Saw this a lot on social media before getting authorised to read on here.
I was expecting it to be emotional but it is very much so.

Rhys's Mum is in hospital, that day when he says goodbye he notices a dog, a black lab under the bed, he asks Mum if she knows but she's too tired. He thinks it's there because it's after her chocolate toffees - it is a lab after all.
Rhys is a Junior Dog Rescuer (part of a TV show) and his Mum has promised that they'll go to Dog Rescuers Live show when she gets out.

Dad is staying at the house at the moment, to look after him. But he has a new wife Lucy and a baby Evie. Rhys doesn't see him much, as he lives in London and they live in Cardiff.

But Rhys's mum doesn't get better, she dies. Dad wants Rhys to live in London. Nan and Grampy want him to stay with them in Wales, but even they are miles from his school.

When Rhys goes out to his Den in the garden the next day the dog is there. Did he follow him home? He knows that if a dog isn't claimed he can keep it. He calls the hospital to report that it is at their house. He feeds him..., gives him water... takes him for his business... but never actually sees him eat, drink or go to the toilet. He seems to like privacy.
When they have to go to London, after the funeral, he has to smuggle Worthington into Dad's car. He seems ok even if Rhys is worried. He hides him in the shed when they get there, Dad did say it could be his new den but it isn't a nice place to be. He starts his new school, hiding Worthington from everyone. He doesn't feel like he belongs, Lucy seems sad. Evie cries a lot, Dad is back at work and doesn't have time.
He is still counting the days till Worthington is his. He makes some friends at school but...then he does a really silly thing with his new phone.

This leads to more problems for Rhys, and his new friends. And things come to a head when he hears Dad and Lucy talking about him... he runs away with Worthington. But when things go wrong he yells at Worthington. The Dog runs around the corner of the road and disappears. He finally turns on his new phone and suddenly Dad is there.

Can Rhys understand what has happened to him? Where is Worthington? What are they going to do now?

My goodness this is emotional. Rhys is struggling to find his place in his new family, even though it is his Dad. He is trying to get over the loss of his Mum, being so far away from Nan and Grampy. Worthington seems to be everything he needs or is he?

I was pulled in from the beginning as I knew I would be just from the cover and title. It might be difficult for those who have experienced similar loss to Rhys.

My daughter who is 9 read this one. She said she really enjoyed it even though it was sad. She said that It helped her see that there is always hope even when something is hard, or makes you feel sad.

A really lovely middle grade story perfect for dog lovers and to teach kids about dealing with grief. A diverse set of characters, an emotional story but full of heart and importantly - no dogs die in this book!

Rhys' mother is in hospital, but it's no big deal. He's more interested in the dog hiding under her bed, the dog with the conker-brown eyes and the velvet-soft ears, his perfect dog. When things go very wrong in his life, he leans hard on the dog, his wonderful dog. But can he learn the hardest lesson of owning a pet?

There's a list of authors whose books are guaranteed to make me cry. Michael Morpurgo, Roseanne Parry, Ross Montgomery. Olivia Wakefield is officially added to the list. This is a beautiful, heartfelt story of a dog who may or may not be real, helping a boy whose pain is very real. With a well meaning but distant father, a new home and new school to deal with, Rhys certainly has a lot to try and handle.

I'm a cat person, but if the dog was like Worthington, I could be persuaded to take him in. Add this to your bookshelf as soon as it's available; it's going to be a classic.


Book Recommendation: I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery follows Rebel, a young dog, as he chases after his Boy, who has signed up with a rebel army. Rebel's adventures take him through most of the country and to the edge of death and back, and he'll stay with you forever.

Movie Recommendation: It's a slightly older age group, but A Monster Calls hits many of the same beats as this one, and the movie has Liam Neeson's voice. Absolutely amazing.

I'm not sure what to make of this. I enjoyed it initially. Rhys loses his mum and, during his last visit to the hospital, sees a black Labrador that offers comfort.
Rhys clings to the dog to help him cope with his grief.
Difficult to read at times.

A lot of positive reviews had convinced me that I needed to read this. That and the fact that I am a huge dog lover with a retriever of my own. This was everything that I hoped it to be.

Rhys’ life is a state of turmoil. He has lost his mother and must reluctantly go and live with his Dad and his new wife in London. London really isn’t Wales and he really isn’t sure that his Dad and Lucy really want him. He misses his friends, family and his Mum and struggles to fit into a new school. Unfortunately, things become even more complicated and telling lies only gets him into deeper water. The only positive in Rhys’ life is a retriever who appeared in his life around the time he lost his Mum. Rhys loves dogs but his Dad doesn’t and Rhys isn’t really sure whether this dog is real..

