Julia London’s You Lucky Dog is funny, sweet and charming, but gets a couple of points dinked off for the author’s preference for outside conflict versus internal conflict in the romance.

It’s a tough day in Austin, Texas. The arrest of a dog walker in an undercover drug sting has resulted in two seemingly identical basset hounds being swapped during their return ride home.

The pup’s owners are immediately suspicious of the circumstances in which they find themselves. Advertising PR person Carly Kennedy knows her foster dog, Baxter, like the back of her hand.  The depressed hound is a moper and this high-energy girl is unmistakably Not Him. Carly is under pressure at work and is preparing to move to New York as soon as she has the opportunity, and she’s stressed enough as it is. She does Not Need This.

Across town, neuroscience professor Doctor Max Sheffington is equally confused to discover his high-energy basset, Hazel, has been replaced by Baxter. Fortunately, Carly has Hazel’s chip scanned at the vet’s and brings his dog back to him, their stoner dog walker being of no help to either of them.

They have very differing ideas of discipline. Max is laid back with Hazel, a contrast to his highly controlled behavior as tenure track professor and how responsible he is with his brother, Jamie, who is on the autism spectrum and is currently dependent upon their feckless father’s care.  High-strung Carly, meanwhile, sticks to rigid routines picked up from books as she tries to wedge Baxter into her busy life. Clearly, they have a lot to learn from one another – and will have the opportunity to continue to do so, because Hazel and Baxter have fallen in love, and will do anything to be together.

You Lucky Dog is a delightful story, funny and lighthearted in a way that’s perfectly refreshing.  Max is a respite from Carly’s messy family situation – recently divorced parents and a harried, over-stressed sister with a messy family of her own for whom she is (technically) fostering Baxter. Her father is an aggressive blogger with a following who is dating Carly’s (former) dental hygienist, and her mother and Max’s father…well, we’ll get to that.

Max has a touching relationship with his autistic twenty-seven-year-old brother, Jamie, who is working his way toward an independent living situation and for whom Max is considering adopting a therapy dog to help accomplish that end goal. Jamie is a sweetheart and a pretty decent representation for someone mid-range on the spectrum.

It’s family drama instead of interpersonal conflict or even puppy-related shenanigans that defines the third act drama for these two, and that’s where You Lucky Dog turns disappointing.  To make the plot work, Max and Carly’s mom and dad are turned into caricatures of gauche villains, the latter of whom snaps at his autistic son, refuses to help maintain the training of said son’s service dog, and jumps unthinkingly between relationships, leaving Max to pick up the slack. Carly’s mom, meanwhile, is the reckless person who gives her other, overtaxed daughter a high-energy dog. The story’s resolution matches the selfishness of the characters, but their presence is an exhausting time-waster in what is otherwise a great read.

But that’s just one little cloud in an otherwise blue sky.  You Lucky Dog is adorable and well worth reading, in spite of the way the final conflict is played out.

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I requested this book because of the cover (so cute!) and was not disappointed by the story. The premise of two dogs being switched was funny and unique. I really liked Carly. Max wasn't my favorite hero but I didn't dislike him. He was just a little overwhelming with his science speak. I absolutely loved their dogs though! Any book with dogs is pretty much automatically added to my TBR. Baxter and Hazel alone are enough for me to recommend this book to dog & romance lovers.

Carly Kennedy dreams of the perfect life, as presented in every rom-com and social media account out there telling her to work hard and life will reward her: she'll move to New York City, have the perfect job, lots of friends, live somewhere trendy and beautiful, eat and drink at trendy, beautiful places. Life will be perfect. So far, she's perfected the "work hard" part, but the rest isn't following. Her life is a non-stop whirl of crazy, artistic publicity clients (who knew two people could feel like so much more?); crazy, divorced parents; and a crazy, stressed-out sister who dumps a depressed basset hound on Carly to deal with. When the dog walker leaves the happy Hazel in place of her depressed Baxter, that's it! By the time she tracks Baxter down days later, she's ready to explode. She's not ready for Max Sheffington, who is feeding her dog mac and cheese on the couch and is far too cute to be a neuroscience professor. Hazel and Baxter hit it off so well that Max and Carly keep puppy play dates going, which quickly turn into something magical between the dog parents as well as the dogs. But into every rom-com some wrenches must be thrown, and Carly and Max have to try and untangle more than just leashes if they're going to get their happily ever after!

