Dog Days by Ericka Waller

What is it about?

Three loosely interconnected stories about friendship, love, loss and hope – and the unbreakable bond between humans and their dogs.

OK, but what is it really about?

George is mad, no, he is furious: his wife Ellen just died on him, without ever letting him know that she was terminally ill. One morning, she couldn’t get up and asked George to call an ambulance. The next day she was gone. If that wasn’t bad enough, she left him a puppy he doesn’t want to take care of. And to top it all, George’s neighbour Betty has made it her mission to rescue him from spending his days sitting in his armchair, wearing nothing but underpants, swearing and shouting all day long. How will he ever get rid of her?

Dan is a counsellor – and a good one at that. He always gets high ratings from the clients who come to his therapy session. But when Atticus walks into his office, it feels as if he’s struck by lightning. Dan, who has OCD, struggles with the obvious attraction between them: how can he overcome his shyness and indulge in this budding romance, when the only serious and meaningful relationship he’s ever had in his life is with his dog Fitz?

Lizzie used to be a teacher, and she loved her job. But that was another lifetime ago. Now she lives in a women’s refuge, together with her football-obsessed son Lenny. She’s not ready yet to talk about the scars that cover her body and her soul. But when Lizzie agrees to take the refuge’s terrier Maud on her daily walks and is forced to go “out there”, she slowly comes to terms with her past.

Is it any good?

Set in the city of Brighton, UK, “Dog Days” is a lovely debut by Ericka Waller. The three interconnected stories are unique and worthwhile, although I did connect to some more deeply than others – for instance, I never expected to grow so fond of foul-mouthed George a few chapters in.

The story of Dan and Atticus was genuinely sweet and conjured memories of butterflies, weak knees as well as the uncertainty and anxiety that inevitably comes with falling in love, especially so, if you fall in love for the first time. 

The only storyline I struggled with a little bit was Lizzie’s, even though I can’t quite put my finger on the reason why. I sympathized, I felt for her, I was rooting for her – but often found myself rushing through her chapters because I wanted to find out how George’s and Dan’s stories unfolded.

And of course, there are plenty of dogs, the wonderful companions to these human characters. We have, among others, George’s Poppy, a dachshund determined to fix her grieving owner’s broken heart, despite his initial steadfast refusal: “Bloody Poppy. What does the dog want from him? He has nothing to give her. He’s never once tossed her a scrap of his toast, let alone a bone, yet there she is, every mealtime, looking at him as if he’s hung the moon, or invented Pedigree Chum.”

Fitz is such a character – he’s adoringly in tune with Dan and can always sense when something’s off. That doesn’t mean, however, that he doesn’t know when to take advantage of a situation: “‘Hello, Fitzy,’ Dan says, after a couple of rounds of counting along. ‘Let’s get this day on the road.’ He’s distracted, though, and Fitz has to keep nudging him in the right direction. Towards the back door and the bin where his dried food lives. The treats drawer, in case Dan is so distracted he might not realize it isn’t treat time.”

Lizzie’s relationship with terrier Maud develops slowly, but this part really made me feel all warm and fuzzy: “Maud walks in slowly, her paws making a clicking noise. She stops near Lizzie’s ankle and gives it a lick. Her tongue is warm and wet, and Lizzie isn’t sure she likes it, but Maud won’t stop. ‘Why won’t you leave me alone?’ she whispers to Maud, but Maud carries on licking the patches of skin she can find, and it’s stupid but Lizzie almost feels like she’s being cleansed somehow.”

Favorite character?

I don’t know if I have a favorite character per se, but the storyline I liked the most was George’s. When we first meet him, he’s grieving and incredibly angry. He wants everyone around him to hurt as badly as he does. By the end of the book, George has come a long way, made peace with himself and the death of his wife (without losing his edge, I may add).

Out of the dogs that appear in this book, however, Fitz was the one that grew closest to my heart. Dan’s Labrador, a sweet and clever bundle of joy, made me laugh a lot – their imaginary conversations feel so similar to the ones I have with my own dog.

Most memorable quote?

“Afterwards, they lie together, Dan’s head on Atticus’s chest. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispers to Atticus. ‘I’ve missed you through all the years before I met you.’”

Conclusion? 

“Dog Days” is an entertaining read, both humorous and at times extremely somber, but always heartwarming. It didn’t end the way I expected, so brace yourself for some surprising twists and turns. Despite the title, it’s the humans that are the main center of attention here, while the dogs play a supporting role – but when they appear, they often steal the scene, just like they do in real life. 

Trigger warning: physical abuse, self harm, death of a loved one, suicide, anxiety, mental illness

AT A GLANCE

Title: Dog Days

By: Ericka Waller

Published by: Doubleday (2021)

Pages: 362

Language: English