Jonathan Unleashed

By: Meg Rosoff

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

National Book Award finalist and bestselling author Meg Rosoff's charming, hilarious new novel about a young New Yorker's search for happiness and the two dogs who help him find it - the perfect summer listen.

Jonathan Trefoil's boss is unhinged, his relationship baffling and his apartment just the wrong side of legal. His girlfriend wants to marry someone just like him - only richer and with a different sense of humor. He doesn't remember life being this confusing, back before everyone expected him to act like a grown up.

When his brother asks him to look after his dogs, Jonathan's world view begins to shift. Could a Border Collie and a Cocker Spaniel have the key to life, the universe, and everything? Their sly maneuvering on daily walks and visits to the alluring vet suggest that human emotional intelligence may not be top dog after all.

A funny, wise romantic comedy set in Manhattan, Jonathan Unleashed is a story of tangled relationships, friendships, and dogs. Rosoff's novel is for everyone wondering what to be when they grow up, and how on earth to get there.

©2016 Meg Rosoff (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with Viking, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Whimsical modern love from a guy's point of view

This book reminds me of something written by Jonathan Tropper… Whimsical, touching, and often laugh out loud funny. The main character is a creative, Walter Mitty type who lives more in his head than in the Real world. This results in poor decision-making skills, and philosophical dilemmas that are completely modern and funny. T The pros is very spare, but this leanness allows the book to flow forward fast, at a pace that makes you want to keep reading. I really did enjoy this book and I will read it again. I am a 58-year-old woman, but I'm going to send it to my 3 millennial sons.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

awesome read

great book for dog lovers. Fast and fun read. This a very immersive light book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

pre-life crisis?

Pre-life crisis? Is that what it can be called? Most of us can relate. It's the point in early adulthood when you're out of the parent's house, out of school and, most dreadfully, out of ideas for where to go, what to do, and who to be. Meet Jonathan, a highly creative, young oddball with two dogs has was volun-told to take care of for his brother.

Too much inner dialogue can be the death nail for some books but it's Jonathan's conversations with himself that will have you in stitches. Jonathan is trying to find happiness via the normal life. He waves away all warning signs. It isn't until the most abnormal (i.e. hilarious) things happen that he gets with his own program.

This book had a wonderful cast of characters, the dogs chief among them, and despite Jonathan's angst, it had a feel good vibe. It may not be for everyone but it made my mid-life crisis happier.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A difficult character to relate to

Struggled to get through this. A lot of funny moments but a bit too self absorbed.

Male Ally McBeal wannabe

I tried. I really did. It had all the makings of silly comedic joy. And I enjoy quirky characters who insert crazy little fantasies into their real life a la the Ally McBeal, Scrubs, and Limitless tv shows...shows that I love, btw. This felt like a book version of these characters, and I was excited to read it.....buuuut.....

But the fantasies came too fast, too often, without giving the reader time to connect with the main character. Gave me the feeling that I could care less what happened to him. Too many relationships were introduced too quickly and soo much unsubstantiated self inflicted chaos surrounded Jonathan that had no rhyme or reason...I just had to give up.

But the narration was top notch.