It’s a cute romance where a dog helps the couple find romance. It’s cute and heartwarming with good characters.

Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade is a good recommendation for those wanting a bit of romance, a bit of turmoil over job choices and lots of animal and human interaction.

I love a sweet romance that also has deep topics too. Plus who doesn’t love a story with some pups too! It’s a perfect beach read!

You really can't go wrong with a beach and dogs. This book is an easy to read, easy to enjoy story. perfect for in between heavy topics and thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley for the copy.

This is such a charming story and a great beach read. I loved the dogs.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was good, but not great. It took me a few weeks to read because it was very easy to put down. That said, there was one heck of a twist that I never saw coming and I wondered how on earth it would be overcome.

Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade is a fun beach read that takes place on a beach. And there are dogs! The beach and dogs are two of my favorite things, so this definitely interested me. Veterinarian Morgan is asked to dog-sit a client's senior dog in Nantucket and she jumps at this amazing opportunity. Things get a bit turned upside down when she's asked to help out with a rescue dog. Then she meets a handsome surfer! All kinds of things are going on here! But I really enjoyed this one!

A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.

In Victoria Schade's new novel, DOG FRIENDLY (Berkley) exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group’s glittery annual fundraiser.

Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself.

This is heartwarming and lovely contemporary that revolves around overworked, burned-out veterinarian, Morgan Pearce, who has to take a vacation after losing consciousness due to fatigue. She accepts request ofone of her patient to dogsit for them in Nantucket for a summer where she finds her love for job once again and also understands the importance of taking care of herself.

The story is about depression, compassion fatigue, emotional trauma, impact of lack of work-life balance on mental health, dark side of profession, importance of therapy, friendship, and love. Plot is character driven emotionally engaging and steady to slow paced.

Best part of the story is theme of compassion fatigue and emotional trauma that every veterinarian go through. I didn’t know the darker side of the profession. Dogs are amazing. I never had dog as pet, I’m a cat person but it was interesting to know about dogs, their behavior, ailments and diseases more.

Why 3.5 stars- I didn’t like the lull in middle part. It felt like nothing much is happening in the book in terms of character development and romance for long time. I wish there was more discussion on what Morgan was going through, what has affected her self-esteem, and why she feared talking about her problems for most of the book. Both romantic and sibling relationships are okay.

Overall, Dog Friendly is heartwarming, lovely, enjoyable, slow paced women’s fiction with serious topics and beautiful setting.

This was a sweet romance story that delved into some tougher topics than typical for the genre (depression, suicide, bullying, burnout). I loved the canine characters in the story and they definitely stole the show as dogs usually do in any book they are featured in for me. I did feel the shocking obstacle to the romance arc came super late and the ending felt a little rushed and unrealistic to me. All in all, I really did enjoy this sweet novel featuring some lovable doggos. 3.5 rounded up.

This is one of those reviews that is difficult to write.

There were some things that I really liked about the book:
- Obviously the dogs
- Important message about vet burnout, setting boundaries, etc
- Setting was great
- Friends/side characters

Unfortunately there were things I didn't really like:
- Main couple had NO chemistry. I don't know what it was but I just didn't really believe their relationship
- The "is he a player or not" storyline about the love interest just didn't really interest me.

I almost wish this wouldn't have even had a romance element. A woman spending time with friends, working through some issues, fun side characters, good setting. That would have been enough for me (as long as it wasn't marketed as a romance). I liked a lot of the side stuff about the book but unfortunately the romance was the worst part for me.

I judge books by their covers. There, I said it. My name is Val and I judge books by their covers.

I was introduced to Victoria Schade while partnering with Netgalley. All of Victoria Schade’s books have the most adorable four-legged friends on the covers, and I don’t know about you but once I see a dog I’m pretty much hooked. That goes for real life, too, not just in books.

“Dog Friendly” follows Dr. Morgan Pearce, Veterinarian in the Northeast. Overwhelmed with stressful cases while balancing the need to produce quality statistics for patients per day and increasing average client transactions, it becomes clear that her bosses have ulterior motivations aside from healing sick animals. Morgan struggles with poor outcomes at work, as well as some less-than-stellar outcomes in her personal life, and when the straw finally breaks the camel’s back, Morgan realizes that she needs to take a step back and pull herself together. After all, she can’t help others if she’s falling apart, too. Cut to her taking on a summer of dog-sitting a geriatric four-legged in Nantucket while the owners are on a business trip. Not a bad way to re-energize oneself if you ask me.


