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A Dog's Perfect Christmas
#1 New York Times bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron's A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a beautiful, poignant, delightful tale of what can happen when family members open their hearts to new possibilities. You’ll find love and tears and laughter―the ideal holiday read.
The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together.
Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?
The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together.
Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2020
413 people are currently reading
4897 people want to read
About the author
W. Bruce Cameron
97 books4,497 followersI’ve always loved dogs, which puts me in a unique category along with what, maybe two or three billion people?
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
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November 3, 2020
Suppose you were having a bad year. Suppose we called this year “2020.” And suppose it just seems as if finding something to be happy about is proving, well, elusive.
And then here comes the holidays, which are stressful enough without so many external events bearing down on us. What we’d all like is for everything to be as magical and perfect as when we were little children, when all the decorations and the food and family would jack us up into hyperdrive. We’d be so excited!
In 2020, it seems a little difficult to find reasons to be excited. Or joyful. Or, honestly, awake—wouldn’t it be better to just take a nap and wake up when everything is back to normal?
How about a story with puppies, redemption, hope, and love? Would that help?
Allow me to introduce A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. You’ll recognize the Goss family because you either know people like this or you are people like this. The Goss family is bracing for the holidays while preparing for disaster. There are three-year-old twin boys who bring a lot of energy, with “energy” being synonymous with “artillery barrage.” There’s an eighth grade girl who isn’t enjoying middle school—huh, imagine, a human being not enjoying middle school! Dad is in the midst of a work crisis where he’s pretty sure the next words he’ll hear are “you’re fired.” Grandpa lost his wife two years ago, moved in with the rest of the family, and seems to just be waiting for his life to be over with—a real joy to have around.
But Mom’s on the case. Mom is the glue. She gave up her career to take care of everyone and that’s what she has always done, and will do this year, except a severe illness lands her in the hospital and now these other family members, who can barely speak a civil word to each other, have to rise to the occasion.
Sadly watching all of this is Winstead, a senior dog who senses unhappiness but cannot think of anything to do about it.
With everything that’s going on, probably the last thing the family needs right now is the extra responsibility of a lost puppy. But when one shows up, what are you going to do, turn it away?
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a tonic for what ails us, this holiday 2020 season. It’s a story of family and love, of new hope and a wriggling little puppy. It’s a beautiful, moving novel, one priced and sized to be a stocking stuffer unless you have really small stockings. I wrote it as an antidote to gloom and worry, to give us all an escape hatch to a happier place for a short time.
As always, with one of my novels, the dogs are really important, and we get their point of view on the world, but I think you’ll find that the humans are present and alive as well.
So toss a puppy into the middle of your own chaos and see if it doesn’t help cheer things up!
W. Bruce Cameron
And then here comes the holidays, which are stressful enough without so many external events bearing down on us. What we’d all like is for everything to be as magical and perfect as when we were little children, when all the decorations and the food and family would jack us up into hyperdrive. We’d be so excited!
In 2020, it seems a little difficult to find reasons to be excited. Or joyful. Or, honestly, awake—wouldn’t it be better to just take a nap and wake up when everything is back to normal?
How about a story with puppies, redemption, hope, and love? Would that help?
Allow me to introduce A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. You’ll recognize the Goss family because you either know people like this or you are people like this. The Goss family is bracing for the holidays while preparing for disaster. There are three-year-old twin boys who bring a lot of energy, with “energy” being synonymous with “artillery barrage.” There’s an eighth grade girl who isn’t enjoying middle school—huh, imagine, a human being not enjoying middle school! Dad is in the midst of a work crisis where he’s pretty sure the next words he’ll hear are “you’re fired.” Grandpa lost his wife two years ago, moved in with the rest of the family, and seems to just be waiting for his life to be over with—a real joy to have around.
But Mom’s on the case. Mom is the glue. She gave up her career to take care of everyone and that’s what she has always done, and will do this year, except a severe illness lands her in the hospital and now these other family members, who can barely speak a civil word to each other, have to rise to the occasion.
Sadly watching all of this is Winstead, a senior dog who senses unhappiness but cannot think of anything to do about it.
With everything that’s going on, probably the last thing the family needs right now is the extra responsibility of a lost puppy. But when one shows up, what are you going to do, turn it away?
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a tonic for what ails us, this holiday 2020 season. It’s a story of family and love, of new hope and a wriggling little puppy. It’s a beautiful, moving novel, one priced and sized to be a stocking stuffer unless you have really small stockings. I wrote it as an antidote to gloom and worry, to give us all an escape hatch to a happier place for a short time.
As always, with one of my novels, the dogs are really important, and we get their point of view on the world, but I think you’ll find that the humans are present and alive as well.
So toss a puppy into the middle of your own chaos and see if it doesn’t help cheer things up!
