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Gatz Chronicles #1
Joint Custody
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together—even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it’s the risk he’s willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other—how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he’s a writer. She’s a social butterfly and he’s as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man—so handsome, so nice, so perfect —enters The Woman's life, he realizes he’ll need to step up his game. And you know what they drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together—even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it’s the risk he’s willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other—how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he’s a writer. She’s a social butterfly and he’s as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man—so handsome, so nice, so perfect —enters The Woman's life, he realizes he’ll need to step up his game. And you know what they drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
57 people are currently reading
2696 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
53 books471 followersLauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).
Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.
Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.
In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.
Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.
In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.
Lauren’s favorite color is green.
Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.
Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong.
Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.
Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.
In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.
Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.
In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.
Lauren’s favorite color is green.
Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.
Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 26, 2021
Joint Custody by Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted is a contemporary romance with a twist. This story is not actually from the point of view of the humans involved but that of a spunky border collie named Gatz.
Gatz was adopted by The Man and The Woman and he absolutely loved his life with them, that is until it all fell apart. Gatz is not happy that The Man and The Woman have separated and now Gatz has plans to try to bring The Man and The Woman back together again.
Ok, so every once in a while I come across a book told from the point of a view of an animal and I just can’t resist. Joint Custody was actually a fun read that I’m sure not everyone will love but I had a smile on my face learning this puppy’s thoughts and dreams. I will say though with the whole story being from that POV there were times that I felt like he was telling us a bit too much, as in things that he wasn’t witness to so it felt a tad off at those moments. I’m also sure not everyone will like the ending to this one but I actually thought it was perfect for the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Gatz was adopted by The Man and The Woman and he absolutely loved his life with them, that is until it all fell apart. Gatz is not happy that The Man and The Woman have separated and now Gatz has plans to try to bring The Man and The Woman back together again.
Ok, so every once in a while I come across a book told from the point of a view of an animal and I just can’t resist. Joint Custody was actually a fun read that I’m sure not everyone will love but I had a smile on my face learning this puppy’s thoughts and dreams. I will say though with the whole story being from that POV there were times that I felt like he was telling us a bit too much, as in things that he wasn’t witness to so it felt a tad off at those moments. I’m also sure not everyone will like the ending to this one but I actually thought it was perfect for the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 19, 2020
So this was just kind of a bummer. Caveat: I was having a very bad day and I thought this would be a fun pick me up. I thought the dog pov would be cute but it was a major impediment to there being any romance at all. Gatz recounts the whole mess of a nonromance from his perspective. He’s trying to get his two human parents back together. They were together almost his whole life, from the day he was adopted to three years later when they split. After the breakup, Gatz is only privy to The Man’s life during the week and The Woman’s life on weekends. In the end, we learn that this means he’s missed huge developments that completely change the course of the narrative. Also, though he’s one super sophisticated dog who knows what Pemberley Hall is and recognizes Henry Golding (actor, Crazy Rich Asians), he isn’t great at reading human emotion. So ultimately this is a story about an adorable and furry, highly unreliable narrator. He’s like a sophisticated tween trying to get their parents back together. There are lots of cute moments but almost no love story. The entire story is about a dog trying to get his humans back together and then basically (spoiler alert) finally realizing it wasn’t meant to be. What little romance there is has to do with a secondary character we barely see on the page. How this was billed as a romantic comedy I have no idea.
January 22, 2021
Pets make books better. This is a very good book. Later I will perhaps have higher quality remarks to make about it. Right now, having finished just moments ago, all I have is Squeee! Every bit as charming as that lovely cover suggests.
Copy from GoodReads
Copy from GoodReads
June 22, 2024
Joint Custody (The Gatz Chronicles)
Written by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Release Date January 05, 2021
Well, this is a story told by a dog, Gatz, who is being shared by his owners the man and the woman. When they first met, Gatz was a pup and ready to meet new people. He fell in love with the man and when he met the woman sparks flew. Until one day it was all over. Gatz tried his best to reunite them but that failed. He ingested chocolate knowing that could kill him, only to have them both come to the vets office and set up a schedule for custody. Gatz could see the sadness and despair in both of them. That is until they met others. It is really awkward to believe a dog could come up with the comments he does so you really have to throw that part to the waist side. Remember, it’s just a book... a funny heartfelt novel about a dog and his imperfect life and family.
Written by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Release Date January 05, 2021
Well, this is a story told by a dog, Gatz, who is being shared by his owners the man and the woman. When they first met, Gatz was a pup and ready to meet new people. He fell in love with the man and when he met the woman sparks flew. Until one day it was all over. Gatz tried his best to reunite them but that failed. He ingested chocolate knowing that could kill him, only to have them both come to the vets office and set up a schedule for custody. Gatz could see the sadness and despair in both of them. That is until they met others. It is really awkward to believe a dog could come up with the comments he does so you really have to throw that part to the waist side. Remember, it’s just a book... a funny heartfelt novel about a dog and his imperfect life and family.
February 12, 2021
Joint Custody
Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Jackie Logsted
5 Star
The Gatz Chronicles Book 1
Synopsis:
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together--even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it's the risk he's willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other--how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he's a writer. She's a social butterfly and he's as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man--so handsome, so nice, so perfect--enters The Woman's life, he realizes he'll need to step up his game. And you know what they say: drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own. (Goodreads)
Review:
This book is told entirely from the dog’s, Gatz, point of view. It tells the story of when Gatz was a puppy and got adopted by The Man. Shortly after they meet The Woman and for a while they are all happy. But then things change and The Man and The Woman split up and they share joint custody of Gatz. I thought it was really clever that the book was told from Gatz’s point of view, it gave it a special twist.
