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Pine Hollow #3
To All the Dogs I've Loved Before
First love gets a second chance when a mischievous dog finds a way to keep fetching the town librarian’s high school sweetheart in this charming small-town romance.
The last person librarian Elinor Rodriguez wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson, but it seems her mischievous rescue dog has other ideas. Without fail, Dory slips from the house whenever Elinor’s back is turned. And in Pine Hollow, calls about a dog herding cars on Main Street go straight to Levi. The quietly intense lawman broke Elinor’s heart once, and now she’s determined to move on, no matter how much she misses him.
As the kid who barely graduated—and still struggles to hide his dyslexia—Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league. Even though he ended their engagement all those years ago, Elinor still takes Levi’s breath away whenever he sees her. But with a little help from a four-legged friend, Levi and Elinor may just get the second chance they deserve.
The last person librarian Elinor Rodriguez wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson, but it seems her mischievous rescue dog has other ideas. Without fail, Dory slips from the house whenever Elinor’s back is turned. And in Pine Hollow, calls about a dog herding cars on Main Street go straight to Levi. The quietly intense lawman broke Elinor’s heart once, and now she’s determined to move on, no matter how much she misses him.
As the kid who barely graduated—and still struggles to hide his dyslexia—Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league. Even though he ended their engagement all those years ago, Elinor still takes Levi’s breath away whenever he sees her. But with a little help from a four-legged friend, Levi and Elinor may just get the second chance they deserve.
385 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2021
13 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Lizzie Shane
31 books269 followersContemporary romance author Lizzie Shane was born in Alaska and still calls the frozen north home, though she can frequently be found indulging her travel addiction. Thankfully, her laptop travels with her and she has written her way through all fifty states and over fifty countries.
Lizzie has been honored to win the Golden Heart Award and HOLT Medallion, and has been named a finalist three times for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award®, but her main claim to fame is that she lost on Jeopardy!
For more about Lizzie and her books, please visit http://www.lizzieshane.com. Happy reading!
Lizzie has been honored to win the Golden Heart Award and HOLT Medallion, and has been named a finalist three times for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award®, but her main claim to fame is that she lost on Jeopardy!
For more about Lizzie and her books, please visit http://www.lizzieshane.com. Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
December 1, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If a man was going to declare that he didn't want to marry you after the world's longest engagement, he ought to at least have the decency to leave town.
From childhood friends, sweethearts, breaks for college, and family tragedies, Elinor and Levi have been through it all together. It's been three years since Levi suddenly broke the engagement off with Elinor but since he's the chief of police for their small town and her nine month old Australian Sheppard is a Houdini of escaping her home, she still sees him almost everyday. Elinor is still so angry with him but Levi wants them to be able to be friends again, it's a tension filled situation that the whole town can feel, especially the local newsletter that loves to gossip about their relationship.
It would be so much easier if she could just hate him properly.
To All the Dog I've Loved Before was another sweet, emotional pitfalls addition to the Pine Hollow series. Set in a small town in Vermont, the series follows a group of friends that have either grown-up together or been welcomed into the circle because of the dogs they have adopted. Elinor grew-up in the town with Levi, she was the smart overachiever that everyone just knew was going to do big things and he was the bad boy that was always in trouble. The story does a lot of character exploring, Elinor lost her mother young to Ovarian cancer, supported her sister when she had her own scare with cancer, and became the pseudo-mother to their youngest sister. Levi has dyslexia which caused him to act out in school to hide the fact that he couldn't read and deals with emotional abuse from his father at home telling him that he's worthless. There's some reminiscing about their past relationship when they were kids but the bulk of their past is mostly discussed in terms of how their emotional traumas cause them to act now; why Levi broke off the engagement and how Elinor has dealt with that emotional fallout. There is a lot of heavy stuff in this but the author keeps the tone from falling into the depressive, I'm not quite sure how she does it but I never felt dragged down. It's not chik-lit light but more serene and hopeful that these two can work through their emotions to find their way together again.
He never showed weakness. He kept it together for the town.
Around 40% the two have a blowup and the walking on eggshells between them cracks and we get more on Levi. He's still dealing with blaming himself about a drug overdose he thought he should have stopped and readers learn more about why he felt he needed to break it off with Elinor, he essentially didn't feel good enough for her and didn't want to hold her back. A chunk of the book is dedicated to Levi working through these feelings, he goes to therapy, and we get a deeper look at the strong, silent, “I'm not good enough” hero trope. Elinor has her own journey of coming out of the grief fog, not only did she lose her mother, help her sister through her cancer scare, but Elinor also lost her bestfriend to a car accident just after Levi broke off the engagement with her. Again, I know this all sounds depressing as heck but the caring that you can still feel between Elinor and Levi and even the secondary characters, bring the love and friendship to uplift the tone.
Things had been so much clearer when she was trying to hate him. Now it felt like the only thing she knew was that she didn't.
There were maybe a couple times where I felt like I started to grumble that Levi so obviously loved her and his breaking up with her but not letting her go, got repeated one or two too many times but at 60% we get Elinor confronting him and this having it out created a shift between the two that had them moving forward. Levi's knowing that Elinor loved him but thinking she was wrong too was heartfelt and had the foundation that I think this trope lacks a lot of the time, making it's heroes feel more cardboard cutout, Levi felt stoically sexy real.
He'd listened to Jane Austen with her dog while driving around Pine Hollow. Her knees melted a little.
As a reader of the series, I enjoyed revisiting the town and seeing our favorite couples, there is a wedding and more hints at possible future partners. Elinor's dog Dory was adorable and added to the story, especially with how she got Elinor and Levi together. This was a kisses only story, I find myself likening it a lot to a less sex and chik-lit vibe Jill Shalvis. From the beginning you'll feel Levi's trying to hide and restrain love for Elinor and her anger over how he could push her away and then fall into the emotional journey these two go on to get back to each other.
If a man was going to declare that he didn't want to marry you after the world's longest engagement, he ought to at least have the decency to leave town.
From childhood friends, sweethearts, breaks for college, and family tragedies, Elinor and Levi have been through it all together. It's been three years since Levi suddenly broke the engagement off with Elinor but since he's the chief of police for their small town and her nine month old Australian Sheppard is a Houdini of escaping her home, she still sees him almost everyday. Elinor is still so angry with him but Levi wants them to be able to be friends again, it's a tension filled situation that the whole town can feel, especially the local newsletter that loves to gossip about their relationship.