W. Bruce Cameron
December 4, 2020
2.5 ⭐
I'm left a bit disappointed. This is NOT a dog story as I imagined. I had the impression I will hear full dog's PoV throughout the story - not the case. Holiday, family, and very Hallmarkish. There are two dogs, but not the focus. The dad was clueless in an annoying way for the majority of this story.
This is my first book by W. Bruce Cameron. His other popular books are A Dog's Journey, A Dog's Purpose, and A Dog's Promise.
I'm left a bit disappointed. This is NOT a dog story as I imagined. I had the impression I will hear full dog's PoV throughout the story - not the case. Holiday, family, and very Hallmarkish. There are two dogs, but not the focus. The dad was clueless in an annoying way for the majority of this story.
This is my first book by W. Bruce Cameron. His other popular books are A Dog's Journey, A Dog's Purpose, and A Dog's Promise.
November 21, 2020
If you ever want a feel good story during Christmas or any other time, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is the ideal novel.
Unlike Mr. Cameron’s other dog-centered novels, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is focused on the family dynamic during the holiday season.
Stuck in a seemingly dead-end marriage and resigned to a life of mundane housewifery, Juliana Goss expresses her disappointment to her husband, Hunter. Shocked but undeterred, Hunter continues his corporate climb until a devastating illness befalls Juliana, upending the entire family.
As the family struggles with Juliana’s illness, a unifying bond forms among the family members, reinforcing the ties that bind them together.
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a heartwarming novel about family and friend relationships. With lovable characters and a story to match, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is the perfect novel that will bring joy into your heart. Five stars. I loved it.
I received a printed copy of the book from Tor/Forge through Goodreads Giveaways. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Unlike Mr. Cameron’s other dog-centered novels, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is focused on the family dynamic during the holiday season.
Stuck in a seemingly dead-end marriage and resigned to a life of mundane housewifery, Juliana Goss expresses her disappointment to her husband, Hunter. Shocked but undeterred, Hunter continues his corporate climb until a devastating illness befalls Juliana, upending the entire family.
As the family struggles with Juliana’s illness, a unifying bond forms among the family members, reinforcing the ties that bind them together.
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a heartwarming novel about family and friend relationships. With lovable characters and a story to match, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is the perfect novel that will bring joy into your heart. Five stars. I loved it.
I received a printed copy of the book from Tor/Forge through Goodreads Giveaways. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 29, 2021
1.5 stars. OK, every year at Christmastime I try to read one stupid, fluffy, Hallmark-y, Christmas-themed book. I knew going into this that it'd be fairly terrible, but I'm gonna write a quick review anyway.
None of these characters were very likable, except maybe for Juliana, and she's in a coma for most of the book (undoubtedly why she's the most likable). The writing was clunky, characters were introduced and then quickly forgotten, and for a book with the word "dog" right in the title, it had very little to actually do with dogs. I'm tired of narratives wherein men are lauded as heroes for doing "domestic" things because the woman is suddenly incapacitated.
I'm not going to pretend to know how teenagers talk anymore, but I sure as shit know it isn't the way they speak in this book. Mr. Cameron, the teen you thank in the acknowledgments as having coached you on this topic? She lied to you. Brazenly.
Also, while I agree that people name their kids some really, really stupid things these days (including absurd spellings), the names of the teenagers in this book were borderline agonizing. Some gems include:
- Brittne
- Jayneigh
- Soffea
- Mourgen
- Siouxanne (This one was the most baffling to me. Is the X silent, as in the First Nations tribes and their language, making this "SueAnne"? Or is the X pronounced as a Z and therefore it's "Suzanne"? I have so many questions, none of them relevant, though, because I think you'd be hard pressed to find a teenager in 2020 named either SueAnne or Suzanne. Name trends are a thing, authors. Look them up.)
None of these characters were very likable, except maybe for Juliana, and she's in a coma for most of the book (undoubtedly why she's the most likable). The writing was clunky, characters were introduced and then quickly forgotten, and for a book with the word "dog" right in the title, it had very little to actually do with dogs. I'm tired of narratives wherein men are lauded as heroes for doing "domestic" things because the woman is suddenly incapacitated.
I'm not going to pretend to know how teenagers talk anymore, but I sure as shit know it isn't the way they speak in this book. Mr. Cameron, the teen you thank in the acknowledgments as having coached you on this topic? She lied to you. Brazenly.
Also, while I agree that people name their kids some really, really stupid things these days (including absurd spellings), the names of the teenagers in this book were borderline agonizing. Some gems include:
- Brittne
- Jayneigh
- Soffea
- Mourgen
- Siouxanne (This one was the most baffling to me. Is the X silent, as in the First Nations tribes and their language, making this "SueAnne"? Or is the X pronounced as a Z and therefore it's "Suzanne"? I have so many questions, none of them relevant, though, because I think you'd be hard pressed to find a teenager in 2020 named either SueAnne or Suzanne. Name trends are a thing, authors. Look them up.)
