You know how sometimes you hear about a book, and you get so excited immediately because you know it’s going to be just your thing? Then you get hold of the book, but put off reading it because you worry it won’t live up to your expectation of it? Well, that’s what I’ve been doing with Dog Days but I am thrilled that it was in fact even BETTER than I was expecting!

We follow the lives of three seemingly unconnected people - George, a recently widowed cantankerous old bugger, Lizzie, a mother who’s living in a women’s refuge with her beloved son, and Dan, a young counsellor who falls in love with his patient but isn’t ready to go public with a man yet. Despite all the dogs, this is really a story about what it is to be human, and I loved the fleeting moments where our characters crossed paths.

This is a story about the mistakes we make, the fears that hold us back, the wariness of letting people in - of love, loss and friendship. The dogs are really the balance to the flawed humans - they are endlessly kind and trusting in contrast to our characters, and they seem to know what the humans need long before they do. (Being a labradoodle owner with the surname Fitzgerald I obviously had a soft spot for Fitz, but I’d happily have them all!).

I loved the compassion that the author showed to so many difficult subjects - from OCD to autism, from losing a partner to suicide - there are some heartbreaking moments but they are all written with kindness and understanding.

That’s not to say this is a story without laughs - you can’t throw this many dogs and the world’s grumpiest old man together without raising some serious smiles! I definitely snorted more than once at some of George’s comments - he is such a brilliant character to read.

I loved every second of this novel - I laughed, I definitely cried, and I was already so emotional that I read the acknowledgements and then cried some more! This is the truth of what it is to be human in all its messy, complicated wonder - but don’t worry, the dogs are there to take the lead...

I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dog Days’ by Ericka Waller in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

George isn’t coping since his wife Ellen died eight days ago leaving him in sole charge of dachshund Poppy. Dan is a counsellor who’s struggling to help his clients and whose only worthwhile relationship is with his yellow Labrador Fitz. Lizzie has been taken in by a women’s refuge but in return has to leave its security to take their dog Maud for walks. Three people whose only connection is dogs.

I’m a great animal lover and have read many novels featuring dogs and cats but I’m sorry to say I didn’t enjoy ‘Dog Days’ and found it a depressing story of humans who just happened to have responsibility for dogs. The characters were stereotyped into what the author thought they should be which I didn’t much like, although the occasional humour did lighten it a bit. The sensitive issues were handled well but made for uncomfortable reading and after getting through half of the story I decided I wasn’t interested enough to continue and find out what happened at the end. This is purely my opinion and I’m sure there will be many readers who will disagree with me.

This book just wasn't for me. It really should have been as I am the biggest dog lover!
However, I just couldn't connect with the characters. I feel like the author tried so hard to make the dogs loveable, she forgot to make the human characters loveable too!!
I felt it dragged in places, and would have been more engaging if it was a faster pace and slightly shorter.

Didn't enjoy this at all - gutted as I thought this would be a sure fire hit for me - but i just couldn't connect.

Dog days is a book about love, loss and the wonderfully restorative powers of our doggy friends!
Three very different characters, Dan who is struggling with his sexuality and OCD,George a grumpy widower who is grieving the loss of his wife Ellen and Lizzie who has ended up in a women’s refuge snd who self harms!
The only thing all three have in common is dogs! Dan’s dog fitz is sensitive snd attentive to his feelings/ moods, George’s puppy poppy has been foisted upon him by his deceased wife loves him unconditionally and provides a reason to get up each day, Lizzie doesn’t have her own dog but maud the hostel dog senses her turmoil snd distress and makes it her mission to befriend Lizzie!
Together with various friends and acquaintances and hard hitting subjects like abuse, depression, self harm and suicide the one constant is the canine friends who provide a constant reassuring healing soothing elixir to the trials and tribulations of everyday life for Dan,Lizzie and George!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

Dog Days was a huge change of genre, I have been reading a lot of fantasy and historical fiction... so I jumped at the chance to read this one.
I was pleasantly surprised.

We have three main characters. George, Dan and Lizzie and I thought I was going to be reading about dog training or a naughty dog rom com. How wrong was I?

This book touched on depression, domestic violence, suicide, and homophobia. Another true to life book which I applaud showing that not everyone meets cinderella and goes to the ball.

