Kirkus
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A dog tries to help his owner find love and save a bookstore. Harold, an elderly dog, has a mission. His owner, a romance author named Amelia, died just a year and a half ago. Before her death, she’d asked Harold to look out for her partner, Miguel, and help him fall in love again. But this turns out to be no easy task—Miguel is depressed and it’s hard for Harold to find him a new girlfriend when he won’t leave his apartment. Miguel and Amelia were partners not just in life but in business, and the bookstore they owned together is in financial trouble. If Harold can’t help Miguel, they might lose one of their last connections to Amelia. When Miguel’s favorite notoriously reclusive author agrees to do an event at the store, Miguel and his employees are counting on the book sales—but the author never shows up. With nothing to lose, Miguel decides to track down the author (with Harold in tow) and instead meets the man’s sister, Fiona. Fiona is beautiful, friendly, and the mother of a dog-loving daughter whose name is also Amelia. Harold falls instantly in love with them, but can he convince Miguel to open himself up to new people while he’s still nursing a broken heart? Harold himself is 14 years old, and his aches and pains remind him that he needs to help Miguel find his people as quickly as possible. Pagán delicately depicts Miguel’s grief as he struggles to live in the wake of his partner’s death. Using a dog’s perspective is a clever way of adding a bit of levity to an otherwise heavy story, and Harold is a warm and engaging narrator. Although the plot slackens a bit in the middle as Miguel repeatedly turns down offers of help and gets in his own way, all is redeemed by the end, which should produce tears of sadness and happiness from even the most hardened reader. An emotional story of love and grief, perfect for dog lovers and book lovers alike. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.