Book Review: Boomer’s Bucket List by Sue Pethick

4.5 ⭐
Genre ~ animal fiction
Setting ~ Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California (AKA Route 66)
Publication date ~ December 27, 2016
Page Count ~ 289 (p+ 32 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 38 minutes
Narrator ~ Cassandra Campbell
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ dying dog

My review:

Jennifer has been Boomer’s mom for 5 years. Now she’s just learned he’s sick and only has one month left to live. She decides to take a leave of absence from work and take him on one last journey along Route 66 because cars are his favorite thing.

Nathan is a journalist, who is doing a favor for his brother by driving a car he purchased from Chicago to California. I’ll give you one guess who he meets along the way.

Stacey works with Jennifer and has a brilliant idea to honor Boomer’s life by creating a website for all to join Boomer on his end of life journey.

I was bawling before I even started reading this one just by the blurb and the adorable cover. If you’re a dog lover, or maybe an animal lover in general, then there are no two ways about it, you’ll probably need a plethora of tissues to get you through this one. Just because you know death is coming doesn’t make it any less difficult…even if it’s a fictional dog.

I was silently sobbing, so I didn’t wake my husband at 4:50am when I was finishing it up. We know what it’s like to care for a dog at the end of its life and it’s heartbreaking, but there’s also comfort in knowing you gave that dog the best life you could. We had 14 wonderful years with Bear. We currently have almost 7 years with Arnie, who is probably about 8. He doesn’t let a day go by without getting excited when we come home and I don’t let a day go by that I don’t give him a kiss and tell him know how much I love him, even though he broke 3 of my husband’s ribs last year. BTW ~ don’t recommend broken ribs one bit, for the injured or the caretaker 😉. I can only hope we have plenty of years left with him to enjoy.

Overall, a lovely heartbreaking and heartwarming book that gives a reminder that “a dog might only be there for part of your life, but to them you are their whole life.”

*Thanks to the author, Kensington Book and NetGalley for my copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I do wish there was a male narrator, but overall she did a fine job.

Get your copy on ~ Amazon

Add to your never ending TBR  ~ goodreads

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.

Book blurb:

Author Sue Pethick presents a warm and fuzzy love story about a passionate pet owner, a smitten news man, and an unforgettable dog who steals everybody’s hearts. . .

When her cuddly canine companion Boomer is diagnosed with a rare heart condition, Jennifer Westbrook decides to take a leave of absence from her busy PR job—and take Boomer on the greatest road trip of his life.

Charting a course from Chicago to California, Jennifer plans some pet-friendly pit stops for her four-legged friend, including a dog show, a fire hydrant museum, and a factory full of squeaky toys. But when she tries to sneak Boomer into a NASCAR press box—disguised as her seeing-eye dog—Jennifer’s cover is blown by a curious, but very cute reporter named Nathan Koslow.

Boomer takes an instant shine to Nathan, unlike the other men in Jennifer’s life. When the charming journalist asks to join them on their journey, she can’t say no. But when she learns that someone has created a website called “Boomer’s Bucket List”—and it’s gone totally viral—the trip takes a wildly unexpected turn for Jennifer, Nathan, and the dog who brought them together.

It almost seems as if Boomer’s last wish is that his two favorite humans fall madly, deeply, in love . . .

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