Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About: A Memoir

by Isabel Klee

From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee—known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue—comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman’s search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it.

A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she got her chance, ditching her college upstate for Marymount Manhattan and moving into a tiny basement apartment on the Upper East Side. Dog-obsessed since childhood, her first post-grad job was managing content for the mega-popular account The Dogist, and something clicked into a career focused on helping dogs was the new dream.

Isabel quickly found a passion for using her own growing platform to help rescue pups find their forever homes. At the same time, she was caught up in a whirlwind of friendships, parties, fickle boyfriends and grand romances, which she recounts in honest, tender, and sometimes devastating chapters about the search for love and belonging.

Isabel’s first true love, though, was Simon, a fluffy puppy who’d been saved from the meat trade. As the highs and lows of this classically-turbulent decade hit Isabel in wave after wave, it was Simon who kept her grounded. Together, Isabel and Simon created an online community of dog-lovers, fellow foster advocates, and girls just trying to get through the trenches of their twenties.

In this adorable and moving memoir, Isabel weaves together the stories of her foster dogs—and the challenges she helped them overcome—with tales of bad dates, hard decisions, and great loves in New York City, all leading to a happy ending not only for the rescue pups, but for Isabel herself.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Dogs, Biography, Animals, Biography Memoir

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Isabel Klee is a writer and content creator. She documents her experiences rehabilitating dogs on social media through her writing and storytelling. She lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé, Jacob, her dog, Simon, and a rotating cast of foster dogs.

Reviews

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy sigh. This book reminded me of why I don’t read memoirs. I have followed Isabell for a while
And highly adore and respect the work she does with dogs……. BUT….. this book actually made me like her less. It made me feel like I was listening to the life story of a spoiled girl with a trust fund. She ran from every hard thing. And listening to her talk about relationships was insufferable. I’m shook that she broke up with Jacob for an entire year because he wasn’t obsessed with her. Seriously????? What job did she have besides a part time pet photographer to afford her lifestyle? This isn’t real life. I actually wish I hadn’t read this. The only Parts I enjoyed were about the dogs. I’m truly astounded this is going to be made into a tv series.

[Karla L · Rating 3 out of 5]

too much about boys and not enough about dogs

[lana]

the cover alone has me crying... LIKEEE what do you mean tiki is on it 🥺🥺🥺... it's really over for me (positively)

[Lisa Cianci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to love it, but didn’t

I’m being generous giving this book a three-star review, and that’s because I have been following the author on TikTok for a long time, and I love her commitment to fostering dogs. I really fault her editor(s) for the problems in this book. Only a few pages in was the most used and mocked cliche in books: I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. At that point, I knew this was going to be a rough read. Cliche after cliche, excessive (and unimportant) descriptions, and — most problematic — time jumping back and forth with no clear pattern that made it impossible to get onboard with a narrative. It was also a bit dishonest. Although not explicit, the parts about fostering dogs were interspersed in ways that made it align with what was going on in the author’s life. For example, the book made it sound like she was fostering Tiki, probably her most famous rescue dog, when she was alone. But her followers know she was with Jacob. As I said, in the hands of a good editor, this could have been an amazing book. But it really fell short, unfortunately.

[❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Isabel on TikTok for a while now and completely fell in love with the stories of all her fosters. I’ve loved watching each dog find their forever home and I’ve admired everything she does for them. This book was no different.
I was so excited to be approved for an ARC and I ended up finishing it in a day. This memoir is beautiful, heartbreaking, and full of so much strength. Isabel takes us through her young adulthood in New York City as she navigates friendships, relationships, and the messy, confusing parts of figuring out who you are, all while changing the lives of dogs in need. I loved how Isabel’s writing shows the way dogs anchor us when everything else feels unsteady. How they’re a constant when it feels like the world around us is falling apart.
My only tiny quip was the format in a few places. The timeline jumped around in a couple of places which briefly threw me off but it took nothing away from my experience or my five star rating.
As someone who loves dogs and works with them every day, Isabel’s story was very touching and it was an honor to read this memoir before it officially enters the world. I admire Isabel and everyone like her so much for the work they do.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to get this ARC — I’ve been following Isabel’s journey in dog rescue for years and really enjoy her content.

