Stay: A Novel
by Allie Larkin
published by Plume
Synopsis from Publisher's Weekly via Amazon.com
Larkin debuts with a funny and touching story about love, loss, and dog ownership. Twenty-something Van Leone, fresh from serving as maid of honor at the wedding of her childhood best friend and the man Van's been in love with since college, impulsively buys a German shepherd puppy on the Internet while drowning her sorrows in vodka and a late-night Rin Tin Tin marathon. Van's surprised to discover, however, that the little ball of fuzz she's expecting is an enormous Slovakian police dog that she names Joe. The expected furniture-destroying and neighbor-terrifying antics ensue, but Joe quickly becomes Van's family, chief confidant, and romantic catalyst. The fresh start Van had envisioned turns out to be more complicated than she'd hoped—particularly after the newlyweds return from their honeymoon—but Joe nudges her ever forward. Though the support cast could be trimmed and the love interest lacks satisfying depth, Van's conflicts feel authentic, and her emotional frankness is refreshing. Cute story, nicely told. (June)
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Stay is hilarious! Van's relationships with Peter, Diane, and Janie are quirky and very, very human. I disagree with the above review regarding the support cast: Louis and Agnes don't enter until half-way through the book, but add lots of comic relief to the storyline. I was a little surprised that Joe didn't show up closer to the beginning ... there seemed to be way to much wedding stuff going on (that could have been pared down in my opinion.) The book was a quick, but fun read. Highly recommended!
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