A heartwarming story of friendship - a really enjoyable read.

The story is centred around a group of neighbours and their lives and family dynamics. The star of the book is a street dog called Jack. I loved how the story weaved around the characters and Jack. I enjoyed all of the characters and found them all endearing.

A really charming story with lovely heartwarming characters and a fantastic dog. Perfect for an afternoon cuddled up on the sofa.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book! You will laugh and cry as you read this charming book. The characters are so well developed and the story is very well written and there is a DOG! The story is just delightful! Thank you Kensington Publishing and netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this story, in exchange for this review, the opinions are my own.

This is such a lovely community spirited book and I very much enjoyed getting to know the residents of Christmas Street. It made me laugh and one scene in particular with Bill in the church made me sob it was so well written. I also really liked the idea of having an adventure a day and have shamelessly stolen it for me and my son so we find some positive in the chaos. The characters have made quite an impression on me and I can't wait for the next installment.

This story has everything that I love in a book, humor, great characters, and a dog (Jack). Even though it makes me sad that the dog’s family moved away without him, I love how he belongs to everyone on the street. And just like real dogs, he knows how to comfort those around him. He sleeps at Bill’s house. Bill, who is a crotchety old widower, really wants nothing to do with the neighborhood and doesn’t understand today’s society. There were many laugh out loud moments from him. One of my favorite quotes in the book is from Bill.

“…milk that came from nuts. As if nuts could produce milk. Any idiot could look at a nut and see that there was no way milk was coming out of it . The world had gone absolutely mad all around him.”

There are other great characters too. There is the gay couple, Arthur and Max, trying to adopt a baby, Sai and Emilia who are secretly dating behind their parents’ backs. Also, Pen, who blogs about the neighborhood without them knowing, and Pari who wants a dog so bad and is afraid the new boy, Teddy, is going to steal Jack from her.

Sam and Teddy have just moved to the English neighborhood from America because Teddy’s mom died and they needed a change. There are many humorous moments provided by Sam as he tries to get to know his neighbors. He hosts a BBQ and invites everyone on the street. His sister, Ellen, was my favorite character. Her banter with Sam was hilarious and I wish there had been more of her in the book.

There were too many great moments and lessons in this story to count. It was heartwarming and up lifting. I can’t wait to know more about these people and what happens next. (I just discovered there is a sequel and I can’t wait to read it.) The sequel is called, A Wedding on Christmas Street.

A Dog Called Jack is a very sweet book about friendship, belonging and new beginnings. After losing his wife a few years before, Sam decides to relocate himself and his son Teddy to England. They move into Christmas Street where neighbours don´t talk to each other very much but all share the care of the `street dog` called Jack. Things change with the arrival of the pair as Sam´s effort to bring people together to help Teddy settle in ends up in all of the neighbours connecting and finally getting to know each other.

"When you find a street full of people who really seem to want to care about each other, cherish that"

The writing is great and the story runs along smoothly. I usually like books to have a bit more character development but I can see that this is nearly impossible in a book with so many individual characters. Fortunately the reader gets to know a little more about everyone in the book at some point or other so it didn´t bother me very much.

It is an uplifting and lovely story with a bit of a cheesy ending (obviously) and although it ends with Christmas, I thoroughly enjoyed it in the early spring sunshine while listening to the birds.

So I'm moving. See that cute purple house in the middle with the three shrubs in front? That's the one I want. And see that adorable dog on the cover? He'll make a perfect friend for my pups. Ivy Pembroke has created a setting I just want to beam myself into and live happily ever after.

Several years ago Sam's wife died so he and his son, Teddy, have moved to England to be closer to Sam's sister and her two kids. Teddy hates living in a foreign country and is having a hard time making friends, all except for Jack. Jack is the street dog. The family that lived in Sam's house before left him when they moved (don't even get me started on that!) so all of the people living on the street take care of him. However, they really don't know each other very well despite living side by side for years. However, Sam has taken it upon himself to remedy that because he himself wants to make friends and what better place to start that the neighbors.