October 21, 2020
I have heard of the many dog books that W. Bruce Cameron has written but before this book I've never had a chance to read any of them.
I am so blessed to have been able to read a copy of this book.
There are many emotions coming forth in this book, the stress of taking care of young children, twin boys and a young teen girl with a belligerent attitude,stresses of daily life and trying to keep a job. Add to the mix Grandpa has moved into the family home after the death of his wife and basically given up on life and a serious medical issue in the family.
Stress and unhappiness is abound and this family just doesn't see a way out of it.
Grandpas's dog also picks up on the stress and mopes around the house as well.
They say a new situation breathes new life into a family and that is exactly what happens in the form of a new puppy .
We meet so many characters and I loved getting to know them all. The thing I also enjoyed is that since this is written by a man I think he got the female emotions down pretty well including the teen girl and the other women in the story. Not going to give too much away here now.
I highly recommend you read this book, you will love this heartwarming story
. I am going right now and ordering the rest of this author's books to read!
Pub Date: 20 Oct 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I am so blessed to have been able to read a copy of this book.
There are many emotions coming forth in this book, the stress of taking care of young children, twin boys and a young teen girl with a belligerent attitude,stresses of daily life and trying to keep a job. Add to the mix Grandpa has moved into the family home after the death of his wife and basically given up on life and a serious medical issue in the family.
Stress and unhappiness is abound and this family just doesn't see a way out of it.
Grandpas's dog also picks up on the stress and mopes around the house as well.
They say a new situation breathes new life into a family and that is exactly what happens in the form of a new puppy .
We meet so many characters and I loved getting to know them all. The thing I also enjoyed is that since this is written by a man I think he got the female emotions down pretty well including the teen girl and the other women in the story. Not going to give too much away here now.
I highly recommend you read this book, you will love this heartwarming story
. I am going right now and ordering the rest of this author's books to read!
Pub Date: 20 Oct 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
September 14, 2021
This is a perfect holiday read for a family -- especially those who love their furbabies. As the stresses and craziness of the holidays comes calling, the Goss family finds themselves struggling with some major obstacles. A small and adorable visitor makes a surprise appearance that might add his own brand of brightness to the otherwise dim holiday spirit. Perfect and uplifting -- especially during the current 2020 holiday season.
Five high paws for the puppy love and delightful story. Just the right length and a perfect multi-generational book to share together with the entire family. An adorable and touching package of joy to find wrapped under any Christmas tree!
Five high paws for the puppy love and delightful story. Just the right length and a perfect multi-generational book to share together with the entire family. An adorable and touching package of joy to find wrapped under any Christmas tree!
December 14, 2025
4,5 ♥️
February 15, 2021
Crying is my guilty pleasure. Sometimes when I need a good cathartic cry, I’ll watch the Niagara episode of The Office and sob like a hysterical baby. I was really hoping I’d get a nice little Yuletide sobfest out of this book, but I was sorely disappointed. A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey both wrecked me in the best way possible. I loved that they were written from the dogs’ perspectives, but this book doesn’t deserve to be lumped in with those two. Only a few chapters in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas were told from the dogs’ perspectives, but I was so creeped out by Winstead referring to his elderly owner as “Daddy” that I couldn’t enjoy it.
Most importantly, this book is hardly about dogs. If you omitted everything about the dogs from the book, the plot would remain the same. It’s like they were an afterthought. It’s not even about Christmas. Christmas doesn’t come into play until the last ten pages and again, it was wholly irrelevant to the story. These events could have taken place in July and it wouldn’t have changed anything. It seems like Cameron was trying to capitalize on the success of his first two books by giving this one a misleading title. I fell for it, and that annoys me.
This book was about a family I couldn’t care less about. None of the members of the Goss family have any redeeming qualities. I wasn’t rooting for them. I didn’t even like the dogs involved, and I’m the kind of girl who would try to lovingly cuddle up to Cujo, given the chance. These characters didn’t affect me in any way whatsoever. Also, the names! Ugh! Ello? Brittne? Mourgen? Soffea? Jayneigh? Sander? Siouxanne? Stop. Just stop with that. It’s obnoxious. Ugh.
So there you have it. Not a fan. The only tears I shed were tears of boredom, and tears of mourning for the hours I wasted on this book. I’m truly astonished that this has an average of 4 stars on Goodreads. Bah humbug.
