Dad Camp explores the bond between a father, John, and his pre-teen daughter, Avery. Struggling to connect with her as she grows more distant, John signs them up for a father-daughter camp. The camp, however, is a far cry from what he expects. As the week unfolds, John realizes that his struggles with Avery reflect deeper issues about fatherhood and self-understanding. The book delves into the emotional complexities of parenting and the pressures of masculinity.

The novel alternates between John's experiences at camp and letters from other fathers, adding context. While the writing is clear and relatable, some moments feel sentimental and predictable. The book touches on themes of fatherhood, self-reflection, and the need to balance personal identity with parenting, emphasizing that love and self-awareness are key. John’s growth, particularly his realization that being a good father doesn’t mean sacrificing his happiness, is a central moment.

Final Thoughts: Dad Camp offers a heartfelt exploration of father-daughter relationships and modern parenting. While the story can feel clichéd, it provides valuable insight into fatherhood. Though it may resonate most with fathers, the novel’s themes of love, sacrifice, and personal growth make it a touching read for anyone interested in family dynamics.

You've heard of marshmallow love interests in romance, but have you heard of marshmallow dads? Because that perfect encapsulates the dad, John, at the center of his book.

Feeling like his tween daughter is slipping away, uber-dedicated dad, John, signs them up for a week of father/daughter bonding. When they arrive, the camp is nothing like the pictures, and John feels Avery continuing to distance herself from him. As John gets to know the other dads, and asks himself some tough questions, even the delipidated buildings and questionable food can't keep him from enjoying his week away.

I found the dads to be a bit one dimensional, this was a cute book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an earc in exchange for my honest review.

I’m thankful to the publisher for reaching out to me and offering to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

This book was just okay to me. It probably would’ve been better if it wasn’t for the abundant unnecessary swearing. I know a lot of dads in our social circle and I don’t think any of them cuss this much. It was just too much and took away from the story. I also am getting really tired of jokes at the expense of people’s religious beliefs, especially when they are all one sided. I only saw anti-Christian jokes in this book. Nothing against Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc. We get it. Authors all hate Christianity now. It’s just overplayed and unnecessary and not very funny. While I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book, I won’t be recommending it on social media.

Dad Camp is a hilarious and heartwarming journey through the ups and downs of fatherhood. It’s lighthearted but also surprisingly thoughtful in exploring the challenges of being a parent. Absolutely LOVED IT!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

i actually didn't finish this because I really didn't like John. He took away his daughter from something she thought was very important and didn't even ask her. Why did it have to be the next day and her last week? Also, she didn't feel and sound like an 11 year old girl, she felt much older. No, this was not for me.

This book was such a sweet, touching book that pulled on my heart strings. I've also never read a book with a plot like this one before so it was very unique and entertaining. A beautiful story about the bond between a dad and his daughter!

This is a sweet and cute story - no shocking plot twists, but also not overly saccharine. Dad Camp is a solid entry in the genre of relationship fiction, where the person who has to change to fix the relationship is not a woman. I’d recommend this for a travel read, when you want something with a plot that you can pick up easily after interruptions.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC! What a fun read! This book really put me in the summer time mood.

Overall, a good story. It’s very sweet and a good heartwarming father/daughter read. Sometimes I found myself frustrated with the dad because he seemed very self centered and manipulative by not giving his daughter the space that she so obviously wanted. I will say that, as a mom, it made me contemplate the type of parent I want to be with my son. And of course, the love that John had for Avery was apparent and relatable.

Cute story! Love the focus on Dads - we need more of that. Would have loved to have a little bit more humor and less overly stereotypical dads, but love the concept and heartwarming story.

Dad Camp was a fun and lighthearted read with a few heartstring tugs. The part that really stood out was how much the dad in the book and clearly Porter loves their family and daughter/s. I can absolutely see this appealing to a lot of parents, it’s ridiculous how fast kids grow and how fast time flies. So many books are written from the motherhood perspective and it was interesting to hear the other side. Much like the dad in the novel, I was expecting the camp to be more focused on the father/daughter interactions but there is a decent amount of other dads with different relationships to their kids and masculinity in the novel. While I rolled my eyes hard at some of these, those also contributed to the perspectives on fatherhood. While the daughter in the novel was a sweet kid with not too much inner turmoil, the novel served as a good reminder of how hard it is to be a preteen/teenager.

