This book has a couple of redeeming qualities: it was a quick read, witty, well written and just an altogether easy read. Until - you really start to think about all the feels it brings.

Confused - why would someone who supposedly loves his daughter keep her from the one thing he wants most?

Anger - this guy and all the others are the most self-centered, self-righteous people ever.

Then you realize maybe there's more to it than just the words. Maybe it's not just a cute, quick read. I don't know yet - still pondering how I really feel.

But isn't that a good thing? A book that maybe isn't what you usually give 5 stars to and go on to the next - or one you give 3 stars to but find yourself thinking about days later?

Maybe we need more books that linger...

I’m struggling with this one - it certainly read quickly and was sweet, but when you look past the veneer, it was more troubling than anything. John’s actions seemed incredibly selfish and as another member reviewed, it seemed to be more performative fatherhood than the actual act of meeting your child where they’re at and fostering a relationship with them as a human. I get what this book was trying to do, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

John is in panic mode now that his almost eleven-year-old daughter is about to enter middle school. Suddenly, it seems to John that he has a pre-teen daughter who is determined to fill her life with afterschool activities that won't involve him. He has been Mr. Super Dad since Avery's birth, spending all his spare time with her, and now she's pulling away. But John is not going to give up that easily, so when he spots a special father-daughter camp for late summer, he books a week there without telling Avery about his plans. Big mistake, that.
Things don't exactly get off to a rousing start. Avery sulks during the entirety of a long drive to the remote camp; John's three cabin-mates seem to be in some kind of weird competition to see which of them can be the most obnoxious and hard to get along with; and the camp is a whole lot less physically impressive than the online brochure that lured John into signing up for the week made it out to be.

What happens during the next few days, though, is going to change the lives of four men and four little girls in a very positive, and hopefully lasting, way.

Dad Camp is a very heartfelt novel about a moment that most fathers of daughters experience at some point in their lives. It reminded me of what it was like when my own daughters were about to make the transition from elementary school to middle school - a bigger leap in so many ways than most realize until their children are there. That's why I wanted to read it in the first place, but the novel didn't quite work for me. I'm sure there's a big audience for books like Dad Camp out there; I'm just not part of it. I found it all the ups and downs, and their resolutions, too predictable to ever feel much sympathy for what the fathers are going through as they desperately try to re-bond with their girls. It was so obviously going to turn out well for all concerned in the long run that I knew there was really nothing to worry about.

I'm not a fan of Hallmark or Lifetime movies because of their predictability and overwhelming tendency for everyone to end up living "happily ever after" despite whatever trauma they first have to endure. But I know there's a huge audience for that kind of movie, my wife among them. Dad Camp would make a perfect Hallmark movie, and it deserves to find its audience. I hope it does, because they will love it.

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter #fortythirdbookof2024 #arc

CW: lying dads, workaholics, divorce

John signs up to attend a dad and daughter camping trip with eleven year old Avery to try to recover their previous bond. Chaos obviously ensues but ends with the usual heartwarming mutual understanding.

This book is not my usual fare, but I was invited to review it, and it sounded kind of cute, so I gave it a try. It’s pretty predictable, with very low stakes. The dad characters of this book are better drawn than the daughters but they’re still all pretty thin. And the main character John is fairly frustrating. He makes terribly bad decisions and wonders why his relationships suffer. I found myself annoyed that his goofy antics were accepted by all as par for the course.

This felt similar to a cozy mystery, where everything works out and the characters feel good at the end. This book wasn’t particularly meaty or engaging. I think there is an audience for this type of book but it’s not me.

Thank you to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 6/11/24)

#dadcamp

I don't have too much to say about this one but it was very cute. Multiple times it made me giggle which is impressive because usually, anything labeled "comedy" isn't that funny to me personally. I enjoyed this one and I do think this is going to be a great read for many people. A very sweet but real look into parenthood for a preteen.

I'm not a parent so I can't personally relate and this isn't my usual type of read so not exactly my jam but I thought it sounded cute and I really liked the cover so I was interested enough to check it out and finish the book in a couple days.

I think if you're a parent, especially a young dad, or if you're just into campy contemporary stories you will probably really like this and it would be a great summer read as it's quick to get through and the perfect setting for summer.

2.5⭐️ rounded up

I appreciate a book that addresses the challenges dads face at different stages of parenthood. I don’t think there are many out there, and at parts this was heartwarming and a nice feel-good book.

I did struggle with John, I think his actions regarding the soccer team tryouts, and even bringing Avery to camp without telling her, were incredibly selfish. I didn’t care much for the other dads either, they seemed a bit cliche (the macho man, the workaholic, the stay at home dad).

The writing and pacing were good, so if you’re looking for a (mostly) light-hearted Dad-com type book, this would be perfect for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

2⭐️

When his daughter, Avery, was born, John abandoned pretty much everything to focus on being the best father for her. That included his friends and any hobbies he had, but that's okay because Avery and his wife were more important. But now that Avery is turning 12, she starts to pull away like most preteens. She's moody and easily embarrassed by John's actions. In order to strengthen their relationship like it used to be, John signs himself and Avery up for a Father-Daughter Camp where they can spend a week learning how to become closer.