Its difficult without giving much away but if you like gritty dramas, messy situations and non straightforward text book romances this one is for you.

Thank you for a brilliant book

A beautiful book, one for all the animal lovers, not just dog lovers. We all need a unconditional love in our life, and when life is a difficult for some of us we need that comfort and dogs are the best friend to have. Such a feel good read.

George Dempsey is exceedingly angry. It's eight days since his wife, Ellen, died and it's the first time that she's let him down. He's lost, bereft without her ( he needs his wife, like a snail needs its shell). He misses their ordered life and rather than bringing him meals to leave on the doorstep, he'd much rather have a good row with someone. He's particularly angry about the dachshund puppy which Helen brought home just three weeks before she died. She even dared to contradict him when he told her that the dog wasn't staying. Now he's lumbered with a dog he doesn't want and a load of busybodies who are trying to interfere in his life. Worst of all is Betty, who won't take no for an answer. Betty knits jumpers for Lucky, her greyhound. Lucky spends a lot of time trying to escape from and destroy them.

Dan is a counsellor with OCD and his closest friend is his Labrador, Fitz. When Atticus comes to him as a patient he's initially reluctant. Atticus has been in therapy before and it's difficult to get to the bottom of exactly why he wants to try again or what the problem is. Worst of all, Dan has a nagging suspicion that he's attracted to Atticus - or perhaps it's just his pink loafers. Whatever - it can't be allowed to continue, can it? Dan's never been attracted to women but it's something else entirely to accept that you're gay.

Lizzie Robbins is living with her seven-year-old son, Lenny, in the women's refuge. The scars are healing but she's still reluctant to go to the police no matter how much Tess, the lady who runs the refuge, tries to persuade her. She doesn't mind how many of the cleaning jobs she's on the list to do but she's definitely not keen on the idea of walking Maud, the rather chubby Jack Russell Terrier.

Luke Williams is a teacher: in fact, he teaches Lenny Robbins and that's how he meets his mother, Lizzie. Luke - the man who is always in the midst of a new crush - is smitten. He has plans which he's quick to confide in his cousin, Dan. Dan and Luke are training for an Ironman Marathon - accompanied by Luke's Wolfhound, Wolfie and Dan's Fitz.

I laughed and I cried. I was going to say that no dogs were hurt in the telling of this story but that's not completely true. George is very unkind to Poppy in those first days after Ellen's death but she didn't hold it against him. Those were the days when He'd kill himself, but Ellen isn't there to do it for him. Still, he shouldn't have been nasty to Poppy: she couldn't help what happened. Ellen had done all she could to make the transition as easy as possible - to the extent of leaving letters for him where she thought it might help.

It's the healing power of the dogs who bring people together and give unconditional love. Dog Days deals with such sad events that you might be forgiven for wondering if you really need to take your pleasures this sadly, but ultimately it's one of the most hopeful, uplifting stories I've read in a long time, despite the fact that it completely eschews the happy endings you might be expecting. I'd like to thank the publishers for making a copy available to the Bookbag.

Dog Days is a moving, emotive novel describing the ups and downs of the lives of a group of people who happen to walk their dogs in a popular area, they are not really friends but through their dogs, they have become “reluctant” acquaintances. In this novel the author reels the reader in by creating absorbing and thought-provoking accounts of each of these 3 doggy individuals and their everyday/extraordinary lives. Although this is not my “usual” genre, I really enjoyed the way this author wrote with compassion and empathy.

Dog Days by Ericka Waller

George's wife has died leaving him a Dachshund puppy Poppy to take care of, but he is angry and has no interest in anything, least of all his interfering neighbour Betty. Dan is a counsellor and his best friend is his labrador Fitz, but he's never had a romantic relationship until Atticus comes into his life. Lizzie lives in a women's refuge with her son Lenny and although she finds it difficult to connect with the other women, Maud the Jack Russell Terrier becomes an unexpected ally.