Overall, I found this book to be pretty uneven. She writes well about the dogs that have shaped her life and I found those parts moving. The romance felt kind of shoe horned in and the writing about relationships just felt young and immature.

Overall, I think this book will appeal to readers who know and love Isabel and Simon. Maybe I’m just a little too old to be charmed by her love stories. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. I really struggled to get through this book and honestly was very disappointed in the content. I follow Isabelle on IG and love her dog content. She has done so many wonderful things in the area of educating and inspiring others to foster dogs and see them in a different light. A true hero. A book that extended her foster knowledge and told more in-depth stories about them was what I was expecting. That would have been interesting, enlightening and fun. She could have sprinkled some of her personal life throughout. This book sadly was 90% personal and just so juvenile and I’m not really even sure what the purpose of it was. It primarily focused on her dating days, her immature decisions, her desperation for a boyfriend and it’s not something I’m really interested in. Oh and the cringe factor “I let out of breath I didn’t know I was holding “. Really Isabelle? Ugh. I heard her saying in an interview that she deliberately left out any reference to her IG profile and now I see why. This book really has little to do with dogs, rescuing and fostering and everything to do with her.

[Rachel Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a really tough time getting into this which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to reading it. Timeline felt choppy and difficult to follow.

[Lauren W · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Dogs are everything.🤍 What a special book. Highly recommended for any dog lover or memoir enthusiast.


“That's the magic of dogs. The simple unrelenting magic is that they don't even have to try. They heal just by existing. Reminding us to live life to the fullest, because, what is life but taking long walks, eating good food, and spending time with the people you love the most.”

[Kat Harron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it will make a fine TV show, unfortunately though, it’s littered with poor grammatical choices, tired metaphors, and glaring inconsistencies.

Did her childhood dog, Ruby, live until Isabel was 16 or 17? (Page 162- ruby died when I was 16. Page 163- I was 17 myself when ruby died)

I love Isabel’s content and really wanted this to be a win. Unfortunately it teetered to being a DNF because I found it hard to get through. A more tight edit would have helped this book find its feet, instead it flails.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Isabel’s Instagram and I enjoyed all the stories about the dogs. I don’t know how to say this in a way that doesn’t sound offensive but I really feel like this was a book about pretty privilege (and privilege in general!) and the opportunities this affords. The story about her breakup with Jacob was rough!!! Also found the narrative/timeline extremely confusing.

[Silvy (silvylinings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“other things i’ve cried about” includes EVERY CHAPTER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AGONIZING WONDERFUL BRILLIANT BOOK. so grateful to live in a world where there are isabels. so grateful to live in a world where there are dogs.

a bazillion stars. full review coming when i regain non-crying use of my eyeballs

[EaP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why I thought the dog influencer’s memoir would be about the ins and outs of fostering dogs and working for a dog photographer, and running a dog social media account, in parallel to stories about her life, but man was I mistaken. This book could have been called Boys and other Boys I cried About. This was just a chronicle of her dating history, with questionable editing. As a fan of her socials I’m disappointed in the content. If you love alcohol and toxic relationships, this one’s for you.

[Afton]

Fans of “Simon Sits” will love this memoir! Isabel is raw, real, and down right relatable. She was much more open than I was expecting and it was really refreshing. Absolutely adored the audio version of this book!

[Karen.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cute and very entertaining, especially about the rescue dogs.
With having worked with rescue dogs and high anxiety dogs for years I completely related to all the work and complete fulfillment it brings.

[AnnaLeah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Very heartwarming and enjoyable but there were too many cliche lines for my liking & even some unclear time jumps.
If ‘a smile broke his face wide open’ and ‘let a breath go I didn’t know I was holding’ doesn’t bother you then you can certainly enjoy this memoir.

I am confused about when her childhood dog died - first it says she was sixteen then a paragraph later that she was seventeen. These kind of inconsistencies are just too distracting! Anyone else notice this?