It would be so much easier if she could just hate him properly.
To All the Dog I've Loved Before was another sweet, emotional pitfalls addition to the Pine Hollow series. Set in a small town in Vermont, the series follows a group of friends that have either grown-up together or been welcomed into the circle because of the dogs they have adopted. Elinor grew-up in the town with Levi, she was the smart overachiever that everyone just knew was going to do big things and he was the bad boy that was always in trouble. The story does a lot of character exploring, Elinor lost her mother young to Ovarian cancer, supported her sister when she had her own scare with cancer, and became the pseudo-mother to their youngest sister. Levi has dyslexia which caused him to act out in school to hide the fact that he couldn't read and deals with emotional abuse from his father at home telling him that he's worthless. There's some reminiscing about their past relationship when they were kids but the bulk of their past is mostly discussed in terms of how their emotional traumas cause them to act now; why Levi broke off the engagement and how Elinor has dealt with that emotional fallout. There is a lot of heavy stuff in this but the author keeps the tone from falling into the depressive, I'm not quite sure how she does it but I never felt dragged down. It's not chik-lit light but more serene and hopeful that these two can work through their emotions to find their way together again.
He never showed weakness. He kept it together for the town.
Around 40% the two have a blowup and the walking on eggshells between them cracks and we get more on Levi. He's still dealing with blaming himself about a drug overdose he thought he should have stopped and readers learn more about why he felt he needed to break it off with Elinor, he essentially didn't feel good enough for her and didn't want to hold her back. A chunk of the book is dedicated to Levi working through these feelings, he goes to therapy, and we get a deeper look at the strong, silent, “I'm not good enough” hero trope. Elinor has her own journey of coming out of the grief fog, not only did she lose her mother, help her sister through her cancer scare, but Elinor also lost her bestfriend to a car accident just after Levi broke off the engagement with her. Again, I know this all sounds depressing as heck but the caring that you can still feel between Elinor and Levi and even the secondary characters, bring the love and friendship to uplift the tone.
Things had been so much clearer when she was trying to hate him. Now it felt like the only thing she knew was that she didn't.
There were maybe a couple times where I felt like I started to grumble that Levi so obviously loved her and his breaking up with her but not letting her go, got repeated one or two too many times but at 60% we get Elinor confronting him and this having it out created a shift between the two that had them moving forward. Levi's knowing that Elinor loved him but thinking she was wrong too was heartfelt and had the foundation that I think this trope lacks a lot of the time, making it's heroes feel more cardboard cutout, Levi felt stoically sexy real.
He'd listened to Jane Austen with her dog while driving around Pine Hollow. Her knees melted a little.
As a reader of the series, I enjoyed revisiting the town and seeing our favorite couples, there is a wedding and more hints at possible future partners. Elinor's dog Dory was adorable and added to the story, especially with how she got Elinor and Levi together. This was a kisses only story, I find myself likening it a lot to a less sex and chik-lit vibe Jill Shalvis. From the beginning you'll feel Levi's trying to hide and restrain love for Elinor and her anger over how he could push her away and then fall into the emotional journey these two go on to get back to each other.
November 18, 2021
Lighthearted sweetness. Easy read. Good recovery book after those tough reads. I have to pick up more from this series because it's just too cute!
November 30, 2021
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was so good! I have to admit that I picked this book up almost entirely because of the adorable cover. Yep, all you have to do is put a cute dog on the cover to get my attention. Plus, the dog is actually a big part of the story which all too often isn’t the case. I was pulled into this book from the first page and found it to be an incredibly entertaining romance.
This was so good! Elinor and Levi almost married each other 3 years ago. That is until Levi dumped Elinor without any explanation. Elinor is no longer Levi’s biggest fan which is understandable. Levi spends his days chasing down Elinor’s dog, Dory, who happens to be an impressive escape artist, so the pair ends up seeing more of each other. But are those feelings still there? I really liked the characters in this book and thought that Elinor and Levi were great together. Both of them had a lot of personal issues to work through and I enjoyed watching each of them grow as a person. I loved the chemistry that these two had and was eager to see them work things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This is the third book in the Pine Hollow series but I read it as a stand-alone and thought that it worked well. I had such a good time with this one that I am now eager to see if I can get my hands on the other two books in the series just as soon as possible.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.
This was so good! I have to admit that I picked this book up almost entirely because of the adorable cover. Yep, all you have to do is put a cute dog on the cover to get my attention. Plus, the dog is actually a big part of the story which all too often isn’t the case. I was pulled into this book from the first page and found it to be an incredibly entertaining romance.
This was so good! Elinor and Levi almost married each other 3 years ago. That is until Levi dumped Elinor without any explanation. Elinor is no longer Levi’s biggest fan which is understandable. Levi spends his days chasing down Elinor’s dog, Dory, who happens to be an impressive escape artist, so the pair ends up seeing more of each other. But are those feelings still there? I really liked the characters in this book and thought that Elinor and Levi were great together. Both of them had a lot of personal issues to work through and I enjoyed watching each of them grow as a person. I loved the chemistry that these two had and was eager to see them work things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This is the third book in the Pine Hollow series but I read it as a stand-alone and thought that it worked well. I had such a good time with this one that I am now eager to see if I can get my hands on the other two books in the series just as soon as possible.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.
September 27, 2021
To All the Dogs I've Loved Before by Lizzie Shane is the third book in her Pine Hollow series, but works fine as a stand-alone novel. This contemporary romance is a fun, sweet, small-town second chance story.
Elinor Rodriguez is Pine Hollow’s school librarian who lives with her mischievous, and ill-behaved Australian Shepard named Dory. Unfortunately, Dory is an escape artist and continues to escape Elinor’s house and wreak havoc on the small town of Pine Hollow. Police Chief Levi Jackson is the one called every time Dory escapes and he has to rescue Dory and bring her back to her home.
