Oliver is the true story of a little dog who was stolen from his owner’s car and the community of people who helped bring the little guy back home.

It was abundantly clear that Oliver means the world to Steven Carino. As an animal lover and a pet owner, I do understand that love and have an appreciation for how meaningful their connection was. I think Carino communicated his emotions surrounding the loss very well, bringing the reader in to experience those emotions as well.

The author did add a lot of details from his past to the story. This helped me better comprehend his reaction to the theft, but the story deviated into these recollections more often than expected. Furthermore, every conversation was noted (not necessarily verbatim) and it was just a lot.

I think we all have the propensity to be overly detailed when sharing our stories. Everything seems important and you never know what might be meaningful to someone else. I’ve no doubt I’ve been guilty of this, but I don’t have an editor for my thoughts. I understand why the author shared so much, but it did make the story drag, and it could have used more editing.

I am a firm believer in everyone’s right to tell their story and tell it the way that they see fit. There is always an audience for that story. I want to be as fair as I can be, with that in mind. While I didn’t hate this book, I cannot say I enjoyed it either. I had hoped for a heartwarming and inspirational story, but I felt this was rather dreary and barely captivating. My conclusion is that I was not the right audience for it.

I am immensely grateful to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for my audio review copy. All opinions are my own.

I am not a religious person but I couldn't resist a book about a dog bringing people together. Thankfully this book focused a lot more on community and hope than it did on the religious aspect.
The writing was a little choppy but it wasn't to distracting. The author switches a lot between current events and flashbacks but he doesn't exactly give much warning. In most cases its not a problem but a few times it was a little confusing.
This isn't a very long review but there isn't much to say. This was a really cute book for dog lovers. If you are someone who loves dogs I think this will be a really good book for you. It was heartwarming and definitely felt for the author.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Oliver by Steven J Carino tells the true story of a stolen dog, the kindness of strangers and the ways tragedy can test our faith in God.

While the story was lovely and heartwarming in the end, for me personally this is a case where the author shouldn’t have narrated his own book. The spacing between words and sentences was really off putting to me, so I couldn’t really soak in the story. And obviously as someone not used to narrating, the only “different voice” was a higher pitched squeaky one. I also found the chopping between then and now really jarring as there was no distinction made (most books will usually mention a date or something.)

If picking this up, I definitely recommend reading it yourself. 2 stars.

The audiobook was narrated by the protagonist and co-author Steven J Carino. I loved listening to Steven J. Carino! The man tells his story from the heart and wow ... this man loves his little dog. God bless him always! This is just a wonderfully heartwarming book!

OMG. There were Several LOL moments in this book! In particular the "coffee pot mishap". And the poor guy's therapy session. And when Steven jumped out of his car when he saw Rocky.

But it is not just a story, it is a message that will resonate in your heart if you open the door to your heart just a little. The advance read copy might be different than the actual final product, but chapter 12 or 13/section 21 ... Steven goes from being mad at God to concentrating on the person who took (Oliver). "It was an evil act, I hate the act, but I don't hate the person. In fact, I refuse to hate the person, whoever it is just doesn't understand the love that there is between (Oliver) and me. Doesn't know how that love is created, doesn't know what it means and I can't judge that person, because I don't know how they grew up. I don't know what compelled them to do this. Maybe they never learned ... "
This really rung true with me; and I just need to replace (Oliver) with something that I've been hung up about.

And from MLK, Darkness can't drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

Proverbs 3 verse 3 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart." ... To be human is to endure hardship. To endure hardship means that we are alive. Being alive is the greatest gift. God's challenges, in the end, are really blessings. They are how we learn what it means to be God's children.

More than anything, I love how this story concludes and I honestly hope that the relationships in this story continue to grow. We have to trust that things that happen have happened for a reason.

Thank you to NetGalley and the authors and the publisher/Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of ...
Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together, by Steven J. Carino, Alex Tresniowski
In exchange for an honest review.

How far would you go to find your stolen pet?

On Valentine's Day 2019, Steven Carino left his dog, Oliver, in the car while he bought cigars after a long day at work; however, when he returned, Oliver was gone with no sign of his whereabouts. Feeling as though his heart had been ripped out of his chest, Steven falls apart. Embarking on a search to find Oliver, Steven will not stop until they are reunited; what he doesn't expect is the number of people willing to help him in the hunt.

Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together is a heart-wrenching yet uplifting book that reminds us that when we put our trust in the Lord, He will always be with us and help us in our time of need.

Steven is a fantastic storyteller! His portrayal of the events before and after Oliver's disappearance allowed readers to be right there with him and Oliver as they found their way back to one another. The flashbacks into Steven's life also gave us more insight into who he is and the journey he has been on, adding another element of connection in this incredible odyssey of healing, forgiveness, discovery, and faith.

I enjoyed every moment of this book. Steven's words brought everything to life, allowing me to sit front and center for this amazing story of love. Every page emphasized the devotion Steven has for Oliver and vice versa, which will undoubtedly touch the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. Not only was this a book about finding a stolen pet, but it also paid homage to all the people, mostly strangers, who stepped up and took action. Steven's words couldn't be more profound, "Something was happening. Something bigger than me. My eyes were being opened to a greater truth about the world, an insight into our shared humanity, a close-up look at the extraordinary power of love and empathy." While we migrate past one another on the streets, you can be sure that when it comes time to take action, people will be there to lend a hand. Oliver reminds us of this truth and will be a beacon of hope into the lives of all who pick up this book.

How far would you go to find your stolen pet? All. The. Way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight... Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:5-6, 25-26

Positive content: 5⭐️
Language: 1⭐️
Sexual content: 1⭐️
Violence: 1⭐️
Age: 13+

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

This is a well told narrative about the author's search for his dog and self-introspection in the process. The narrator adds a voice to the story that makes it come alive in my mind as I can envision the action as the story is told.
I recommend this audiobook to all animals lovers.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this audiobook to listen to. The opinions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

I am so glad I decided to pick up this book on a whim. I love dogs, and grew up with a maltese-poodle mix, so I was immediately attracted by this adorable dog on the cover and wanted to read it. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that the author (and narrator) had grown up on Long Island, just like me. So listening to him narrate this book was like listening to someone from home, a very comforting feeling.

Although I hesitate to rate a nonfiction story lower than 5 stars, especially a memoir such as this, my rating is for the quality of the writing. It left something to be desired; the jumping back and forth from the time when Oliver was stolen to when the author was a child was jarring because there were no transitions. Perhaps in the print version, there is some sort of marking on the page that is lacking in the audiobook. I also found multiple instances where specific sentences and scenes are repeated, for example, describing how Oliver was scared when the author made his bed. We only need to hear those anecdotes once for them to make an impact about the dog's personality.

I really enjoyed this book overall and loved reading about the people coming together to help Steven in his time of need. I also really related to how much Steven absolutely loves his dog and truly considers Oliver an important member of his family. Very heart-warming read.

How could I pass up a book about a lost and then found dog? Steven did what many of us have done, left his beloved dog in the car briefly while he ran into a store. On returning to his car, his dog was missing! This is every dog parent's nightmare. This is the incredible story of how Steven and Oliver were reunited and the people that played a part in that miracle. It was so refreshing to hear about this broken man being able to find the good in a horrible situation. As he refers to it, it was the best and worst week of his life. I'd recommend this book to any dog lover!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, Steven Carino and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.