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Unnatural Selection
Meet Teddy, a dog who hasn't understood the assignment.
Instead of digging holes and fetching sticks, he prefers the trappings of humanity – a species he's convinced, against all biological evidence, includes himself.
But when his doting owner Maggie mysteriously vanishes, and Teddy is left in the care of the menacing man he suspects is behind her disappearance, his perfectly curated existence descends into a nightmare.
Determined to bring Maggie home, Teddy starts investigating, only to unearth a series of questions about his own identity: Why does rain terrify him? What’s with his insatiable need to be told he's a "good boy" every five seconds? And does he really like puppacinos, or has he just been conditioned to think he does?
Told through the eyes of an adorably unreliable narrator, Unnatural Selection examines our modern obsession with treating pets like people with heart, humor and wickedly clever insight.
If you enjoyed A Dog's Purpose or The Art of Racing in the Rain, you'll love this endearing tale of a dog's journey to find his place in the world, and the pecking order.
Instead of digging holes and fetching sticks, he prefers the trappings of humanity – a species he's convinced, against all biological evidence, includes himself.
But when his doting owner Maggie mysteriously vanishes, and Teddy is left in the care of the menacing man he suspects is behind her disappearance, his perfectly curated existence descends into a nightmare.
Determined to bring Maggie home, Teddy starts investigating, only to unearth a series of questions about his own identity: Why does rain terrify him? What’s with his insatiable need to be told he's a "good boy" every five seconds? And does he really like puppacinos, or has he just been conditioned to think he does?
Told through the eyes of an adorably unreliable narrator, Unnatural Selection examines our modern obsession with treating pets like people with heart, humor and wickedly clever insight.
If you enjoyed A Dog's Purpose or The Art of Racing in the Rain, you'll love this endearing tale of a dog's journey to find his place in the world, and the pecking order.
- GenresMystery
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2025
41 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 27, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary satirical fiction about a character with an identity crisis. Mostly quirky, fairly funny, somewhat reflective, a little distressing. Goes overboard in the final quarter. As long as you go with the flow and are prepared for some disturbing events, this book can be entertaining.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
The blurb (and my plot preview) go much beyond the initial 10-15% of the book. Maggie’s disappearance doesn’t happen until much later into the story. But until this point, there is barely anything concrete happening in the novel, with the chapters till then providing a kind of background into everyone’s individual situations.
That said, the blurb does contain one helpful line: “Unnatural Selection examines our modern obsession with treating pets like people with heart, humour and wickedly clever insight.” The book takes this concept and goes wild with it. So it would help to keep this line in mind to set the right expectations: a dog that behaves human.
As a dog lover, I grabbed this debut as soon as I saw that it came from a canine point of view. However, this isn't a typical pet story as Teddy doesn’t consider himself a pet, though he does know that he is a miniature goldendoodle. He is convinced that the world has people with four legs and people with two legs. As such, it is hilarious (and a bit awkward) to see Teddy’s declarations about his “relationship’ with his “partner” Maggie. Teddy’s vocabulary is also above par, thanks to his fondness for Netflix. (In fact, his vocabulary is better than that of most humans I know.) However, we soon see that Teddy’s confidence doesn’t exactly mean that his observations can be trusted.
To use a common fictional parlance, Teddy is an unreliable narrator, which forms the foundation of the comedy in this novel. Whatever Teddy says sounds true, but we know for sure that it isn't so. As such, there are two truths in this book: Teddy’s version and the actual version. Reconciling the two in our minds is fun. We can easily laugh at Teddy’s interpretation of events, though it is equally easy to feel sorry for him.
In between Teddy’s narration, we get to hear from the humans in Teddy’s circle – Maggie, Charlie, and their group of friends (none of whom was particularly endearing to me) – and learn what’s happening in their lives. We also get to hear from a pet therapist who himself needs therapy for his personal problems. These subplots lead to many digressions, some genuinely funny and some just annoying. Many of these scenes comes through text messages and emails. The text messages were fun; the emails required a lot of patience. If you read them through a satirical lens, they would make sense. If not, they wouldn’t seem like professional emails at all.
As you can guess, Teddy’s voice doesn’t sound canine for a major chunk of the book. The first quarter of the book worked excellently for me once I started reading it as a satire. However, the humour soon started to wear thin and the situations started feeling repetitive. The dog school sections were the most boring for me, even though I developed a soft corner for Bo, the misunderstood pitbull at Teddy’s daycare. Other than Bo, the only fabulous dog character was Patrick, with his age leading to a wisdom that Teddy lacks.