The problem is that Levi called off his wedding to Elinor three years ago, just weeks before the wedding without a reason. This left Elinor feeling betrayed, hurt and angry. Levi and Elinor had been a couple off and on ever since High School, but neither has dated much in the past three years since their aborted nuptials. Elinor never had closure from her relationship because Levi never told her why he called off the wedding. Now, the mischievous Dory causes Levi and Elinor to have to talk to each other, as much as Elinor despises being anywhere near Levi.
This is a predictable, sweet story, that is perfect for anyone who loves a clean, romantic story set in a lovely small town. It’s very Hallmark Movie-ish, so if you love the Hallmark Channel movies, you’ll probably enjoy this book too. There were some serious topics that blended well with the more humorous aspects. Especially from that dog Dory! I thought it might be one of those “the dog is setting up the couple” stories, but no, Dory is just a dog, a badly behaved, but super cute dog, who doesn’t have any special powers. The pacing was good, and I never felt like the story dragged or moved too quickly. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and it’s a place I would enjoy living in.
I highly recommend To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before to anyone who loves a sweet, small town, second chance romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Elinor Rodriguez is Pine Hollow’s school librarian who lives with her mischievous, and ill-behaved Australian Shepard named Dory. Unfortunately, Dory is an escape artist and continues to escape Elinor’s house and wreak havoc on the small town of Pine Hollow. Police Chief Levi Jackson is the one called every time Dory escapes and he has to rescue Dory and bring her back to her home.
The problem is that Levi called off his wedding to Elinor three years ago, just weeks before the wedding without a reason. This left Elinor feeling betrayed, hurt and angry. Levi and Elinor had been a couple off and on ever since High School, but neither has dated much in the past three years since their aborted nuptials. Elinor never had closure from her relationship because Levi never told her why he called off the wedding. Now, the mischievous Dory causes Levi and Elinor to have to talk to each other, as much as Elinor despises being anywhere near Levi.
This is a predictable, sweet story, that is perfect for anyone who loves a clean, romantic story set in a lovely small town. It’s very Hallmark Movie-ish, so if you love the Hallmark Channel movies, you’ll probably enjoy this book too. There were some serious topics that blended well with the more humorous aspects. Especially from that dog Dory! I thought it might be one of those “the dog is setting up the couple” stories, but no, Dory is just a dog, a badly behaved, but super cute dog, who doesn’t have any special powers. The pacing was good, and I never felt like the story dragged or moved too quickly. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and it’s a place I would enjoy living in.
I highly recommend To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before to anyone who loves a sweet, small town, second chance romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 3, 2021
Loved reading this book and series
November 28, 2021
Sincere, charming, and fun!
To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before is a heartwarming, rewarding tale featuring the intelligent, sensible Elinor and the stubborn, reliable Levi as they discover that the heart wants who the heart wants, and some things are definitely worth a second chance.
The prose is fluid and smooth. The characters are warm, dependable, and funny. And the plot is a delightful mix of life, love, family, friendship, small-town living, adventurous endeavours, nostalgic moments, romance, and a lovable, four-legged rascal named Dory.
To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before is the third title in a series that, for me, just keeps getting better and better. It’s a sweet, playful, amusing read by Shane with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten, satisfied, and hoping for more!
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.
To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before is a heartwarming, rewarding tale featuring the intelligent, sensible Elinor and the stubborn, reliable Levi as they discover that the heart wants who the heart wants, and some things are definitely worth a second chance.
The prose is fluid and smooth. The characters are warm, dependable, and funny. And the plot is a delightful mix of life, love, family, friendship, small-town living, adventurous endeavours, nostalgic moments, romance, and a lovable, four-legged rascal named Dory.
To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before is the third title in a series that, for me, just keeps getting better and better. It’s a sweet, playful, amusing read by Shane with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten, satisfied, and hoping for more!
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2023
Pine Hollow (3): Ps Ik hou van je hond ~ Lizzie Shane
Boekerij, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Dory veroverde direct mijn hart met haar onsnappings capriolen. En hoewel Elinor en Levi niet mijn favoriete personages in Pine Hollow zijn, heb ik absoluut weer genoten van het verhaal. Lizzie Shane heeft een hele fijne, warme manier van schrijven, waardoor het voelt alsof je echt onderdeel van de gemeenschap bent. Erg benieuwd naar het verhaal van Charlotte hierna!
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Boekerij, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Dory veroverde direct mijn hart met haar onsnappings capriolen. En hoewel Elinor en Levi niet mijn favoriete personages in Pine Hollow zijn, heb ik absoluut weer genoten van het verhaal. Lizzie Shane heeft een hele fijne, warme manier van schrijven, waardoor het voelt alsof je echt onderdeel van de gemeenschap bent. Erg benieuwd naar het verhaal van Charlotte hierna!
www.facebook.com/thebookbabecisz
Instagram: the.bookbabe
September 15, 2021
To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before by Lizzie Shane is an excellent contemporary romance that is the third book in the truly wonderful series: A Pine Hollow Novel.
I have read all three books thus far in this series, and I have loved every one of them. While one does not have to read the previous two to enjoy this one, it really is a great series to delve into and I highly recommend for everyone to read all three.
This one focusses on the town librarian, Elinor, her rescue dog Dory, and Officer Levi. We have met these characters in the previous books, but the author refreshes our memories as she tells of their respective pasts, their previous feelings for one another, and then delves into this charming second chance romance.
Elinor and Levi really do compliment one another in the way that each are able to come to terms with their own problems and concerns as they are working through their combined past. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and the positive ending that presented.
The more serious threads of the novel are balanced nicely with the adorable canines and the positive undercurrent that is always present.
I have really enjoyed this series thus far and I hope it continues. I can’t wait to visit this adorable town of Pine Hollow and it’s wonderful array of inhabitants again. (And come on…any time there are furry friends and a rescue organization also present definitely help seal the deal of interest for me!)
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Forever ( Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon on 11/30/21.
I have read all three books thus far in this series, and I have loved every one of them. While one does not have to read the previous two to enjoy this one, it really is a great series to delve into and I highly recommend for everyone to read all three.
This one focusses on the town librarian, Elinor, her rescue dog Dory, and Officer Levi. We have met these characters in the previous books, but the author refreshes our memories as she tells of their respective pasts, their previous feelings for one another, and then delves into this charming second chance romance.
Elinor and Levi really do compliment one another in the way that each are able to come to terms with their own problems and concerns as they are working through their combined past. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and the positive ending that presented.
