Description
The vet handed Maggie Baxter a plastic specimen bag containing a pair of size-tiny lavender thong panties extracted from her dog; but they were not hers. Or rather, they were hers now since she’d just paid $734 to have Dr. Carter surgically remove them from Kona’s gut.
This is how Maggie Baxter, a practical, rule-following accountant, discovers that her husband of 17 years is cheating on her. All her meticulous life plans are crushed. When he leaves her for the other woman, Maggie and her the-world-is-my-smorgasbord chocolate lab, Kona, are left to put their lives back together. As Maggie begins to develop a Plan B for her life, she decides to be more like Kona. No, she’s not going to sniff crotches and eat everything that isn’t nailed down; rather she’ll try to approach life with more ball-chasing abandon. Finding herself in situations where she begins to go through her usual over-analysis of the pros and cons, she stops and instead asks herself: What would Kona do? With Kona as her guru, Maggie begins her quest for tail-wagging joy.
What the Dog Ate is a funny, tender story of mending a broken heart and finding love and a new life right under your nose, with woman’s best friend at your side.
MaryLou Hoffman –
WHAT THE DOG ATE is a stand-alone romantic comedy.
I was mad and crying through most of the book. Why the hell was Jackie Bouchard fictionalizing my life story? There are so many women who have worked their asses off to make their homes and their marriages wonderful, to make the family dreams realities, just to find out that while they were working, their other half was amusing themselves in another playground! Then I set aside my personal crap (thy name is Wade) and enjoyed Kona, Maggie, and her many supportive friends.
There are wonderful emotional moments, tender and sweet. There are laugh out loud, zingy one liners (“I mean, come on, if they can put a man on the moon, we ought to be able to put one in your bedroom.”). There is Kona, a furbaby like no other. I applaud him for tattling on his Daddy! It may have cost $734 to remove those tiny purple panties, but “that woman” was exposed. He, like most pets, is Maggie’s best support and inspiration.
I will read (listen to) any book Jackie Bouchard produces. This is the second one I’ve listened to from her and she is definitely one of my rising stars.
Narration: Aisling Gray is a wonderful narrator with a clear beautiful voice. She gives distinct portrayal to each of the main characters.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: WHAT THE DOG ATE
Series: N/A
Category /Genre: Romantic Comedy
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Listenability: OK for ears
Received from: Aisling Gray (as an Audible gifted copy)
Patricia Reichardt –
Every once in a while, I need a good chick lit book to keep me entertained. When this one popped up, I jumped on it. After all, look at that cover! What a cute dog! Kona is Maggie’s dog and her most trusted friend. After her husband, Dave was caught cheating on her in the funniest way possible, Maggie finds herself wallowing in her own pity. But now she is going to pick herself up and get her life back on track. With a group of characters that are both endearing and funny, we get to take Maggie’s journey to find her happiness. Bouchard has given us a story with so many great qualities. Maggie has a supportive brother, and some new friends to help her through. She is figuring out what she wants in her life, should she have kids, is her new boyfriend the man for her, should she keep her current career. On her path to self awareness, we get to laugh, cry and most of all love with Maggie.
Narrated by Aisling Gray, the story flows and the time flies by. Gray does a wonderful job with all of the character voices, but most of all, I think she gets the story’s essence through the narration. I felt like Maggie is someone I know, and could understand and relate to her. It’s a wonderful listen and I highly recommend it.