Canine Custody

by Gary Goldstein

Meet Layla and Franklin Bishop. They're a married Los Angeles pair in their late thirties whose twelve-year relationship began like a house on fire-but now all that's left are the dying embers. When a maddening incident involving a fender bender, a gushing Hydro Flask, and their back-seated dog, Betty, becomes the last straw for the teetering spouses, they impulsively separate.

Money, work matters, and property issues quickly complicate things. But when Layla and Franklin each demand full custody of Betty, the road to divorce gets impossibly bumpy, even with the help of a tough-love mediator. Parents, friends, and potential new romantic partners are along for the twisty ride, as Layla and Franklin navigate their way apart. Meanwhile, Betty works in her mysterious canine way to reunite her humans. But is she barking up the wrong tree?

Told from the alternating viewpoints of Layla, Franklin, and Betty, Canine Custody is a funny, candid, sexy, at times bittersweet look at what draws lovers to each other, how those same things can send them packing, and the surprising role our pets can play in life's major decisions.

348 pages, Hardcover

Published September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Engrossed Reader]

My thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for a copy of Canine Custody in exchange for a review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 12%. Everything I thought I'd like in the premise is what aggravated. The couples relentless bickering made me wonder why they'd married in the first place. Did they ever like each other? And their single POV chapters which described motivation did not endear either of them to me. Betty the dog was cute but her comprehension was suspect (contrived).

The incident that sparked the clear 'let's get divorced conversation' was unbelievable. Betty in the back seat of the car, unrestrained. Franklin driving like braking harshly at the last minute and jolting passenger's necks/spines is the ultimate goal on journeys, not the destination. And Layla drinking from some kind of tumbler that has an inadequate cover. Apparently this is how they drive ALL the time, Franklin frequently drives in such a way that Kayla's water spills on her. The only difference this time is Franklin left braking too late, has a minor fender bender, they are both doused in water and Betty falls into the foot well but is unharmed.

No one is perfect. Humans are by their very nature imperfect and balance in a marriage ebbs and flows like weights on a scale. But the lack of communication, miscommunication and inability to make small changes or concessions made me see them as juvenile. Not ready for a relationship where compromise, honesty and communication is a requirement.

Also I thought this could have been easily avoided if Layla drove, had a better reusable cup, or Franklin was cussed out for not being a terrible driver but a purposeful one who found it amusing for his wife to be splashed with water repeatedly. There was no mention (yet)if he behaved in such a way with other passengers.

It's probably a me thing, and I'm sure other readers would gel more with the story than I did (based on the 5 stars reviews on Goodreads).

[Judy ✨ CM]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I thought this was going to be a comedy. 😂 I laughed… but I was *not* ready for the cold bucket of reality that hit me right in the face.

I loved it, but Gary… I'll be sending you my therapy bill.

What I got instead was a brutally honest look at long-term relationships and marriage. It hit much closer to home than I expected and even helped me put a few things into perspective.

The characters are incredibly human... well, except Betty, because she's a dog. 🐶

Layla and Franklin have the communication skills of a brick wall, lack empathy when they need it most, and are so emotionally blind that I wanted to punch *both* of them in the face more than once. 😂 (I'd make an amazing couples therapist, just saying.)

But that's exactly what makes their journey so powerful. ✨ They grow, they learn, they slowly let their guard down, and finally stop expecting the other person to read their mind. Instead, they start communicating, listening, and actually putting in the work.

One thing I *really* struggled with was the miscommunication. But at the same time, I know that's exactly what makes this story feel so real.

I think the healing journey is the heart of this book. 🥹 It shows that sometimes it's okay to be selfish, but you also have to consider how your choices affect the people who depend on you—your kids or, in this case, your pets.

This book made me laugh, frustrated me, broke my heart, and somehow managed to put it back together again. I genuinely think every couple should read it at least once in their lifetime.