Most importantly, this book is hardly about dogs. If you omitted everything about the dogs from the book, the plot would remain the same. It’s like they were an afterthought. It’s not even about Christmas. Christmas doesn’t come into play until the last ten pages and again, it was wholly irrelevant to the story. These events could have taken place in July and it wouldn’t have changed anything. It seems like Cameron was trying to capitalize on the success of his first two books by giving this one a misleading title. I fell for it, and that annoys me.
This book was about a family I couldn’t care less about. None of the members of the Goss family have any redeeming qualities. I wasn’t rooting for them. I didn’t even like the dogs involved, and I’m the kind of girl who would try to lovingly cuddle up to Cujo, given the chance. These characters didn’t affect me in any way whatsoever. Also, the names! Ugh! Ello? Brittne? Mourgen? Soffea? Jayneigh? Sander? Siouxanne? Stop. Just stop with that. It’s obnoxious. Ugh.
So there you have it. Not a fan. The only tears I shed were tears of boredom, and tears of mourning for the hours I wasted on this book. I’m truly astonished that this has an average of 4 stars on Goodreads. Bah humbug.
October 13, 2020
What a wonderful, emotional book about a family facing their own individual problems and then how a crisis can bring them together. This book is a definite read for the holiday season and of course what can possibly go wrong in a book that has an old dog and a new puppy in it. W Bruce Cameron tells part of this story from the point of Winstead, the old dog belonging to the Father/ Grandfather in the story and its as if you are there with Winstead as he sees and processes what is going on. Another great book by W Bruce Cameron which I would highly recommend. I received an e-book copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2020
Traverse City, Michigan - Present Day
The multi-generation Goss household is barely held together by Juliana, a stay-at-home mom who yearns to be back working as a trial lawyer. But having a thirteen-year-old daughter in raging puberty, and three-year-old twin boys who seem to want to kill each other all of the time, Juliana knows that now is not the time. Her husband, Hunter, works in a high-stress business and always seems to be at work. Plus there is her father-in-law, Sander, a widower who has never gotten over the death of his wife. He resides in the back of the house with his elderly dog, Winstead, and rarely communicates with them. Juliana wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with Hunter, so she makes an appointment to meet him for lunch.
Hunter has restructured the entire interior of the engineering firm he works for. However, just as the work is getting ready to start, his old boss is replaced by Mrs. O'Brien who informs him that if this new arrangement doesn't help the bottom line, Hunter will be out in January. And now he's had lunch with his lovely wife and she tells him she's not happy, and he needs to step up and help out more at home.
At thirteen, Ello (short for Eloise) relies on her best friend, Brittne. But after changing clothes at gym class shows a "blossoming" Ello, Brittne wants nothing more to do with her. The joys of being a teenager. At home, she announces to her mother that she wants a dog because she has no friends and wants at least one who will be loyal to her. The last thing Juliana needs right now is another responsibility, so she says no.
Juliana wonders if she's pregnant when she starts feeling sick and is unable to keep food down. But, no, it's not that. She continues to get worse and then suddenly collapses, is rushed to the hospital, and goes into a coma. Hunter is devastated, he still has major stress at work, and now he has to run a household. He tosses out orders to his father and Ello to deal with things while he tries to be with Juliana, and keep his job.
With the holidays upon them, Ello and Sander realize that they're in charge. Can they possibly handle Juliana's job? And what about the puppy that Ello just found? Sweet little Ruby wiggles her way into Ello's heart - what will her mom say? Will her mom even be coming home? And Hunter, what will his new boss decide?
A DOG'S PERFECT CHRISTMAS is a sometimes hilarious, often poignant story of a very typical American family going through a crisis. With all of the unknowns about Juliana's illness and survival, Hunter, Sander, and Ello find strengths they didn't know they had. But is it enough? All of the side stories are sweet, oh so human, and very often laugh-out-loud funny. The writing is crisp, the characters very real, and the dogs' "thoughts" are delightful.
The multi-generation Goss household is barely held together by Juliana, a stay-at-home mom who yearns to be back working as a trial lawyer. But having a thirteen-year-old daughter in raging puberty, and three-year-old twin boys who seem to want to kill each other all of the time, Juliana knows that now is not the time. Her husband, Hunter, works in a high-stress business and always seems to be at work. Plus there is her father-in-law, Sander, a widower who has never gotten over the death of his wife. He resides in the back of the house with his elderly dog, Winstead, and rarely communicates with them. Juliana wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with Hunter, so she makes an appointment to meet him for lunch.
Hunter has restructured the entire interior of the engineering firm he works for. However, just as the work is getting ready to start, his old boss is replaced by Mrs. O'Brien who informs him that if this new arrangement doesn't help the bottom line, Hunter will be out in January. And now he's had lunch with his lovely wife and she tells him she's not happy, and he needs to step up and help out more at home.