The book is still entertaining as there are bits and pieces of outstanding in between the good and the average. The final quarter, however, is what brought my rating majorly down. This is quite ironic because it is only in this section that Teddy finally learns about his true identity and role in Maggie’s life. I should have loved the dog’s finally becoming a dog. But the events that lead to this self-discovery were a bit dark and disturbing. We love dogs because they aren't like humans. So to see a dog turn almost humanly feral in his emotions was too much for me to handle.
All in all, despite that troubling final quarter, this debut indie novel still works as an entertaining satire. The storyline is not at all like those in typical doggy books; this creativity of the author deserves credit. However, it would be better to suspend all disbelief and just go with the flow while reading this unusual plot.
Recommended if you are looking for something whimsical and are okay with dogs going bonkers (in a human but not humane way.)
3 stars. (4 stars for the first quarter, 3 stars for the middle, 2 stars for the final quarter except for the ending which was again 3 stars. An easy score to average.)
My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing the DRC of “Unnatural Selection” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Teddington Miles aka Teddy lives a happy life with Millie. As she works from home, they spend many happy hours enjoying each other’s company. The only thorn in Teddy’s existence is Charlie, the unwelcome visitor who always turns Millie’s attention away from Teddy. When Millie suddenly vanishes one day, Teddy is sure that Charlie is the guilty party. He begins a secret investigation with the help of some trusted companions, but the truths that come out aren’t what Teddy expected.
The story comes to us in Teddy’s first-person perspective, with some epistolary interludes from the other characters.
Oh, and did I tell you that Teddy is a dog?
The blurb (and my plot preview) go much beyond the initial 10-15% of the book. Maggie’s disappearance doesn’t happen until much later into the story. But until this point, there is barely anything concrete happening in the novel, with the chapters till then providing a kind of background into everyone’s individual situations.
That said, the blurb does contain one helpful line: “Unnatural Selection examines our modern obsession with treating pets like people with heart, humour and wickedly clever insight.” The book takes this concept and goes wild with it. So it would help to keep this line in mind to set the right expectations: a dog that behaves human.
As a dog lover, I grabbed this debut as soon as I saw that it came from a canine point of view. However, this isn't a typical pet story as Teddy doesn’t consider himself a pet, though he does know that he is a miniature goldendoodle. He is convinced that the world has people with four legs and people with two legs. As such, it is hilarious (and a bit awkward) to see Teddy’s declarations about his “relationship’ with his “partner” Maggie. Teddy’s vocabulary is also above par, thanks to his fondness for Netflix. (In fact, his vocabulary is better than that of most humans I know.) However, we soon see that Teddy’s confidence doesn’t exactly mean that his observations can be trusted.
To use a common fictional parlance, Teddy is an unreliable narrator, which forms the foundation of the comedy in this novel. Whatever Teddy says sounds true, but we know for sure that it isn't so. As such, there are two truths in this book: Teddy’s version and the actual version. Reconciling the two in our minds is fun. We can easily laugh at Teddy’s interpretation of events, though it is equally easy to feel sorry for him.
In between Teddy’s narration, we get to hear from the humans in Teddy’s circle – Maggie, Charlie, and their group of friends (none of whom was particularly endearing to me) – and learn what’s happening in their lives. We also get to hear from a pet therapist who himself needs therapy for his personal problems. These subplots lead to many digressions, some genuinely funny and some just annoying. Many of these scenes comes through text messages and emails. The text messages were fun; the emails required a lot of patience. If you read them through a satirical lens, they would make sense. If not, they wouldn’t seem like professional emails at all.
As you can guess, Teddy’s voice doesn’t sound canine for a major chunk of the book. The first quarter of the book worked excellently for me once I started reading it as a satire. However, the humour soon started to wear thin and the situations started feeling repetitive. The dog school sections were the most boring for me, even though I developed a soft corner for Bo, the misunderstood pitbull at Teddy’s daycare. Other than Bo, the only fabulous dog character was Patrick, with his age leading to a wisdom that Teddy lacks.