This book was quaint and fun and everything I wanted and more. First of all, Jack is a wonderful dog who is managing to pull the neighborhood together despite them being aware. And there are some interested couples living there. Bill Hammersly is the widowed elderly man who has the grumpy old man role down pat - except of course he has a soft spot for Jack. He also finds he has one for Teddy, who insists on inserting himself in the old man's life. Then you have Pen. She's a writer and health nut who has created her own tales for everyone on the street and who insists on feeding Jack health food. Add in Max and Arthur who are trying to adopt and two other families who have no idea their children have been dating for months and a single teacher and you have "A Dog Called Jack."

And don't worry, this book isn't all drama. There is humor and fun incidents and stories that tug at your heart (and those who know me know my heart is encased in cement so that's some feat). So basically I have a new favorite book full of favorite characters (Mr. Hammersly being the best). And Jack, I was never once worried about his well being or safety so thank you Ivy! If you love dogs or tales about people coming together, then you absolutely have to read "A Dog Called Jack."

When Jack is left behind on Christmas Street by his owners instead of just being a stray he is adopted by the residents and helps bring people together from the newest resident, the recently widowed Sam and his young son to the grumpy old Bill.

A lovely heartwarming story, Jack is a great character and it is no wonder so many of the residents grow to love him

Review I received an advanced reviewer copy of A Dog Called Jack from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Sam has just moved to London in hope for a new start with his son Teddy after the death of his wife. He wants to meet new friends and find a new community for his son. There new home on Christmas Street has all kinds of unique characters who are all brought together by Jack, a dog left behind by his owner and is now the street dog..

What I Loved: This book was so cute, it reminds me of the same feeling I got when I read The Story of Arthur Truluv. It's UpLit at it's finest, the story of how a dog connects a group of people and allows neighbors to be friends with each other and form a network of support. Also, it has the element of a grumpy old man who overcomes his loneliness.

What I didn’t like so much: Nothing, it was a sweet book.

Who Should Read It: People who love UpLit. People who love stories involving a dog. People who want to read a happy book.

General Summary: A story of a dog who brings a community together.

When eight year old Teddy and his father move into a new house, who could have known what changes it would bring to the entire neighborhood? The neighborhood dog, Jack, helps in his own way, also. Really enjoyed the humor of this story.

Thank you NetGalley for introducing me to this author. I requested it because I was fascinated by the description of a dog having no particular owner and roaming the street. As a dog owner and dog lover I could not understand how and why anyone could have abandoned a dog like Jack and left him to fend for himself on the street where his owners used to live.

This is a happy feel good book and you are introduced into the lives of all the people who live on the street , all of whom develop their own relationships with Jack and eventually with each other through their links with Jack!
I was please to find that when I had finished the book and searched for other books by Ivy Pembroke that a sequel to this book had been written so I was able to download it from Amazon and pick up the story from where it was left at the end of ' A Dog called Jack'.

I also noted that this book had previously been published under another title but is presumably still the same story about the lives of the people who live on Christmas Street.

Ivy Pembroke’s A Dog Called Jack was full of delightful surprises. When I requested it on NetGalley, I was looking for a cozy, comforting read. And it was, but I didn’t expect all the depth this book delivered. This novel achieves a wonderful balance between giving readers a relaxing read and giving its characters realistic—often tough—situations to deal with. It’s heartfelt without being trite, sweet without feeling saccharine. And the humor is gentle; you find yourself chuckling momentarily, but it never breaks the flow.

Christmas Street’s residents are surprisingly diverse. They are a variety of ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and stages in life. I love that this actually mirrors my own little cul-de-sac. I loved watching 8-year-old son Teddy break through the crotchety wall that his elderly neighbor Bill had put up over the years. (Their rapport is very reminiscent of Pollyanna and Mrs. Snow.) Widower Sam is starting fresh, and he is such a nice guy, y’all. He’s even careful to keep his sexism in check. It’s pretty irresistible. There’s a romantic element to his storyline, but no insta-love (thank you, Ivy!). I had a soft spot for gay couple Max and Arthur, who have been trying to adopt a baby while wading through the emotions that come with adoption loss. Anna’s social anxiety and how it affects the kind of mom she wants to be was spot on, very relatable. And I love how, because the neighbors of Christmas Street are so diverse, there’s this realistic but innocent awkwardness when they refer to each other, before they really get to know each other and become more like family.

This is such a lovely, happy, feel-good book! There are a couple of moments where you’ll want your happy-tears tissues handy, but honestly, if you need a pick-me-up kind of read with realistic situations and kindhearted characters, you don’t want to miss A Dog Called Jack.

