Losing it All: Houseless, with Love, Dogs and Sausages

by Alexandra Lynn

Houseless with Love, Dogs and Sausages

During the recession of 2009, an average middle-class couple found themselves without a home. Their income was gone; bills were piling up. Three months later, the house went dark; the faucets were dry. A Foreclosure Notice was left on the door. They packed up everything that would fit in one truck and left their beloved home behind.

It was a race against time to find a job and a new home before they lost their only means of transportation as well. With no money, no credit or employment, things looked bleak. They needed jobs when nobody was hiring. They were willing to let it all go—all but their four dogs.

This book is about resilience, honor and dignity. It’s about friendship and best friends. It’s about love and marriage. It’s about the love we have for our pets.
Because giving up was not an option.

10 % of the proceeds of this book will be donated to non-profit charity organizations. The funds will be equally split between animal shelters that offer emergency foster-return-to-owner programs and www.isuportthegirls.org.

246 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2025

Reviews

[Ann Burgoyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me from the beginning. It’s a rare inside look at what can happen to your financial situation as a result of circumstances that are completely out of your control. The author shares the fear and uncertainty of having your comfortable world blow up around you, and the desperate moves necessary to hold your life together. This couple has four dogs, and are determined to keep them, which, after losing their home, is no small feat. Their amazing resilience and industriousness gets them through, but it isn’t an easy ride. Love and friendship are important ingredients in their formula for survival. The author lays bare emotional circumstances that could have easily claimed their spirits. It is an amazing story that will have you rooting for them at every turn.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I could not put this book down. It really makes you think and see things differently. I can't wait to read part 2.

[Darlene Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book, a true story about a normal couple living a comfortable life who, in a short amount of time, lose just about everything. It totally blindsides them, as it would many people. How they make it through and come out the other side is well documented by the author. The descriptions of her feelings are raw and true. At times, I wanted to scream, why did you do that? But then I wonder if I would have done the same under similar circumstances. The story is a test of friendships and marriage. I love that despite it all, they kept their dogs. There is some unnecessary repetition in the book, but that is minor. It is a good read and kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I admire the bravery and honesty of the author and the fact that the couple stuck together through it all. A test of true love. I recommend this book.

[cindy mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading LOSING IT ALL by Alexandra Lynn. It is the story of loss, friendship and love. It is a tale of perseverance in the face of adversity. Dog lovers will enjoy the endearing snippets of dog stories interwoven throughout the book. Alexandra Lynn has an enjoyable‘writer’s voice’. Reading this book felt like having a visit with a chatty friend who shared from the heart. Alexandra Lynn shared the ups and downs of job loss and homelessness, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This uplifting book perfectly illustrates the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. However, the thought of losing my home and belongings is unbearable, yet people and pets truly matter most. This book was an outstanding read, one that I would highly recommend to any avid reader.

[Margaret Agard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in two days

This memoir grabbed me. She wrote honestly with enough detail but not too much. As with all good memoir, she had a heart change.

[Colleen E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought about putting this book down a few chapters in. Boy, I’m glad I didn’t. The first chapters cover the feelings the author had regarding the devastation of losing everything and having to take refuge with a close friend. That’s a reminder that even if you do everything “right,” it can all go away in an instant. Then the story gets good. The most wonderful thing about the story of the author’s loss is also the story of the author’s gain. This is a picture of true friendship. As the author and her husband try to put their lives together in someone else’s home while creating someone else’s dream, the author must experience and confront the meaning of true friendship as well as the sacrifices that need to be confronted during tough times. The writing isn’t Hemmingway, but it’s real. It’s a good quick read that reminds you that there but for the grace of God go all of us.

[Dalva Estevao Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye Opener Story

This memoir left a lot of "what if" questions in my mind. If I ever lost my house, would I have a family member or a friend who would offer me a place to stay? Alexandra Lynn and her husband are such great examples of strength, love and determination. I highly recommend this memoir.