At thirteen, Ello (short for Eloise) relies on her best friend, Brittne. But after changing clothes at gym class shows a "blossoming" Ello, Brittne wants nothing more to do with her. The joys of being a teenager. At home, she announces to her mother that she wants a dog because she has no friends and wants at least one who will be loyal to her. The last thing Juliana needs right now is another responsibility, so she says no.
Juliana wonders if she's pregnant when she starts feeling sick and is unable to keep food down. But, no, it's not that. She continues to get worse and then suddenly collapses, is rushed to the hospital, and goes into a coma. Hunter is devastated, he still has major stress at work, and now he has to run a household. He tosses out orders to his father and Ello to deal with things while he tries to be with Juliana, and keep his job.
With the holidays upon them, Ello and Sander realize that they're in charge. Can they possibly handle Juliana's job? And what about the puppy that Ello just found? Sweet little Ruby wiggles her way into Ello's heart - what will her mom say? Will her mom even be coming home? And Hunter, what will his new boss decide?
A DOG'S PERFECT CHRISTMAS is a sometimes hilarious, often poignant story of a very typical American family going through a crisis. With all of the unknowns about Juliana's illness and survival, Hunter, Sander, and Ello find strengths they didn't know they had. But is it enough? All of the side stories are sweet, oh so human, and very often laugh-out-loud funny. The writing is crisp, the characters very real, and the dogs' "thoughts" are delightful.
December 22, 2020
This book was so bad. I wanted a fun, fluffy Christmas book and this grabbed my attention at Target and good golly it was bad.
Let’s start with this: middle-aged white men should not be allowed to write books with female teenagers in central points because he will rely on stereotypes, right down to the names of the girls.
For instance: Ello (short for Eloise, and that’s actually cute. Brittne. Soffea. Mourgen. Jayneigh. Ashleigh. Siouxanne. WHY GOD WHY. I will never forgive him for this.
This book was full of teen drama — but what do you expect with names like that?! And it’s never explained. Like they make a huge deal out of Ello having to go back to gym classes and she freaks but you never find out why. And that bitch Brittne and her friends give Ello back all of her pictures with her eyes poked out and NOTHING HAPPENS.
Juliana gets deadly sick, doctor says she’s concerned she’s not getting well, and then suddenly she is magically well.
Sander, the old man, is basically sexually harassed by sassy old women, and there’s no consequence. And it all happens so uncomfortably fast.
All the Random Words Being Capitalized.
Wants to be a Kristin Hannah book but it’s written by an old white man.
Most offensively IT IS NOT EVEN ABOUT A DOG’S PERFECT CHRISTMAS. I told all four of my dogs the plight of this book and they agree that this book is stupid and not worth your $15.
Let’s start with this: middle-aged white men should not be allowed to write books with female teenagers in central points because he will rely on stereotypes, right down to the names of the girls.
For instance: Ello (short for Eloise, and that’s actually cute. Brittne. Soffea. Mourgen. Jayneigh. Ashleigh. Siouxanne. WHY GOD WHY. I will never forgive him for this.
This book was full of teen drama — but what do you expect with names like that?! And it’s never explained. Like they make a huge deal out of Ello having to go back to gym classes and she freaks but you never find out why. And that bitch Brittne and her friends give Ello back all of her pictures with her eyes poked out and NOTHING HAPPENS.
Juliana gets deadly sick, doctor says she’s concerned she’s not getting well, and then suddenly she is magically well.
Sander, the old man, is basically sexually harassed by sassy old women, and there’s no consequence. And it all happens so uncomfortably fast.
All the Random Words Being Capitalized.
Wants to be a Kristin Hannah book but it’s written by an old white man.
Most offensively IT IS NOT EVEN ABOUT A DOG’S PERFECT CHRISTMAS. I told all four of my dogs the plight of this book and they agree that this book is stupid and not worth your $15.
October 20, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for the early read. THIS is the perfect book to read in Covid, when I cannot even see my own family. Cameron, as he did in his classic A Dog’s Purpose, shows how dogs make a family, and life in general, so much better! This gave me all the feels and I’m giving it to everyone this Crappy Covid Christmas! Love, love, LOVE this book!
December 28, 2020
Not enough dog, not enough Christmas. Still found myself chuckling at times and rooting for the characters, though.