[Jasmine Hall]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I thought it would be a comedy because of the humor in the story. But, at the end of the book, I wanted to go to therapy. I love Betty's character, and I love each character's arc, but I wanted to scream at Layla and Franklin about how they communicate. But this book is about how they grow and learn to communicate with each other. Also, the dog was amazing throughout the story.

[Stephanie]

“I’ve come to realize that we’re all flawed and self-protective and conflicted in our own peculiar ways.”

This was my first read by Gary Goldstein and honestly, I loved it! I think my favorite thing was the fact that I was really able to sync into Gary’s writing. It was like I was watching a movie play out in my head.

This story is uniquely told by three point of views, Franklin, Layla and their dog Betty. Franklin and Layla are a married couple going through a divorce. And Betty, sweet Betty, is an innocent bystander trying to make sense of what’s going on having already been through a lot before she came into their lives.

I loved the journey they all go on and realizations that not everyone is perfect. And that going through hard times makes you see that what you’ve always wanted has been in front of you the whole time.

Thank you for sending me the arc I really enjoyed the story! Canine Custody is out now! 💛

[Kappy Hicks]

This book is a comforting book more than anything.
If you love multiple voices and unique narrators, this is a book for you. This book allows you to see two opposing perspectives that, while very different, offer an undercurrent of feelings that align. It promotes the theme that life is not as simple as you want it to be.

This book sometimes gets lost in the character’s thoughts. If you do not enjoy stream of consciousness writing, hyper-detailed storytelling, or third-party character narrators, this may not be the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Köehler Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Susan Walter]

Smart, funny, with heart for days, Gary Goldstein's newest release is pure delight! With charm on every page and a story so propulsive it practically wags its tail, this is the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after you’ve finished.
With a premise that feels fresh and instantly relatable, Goldstein captures the emotional truth every pet lover knows: a dog is never “just” a dog.
A perfect read for anyone who has ever loved a dog or lost their way. I loved it!

[An]

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Unfortunately, I have to DNF this at 33%.
Please mind that everything I say below are my opinions after reading and stopping at only 33% of the book.

I came into reading this book expecting a messy and complicated divorce. I expected both characters to possibly be immature or maybe even vengeful. In a way, we sort of got both. However, the story progression was really slow for me. It had been a pretty realistic portrayal of what I expect a bumpy divorce could be like. However, this is still a book. 21 chapters in and half of those chapters were spent describing recurring incidents of Layla and Franklin arguing with nothing actually progressing. I found both of them to be pretty childish as well despite the characters being in their late thirties. Instead of communicating things well like proper adults, they chose to let their emotions rule over them and use excuses to avoid confronting each other which resulted in more unnecessary hurt to occur. I also didn't really like when Layla sort of gave her work friend an ultimatum to either support her or don't when all he did was give her his unbiased opinion as an outsider. Honestly, I just want them to be divorced already because they were becoming really toxic for each other. Two insufferable poisons really. By this point of the book, I believed that divorce was truly the best outcome that can happen for them because their love for each other had turned into something ugly.

The only thing that I had enjoyed so far in this book was getting to read Betty's POV. Her POV served as a form of relief, a sanctuary amidst the tensions from Layla and Franklin's POVs. She had a lot of opinions and I love that about her. I also loved that she's really observant and still acting like your typical pup.

Even though I DNFed this book, I actually liked the way it was written. It felt like the characters were being interviewed one after the other and we were directly getting their view of the situations. Things were also described really well. I could easily feel all the hurt and pain that a couple planning to divorce might go through from all the petty fights, arguments and high strung emotions.

This book was not for me but it may be the one for you.

[Arianne (morenathereader)]

ARC review - Canine Custody by Gary Goldstein 🐕

Star rating: 3.75/5 🌟

Layla and Franklin Bishop’s marriage is on the rocks. Has been for a long time. Betty, their Springer Spaniel, can’t seem to understand why. This book tells the story of all the raw, funny, and bittersweet moments of separation in the eyes of the couple and their dog.