Carly is a stressed publicist trying to build a brand with a twenty-year old "artistic" fashion designer and a retiree who believes wooden circles are art. The most sane person in her life is probably Baxter, the depressed basset hound her mother adopted to give away as a surprise gift (spoiler alert- pets as surprise gifts are never a good idea, even under the best and most thoughtful of circumstances. Which this wasn't). Having the dog walker mix up Baxter and another basset seems like the kind of thing that would absolutely happen to Carly. But at heart, Carly is an optimist who accepts the craziness life enjoys throwing at her and attempts to positively reframe it in ways that would make her podcast motivational speaker mentor proud. Max is a "brain scientist", a professor of neuroscience who researches dogs, humans, and autism- inspired by his autistic brother Jaimie. He's a bit of the classic science type, not great with social setting or cues, not sure if someone's flirting with him, and never confident around women. He's also kind, caring, super cute, and loves dogs. The outgoing Carly and the quiet Max seem like opposites, but thanks to two stubborn dogs, they get the chance to discover that opposites really do attract. The longer they spend together, the more they discover they enjoy each other's company, and the relationship that develops is sigh-worthy in its wonderfulness.

Right from the start, You Lucky Dog lets you know it is going to be a fun, comedic experience. The writing is bright and bubbly, rather like Carly herself, with plenty of humor, but never so overblown that it crosses into crazy, unrealistic drama. Instead, the drama is completely believable and largely thanks to Carly's mother, who turns every scene she's in into a whirlwind that leaves you breathless and unsure whether you're coming or going. Jaimie and the struggles and stresses he, Max, and their dad go through are well-written, with touching empathy. The characters are wonderful all the way around. The dogs are magical in their basset cuteness.

You Lucky Dog is a celebration of dogs, love, and what happens when you stop overthinking and let things happen. It was a book I smiled at every time I picked it up (with a cover like that, how can you not?) and was sorry when I had to put it down for any reason. A definite must read for romantic comedy fans, dog lovers, and anyone else looking for a happy way to spend the afternoon!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

"We should all be such lucky dogs."

Once upon a time, there was a stoner/dealer/dog walker in Austin, Texas, and his getting arrested for dealing created a whole lot of chaos...

Carly Kennedy, a public relations expert currently failing at finding a steady income, didn't know what she was getting into when she agreed to take in Baxter, the somber basset hound her newly divorced mother bequeathed her harried mother-of-three sister. But it certainly wasn't a dog mix-up.

Dr. Tobias Maxwell Sheffington III, better known as Max, loves dogs. He's a neuroscientist up for tenure, and incredibly devoted to his father and his younger brother, Jamie, who is Autistic. He is also the proud dog dad of Hazel, a cheerful basset hound whom he dotes upon. Then, one day, he comes home to find that his precious Hazel has been replaced with the most emo basset hound you could ever lay eyes on.

Carly and Max eventually find each other, returning the dogs to their rightful humans... only to find that Hazel and Baxter adore each other, and can't stand to be parted. Soon, Carly and Max start to feel the same way about each other...

Family drama, depressed fashion designers, out of control toddlers, and a whole lot of dogs come together for this unforgettable rom-com!

While this was very good (I read it in a day, so it was good), the amount of drama--especially the drama that Carly is forced to endure--to be somewhat anxiety inducing. It just seemed like one thing after another and constantly being in a no-win situation. Carly is a saint for not losing it on everyone every five minutes over their stupid nonsense, or having a mental breakdown. But the romance is great! The premise is phenomenal, and the writing is amazing, though there are some chapters that bounce around with timeframes (is it currently in the moment? Is it two days ago? Who knows?) that made it distracting and hard to follow along. Though other than the main leads, the only character I cared about was Jamie; he was much more fleshed out than the rest, and the one I least wanted to smack upside the head. Jamie deserves all the dogs to pet. I'd take him to a million dog shows.

I didn't enjoy this. It dragged for me, and the characters weren't memorable at all. I loved the dogs though!

3.5 stars but rounded up to 4!

This book is insanely cute and catchy. I couldn’t put it down. I love the idea of dogs bringing their owners together to fall in love with each other.

When Carly’s dog Baxter is somehow mixed up with Max’s dog Hazel, Carly is fed up and just wants her dog back. After tracking down Baxter, Carly is intrigued by this man who has taken to feeding her dog (who only eats organic kangaroo) Mac and cheese. Max and Carly realize that Baxter and Hazel are actually dog friends and decide to go on a couple of puppy play dates but find themselves falling for each other. However Carly and Max are both in different directions of their lives currently. Can they make it work for the dogs and for themselves?

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. The meet cute of the characters and their initial hatred for each other drew me in. I am always a fan of those tropes. I really liked the way Carly wasn’t going to just sacrifice her career for a man and was willing to put herself first. Another aspect I loved was that Max’s brother was autistic and the author really tried to educate readers on how Max worked with triggers for his brother and other ways to support someone on the spectrum.

This is definitely a cute book and the fact that it involves dogs makes it even better!

