Book Review: Dog Person by Camille Pagán

Dog Person by Camille Pagán is a story told from the perspective of an aging dog whose sole mission is to help his grieving owner find his way back to living. Miguel is struggling to move forward after the death of his partner, a romance novelist, and the two of them had built their lives together around a beloved neighborhood bookstore. Now he’s left trying to figure out what normal even looks like without her. Luckily, he has Harold, an older dog with a big personality and an even bigger heart, who has decided that helping Miguel find love again is his most important job.

I'm a huge Camille Pagán fan because her stories are full of heart, love, and community, and this book is no exception. I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about Harold narrating parts of the story, but the author absolutely nailed it, pulling at your heartstrings at exactly the right moments without ever feeling manipulative.

If you’re a dog lover, this book will take you through just about every emotion: happiness, sadness, hopefulness, nostalgia, and bliss. Somewhere along the way, it might just restore your faith in people. I also listened to the audiobook, and the character voices are so distinct and well-performed that I never lost track of who was speaking.

I cried, happy tears and sad ones, and finished with a genuine smile on my face. Truly Pagán’s best book yet. If you’re looking for your next vacation read, you’ve found it.