Dog People

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Steven Weber

Length: 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

The number-one New York Times best-selling author of Big Summer masterfully combines Stephen King with Donna Tartt, plus a twist of Shirley Jackson, in this timely tale of a man, his new partner, and his old dog.

When he was a boy, it was just him and his mother, and when he was an adult, it was just him, alone. Michael Corcoran thought it would always be that way. 

Then he’d met Tina, who didn’t know that he’d never had friends, or what kinds of “experiments” he liked to do in his lab in the garage as a boy. Instead of being alone, Michael had a wife, and children, and eventually, a dog. 

Michael had promised himself he wasn’t going to be one of those people who pushed their dogs in carriages and called them “fur babies”. “Just wait,” Tina said - and soon enough, Lady was enjoying premium kibble and wearing a tiny Eagles jersey, plus special booties for the snow. He and Tina even developed a voice for Lady, a routine: a low, gruff, cigarettes-and-whiskey tone that went with the tragic backstory they gave her. 

Then Tina found a lump in her breast. And then she was gone. And then small, determined Suzanne Nelson dropped by Michael’s newly empty apartment with some homemade lasagna and never left. The transition would’ve gone smoothly if not for Lady - and the lisping, babyish falsetto Suzanne used when she “talked” as the dog. 

Michael asked her to stop. And Suzanne did her best. But some things people can’t change, no matter how they try, like how they sound, and who they love - and who they are, in the wee small hours, when it’s dark and no one’s watching.

©2020 Jennifer Weiner, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

If You Actually Are A Dog Person, Steer Very Clear Of This One

*Spoiler Alert*

I just finished listening to this and I’m absolutely shocked, disgusted, horrified, and every other synonym I can’t think of in my outrage.
This isn’t just an entertaining short story, though the writing is fine and Stephen Weber is a great narrator. This is human behavior at its absolute worst trying to pass itself off as benign literature. There is no excuse nor absolutely any reason for the author to have chosen this ending of the story. This normalizes animal cruelty, highlights a faithful animal’s life as something to be cherished only when it is convenient. There is no apparent consequence for the human’s sick thinking and and twisted behavior. I know it’s fiction but there are far, far too many real life cases just like this. It is highly irresponsible to put this out as “entertainment”. I’m sure there are those who will think I’m overreacting, but rescue animals everywhere need a voice to stand up for them not only in every day situations but also in media situations that forgive, promote,
and almost encourage cruelty. I will NEVER recommend this nor the author to anyone.

Traumatizing

If you love or even sort of like dogs, DO NOT READ THIS, It was sad and weird and traumatic.

heartbreaking and cruel.

I am so dissapointed in this author of whom was one of my favorite writers for years.
This was so in unnecessary.
The ending was shockingly sick and cruel leaving the reader outraged .
98% of the entire worlds people, are dog lovers, this time you have gone too far.

Wtf did i just listen to

I don’t usually leave a review, but i felt compelled to this time. I have read all of Jennifer Weiner’s books and loved them however this one was such a disappointment and honestly the abrupt ending was disturbing. I was listening to it in my car with my dog and i feel bad for subjecting her to it! Only spent $1.99 but regret even that!

Not for dog people

This story line was terrible. If you are a dog person, don’t bother listening to this story.

Why!??

i love your book and this was an awesome story.... until the end. I am glad i know her other books or i wouldn't like her and yet this also makes me question why she ended it this way?

Disappointing

I can’t believe I wasted my monthly credit on such a short book. Beware. Story was different than what I’ve read from JW before. I thought it would take a turn and keep going, but when the end came and that was all she wrote, it left me very disappointed.

Don’t read!

If I could give less than one star I would! Sick ending. And to be honest the story just wasn’t that great!

Dark Turn

I had this playing in the background while I worked and I was shocked by how it ended. Good thing it was short and cheap!

dog 🐕 lover

great story except for the ending especially if you are truly a dog lover.