Gatz has all kinds of tricks up his paw to try and get his owners back together. Even after The Woman becomes interested in another man, Gatz still tries to keep his owner’s together. Gatz has to learn, like we all do, that sometimes things do not go the way we plan and that there are no guarantees in life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted rom-com. This is a charming “tail” of “puppy love”.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Jackie Logsted
5 Star
The Gatz Chronicles Book 1
Synopsis:
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together--even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it's the risk he's willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other--how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he's a writer. She's a social butterfly and he's as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man--so handsome, so nice, so perfect--enters The Woman's life, he realizes he'll need to step up his game. And you know what they say: drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own. (Goodreads)
Review:
This book is told entirely from the dog’s, Gatz, point of view. It tells the story of when Gatz was a puppy and got adopted by The Man. Shortly after they meet The Woman and for a while they are all happy. But then things change and The Man and The Woman split up and they share joint custody of Gatz. I thought it was really clever that the book was told from Gatz’s point of view, it gave it a special twist.
Gatz has all kinds of tricks up his paw to try and get his owners back together. Even after The Woman becomes interested in another man, Gatz still tries to keep his owner’s together. Gatz has to learn, like we all do, that sometimes things do not go the way we plan and that there are no guarantees in life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted rom-com. This is a charming “tail” of “puppy love”.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
January 4, 2021
If you’re a dog lover, you’re going to want to check out Joint Custody, the new novel from Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted. It follows Gatz, a mischievous border collie who is none too pleased when his owners break up. Gatz knows they’re perfect for each other, and of course, the perfect owners for him so he decides to take matters into his own paws and get them back together.
And when I say it follows Gatz, the story really follows Gatz. We see everything from his perspective and we are fully in his head as he plots and schemes to get his owners back together. It’s a really fun read too as we get Gatz’s inner thoughts as he orchestrates ways to bring his owners in proximity to one another, to remind them that they belong together. It gets downright hilarious at times too as Gatz seeks to sabotage any dates his owners go on with other people. He’s just not having it, haha.
Because we are getting the story from the perspective of a dog, we don’t get a lot of in depth information about the humans in the book. The owners are The Man and The Woman, and when one of them goes on a date, the date is New Man, New Woman, etc. That took a little getting used to at first, but once I settled in, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story.
If you love dogs and/or enjoy books like A Dog’s Purpose, Joint Custody is a book that will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. 3.5 STARS
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
And when I say it follows Gatz, the story really follows Gatz. We see everything from his perspective and we are fully in his head as he plots and schemes to get his owners back together. It’s a really fun read too as we get Gatz’s inner thoughts as he orchestrates ways to bring his owners in proximity to one another, to remind them that they belong together. It gets downright hilarious at times too as Gatz seeks to sabotage any dates his owners go on with other people. He’s just not having it, haha.
Because we are getting the story from the perspective of a dog, we don’t get a lot of in depth information about the humans in the book. The owners are The Man and The Woman, and when one of them goes on a date, the date is New Man, New Woman, etc. That took a little getting used to at first, but once I settled in, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story.
If you love dogs and/or enjoy books like A Dog’s Purpose, Joint Custody is a book that will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. 3.5 STARS
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
Joint Custody by Lauren Baaratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted was a fun and charming story told by the adorable Gatz. Gatz is the lovable, if mischievous, dog shared by a couple no longer together. But he knows The Man and The Woman belong together and will do whatever it takes to get them back together. The journey starts here as he tries to maneuver things the way he wants them. An entertaining and delightful read.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
February 22, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! From the moment I saw the adorable cover of JOINT CUSTODY by Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted, I knew I had to read this book. I love that the book is written in the furbaby’s POV. Gatz is funny, determined, and so bright. The ending was not what I expected but it is well delivered. I am not sure I would call this book a romance novel… it was way too much effort for one dog to bring love between two people. Nevertheless, this was a fast and decent read.
#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #jointcustody #laurenbaratzlogsted #jackielogsted #berkleypublishing #penguincanada #bookreview
January 6, 2021
Suspend logic and reality to enjoy a very special romance told through the eyes of Gatsby (Gatz), a charming three year old border collie. This is a love story between The Man, a writer, The Woman, an editor, and dog shown through the mistaken wisdom of Gatz. Gatsby learns a LOVE lesson by the end of "Joint Custody".
The Mother-Daughter writing duo Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted are truly wordsmiths. I couldn't stop reading into the wee hours of the night. I highly recommend this gem of the book; and looking forward to its sequel.
The Mother-Daughter writing duo Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted are truly wordsmiths. I couldn't stop reading into the wee hours of the night. I highly recommend this gem of the book; and looking forward to its sequel.
November 27, 2020
I have reviewed this novel for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening prior to the release date.
"Joint Custody" by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
January 5, 2021
Berkley
10-0593199588
256 pages
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Three years ago, a border collie puppy, more human than canine was placed in a New York shelter with his three littermates. Feeling lonely and abandoned, he plans to be chosen by the perfect person. A few contenders check him out, but he decides they aren't the ones he wants to spend his life with. His thoughts: "No way was I going to let myself be adopted by an inferior grouping of humans."
Then a man comes in, and he knows this is the one. "There he stood, in all his disheveled glory, looking around at the shelter like he wasn't sure if he'd come to the right place or if he should even be there at all."