The book is still entertaining as there are bits and pieces of outstanding in between the good and the average. The final quarter, however, is what brought my rating majorly down. This is quite ironic because it is only in this section that Teddy finally learns about his true identity and role in Maggie’s life. I should have loved the dog’s finally becoming a dog. But the events that lead to this self-discovery were a bit dark and disturbing. We love dogs because they aren't like humans. So to see a dog turn almost humanly feral in his emotions was too much for me to handle.
All in all, despite that troubling final quarter, this debut indie novel still works as an entertaining satire. The storyline is not at all like those in typical doggy books; this creativity of the author deserves credit. However, it would be better to suspend all disbelief and just go with the flow while reading this unusual plot.
Recommended if you are looking for something whimsical and are okay with dogs going bonkers (in a human but not humane way.)
3 stars. (4 stars for the first quarter, 3 stars for the middle, 2 stars for the final quarter except for the ending which was again 3 stars. An easy score to average.)
My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing the DRC of “Unnatural Selection” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 2, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the author for promotional purposes.
What a cute story told from the perspective of a dog! I love dogs so it was no surprise that I loved this book.
The story follows Teddy and his quest to find out what happened to his owner, Maggie. The book is told entirely through Teddy’s perspective with some emails and texts messages between the humans interspersed throughout. I loved seeing the world through Teddy’s eyes. He’s an incredibly unreliable narrator which made it all the more fun. The emails and texts from the humans were helpful in piecing together the story.
The book is very humorous, but still had a lot of heart. The core of the story is the relationship between human and dog and the story highlights that beautifully!
I loved seeing Teddy grow and understand the world around him. He started off very naive and sheltered but slowly grasped the reality of the world and tapped into his inner instincts.
The supporting characters, both humans and dogs, were all fantastic. I particularly loved Bo, a troubled dog Teddy meets at daycare. His backstory was heartbreaking and is sadly the reality for some dogs.
The writing style was wonderful. It had the right level of playfulness needed for a dog’s point of view.
Overall, this was a fun read. If you love dogs, you’ll love this one!
What a cute story told from the perspective of a dog! I love dogs so it was no surprise that I loved this book.
The story follows Teddy and his quest to find out what happened to his owner, Maggie. The book is told entirely through Teddy’s perspective with some emails and texts messages between the humans interspersed throughout. I loved seeing the world through Teddy’s eyes. He’s an incredibly unreliable narrator which made it all the more fun. The emails and texts from the humans were helpful in piecing together the story.
The book is very humorous, but still had a lot of heart. The core of the story is the relationship between human and dog and the story highlights that beautifully!
I loved seeing Teddy grow and understand the world around him. He started off very naive and sheltered but slowly grasped the reality of the world and tapped into his inner instincts.
The supporting characters, both humans and dogs, were all fantastic. I particularly loved Bo, a troubled dog Teddy meets at daycare. His backstory was heartbreaking and is sadly the reality for some dogs.
The writing style was wonderful. It had the right level of playfulness needed for a dog’s point of view.
Overall, this was a fun read. If you love dogs, you’ll love this one!
May 19, 2025
Thank you to Victory editing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my review.
This book had me feeling all emotions, I laughed and I cried. Any dog lover and owner will have their heart strings pulled while reading.
This book is told from the perspective of Teddy (a dog) as he goes through life in New York. The author captures the thought process of a dog so clearly- it’s exacting how I imagine my dogs perceive everyday life and how confusing it must be to them.
I wasn’t sure what I would think when I first started reading but this really is a great read for animal lovers and a very unique take on a dogs life!
This book had me feeling all emotions, I laughed and I cried. Any dog lover and owner will have their heart strings pulled while reading.
This book is told from the perspective of Teddy (a dog) as he goes through life in New York. The author captures the thought process of a dog so clearly- it’s exacting how I imagine my dogs perceive everyday life and how confusing it must be to them.
I wasn’t sure what I would think when I first started reading but this really is a great read for animal lovers and a very unique take on a dogs life!
May 28, 2025
Just loved this booked so much, it was so adorable! Similar in a way to the film Secret Life of Pets.
