This is a good book to read if you love dogs and Christmas. It's a particularly good choice for when the holidays fall during a pandemic or any other trying year. I found it to be like reading a Hallmark movie, and that is exactly what I needed. Not much drama and just heartwarming feels.

This book is a story of how resilient a family can be. How they can change from being challenged individuals to cooperative family members. I loved the descriptions the author used. I can't think of an example, but he would describe something in a most unusual way. It just made you smile and think, "Well, I never thought of it that way." And yes, the dogs did add a humorous element to the story.

A Christmas book for dog lovers. A family that is falling apart: a grandfather who wants to die, a teenager who doesn't believe anyone understands her, a workaholic father, an overwhelmed mother, and two out of control twin boys. This family faces a catastrophe and it is a dog who brings them together.

This was a cute book. I really enjoyed it even though it was sad in some parts of it. I would definitely recommend this book!

I’m a sucker for any dog book. That said I enjoy Cameron’s writing style. He has well-developed, likeable characters and believable story lines. We all like feel good stories at Christmas time, and this book fits the bill.

The title and the cover are out of keeping with the true story here, of a dysfunctional family and a sick old man. The first points of view are the worried dog and the angry daughter, and both of them upset me. I really was expecting a happy story, and couldn't finish because I just didn't care about any of the people, only the dog.

Ello Sander is a very unhappy teen. She's forced to take care of Grandpa Saunder among other annoying chores. Grandma died the year before and Grandpa is having trouble coping. He's contemplating ending it all but his old dog Winstead still needs him. Ello is dealing with typical teen frustrations - her best friend dumped her, she hates her twin baby brothers, and nothing seems right. She can't even get along with her mother. Her father Hunter is having a difficult time at work and in danger of losing his job. A sudden illness lands her mother in the hospital in a coma and nearing death. Hunter must be at the hospital or work, leaving the day to day chores to Ello and Grandpa. We hear a lot from Winstead's point of view and soon enough from an abandoned puppy. In the typical Bruce Cameron way, the pup is found by Ello and brought back to health. She soon becomes the light of the household and helps everyone come to terms with their new reality. Not to give away any spoilers, but the story does end happily. This would be a delightful read for any age - my middle school students adore Bruce Cameron, but adults will enjoy this as well. As the title indicates, the story takes place around Christmas, but would be a great read any time. I am grateful for the chance to read the ARC and to express my own opinions on this new Christmas classic.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas

by W. Bruce Cameron

I have discovered an author I was unfamiliar with, but now I want to read more of his works. W. Bruce Cameron specializes in dog/people stories and knows how to combine some humor with tough reality. His A Dog’s Perfect Christmas could be labeled as a “feel-good Christmas story,” but it is so much more.

This is the tale of an imperfect family doing their best to survive the everyday struggles and big disasters. By the conclusion of this book, you’ll like all of the characters. Hunter loves his family but devotes himself to his job. His wife Juliana gave up her job to raise their children but struggles with inner conflict about her role. Ello (short for Eloise) is their thirteen year old daughter caught in a hurricane of hormones and middle school relationships. Her two younger brothers are three year old twins who excel in wreaking havoc and rely on Ello to be their translator to the rest of the world. Grandpa Sander is a widower whose beloved wife passed away from cancer. Her care drained their financial resources requiring Sander to move in with his son’s family. Completing the family is Sander’s faithful canine retainer Winstead.

I devote so much of my review to the characters because the characters and how they interact with each other and meet life’s challenges is the focus of A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. Everyone in this book has specific needs to be met. The family undergoes a major crisis that could have thrown them all into despair, but as they work to stand strong together through the big problem confronting them, there is healing and a renewing of family and spirit.

Dogs play a part in this story that dog lovers will enjoy, especially the thinking process in Winstead’s brain as he reacts to his “daddy” Sander’s moods and actions. If only there were a puppy, this would be a perfect Christmas story…

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Forge for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction

Publication: October 10, 2020—Forge

Memorable Lines:

He saw the tidal forces of rage fighting for control of Ello’s face. As a little girl, she had been able to charm her grandfather into reading her one book after another after another. Now, though, she’d morphed into this hideously unpleasant creature, spitting acidic venom.

Winstead and Ruby had already incorporated park visits into their bill of rights, and now gazed at Sander expectantly whenever he stood up out of his chair. They tracked him with eager intensity as he fetched their leashes, then bounded joyfully into the minivan, wrestling all the way to the park.