It is love at first sight, and he is so excited he doesn't listen to learn the man’s name or anything he says. As far as he is concerned, he is "The Man," and that's how he refers to him.
As the man and dog leave the facility, a young woman with a British accent approaches them gushing over the pooch asking if she can pet him. In that second both the puppy and the man are besotted. When she asks the dog's name the man informs her, he just adopted him and hasn't thought of a name yet. They ponder over suitable monikers, and she states he looks like "Gatz," from her favorite book, "The Great Gatsby". The man is floored because it is the one he favors the most, so the name is chosen and thus Gatz now considers her as "The Woman."
In love with Gatz, she offers her contact information in case the man needs someone to watch him. Soon they become a couple and Gatz couldn't be happier. He adores his new family, especially when the woman moves into the man's apartment with them.
There's only one problem: the man, an author is an extreme extrovert who spends the brunt of his time at home. Socially ill at ease, he's not one to attend parties or go to clubs, though he does enjoy taking Gatz to the nearby pub, where the dog is greatly welcomed.
The woman is an editor and used to a busy social life. She enjoys stepping out and having a good time, so can this relationship work? The two connect, but this difference in their personalities seems to cause obstacles for them.
Though estranged from his relatives, on their first holiday season together, she persuades him into visiting his parents for Hanukkah. This turns into a catastrophe and he is miserable which hampers their festivities. She comes from a close-knit and loving family and when she brings him together with them it only makes matters worse. He withdraws feeling totally out of place and from then on, their relationship begins to dissolve.
Twelve months pass and as the holidays approach, the man says: "How about this year, we go to no families? Would no families work for everybody?"
Gatz has many internal conversations and this is one after the man's statement:
Oh crap, buddy. I put my paws over my head in disgrace. It would’ve been better if you'd just let the silence go. It would've been better if you hadn't broken it. Don't you know by now that it's better to keep silent and have everyone think you're a fool than open your mouth and confirm it? I mean, I love you, man, but come on: Surely even you can see that this is not the route to go right now, can't you? So, let's all take some deep, calming breaths and—
Though the woman cares about him, she is sad coming to the conclusion they aren't right for each other, and she ends up moving back to her condo.
Not only is the man in a funk, but Gatz misses her too. A clever pooch that he is, he formulates a plan to get them back together when he decides to eat the box of chocolates the man has left on the counter, though knowing chocolate can prove fatal for dogs. He's willing to take any risk, even understanding this can have dire effects on his health.
After ingesting all the candy, he becomes violently ill, which scares the man. Gatz overhears him on the phone, thinking he's calling the woman, but it turns out he's talking to the vet. Then he calls the woman who meets him at the vet's office where the doctor purges him of the poison and stabilizes him. But does his plan work?
The man and the woman, who both love Gatz, decide to share custody of him. He will be with the man during the week while he's working at home on his next novel, and she will have him on weekends. Gatz sadly realizes his plot to rejoin the man with the woman has failed, but he's happy to his two favorite people will stiff be in this life, only this is not how it wanted it to be.
Time passes and life goes on as they say. The man is still in a funk and misses the woman terribly, especially when he discovers she has a new beau—and one who seems perfect for her. He has one-night stands to try to get over her, but it doesn't work.
The woman still takes Gatz on the weekends and before long he meets "The New Man" as he refers to the woman's new heartthrob. On a visit to his condo, Gatz is impressed by the opulence of his residence compared to the man’s tiny apartment, yet he goes out of his way to show his hostility to New Man. Even when he recognizes how happy the woman appears to be, he still believes she should be with "his" man. But could he be wrong?
This novel is especially charming for it is told from the point of view of a dog. His comments and actions are both humorous and thought-provoking as he thinks he can get into the minds of his "people" while believing he knows what is best for all of them. It makes one wonder what our pets think about, giving them the human aspect to their personalities. This read is not only for pet lovers but demonstrates it would be enjoyable to anyone looking for a feel-good story.
"Joint Custody" by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
January 5, 2021
Berkley
10-0593199588
256 pages
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Three years ago, a border collie puppy, more human than canine was placed in a New York shelter with his three littermates. Feeling lonely and abandoned, he plans to be chosen by the perfect person. A few contenders check him out, but he decides they aren't the ones he wants to spend his life with. His thoughts: "No way was I going to let myself be adopted by an inferior grouping of humans."
Then a man comes in, and he knows this is the one. "There he stood, in all his disheveled glory, looking around at the shelter like he wasn't sure if he'd come to the right place or if he should even be there at all."
It is love at first sight, and he is so excited he doesn't listen to learn the man’s name or anything he says. As far as he is concerned, he is "The Man," and that's how he refers to him.
As the man and dog leave the facility, a young woman with a British accent approaches them gushing over the pooch asking if she can pet him. In that second both the puppy and the man are besotted. When she asks the dog's name the man informs her, he just adopted him and hasn't thought of a name yet. They ponder over suitable monikers, and she states he looks like "Gatz," from her favorite book, "The Great Gatsby". The man is floored because it is the one he favors the most, so the name is chosen and thus Gatz now considers her as "The Woman."
In love with Gatz, she offers her contact information in case the man needs someone to watch him. Soon they become a couple and Gatz couldn't be happier. He adores his new family, especially when the woman moves into the man's apartment with them.