Meet Teddington Miles aka Teddy/Teddy bear, a 1 year old miniature golden doodle dog who loves his owner Maggie Miles and their life they lead together in New York 🇺🇸 however Teddy has quite a run of set backs which upset his perfect life enough that he blanks out! First Maggie announces to her friends and family that she has got a new job in an office (has been working from home for years), her boyfriend moves in with them, then shortly after she dissapears. There was a mess up with her visa (she's from Australia 🇦🇺) and she had to leave America but Teddy didn't know why or where she's gone and suspects her boyfriend has done something evil to her. He finds himself at Greenpoint Doggy Day School during the day, where he befriends some of the doggy pupils who help lend an ear to his fears and anxiety. Don't worry it comes to a heartwarming ending! As a passionate dog lover, with 2 spoilt rescue dogs myself, I could totally picture my dogs talking/thinking like Teddy did. It was so fun and cute, Teddy did go to a dark place mentally at one stage but things did turn around and he was back on cloud 9 again. A must read especially if you are an animal/dog lover. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Meet Teddington Miles aka Teddy/Teddy bear, a 1 year old miniature golden doodle dog who loves his owner Maggie Miles and their life they lead together in New York 🇺🇸 however Teddy has quite a run of set backs which upset his perfect life enough that he blanks out! First Maggie announces to her friends and family that she has got a new job in an office (has been working from home for years), her boyfriend moves in with them, then shortly after she dissapears. There was a mess up with her visa (she's from Australia 🇦🇺) and she had to leave America but Teddy didn't know why or where she's gone and suspects her boyfriend has done something evil to her. He finds himself at Greenpoint Doggy Day School during the day, where he befriends some of the doggy pupils who help lend an ear to his fears and anxiety. Don't worry it comes to a heartwarming ending! As a passionate dog lover, with 2 spoilt rescue dogs myself, I could totally picture my dogs talking/thinking like Teddy did. It was so fun and cute, Teddy did go to a dark place mentally at one stage but things did turn around and he was back on cloud 9 again. A must read especially if you are an animal/dog lover. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 19, 2025
Teddy is a dog but not just any dog, he a very special boy that portrays traits that are much more human and engaging than just doing normal doggy activities of daily walks and fetching balls. Teddy’s love for his owner Maggie goes much deeper, his insights into Maggie’s world are truly remarkable. When Maggie disappears Teddy's life is thrown into chaos and he is determined to find out the truth behind her disappearance.
To enjoy this book, you just need to go with it as it will be completely different to anything you have ever read before, and you need to open your mind and heart to enjoy it. A light-hearted that I do recommend if you are looking for something different. 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
To enjoy this book, you just need to go with it as it will be completely different to anything you have ever read before, and you need to open your mind and heart to enjoy it. A light-hearted that I do recommend if you are looking for something different. 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
May 21, 2025
This was such a cute read! I didn't know what to think about a dog that thinks he's human, but it worked so wel! Loved that the story not only showed the point t of view of Teddy (the dog), but some human points of view as well. It stayed relevant the whole time.
I really had to laugh alot during this, most of the text and e-mail exchanges are hilarious. And I really fell in love with Bo, he's amazing and shows how things aren't always the way they seem.
Thanks so much to Coco Cooper for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance and give my honest opinion about it.
I really had to laugh alot during this, most of the text and e-mail exchanges are hilarious. And I really fell in love with Bo, he's amazing and shows how things aren't always the way they seem.
Thanks so much to Coco Cooper for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance and give my honest opinion about it.
May 18, 2025
Thank you to Victory Editing (part of NetGalley, who I also extend a sincere thank you to) for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Unnatural Selection is absolutely adorable and sure to be a hit amongst fellow dog lovers. Told from the perspective of Teddy, a teddy bear of a puppy, but interspersed with communications (text, emails) between the humans in Teddy’s life, this book did a great job of imagining a dog’s point of view while having a plot that had plenty of tension from the human’s as well.
Teddy is the pampered dog of Maggie, who he is in love with. Like actually in love since he believes dogs are partners with their humans and in fact not dogs, but one species. He has a best (dog) friend Patrick who is wise, but even Patrick can’t help him when he goes through a series of traumatic events, from his nemesis Charlie moving in with Maggie, Maggie getting a non remote new job that places Teddy in doggy day care, and Maggie disappearing one day - at the suspected hands of Charlie, just to name a few. Teddy starts to experience dissociative episodes and in his search for the truth stumbles upon even bigger discoveries that will change the course of his life.
As mentioned, this was a treat. Imagining a view point of a dog has been tried before but not to this level of cuteness and ingenuity. Teddy isn’t alone but surrounded by his dog friends, so we get to see what they think of their lives and the happenings of their ‘partners’ along with the mystery that surrounds poor Teddy. I absolutely loved how Coco Cooper wrote a story that was both believable for pets and human, funny and emotionally fulfilling, and wrapped up so perfectly.