December 17, 2020
As this story begins, the Goss family home is the residence, at least currently, of Hunter and Juliana, and their three children, Eloise - or Ello as she is called by almost everyone - and twin boys, Ewan and Garrett, who are the ‘fun’ age of three, whose spoken language still consists of a toddler version of twin-speak. Ello is in eighth grade, an age when friends are frequently fickle, bodies are changing, and drama fills their days and nights. Dad Hunter is stressed to the max (at least until he becomes more stressed) at work, with a situation which will determine the state of his future employment vs. lack of employment, which he feels he can’t share with his wife. Juliana is feeling unfulfilled, having left her former work as a trial attorney to care for their now three children, and feels unheard and unseen by Hunter. To add to this, Hunter’s father, recently widowed, along with his dog Winstead, live in their home - in the room once designated for Ello. Still grieving, he rarely leaves his room, except occasionally to take out his dog, which seems to be happening less and less often.
Christmas is on the horizon, but not imminently so, but many distractions abound. When Hunter forgets to pick Ello up from ice dancing classes, Ello walks home, walking past a puppy hiding from previous, less than kind owners who had left her there and driven away. This young puppy decides that Ello will be her rescuer, and dashes out, much to Ello’s delight. This puppy, who Ello decides to name Ruby, is everything Ello wants for Christmas, but her father is quick to say that she can’t stay.
Shared with much of the charm expected in books by W. Bruce Cameron, but unlike most of his books, this not only is not written from a dog’s perspective, but it tackles some of the more realistic problems and predicaments of families and some of the darker sides of life. Of course, with his usual balance of reality aided by a sprinkling of delight, this is filled with his love and understanding of dogs, as well as the people who share their lives with them.
Another book where I highly recommend reading the author’s Acknowledgements, and read about the many organizations with which he is involved.
October 8, 2020
A Dog's Perfect Christmas // by W. Bruce Cameron
Anybody who knows Cameron knows he writes adorable books about dogs and their people. This title is as sweet as any of them. If you are looking for a quick read that warms your heart and that gets you into the spirit of Christmas, this book is perfect for you. I love how he focused on a family that was struggling with issues that normal families everywhere struggle with, giving each character the space they deserve and showing how much their individual problems were affecting them as well as each other throughout. As always, the perspectives of the dogs added that great extra to the books that we are used to but I enjoyed having the humans' perspectives on everything also. This book shows what family is truly about!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Anybody who knows Cameron knows he writes adorable books about dogs and their people. This title is as sweet as any of them. If you are looking for a quick read that warms your heart and that gets you into the spirit of Christmas, this book is perfect for you. I love how he focused on a family that was struggling with issues that normal families everywhere struggle with, giving each character the space they deserve and showing how much their individual problems were affecting them as well as each other throughout. As always, the perspectives of the dogs added that great extra to the books that we are used to but I enjoyed having the humans' perspectives on everything also. This book shows what family is truly about!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
OMGOMG All my friends know that A Dog’s Purpose isn’t just my favorite book, it literally changed my life. Well here I am in the middle of 2020, the worst year of my life (and EVERYONE’S life) and once again, W. Bruce Cameron writes a book that actually helps! The Goss family is as messed up as any normal family, and then along comes an out of the blue emergency. Throw into that the pure chaos of a puppy and oddly, that’s the crazy element that starts to get everyone to get their crap together, family-wise. I get that Cameron’s books are super popular (he’s a #1 Best Seller and seems to have a movie out every five minutes) but I don’t think his books get recognition for the great literature they are. They take you on a roller coaster of every emotion, crying and laughing out loud. And ultimately they’re so human and optimistic. He reminds me of another author I love. Richard Russo. They gave that guy a Pulitzer, where’s a Pulitzer for my favorite author? Seriously, read this and then give it to everyone for Christmas, they will thank you I promise. Thanks to stinking Covid it’s going to be the worst Christmas ever (again, for EVERYONE!) but this book will actually help.
July 16, 2022
I think I enjoyed this more than I expected as it’s not really a dog’s story but it’s about a totally dysfunctional family coming good. Ello is a typical teenager going through a tough time in eighth grade and her so called friends are being truly mean but then along comes a new student and everything changes for the better of does it? Mum becomes ill so grandpa has to step up as dad is very busy on a project at work. It takes the mother’s illness to truly make this family function again. But the good part is a wee abandoned dog comes onto the scene and gives Ello something to love as her own. Grandpa’s old dog gets a new lease of life with the pup and the family begin to be a great family again. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry but it’s worth all the ups and downs and it kept me engrossed until the end. Just another feel good story with a few bumps along the way giving you a really good lesson about family and friends!
December 28, 2020
This was a comfy, warm read for my self-declared happy book read December! I didn’t note every book here on GR, just the ones I enjoyed.
This one seemed a little more realistic than others, and I loved the family dynamic and dialogue. Twin three year old boys out to destroy everything in their path, a thirteen year old girl, suffering through Middle School (the worse), overworked parents, and a widowed grandpa.
