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Dog Friendly

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“Perfect to read on the beach.” – The Boston Globe

A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.
 
Exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group’s glittery annual fundraiser.
 
Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself.

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2022

84 people are currently reading
4701 people want to read

About the author

Victoria Schade

15 books406 followers
Victoria Schade has been a dog trainer and writer for over seventeen years. During that time her dog duties have included working behind the scenes on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl as the lead animal wrangler, appearing on two seasons of the Animal Planet show Faithful Friends, writing dog training content and appearing in educational videos for NBC/Universal, Pet360, PawCulture and petMD, and writing two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer.

Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader.
2,785 reviews31.9k followers
August 6, 2022
I’m such a fan of Victoria Schade. If you are seeking a feel-good book feature love and dogs and love for dogs, look no further. I love all of her covers, but this one is sooo cute, and I love the lighthouse in the background.

Dog Friendly is Morgan’s story. She’s a veterinarian and exhausted. A favorite client asks her to dogsit for them in Nantucket, and she is eager for the break. What a relaxing summer she’ll have! Things change a little when she’s asked to help out with a handful of a pup (Hudson) and the rescue as well. And their fundraiser. And…

Then, Morgan meets Nathan, and things calm down again for Morgan, while they also heat up?! Then, a twist happens with Nathan, and Morgan’s brother visits; knocking things off track again. Will things ever calm down for Morgan, and will she find love for herself?

This is such a sweet, warmhearted story. Anyone who loves a dog or any animal will appreciate the warmth towards pups. Morgan’s story is relatable - we’ve all felt underappreciated and overworked. It seems to be on all of our minds lately. I felt like a million bucks after reading this one. A warm hug.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,829 reviews463 followers
May 31, 2022
Awwww I luv this! Taking on some deep topics and sweet romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and she takes on some serious topics including depression, suicide, and stress. But she wraps them into light-hearted story that will leave you itching for a visit to Nantucket.

Our main character is overwhelmed, overworked, and in dire need of a break. A perfect opportunity falls into her lap and she finds herself in a beautiful town, making friends, and even developing a romance.

While the scenes are lighthearted, underneath there is the message of stress and burnout. How to make decisions that may impact you down the road. Connecting with other people when you have just had enough and need that mental break is a real decision somedays.

But then we break that with a building romance. I enjoyed the characters and how they started slowly, tentatively growing their feelings. However, I never got that passion and all-in feeling from Nathan. I really wanted more in the romance department from this story.

Sweet, fun, and definitely an enjoyable read. Plus, you cannot help but fall in love with the doggy stars!

* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/dog-friendly...
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,933 reviews291 followers
July 25, 2022
This was a sweet romance story that delved into some tougher topics than typical for the genre (depression, suicide, bullying, burnout). I loved the canine characters in the story and they definitely stole the show. I did feel the shocking obstacle to the romance arc came super late and the ending felt a little rushed and unrealistic to me. Morgan is a vet which has always been her dream but after having a fainting spell at work she decides to take two of her favorite clients up on dog sitting for their tough dog for two months in Nantucket. Morgan has a lot of processing and reflection to do and sprinkled in between she makes new friends, meets a charming boy, and tries some new hobbies.
Profile Image for Kate Vocke (bookapotamus).
643 reviews136 followers
July 9, 2022
This one's a review from my dog :)

Hi book humans! Mr. Moose here. Giving mom a break today...

I may not be able to read, and books scare me a little cause they fall on me sometimes, but I like to come be cute and stick my tongue out when Victoria Schade has a new book out because she writes the best stories about dogs just like me!⁣

This one features a super cool dude named Hudson. He’s a rescue too - so basically the best kinda of pooch in my book. Hudson can do tricks like me, too. It’s the best way to get snacks.⁣

The human Morgan in this book is a vet. I’m not sure I like my vet. He cuts my nails and I don’t like that. But I know vets are there to keep me healthy so mom can have me around a long time - but Morgan is pretty stressed out being vet. Why? I guess because sometimes it’s sad. And hard. And sometimes people get mean because they’re scared their best friends aren’t feeling well. ⁣

So Morgan takes a break, jets off to dreamy Nantucket, and finds Hudson! She finds some other humans, too, but let’s be honest - the dog is always the best part.⁣