There's only one problem: the man, an author is an extreme extrovert who spends the brunt of his time at home. Socially ill at ease, he's not one to attend parties or go to clubs, though he does enjoy taking Gatz to the nearby pub, where the dog is greatly welcomed.
The woman is an editor and used to a busy social life. She enjoys stepping out and having a good time, so can this relationship work? The two connect, but this difference in their personalities seems to cause obstacles for them.
Though estranged from his relatives, on their first holiday season together, she persuades him into visiting his parents for Hanukkah. This turns into a catastrophe and he is miserable which hampers their festivities. She comes from a close-knit and loving family and when she brings him together with them it only makes matters worse. He withdraws feeling totally out of place and from then on, their relationship begins to dissolve.
Twelve months pass and as the holidays approach, the man says: "How about this year, we go to no families? Would no families work for everybody?"
Gatz has many internal conversations and this is one after the man's statement:
Oh crap, buddy. I put my paws over my head in disgrace. It would’ve been better if you'd just let the silence go. It would've been better if you hadn't broken it. Don't you know by now that it's better to keep silent and have everyone think you're a fool than open your mouth and confirm it? I mean, I love you, man, but come on: Surely even you can see that this is not the route to go right now, can't you? So, let's all take some deep, calming breaths and—
Though the woman cares about him, she is sad coming to the conclusion they aren't right for each other, and she ends up moving back to her condo.
Not only is the man in a funk, but Gatz misses her too. A clever pooch that he is, he formulates a plan to get them back together when he decides to eat the box of chocolates the man has left on the counter, though knowing chocolate can prove fatal for dogs. He's willing to take any risk, even understanding this can have dire effects on his health.
After ingesting all the candy, he becomes violently ill, which scares the man. Gatz overhears him on the phone, thinking he's calling the woman, but it turns out he's talking to the vet. Then he calls the woman who meets him at the vet's office where the doctor purges him of the poison and stabilizes him. But does his plan work?
The man and the woman, who both love Gatz, decide to share custody of him. He will be with the man during the week while he's working at home on his next novel, and she will have him on weekends. Gatz sadly realizes his plot to rejoin the man with the woman has failed, but he's happy to his two favorite people will stiff be in this life, only this is not how it wanted it to be.
Time passes and life goes on as they say. The man is still in a funk and misses the woman terribly, especially when he discovers she has a new beau—and one who seems perfect for her. He has one-night stands to try to get over her, but it doesn't work.
The woman still takes Gatz on the weekends and before long he meets "The New Man" as he refers to the woman's new heartthrob. On a visit to his condo, Gatz is impressed by the opulence of his residence compared to the man’s tiny apartment, yet he goes out of his way to show his hostility to New Man. Even when he recognizes how happy the woman appears to be, he still believes she should be with "his" man. But could he be wrong?
This novel is especially charming for it is told from the point of view of a dog. His comments and actions are both humorous and thought-provoking as he thinks he can get into the minds of his "people" while believing he knows what is best for all of them. It makes one wonder what our pets think about, giving them the human aspect to their personalities. This read is not only for pet lovers but demonstrates it would be enjoyable to anyone looking for a feel-good story.
May 22, 2023
Such a cute book & I loved that it was in the dogs POV. It didn’t end the way I suspected which I guess is a good thing? Im not sure if I’d ever want to read it again but I’m happy I read it once.
February 1, 2022
Best. Book. Ever! Yes, I'm biased as I loooove dogs and border collies, so a book from the point of view of a border collie was a big drawcard for me. But overall, this was a lovely story about a little pup who just wants his parents to get back together. He wants them to be happy. But as he observes their new lives, how they are when apart and when they are together, he realises that what he thinks will make them happy and what actually will are two very different things.
Now you might think, the point of view of the dog? No. But it is very well done as dogs observe a lot. Besides, Gatz is no ordinary dog. He gets to go to the pub and on holidays to the extended family's mansions. Besides, his parents tell him everything, so he can picture how things happened when they're retelling stories. Plus, Gatz himself is guaranteed to be a beloved character. When he isn't playing fetch, drinking at the local watering hole, or snarling at the New Man who stands in the way of his goal, he does ordinary doggy things like chewing his tail, running around the house, or snoozing on the couch. He tells a story from a unique perspective and has a funny nature that will leave you laughing out loud. His thoughts are realistic and make sense, even for a dog. But remember, border collies are the most intelligent breed so of course Gatz's thoughts are quite developed.
Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
Now you might think, the point of view of the dog? No. But it is very well done as dogs observe a lot. Besides, Gatz is no ordinary dog. He gets to go to the pub and on holidays to the extended family's mansions. Besides, his parents tell him everything, so he can picture how things happened when they're retelling stories. Plus, Gatz himself is guaranteed to be a beloved character. When he isn't playing fetch, drinking at the local watering hole, or snarling at the New Man who stands in the way of his goal, he does ordinary doggy things like chewing his tail, running around the house, or snoozing on the couch. He tells a story from a unique perspective and has a funny nature that will leave you laughing out loud. His thoughts are realistic and make sense, even for a dog. But remember, border collies are the most intelligent breed so of course Gatz's thoughts are quite developed.
Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
October 16, 2020
Spoiler Alert: The ending is mentioned in, somewhat, detail as it greatly affects the tone of the review.
Okay, peeps, this is going to be a rather rambly and mushy gushy because… I haven’t loved a story quite this much in some time. As soon as I read the blurb I knew I needed to read Joint Custody. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit over the top/ridiculous with my reads and a romance story narrated BY A PUPPY is basically everything I never knew I needed in life.