When a serious illness occurs everyone pitches in and makes the family work. Throw in an adorable abandoned Christmas puppy and you just get chaos plus joy! 🐶😍
This one seemed a little more realistic than others, and I loved the family dynamic and dialogue. Twin three year old boys out to destroy everything in their path, a thirteen year old girl, suffering through Middle School (the worse), overworked parents, and a widowed grandpa.
When a serious illness occurs everyone pitches in and makes the family work. Throw in an adorable abandoned Christmas puppy and you just get chaos plus joy! 🐶😍
December 2, 2023
Якщо ви хотіли прочитати в цій історії про Різдво для собаки, то тут його нема, бо й собака ця теж не дуже є 😂 Загалом книга не дуже погана, особливо, якщо вам хочеться чогось ну дуууже легкого. До середини книга супер бісяча, потім стає краще, але все одно дуже відчувається, що сюжет виссаний з пальця. Найкращий персонаж, який тримає цю книгу, на мою думку, дідусь) для нього це Різдво реально топ)
December 9, 2022
This is not a dog story as much as some of his other books. Initially I was disappointed, but quickly recovered by the believable characters and their story. I appreciated the realism and splashes of humor. It’s full of love, determination and humanness. The ending might be too perfect, but well deserved.
A feel good, not sugary Christmas read.
A feel good, not sugary Christmas read.
October 20, 2020
I am admittedly partial to W. Bruce Cameron’s dog tales, both the adult and children’s versions. There’s something about dog stories that warms the heart and allows us to look at life from a different perspective. A Dog’s Perfect Christmas isn’t told completely from a dog’s point of view but that is certainly present throughout the book. The main characters lend their voices to the story so we can feel the emotions that each is experiencing.
Many families are fractured and that is the way this book originates. The characters are compartmentalized initially and the lack of true interaction among them is reminiscent of the fragmentation that occurs in families where each member is caught up in their own drama remaining insensitive to the other’s pain.
A tragic event occurs which changes everything in the family dynamic. Gradually, they find their way back to each other with humor, a little frustration and a lot of communication. The way problems are solved, answers are reached and kindness attained is heartwarming and makes this book the feel good book of the season.
I received an Advanced Reader’s copy of this book and am glad I was able to read this prior to its release date so I can offer this heartfelt review. In a difficult year for many, W. Bruce Cameron reminds us that miracles do occur and gives us something to consider about the relationships in our lives and the ways that broken families can heal, often at the times we most need reparation. To me, this book is a perfect read and will make a perfect gift to spread compassion and smiles.
Many families are fractured and that is the way this book originates. The characters are compartmentalized initially and the lack of true interaction among them is reminiscent of the fragmentation that occurs in families where each member is caught up in their own drama remaining insensitive to the other’s pain.
A tragic event occurs which changes everything in the family dynamic. Gradually, they find their way back to each other with humor, a little frustration and a lot of communication. The way problems are solved, answers are reached and kindness attained is heartwarming and makes this book the feel good book of the season.
I received an Advanced Reader’s copy of this book and am glad I was able to read this prior to its release date so I can offer this heartfelt review. In a difficult year for many, W. Bruce Cameron reminds us that miracles do occur and gives us something to consider about the relationships in our lives and the ways that broken families can heal, often at the times we most need reparation. To me, this book is a perfect read and will make a perfect gift to spread compassion and smiles.
December 30, 2020
I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book when I first began reading. However, it didn’t take long before I was chuckling out loud and was invested in the lives of the characters. There is a lot going on as you read through the pages…a family is in crisis. A daughter with the typical teenager attitude. A grandfather with no enthusiasm for life. A mother with an identity crisis. A father struggling to provide for his family and succeed in his job. An old dog that misses life the way it used to be with his mom and dad. And young twin boys who are all out and such a hoot!
Then you factor in a health crisis, a stray puppy, and a love life competition for the grandfather at the playground among three women. Life begins to change and the family members realize how much they love and appreciate each other. It is painful to experience Ello’s difficulties with popularity and how she does not value herself. How much a person can make a difference in one person’s life. Are you willing to be that person? I hope I would be able to be the positive influence that the “new boy” was.
I love the viewpoints of Winstead, grandfather’s faithful dog, and Ruby, the stray puppy. Your heart will ache one moment and soar the next. The joy of life through a dog’s eye is uplifting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Then you factor in a health crisis, a stray puppy, and a love life competition for the grandfather at the playground among three women. Life begins to change and the family members realize how much they love and appreciate each other. It is painful to experience Ello’s difficulties with popularity and how she does not value herself. How much a person can make a difference in one person’s life. Are you willing to be that person? I hope I would be able to be the positive influence that the “new boy” was.