I know my mom loved this one. So you should go buy it today. And don’t forget to thank those suspicious humans at the vet office. They sometimes give out snacks, so I guess they’re not all that bad.
Profile Image for Deanne Patterson.
2,406 reviews119 followers
June 21, 2022
I have enjoyed every book I've read by this author. She is a true dog lover and it shows in her writing.
Our main character is a young burned out vet needing to some time to not think about work and just relax. When a scheduled appointment from a from a regular at the vet's office turns into an ocean side vacation how could she say no. After all taking care of their sweet pooch for a summer couldn't be easier, right?
Going here to just relax and walk the dog on Nantucket is all she plans to do. She wants to keep it a secret that she's a vet and disassociate herself with this title for the summer. No vet business for her.
I really loved her the dogs figured so prominently in the book and it was so fun getting to see their personalities shine.
Summer romance ready or not here it comes in the form of a juice guy selling his expensive homemade health juices from a push cart near the beach.
The interaction between the two is dynamic, loved their conversations and how they take the dogs for walks together.
Now there are some tough subjects touched upon here that the author does a great a great job of addressing and sifting through the important parts.
It looks like our main characters may break up over what Morgan discovers about Nathan's past. I kept thinking, give him another chance because he seems like such a nice guy and we all change from our past. You'll have to read it to see if they stay together.
Really enjoyed and recommended!

Publish date June 28,2022.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,700 reviews692 followers
June 28, 2022
A Nantucket vacay, a sexy surfer, and a sweet foster puppy help change veterinarian Morgan Pearce's life. A RomCom lover's dream!

Thanks to author @victoria_schade, @berkleypub, and @netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#dogfriendlybook #authorvictoriaschade #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #romcomnovel #NantucketRomance #veternarianromance #bookstagramcommunity
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,892 reviews451 followers
Read
July 12, 2022
Morgan Pearce is taking a much-needed break. Completely burned out in her job as a veterinarian, summer on the island of Nantucket might be exactly what she needs. She’s not alone, however, because she agreed to care for a senior dog named Hudson for the time that she’s on the island.

During this vacation time, Morgan makes a decision. She is going to keep her profession a secret, and only present herself as a dog sitter. However, she soon discovers that Hudson it’s not the only dog better spend time with, because she ends up having to plan a fundraiser for other animals in need of assistance.

While Morgan is getting more comfortable with dealing with her emotions, Recognizing that she might need more help than the loving devotion that Hudson shows to her. In fact, he acts very much like a an emotional support animal but Morgan might need more.

Meeting Nathan Keating proves to be a wonderful distraction for her, but as she’s keeping her profession a secret, it’s possible that she might not be the only one holding something back in this growing relationship. Morgan also gets to spend time with her brother Mack, after being estranged for years. She is hoping to mend those fences.

While Morgan and Nathan seem that they are perfectly suited to one another, her secret, as well as something that he hasn’t been forward about could very well be the undoing of something that holds much promise.

This sweet romance definitely handles some difficult subjects, and these include depression, suicide, and even bullying. Victoria Schade strikes a fine balance with this sweet romance while highlighting dogs and the importance that they play in our lives as well as learning to trust one’s heart. Whether you are a dog person or a cat person, this book offers so much in the way of the compassionate relationship that is often present between animals and the people in their lives.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/WbjmogbUCds
Profile Image for Wendy W..
517 reviews183 followers
June 17, 2022
Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade is a serious look a the life of a burned-out veterinarian. It tackles some tough subjects but in a compassionate way. Set in Nantucket this romance is both emotional and romantic.

Morgan Pearce works in a corporate veterinarian office and is overworked and burned out. When two of her clients ask her to dogsit at their vacation home in Nantucket for their dog, Bernadette, she knows that some rest and relaxation could be the cure she is seeking.

Her time in Nantucket is just what she needed, sunshine, rest, and time at the beach. Plus an interesting entrepreneur, Nathan, makes a nice distraction as well. Morgan decides to foster a dog named Hudson who reminds her why she loves being a veterinarian. She’s starting to heal when she learns that Nathan isn’t what she thought he was, his deception stuns her, and she starts to reevaluate her life’s choices.

With the cover and the blurb, I was expecting a much lighter beach read than what I got. As I said before, Dog Friendly tackles some tough topics and was much deeper than I expected. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just good to know ahead of time. I never knew that being a veterinarian could be such an emotionally draining job. I think in most romances I read, the life of a veterinarian seems so rewarding and gentle. However, in Dog Friendly, we see the darker side of the profession.

I loved the dogs, and I also learned some things about dog behavior and that was super interesting. I can tell the author knows her dogs! I also loved the location. I enjoy books set on Nantucket and the author does an excellent job of describing the island and the town.

I recommend Dog Friendly to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,339 reviews71 followers
May 9, 2022
You see this cover and a blurb saying summer in Nantucket and you’ve a great beach read. Morgan Pearce is worn out young veterinarian. It’s all she has ever wanted to be but the mental health toll is taxing. When a favorite client offers her two months on Nantucket caring for their aging dog while they travel for work she jumps at the chance. She is claiming to be a dog sitter/walker and falls instantly into the groove of the pet friendly town. She still gets roped into fostering a dog with some issues and helping with an animal rescue's annual fundraiser.