The more serious threads of the novel are balanced nicely with the adorable canines and the positive undercurrent that is always present.
I have really enjoyed this series thus far and I hope it continues. I can’t wait to visit this adorable town of Pine Hollow and it’s wonderful array of inhabitants again. (And come on…any time there are furry friends and a rescue organization also present definitely help seal the deal of interest for me!)
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Forever ( Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon on 11/30/21.
November 30, 2021
This is the third book in the Pine Hollow series by Lizzie Shane in her Pine Hollow series.
This book has some characters from her other books in the series but we also meet a new cast of characters here as well. This is Elinor and Levi's story. They had dated previously and it hadn't worked out so when a rascally Australian Shepard named Dory belonging to Elinor continually escapes her yard Levi is tasked to chase the dog down and return it because he is the police chief in Pine Hollow. The last thing Elinor wants to do is spend time with Levi but with Dory the escape artist she seems to have to do so on a rather frequent basis.
This is a sweet,charming small town romance that you'll enjoy reading.
Published November 30th 2021 by Forever
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This book has some characters from her other books in the series but we also meet a new cast of characters here as well. This is Elinor and Levi's story. They had dated previously and it hadn't worked out so when a rascally Australian Shepard named Dory belonging to Elinor continually escapes her yard Levi is tasked to chase the dog down and return it because he is the police chief in Pine Hollow. The last thing Elinor wants to do is spend time with Levi but with Dory the escape artist she seems to have to do so on a rather frequent basis.
This is a sweet,charming small town romance that you'll enjoy reading.
Published November 30th 2021 by Forever
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 3, 2021
Thank you to Forever for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
We're back in Pine Hollow for Lizzie Shane's third book To All the Dogs I've Loved Before. This second chance romance follows elementary school librarian, Elinor, and Pine Hollow Sheriff Levi Jackson, who were engaged three years ago but now are trying to remain friends. Elinor is still trying to overcome her feelings when Levi called off their engagement out of the blue three years ago. Having to deal with Levi unexpectedly due to her Houdini Aussie Dory is not helping matters. Levi, although annoyed at having to run around town chasing Dory, is glad to have a little more time with Elinor. Although he called off their engagement, it didn't mean his love for her ever left. As he starts therapy thanks to coworkers, he starts to work on unresolved issues that may help him build his relationship with himself and Elinor.
This may be my favorite Pine Hollow novel so far. It touches on matters such as grief, the death of a sibling, cancer, learning disabilities, and mental health in a well written manner that I felt does justice to the matters within the narrative of the story. In terms of the romance, it's closed door and evolves fully closer towards the latter fourth of the novel. It's a slow burn to the final evolution of their romance, but as a romance reader it's not a surprise at that outcome. Speaking of burning, be ready to burn through book titles because there are quite a few book title name drops throughout this novel. That isn't surprising since Elinor is a librarian and Levi is a big audiobooker.
If you're new to the series, I recommend checking out the other two books before diving into this one. The characters at the center of the other novels are in this one and heavily focused on. Because of that I think it would help to have a background of who the other characters are before coming into To All the Dogs I've Loved Before.
One of the secondary characters we are introduced to is Charlotte, Elinor's sister, but she won't be staying in the background for long. I'm excited to see what'll happen with Charlotte when her story is told next year with Pride & Puppies. Jane Austen novels play a part in the story of their family, don't worry you learn all about it in the novel. I'll be curious to see if her story will be like a Pride and Prejudice retelling or any other Jane Austen-like retelling when it comes out.
We're back in Pine Hollow for Lizzie Shane's third book To All the Dogs I've Loved Before. This second chance romance follows elementary school librarian, Elinor, and Pine Hollow Sheriff Levi Jackson, who were engaged three years ago but now are trying to remain friends. Elinor is still trying to overcome her feelings when Levi called off their engagement out of the blue three years ago. Having to deal with Levi unexpectedly due to her Houdini Aussie Dory is not helping matters. Levi, although annoyed at having to run around town chasing Dory, is glad to have a little more time with Elinor. Although he called off their engagement, it didn't mean his love for her ever left. As he starts therapy thanks to coworkers, he starts to work on unresolved issues that may help him build his relationship with himself and Elinor.
This may be my favorite Pine Hollow novel so far. It touches on matters such as grief, the death of a sibling, cancer, learning disabilities, and mental health in a well written manner that I felt does justice to the matters within the narrative of the story. In terms of the romance, it's closed door and evolves fully closer towards the latter fourth of the novel. It's a slow burn to the final evolution of their romance, but as a romance reader it's not a surprise at that outcome. Speaking of burning, be ready to burn through book titles because there are quite a few book title name drops throughout this novel. That isn't surprising since Elinor is a librarian and Levi is a big audiobooker.
If you're new to the series, I recommend checking out the other two books before diving into this one. The characters at the center of the other novels are in this one and heavily focused on. Because of that I think it would help to have a background of who the other characters are before coming into To All the Dogs I've Loved Before.
One of the secondary characters we are introduced to is Charlotte, Elinor's sister, but she won't be staying in the background for long. I'm excited to see what'll happen with Charlotte when her story is told next year with Pride & Puppies. Jane Austen novels play a part in the story of their family, don't worry you learn all about it in the novel. I'll be curious to see if her story will be like a Pride and Prejudice retelling or any other Jane Austen-like retelling when it comes out.
December 12, 2021
Elinor and Levi are the perfect couple and Dory is a little mischievous dog that knows something and will always bring them together one way or another.
Dory is a rescue dog that will always find a way to escape and makes up for really comical scenes. In the haste of finding Dory, Elinor and Levi will rediscover their feelings for each other.
Second chance romance with a heartwarming story and some topics that in my opinion should be talked more and maybe the awareness of what it actually implies and how it can challenge a person’s life every day it should be acknowledged more.
I haven’t read the other books in the series but I will surely look up for them because this one was a delight and sometimes we need a few hours of laughter and romance.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
Dory is a rescue dog that will always find a way to escape and makes up for really comical scenes. In the haste of finding Dory, Elinor and Levi will rediscover their feelings for each other.
Second chance romance with a heartwarming story and some topics that in my opinion should be talked more and maybe the awareness of what it actually implies and how it can challenge a person’s life every day it should be acknowledged more.