LOVE IN NANTUCKET
Another way to re-energize oneself? Flirting!

“Men like Nathan weren’t supposed to be walking around in the wild like regular mortals; they belonged on catwalks or judging people from beachside cafes in Capri with fellow supermodels. It was hard to have a conversation with him because her brain couldn’t process anything other than the fact that physically, he was as close to perfect as a human could be.”

Flirting with someone, even if it’s casual and innocent and never going anywhere, is so satisfying. It’s one way to make you feel good about yourself and build self-confidence. Morgan meets Nathan, small business owner who she runs into more than a few times while in town, and finds that he’s an easy person to flirt with.


DOG FRIENDLY – MORE THAN A ROMANCE
“The alarm set to wake her at nine was more of a pipe dream than a reality. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept a full night or woken up because of an alarm.”

Morgan Pearce is extremely relatable: smart, hard worker, compartmentalizes her anxieties to be productive almost to her detriment. Stress can take a toll on a person, no doubt about it. During Morgan’s healing journey, I was surprised to find myself comparing her anxiety and compassion fatigue to my feelings during Covid. I’m not sure if this was intentional on Victoria Schade’s part, but so many of the feelings that Morgan is experiencing on the page felt like they were pulled directly from my brain while I experienced the fear and panic of my quickly-changing world. It’s so hard to talk down your anxious brain sometimes. Luckily, I came up with some tools to assist me with quieting my anxiety: going outside every day, getting fresh air, reading, exercising, and some others.

EDUCATION
One of the best things about reading a Victoria Schade novel is discovering the layers of education between the plot and romance. Schade is a dog trainer and has served as a resource for the media, including working on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl for more than a decade. She fosters for dogs in need and volunteers at her local shelter to take dogs out for walks and exercise.

What kind of info can you expect to find in Dog Friendly? Schade addresses in this fiction multiple animal behaviorisms and how humans manage them, including how nervous dogs meet humans and other dogs, mixing unfamiliar dogs together in an enclosed space, comfort dogs and expectations, and how to react when two dogs fight. *Please note that the comments in this novel are not a “how-to” guide — pet owners should absolutely consult a professional for personal and specific situations.*


FINAL THOUGHTS
Dog Friendly is a multifaceted treat. It has layers of romance, animal knowledge and education, and a setting that inspired so much relaxation that it added Nantucket and Cape Cod to the top of my destination bucket list. Dog Friendly comes out tomorrow, so don’t miss it! Then go back and get “Lost, Found, and Forever” to meet Spencer, who you’re absolutely going to fall in love with.

In short: A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.

What I liked:
🐾Morgan & Nathan. Loved these characters, their chemistry and banter. They were so real and relatable.
🐾Nantucket setting. This just screams summer to me.
🐾All the dogs ♥️♥️♥️
🐾A little bit of steam

Final thoughts: Putting a dog on a cover is always going to catch my eye. Featuring dogs in a small town romance book? Yes please! This was a perfect mix of a lighthearted romance with tougher subjects of stress, mental health and the toll they take. Plus dogs!

I’m such a fan of Victoria Schade. If you are seeking a feel-good book feature love and dogs and love for dogs, look no further. I love all of her covers, but this one is sooo cute, and I love the lighthouse in the background.

Dog Friendly is Morgan’s story. She’s a veterinarian and exhausted. A favorite client asks her to dogsit for them in Nantucket, and she is eager for the break. What a relaxing summer she’ll have! Things change a little when she’s asked to help out with a handful of a pup (Hudson) and the rescue as well. And their fundraiser. And…

Then, Morgan meets Nathan, and things calm down again for Morgan, while they also heat up?! Then, a twist happens with Nathan, and Morgan’s brother visits; knocking things off track again. Will things ever calm down for Morgan, and will she find love for herself?

This is such a sweet, warmhearted story. Anyone who loves a dog or any animal will appreciate the warmth towards pups. Morgan’s story is relatable - we’ve all felt underappreciated and overworked. It seems to be on all of our minds lately. I felt like a million bucks after reading this one. A warm hug.

I received a gifted copy.

This was a sweet romance story that delved into some tougher topics than typical for the genre (depression, suicide, bullying, burnout). I loved the canine characters in the story and they definitely stole the show. I did feel the shocking obstacle to the romance arc came super late and the ending felt a little rushed and unrealistic to me. Morgan is a vet which has always been her dream but after having a fainting spell at work she decides to take two of her favorite clients up on dog sitting for their tough dog for two months in Nantucket. Morgan has a lot of processing and reflection to do and sprinkled in between she makes new friends, meets a charming boy, and tries some new hobbies.