Reading about messy relationships is vastly entertaining for me for some reason. It’s really interesting how couples can go from being in love to wanting to wring each other’s necks in the blink of an eye.

Gary Goldstein captured the little moments – the small unacknowledged things that can grind a relationship into a car crash. His characters are hurting and prideful, a combination that doesn’t do them any favors.

I love how they’re self-aware about their flaws yet are too stubborn to make things easier for their partner. This push and pull can be frustrating to read about, but the addition of Betty, the dog’s POV, is a cute touch. Poor pup tho had to go through all the stress.

The side characters witnessing their drama also add to the entertainment of reading this book.

The author took their time showcasing the ups and downs of the couple’s separation. The pace feels slow at times, but it did make a good payoff in the end. I was so relieved and happy that Layla and Franklin got their priorities in order.

This book is very much worth a read, especially if you’re in a long-term relationship or have dogs!

Thank you, NetGalley and Köehler Books, for providing this eARC!

[ebru]

Canine Custody was a book I was excited to read. Dogs, divorce, and a possible puppy saved marriage, all words to get my metaphorical tail wagging.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNF'ing it at 54%. I don't think I was the target audience.

If you love an Office type monologue where it feels like the characters are sequestered into rooms to give statements to the camera, this would be your book. I think the writing in this book was very funny; side anecdotes and the inevitable cringey-ness/second-hand embarrassment of divorce, coupled with the author's great details to various points in the past of side characters specifically and the almost dry humor, were enjoyable.

I felt like both the MMC and the FMC really were fighting their own demons, almost by taking it out on each other. Betty was comedic relief, but because you wanted to see the trainwreck of what happens, it felt exhausting after a while. The different POV switching was pretty much every chapter: Betty, FMC, MMC, Betty, FMC, MMC. It followed a steady pattern. I will say, the Betty chapters are not too long, which I think is appropriate.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

[Justina R]

The short chapters made this seem like it would be a fast-paced read, but I had to DNF at 26%. The story is moving so slowly, and I'm having a really hard time rooting for this relationship. Franklin and Layla are both so immature and avoidant, using rules and lists to avoid actually talking to each other and using Betty to make each other feel bad.
At 18 chapters in, I expected the story to have progressed a little more, but they haven't even really done anything with the divorce yet. They haven't talked to their friends much either, in fact Franklin told me he has no friends...and overall, I just wasn't connecting with this one. At this point, I kind of wanted them to get divorced. 😂
I was really interested in this because of the chapters from Betty's POV and the look at a relationship falling apart, but Franklin and Layla were just too petty for me to connect with. Franklin is already planning to hook up with someone at his school reunion to get back at Layla because she wants separate bedrooms. I mean, come on. He sucks. I can't root for a sucky man.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Köehler Books for the ARC for my honest review. Unfortunately, this just wasn't what I was looking for based on the summary.

[Becky | myhyggereads]

As a dog owner, I often wonder what my pup is thinking and how he processes the world around him. If you're like me in that regard, then this book will delight you, as we get a glimpse of a dog's inner thoughts via Betty, the four-legged character that is the heart of this book.

Betty's humans are headed for divorce, and with that, a custody battle over her ensues. I really enjoyed the chapters where we hear from Betty directly, the use of first-person POV was engaging and drew me in. There are comical moments, as well as emotional ones; we see Betty struggle with the idea of not seeing her two humans together everyday and also consciously provide emotional support to both Layla and Franklin equally.

As for Betty's pawrents, I think both of them were immature in their own way, but Layla takes the cake for being most spiteful when it came to Betty. The lack of communication, misunderstandings and resentment that a couple can face are well-documented as both Layla and Franklin struggle with the messiness of their impending divorce. Truly, Betty was the star of this book!

Special thanks to Koehler Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[LM]

Who gets the dog when a marriage falls apart? Apparently, that question can make an already complicated divorce even messier.