I haven’t read the other books in the series but I will surely look up for them because this one was a delight and sometimes we need a few hours of laughter and romance.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
January 1, 2022
Make no bones about it, Dory is the star about it. She is a pawsome escape artist and her antics never failed to make me giggle, plus wonder at how intelligent she is to keep outsmarting everyone.
Levi is the chief of police in Pine Hollow, and seems to be the resident dog rustler when Dory inevitably escapes.
Just the small problem of needing to return her to his ex fiancée each time, which is rather awkward for them both, especially with the town newsletter basically being a gossip column, continually speculating on their relationship status!
I loved being back in Pine Hollow with so many familiar faces both human and canine.
Lizzy Shane writes about dogs so well, in addition to small town romances that in this case kept me hooked as to whether the pair would ever resolve their differences or not.
And I enjoyed getting to know Elinor's sisters, her friends and along with Elinor discovering just what the real reason was that Levi broke up with her 3 years ago.
I couldn't get enough of this book, and loved every single second of it. I'm already crossing my fingers that there will be more from Pine Hollow as I'm loving this series more and more with each book (and I completely adored book 1!).
Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Levi is the chief of police in Pine Hollow, and seems to be the resident dog rustler when Dory inevitably escapes.
Just the small problem of needing to return her to his ex fiancée each time, which is rather awkward for them both, especially with the town newsletter basically being a gossip column, continually speculating on their relationship status!
I loved being back in Pine Hollow with so many familiar faces both human and canine.
Lizzy Shane writes about dogs so well, in addition to small town romances that in this case kept me hooked as to whether the pair would ever resolve their differences or not.
And I enjoyed getting to know Elinor's sisters, her friends and along with Elinor discovering just what the real reason was that Levi broke up with her 3 years ago.
I couldn't get enough of this book, and loved every single second of it. I'm already crossing my fingers that there will be more from Pine Hollow as I'm loving this series more and more with each book (and I completely adored book 1!).
Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 1, 2021
3.75 stars
This book was a cute, clean, and sometimes frustrating story of a longtime on-again off-again couple who have all the feels for each other but can't quite believe they can make it work. It's the third in a series, but it was my first, and I wonder if I would have understood and appreciated the conflict more if I'd read the previous books.
Librarian Elinor and police chief Levi have been together platonically and romantically off and on since they were kids. Presumably, they were lovers too, though nothing is ever said about that aspect of their relationship; the book is quite chaste (without being syrupy). They were also engaged until Levi abruptly broke it off shortly before the wedding three years ago. He did it for what he truly believes were the right reasons (basically that Elinor was too good for him), but he neglected to explain to her the "why."
Present day Pine Hollow has them coexisting, frequently finding themselves together either because of her escape artist dog or because they share a core group of friends. Nothing really obvious happens to have them considering giving love another go, but they both start thinking about it. Lots of soul searching and revealed secrets eventually bring then back to a good place, but it's it enough for Elinor to trust Levi with her heart again?
The pace of the novel is fairly slow, though it is never boring. The characters are also easy love, though I wanted Elinor to go to dog owner training school. I also thought Levi would benefit if someone smacked him upside the head a time or two. Other than that, the book sticks pretty closely to the cute small town trope with a nosy senior citizen, the requisite small town holiday events, and a surfeit of cute rescue dogs. (Is it just me, or is it odd that romance novel rescue dogs are always purebred? Around here, they're all pitties or Chihuahua mixes.)
This book is a worthwhile read as long as you don't mind a slow burn that reads a little more like book club fiction than a contemporary romance. I would definitely read the previous and future books in the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
This book was a cute, clean, and sometimes frustrating story of a longtime on-again off-again couple who have all the feels for each other but can't quite believe they can make it work. It's the third in a series, but it was my first, and I wonder if I would have understood and appreciated the conflict more if I'd read the previous books.
Librarian Elinor and police chief Levi have been together platonically and romantically off and on since they were kids. Presumably, they were lovers too, though nothing is ever said about that aspect of their relationship; the book is quite chaste (without being syrupy). They were also engaged until Levi abruptly broke it off shortly before the wedding three years ago. He did it for what he truly believes were the right reasons (basically that Elinor was too good for him), but he neglected to explain to her the "why."
Present day Pine Hollow has them coexisting, frequently finding themselves together either because of her escape artist dog or because they share a core group of friends. Nothing really obvious happens to have them considering giving love another go, but they both start thinking about it. Lots of soul searching and revealed secrets eventually bring then back to a good place, but it's it enough for Elinor to trust Levi with her heart again?
The pace of the novel is fairly slow, though it is never boring. The characters are also easy love, though I wanted Elinor to go to dog owner training school. I also thought Levi would benefit if someone smacked him upside the head a time or two. Other than that, the book sticks pretty closely to the cute small town trope with a nosy senior citizen, the requisite small town holiday events, and a surfeit of cute rescue dogs. (Is it just me, or is it odd that romance novel rescue dogs are always purebred? Around here, they're all pitties or Chihuahua mixes.)
This book is a worthwhile read as long as you don't mind a slow burn that reads a little more like book club fiction than a contemporary romance. I would definitely read the previous and future books in the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
September 5, 2021
“Love is a collaborative work of art.” That is the hard won lesson learned by small town school librarian Elinor and Levi the police chief in All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before, the third Pine Hollow book by Lizzie Shane.
I’m a sucker for a small town librarian finding love so this book was a pleasant and appealing diversion.
This can be read as a stand-alone. I read the first book but not the second, yet I didn’t feel lost at all.
If you like childhood sweethearts getting their second chance, a group of friends like family, a Hallmark romance and a mischievous dog - this book is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a sucker for a small town librarian finding love so this book was a pleasant and appealing diversion.
This can be read as a stand-alone. I read the first book but not the second, yet I didn’t feel lost at all.
If you like childhood sweethearts getting their second chance, a group of friends like family, a Hallmark romance and a mischievous dog - this book is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2021
Thanks to Forever Publishing for the free book.
