beautifully written story about the Budy Dog and his journey of finding Home. Takes you on an emotional roller coaster.
August 30, 2025
Fantastic book bringing the reader through the unforgettable journey of The Buddy Dog. Highs, lows & everything in between. Excellently written, would highly recommend & one I'm delighted to have on my bookshelf.
December 14, 2023
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Buddy Dog sure has had a rollercoaster of a life! Some of this was so depressing and sad that I had to stop reading and go read something happy. Some people can be so horrible!
There are heartwarming parts though so it is worth going back to.
The Buddy Dog sure has had a rollercoaster of a life! Some of this was so depressing and sad that I had to stop reading and go read something happy. Some people can be so horrible!
There are heartwarming parts though so it is worth going back to.
November 19, 2023
Rating: 4.5 stars!
"No good can come from chasing ghosts. Let the past stay in the past.."
Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to the author, Samantha Gregson, and The Dreamwork Collective for reaching out and sending me this book.
This is my first time reading a book with the POV of a dog, and it is truly amazing and heartfelt. The Buddy Dog is so adorable, and I admire his strong will despite all the terrible things that have happened to him.
Before You Loved Me tells the story of The Buddy Dog, who had been rescued from a fighting pit and found his family through Sarah. He was abandoned again, but was found and beloved by Scarlett.
There were sad, awful times, especially with what The Buddy Dog has been through. It reminded us how to not give up and strengthen your will despite all the terrible things that are happening. I was truly glad when he found his family with Scarlett and how, in return, he saved Scarlett as well.
All in all, it was an adorable story, it will make your heart warm and a fast read. Kudos to Ms. Samantha!
"No good can come from chasing ghosts. Let the past stay in the past.."
Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to the author, Samantha Gregson, and The Dreamwork Collective for reaching out and sending me this book.
This is my first time reading a book with the POV of a dog, and it is truly amazing and heartfelt. The Buddy Dog is so adorable, and I admire his strong will despite all the terrible things that have happened to him.
Before You Loved Me tells the story of The Buddy Dog, who had been rescued from a fighting pit and found his family through Sarah. He was abandoned again, but was found and beloved by Scarlett.
There were sad, awful times, especially with what The Buddy Dog has been through. It reminded us how to not give up and strengthen your will despite all the terrible things that are happening. I was truly glad when he found his family with Scarlett and how, in return, he saved Scarlett as well.
All in all, it was an adorable story, it will make your heart warm and a fast read. Kudos to Ms. Samantha!
October 20, 2023
Before You Loved Me by Samantha Gregson is the most beautiful contemporary novel about Maltese The Buddy Dog. I absolutely adored the book. This is a real treat for animal lovers everywhere. The Buddy Dog is based on the author’s own dog.
The story is about being rescued. The Buddy Dog is rescued several times and he is also responsible for the rescues of two humans.
The Buddy Dog had a terrible start in life and then he was rescued. He formed a beautiful bond with eleven year old Sara – and then life intervened.
The Buddy Dog knows all about bad homes and bad owners. He recognizes the badness in others and knows just who needs rescuing – whether it’s another dog, a rabbit or a human. The Buddy Dog has a huge heart, full of compassion. He is looking to give love and to be loved. He still believes in goodness even when he is alone. “Buddy wasn’t broken by his abuse. He learned to trust again.”
There is grief within the novel as Sara lost her Mum and she fears “if I don’t talk about her, I’m worried I’ll forget her.” Our loved ones live on in our hearts.
Grief hurts deeply. “Grief is not a disorder or an illness to be fought. It is the price we pay for love.” Love is always worth taking a chance on.
Hope is important. “When you no longer fear what’s next… it means you’ve lost hope… Never lose hope.” Without hope, we perish.
We see the diminishing of a character through emotional abuse and gaslighting. It takes strength to stand up for oneself.
The novel is written in the first person through the eyes of The Buddy Dog. Samantha Gregson has perfectly captured The Buddy Dog with her words. We feel like he is really speaking. We learn about the importance of smell to see who is a truly good character and who isn’t.
I adored Before You Loved Me. The Buddy Dog is a beautiful soul who when he loves, loves unconditionally.
Before You Loved Me is Samantha Gregson’s debut novel. I hope she writes much more.
I received a free copy via Book Sirens. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The story is about being rescued. The Buddy Dog is rescued several times and he is also responsible for the rescues of two humans.
The Buddy Dog had a terrible start in life and then he was rescued. He formed a beautiful bond with eleven year old Sara – and then life intervened.
The Buddy Dog knows all about bad homes and bad owners. He recognizes the badness in others and knows just who needs rescuing – whether it’s another dog, a rabbit or a human. The Buddy Dog has a huge heart, full of compassion. He is looking to give love and to be loved. He still believes in goodness even when he is alone. “Buddy wasn’t broken by his abuse. He learned to trust again.”
There is grief within the novel as Sara lost her Mum and she fears “if I don’t talk about her, I’m worried I’ll forget her.” Our loved ones live on in our hearts.
Grief hurts deeply. “Grief is not a disorder or an illness to be fought. It is the price we pay for love.” Love is always worth taking a chance on.
Hope is important. “When you no longer fear what’s next… it means you’ve lost hope… Never lose hope.” Without hope, we perish.
We see the diminishing of a character through emotional abuse and gaslighting. It takes strength to stand up for oneself.
The novel is written in the first person through the eyes of The Buddy Dog. Samantha Gregson has perfectly captured The Buddy Dog with her words. We feel like he is really speaking. We learn about the importance of smell to see who is a truly good character and who isn’t.