When Hunter released her, Ruby darted off with crazed energy, racing around the room in celebration, because puppies know how to celebrate everything.

My first read by W. Bruce Cameron. It was not what I was expecting. I thought it woukd be more about a dog. However, I did enjoy it.

I wanted to read this book this Christmas season because I needed a spiritual lift this year due to Covid. Since I had to put my dog to sleep recently, I have been down. At first I was a little disappointed because there wasn't much a story about the dog. The book deals more about family relationships. The dog does make a difference and helps with healing the family. Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition in exchange for an honest review.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron


This was a light, warm cozy about families, and their crises, and how they cope with them. Grandpa and granddaughter stepping to take care of twins and household when the mother is very ill and in the hospital. How they keep the family going. Very impressive characters. I liked the part where the author put the dog’s thoughts into writing. I recommend this book.

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review.,

What a great book to read during the holidays (or any time of the year!)! The family personalities are all on display in this warm, quick to read book! Whether you see yourself in the husband, wife, teenage girl or grandfather - all of us have been in these shoes at one time or another. I loved the way that Bruce Cameron does not sugar coat the trials of a family - he shows us their shortcomings and their pain and then also shows us the hope and way through the pain - by coming together and by being true to who we are.

I also love that the dogs are the ones who see us as we really are and continue to love us as we are - good and bad.....

Thanks Net Galley for chance to review the book!

A sweet read for the holiday season and beyond, I suggest reading this book. A reminder of what’s important as well as relatable family dynamics drive this tale. The arrival of a puppy can make things better or worse, read to find out!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

The Goss family all have their struggles this Christmas season – grandpa Sander feels no reason to live since his wife died; dad Hunter is at risk of losing his job if his latest project doesn't go well; mom Juliana is frustrated with trying to run the house and keep her twin toddlers under control, missing her old job as a lawyer; and 13-year-old Ello is cast out of her friend group by her jealous friend. When Juliana gets sick, the rest of the family has to pitch in to keep the house running.

This is the type of story that I can easily seeing be a Hallmark Christmas movie. Everyone learns a lesson and discovers what is truly important. For me, the second half of the book was better than the first half of the book. There wasn't as much focus on Winstead and Ruby, the dogs in the book, as I had expected given Bruce Cameron's other novels; they were more of an afterthought. The story was schmaltzy, and each character seemed like a caricature rather than an actual person. This book just wasn't for me.

This book was very heartwarming for me and I definitely needed that during these holidays. The characters in the family are realistic and so like my own family, that I engaged easily with the story. Thank you to the author for making 2020 a little better.
Many thanks to McMillan-Tor/Forge and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A delightful Christmas story. Follow the family as they go through the growing pains of having a teenage daughter, twin 3 year olds, demanding careers and an elderly father who has recently been widowed. See the family dynamic through different viewpoints and feel the emotions as they are masterfully written.

Thank you NetGalley and Susan Halter for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

This is about the Goss Family going through some holiday woes. How will they deal with this and will it ruin not only the holiday but continue their life down a negative path? Then a puppy arrives and maybe this will be a delightful key to helping. Yet, this little pup might just be more trouble added to what they are already trying to handle.

He is already a known author and bestseller. He writes the A Dog's Purpose series and we have read a few. This is a well-written book and nice for a holiday read. It is a loving story with true feeling and some laughter too. It is a holiday story that you are seeing from the view of various characters. If you enjoy a holiday story this is a good one. If you love animals you will enjoy this charming and emotional story. This is a well written story with wonderfully designed characters full of feeling allowing readers to connect with the story. A recommended read perfect for the holidays.

This book was so dang sweet and heartwarming, I couldn’t put it down. I do have to say, the awkward names for some of the secondary characters were a little over the top, but that was my only real issue with it.

This is such a sweet holiday story. I love Cameron's books so much. This book focused on a family and their struggles and how they come to work together. I loved how the dog comforted this family in turmoil. Such a heart warming book. I have purchased this book for the library and my patrons are loving this sweet book.

When I picked this title from Net Galley I did not read the description. I went with the title thinking, I could use a good dog story. This is not that. This is a story with dogs. Of course the small parts with dogs were by far the best, the human story grew on me. I was not sure where the story was going for a while. It was a bit depressing and the author gave peoples names annoying alternative spellings - that is my bugaboo so I pressed on. Then the twists and drama and it turned out to be a nice little story. I would have liked more of a conclusion though. This would definitely make a good Hallmark Christmas movie. It is very different from a lot of Christmas stories and that is a good thing.