It is really hard to not like a heartwarming book like You Lucky Dog. Carly's life is spiraling and spiraling fast. Between work issues and family issues the last thing she is thinking about is the foster dog that her sister practically forces on her. Mind this is not a regular foster dog, this is a dog with the case of the blues. Cue heartbreak and wanting to keep this dog for me, despite its fiction existence. One day the dog walker switches Carly's dog wit ha another client's dog. When Carly goes to return her dog, she meets Max, and herein begins a story of opposites attracting with two incredible dogs at the forefront.

A dog park switcharoo, a rom com with heart, and a book that deals with autism in a realistic way...This book is the entire package! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to share it with others. The cute basset hound cover will draw readers in and the book will keep them there and make them a fan of Julia London!

The Facts:

Title: You Lucky Dog

Author: By Julia London

Publisher: Berkley

Format: e-book, paperback ($16.00)

Published: Aug. 25, 2020

Read an Excerpt: here

Buy It: Amazon    Barnes

In Julia London's new contemporary romance, one man's irresponsible actions during his dog walking duty lead to two basset hounds being returned to the wrong homes. Newly unemployed (but doing her own thing) Carly Kennedy realizes the mistake the minute she sees the imposter dog. But Max, a university professor fascinated with the human brain, takes a little longer to notice the other dog's behavior isn't like his Hazel's. Carly's dog, Baxter, by way of complicated inheritance, was male, shy, depressed, often keeping his nose in the corner to let her know he was depressed and lonely. But he never destroyed things or sat on the couch. Hazel was out of control and destructive, but that's okay, Max gave her that kind of freedom to be a dog.

If that wasn't bad enough, Carly had to work hard to earn money while in between jobs. That meant establishing a one-woman marketing and PR firm and keeping her clients content. Victor is a young fashion designer who at the age of 15 assisted on a team to design a youth look for Gucci. By 18, he was the youngest contestant on Project Runway. His flaw began with drinking and ended with nearly destroying his reputation. Through it all, her job was to help him regain his creative flow and a path toward success.

Dr. Tobias Maxwell Sheffington III is a professor of neuroscience working on an animal vs. autistic behavior relationship project, which required a research proposal. That and his overnight guest delay the realization that Hazel was not the dog in his kitchen.

Shortly after, Carly learns who Hazel's owner is and heads out to inform him of the mixup. Upon sight, she's attracted to him. She makes arrangements to return Hazel which transitions into an unexpected dog-sitting promise. It only took a single visit for the dogs to realize they really enjoyed each other's company. Their humans can't deny they are attracted to one another, but Carly's business demands and Max's need to make tenure often pull them away from each other. Then the unthinkable happens that can really stop them from being a couple.

OMG, I really loved this book. I didn't want it to end. I think it's because of Carly's personality and determination to succeed. She has some real characters for clients, both need to get their acts together. As for Max, I really felt for him. He really tried to make his brother happy, but it was difficult for his brother, a young man with autism, to interact in a social setting. Wish there was a sequel.

four incompetent dog walkers out of five

Denise Fleischer

gottawritenetwork.wordpress.com

Aug. 12, 2020

Down-on-her-luck self-employed Carly and tenure-track neuro-science professor Max use the same pot-smoking dog-walker for their virtually identical basset hounds, Baxter and Hazel, though they have never met. All that changes when the dog-walker is arrested for dealing and the dogs are returned to the wrong homes. Shenanigans ensue and a relationship blooms. I love that Max helps take care of his adult autistic brother and is studying the effects of dog interactions on autism in his research, and that the author dedicated the book all the dogs she's loved before. She even includes the 14/10 description of a great doggo, which animal lovers on social media will recognize and appreciate. I always buy Julia London's books for our romance collection, - they are well liked at my library. Also, I will always buy books about love and dogs (also food, but that's another story, so to speak). Thanks for the early look!

I really wanted to love this book. What’s better than dogs in books?!

But sadly I just couldn’t connect with this book at all. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, I struggled with the inner dialogue.

I also felt like it dragged on things that weren’t that important.

The book just lacked something.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Honestly, a romance involving dogs? Sign me up. And that's what you get! A cute romance involving with the perfect amount of dogs!

This was a cute romance story that was built around man's best friend....DOGS. I enjoyed this sweet story and it helped get my mind off of the problems we face today. I think many people will love the dog characters in this book. I have ordered this book for the library since I have many dog lovers as patrons.

3.5/5

I picked up You Lucky Dog for the two puppies on the book cover and I was not disappointed. What an adorable little story! It left me with a smile and feeling very happy!

The premise of You Lucky Dog is so cute! Two basset-hounds get swapped and end up with different owners after their dog-walker is arrested. The two pups could not be more different in temperament and Carly immediately notices that the energetic dog waiting for her at home is not her usually calm Baxter. Turns out, Hazel, aforementioned energetic dog, belongs to Max, a neuroscience professor. In the process of getting their respective pets back, Max and Carly find themselves being attracted to each other and forge a friendship. Their romance was pretty low-key. Their attraction to each other was almost instant and so may not work for every reader. I thought they were cute together and I enjoyed the banter they shared.