Unnatural Selection is absolutely adorable and sure to be a hit amongst fellow dog lovers. Told from the perspective of Teddy, a teddy bear of a puppy, but interspersed with communications (text, emails) between the humans in Teddy’s life, this book did a great job of imagining a dog’s point of view while having a plot that had plenty of tension from the human’s as well.
Teddy is the pampered dog of Maggie, who he is in love with. Like actually in love since he believes dogs are partners with their humans and in fact not dogs, but one species. He has a best (dog) friend Patrick who is wise, but even Patrick can’t help him when he goes through a series of traumatic events, from his nemesis Charlie moving in with Maggie, Maggie getting a non remote new job that places Teddy in doggy day care, and Maggie disappearing one day - at the suspected hands of Charlie, just to name a few. Teddy starts to experience dissociative episodes and in his search for the truth stumbles upon even bigger discoveries that will change the course of his life.
As mentioned, this was a treat. Imagining a view point of a dog has been tried before but not to this level of cuteness and ingenuity. Teddy isn’t alone but surrounded by his dog friends, so we get to see what they think of their lives and the happenings of their ‘partners’ along with the mystery that surrounds poor Teddy. I absolutely loved how Coco Cooper wrote a story that was both believable for pets and human, funny and emotionally fulfilling, and wrapped up so perfectly.
May 31, 2025
I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. This is an absolutely lovely story about a dog named Teddy finding his place in the world, through a lot of misconceptions about himself and his owners - all told from the dog's point of view, in his own voice. This isn't just a cute story about a cute little dog. The subject could just as easily have been a young child - except for the obviously dog behaviours of course! The message I loved most comes from the fact that, despite Teddy's terrible behaviour and biting episodes, his owners chose to understand the reasons for it and solve the problem. If Of course one has to suspend belief in what dogs understand of what they see and hear in the human world, but the author has written a story that was a joy to read - mostly! with an important message.
May 7, 2025
Wow, what a book. Upon starting it, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Unnatural Selection focuses on the point of view of a dog, Teddy, who has a wild (and somewhat realistic) imagination. The book is the personification of a dog, allowing the reader to indulge in what it may be like to be one. While certain elements are unexplainable to them, Teddy has an abundance of somewhat misguided information. When his owner Maddie disappears, Teddy begins to question the cause and indulges in wild conspiracies. As the reader, you have an omniscient perspective and understand why everything is happening. It was a fun and wild ride to witness Teddy work it out. All in all, Coco Cooper creates a funny story with characters with distinct personalities, making an enjoyable read. I finished the book in two-three days, found myself giggling, and didn't feel bored once.
If you ever wonder what it would be like to be a dog, I definitely would recommend! A silly story, with a fascinating premise, from a silly narrator.
Thank you for the ARC! It was a pleasure to read it :)
If you ever wonder what it would be like to be a dog, I definitely would recommend! A silly story, with a fascinating premise, from a silly narrator.
Thank you for the ARC! It was a pleasure to read it :)
May 8, 2025
Unnatural Selection is A wonderful novel by Coco Cooper. I thought that having Teddy, Maggie's dog, tell the story was clever. Maggie and her boyfriend, Charlie, are the main characters. Teddy goes through so much growth as a dog that I felt this was one if the best dog story I have read. I thought the author wove a story that screams "read me". If you like dogs and romance, you will want to enjoy this book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 12, 2025
This is a cute story, but it took me several chapters to get into it, because it felt juvenile reading about a dog and his life. The ending shows growth of the dog Teddy and finding his place in the pecking order of life. It was humorous, but lasted too long for this subject, still nothing I found 5 star worthy. Sorry nor the target audience. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
November 28, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Coco Cooper’s Unnatural Selection is a witty, imaginative, and surprisingly poignant novel told through the eyes of a dog who thinks he’s human, blending satire, mystery, and emotional depth into a truly original narrative.
🐾 This story introduces Teddy, a pampered dog who has never quite understood his role in the animal kingdom. Instead of chasing sticks or digging holes, Teddy prefers the rituals of human life—coffee runs, puppacinos, and constant reassurance that he’s a “good boy.” His world collapses when his beloved owner, Maggie, mysteriously vanishes, leaving him in the care of a man Teddy suspects is behind her disappearance.
