This book was wildly popular when it came out several years ago but I missed its debut and was just introduced to this title last month.
The story, in a nutshell, is about a family dealing with the sickness and death of the mother and subsequent custody battle over young Zoe between the father and the in-laws. The story’s shtick is that it’s told from the family dog’s point of view.
The book is nearly impossible not to like given the overwhelming like ability of the narrator, Enzo. I’m not a dog person so it didn’t affect me as much as it might someone else but I can admit to being thoroughly charmed.
Enzo’s loyalty to each member of the family is so true-blue that you find yourself becoming as emotionally invested as he is. And he is as loving and steadfast as any family dog that ever was.
The father in the story is a professional race car driver and the dog is named after Enzo Ferrari which becomes almost shmaltzy in its degree of appropriateness as the story reaches its crescendo and the epilogue carries us down the road of tear-jerking predictability.
But I shouldn’t make fun. This book is very well told, the hook is solid, and it is thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely time well spent. It’s like a chocolate pudding pie, really. Delicious, with nothing to complain about, and more special than a bowl of pudding because of the crust and whipped cream, but not as delicate as a ganache.
Plum Librarian LLC 