At first glance, you don't realise completely that this is a memoir. One picks it up and almost expects perhaps a cute murder mystery, or in the very least a guide-book on how to love and appreciate dogs the way they deserve.

So I picked this up not really knowing what I was getting in to. I admit I'm not the biggest memoir fan, and I certainly don't trip head-over-heels over anything to do with London. Dogs on the other hand... A dog on the cover is worth more than any amount of 5-star reviews.


“After all, the decisions that feel the most impulsive and whimsical, the ones that just seem to fall out of the sky, often have roots so long that they are wrapped around your bones.”

It is a heart-warming, joyful read that brings laughter, tears and a warm glow with every page turn. After getting over the initial shock of it being a memoir (but a very well-told and witty one at that), you settle in to something that reads like a wonderfully smooth story that just so happens to be true.

If you're not a dog owner it can be quite the stark introduction to what is a world of pampered pooches and delightfully uptight dog-owners, which is probably as close to the truth as you will ever find. It's a lovely read, tinged with occasional sadness as any real-life is, and there are plenty of dogs to meet and greet along the way.