This premise is both absurd and brilliant: a canine detective grappling with identity, loyalty, and survival, while navigating the limits of his own understanding of the human world.
🎭 Characterization & Themes
- Teddy: More than comic relief, Teddy is a lens through which Cooper explores themes of conditioning, identity, and dependence. His confusion about rain, his obsession with praise, and his human-like habits highlight the blurred line between instinct and socialization.
- Maggie: Though absent for much of the novel, her presence looms large, embodying both love and loss.
- The Captor: A menacing figure who forces Teddy to confront danger and agency, pushing the narrative into thriller territory.
Underlying the humor is a sharp critique of domestication and control—how beings, whether human or animal, are shaped by expectations and power dynamics.
📚 Cooper’s prose is playful yet layered, balancing laugh-out-loud absurdity with moments of genuine suspense. The narrative voice captures Teddy’s skewed logic, making readers complicit in his misunderstandings while also recognizing the darker truths he cannot fully grasp. This duality—comic innocence paired with sinister undertones—creates a unique reading experience.
The pacing is brisk, with short chapters that mirror Teddy’s attention span, yet the mystery unfolds with deliberate tension. Cooper avoids gimmicks, instead using Teddy’s perspective to highlight how much of human behavior is performative and strange when seen from the outside.
🌟 What makes Unnatural Selection stand out is its fusion of genres: part satire, part mystery, part psychological exploration. It’s not just a “dog book” or a quirky experiment; it’s a meditation on identity and survival disguised as a humorous thriller. Readers who enjoy offbeat narrators, unreliable perspectives, and stories that balance charm with unease will find it refreshing and memorable.
✅ Unnatural Selection is a bold, inventive novel that uses a dog’s voice to explore human absurdities, loyalty, and the unsettling nature of control. Coco Cooper delivers a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, proving that sometimes the most unlikely narrators reveal the deepest truths.
Coco Cooper’s Unnatural Selection is a witty, imaginative, and surprisingly poignant novel told through the eyes of a dog who thinks he’s human, blending satire, mystery, and emotional depth into a truly original narrative.
🐾 This story introduces Teddy, a pampered dog who has never quite understood his role in the animal kingdom. Instead of chasing sticks or digging holes, Teddy prefers the rituals of human life—coffee runs, puppacinos, and constant reassurance that he’s a “good boy.” His world collapses when his beloved owner, Maggie, mysteriously vanishes, leaving him in the care of a man Teddy suspects is behind her disappearance.
This premise is both absurd and brilliant: a canine detective grappling with identity, loyalty, and survival, while navigating the limits of his own understanding of the human world.
🎭 Characterization & Themes
- Teddy: More than comic relief, Teddy is a lens through which Cooper explores themes of conditioning, identity, and dependence. His confusion about rain, his obsession with praise, and his human-like habits highlight the blurred line between instinct and socialization.
- Maggie: Though absent for much of the novel, her presence looms large, embodying both love and loss.
- The Captor: A menacing figure who forces Teddy to confront danger and agency, pushing the narrative into thriller territory.
Underlying the humor is a sharp critique of domestication and control—how beings, whether human or animal, are shaped by expectations and power dynamics.
📚 Cooper’s prose is playful yet layered, balancing laugh-out-loud absurdity with moments of genuine suspense. The narrative voice captures Teddy’s skewed logic, making readers complicit in his misunderstandings while also recognizing the darker truths he cannot fully grasp. This duality—comic innocence paired with sinister undertones—creates a unique reading experience.
The pacing is brisk, with short chapters that mirror Teddy’s attention span, yet the mystery unfolds with deliberate tension. Cooper avoids gimmicks, instead using Teddy’s perspective to highlight how much of human behavior is performative and strange when seen from the outside.
🌟 What makes Unnatural Selection stand out is its fusion of genres: part satire, part mystery, part psychological exploration. It’s not just a “dog book” or a quirky experiment; it’s a meditation on identity and survival disguised as a humorous thriller. Readers who enjoy offbeat narrators, unreliable perspectives, and stories that balance charm with unease will find it refreshing and memorable.
✅ Unnatural Selection is a bold, inventive novel that uses a dog’s voice to explore human absurdities, loyalty, and the unsettling nature of control. Coco Cooper delivers a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, proving that sometimes the most unlikely narrators reveal the deepest truths.
June 9, 2025
After reading and enjoying a cat-centered book last month, I kind of felt like I owed the boys this one. And seriously, you all know there is no way I could resist an adult book told from a canine POV right?