But I am going to start with a pretty familiar disclaimer from me, but for a very different reason. A lot of times I’ll say that I am struggling to write a review because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot and ruin the story for you all. This is mostly my norm when it comes to romantic suspense or a good ole PNR where there is a hefty secondary suspense line. Unfortunately for me, it’s for a pretty sad reason this time. Joint Custody is possibly one of the best books I’ve read this year… but this is not a romance, folks. The overwhelming sadness I had when I reached “The End” and the people I’ve been rooting for throughout the story DID NOT get together… well it was immense.
So I am walking a pretty precarious line here because the authors and the take on this book are FABULOUS. The craft, storytelling, and uniqueness of having the narrator be an unreliable puppy are out of this world.
We start out with our precocious little narrator, Gatz, eating 2 lbs of chocolate (in his defense, he thought it was 1 lb because… puppy logic) in an effort to get sick enough to need an ER trip and bring his estranged owners, The Man and The Woman back together. As we are sitting in the animal hospital alongside Gatz and his humans, we are taken back through the timeline of when The Man and The Woman met and fell in love and their three years together… along with their subsequent breakup and agreement to share joint custody of Gatz.
This is where his little trick should have worked and The Man and The Woman would reconcile, right? Yeah, this is where my HEA loving heart kind of plummeted to the ground. They, in fact, do not. Now, I want to be VERY clear that the ending is lovely and happy, but it isn’t the happily ever after that I signed up for when cracking open what I thought was a romance.
Joint Custody would make an AMAZING book club book and is the warm, wholesome palate cleanser we all need in this world, but please don’t expect the typical romance ending because, while there is a satisfying end and we definitely have closure from all parties with one going on to have an HEA and the promise of a second for the other, The Man and The Woman do not, in fact, get back together. And my biggest question of what happens to Gatz (I mean, he is only 3 years old, are they really going to share joint custody of him for a decade or more?) isn’t answered. But in the end Gatz is content and so are the leading characters.
And as long as you don’t expect the normal romance HEA, you will be far more content than me.
Okay, peeps, this is going to be a rather rambly and mushy gushy because… I haven’t loved a story quite this much in some time. As soon as I read the blurb I knew I needed to read Joint Custody. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit over the top/ridiculous with my reads and a romance story narrated BY A PUPPY is basically everything I never knew I needed in life.
But I am going to start with a pretty familiar disclaimer from me, but for a very different reason. A lot of times I’ll say that I am struggling to write a review because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot and ruin the story for you all. This is mostly my norm when it comes to romantic suspense or a good ole PNR where there is a hefty secondary suspense line. Unfortunately for me, it’s for a pretty sad reason this time. Joint Custody is possibly one of the best books I’ve read this year… but this is not a romance, folks. The overwhelming sadness I had when I reached “The End” and the people I’ve been rooting for throughout the story DID NOT get together… well it was immense.
So I am walking a pretty precarious line here because the authors and the take on this book are FABULOUS. The craft, storytelling, and uniqueness of having the narrator be an unreliable puppy are out of this world.
We start out with our precocious little narrator, Gatz, eating 2 lbs of chocolate (in his defense, he thought it was 1 lb because… puppy logic) in an effort to get sick enough to need an ER trip and bring his estranged owners, The Man and The Woman back together. As we are sitting in the animal hospital alongside Gatz and his humans, we are taken back through the timeline of when The Man and The Woman met and fell in love and their three years together… along with their subsequent breakup and agreement to share joint custody of Gatz.
This is where his little trick should have worked and The Man and The Woman would reconcile, right? Yeah, this is where my HEA loving heart kind of plummeted to the ground. They, in fact, do not. Now, I want to be VERY clear that the ending is lovely and happy, but it isn’t the happily ever after that I signed up for when cracking open what I thought was a romance.
Joint Custody would make an AMAZING book club book and is the warm, wholesome palate cleanser we all need in this world, but please don’t expect the typical romance ending because, while there is a satisfying end and we definitely have closure from all parties with one going on to have an HEA and the promise of a second for the other, The Man and The Woman do not, in fact, get back together. And my biggest question of what happens to Gatz (I mean, he is only 3 years old, are they really going to share joint custody of him for a decade or more?) isn’t answered. But in the end Gatz is content and so are the leading characters.
And as long as you don’t expect the normal romance HEA, you will be far more content than me.
January 27, 2021
"What a handsome dog! Would it be all right if I pet him?"
It all begins with a meet-cute between The Man, a writer and The Woman, an editor. The Man is walking home after picking out a darling border collie at the shelter. The Woman stops him and names the dog, Gatz on the spot. It turns out, The Great Gatsby is their favorite book. They become a couple on the spot.
JOINT CUSTODY (Berkley) by the mother-daughter, Logsted team is a story about a very special dog. Gatz brings The Man and The Woman together and does just about anything, well let's just say everything, he eats two-pounds of chocolate, to keep them together. It's told from the perspective of Gatz and he wants the three of them to be a forever family. It could have been gimmicky, but Gatz is a real fleshed out character you can't help but love.
After three years, The Man and The Woman break up. The Man suggests joint custody because he knows The Woman loves Gatz. She gets Monday through Friday, he gets weekends. The Man wants to continue his relationship with The Woman, but he's a bit of a curmudgeon and she's tired of it.
Soon The Woman meets The New Man. He's another writer and wants her to be his editor and more, but isn't that a conflict of interest? More to follow.