Look, I'm an only child that has a very good relationship with my father who more or less knows boundaries, so maybe that's why this book annoyed me so much. But this just seemed to highlight toxic masculinity and selfishness from these dad's rather than improve the relationship with their kid. John acts like that just because his preteen is acting like every other preteen and is hormonal and moody, that means there must be something seriously wrong with her and that smothering her is going to make it better. Between John's relationship with Avery, the toxic alpha bro dad, the work-a-holic dad, and the over all good dad who backtracks when other men watch him do "feminine" things for his daughter, it all felt more performative than anything.

I can appreciate a parent coaching their child's sports team, but there still needs to be some boundaries and it can't be to make the parent feel better about themselves. John literally sacrificed Avery's chance at trying out for a travel soccer team that she was so excited about because he wouldn't be her coach anymore and they would spend less time together. Springing this camp on Avery the night before they leave and taking her last week of summer before school was also a bad take.

Avery literally had no friends because John spent so much time trying to prove he was a hands on dad that they always had to spend time together. It's not a kids responsibility to be their parents best friend. It's not a kids responsibility to fix their parents own parental issues.

Thanks Netgalley and Dutton for providing this ARC to me!

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC!

John enrolls his only child, Avery, into a father-daughter camp for the week as a way to spend more time for her as she is starting to hit the middle school pull-away phase of her life much to her chagrin He has been holding on tight to her and their relationship uneager for her to grow up. John finds a group of Dad's that are all trying to improve their relationships too but they all seem to be failing in different ways and isn't sure the camp is for them. When you think of parent guilt your normally think of Mom's who never think they are good enough or do enough for their kids but this heartwarming story shows you the Dad's side of parent guilt and the pressures involved with raising kids and all the lessons they learned that week at camp about themselves, each other and their peers. Very unique perspective and plot and makes me feel like there should be lots of Dad camps in our communities!

This one had me all emotional! We are living this life with a 12 year old daughter at home. It made me appreciate the time we have with her. The author was able to grasp the burning questions many of us have as parents: are we doing the right thing?! Super cute read!

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter is a heartwarming, sweet, funny, light family drama. It is highly recommended.

With his daughter Avery turning 11, John feels her pulling away as she enters her preteen years so he decides to sign them up for a "father-daughter week" at a summer camp. He doesn't tell her about it until the last minute, which only results in her pulling away from him more. Avery has been the focus of John's life since she was born and the two have always spent a great deal of time together. John doesn't want to lose his daughter and feels the camp can strengthen their bond again. Once they arrive that camp is less than John thought it would be. It's run-down, the director doesn't like him, the other dads all seem very different, and the activities aren't what he thought they'd be.

What follows is a light drama. It is emotional, funny, and, entertaining. It can be predictable at times but it does succeed in entertaining you with a few light-dramatic events along the way. The plot is pretty simple, which also makes this a comfortable read. While Johns actions are not always entirely logical, that he has good intentions is never in doubt. The characters are all caricatures of different types of fathers and daughters, although the focus of the novel is really the fathers.

This is an appealing novel to read when you simply want to be entertained. The plot doesn't require a lot of analysis or contemplation. There are no shocking twists or heart-stopping action. It is a sweet story about a father struggling with his little girl growing up. Both father and daughter have lessons to learn about being honest with each other and really sharing what is on their minds. Thanks to Dutton for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Rom-coms are common, as are Mom-coms to some extent, but this novel is what might be considered one of the rare Dad-coms in existence, one that deftly explores what make the father-daughter bond such a special one. As Avery, an 11-year-old, enters her pre-teen years, her once close relationship with her father John seems to have withered away to be replaced by Avery’s seemingly constant irritability and coldness towards her father. In an attempt to rectify the situation, John takes Avery to a father-daughter camp for a week the summer before Avery starts middle school. What ensues is a coming-of-age story not only for Avery but in many ways also for John. This is not the type of book I usually choose to read, but for some reason it sounded interesting, so I gave a go — and I did enjoy it. The characters are lovable in their own way, and the storyline is an entertaining one, making this a decent summer or beach read.

I'm not sure why I had it in my head that this was a middle-grade novel; I suppose it was the premise of an 11-year-old girl and her father at a special week-long camp for fathers and daughters to try to bond. At any rate, this is definitely not MG, and the story is told from the POV of John, Avery's dad. The story has its moments - both funny and sad, heartwarming and insightful - but ultimately, I think this wasn't the right book for me, and I found myself really frustrated both with John (constantly!) and the other characters, who were caricatures of your classic alpha male, workaholic, and stay-at-home dad. John has always been super close to his only child, Avery, coaching all of her sports teams and putting everything else in his life - including his wife and his career - on the back burner. When Avery (naturally!) starts to pull away in her tween years, John books them into this camp without asking her, and compounds that mistake by lying to her about a travel soccer team Avery is desperate to try out for. John and Avery get there in the end, but I was rooting for John to get his head out of his ass sooner, and frankly I thought his wife needed to divorce him. I think readers who are parents might enjoy this book more than I did. 2.5 stars, rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a digital review copy.