An easy read set in Nantucket about a girl who is burnt out and overwhelmed with her work. Would classify this as a beach read, but tackles some deeper issues such as depression, long term effects of bullying, etc.

145 Dog Friendly

Hey folks, daddy Steve here with some doggiebook talk. I reviewed a book from this author, Victoria Schade, last Summer and I remembered being very surprised with that book. And again this Summer, I was just sorta, kinda floored by her new book, Dog Friendly.

I mean, take the bolded paragraph from the book’s Amazon page: « A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work. » 

That paragraph had me pegging the book as a soft and cute rom-com type book. Yeah, there is a romance involved but the book is much more involved, dwelving into the problems veterinarians go through, like the high suicide rate, depression and such. It’s not presented in a depressing way but I got the feeling the author had done her research, it made me care for the main character.

Overall I really, really enjoyed this book. Again, not dog dies in the book and it being a romance type book, you would expect a happy ending. (Sorry for the tiny spoilers 😉). And man, most of it happens around a beach setting, it’s a perfect read for this time of year! A definite recommended read for any dog lover!!

Huge thanks to NetGalley who provided a free eBook advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This is as honest as it gets... The book is currently available to buy.

#Malcolmstories #doggiebooks
#DogFriendly #NetGalley

For those of you curious about that other book from Victoria Schade I talked about at the beginning, it’s Lost, Found and Forever. You can read my review at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/152390402036938/posts/874654013143903/

fun, relatable novel that could be real. I read it for the dogs and Nantucket, I love both. The characters are well done

Morgan Pearce is taking a much-needed break. Completely burned out in her job as a veterinarian, summer on the island of Nantucket might be exactly what she needs. She’s not alone, however, because she agreed to care for a senior dog named Hudson for the time that she’s on the island.

During this vacation time, Morgan makes a decision. She is going to keep her profession a secret, and only present herself as a dog sitter. However, she soon discovers that Hudson it’s not the only dog better spend time with, because she ends up having to plan a fundraiser for other animals in need of assistance.

While Morgan is getting more comfortable with dealing with her emotions, Recognizing that she might need more help than the loving devotion that Hudson shows to her. In fact, he acts very much like a an emotional support animal but Morgan might need more.

Meeting Nathan Keating proves to be a wonderful distraction for her, but as she’s keeping her profession a secret, it’s possible that she might not be the only one holding something back in this growing relationship. Morgan also gets to spend time with her brother Mack, after being estranged for years. She is hoping to mend those fences.

While Morgan and Nathan seem that they are perfectly suited to one another, her secret, as well as something that he hasn’t been forward about could very well be the undoing of something that holds much promise.

This sweet romance definitely handles some difficult subjects, and these include depression, suicide, and even bullying. Victoria Schade strikes a fine balance with this sweet romance while highlighting dogs and the importance that they play in our lives as well as learning to trust one’s heart. Whether you are a dog person or a cat person, this book offers so much in the way of the compassionate relationship that is often present between animals and the people in their lives.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/WbjmogbUCds

This one's a review from my dog :)

Hi book humans! Mr. Moose here. Giving mom a break today...
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I may not be able to read, and books scare me a little cause they fall on me sometimes, but I like to come be cute and stick my tongue out when Victoria Schade has a new book out because she writes the best stories about dogs just like me!⁣
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This one features a super cool dude named Hudson. He’s a rescue too - so basically the best kinda of pooch in my book. Hudson can do tricks like me, too. It’s the best way to get snacks.⁣
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The human Morgan in this book is a vet. I’m not sure I like my vet. He cuts my nails and I don’t like that. But I know vets are there to keep me healthy so mom can have me around a long time - but Morgan is pretty stressed out being vet. Why? I guess because sometimes it’s sad. And hard. And sometimes people get mean because they’re scared their best friends aren’t feeling well. ⁣
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So Morgan takes a break, jets off to dreamy Nantucket, and finds Hudson! She finds some other humans, too, but let’s be honest - the dog is always the best part.⁣
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I know my mom loved this one. So you should go buy it today. And don’t forget to thank those suspicious humans at the vet office. They sometimes give out snacks, so I guess they’re not all that bad.