Layla and Franklin have reached the point where every little irritation feels enormous, and one chaotic car ride finally pushes them to separate. Unfortunately, dividing their life isn’t simple. Between finances, their home, new romantic possibilities, and two people who refuse to give up their beloved dog, Betty, the situation quickly becomes emotional and hilariously complicated.

I especially enjoyed the alternating perspectives, including Betty’s. Seeing the marriage through the dog’s eyes added humor and an unexpected tenderness to the story. Betty may not understand divorce, but she knows her humans belong together—and she isn’t above doing a little matchmaking of her own.

Canine Custody is funny, honest, raw, and bittersweet. Beneath the comedy is a thoughtful look at how love changes over time, how small resentments can build, and whether two people can find their way back after convincing themselves they’re finished.

Thank you to Gary Goldstein, Köehler Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[WCP]

Thanks to the author and Koehler Books for an advance reader copy, was happy to have been able to read this smart, enjoyable book before its release. For starters, I'm a "dog person," so was favorably disposed once I heard about this book. But it's hardly a requirement because this story is, at heart, about people. Specifically, married people and how things can change--and not for the better--over time. That's what happens to Layla and Franklin who, after a dozen years of marriage, find themselves on the way to divorce. The main stumbling block is who will get full custody of their dog, Betty, and this dilemma sends the story into so many real, messy, and quite funny directions.

The book is told from the POV of Layla, Franklin, and Betty, so it was fun to see how they each perceived the mayhem around them during this period of separation. It's a fast read and the author really seems to capture how and why people love dogs, especially when those same people can no longer love each other. Check this one out when it's available, it's a winner.

[Bookz4Hollz1225]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Franklin and Layla have been together for years, but their marriage is already struggling when Layla unexpectedly brings home a dog—and changes her name to Betty without consulting Franklin. What follows is a unique and sometimes humorous story about a couple battling over custody of the dog they both adore. 🐶

The biggest trope in this book is definitely miscommunication. Franklin and Layla clearly still love each other and remain attracted to one another, but they cannot seem to communicate well enough to repair their relationship. They are both sweet, caring, and hardworking people, which made it frustrating to watch them avoid the conversations they desperately needed to have.

What made this story stand out was Betty’s point of view. Her chapters were funny, adorable, and added something completely different to the book. Overall, this was an unusual and entertaining listen, even though the constant miscommunication was a little frustrating for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, for my ALC. This is my honest review. 💕

[Allie Akin]

First of all I want to thank Koehler Books and Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book but this was a DNF.

This book is about a married couple who is now getting divorced and it dives into the background of how they met and why they're getting a divorce, and how they both want custody of their dog Betty..
I do think that Betty was some comedic relief to the main characters as she obviously doesn't understand humans, but all of it was overshadowed by the fact that this was one of the nastiest main male characters I have ever seen. Keep in mind I read dark romance. I want the FMC to divorce him and be rid of him, even though she wasn't the greatest either. In a flashback we see the FMC trying to get hydrated and be healthy and every time they're in the car together the MMC drives the car so water splashes into her face and on her clothes, and the dog nearly died because of it. I'm pissed.

[Mya E]

Canine Custody tugged at my heartstrings in the best way!

We follow a married couple, Layla and Franklin Bishop, along with their spunky spaniel, Betty, as they navigate the heartbreaking reality of divorce.

I absolutely loved the three points of view in this story. Betty was such a thoughtful, lovable pup who simply wanted to see her favorite humans find their way back to each other. Her perspective added so much heart and charm to the novel.

I found myself rooting for everyone, desperately hoping Layla and Franklin would put their differences aside and reconcile. I felt every bit of the heartbreak, disappointment, and even those small flickers of hope along the way.

Layla could be downright insufferable at times, but when divorce is on the table, there are usually deep wounds and difficult choices that brought people there in the first place.

I enjoyed this read!

If I read about a water bottle on more time, I was going to scream! That’s what started this debacle! lol.