I adored Before You Loved Me. The Buddy Dog is a beautiful soul who when he loves, loves unconditionally.
Before You Loved Me is Samantha Gregson’s debut novel. I hope she writes much more.
I received a free copy via Book Sirens. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2023
Before You Loved Me by Samantha Gregson. I extend thanks to the author and publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy that was gifted to me.
The best part when I started reading this book was the elation I had when I realized the POV was Buddy's... the adorable Maltese mix main character, the dog. I love it. The author is clearly in touch with her canine side, much better then being in touch with your feminine side.
What a lovely albeit sometimes sad story that while it is about the dog world, the similarities to the trials and tribulations we face as humans is undeniable. Deep conversations happen about things like the meaning of life. The characters that are introduced have such robust descriptions, with each having well developed backstories. My personal favorites are Nibbles, Salsa, and The Captain. You'll have to read the story to see why.
They twist the story takes in present time was unexpected, emotional, and if I'm honest hurt my heart. I mean that as a compliment that the story evoked those strong emotions. No spoilers here but trust me when I say that the ending of this story is worth turning every page to get to it. In HIGHLY recommend this story. It helps that I own my very own Maltese. I look forward to finding other weekends by this author.
The best part when I started reading this book was the elation I had when I realized the POV was Buddy's... the adorable Maltese mix main character, the dog. I love it. The author is clearly in touch with her canine side, much better then being in touch with your feminine side.
What a lovely albeit sometimes sad story that while it is about the dog world, the similarities to the trials and tribulations we face as humans is undeniable. Deep conversations happen about things like the meaning of life. The characters that are introduced have such robust descriptions, with each having well developed backstories. My personal favorites are Nibbles, Salsa, and The Captain. You'll have to read the story to see why.
They twist the story takes in present time was unexpected, emotional, and if I'm honest hurt my heart. I mean that as a compliment that the story evoked those strong emotions. No spoilers here but trust me when I say that the ending of this story is worth turning every page to get to it. In HIGHLY recommend this story. It helps that I own my very own Maltese. I look forward to finding other weekends by this author.
October 11, 2023
How could I not want to read a book with a cover this cute? I love books told from the point of view of animal main characters and this one lived up to my expectations.
Rescued as a tiny puppy from a Doha pet souq, within a year The Buddy Boy's life as a beloved family pet is turned upside down and he suffers through periods of living in an animal shelter, unsuitable adoptions and life on the street before he is adopted by Scarlett, a young university professor. But a chance meeting with Finn risks the happiness of both Buddy and Scarlett.
Being able to experience the abuse of both Buddy and Scarlett from his perspective is unusual and intriguing. I genuinely had tears in my eyes at the ending of this novel and the ending was fantastic, uplifting and satisfying; a perfect cherry on top of the sundae of this book.
Rescued as a tiny puppy from a Doha pet souq, within a year The Buddy Boy's life as a beloved family pet is turned upside down and he suffers through periods of living in an animal shelter, unsuitable adoptions and life on the street before he is adopted by Scarlett, a young university professor. But a chance meeting with Finn risks the happiness of both Buddy and Scarlett.
Being able to experience the abuse of both Buddy and Scarlett from his perspective is unusual and intriguing. I genuinely had tears in my eyes at the ending of this novel and the ending was fantastic, uplifting and satisfying; a perfect cherry on top of the sundae of this book.
November 22, 2023
All pets, especially dogs, have the power to heal humans. You will feel the power of their love in this heartwarming story!
It was refreshing to read a human’s life narrated through a dog. I learnt so much about how dogs perceive emotions and why they react in a certain way in some situations. It was interesting to see how dogs decipher the smell of humans.
Buddy Dog’s strong will and positive attitude of never giving up was so motivating. After getting separated by his beloved humans, he still never loses hope and motivates other dogs in the shelter. This gave me so much strength and I will remember this story especially when I am going through a tough time.
This beautiful story made me cry. Highly recommended!
It was refreshing to read a human’s life narrated through a dog. I learnt so much about how dogs perceive emotions and why they react in a certain way in some situations. It was interesting to see how dogs decipher the smell of humans.
Buddy Dog’s strong will and positive attitude of never giving up was so motivating. After getting separated by his beloved humans, he still never loses hope and motivates other dogs in the shelter. This gave me so much strength and I will remember this story especially when I am going through a tough time.
This beautiful story made me cry. Highly recommended!
February 12, 2024
رواية تتحدث بلسان الكلب ورحلته من عند امه الى ان بيع في سوق الحيوانات في الدوحه الى الاشخاص الذين اشتروه والمصاعب التي واجهها مع البشر والنهاية السعيده
الرواية خفيفه ذات لغة سهله للمبتدئين في القراءة باللغة الانجليزية
رواية جميلة وسلسة بصراحه قضيت وقت ممتع جدا في قراءتها
احترمت في الكاتبه احترامها للدين الاسلامي وذكرها له في الرواية
انصح به وبشده
الرواية خفيفه ذات لغة سهله للمبتدئين في القراءة باللغة الانجليزية
رواية جميلة وسلسة بصراحه قضيت وقت ممتع جدا في قراءتها
احترمت في الكاتبه احترامها للدين الاسلامي وذكرها له في الرواية
انصح به وبشده
November 25, 2023
We don’t deserve dogs. 😭😭😭😭😭
I ugly cried and am now sobbing into my little white scruffy dog’s fur.
I ugly cried and am now sobbing into my little white scruffy dog’s fur.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews