Will's Red Coat

The Story of One Old Dog Who Chose to Live Again

By: Tom Ryan

Narrated by: Tom Ryan

A true story of acceptance, perseverance, and the possibility of love and redemption as evocative, charming, and powerful as the New York Times best seller Following Atticus.

Drawn by an online post, Tom Ryan adopted Will, a frightened, deaf, and mostly blind elderly dog, and brought him home to live with him and Atticus. The only owners Will ever knew had grown too fragile to take care of themselves or of him. Ultimately Will was left at a kill shelter in New Jersey.

Tom hoped to give Will a place to die with dignity amid the rustic beauty of the White Mountains of his New Hampshire home. But when Will bites him numerous times and acts out in violent displays, Tom realizes he is in for a challenge.

With endless patience and the kind of continued empathy Tom has nurtured in his relationship with Atticus, Will eventually begins to thrive. Soon the angry, hurt, depressed, and near-death oldster has transformed into a happy, gamboling companion with a puppy-like zest for discovery. Will perseveres for two and a half years, inspiring hundreds of thousands of Tom and Atticus' fans with his courage, resilience, and unforgettable heart.

A story of a dog and an indelible bond that is beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting, and unforgettable, Will's Red Coat honors the promise held in every living creature, at any stage of life.

An Audible for Dogs Pick: Make your dog's day. Cesar Millan shares how audiobooks can make dogs happier and calmer. Learn more.©2017 Thomas F. Ryan (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Moving

Very moving thoughtfulReader was great made me cry. Makes you think of the future Thank you

Bittersweet. Much more sweet than bitter.

Awe inspiring love of Will, Atticus and all nature and freedom to be. Great narration.

One of the best

This book had my heart within the first few minutes. Tom Ryan’s descriptive and insightful writing takes the reader on a beautiful walk through the highs and lows of loving a senior dog. But it’s so much more than a story about a dog. It’s a story about life, growth, peace, grace, and love. His writing is gripping and at times so emotional that I burst into tears.

As another reviewer mentioned, it is best to read his previous book, Following Atticus, to fully enjoy this sequel. Both books are beautifully written and engaging.

A wonderful book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

You will love this book, especially if you have read/listened to Following Atticus. It is made all the more special because the author narrates the book. Tom Ryan is an amazing person and writer.

Loved this book!

Beautiful story with amazing narration This book really touched me and I will listen again and spend more time in the forest with my dogs Thank you so much!

Prepare to laugh…and to cry. A lot.

I read this book cover to cover, and loved it—and Will—so much that I decided to buy the Audible version so that I could hear it being read by the author. (First, let me say that I am a miniature Schnauzer person so I was already pretty taken with Atticus and Will just on that basis alone.) But i was not prepared to feel the deep emotions that this story left me with. To say “I cried” is way understating it. I sobbed. I bawled. I sat in rush hour traffic with tears streaming down my face, causing the other drivers to wonder about me, I suspect. One thing to be mindful of—it took me awhile to settle into the story because the author speaks softly and with a little bit of a monotone at first. But stay with it because his voice grows on you.

Very good!

Honest and authentic description of experience of adopting an old shelter dog in the same wonderful tone of previous book about Atticus and the author.

A Journey Towards Compassion

A beautifully narrated and written story of discovering meaning in being as well as gentleness toward others and self with a fairy tale flavor.

Beautiful Story/Lovingly Told

A great companion to Following Atticus as well as a stand alone story. I laughed, cried and reflected on my own life as Mr. Ryan examined his own. Ryan writes lovingly about the dogs in his life but his ruminations on life itself grab me every time too. Well done I say!

Tom Ryan is an absolute joy.

Aside from the inspiring story, I learned so much about the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the authors who wrote about that landscape in the past.