Dog Days Review | Ericka Waller

I’ve been reading some deep fantasy lately, and wanted a change of pace. I thought Dog Days would be a light-hearted, feel-good sort of book where you’re left with the feeling that everything is right with the world. It didn’t quite work out like that though – check out my review.

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Publisher: Random House | Date: 2021 | Genre: General Fiction | Buy it here*

Plot: George is very angry. His wife has upped and died on him, and all he wants to do is sit in his underpants and shout at the cricket. The last thing he needs is his cake-baking neighbour Betty trying to rescue him. And then there’s the dog, a dachshund puppy called Poppy. George doesn’t want a dog – he wants a fight.

Dan is a counsellor with OCD who is great at helping other people – if only he were better at helping himself. His most meaningful relationship so far is with his labrador Fitz. But then comes a therapy session that will change his life.

Lizzie is living in a women’s refuge with her son Lenny. Her body is covered in scars and she has shut herself off from everyone around her. But when she is forced to walk the refuge’s fat terrier, Maud, a new life beckons – if she can keep her secret just a while longer…

Dog Days is a novel about those small but life-changing moments that only come when we pause to let the light in. It is about three people learning to make connections and find joy in living life off the leash.

I received Dog Days from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

TW: Suicide, Domestic Abuse

Dog Days Review

I was under the impression I knew what kind of book I was getting into with Dog Days. While it was hard to warm to the characters, I assumed that was the point. The book took a turn I wasn’t expecting, however, and it left me unsettled.

Characters

Lizzie is living in a shelter with her son. It was hard to connect to her; her emotions and actions didn’t align, and you try to give her the benefit of the doubt, but those suspicions aren’t misplaced.

I felt for George, but he’s so difficult to like. He’s rude, obnoxious and goes out of his way to be cruel to people. He mellows, but his attitude annoyed me before long.

Dan is a definite favourite. Dealing with OCD and coming out, Dan’s world is shaken up, but you can empathise with his problems. He’s likeable, and wants to grow.

It was the first thing she had ever done without consulting George first. And then she died, which was the second.

Themes

Most of the plot is watching these characters collide, and the way they influence each other’s lives. The lack of development in their behaviour and attitude made the pace feel slow at times, and I wasn’t sure where it was going.

I would never have guessed, though. For expecting a charming book, Dog Days takes a dark turn. It’s a shocking twist of events, but also left me feeling… cheated? There’s growth by the end, but no resolution. I guess that’s the point, but it threw me off.

The dark themes felt sudden and abrupt. It made them powerful, but needed some warning. It jolted me from the story and the unexpected direction left me feeling out of sorts.

Writing

I can’t deny the writing is strong throughout Dog Days. There’s change in the characters and their relationships, even if not always in a positive direction. You find yourself intrigued by what is going to come next, and whether the characters will get their happy ending.

Perhaps it’s the time I’m reading this – in a pandemic, you want a book full of feel-good feelings. There’s hope here, but only if you stay until the end.

Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re after something to lift your spirits. It’s an interesting premise, with hard-to-like characters and a dark plot. It could work effectively, but only if you’re expecting it.

Taken off guard and left unsettled, this wasn’t the right one for me at this time.

Grab your own copy!

Have you ever experienced a book going in a wildly different direction to what you were anticipating?

You may also like:

• Book Review: Four Minutes to Save a Life by Anna Stuart
• Book Review: The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan

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