Teddy has lived with his "girlfriend" Maggie for almost a year. During that time, Maggie as worked from home, so she and Teddy spend every waking moment together. But suddenly, Teddy's perfect life takes a turn for the worse. Maggie's "friend" Charlie who Teddy despises has moved in, and Maggie gets a job, and he finds himself in Doggy Daycare every day. Then one day Maggie vanishes. Teddy is sure Charlie has murdered her and sets out with his daycare friends and his other best friend Patrick to find out what has happened. Along the way, Teddy makes a few discoveries which shake him to the core including some animal instincts which he didn't even know he possessed.
While this book sounds really darn cute, don't be fooled. Even though told from Teddy's POV, the author handles some serious topics and manages to delve into the lives of Maggie's found family. Clearly the author is highlighting how important pets are to so many people but also looks at it from the dog's POV showing just how extreme some people can be (yep, me, I'm one of those extreme ones 😂).
But let me share one of my favorite things about this book - Bo. Bo is an abused pit-bull that attends Teddy's daycare. Bo and Teddy get off on the wrong paw and despite numerous warnings, Teddy continues to get on Bo's bad side. However, Teddy learns over the course of the book why Bo is so negative and why he is so skeptical of the humans Teddy holds so dear. At one point I thought Teddy was a goner because he was a stubborn little thing and kept asking Bo how to get rid of Charlie. And by get rid of, I mean kill.
Overall, this was a wonderful read, and I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and loves to spoil their four-legged family members. It may be too much to ask but I really hope the author continues with this writing style and gives us a book featuring more of Bo's story.
Teddy has lived with his "girlfriend" Maggie for almost a year. During that time, Maggie as worked from home, so she and Teddy spend every waking moment together. But suddenly, Teddy's perfect life takes a turn for the worse. Maggie's "friend" Charlie who Teddy despises has moved in, and Maggie gets a job, and he finds himself in Doggy Daycare every day. Then one day Maggie vanishes. Teddy is sure Charlie has murdered her and sets out with his daycare friends and his other best friend Patrick to find out what has happened. Along the way, Teddy makes a few discoveries which shake him to the core including some animal instincts which he didn't even know he possessed.
While this book sounds really darn cute, don't be fooled. Even though told from Teddy's POV, the author handles some serious topics and manages to delve into the lives of Maggie's found family. Clearly the author is highlighting how important pets are to so many people but also looks at it from the dog's POV showing just how extreme some people can be (yep, me, I'm one of those extreme ones 😂).
But let me share one of my favorite things about this book - Bo. Bo is an abused pit-bull that attends Teddy's daycare. Bo and Teddy get off on the wrong paw and despite numerous warnings, Teddy continues to get on Bo's bad side. However, Teddy learns over the course of the book why Bo is so negative and why he is so skeptical of the humans Teddy holds so dear. At one point I thought Teddy was a goner because he was a stubborn little thing and kept asking Bo how to get rid of Charlie. And by get rid of, I mean kill.
Overall, this was a wonderful read, and I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and loves to spoil their four-legged family members. It may be too much to ask but I really hope the author continues with this writing style and gives us a book featuring more of Bo's story.
June 3, 2025
Meet Teddy and his girlfriend/soul-mate Maggie. They have a loving and close relationship, cohabitating and spending all of their time together. But...Ted not only doesn't know he's a dog, he also doesn't know he's a pet. Add Maggie's human boyfriend/interloper Charlie into the mix, and Teddy has a hard time controlling himself. And poor Teddy's emotions are completely upended when he learns Maggie is returning to office work and destroying their previously idyllic work-from-home codependent existence. Then it's just one existential crisis after another for Teddy as his life keeps changing without warning and he tries to make sense out of his world. This was a cute premise and a quick read that was cleverly done, written almost exclusively from Teddy's POV. It was easy to get swept up in Teddy's version of events, there was both humor and angst and I felt for him in his confusion and worry over what happened to Maggie. I will say it was darker in parts than I expected, and it got more than a little unsettling at one point as Teddy really struggles with his feelings. (Pay attention to any content warnings.) While I do think it was clever to switch perspectives from a "two-legger" to a "four-legger" POV, the "non-human-but-thinks-he's-a-human" gimmick started to wear a little thin over the course of the book, although I did generally enjoy Teddy's perspective. I think this is a great book for dog lovers, or for those who have ever wondered what dogs really think of their lives and those around them. 3.5 stars. Publishes June 13, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC, all opinions are my own.