Nathan Keating is the gorgeous guy who is friendly to all. He is promoting his new drink and testing different flavors hoping to grow his brand. Lunches, turn into surfing lessons and then real dates. He’s just the yummy summer fling that may be the real deal. The book covers a lot of heavier aspects too. I’ve never thought of the mental burnout and health issues facing veterinarians. And there’s a side story of bullying and its long term impacts too. I was just happy with all the dogs and this made me realize it has been too long since I’ve visited Cape Cod and now I want to see Nantucket. On the spice meter this is a low to medium with great kissing and one intimate scene that isn’t overly detailed.

This is a quick and easy summer romance and will bring a smile to your face. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
398 reviews16 followers
September 11, 2022
I don't usually read romance or beach books, but glad I made an exception for Dog Friendly. It is a very sweet story full of waves and dogs. The author provides good insight into the stress and emotional exhaustion veterinarians can face.

I'm not sure what the cover of this book has to do with anything though. There was a brief mention of someone thinking it would be nice to see two dogs running on the beach with a piece of driftwood, but the two labs are not in the story. There are lots of other dog characters.
Profile Image for Jenni Walsh.
Author 16 books638 followers
January 13, 2022
You don't have to be a dog person to love this honest yet hopeful book, but the animal lover in me delighted in Victoria Schade's latest, with my favorite pups, swoon-worthy love interest, and most memorable happily-ever-after to date. Dog Friendly will give you all the feels
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,444 reviews1 follower
dnf
June 27, 2022
This is a Romance. The characters in this book I just could not connect to. The romance in this book just was not there for me. The animals in this book took over the story, but I do not think the way they took over the story was good. I ended up DNFing this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Profile Image for Jessica Gregory.
433 reviews16 followers
August 4, 2022
EXCUSE ME VICTORIA SCHADE… You had NO right to make me obsessed with this book. This book had everything I needed. It had pit bulls, reactive dogs, dog training, cute town, romance, AND A FOOD SCIENCE MAJOR?!! i feel seen! (As I was a food science major and have a reactive pit myself) This was such a feel good story and I absolutely loved the romance. It wasn’t cheesy and felt mature. I looooved Morgan and Nathan’s chemistry. I think many people can say they wanted to be a vet when they were little, but people really don’t realize the toll it takes on them. My dream was also being a vet and I started college pre vet, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to mentally handle it. I think Morgan’s character can speak for it. Also, I’d like a round of applause for Hudson. We love a rescue story! Anyway, I can’t recommend this book enough and this is for sure in my top 5 this year.
Profile Image for Becky.
163 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2024
Another feel good romance with a lot of dogs. Love the way she works in good training without it seeming preach-y. Bonus points for the discussion on compassion fatigue and burnout for vets and for not shying away from some deeper topics.
Profile Image for Ashlee (bookswithnopictures).
1,465 reviews117 followers
July 26, 2022
3.5 Stars
Thanks to @berkleyromance for my free book! #berkleypartner #berkleyIG
Life as a veterinarian is not all Morgan expected it to be. There's more stress and helping animals while balancing business makes for walking a fine line. Morgan jumps at the chance to head to Nantucket to reset and take can of a clients beloved pet where she meets Nathan, her exact opposite in all of the ways.
I expected a bit more levity amidst all of the angst. I wanted more depth to the romance; however, I did appreciate the way that Victoria addresses Morgan's self-care and character throughout. The setting and furry supporting cast were a much needed backdrop to this summery read.
All thoughts in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Jonathan (Jon).
1,102 reviews26 followers
January 19, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙-𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙫𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝-𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙥 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠.

📍 Read if you like:
• Small Town Romance
• Nantucket Setting
• Summer Reads
• Dogs, Dogs, And Dogs

This was such an adorable book, I obviously picked this up because of the cover.

I loved how Morgan was a veterinarian, but also how she took an approach to take a break - dog sitting in Nantucket. The setting was absolutely perfect for the summer, it made me want to travel to a beach for sure. I also loved the romance between Morgan and Nathan.

This was one of the sweetest romances I’ve ever read, it was so heartwarming and lighthearted. It was a perfect mix of sweetness and warmth. I also loved this author’s writing and can’t wait to pick more up from her in the future.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, captivating, and joyful summer romance with dogs all around, then you might really enjoy this one!

Thank you so much Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews.
896 reviews159 followers
July 14, 2022
Full Review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2022/0...