I adore this series. I love getting to come back to Pine Hollow again and again, and I'm glad that this wasn't my last time there. I have been curious about Elinor's story since the first book, and I just loved it. There is so much depth and heartbreak in her past, which affects her current day life. Then the relationship with Levi was so full of past history, which made me wonder where the story was going for these two. I liked how both of them had big issues to work through and how therapy is normalized in this story. This book shows how impactful someone's childhood can be on their future, and what can be done to make their life what they want it to be.
Also, Dory is the most adorable dog. I loved reading about her antics and was impressed by some of the shenanigans she gets herself into - also totally believable with her being an Aussie.
If you love dogs and closed door romance, please check this series out. It is absolutely wonderful!
I adore this series. I love getting to come back to Pine Hollow again and again, and I'm glad that this wasn't my last time there. I have been curious about Elinor's story since the first book, and I just loved it. There is so much depth and heartbreak in her past, which affects her current day life. Then the relationship with Levi was so full of past history, which made me wonder where the story was going for these two. I liked how both of them had big issues to work through and how therapy is normalized in this story. This book shows how impactful someone's childhood can be on their future, and what can be done to make their life what they want it to be.
Also, Dory is the most adorable dog. I loved reading about her antics and was impressed by some of the shenanigans she gets herself into - also totally believable with her being an Aussie.
If you love dogs and closed door romance, please check this series out. It is absolutely wonderful!
January 17, 2023
In Lizzie Shane’s To All the Dogs I Loved Before, the third installment in the Pine Hollow contemporary romance series, this endearing romance has plenty of sweet scenes with a hint of humor. This contemporary romance has a great mash-up of grumpy-sunshine and second chance for the tropes that makes this an awesome lovely story. It all started when the town newsletter’s editor reported that Elinor Rodriguez was back together with her ex-fiance Levi Jackson. In Pine Hollow, Vermont, it gave their small town something to talk about and speculate. Though it wasn’t true and nothing but conjecture. But when Elinor’s Aussie Dory keeps escaping from her home, Police Chief Levi Jackson keeps bringing it back to her, safe and sound. Elinor, the school librarian, has always hated Levi for blindsiding her on their broken engagement three years ago. She didn’t know why or for what reason. While she deals with her younger sister Charlotte’s relationship problems, she has aspirations to become a published author. For Levi, he had kept a secret he never told anyone: he has dyslexia. And he didn’t want to be anything like his old man and how he treated women. But everytime when Dory escaped, he was always on call to bring it back to Elinor, though he always took care of her and did things for her when she least expected it. While being the police chief for Pine Hollow, he was always there for her and his friends. But in the end, would he tell the truth to Elinor about his true feelings for her to make things right?
This heart-warming contemporary romance is moving and heartfelt. I cared for Elinor, who always thought she was perfect in everyone’s eyes. She might be too harsh on Charlotte and cared for Dory and her students. And she would never give up on love and on her dreams. I adored Lexi, since he’s diverse as a main character with a learning disability. We don’t see that everyday and need more of them in novels. I loved how he became fond of Dory and looked out for people in Pine Hollow. Dory was a hoot and adorably sweet Aussie who loved Levi and Elinor. The location of Pine Hollow, Vermont, is lovely and wholesome for a small New England town with picturesque scenic settings. The theme of the story is no one’s truly perfect when love will find the way.
This sweet contemporary romance is recommended for those who love dogs in the story with a second chance storyline. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love romances with non-stop romantic action, plenty of suspenseful drama, and hints of sweet loving romance, add To All the Dogs I Loved Before to your TBR list . This book is recommended for fans who love Hallmark Movies, Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, and Marina Adair.
This heart-warming contemporary romance is moving and heartfelt. I cared for Elinor, who always thought she was perfect in everyone’s eyes. She might be too harsh on Charlotte and cared for Dory and her students. And she would never give up on love and on her dreams. I adored Lexi, since he’s diverse as a main character with a learning disability. We don’t see that everyday and need more of them in novels. I loved how he became fond of Dory and looked out for people in Pine Hollow. Dory was a hoot and adorably sweet Aussie who loved Levi and Elinor. The location of Pine Hollow, Vermont, is lovely and wholesome for a small New England town with picturesque scenic settings. The theme of the story is no one’s truly perfect when love will find the way.
This sweet contemporary romance is recommended for those who love dogs in the story with a second chance storyline. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love romances with non-stop romantic action, plenty of suspenseful drama, and hints of sweet loving romance, add To All the Dogs I Loved Before to your TBR list . This book is recommended for fans who love Hallmark Movies, Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, and Marina Adair.
November 28, 2021
Elinor Rodriguez is an elementary school librarian (yay!) whose heart was broken by Levi Jackson the town sheriff. They had been on again off again sweethearts growing up and three years ago he called off their engagement and wedding with no explanation. In their small town it is impossible to avoid each other and now they are going to be part of the same wedding party. In a nod to Bridgerton and Lady Whistledown each chapter starts with a bit of gossip and the two are constantly featured.
I enjoyed this book but it was honestly my least favorite in the the series. (I loved #2, Once Upon A Puppy.) Levi is very much an alpha male and either you will like his I know what's best attitude or you won't (I didn't). It comes to play in the story as part of the broken engagement. I think because they were already involved I missed the getting to know you part of courting. Some is told in flashbacks but not enough to think this is a couple heading to a HEA.
You can read this book on it's own but because of the ongoing friendships it will be more enjoyable read in order. For example this book has the wedding of the couple from the first book. I wouldn't call it a holiday romance but it does cover from pre-Thanksgiving to New Years Eve. Shane has created a lovely town and good friendships and her writing is engaging. This one just got a little repetitive in the characters motivations for me. These stories have mild cursing and while the others had fade to black romance this one is a slow burn with only some kisses shared. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
I enjoyed this book but it was honestly my least favorite in the the series. (I loved #2, Once Upon A Puppy.) Levi is very much an alpha male and either you will like his I know what's best attitude or you won't (I didn't). It comes to play in the story as part of the broken engagement. I think because they were already involved I missed the getting to know you part of courting. Some is told in flashbacks but not enough to think this is a couple heading to a HEA.