I love the viewpoints of Winstead, grandfather’s faithful dog, and Ruby, the stray puppy. Your heart will ache one moment and soar the next. The joy of life through a dog’s eye is uplifting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
January 29, 2025
No, not a dog book, far from Perfect, and not a Christmas book. Yikes. How is this even the same author that wrote so many other good books? The writing is forced, the plot is not pleasant, and the characters are Caricatures of angst. Why did W. Bruce Cameron tie this story up in a neat little bow at the end and try to call it a charming Christmas story? Not my cup of tea. Skip this one.
January 2, 2025
Якщо чесно, я очікувала, що історія буде ПРО собаку, або хоча б з точки зору собаки.. Чи оповідач-собака теж би насправді згодився! Але маємо історію, у якій купа персонажів, що не знають, що робити зі своїми життями. І почуваються відповідно)
Якщо чесно, дуже багато банальщини та не надто оригінальні сюжетні лінії. Але з іншого боку, мабуть, у цьому й шарм історії - що це про звичайне життя звичайної сімейки.
У підсумку додам, що це було затишно і приємно)
p.s. але я потребую більше різдвяних клопотів!!!
Якщо чесно, дуже багато банальщини та не надто оригінальні сюжетні лінії. Але з іншого боку, мабуть, у цьому й шарм історії - що це про звичайне життя звичайної сімейки.
У підсумку додам, що це було затишно і приємно)
p.s. але я потребую більше різдвяних клопотів!!!
October 16, 2020
There are some authors I know will always write a book worth reading. One of those authors is W Bruce Cameron..This offering is about a family who could easily fall apart when the mother/wife became sick with an unknown disease that caused paralysis and loss of consciousness. The stress on her husband who will lose his job if his restructuring of the workspace doesn't improve productivity puts him in a place of hopelessness. Ello, their daughter, is walking home from her ice skating lesson when she hears some unusual noises coming from the dried weeds nearby. A puppy who was dumped there by a previous owner is so happy to feel kindness from this new person, it launches itself into Ello's arms and changes the lives in this depressed household. The characters are so well developed, I could feel their desperation. I was hoping these characters could do something to improve their circumstances. This sounds like a depressing book but it isn't. It is more about how a pup finds itself a part of a family that is able to pull itself out of despair and into happiness. I highly recommend this uplifting story.
October 16, 2020
This will make you smile. It's almost Christmas and Juliana and Hunter are both dealing with lots of stress. She's a trial attorney who has been a stay at home mom for the last few years with their twins and 13 year old Elli (who is totally teen) as well as Sander, her father in law and Winstead his dog. All of this is wearing on her and she's had enough. Meanwhile, Hunter has a scythe hanging over his head at work. And then Juliana becomes very very ill and everyone has to pull as one. Then Ello finds little Ruby by the side of the road and brings her home. Last thing this family needs, right? Nope, just the thing they need. Know that as with other Cameron novels, this is partly told by the dogs, especially Winstead, who is older and wiser. There aren't any real surprises here but the characters are good as is the storytelling. I defy you not to root for this family. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. A big hearted novel that's perfect to soothe your mood.
October 30, 2020
Because anything Cameron writes is worthy of at least four stars. I'm not a big fan of Christmas books. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE Christmas. I just feel like the books written specifically for Christmas are often dashed off simply for revenue, and really kind of schmaltzy. This one, though, has all of Cameron's usual heart and soul. The Goss family isn't typical, but then not atypical either. Dad has some real stressers at work. Mom's a stay-at-home, but not super happy about it, mostly due to the 3 y/o terrorist twins. Then there's 8th grade Ello, whose life is ruined by everything. And to make things more difficult, and Worst Of All for Ello, grandpa Sander and his dog have moved in. Of course, things get worse. But along comes little Ruby, a tiny puppy, to save the day.
October 9, 2020
First book I have read from this author. The Goss family are your typical family with problems. Juliana and hunter, Grandpa Sander. Ello and the twins Ewan and Garrett and Grandpas dog Winstead! No one seems to be happy and each in their own world. Juliana tells Hunter how unhappy she is and he fears she will leave him. Tragedy occurs and each family member will have to come together during this time. Ello rescues a puppy who she names Ruby. In reality, Ruby helps the family unite together. Good read.
Thanks to W. Bruce Cameron and Forge books!
Thanks to W. Bruce Cameron and Forge books!
January 12, 2021
Unlike his other books, this is not told from the dog's perspective, but it's still very good. It's a nice novella family and it constantly changes focus on the different characters as they go through both their own fears and anxieties as well as the ones they share. While Christmas is in the title, it's not really the focus. Just gives you a time period as the story takes place in the weeks leading up to, and then concluding, on Christmas.
October 12, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. I loved this book along with W. Bruce Cameron’s previous titles. A feel good book for the holiday season. I especially loved Ruby and Winstead, the canine family members who made the story complete. A must read for dog lovers.
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