What a very lovely and very emotional book, full of insight and intuition. The character of Rhys is beautifully and sensitively drawn. Navigating grief, huge changes in his life, he evokes our sympathy and draws the reader into his story. However, there is this consciousness that he might not be seeing things clearly. The depiction of the dog is wonderfully ambiguous and keeps the reader guessing. Does this dog exist and what is the presence of this dog telling us about Rhys? This story just builds and builds and I found myself so caught up in the lives of these characters. My heart ached for Rhys and I felt so much sympathy for his Dad who is desperately trying to rebuild relationships, to navigate new family structures and to rescue his son.

A great book for every classroom and a vital addition to the literature of grief.

Huge thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for my digital copy of this book. I have a physical copy on order for my collection of special reads.

With shades of David Almond and Catherine Bruton, MY DOG is a tender, beautifully written debut about love, loss, fumbled connection and forgiveness, with an evocative sense of time and place and unforgettable characters.

Beautifully sad yet hopeful at the same time. Should definitely come with trigger warning but such a brilliant read.

Absolutely LOVED this. I couldn’t put it down. It was a post midnight finish as I wasn’t sleeping until I got to the end. Of course that meant I went to sleep sobbing. Now let me tell you why…

This book is one of those books that has everything. First off we have dogs. Who doesn’t love dogs? This book is a bit of me, because animals are also my go to, my comfort, my happiness, and my emotional support! Next up, we have some lovely nostalgia that will take you back to childhood feelings and that comfort that comes with those memories. Relationships, they aren’t always easy - they take work. This book is a lesson in so much about relationships! (And forgiveness!)

Yes. I cried at the end. But they were happy tears. Those tears you get when you get older and start feeling emotional at the happy ever after.

This book is written beautifully. It’s a wholesome story about love, loss, and finding happiness.

Whatever your usual genre, I suggest adding this to your TBR list. You won’t regret it!

Thanks to @harpercollinsuk @netgalley and @wakefordwrites for the #arc

The first chapter of the book got me hooked already. There is something so precious and vulnerable in Rhys -- a boy who has to deal with grief and a lot of changes at a tender age. The bond between him and the dog is just beautiful and touching.. And the signature warmth in David Litchfield's illustration just adds a touch of magic to the book.

Rhys is going through a difficult phase. His mother is poorly, his father has an angry demeanour. He has a new family, and is a bit distant to Rhys.
Rhys meets a dog while his mother is in the hospital.
The rest is a beautiful story of friendship, grief and reconnection.
The illustrations are 5/5 stars.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was a fabulous and moving story about grief and friendship I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Sometimes you begin a book and realise that resistance is futile because it has you hooked!! I couldn't out it down and devoured it over two days

My Dog, the debut book, by Olivia Wakeford is superb. This is the story of Rhys who has a deep love of dogs which he shared with his mum who sadly dies at the start of the book . Together they would watch a TV show called The Dog Rescuers presented by Rhys' idol Dr Jimmy. Rhys' dad comes to care for him but Rhys feels his dad doesn't understand him at all and feels resentful.

Rhys has lot eave his home in Wales, his beloved grandparents- Nan and Bampy and move to London where his father now lives with his new wife, Lucy , and young baby daughter Evie. Overcome with initial grief, Rhys takes refuge in his den and a lost black labrador named Worthington. But the time comes when he has to move to London; start a new life and a new school- but what can he do with Worthington- his dad doesn't like dogs.

This is a story about grief but also happiness and the desire to follow your dreams and passions. It also a tale about being open and truthful and building friendships ( Kayla is a brilliant character)

Rhys' inner turmoil and anxiety is palpable- How will he keep Worthington a secret once he gets him to London ? How we will he fit in at a new school and how will resolve a situation when he tells an almighty lie? How will ever get to meet Dr Jimmy at the Dog Rescuers live event?

Olivia Wakefield has created a wonderful story that will be a source of support for many children but also build understanding for young and old when tackling bereavement, changes of circumstances and what can happen if unspoken situations and issues aren't resolved.

The story of Rhys is told with deep compassion, sensitivity and warmth and highlights the bond that can exist between children and dogs.

This has to be a highlight of children's fiction for 2025- reading age 10-12 and a powerful upper key stage 2 class read too.

A winner - highly recommended