This is heartwarming and lovely contemporary that revolves around overworked, burned-out veterinarian, Morgan Pearce, who has to take a vacation after losing consciousness due to fatigue. She accepts request ofone of her patient to dogsit for them in Nantucket for a summer where she finds her love for job once again and also understands the importance of taking care of herself.

The story is about depression, compassion fatigue, emotional trauma, impact of lack of work-life balance on mental health, dark side of profession, importance of therapy, friendship, and love. Plot is character driven emotionally engaging and steady to slow paced.

Best part of the story is theme of compassion fatigue and emotional trauma that every veterinarian go through. I didn’t know the darker side of the profession. Dogs are amazing. I never had dog as pet, I’m a cat person but it was interesting to know about dogs, their behavior, ailments and diseases more.

Why 3.5 stars- I didn’t like the lull in middle part. It felt like nothing much is happening in the book in terms of character development and romance for long time. I wish there was more discussion on what Morgan was going through, what has affected her self-esteem, and why she feared talking about her problems for most of the book. Both romantic and sibling relationships are okay.

Overall, Dog Friendly is heartwarming, lovely, enjoyable, slow paced women’s fiction with serious topics and beautiful setting.
Profile Image for Lori Leaf.
462 reviews41 followers
July 29, 2022
In short: A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.

What I liked:
🐾Morgan & Nathan. Loved these characters, their chemistry and banter. They were so real and relatable.
🐾Nantucket setting. This just screams summer to me.
🐾All the dogs ♥️♥️♥️
🐾A little bit of steam

Final thoughts: Putting a dog on a cover is always going to catch my eye. Featuring dogs in a small town romance book? Yes please! This was a perfect mix of a lighthearted romance with tougher subjects of stress, mental health and the toll they take. Plus dogs!
Profile Image for Leah.
1,976 reviews
September 8, 2022
Summer/Nantucket

This is about a surfer and a veterinarian that fall in love. Dogs, depression, and suicide are also big parts of the story. I didn't think the romance was believable, but I thought they should have been friends and left it at that. The rest of the story is about letting go and getting the help you need before problems get too big. The dogs and setting were the only things I liked about this book.
Profile Image for Evelien Meuwese.
115 reviews
July 14, 2024
this book was so cute! it’s definitely a feel good book, however at times some characters choices were annoying, but it was still good! i loved all the dogs and the overall vibe, i have to go to nantucket now! i also love how it wasn’t just an unrealistic story, but that it delved into some deeper topics. every dog lover should read this book.
Profile Image for Katie M.
716 reviews31 followers
August 19, 2022
This was so cute!! I loved the characters, especially Hudson! I really liked that this tackled mental health issues. It was such a unique romcom with its message and setting. Loved that the main character was a veterinarian!! The chemistry in this book was so good, I loved it!
Profile Image for Jenna Fischer.
25 reviews
June 5, 2023
I grabbed this book because all of the books on my TBR list were not available at the time. It was in the library’s “new arrivals” section, and I can’t say no to a dog book.

Super cute and easy read! Great summer-y book.
Profile Image for Brittany | alltoowellreadbrittany.
352 reviews19 followers
May 16, 2022
Thank you so much to Berkley for an advanced copy of Dog Friendly! I loved it.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
Pub Date: June 28, 2022

This book so cute. A burned out veterinarian with a love for animals (that needs a rekindling), a cute surfer, and an island/vacation vibe? Sign me up. I loved Morgan. I thought she was such a fun main character, and I also think she is a really relatable main character. Anyone familiar with the veterinarian industry at all will understood the burnout and the fatigue in this career is endless...so I feel like Morgan's need to stop and breathe will resonate with a lot of readers.

I felt like this story offered a fair amount of surprises and heart touching moments, too, and I think more than animal lovers will enjoy it. Don't undervalue this one as just a beach read - it has a lot of potential to be a heartwarming story for all readers!
Profile Image for Maria.
2,988 reviews96 followers
July 25, 2022
Cute story about finding the strength to continue after life hands you one setback after another. I love how Morgan got over her fear of seeking help and worked with a therapist to get back on track and find her niche in the world. Morgan and Nathan were a cute couple and I enjoyed getting to know them as their relationship grew. A good, lighthearted book perfect for a travel day or beach read.

Profile Image for Elena Mitchell.
25 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2022
super cute! such a fun and quick read but addressed real struggles like burnout and mental health combined with a romance
Profile Image for Mary.
773 reviews20 followers
April 14, 2023
4.5 stars
Adorable book that hit on some real issues facing veterinarians .
Profile Image for Anita.
52 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2023
If you love dogs and the beach...

Really enjoyed this summer beach read. I love dogs, the beach and a good story with good characters. 4.5 stars!
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