May 10, 2025
Teddy dotes on his human mom, Maggie. He loves that she works from home as she is always around. Life is comfy. But Teddy doesn't feel the same about her boyfriend, Charlie. Life circumstances change and Teddy meets other dogs with whom he can communicate in their special way. Suddenly, Maggie disappears leaving Teddy reeling, confused and questioning life. He seeks love in other things and discovers more about himself, other animals, and humans on his journey. He discovers the meaning of family and home. To me his search is allegorical.
The adorable story is narrated by Teddy interspersed with chapters told by human characters, including hilarious email and text exchanges which made me chuckle out loud. The HR emails killed me! I'm giggling just typing this. What stands out to me most as a passionate dog owner is the depth of love and adoration and loyalty between humans and their dogs, a very special kind of relationship. As Teddy says, his people chose to love him. That hit my heart. This was a fantastic book which would appeal to animal people in particular. My only quibble is unnecessary language which felt out of place. Otherwise, the writing is gorgeous and thoughtful with an excellent balance of light and deep topics, simultaneously heartwarming and thought provoking.
The adorable story is narrated by Teddy interspersed with chapters told by human characters, including hilarious email and text exchanges which made me chuckle out loud. The HR emails killed me! I'm giggling just typing this. What stands out to me most as a passionate dog owner is the depth of love and adoration and loyalty between humans and their dogs, a very special kind of relationship. As Teddy says, his people chose to love him. That hit my heart. This was a fantastic book which would appeal to animal people in particular. My only quibble is unnecessary language which felt out of place. Otherwise, the writing is gorgeous and thoughtful with an excellent balance of light and deep topics, simultaneously heartwarming and thought provoking.
October 9, 2025
This was such a cute read! I didn't know what to think about a dog that thinks he's human, but it worked so wel! Loved that the story not only showed the point t of view of Teddy (the dog), but some human points of view as well. It stayed relevant the whole time.
I really had to laugh alot during this, most of the text and e-mail exchanges are hilarious. And I really fell in love with Bo, he's amazing and shows how things aren't always the way they seem.
Thanks so much to Coco Cooper for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance and give my honest opinion about it.
I really had to laugh alot during this, most of the text and e-mail exchanges are hilarious. And I really fell in love with Bo, he's amazing and shows how things aren't always the way they seem.
Thanks so much to Coco Cooper for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance and give my honest opinion about it.
January 6, 2026
I stumbled upon this book on my ereader and I was hooked instantly. This book reminded me of my love for reading and writing because of the way the author had me so invested in this dogs life, making me rethink my perspectives, and even hating Charlie with him up until the very end. This book made me laugh, cry and feel all the feels. This book is an amazing example of how a great writer can make any topic a harrowing page turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
This was not the first book I've read told from a dog's point of view, but it was unique in that it's the first I've come across in which the dog believed himself to be a human. A fun premise, but it did take me a while to feel like I was really getting into the story. Once I was about halfway through, though, I was there and it was pretty cute. Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC!
January 5, 2026
This story was okay. Cute enough, but actually got boring and repetitive at times… many times. This book was self-published, and I guess the author didn’t hire an (adequate) editor because there’s a LOT of missing punctuation and formatting errors in the ebook.
June 23, 2025
Stumbled across this delightful read. Well written, captivating story, characters you both love and hate. If you know anyone with a pet, especially a dog, recommend this book.
July 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this! The plot and POV from the dog was unique and led down some interesting paths regarding relationships even if it’s between a dog and his owner. There were plenty of insightful and sad moments which I didn’t expect but there are just as many really funny moments too.
October 8, 2025
What a heartwarming sweet story told from a dog’s perspective! I loved some of the dog personalities and dialog was very funny. If you are a dog lover, you will love this book!
October 9, 2025
“Unnatural Selection” by Coco Cooper is one of the funniest books that I’ve read this year! Reading the book from Teddy’s perspective, had me laughing out loud the whole time!
Highly recommend this lighthearted novel for anyone that is looking for a laugh - and a dog’s perspective on life!
Thank you to NetGalley and Coco Cooper for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Highly recommend this lighthearted novel for anyone that is looking for a laugh - and a dog’s perspective on life!
Thank you to NetGalley and Coco Cooper for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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