*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a good middle grade read for sure, especially for dog lovers!

Gus and Glory by Sarah Guillory is a touching middle-grade mystery about 12-year-old Glory, who teams up with a loyal bloodhound to find her missing mom. Set in small-town Louisiana, this heartfelt story explores family, trust, and resilience, making it a great pick for readers who enjoy emotional adventures and strong character bonds.

“Most people become their best selves around dogs.”
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Glory is left with her grandparents after her mother leaves without a word. With her father on the road all the time, Glory is lonely, sad, and feels like no one wants her. When her elderly neighbor has to go into the hospital, his bloodhound, Gus, is left in Glory’s care. Soon they’re thick as thieves with Gus becoming Glory’s best friend, but also helping her make her own friends too.
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This MG novel was fantastic. I adore the cover—I can’t get enough of a dog book (the dog does NOT die!) The audiobook was so well done, with the narrator’s accent taking center stage as Glory. I definitely teared up and the end and really felt for Glory throughout the book. This one will touch your heart. Fans of Because of Winn Dixie and The One and Only Ivan will fall in love with Gus and Glory out TODAY!

CW: parental abandonment, hospitalization, bullying, injury

Gus and Glory by Sarah Guillory is a heartfelt middle-grade novel that effortlessly weaves mystery, emotional depth, and the unbreakable bond between a girl and her dog into a story that resonates with readers of all ages. This book is a thoughtful and engaging read for a lazy afternoon.
The story follows twelve-year-old Glory, a mystery enthusiast who loves Agatha Christie novels. When her mother suddenly leaves, Glory faces the real-life challenge of understanding her mom's disappearance. Spending the summer with her grandparents, she and Gus, a loyal bloodhound, search for clues. Through this journey, Glory discovers resilience, forgiveness, and the importance of chosen family.
Guillory clearly addresses abandonment and loss, making the story accessible for young readers. The well-developed characters grow through their mistakes, offer apologies, and understand each other's perspectives. This helps children who have experienced similar losses feel validated and see ways to heal. For my son, the story prompted thoughtful discussions on empathy and family, offering both education and entertainment.
The audiobook narration enhanced the experience. The narrator's character voices and accents made Glory's world come alive, drawing us into the mystery and emotions of each chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5 stars

This middle grade touched on some tough topics such as parent abandonment.

Glory was so well written. You can feel all the emotions she goes through during the book. I liked how Gus brought out the best in everyone and help Glory’s grandpa start to heal.

The audiobook was well narrated and Sophie Amoss was a good fit.

Really thoughtful and engaging middle grades book that both my son and I enjoyed listening to together. It tackles difficult themes of abandonment and loss in a way that’s honest and compassionate, models characters growing and apologizing and learning to see each others’ perspectives. I imagine for a kid who has experiences that kind of loss, this could be especially meaningful.

The narration in the audiobook was top notch, great character voices and accents.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love books like this so much where they tear my heart out, heal it, and put it back in again stronger than ever. Glory is a sweet girl living with her father when her mother decided to leave without saying why. Gus is a big dog whose older owner gets injured and Glory ends up being the one to call 9-1-1 and taking care of Gus for him. Gus and Glory navigate their new reality while missing their people, and Glory's honesty was so pure and real. The narrator for this was so perfect, with such an innocent voice.

I listened to this book with my nanny kids and they really enjoyed it. We planned to listen for about thirty minutes a day but most of the time the kids would ask for more time because they enjoyed the story so much. They love dogs and stories with dogs are always winners with them but this one was definitely one of their favorites.

The narrator for this audiobook is so good and does such a fabulous job giving voice to Glory. My son and I really enjoyed listening to this book and really feeling the emotion through the narrator’s intonation and accent.

Unfortunately it’s a little too long to keep my kid’s attention, but that’s not a ding on the book so much as it’s more age appropriate for an elementary school aged child than a pre-school aged one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was wonderful, I was crying, laughing and having my heart tugged at. The Narrator (Sophie Amoss) did a fabulous job. Narrating a 12 year old girl is a challenge, and she did multiple kids without them sounding whining. Amazing choice for this book!

Glory is a 12 year old who finds herself in the situation that her mom left, her dad is on the road for work, and she is placed with her grandparents. The adults first try to help by saying the mom is "just" on vacation, but with no one knowing where mom is, it is soon found out that no one knows where she is or if she would come back.

Children know more then we sometimes give them credit for, and not wanting to be underfoot Glory tries to fill her time by not being at home. Hanging out at the "park" she stumbles across Gus a huge bloodhound and their story takes off from there.

This book doesn't have all the answers and some are left open ended, but it is a happy one that focusing on what you have is even more realistic and I am glad that books are being written like this now.

3.75/5⭐️

This was a sweet and cute story with found family, friendship, deeper themes, positive messages, a bit of mystery, and a bond between a girl and her furry companion. Glory is a fun character who loves books (especially Agatha Christie), mysteries, solving puzzles, and being curious (definitely not noisy). There were some funny moments with Gus and his dog antics, tender moments with Glory and her grandpa, and I loved the friendship between Glory and Rosemary.

Quote from the book:
Rosemary to Glory: “Are you the kind of person who dog-ears pages?"
Glory: “Never. I use a bookmark like a responsible person.”

This book hits on the harder topics of what it's like for a parent to leave, and the results/impacts that has on a child. I thought it was realistic overall, and showcased what kids truly do experience while keeping it appropriate for younger readers.

If you're a fan of books like Wish by Barbara O'Connor or Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, I think you will enjoy this book!

I listened to the audiobook and thought Sophie Amoss did a good job/was a good fit for reading this story. If audiobooks are your preferred method of reading, I'd recommend checking it out!

Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for sending me an advanced audiobook copy to honestly rate and review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, all thoughts are 100% my own.