This was such a good book! I loved the characters, and their story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable. I was very surprised by the ending!

Honestly I was disappointed by Dad Camp. The father daughter relationship was strained as the premise stated, but it wasn’t hard to see why. His whole life was his daughter, but not in a sweet way - in an ‘I have nothing else, and I am entitled to her love no matter what’ sort of way. The writing is also quite simplistic, more like YA, which makes me wonder who exactly the book is for.

With an endearing and gripping voice, Evan S. Porter's debut novel is for parents and non-parents alike, with a setting that is heavy with the scent of pine and nostalgia and a cast of characters that have you laughing and crying in turns, this book is one that sits deep in your heart and makes you excited for whatever the author publishes next.

I rarely have the chance to read about fathers and daughters and how their relationships can develop. I loved Porter's perspective in Dad Camp. He's a superb storyteller and my heart broke as I recalled how I was growing up with my father. Well done and a beautiful book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

Dad Camp is a heart-warming novel about father-daughter relationships that will make you feel all the feels. My son just turned eleven two days ago and so there are certainly parts of this book that I can relate to. He's a pretty agreeable kid and for the most part still seems to like us, but I'm definitely starting to catch glimpses of the teenage years ahead. For one, he doesn't find me as hilarious as he used to, which is slightly traumatic for me since I am the queen of “dad” jokes. I imagine in another year or two he'll be mortified to be seen in public with me, which, okay, fair enough – I've reached the point in life where I am perfectly happy to wear pajama pants in places that pajama pants don't normally venture. But, still, even though I'm happy to see him growing up and becoming more independent and developing his own interests, it's kind of bittersweet. And, in a nutshell, that's basically what this story is about.

I'm not gonna lie, this book was a little too saccharine for me at times. I'm not much into sappy, sentimental novels, so there were points in the narrative where I just wanted to roll my eyes. John is really obsessed with his daughter and being a dad, and while that's sweet and all, there is a lot of waxing poetic about it. At the same time, though, there's also enough humor to mostly counterbalance the sap, so I really didn't mind it as much as I might have otherwise.

And this book is definitely funny. John is a witty narrator, and some of the scenes involving the four dads “bonding” are delightful. I especially loved the group session involving Man Cards (“discussion topics for enlightened masculinity”) and the ensuing awkwardness.

The relationship between John and Avery is really quite endearing, too. Despite his flaws, John is obviously a good father and wants to do right by his daughter, and it's really sweet. Lou, too, is an awesome dad. The other two fathers could use a bit more work in the parenting department, and their redemptions are a big part of the storyline.

I can see this book appealing tremendously to the parents of preteen children, or anyone at any stage of parenting, really. It reminds me of the saying that “The days are long but the years are short,” because that's certainly true when it comes to watching your kids grow up.

Overall rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up. Dad Camp is a heart-warming (but somewhat sappy) foray into the world of parenting that will likely resonate with anyone who has a moody preteen of their own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

A fun read with dad surprising Avery with a five day retreat the last week of summer hoping to have special father daughter time. What he didn’t know was that, Dennis, the camp director would badger him into opening up and becoming a better person. As the other dads and John become close and have dad fun, Avery ends up making friends. However, dad has failed to tell Avery that she missed soccer tryouts something she really wants to do. He hopes that she will forgive him when he finally tells her. Will it affect their relationship?

"Dad Camp" by Evan S. Porter is a heartwarming novel that explores the challenges of fatherhood and the journey of reconnection between a loving dad and his preteen daughter.

John, a dedicated and loving father, sacrificed his hobbies, friendships, and dream job to be a super dad to his daughter, Avery. However, as Avery enters the preteen years, their close bond begins to unravel, and she transforms into an eye-rolling preteen who seems to dread spending time with her father. Determined to salvage their relationship before Avery enters middle school, John takes her on a weeklong father-daughter retreat.

The retreat, meant for bonding, doesn't go as smoothly as John envisions. Instead, they find themselves amidst a group of challenging dads, forced bonding activities, and a camp director with a personal vendetta. As John struggles to connect with his daughter in the face of preteen angst, he also senses that Avery is hiding something more profound.

Porter weaves a brilliant and deeply funny narrative that delves into the complexities of parent-child relationships, capturing the essence of the challenges faced by fathers during their daughters' transition into adolescence. With humor and poignancy, "Dad Camp" is a delightful read that resonates with fans of family comedies like "The Guncle" by Steven Rowley and classics like "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Steve Martin.