Stay

By: Allie Larkin

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Savannah “Van” Leone has loved Peter since the day they met. The problem is, Peter has loved Van’s best friend, Janie, since the moment they met. And now they’re walking down the aisle, with Van standing nearby in a Halloween-orange bridesmaid dress, her smile as hollow as one on a jack-o’-lantern. After the wedding Van drowns her sorrows in Kool-Aid-vodka cocktails and reruns of Rin Tin Tin, and does what any woman in her situation would do: She buys a German Shepherd over the Internet.

The pocket-size puppy Van is expecting turns out to be a clumsy, hundred-pound beast that only responds to Slovak. Van is at the end of her rope – until she realizes that this quirky giant may be the only living being who will always be loyal to her, no matter what. Van affectionately names the dog Joe, and thus begins a friendship that will alter Van’s life in ways she never imagined.

Joe leads Van to Dr. Alex Brandt, a rugged vet with floppy blond hair and a winning smile. But just as things are starting to heat up, the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, forcing Van to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to have everything she ever wanted.

Warm and witty, poignant and funny, Stay marks the arrival of an irresistible new voice.

©2010 Allie Larkin (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Heroine does stupid things

I saw the dog on the cover and thought the book might be on par with The Art of Racing in the Rain or A Dog's Purpose. Not so. This is typical chick lit with the main character being easily manipulated and dishonest. I don't know what the hunky veterinarian would see in her. She has a problem with alcohol to boot. There were a few laughs but not enough to redeem this one.

Unrealistic plot spoiled my day.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The plot! I actually began to think that Samantha (main character) deserved her bad luck.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NA

Great light-hearted listen!

I was a bit hesitant about trying this one out but so glad I did! It was a great lighthearted story with a little bit of romance a little bit of comedy and a little bit of drama. A perfect blend. and if you're a dog lover it's even better!

Awesome read

I love any story with a dog and I love romance. This book has both! Finished in one weekend- couldn't put it down. Couldn't tell if the narrator was trying to have a NY accent or if she really did. I never heard the word cawfee so many times in one book!

Loved it

Loved this very happy book and the relationships were great tho paled by the dog and his master

LOVE LOVE LOVE this story

I enjoyed the novel so much I couldn't stop listening. the narrator was perfect for the story! enjoyable and would listen again!

Cute, light listen

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book...I have a dog and got him during a lonely time in my life, so I could relate. There are definitely laugh out loud moments, along with many touching ones. I did feel some frustration towards the way a few things were being played out during the scenes, but the bigger picture was very sweet and funny.

Furry love story

Being a dog lover, this book immediately caught my attention. Savannah Leone stands by as the maid of honor in her best friends wedding, while watching her best friend wed the man that Savannah has been pining for for the past 7 years. She desperately tries to be happy for both of them however this proves to be a difficult task and she drowns her sorrows in vodka and Kool-Aid. That night while watching a Rin Tin Tin marathon and being drunk out of her mind, she goes online and orders a German Shepherd puppy from Slovakia. From there the adventure begins!

A Dog plus a Happy Ending - What could be better?

What did you love best about Stay?

How Van met the vet.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stay?

Louis meeting Van

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Van found out Dianne had good intentions.

Sabrina meets Something borrowed

What made the experience of listening to Stay the most enjoyable?

Julia Whelan's narration was spot on, so good. She really brought Van's character to life, gave her range and made me want to keep listening to her story. The dog as a main character was great because he was the result of a drunken purchase, which made me like her even more. I've done some drunk internet shopping myself and the result is always interesting. ha ha. While I only ended up with new shoes or an ugly bag, Van buys a 6,000 dog whom she names Joe. The dog plays match maker and introduces her to a nice guy, a sexy veterinarian named Alex. And their story unfolds and it gets complicated because Van is complicated and she is mixed up and trying to reconcile her two worlds.

What other book might you compare Stay to and why?

This book was a mash of the movies Sabrina and Something borrowed. I enjoyed both so this mixes the two stories: Smart, sassy girl lives on a fancy estate as the daughter of the help - Van's mom is the head housekeeper. Van grows up around affluence, yet it is never hers and she always knows her place. She is working class yet has no friends she can relate to. And then there is Something borrowed which covers the "she is in love with her male best friend" story.

What does Julia Whelan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her light Jersey accent was great. I loved it when Van would say "fu*& you".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not sure but this could easily be a Hollywood movie, there are already so many variations of this story out there. It's sweet and Van is so likable.

Any additional comments?

I really liked this book. I used any free minute i had to listen to this story.