There's a lot going on with both of these characters. Carly desperately wants a publicist job in NYC. She is stuck working with 2 clients who don't make it easy for her. She also faces financial issues and may have to move out of her beloved little cottage. Not to mention, she also has to deal with her parents, who are a piece of work. Max is up for tenure at his university but he has some tough competition. Max also has an autistic brother that his father is taking care of. I appreciated the insight into families handling adult autistic children and how it can impact the different relationships around you. It did feel like there was a bit too much going on with them in their own lives at times, which took away from the romance. Now the real stars of this book were Baxter and Hazel, the dogs. They were so adorable and just the best addition to You Lucky Dog.

All in all, You Lucky Dog was a sweet story and I enjoyed my time with it. The puppies will definitely have you smiling as will the romance. :)

In theory You Lucky Dog sounds like it would be a really fun, cute rom com. It had all the parts. Sadly, for me, that just wasn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed some of it, like the dogs because they were ADORABLE. And I also liked some of the family aspect. That was a good thing to include, especially Max’s family. But for the most part I found the plot very slow and Carly’s family felt like caricatures and not characters. Carly and Max did have some chemistry but I was missing the wow and the woo. I did read it as a buddy read so that helped. All in all this wasn’t the cute rom com I was anticipating, but that didn’t make it a horrible book. Check it out for yourself.

I had a hard time getting into the mood of this book, and almost gave up. However, to be fair and give an honest review, I continued reading all the way to the end. Yes it’s a love story, however it was very predictable. And I just thought there was just too much ‘clutter’ from the crazy characters in the story and it was distracting. I also didn’t feel that Jaime’s autistic interactions were dealt with in a very good light. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it.

You Lucky Dog has a very original premise and it was fun to watch these polar opposites fall for each other. I never got the serious "feels" I expected but enjoyed the book.

You Lucky Dog by Julia London ...I give this 3 1/2 stars ...It was not my favorite ..I loved the dogs Baxter and Hazel...Max and Carly were not as easy to get the feelings. A little too much family action .. I did enjoy Jamie's part in this story.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Happily Ever After Romantic Witty

The blurb had me at mentioning dogs. Actually, even the cover was good enough to pick my interest.

You Lucky Dog begins with a dog walker getting into trouble with the law. Because of it, Carly's dog, Baxter, who is a calm basset hound, is swapped with Hazel, another basset hound who has tons of energy.

Hazel belongs to Max Sheffington, a neuroscience professor. Max is working on getting tenure. He is also trying to find ways to help his brother who is autistic. He thinks that dogs might play a part in helping him.

Carly is a publicist. She has only 2 clients and neither one it's making her job easier. Her dream is to work in New York and one of her clients might be her ticket there. She just has to convince him to believe in his work.

When Carly and Max meet, they share more than the love of their basset hounds. Attraction leads to something more.

I wish I had loved You Lucky Dog but I had a couple of issues with it. The main one being that I didn't feel the connection between the two main characters. They lacked depth and their insta-love was a turnoff for me. The second one was the plot with the parents, I just felt it was unnecessary and too easily resolved and accepted. I didn't feel any empathy for Carly's family. On the other hand, I felt quite a lot for Max's dad and his brother, Jaime.

Despite my problems with the main characters, I did love Baxter and Hazel. Every scene they were in, they stole my heart.

Cliffhanger: No

2.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Carly Kennedy is struggling, her life and career seem to be stifling her. To make matters worse her sister has saddled her with a depressed basset hound, Baxter. Max Sheffington is on the fast track to tenure, he’s content with his life and his dog Hazel. When the two dogs are accidentally swapped he meets Carly and is intrigued. But Carly wants to move and Max is preparing to cement his life as it is. Can these two figure out how they fit into each other’s lives?

There's also an interesting story line concerning Max’s brother who is autistic. Jamie's story felt very well developed and seemed to be a good representation of how families deal with the challenges of raising children with autism. Max's dad was another story, but after six years of being a widower some of his actions were understandable -- life has to go on -- but I didn't like the way he seemed to be able to ignore Jamie whenever it was inconvenient for him. Fortunately for Jamie, Max was a wonderful brother and his treatment of Jamie felt honest and real.

Both Carly and Max’s families play a large role in this book and sometimes their external drama slowed down the story. The romance between Carly and Max was super sexy and interesting. Their “dates” with the dogs and the chemistry leading up to the sexy times was wonderful. It was fun watching them fall in love and hopefully that chemistry will prevail. Their banter, the dogs, and the sexy times were fun to watch.