[Erica]

3.5 stars rounded down

I was drawn to this book because of the title, cover and blurb thinking it was going to be a fun light rom-com type about a marriage in trouble and it was tagged as a romance. This isn’t the first marriage on the rocks book that I have read and this did not feel like a romance to me. The addition of Betty the dog’s POV is what kept me reading since I doubted this couple was going to figure it out and stay together. The way they acted toward one another made it hard to root for their relationship and it certainly felt like a real dissolution of a marriage. There were some somewhat funny parts and some interesting friendships/side characters happening and Iit was unique in including the three perspectives but was still fairly predictable overall. I would still try another book by this author.

I received an advanced copy for free, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stacey E.]

DNF'd at 32%.
I really tried with this one, but I just couldn't get into it. I wasn't enjoying Betty's POV, so I eventually found myself skipping those chapters altogether.
Unfortunately, I also found Franklin and Layla to be pretty immature. So much of their conflict seemed like it could have been resolved if they would just communicate with each other, and I found myself getting more frustrated with them than invested in their story.
By the time I reached chapter 22, I felt like I had been hearing about the same issues over and over without seeing any real progression. I kept waiting for the story or the characters to move forward, but I realized I just wasn't enjoying myself enough to keep going.
Thank you to NetGalley and Koehler Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

[Glad]

When I started the book, I didn’t realise the dog would have such a big place in the story! There are even chapters just with HER. So be prepared, Betty, the dog of the main characters Layla and Franklin, has quite a lot to say about US, aka humans, and about divorce, as this couple is going through it.

The story is about how a couple can mess things up, not understand each other and only realise what the other person means to them when they are apart. There are some funny and sweet moments, and overall it’s a cute story about love, relationships and second chances.

A sweet and fun read that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves romance and dogs!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Guillen_reads13]

Review of Advanced Copy Recieved by Netgalley thank you for the opportunity

To be honest it was a bit of a struggle but I found that the hook of the three POV structure husband, wife, and dog was quite interesting. Especially Betty's chapters they stood out the most for me as she can't grasp the why of the breakup but feels every bit of its emotional fallout, giving the story a guileless, heart tugging center that balances the satire. Goldstein, keeps the tone nimble, funny, candid, sexy, at times bittersweet. This was a warm, witty, slightly sentimental divorce dramedy elevated by a canine narrator who's smarter about love than her humans are. Perfect for anyone who's ever loved a dog or survived a breakup.

[Cee]

Betty the dog, without a doubt, is the star of this book - parts of her personality reminded me of my trio of canines (or how I imagine their thoughts would go if I could hear them). I enjoyed the trio point of view between Betty and her humans even though at times I wanted to grab both Franklin and Layla by their shoulders and ask "WTH?!?!" were they thinking with some of their decisions regarding their marriage as well as when it came to the custody of Miss Betty. Without spoiling too much, by book's end, most everyone comes to their senses, especially after a scare, and it all works out for Betty this time around. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for the ARC edition of this book.

[Kokechii]

Will leave this unrated as I don't think I was the audience for this book.

The problem lies probably in me expecting something else and me really disliking our main characters. I'm not a fan of miscommunication trope and while here it may be valid to show how being unable to communicate can contribute to a divorce, I was honestly just so frustrated with our main characters, rolled my eyes many times and frankly I hated Franklin.

Someone else might find themselves connecting but I as a reader did not.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are voluntary and my own.

[Natalie Comphel]

A super cute light read about a couple on the brink of divorce and their canine companion who wants to bring them back together. Told from Layla, Franklin and Betty the dog’s point of view. It was quite charming. Quick read. Took me only a day as it was fun. Thank you NetGalley for sweet read!!!

[Meghan]

Amazing book!!

I took my time with this book as I didn’t want it to end.

The ending took me by surprise in a good way and I loved it in a good way. I also loved getting a perspective of chapter from the dog Betty.

I got this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Casey McGannon]

I have to admit - I know and love the author.Canine Custody is a great story told from the points of view of every critical character. It was an absolute joy to read. A sequel in the works? I can't wait!

[Carol Ann Tack]

Enjoyed! Review soon.