The JOINT CUSTODY takeaway for me? "Sometimes, you don't get the happily ever after you hoped for and worked for, or even thought you'd get, but that's okay. Just so long as everyone ends up happy."
This is book one in The Gatz Chronicles. Part of the sequel is at the end of book one to give you a sneak preview of what's next. FYI: The fun continues.
April 26, 2021
Cute romance narrated from the perspective of the dog, Gatz. I agree with one reviewer who said a book is always better with a pet in it! Gatz is a border collie, which is a very intelligent breed, but I found his understanding and doggy communication a bit unbelievable, unlike the dog-narrated Chet and Bernie series, or the Dogleg Island mysteries featuring Flash who is also a border collie, or the really great A Dog's Purpose by Bruce Cameron. The dog's view of the world in those books are more believable. Nevertheless, this was a fun romance orchestrated by the efforts of Gatz working really hard to get The Man and The Woman, who had met the day Gatz was bought from a rescue organization, together again. I guess suspension of belief is necessary to fully enjoy this offbeat romance. The Man is a published author and The Woman an editor so you'd think they were the perfect fit--and they both adore Gatz, so their breakup leads to joint custody and Gatz's knowledge of and interaction in both their daily lives.
December 19, 2020
Ok- this is narrated by Gatz the dog. Gatz who wants nothing more than for his people- the Man and the Woman- to get together again. They met on the day the Man adopted Gatz from the shelter; she named him after the Great Gatsby, a book they both loved. Things went well for three years despite their very different personalities but now they've broken up and Gatz spend the week with him and the weekend with her. He plots and plots and does some stupid things (like eating chocolate) that he thinks will propel them into each others arms. What he doesn't count on, though, is that he doesn't know everything about their lives anymore. Is he doing the right thing? To enjoy this you have to go with the idea that Gatz knows social as well as literary references and you know what- that was ok by me. It's got some funny moments (always a plus these days). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's light, it's entertaining, and no spoilers from me on what happens.
January 25, 2021
What made me want to read Joint Custody was how different it sounded. It’s a story told entirely from the viewpoint of the dog, Gatz. He calls his humans, man and women and the whole point of the story is trying to get them back together since they broke up. We follow them meeting while adopting Gatz, to their breakup, to what happens afterwards.
Overall, an extremely cute story, but a little long for my taste. Since it was in the POV of the dog, I think cutting down 40% of this book would have made it perfect. Other than that, it was definitely an original story that I do recommend!
Overall, an extremely cute story, but a little long for my taste. Since it was in the POV of the dog, I think cutting down 40% of this book would have made it perfect. Other than that, it was definitely an original story that I do recommend!
November 25, 2020
Joint Custody by Lauren and Jackie Logsted is a cleverly told tale of love lost and found. Gatz, a dog who admits that the reader may have difficulty believing him is the narrator. The dog’s owner known as The Man is an introverted writer who meets The Woman of his dreams as he brings Gatz home for the first time. The omniscient Gatz intervenes when the budding romantic relationship falls on hard times. The authors created a fun dog’s eye view of a romance.
February 28, 2021
This book was a delight, as is every book by Baratz-Logsted. I loved the story line and the humor splashed throughout. The story line is incredibly original and heartwarming. I love all things dogs, so having a dog as a central character made this book one I won’t soon forget! A must read for lovers of dogs, witty romances and stories with endings that leave you satisfied.
January 4, 2024
Not my typical choice of book, but very cute and Hallmark movie-ish. A quick read 😊
February 26, 2021
This book was perfect! Well, maybe it was just the perfect book for me but I think lots of other people will love it too. First things first - this entire book is told from the dog's POV. And man, Gatz is quite a dog. From the first chapter when he overdoses on Valentine's Day candy so his parents will both be together at the vet office, to all the other antics he does throughout the book, Gatz managed to dig his way further and further into my heart as the plot progressed. He is a energetic, intelligent and well spoken canine and not since Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain have I met a dog so enjoyable to read about.
So The Man and The Woman met the day Gatz is rescued and the relationship between all three ensue. And when The Man and The Woman split up, it's up to Gatz to get them back together and makes them see the errors of their ways. I enjoyed both characters, and I need to add we never do know their actual names, but the star of this show is Gatz. Here are just a few parts of the book so you can get a true feeling for Gatz.
It all started with the chocolates. Ah, who am I kidding? It all nearly ended with the chocolates too.
It wasn't always easy, the waiting. In fact, it was exactly as hard as Tom Petty said it was.
Wait. Did he just whatever her? Oh this was bad, very bad.
A man and a dog walk into a bar...It's good to have a place where everyone knows your name. I know this for a fact, because I saw it on the TV.
But there are some serious aspects to the book as well. We get a good look at depression and loss. The Man enters a deep depression when The Woman leaves him and Gatz watches him both spiral and also pull himself back up again.
So basically, read this book. I'm so thrilled a sequel is on the way because I need more Gatz in my life!
So The Man and The Woman met the day Gatz is rescued and the relationship between all three ensue. And when The Man and The Woman split up, it's up to Gatz to get them back together and makes them see the errors of their ways. I enjoyed both characters, and I need to add we never do know their actual names, but the star of this show is Gatz. Here are just a few parts of the book so you can get a true feeling for Gatz.
It all started with the chocolates. Ah, who am I kidding? It all nearly ended with the chocolates too.
It wasn't always easy, the waiting. In fact, it was exactly as hard as Tom Petty said it was.