You can read this book on it's own but because of the ongoing friendships it will be more enjoyable read in order. For example this book has the wedding of the couple from the first book. I wouldn't call it a holiday romance but it does cover from pre-Thanksgiving to New Years Eve. Shane has created a lovely town and good friendships and her writing is engaging. This one just got a little repetitive in the characters motivations for me. These stories have mild cursing and while the others had fade to black romance this one is a slow burn with only some kisses shared. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
October 26, 2021
Romance with pets is always appealing to me, and I adored little escape artist, Dori the Australian shepherd. Dory lives with the town librarian, Elinor, but it's the police chief, Levi, who always ends up rounding up Dory and taking her home.
Which would be fine, except Levi and Elinor used to be engaged to be married and have barely spoken to each other in the three years since. Which is actually quite a feat, considering their small town and a shared group of friends.
I really tried to love this one, but aside from Dory's antics, I had to work at it in order to make it through to the end. There were too many things that didn’t move the story forward for me, from excessive character introspection to several gatherings of friends in various forms. This is my first book by this author, so perhaps I just failed to connect with her style.
I loved the small-town setting and the town's busybody's newsletter was clever and quirky. I’m a big fan of second chance romance, so there may come a time when I might enjoy this one more.
Which would be fine, except Levi and Elinor used to be engaged to be married and have barely spoken to each other in the three years since. Which is actually quite a feat, considering their small town and a shared group of friends.
I really tried to love this one, but aside from Dory's antics, I had to work at it in order to make it through to the end. There were too many things that didn’t move the story forward for me, from excessive character introspection to several gatherings of friends in various forms. This is my first book by this author, so perhaps I just failed to connect with her style.
I loved the small-town setting and the town's busybody's newsletter was clever and quirky. I’m a big fan of second chance romance, so there may come a time when I might enjoy this one more.
December 9, 2021
You know those days when everything in life just feels too heavy and dark? The kind of days where you really need a true escape to somewhere lighthearted and fun? This is the series I would recommend when you’re in search of that feeling, it’s so so cute and sweet. I loved the first two books and the third was recently released, it was just as delightful as the first two and by now I’m pretty attached to the characters. This one follows librarian Elinor and police chief Levi and is a second chance romance full of tender moments, lots of laughs and a dog who is the best escape artist since Houdini. And while it’s not a holiday book it covers several months so you do get a small dose of Christmas cheer and some coziness. I still want to move to Pine Hollow and I’m sure I can convince @reallyintothis and @momssanity to come with me, but definitely recommended by me for sweet small town romance fans ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 30, 2021
I fell in love with this cover and knew I wanted to read this book before I even knew what it was about. Isn’t that dog on the cover absolutely adorable? Elinor and Levi were engaged to be married, but he broke things off with no explanation. Second chance romance is a favorite trope of mine, so this was a win-win for me. Dory, Elinor’s mischievous, escape artist, fur baby keeps bringing Levi and Elinor together. Does Dory want to be a matchmaker or will Elinor and Levi figure out they were meant to be together? Grab your copy and see what happens in this delightful book that left me with a smile on my face. I’ve had a difficult month, so this was a great way to get back to reading, after a three week lapse. I can’t wait to read more from this new to me author.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 30, 2021
Thanks to Forever for a gifted copy for honest review!
To All the Dogs I've Loved Before is a second chance romance set in the picturesque small town of Pine Hollow. I loved getting to know what was behind the bits of Elinor and Levi we have seen in previous books. Elinor and Levi have both assumed caregiving roles in their lives and taken on a lot, in very different ways, and life hasn't always been kind to either of them. Filled with plenty of the quirky small town gossip and the constant, adorable antics of Elinor's rambunctious pup, Dory, there was so much to love about this satisfying story.
To All the Dogs I've Loved Before is a second chance romance set in the picturesque small town of Pine Hollow. I loved getting to know what was behind the bits of Elinor and Levi we have seen in previous books. Elinor and Levi have both assumed caregiving roles in their lives and taken on a lot, in very different ways, and life hasn't always been kind to either of them. Filled with plenty of the quirky small town gossip and the constant, adorable antics of Elinor's rambunctious pup, Dory, there was so much to love about this satisfying story.
January 6, 2023
4.5 stars.
🚔 police MMC
🐕 dogs
🏡 small town
✏️ dyslexia rep
🖤 second-chance romance
I loved the friend groups. I had some catching up to do on who is who and who is related to whom (because I jumped in on book 3 not knowing), but I loved the girl gang and I loved the bros even more. The guy friend group reminded me a lot of the Bromance book club series from Lyssa Kay Adams.
The book read a little slower for me but I think it’s because I was enjoying it so much. It was the most relaxing read for me; a cozy feel to end the night with. It wasn’t a super fast moving plot but I still enjoyed it so much. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
🚔 police MMC
🐕 dogs
🏡 small town
✏️ dyslexia rep
🖤 second-chance romance
I loved the friend groups. I had some catching up to do on who is who and who is related to whom (because I jumped in on book 3 not knowing), but I loved the girl gang and I loved the bros even more. The guy friend group reminded me a lot of the Bromance book club series from Lyssa Kay Adams.
The book read a little slower for me but I think it’s because I was enjoying it so much. It was the most relaxing read for me; a cozy feel to end the night with. It wasn’t a super fast moving plot but I still enjoyed it so much. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
February 27, 2022
The last person librarian Elinor wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson, but it seems her mischievous dog has other ideas. The quiet lawman broke Elinor’s heart once, and now she’s determined to move on. As the kid who barely graduated—and still struggles to hide his dyslexia—Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league, but when a certain dog brings them together every time, he can't deny fate.
This is the most wholesome and heartfelt second chance romance I've ever read. It took me by a complete surprise, with its charming small town, great group of friends, adorable & hilarious dog moments, slow burn romance, and swoony chemistry.
Levi & Elinor were the perfect couple & their story was just so subtle & pure. These 2 supported each other throughout whether it came to writing or dyslexia. I had so many favorite moments especially the dog chasing part(s) and the gossip-y newsletters in the beginning of each chapters.
This is the most wholesome and heartfelt second chance romance I've ever read. It took me by a complete surprise, with its charming small town, great group of friends, adorable & hilarious dog moments, slow burn romance, and swoony chemistry.
Levi & Elinor were the perfect couple & their story was just so subtle & pure. These 2 supported each other throughout whether it came to writing or dyslexia. I had so many favorite moments especially the dog chasing part(s) and the gossip-y newsletters in the beginning of each chapters.