📚✨ 4-Star Book Review: Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter ✨📚

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter is a delightful blend of humor and heartfelt moments, exploring dads' different perspectives and struggles. This well-written book features well-rounded characters and offers a look into the unique relationships that can develop between dads and daughters. Here's why you should add it to your TBR!

Top 5 Reasons to Read Dad Camp:

1. Different Perspectives: The book provides a refreshing look at fatherhood from various angles, showcasing dads' diverse experiences and challenges.
2. Humor and Heart: Porter masterfully blends humor with touching moments, making the story entertaining and emotionally resonant.
3. Well-Rounded Characters: The characters are well-developed and relatable, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.
4. Father-Daughter Relationships: Exploring the bonds between dads and daughters is heartwarming and insightful.
5. Emotional Impact: This charming book will make you laugh and cry, rewarding readers with a memorable experience.

Final Thoughts:
Dad Camp is a funny and charming read that brought me to tears on one occasion. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the joys and challenges of parenting.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Dad Camp by Evan Porter is a heartwarming and humorous novel about a father’s desperate attempt to reconnect with his preteen daughter before the distance between them grows irreparable. John, a self-proclaimed “super dad,” has always been Avery’s biggest supporter, sacrificing his own dreams to be the best father he could be. However, as Avery approaches adolescence, their once-close bond begins to fray, and John fears he’s losing her to the complexities of teenage life.

Determined to salvage their relationship, John takes Avery to a father-daughter retreat, hoping to rekindle their connection. Unfortunately, the camp is not the idyllic getaway he imagined, and his efforts to bond are met with resistance, awkward situations, and a group of toxic dads that only make things worse. As John navigates the challenges of the camp and confronts his own insecurities as a father, he discovers that the real path to reconnecting with Avery might not be through forced activities, but through understanding and trust.

Porter’s novel expertly blends humor with heart, capturing the universal struggle between parents and children as they face the inevitable changes of growing up. Dad Camp is a touching exploration of love, growth, and the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their bond with their child. A perfect read for anyone who’s ever faced the ups and downs of parenthood.

Genre: Domestic Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4⭐
Diversity: no

SUMMARY:
This debut novel by Porter is heartwarming and humorous about a father desperately trying to reconnect with his pre-teen daughter before she enters middle school. John decides to book a remote father-daughter summer camp for a week in hopes of rekindling their strong bond.

WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved that we got to see different perspectives and struggles of dads. I find we often get a one-note version of how dads are perceived. In this book, we get to see the different types of dads (stay-at-home, unavailable because he's always working, hyper-masculine ideals, etc.) and see why they are the way they are (or feel they need to be) and see these men be able to get vulnerable and challenge stereotyping.

RECOMMENDATION:
This book is for anyone who's looking for a sweet and funny story about girl dads.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet story. Love the father daughter vibes. I feel like this isn’t done often. The story was a little lack luster and more sentimental than I was expecting. Still a good read though. Thank you netgalley for the ARC !

Liked this book a lot more than I realized I would! It's such a good reminder that we are all just doing the best we can as parents, and no one gets it perfect. Made my feel like I needed to talk to my own dad and just say "I get it!". Not just for dads, moms will love this book too. I feel like I read this at the exact right moment in my life as a mom, and its hitting home with the ways I want my son to grow, but i also want to hold him close. The reading was really enjoyable, and I found a new author I like!

Dad Camp attempts to blend humor and heartfelt moments as it explores fatherhood and the challenges of parenting, but it often falls short of delivering a cohesive narrative. While the premise of dads bonding and learning through camp activities is charming, the execution feels disjointed and lacks depth, leaving characters feeling one-dimensional. The jokes sometimes miss the mark, and the emotional moments can feel forced rather than genuine. Overall, Dad Camp has potential but struggles to find its footing, making it a somewhat underwhelming read for those hoping for a more impactful exploration of its themes.

I felt more comfort from this book because of the title and the subject at hand. A dad and his daughter. I feel as though this would pull at my heart strings because books that involve parent child relationships usually do. This one got to me in ways I don’t think I can explain. I think I enjoyed this one. I would reread it just to see if I can find that feeling it gave me again. We’re all just trying. I like that it felt real yet unrealistic all together. It was sappy and sweet and I felt like I needed that at the time. It just felt like a really good wholesome book and sometimes you need that cleanser.

cool book, very fun vibes. the guncle is def a good comparison to this, same vibes, same mood, same all that. nice book 4.5