Wait. Did he just whatever her? Oh this was bad, very bad.
A man and a dog walk into a bar...It's good to have a place where everyone knows your name. I know this for a fact, because I saw it on the TV.
But there are some serious aspects to the book as well. We get a good look at depression and loss. The Man enters a deep depression when The Woman leaves him and Gatz watches him both spiral and also pull himself back up again.
So basically, read this book. I'm so thrilled a sequel is on the way because I need more Gatz in my life!
January 29, 2021
Hey folks, daddy Steve again, with some more doggiebook talk. At one point, I had two books going on at once, one audio and the other a Kindle eBook. I reviewed the audiobook yesterday, this second book is Joint Custody from the mother-daughter author team of Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Jackie Logsted.
This one is again from the dog’s point of view and as you might suspect it fom the title alone, there is a separation involved. Yup, they decided to share custody of the dog after the split. This book is a very funny rom-com type book. I would see this book being made into a fun romantic comedy movie to be honest. Lots of funny moments with a cool ending. The book is entirely from the dog’s point of view, with the dog being the narrator. I found it pretty that he never used a name for any of the humans in the story, always something to qualify them, i.e. The Man, The Woman, etc.
They subtitled it The Gatz Chronicles #1. Gatz is the dog’s name, I wonder if that means there might be more books upcoming in the series... Interesting...
That is another recommended read for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley who provided a free eBook advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. This is as honest as it gets... The book is currently available to buy.
#Malcolmstories #doggiebooks
#JointCustody #NetGalley
https://www.facebook.com/152390402036...
This one is again from the dog’s point of view and as you might suspect it fom the title alone, there is a separation involved. Yup, they decided to share custody of the dog after the split. This book is a very funny rom-com type book. I would see this book being made into a fun romantic comedy movie to be honest. Lots of funny moments with a cool ending. The book is entirely from the dog’s point of view, with the dog being the narrator. I found it pretty that he never used a name for any of the humans in the story, always something to qualify them, i.e. The Man, The Woman, etc.
They subtitled it The Gatz Chronicles #1. Gatz is the dog’s name, I wonder if that means there might be more books upcoming in the series... Interesting...
That is another recommended read for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley who provided a free eBook advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. This is as honest as it gets... The book is currently available to buy.
#Malcolmstories #doggiebooks
#JointCustody #NetGalley
https://www.facebook.com/152390402036...
February 15, 2021
4 - 4 1/2 stars
A book told from the POV of a dog? Hell yes! Sign me up.
Joint Custody follows Gatz, a border collie, who is doing everything in his power to bring his humans back together. Gatz refers to them as The Man and The Woman. The whole book is told from Gatz’s perspective so we don’t get to really know a lot about The Man and The Woman, so the only reason I wanted them back together was for Gatz to have his happy ending.
I loved Gatz! The thoughts he was having and the things he did to get his humans back together had me smiling and laughing. He actually went as far as eating a box of chocolates. Yes he knew they could kill him, and while he did not want to die, it was a risk he was willing to take for The Man and The Woman. And if they started to date other people he would do whatever he could to sabotage the dates. They could have meaning’less’ but not meaning’full’ with other people LOL.
I smiled through this whole book. And I will admit I did tear a bit near the end. After reading this book I have a whole new outlook on what is going on in the minds of animals. Hahaha!
And at the end of my kindle book there was an excerpt from the sequel to Joint Custody. OMG! There is going to be a sequel?! When is it coming out? I am definitely reading that. I am so excited.
A book told from the POV of a dog? Hell yes! Sign me up.
Joint Custody follows Gatz, a border collie, who is doing everything in his power to bring his humans back together. Gatz refers to them as The Man and The Woman. The whole book is told from Gatz’s perspective so we don’t get to really know a lot about The Man and The Woman, so the only reason I wanted them back together was for Gatz to have his happy ending.
I loved Gatz! The thoughts he was having and the things he did to get his humans back together had me smiling and laughing. He actually went as far as eating a box of chocolates. Yes he knew they could kill him, and while he did not want to die, it was a risk he was willing to take for The Man and The Woman. And if they started to date other people he would do whatever he could to sabotage the dates. They could have meaning’less’ but not meaning’full’ with other people LOL.
I smiled through this whole book. And I will admit I did tear a bit near the end. After reading this book I have a whole new outlook on what is going on in the minds of animals. Hahaha!
And at the end of my kindle book there was an excerpt from the sequel to Joint Custody. OMG! There is going to be a sequel?! When is it coming out? I am definitely reading that. I am so excited.
January 25, 2021
Cute quick read about Gatz the border collie, who is trying to get his owners back together again after they split due to seemingly irreconcilable differences, resulting in the titular joint custody. The plot doesn't quite go where you expect it, but the human characters have as much depth as Roger and Anita from The 101 Dalmations. And I know you have to just abandon any semblance of reality when your book uses a first-person canine narrator, but I couldn't quite get over the fact that Gatz has read F. Scott Fitzgerald and can develop a complex plan to get his owners in the same room, but he refers to them as The Man and The Woman instead of by name (yes, he says he wasn't paying attention when they introduced themselves. He didn't hear either of them use their names in the 3+ years that the story covers?).
There's a sequel in the works, but what I'd really like is the same story told by a cat: My owners broke up. Is someone still planning to feed me? Great, no problem. (please don't @ me, I'm a long time cat lover, but you know it's true.)