When I read that a new Ivy Pembroke book was available I knew I had to request it.
I read another book set in Christmas Street and it was lovely so my expectations were high.
I can say I'm happy I requested and read it because it's as lovely and heart warming as the first I read.
It was great to meet again old characters and be introduced to new one.
I loved Jack, so cute and tender.
It's an entertaining and engaging book, perfect for a cozy afternoon.
I look forward to read other books written by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Jack is a dog. He used to live in a house on Christmas Street...but his family moved and left him behind. But don't worry about good ol' Jack. Now he belongs to everyone on the street. He visits all the neighbors up and down the street. They all feed, pat and love Jack. But the best part? Jack makes a huge difference to everyone on Christmas Street. By the time he's done wagging and working his doggie magic, the neighborhood will be transformed.

I love this book! My favorite character is the gruff curmudgeon, Bill Hammersley. He's determined to dislike the new neighbors the minute he sees the pink flamingo in their yard. But he learns a lot of lessons in this story....as do all the residents on Christmas Street. A little abandoned dog brings a neighborhood together as a family. Just a sweet story!! As soon as I finished reading my digital review copy, I preordered a print copy of this book. It's going on my keeper shelf. I will definitely be re-reading this happy story many times!

Ivy Pembroke has written two other books about Christmas Street: Snowflakes on Christmas Street and A Wedding on Christmas Street. Romancey stories aren't my usual genre, but I loved A Dog Called Jack....so I'm going to read the other two books! Even I need a feel-good, happy story once in awhile! Perfect reads for cold winter nights.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. My dogs wholeheartedly agree with my review and give it a full four paws!**

A very sweet story about the power of community, and one very special dog who helped to create friendships in a neighborhood where relationships were lacking.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely book! Set on a small street in London, it's the tale of a dog who brings together the people in six disparate homes. Jack, who was, sadly, abandoned on the street, is cared for by all of them. When Sam and his small son Teddy move in, things heat up. To be honest, the characters are not especially unique nor is the plot but the writing is delightful and the story just perfect at a time when there's so much unpleasantness about. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You will, like me, find yourself invested in Jack and the people of Christmas Street.

what a wonderful and sweet story, with the dog Jack, the street's dog, tying everyone together. First off, you have 80 year old Bill, who has been a widower for many years. He is the typical grouchy old man, but in reality he is just lonely. Then you have the Indian family, with the mother always worried about others, and her young daughter and teenage son having regular issues. Then the Polish family, with a mother who is overly worried and withdrawn, and a teenage daughter who likes the teenage son. Another is a gay couple, who want to adopt, and then Penelope, who is a writer. All are living individual lives until Sam and his young son Teddy move into the neighborhood. Sam was born in England, but had lived in the U.S. until his wife died, and then came back to be closer to his family and make a new start. Hard to put this one down, and I enjoyed the writing and the characters. Fun story, and one I highly recommend.

The Neighborhood as Seen Through a Dog's Eyes
This book begins a bit slowly but picks up the pace quickly. As the pieces begin to make sense, the reader gets invested in the lives of those who live in this neighborhood. The plot is uplifting and honest. The characters could live in any of our lives. This is a book that I will enjoy reading again. I will be watching for more works by this author. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

A great story line with brilliant main characters.. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.

A Dog Called Jack by Ivy Pembroke is one of the loveliest, heartwarming seasonal stories that can be enjoyed any time of year.

This is a story about a regular street in London with six families living in it and a very special dog.
When Sam and his nine year old son move in in one of the houses they start a chain of events that will change all their lives. forever. Main character is Jack, a dog whose previous owners have abandoned him and whole street has been taking care of him more or less. From a kid's grudge about custody of a dog to good neighborhood relations to forbidden love affair to finding true soulmate and new chances this book has it all.
It will make you smile, it will make you laugh out loud and cheer for things to turn out just right,.It will make you cry and show you that true families are not only defined by blood but all those who make an impact on our life and make it better.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. All characters are charming and have a great story to tell, The setting is beautiful and the book comes to an end at the most magical time of the year.
An absolute must read for all those who delight in a beautifully written life stories.

Truely one of the loveliest books I have read in a long time. I’m not writing anything else, it’s just lovely, read it.