October 29, 2024
Honestly, Levi was ridiculous. I hate the whole "they deserve better than me" scenario, especially when they make it nearly impossible for the other person to move on.
Elinore's sister was also annoying AF, such a brat for an adult lol
But Elinore herself was pretty level headed. She loved her town, her family, and was trying to move on. When she felt it wasn't fair so put a stop to it before letting it get far. She and Levi FINALLY worked it out and it was cute that Levi also fell in love with Elinore's dog 🤭
Elinore's sister was also annoying AF, such a brat for an adult lol
But Elinore herself was pretty level headed. She loved her town, her family, and was trying to move on. When she felt it wasn't fair so put a stop to it before letting it get far. She and Levi FINALLY worked it out and it was cute that Levi also fell in love with Elinore's dog 🤭
February 21, 2022
I love this little town of Pine Hollow; can I please live there! It has a library so I’ll be good. And puppies. It has lots and lots of puppies.
January 16, 2023
I love Pines Hollow!
Ik wil daar ook wonen! En ik wil net zo'n leuke hond als Dory ❤️❤️
Ik wil daar ook wonen! En ik wil net zo'n leuke hond als Dory ❤️❤️
July 29, 2023
It was fine. Just not my style. I don't usually read romance books. It was clean though so I appreciated that.
September 7, 2021
Review of To All The Dogs I’ve Loved Before by Lizzie Shane
Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Short Review
Lizzie Shane’s romance novel To All The Dogs I’ve Loved Before is told through the alternating points of view of town police chief, Levi and school librarian, Elinor as they navigate their tangled relationship with each other and other members of their town. The two keep colliding as Elinor’s mischievous dog, Dory, continuously escapes while Elinor is at school and Levi has to track her down to take her home. Readers who love stories about people trying to change, strong family bonds will enjoy this book, and Jane Austen references will love this book. The romance fell short for me due to communication issues by both leads and other problems with their relationship.
This book has a lot of positive things about it, but the negative aspects outweighed the positives for me this time. Two out of five stars.
Additional Thoughts
I like the strong bonds that Elinor forges with her sisters and friends despite the conflicts that arise amongst them. It’s clear that there’s a lot of love there.
I like that the people Levi is friends with challenge his opinions on what it means to be a man and help him get away from his upbringing.
I like the way that Levi tries to work through his issues in therapy. I thought that was done well. I just think he could’ve done with some time away from Elinor to actually work through the way he tends to be overbearing towards her. He constantly crosses boundaries and spies on her while she is on dates more than once.
As previously mentioned, I thought Levi was overbearing when it comes to Elinor. I think he crosses a lot of boundaries that should’ve stayed in place which bothered me a lot. There are also moments when Elinor feels bad for things that I just don’t think she should’ve felt bad for because they weren’t her fault. Those two things made the romance-element of the story uncomfortable to read at times. I know this is vague, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
This is a silly personal preference, but I wanted more of Dory and dogs in general. The moments readers get with Dory are adorable. She’s such a sweetheart but also very mischievous. Dory was definitely one of my favorite characters.
There is definitely an audience for this book. Just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Short Review
Lizzie Shane’s romance novel To All The Dogs I’ve Loved Before is told through the alternating points of view of town police chief, Levi and school librarian, Elinor as they navigate their tangled relationship with each other and other members of their town. The two keep colliding as Elinor’s mischievous dog, Dory, continuously escapes while Elinor is at school and Levi has to track her down to take her home. Readers who love stories about people trying to change, strong family bonds will enjoy this book, and Jane Austen references will love this book. The romance fell short for me due to communication issues by both leads and other problems with their relationship.
This book has a lot of positive things about it, but the negative aspects outweighed the positives for me this time. Two out of five stars.
Additional Thoughts
I like the strong bonds that Elinor forges with her sisters and friends despite the conflicts that arise amongst them. It’s clear that there’s a lot of love there.
I like that the people Levi is friends with challenge his opinions on what it means to be a man and help him get away from his upbringing.
I like the way that Levi tries to work through his issues in therapy. I thought that was done well. I just think he could’ve done with some time away from Elinor to actually work through the way he tends to be overbearing towards her. He constantly crosses boundaries and spies on her while she is on dates more than once.
As previously mentioned, I thought Levi was overbearing when it comes to Elinor. I think he crosses a lot of boundaries that should’ve stayed in place which bothered me a lot. There are also moments when Elinor feels bad for things that I just don’t think she should’ve felt bad for because they weren’t her fault. Those two things made the romance-element of the story uncomfortable to read at times. I know this is vague, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
This is a silly personal preference, but I wanted more of Dory and dogs in general. The moments readers get with Dory are adorable. She’s such a sweetheart but also very mischievous. Dory was definitely one of my favorite characters.
There is definitely an audience for this book. Just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s.
November 20, 2021
This was a really cute, sweet, clean second chance romance. Levi walked away from Elinor years ago without any explanation. He simply broke her heart. They are now both back in the small town where they came to treasure the friendship between them and grew to love each other.
Elinor is an interesting character. She has "mothered" her sisters for years and can't seem to stop. She is also very much able to stand up to Levi. Levi has his own issues. There's a secret that he has hidden from everyone his entire life. Elinor is about the only one who knows and she hasn't told anyone, no matter how much he hurt her.
The dog, Dory, plays a huge part in this book. She's an escape artist and Levi has to keep hunting her down when she escapes and taking her back to Elinor. The ornery dog that is such a pain in his side, is also working her way into Levi's heart...and making him realize that though his intentions were good in leaving Elinor, they may have been wrong. Is it too late for a second chance with her?
Thanks to Forever Grand Pub and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Elinor is an interesting character. She has "mothered" her sisters for years and can't seem to stop. She is also very much able to stand up to Levi. Levi has his own issues. There's a secret that he has hidden from everyone his entire life. Elinor is about the only one who knows and she hasn't told anyone, no matter how much he hurt her.
The dog, Dory, plays a huge part in this book. She's an escape artist and Levi has to keep hunting her down when she escapes and taking her back to Elinor. The ornery dog that is such a pain in his side, is also working her way into Levi's heart...and making him realize that though his intentions were good in leaving Elinor, they may have been wrong. Is it too late for a second chance with her?
Thanks to Forever Grand Pub and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
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