There's a sequel in the works, but what I'd really like is the same story told by a cat: My owners broke up. Is someone still planning to feed me? Great, no problem. (please don't @ me, I'm a long time cat lover, but you know it's true.)
December 4, 2021
I’m a little shocked something like this was picked up by a major publisher. It’s such a weird idea. I read it only because I thought it was my fave trope (relationship in trouble). It was not. It’s not really a romance at all because *spoiler* they end up with different people. And because the pov is a dog it’s really limited. The story itself might have made an interesting womens fiction or something had it been from the woman’s pov but because it’s the dog, it’s so surface level. I appreciated the things keeping them apart became insurmountable. They’re different people. But honestly, I think what the story is saying—that you should be with someone like you (and it is saying that. The other couple are carbon copies) is absolutely wrong. I’m an editor/bookish person and I am married to a scientist who doesn’t read. He’s the one who drags me to places and sometimes I hate it and sometimes I end up liking it. And sometimes I don’t go at all. That the guy apparently couldn’t go anywhere and had such anxiety seemed like he needed therapy and maybe some anxiety meds. I have anxiety but not to that level. But If I did, I don’t think the solution would be to find someone as introverted and anxiety-ridden as myself so we could stay in all the time.
March 31, 2022
I loved this sweet rom com, as told from the dog's perspective! It admittedly took me the first chapter or two to get into the idea of Gatz the dog as the protagonist, but then I ended up loving it - kind of like a Disney movie told by the dog, peppered with idiosyncratic viewpoints and turns of phrase (e.g., the way that Gatz described humans having sex). And the story itself was really cute too. I ended up finishing it in one night; really cute story!
January 17, 2021
I'm glad the ending went the way it did, but oof, this was still...not very great. I had really high expectations for a sweet romcom, but the writing from the dog's point of view came off as super forced and overly cheesey, and there was little of substance to keep this moving.
Also, highly entertained by the author's idea that publishing folks don't drink at work dinners. More entertained that the editor let it stay.
Also, highly entertained by the author's idea that publishing folks don't drink at work dinners. More entertained that the editor let it stay.
August 1, 2022
So, this genius dog, that can understand relationships between humans like a trained psychologist, and who can manipulate said humans like nobody's business... just cannot learn their names. Nope, no siree, he can do everything else, but their names, nope. A big no... I just couldn't get over the Man, Woman, New Man, New Woman stuff... Just couldn't.
July 11, 2021
Of course! Put a dog on the cover and I'm already halfway in love. But this book adds the cherry on top and has the dog narrating the book. It is an incredibly funny book, a little bittersweet, with all the feels. Can't wait for the sequel in December!!
November 5, 2020
Title: Joint Custody
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Jackie Logsted
Series: n/a
Pages: 256
Publisher: Berkley Books
Date: January 5, 2021
Summary:
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together--even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it's the risk he's willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other--how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he's a writer. She's a social butterfly and he's as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man--so handsome, so nice, so perfect--enters The Woman's life, he realizes he'll need to step up his game. And you know what they say: drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own.
Review:
I requested this book simply because I loved the idea of a book from the dog’s point of view. At first, I thought I had made a mistake. Initially, I thought it was trying too hard to be cute . . . the book, not the dog. Gatz is cute and he knows it. He, however, does not like to be called cute. It is so overdone!
The two main human characters love each other, but are horribly mismatched. The relationship finally falls apart and Gatz is devastated. He has to get his people back together and will stop at nothing to accomplish that.
As I said earlier, I thought the first person dog was a bit much. However, the premise worked much better than I expected. To be honest, Gatz has more of what I would call a cat attitude than a dog. He knows he is the most important character in the book and thinks very highly of himself. To me, that is all cat.
Anyway, this book was fun and heartbreaking all at the same time. Yes, it is a romantic comedy, but it is really more about relationships than romance. It is not all light and fluffy. All of the main characters, including Gatz, demonstrate emotional growth and the willingness to admit they could be wrong about some things.
Did I love this book? No. I did enjoy it though and am glad I read it. There was a lot more depth than expected and as in all good romances, things work out in the end.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Jackie Logsted
Series: n/a
Pages: 256
Publisher: Berkley Books
Date: January 5, 2021
Summary:
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.
The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that's not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together--even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it's the risk he's willing to take to get them back together.
Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other--how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he's a writer. She's a social butterfly and he's as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man--so handsome, so nice, so perfect--enters The Woman's life, he realizes he'll need to step up his game. And you know what they say: drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.
A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own.
Review:
I requested this book simply because I loved the idea of a book from the dog’s point of view. At first, I thought I had made a mistake. Initially, I thought it was trying too hard to be cute . . . the book, not the dog. Gatz is cute and he knows it. He, however, does not like to be called cute. It is so overdone!
The two main human characters love each other, but are horribly mismatched. The relationship finally falls apart and Gatz is devastated. He has to get his people back together and will stop at nothing to accomplish that.
As I said earlier, I thought the first person dog was a bit much. However, the premise worked much better than I expected. To be honest, Gatz has more of what I would call a cat attitude than a dog. He knows he is the most important character in the book and thinks very highly of himself. To me, that is all cat.
Anyway, this book was fun and heartbreaking all at the same time. Yes, it is a romantic comedy, but it is really more about relationships than romance. It is not all light and fluffy. All of the main characters, including Gatz, demonstrate emotional growth and the willingness to admit they could be wrong about some things.
Did I love this book? No. I did enjoy it though and am glad I read it. There was a lot more depth than expected and as in all good romances, things work out in the end.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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