Dad Camp is a great twist on the typical mother-daughter coming of age novel, as it centers on the daughter's relationship with her father. The setting of this slightly crunchy and hokey father/daughter camp was absolutely perfect, with a hint of nostalgia and enough happening to keep my interest as the relationship storyline played out.

This book was fine! I went in with low to medium expectations, and I would say those expectations were met. I don't read a lot of books narrated by straight males, and certainly not ones in present tense first person voice, so the overall tone was a bit jarring for me, but might not be for other readers. Even though Avery was so present in the plot, I felt we never really got to know her beyond "she's good at sports and is becoming hormonal." The setting of the camp was confusing, but maybe that's just because I've attended/worked at multiple camps and this one just felt unrealistic and unfamiliar to me. I liked the exposition of the "half" chapters where we went back in time with the characters. The chapters with the letters from the other dads were certainly illuminating, but a strange choice considering it was a first person narrative and John never got to read those letters. Overall, it was a relatively quick, entertaining read that was perfect to enjoy while waiting in the airport.

A lovely story filled with heart and poignancy. There are so few father-daughter stories out there told from a dad’s perspective, and this was beautifully told. Bravo!

I’m so happy NetGalley emailed me this copy! This story is such a heartwarming tale about father and daughter. I normally don’t pick up books like this, but I’m happy I read this one. The characters throughout the story were great and quirky. I really enjoyed how we got to see everything through John’s point of view instead of Avery’s. Thank you Evan Porter, NetGalley and Dutton for sending me this digital copy!

As a daddy's girl myself and having two daughters this book pulled at my heartstrings. Beautiful representation of a father daughter relationship and how it changes, but the love never does.

First and foremost, thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

I think that Dad Camp is a lovely read. It takes on some of the common flaws seen in fatherhood, often as a result of the societal roles assigned to men, and breaks them down for an incredibly touching story about a group of dads that just want to find their way with their daughters. One of the most touching features of this book is the inclusion of the letters that the dads write to important people outside of the camp, as it provides a significant amount of character development while also allowing space to explore what happens when men allow themselves to be open and vulnerable. Of course, as is often the case with a book like this, it does have plenty of cheesy and predictable moments. However, it makes up for some of that predictability with quirky characters, warmth, and a relatively light tone. The characters other than Avery and John do have some limited development, but it feels natural, as this story is from John's point of view and he is largely focused on working on his relationship with Avery. Overall, Dad Camp is a light, warm, and fun read!

Even though I am not a Dad, Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter made an impression on me. The interactions between the Dads and their children were very believable and emotional. Both adults and children would get something from reading this book. The descriptions of the decrepit camp and the last ditch attempts at bonding made an impact on me.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Dad Camp by Evan Porter. I really liked seeing a parent/child book from a Dad’s point of view and where a dad parenting was seen as the norm instead of a busy non existent dad. I was also happy to see that it wasn’t the stereotypical snarky teen. I have two teens and a rising tween, so I’ve been through this phase of parenting. It depicted that feeling that every parent goes through at this age where your kid starts pulling away and you realize that the time with them under your roof is finite. I love parenting teens, but with the knowledge that college is looming, it is so bittersweet. The knowledge that to actually keep them closer is to let them go is so hard to do, which is the lesson that John has to learn. I liked the relationships that were shown with the other dads as well. Taking my kids to camp have made some good memories and I felt them in this book.

John is starting to notice that his 11 year old daughter Avery is pulling away from him. In a last ditch effort to save his relationship he enrolls them I to dad camp. They have to navigate their relationship with each other and the other campers while learning some lessons along the way.

John a d Evelyn love their tween daughter Avery but, and all kids do, she’s pulling away from parental interactions…especially with him. After years of coaching her various sports team, having “adventures” with lasting/loving memories and sharing secrets, John having a hard time with this change in his relationship with “his little girl” and he kinda desperately wants to replace the eye rolls and silent treatment that her get now and recapture the sweet, fun times they’ve had when she was younger. John is super excited about a father/daughter camp that promises a fun and memorable bonding experience and he books it for the last week of summer break before Avery starts 6th grade. Unfortunately, he’s waiting until the night before they leave to spring this on Avery and she’s NOT happy. It also happens to be the week of tryout for a traveling soccer team that Avery is desperate to join…she’s a great athlete. He’s not thrilled by this possibility because he can’t be her coach and with her thru the whole experience, so he lies and tells her that tryouts are cancelled….not his best decision. The other girls, the other dads, the accommodations and food don’t quite live up to John’s expectation but the camp turns out to be both a hilarious disaster and poignant discovery of the next phase of a loving relationship. This is a sweet story is true to life characters. I just hope that there isn’t a sequel where John has to handle Avery’s dating and leaving for college…he might not survive it!