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never heard of this author before but heard she did a lot of fostering so gave the book a try. As I LOVE fostering myself and love rescue animals. I thought by the title especially that the book would involve a lot of content about fostering when in reality it was very little of the book. It is more about her none stop “dating for sport” (as she put it) and her endless roommates/living situations. Guy after guy after guys. She came off as extremely insensitive and privileged. She is talking about COVID in NYC and the endless deaths and then complains how unfair it was that it happened in her 20’s when all she wanted to do is go the the bar and put on a “slutty outfit”, drink, and find guys. What a wild thing to complain about when people were losing family members and healthcare professionals were facing (and still are facing PTSD from it) extreme trauma from what they saw. The timeline also jumps all over the place. She will talk briefly about a dog abruptly cut off the topic and go back to talking about whatever guy she was with at the time. Also, inconsistent writing- she states her childhood dog died when she was 16 and then a few pages later says the dog died when she was 17. How was that not corrected when editing. Debated DNFing half way through and wish I listened to myself and stopped then. Felt like a missed opportunity for someone who fosters to use this book more to encourage others to foster and help dogs in shelters.

[Shella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Isabel for a long time, and I had high, high hopes for this book, maybe too high?

Isabel’s writing style is extremely descriptive with a rose tinted lens + a wholesome filter, which without a meaty story to support, the overall book felt quite hollow, to me. Too many stories of her dating life and unhealthy relationships with…boys, which reminded me a little bit 🤏 of Carrie Bradshaw?

Some of the dog stories were woven in, but not in chronological order, which made the flow pretty confusing.

Overall a fairly light read, but not for me.

[Charles Binion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an early edition in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book because of its beautiful cover and irresistible title, but what kept me turning the pages, and brought me to tears (more than once!), was Isabel Klee’s heartfelt story.

Having recently lost my family dog, Harper, her reflections on the profound impact dogs have on our lives hit incredibly close to home. Isabel’s experiences with Simon and her many foster pups made my heart swoon, break, and swell with joy as they found healing and new homes. As someone close in age to Isabel and also living in New York City, her stories about friendship, love, and navigating the city in your twenties felt strikingly familiar and deeply comforting.

This memoir is a reminder of how dogs steady us through life’s chaos and how love, whether from a pet, a partner, or a friend - shapes who we become. Brava, Isabel. You’ve gained a new fan! And on a personal note: I’ll be running the 2026 NYC Marathon with PAWS, in honor of Harper and all our beloved fur babies! 🐶🐕🐾❤️

[imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

things ive cried about: this book. isabel writes a wonderfully full world, taking us through her fosters, her relationships, her connection to new york, her memories growing up, and all of it was beautifully written. i genuinely teared up so many times, especially when she spoke about losing her childhood dog, and the change she felt in herself as she experience real tangible grief for the first time. if you love dogs you should definitely read this!!

[b. ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one’s for the lover girls who cry watching pet-owner reunion videos online and browse shelter adoption sites knowing damn well another animal will not fit into their modest apartment in the city

[Jemima Giu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this tried to be the next “Everything I know about Love” but it just did not work for me. At times it was entertaining but did not offer any new or helpful insight on friendships, relationships in general – or even the dogs (if you follow her on Instagram, the chapters about her foster dogs will already be familiar to you).

At one point, she mentions casually hanging out with a friend, reflecting that as soon as she’ll have a boyfriend, these casual meet-ups with her friend won’t happen anymore, which is why she should enjoy this moment… I found this quite a weird take on friendship.

I think this might work better as a TV show (which is already in the works), so I’ll probably give that a try once it’s out.