If I am totally honest, while I found some of this book enjoyable, the main character was really frustrating and did not win me over.

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did because it sounded like a really cute concept. I’m not sure if this is just a situation of my not being the right audience for the book or my own personal biases, but I found John and most of the other dads kind of insufferable. I definitely empathized with the daughters more, especially given some of the choices the dads made both before and during the events of the book.

I was more or less satisfied with how the book wrapped up and I wouldn’t say this is a bad book by any means, I just think I am not the target audience.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Heartwarming and sweet, but it took me a while to finish because it didn’t really draw me in.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Dutton Books for the ARC!

WOW- this was just the right book for me at just the right time! A sweet and tender yet actually hilarious book about a group of dads who take their young daughters to a week of summer camp to to have some one-on-one time and form a deeper bond.

Of course, hilarity ensued right off the bat as the daughters and the dads were forced to become "friends" and bond. I literally laughed out loud so many times not even at the "jokes" per se but just at the constant sarcasm of the main character's inner thoughts. Evan Porter is legitimately funny and got me several times with that rare "spit the water out of your mouth" unexpected laugh.

While light and funny, there were a few deeper heartfelt moments that really resonated with me personally. One thing I loved as an asthma mom was the positive asthma representation in one of the camp kids! I feel like every time an inhaler is mentioned in a book I have to prepare myself for some extremely traumatizing and negative situation and this seemed like a breath of fresh air (pun intended) and I shed a tear during some of the asthma talk.

It's really hard for me to compare this to anything since it felt so fresh and original so I guess that in and of itself is a huge compliment to the book!

I'm so excited for this debut to hit the shelves on June 11th and for everyone to fall in love with this charming story!

Being a father is so rewarding that I can't understand why so many of them decide to be shitty ones, but that’s just the fatherless child in me speaking.

So, this hasn't fixed my daddy issues, but it's nice seeing that there’s a way of resolving important matters, if you really want to.
And I like to add something that the author could have put somewhere in the story: it's ideal to resolve any issues from the start or from when your kid begins to develop as a person, but there's no age at which problems can't be fixed and it’s too late to start to communicate.

“Dad Camp” is the story of a bunch of fathers who know they fucked up with their still young daughters and want to remedy and yes, it's more than unrealistic that you decide to quit your job because they demand too much from you, even if you need the money to support your family, but it's fiction after all, and it’s nice to think that some dads actually care about their children.
There are a bunch of different topics involved and the dads’ POVs help better understand why they keep being so stubborn about everything, especially after when they finally understand what they did wrong.

Personally, I'd have developed some of the topics and arcs differently but, since the girls are middle school ages or under - which means they haven't still experienced teen anger and whatnot -, I understand where the author was trying to go with his choices.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter was exactly what I expected - cute, heart-warming, and made me giggle a few times. John (aka Super Dad) and his 11-year-old daughter, Avery, have always been close, until recently. With her chilly attitude and constant irritability with him, John is having trouble connecting with Avery like he used to. So what does he do? Signs them both up for a daddy-daughter week of camp the last week of summer vacation. What he doesn't tell her is that she is going to miss the club soccer tryouts she's been looking forward to all year. And what's more, when they get to the camp, John realizes it isn't quite what he thought he was signing up for. The camp is dilapidated and old, plus they have to group up with several other dads and daughters they don't know who seem to have their fair share of problems (and personalities), too.

The book moved at a steady pace and kept me engaged. Each of the characters are lovable in their own way, though I wish a few of them had been developed a little more. I enjoyed the character building surrounding John and Avery and the background on their relationship and his marriage. They were truly the best of friends, but as Avery got older, John started missing some of her cues - that she was feeling lonely even though she loved spending time with her dad.

If you're looking for a silly, corny, lovable beach read, this book is for you. The summer camp adventures and activities will keep you reading to find out how John and Avery will make it through this crazy camp - as friends or foes.

I DNF'd this book, BUT purely because I don't feel like the intended audience. I loved the summary and thought it would be a cute book to read, but I just could not get attached the way I wanted to.
There's nothing terribly wrong. The writing and story just didn't entrance me. But very easy and simple read for anyone who is looking for that.

I came to this book as an empty nester mom so I went in knowing I wasn’t the target audience.

A dad wanting to reconnect with his 11 year old daughter before “losing” her to middle school goes to a wilderness camp. Let the fun begin.

Only I didn’t find it fun or any of the things I’d expected from the buildup. The dad was selfish and manipulative with huge boundary issues. I felt sorry for his little girl and his wife.

The daughter parts were written well. You felt her angst at growing up and trying to fit in and I also enjoyed the looking back through the years sections. Parenting is a wild ride.

This was a sweet story about a dad and his daughter. It felt relevant as my Husband and I are entering this stage of life as well.
At times I wish there was more detail but I enjoyed the book and would recommend. I plan on having my husband read it.