I did not particularly care for this book. I can appreciate the dedication it takes to be a good parent, but I struggled to understand the motivation behind many decisions and the story was a clunky mess. There was random swearing that came out of nowhere and seemed rather forced when considering the book's overall tone and message. I do not know the intended audience but it is not me.

I received this e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Dad Camp" is a touching narrative that explores the depths of father-daughter bonds, This novel beautifully encapsulates these complex, evolving parent-child dynamics.

Dad Camp was a lot of fun to read. It’s a sweet novel about father-daughter relationships and how they change as girls get older. John decides that he and his daughter Avery are going to spend the last week of summer at a camp together specifically for fathers & daughters. He springs this on her, ignoring that she’s been asked to try out for a travel soccer team, and Avery is uninterested, as most ten-ish girls would be.

John hopes to share a cabin with Avery where they will talk late into the night and get close again, but instead the dads and kids stay separately and he finds himself bunking with other dads, whom he believes he has nothing in common with. John is a VERY hands-on Dad, it’s sweet but almost over the top in some areas. The story is saved from being too saccharine by the humor, and there was lots of it.

And this book is definitely funny. John is a witty narrator, and the scenes involving the four dads “bonding” are especially well done. The relationship between John and Avery is great. John wants to be a
good father and he just keeps going too far in his efforts to keep them close.
I enjoyed this, and gave it 4 stars, many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Eh, not bad but nothing to write home about. Characters didn't have much depth and the story was somewhat predictable.

Sweet and easy read about dads and daughters. Very cute and fun. I enjoyed it The characters were a bit silly but good read none the less! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

Dad Camp is exactly what you think and want it to be. A touching story about a father and daughter and how their relationship has to mature and change. I can admit this book isn’t for me, while understanding it probably would be perfect for the right people. The stakes are low and it has the Hallmark feeling that you know everything is going to work out. If you’re looking for a breezy read to give you the cozy feelings then this is it. Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sending me an ARC through NetGallery.

When this book first got offered to me to read, I read the synopsis and was so intrigued to start. Once I started and the storyline develops around a daughter and her dad, it had me questioning whether I was going to like this. But I quickly put myself in the girls spot all while trying to think of my own dad. How much I look up to him and our own wonderful relationship. Then I flipped it to my husband and our own daughter and how their relationship has seemed to develop through time.
This book really changed my perspective on father/daughter relationships and I seem to understand a little more about them.
This book was a solid four stars for me!

A funny and touching novel of dads desires to hope their daughters close and the changes that a week at camp can bring. Exceptional!

I very conflicted feelings about this book. After reading the author's own Goodreads comments, I know he was writing this during covid and spending much time with his tween daughters. The novel is a sweet love letter to his daughters and father/daughter relationships. However, the pacing was slow and predictable. I'm not sure who the audience is for this book. It feels like a YA level book, but I don't see this book landing with the typical YA reader. A nice story for a library book check out, but I would not purchase.

This book was so much fun! There were some laugh-out-loud moments, but also plenty of deep insights couched in a light, easy-to-digest framework. And even though it was light, the characters were still nuanced, making it readable and realistic, even if the characters weren't all likable.

A lot of the plot is predictable, but in the best way. It's a feel-good story that plays out with a satisfying ending. And there are some surprises baked in, too.

I did think John had a pretty unhealthy attachment (obsession?) with his daughter. Does that even happen in real life? And she seemed especially mature for age 11. Do most 11-year-olds have smartphones? Am I totally out of it?

Don't expect a philosophical treatise or action-packed drama, but if you're looking for a rollicking good time, this is a must read..

Thank you to NetGelley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

despite not being something i would usually read this was *fun*. i really enjoyed a delve into father daughter relationships in a novel like this, and loved how much depth there was, which was something i wasn’t expecting.

dad camp has almost parent trap summer camp fun energy, with emotions for both dads (not me) and daughters (me!) alike. i really enjoyed this one.

i was given an arc in exchange for an honest review!