[Samantha (ladybug.books)]

Like many other people on the internet, I fell in love with Tiki the second Isabel shared him on her TikTok. But it was actually Simon's journey that captured my heart the most. I have my own dog with lightning in his brain. My family's journey with our dog Kota closely resembles what Isabel has shared of her experience with Simon. Dozens of pills at specific times, clusters of seizures that break through regardless, blood tests to see if the pills that he needs to survive are putting too much strain on his liver, and so much more. To see another dog with such a similar experience, to see him live such a full life with so much love and joy, resonates deeply with me. It has always made the videos that Isabel shares about Simon and his many foster siblings feel that much more personal. I was incredibly grateful to be able to read an early copy of this. It was lovely to be able to hear Isabel share her journey with us via audiobook.

Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About was a touching memoir. Though there were more boys and fewer dogs than I expected, this is a beautiful exploration of love, growth, change, and the unique role that dogs play in our lives. Love, in its many forms, ties every moment of Isabel's story together. She perfectly captures what it feels like to be loved, wholly and unconditionally, by a dog.

There is so much vulnerability and care in the way that Isabel shares her journey of self-discovery. The anxiety and loneliness that come with growing into yourself. My mom and I cried many times listening to this book and hugged our dogs extra tight.

I do not rate non-fiction reads.

Thank you so much, William Morrow, for the ALC.

[Emily Poche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee is the memoir of the author’s late teens through the beginning of her thirties. Formerly an assistant to The Dogist, she’s an avid dog foster parent and contributes to various animal related publications across the web. The memoir focuses heavily on her background with dog fostering and relationships.

In general, I think that I’d be able to recommend this book to a wide audience of people. It features things people love, like a generally positive story and plenty of dog anecdotes.

Unfortunately the reason I’d be able to recommend it is that while it’s ultimately pleasant and inoffensive, it’s also relatively free of substance. The author effectively makes three main points:
1. Dogs are great! They really enrich your life.
2. Female friendship in NY in your 20s is fun!
3. Relationships with straight men are fun but also very emotionally daunting but ultimately worth it!

The author, to her credit, writes with a style that’s polished and economical. It doesn’t stretch to faux-profundity nor make any wild claims of grandeur.

The book isn’t bad, or tedious. It just is really fluffy and low impact. I really do think that for people who love animals and already follow Klee on one of her social media platforms that it could be a worthwhile read. However, it just was not something that I would gush over to people who prefer memoirs that have a more introspective or event-driven story. 3/5 stars, dogs are pretty great.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Audio and Netgalley for the ALC <3

"The dog who was the sole reason you got out of bed in the morning and simply sat with you, made the world seem not so scary ….. who now has white hair sprinkled around their eyes …." - The dedication alone.. PAIN

"The comfortable silence between a girl and a dog who'd never had a true conversation but loved each other very deeply. Loving a dog is proof alone that actions speak louder than words. You exist together, a back and forth, a give and take, as fluid and reliable as the lap of a wave along a shoreline. You sleep together, eat together, walk together, love together, and your commitment to each other never has to be stated; it just is. You get to know each other through living, the careful observations of two beings who want to understand. It's why you know exactly when your dog is hurting, their gait is off, they won't eat their favorite treat, they're sleeping more, their paws sensitive to the touch. You know this without words because you paid attention. "
- THIS QUOTE oh my lord

"That's the magic of dogs. The simple, unrelenting magic is that they don't even have to try. They heal just by existing. Reminding us to live life to the fullest, because what is life but taking long walks, eating good food, and spending time with the people you love the most."

"Just because a guy is kind to you doesn’t mean he’s the love of your life"

This book is the epitome of being a girl in your 20s, navigating love and friendships, and having your soul dog there for the ride. What an amazing memoir. I saw myself so much in Isabel and the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, was an amazing experience.

[Elena Corbat · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to stop reading on the train because I didn't want to cry in public

[Brianna Perfetuo]

File this under Dogs boys and other BOOKS I’ve cried about

[Kathleen O'brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this and finally gave up 75% of the way through. I found the story incredibly mundane and dull. Why did this woman think she needed to write a memoir about a very ordinary time in her 20s living in nyc? Honestly baffling.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book made me laugh and cry and warmed my heart so much!!!

[Morgan]

What a lovely debut!

I've been a huge fan of Isabel and her work with foster dogs. This was entirely too relatable, extremely tender, and an emotional ride.