I absolutely loved this book and found it a real page turner - I read it in a day! The characters were extremely well written and the issues faced by all of them were very sensitively dealt with - bereavement, grief, trauma, mental health and many others. Some very serious subjects and events were dealt with and broken up with scenes involving George - he was so specatacularly rude and outspoken, often with hilarious results (the cheese panini scene made me shake with laughter!). Very highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was not the lighthearted read I was expecting, it was far deeper than that. It was less about the dogs and more about the issues that affected their owners. That said, the book drew me in and made me want to find out what was happening with the three main characters. I particularly liked that the chapters alternated between them, telling it from their point of view and moving onto the next character before you tired of their angst.
I enjoyed this book but be warned that it covers a variety of issues that are relatable but could be hard for those in similar circumstances. This is not a feel good book but more of a thought provoking read, giving a little insight into the minds of others. However it is not a heavy read.
So be aware that the person walking their dog in the park or sitting next to you on the bus may be going through issues that you have no notion off. Above all don't judge a book by its cover - or title!

"Dog Days: Ericka Waller's Dog Days is a debut novel about the way dogs can bring out the best in us in the face of life's challenges."

I feel that the title and blurb is a bit misleading. I expected defining moments where loyalty and the love of dogs uplift characters while dealing with various issues. At best the dogs in the story are no more than supporting actors with the odd mention.

What we got was a dark and bleak story, with characters who give in to their negative traits fairly often and who are truly difficult to like. The writing is excellent, with a thoughtful and insightful look at difficult subjects such as suicide, depression, OCD, autism, domestic violence, grief and homophobia.

I just wish that the author had involved the dogs in the story more to bring some lighthearted and heartfelt moments. The ending is hopeful but it was too little, too late.

Wow, this book was so good. Loved the writing and it was for me a page Turner as I needed to know the characters story. It follows 3 characters who are all going through something different, grief, mental health, trauma, love, loss and finding friendships with all the help from dogs too. The dogs in the book were written really well as dogs really do help with everyday things and feelings, dogs know when something is up with there human, my dogs are the same! There was unexpected twists at the end that was shocking and sad and I think the author did very well at writing those scenes and I felt all the emotions. I also loved that it was based in Brighton as I live very close to Brighton so it was nice for it to be featured in a great book. I will definitely be recommending this book to all my bookish friends, and I can’t wait to read more of this Authors work. Thank you

I've always believed that dogs have a way of bringing people from all walks of life together, and this book is a prime example of it. Maud, a strong willed Jack Russell; Fitz, a totally adorable Labrador, Lucky, a long suffering, itchy jumper wearing greyhound; Poppy a super sweet but very much unwanted Dachshund puppy and Wolfie, a shaggy Wolfhound are five very different dogs, with five very different owners. The characters in this book are wonderful, particularly George, who's wife has died, leaving him with Poppy and the attentions of Betty, both equally unwanted by George and boy, doesn't he make his feelings known! His language! Hilarious. The book sounds light hearted, but it is actually quite serious. Death, grief, depression, domestic abuse, mental health and suicide are all covered in detail as we get to know all of the characters, so be careful if any of these subjects are triggers for you! The illustrations of the dogs are lovely. I really enjoyed it.

My review is on Goodreads and will be posted to Amazon on publication day.

Dog Days tells the stories of individual members of a community and how their lives have been affected by a traumatic event. For each person, a dog features in their recovery after their lives have been changed forever.
Each character is brought to life brilliantly by Ericka Waller's fantastic writing. From foul-mouthed George to broken Lizzie to the exuberant Betty.
Dogs really do help hearts to heal.

This has probably been my most difficult book to review thus far. I soooooooo wanted to love it, but after much consideration, I guess I can just say that overall I quite enjoyed it.
It’s a story that is based around three central characters that are all connected in some way but do not know each other directly. They all have their own (very sensitive) issues that they’re working through and for the most part are not very likeable if I’m honest BUT what they do have are some beautiful canine friends, which for me was the initial appeal of the book and for the short amount of time they were featured, those furry friends stole the show for me.
This book covers lots of sensitive issues including loss, anxiety, depression, domestic abuse amongst other things so I found myself experiencing every emotion as I read....anger, sorrow, frustration, joy, happiness, confusion.....all the same emotions I imagine the main characters felt themselves.
As a dog lover though, I so enjoyed how the author portrayed that each dog has their own personality and how dogs in general can be such a comfort in both times of turmoil AND happiness.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and of course the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dog Days by Ericka Waller covers important issues including death, abuse, sexuality, loss and grief. It is also about compassion, seeing others, and learning to heal.