[Pamela R Durney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What honestly matters!

This book is so honest and touches your heart and soul because so many of us have experienced this kind of pain and yet come out the other side better humans because of it. I’m looking forward to the next story with great anticipation!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick read but it was filled with a range of emotions from sadness to rage. The part that warmed my heart the most was their absolute dedication to keep their dogs through all of their loss and financial hard times. Their friend Sandy’s kindness and generosity was life changing however she was also quite frustrating in her erratic behavior. Kurt was a first class loser as was Ben. I wish the story had included a few more details prior or them losing everything however I am invested In their story and look forward to reading part 2 when it is published.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember those years, 2008, 09, 10. I had graduated from grad school in 08. It was hard to find librarian work, but I did, only to get layed off in 2009 because of the economy. But my experience wasn't nearly as stressful as the author's and it was interesting to compare her experiences to my own. I'm glad she had somewhere to go, and I'm hoping she never has to face that kind of scary situation again.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really eye opening for those who have never experienced losing everything. It gives the reader a glimpse of how things can change in the blink of an eye, as in the author's case. This book is a tale of survival, uncertainty, resilience, love, friendship, and even ... making sausages! Well written and entertaining as she tells the story of their life. Easy to read, easy to follow. I definitely recommend this book, and look forward to the next one!

[Kasi Bury_Busy_Reader Bury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made you feel like the author was in the room, telling you her story herself. You are able to become so connected to the characters and what was happening to the point you just couldn't put the book down. It is crazy to think how close we all can be to losing it all too. the fear you could feel of having their lives held in others hands was so relatable. I am so invested and can't wait for the second volume to come out to see what happens next!

[Lisa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you lost everything? What would you walk away with and what would you leave behind when you only have space for what will fit in a car alongside your four dogs. Where would you go and how would you survive with no income, reliant on others for everything even toiletries and cigarettes, ‘like kids without an allowance’? How would you find a new job in a recession with no money for gas and no deposit for a new home? And how would you survive when all you have is each other?
Of course, all that couldn’t happen to you or me, could it? Yes, it could, and Alexandra Lynn’s moving memoir Losing it All, brings home just how easy someone ordinary can go from well-off to houseless, jobless, and destitute.
But, something wonderful happens in this book; between being rejected by family, used by friends and scammed by strangers, Lynn’s love for her husband and her dogs shines out like a beacon in the darkness at times, guiding their every move and eventually guiding them home.
A beautiful and thought-provoking read.

[Mari Schroedinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in examining what being unhoused often looks like in the US.
While we often think of homeless folks only as those who are sleeping rough or in shelters, the reality is hundreds of thousands of people are the uncounted homeless: living in cars, moving in with relatives, or couch surfing with friends. When people lose their housing, so do their pets, and very few shelters will let you bring your pets.
Loved and really identified with the struggles in this memoir, having experienced homelessness with a pet myself, it made me cry and really reminded me how far I've come and how lost I was.
Feelings of shame, fear, walking on eggshells around people who have taken you in, and just being really overwhelmed and hopeless are all super valid in my experience.
Also enjoyed their adventures in sausage making and the underlying love story.

[Debra Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of meeting the author and actually read the first half of the manuscript a while back. Couldn't put it down. The words just flowed. When I finished the first have I wanted more. Unfortunately the other half wasn't completed yet and she wanted sure she would finish. I said absolutely she should finish. This is a great story.

She contacted me a couple months ago, the book was finished and to be published. I got to read the second half of the manuscript! Such a heartfelt story on so many levels. Congrats. This book is so worth the read. Many people unfortunately go through homelessness/houseless, they just don't write about it. This book gives read insight as to what real people go through and the journey to recover their lives.

[Karen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading a first draft of this book and couldn't put it down. It was so exciting to hear it was in print! Read it again and enjoyed it even second time around. Had many things to make it interesting, including relatable people trying to find a way forward during trying times.