When I started this novel wasn’t what I expected. I even almost DNFed it, but I kept going and I’m glad I did. The story took extra time to set up because it covers the paths of three characters that don’t always intersect. As a result I had difficulty initially connecting with them, but this suddenly changed.

By the middle of the book:

• I started to see George as more than a thoroughly unpleasant man consumed with his anger, blaming everything on everyone except himself.

• Dan became someone I really like. At first he seemed to have so many of his own struggles I had a hard time understanding how he could counsel anyone else. Instead, his flawed humanity ended up enchanting me.

• Lizzie stopped frustrating me. She lives in a women’s refuge and has an entirely unhealthy infatuation with her son who lives with her. She has secrets she won’t share and this alienates her from everyone else at the refuge. Only when these secrets start to come out does everything begin to make sense.

Although their situations differ, each character will suffer raw regret from horrible mistakes they’ve made. They also each have a dog in their life. George doesn’t want his and is angry he has been saddled with her. Dan adores his furry best friend. Lizzie starts out using the resident dog as a means of escape. If you are lucky enough to have had a dog in your life you will already realise they have a rather magical way of comforting and healing.

Releasing 11th March 2021, Dog Days is worth adding to your TBR. I’m left contemplating humanity and forgiveness. Most of us do the best we can when, really, we are all flawed and the majority of us have regrets for the mistakes we’ve made.

Considering the rough start, but brilliant end, my rating is as follows:

3.5/5 🌟

My sincerest thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK (Transworld Publishers, Doubleday) and Ericka Waller for the opportunity to read Dog Days in exchange for an impartial review. All opinions stated above are my own.

Three strangers with sad lives discover the comfort that a dog can bring into their lives. Fighting it is not an option, they must accept what fate has in store for them. An emotional novel that restores your faith in the fact that life can get better if you let a dog into your life. Thoroughly charming.

What an interesting and easy to read book, which brought a few tears to my eyes.
I stated this book with little idea of where it would be taking me.It took me a while to get grips with all the names, people and dogs mixed up together. However it wasn’t long before I was enamoured with the characters with all their quirks and traits, making them all into real people and dogs. The potty- mouthed blustery George, angry at the world & his little puppy Poppy; Lizzie, the mysterious mother hiding secrets, reluctantly walking Maud; Dan, the OCD counsellor and his companion/ dog Fitz. The dogs show their endearing qualities and personalities as the story develops.
This is a slow-burn, as the back-stories gradually reveal what has made these people who they are, alongside the present story taking each character towards consequences, actions and resolutions. The blurb says it all - the life-changing moments when we pause!
An engaging book and a delight to read.

This so much more than a story about dogs (although obviously that’s the best bit). It’s a story about love, loss and everything inbetween. It showed dogs will be there for you no matter who you are or what you’ve done.

I loved how the chapters were short and each one represented either Lizzie, George or Dan’s POV. Each character brought something different to the story and I liked how they were all subtly linked. Some parts made me laugh and others made me extremely sad and Erika really made the story come alive for me.

I have to say George and Betty were my absolute favourite. Betty gave me major Eileen from the switch vibes with her funny sayings and positive attitude whereas George was grumpy and at times mean. I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow and George’s character develop.

I definitely didn’t predict the ending and i felt Erika really showed we never know what’s really going on with someone under the surface.

This is a very hard review to write, the book deals with so many topics as many Uplit books do, but I am also trying not to include any spoilers.
We follow 3 characters in alternating chapters, George's wife has just passed away and he is dealing with grief, but not very well He is angry at everyone including the new puppy she bought just before she died. Dan, the therapist with his own issues, OCD and also sexuality, he meets a patient and things start to look up, although the ethics of this are a little murky. Lizzie, who is currently residing in a womens refuge with her son, having left home, this being the hardest strand to read as you can imagine.
Each of the characters is imagined so well, the writing is brilliant and the doggies are obviously a very big tick from me. The Lizzie storyline felt slightly out of place for me and this is where the genre of the books sways towards something other than uplit. I loved the George storyline, I would, being a lover of pensioners in books, but my gosh does he have a potty mouth, c-bomb and all, just as a word of warning. Dan was loveable in his own way and I enjoyed reading his experiences.
There is plenty to love in this book, but I do not think this will be for everyone, massive trigger warnings for grief, self harm, suicide, homophobia, domestic violence and possibly more.