♡🐾 THIS BOOK WAS PAWS-ITIVELY CUTE 🐾 ♡

✩°｡⋆ Thank you to Forever ~ Hachette Audio for providing the ALC of this book for an honest review via NetGalley! ⋆｡°✩

♡ MY REVIEW

The positives:
The way this book opened up with a shocker is what had me hooked from the beginning. I will always love a good opening to get you involved and excited to read more.

Something that stood out to me and I can always appreciate in a book is a strong friend group. I really loved reading the interactions between Evie, Ashanti, and Ridley. Ridley had me dying laughing! She’s such a fun character and I love the outspoken friend archetype. I also enjoyed the dialogue between Bryson and his mother; though brief, it was funny and endearing.

In terms of the writing, I did appreciate the consistency and research that it took to write all of the ups and downs of the veterinary world.

The negatives:
This is not always a bad thing and not something I’m actively looking for when reading, but this was one of those books where the side characters kind of outshined the main characters.

Also, the pacing in the writing was a bit jarring towards the end of the book. The conflict was unnecessary and should’ve been omitted. I don’t like it when conflict is introduced so late and the resolution to that conflict is swept under the rug because the story “needs” to have a happy ending. Unfortunately, no matter how cute this book started off to be, towards the end, I didn’t really feel a connection to the main characters or their love story.

☆ Overall, I'd give this book a 2.5/5! ☆

Oh, I just loved this book! First off, the narrator did a phenomenal job.
This was so much cozier and funnier than I expected it to be. A sweet, pretty much drama free second chance romance. It was a light, fun, and easy read!

Broken hearts, a second chance at forever love and romance, a cheating pompous now ex-fiancé (not a spoiler as it is in the editor blurb), an overbearing mother, amazing girlfriends and some adorable dogs. Evie loves her best friends and animals. It’s what brings her joy. What doesn’t make her happy is the expectations and judgments of her mother, finding her fiancé in HER bed with someone else and the feeling of not knowing what is next. When she feels adrift, she visits her mentor who was instrumental in her finding her calling of being a veterinarian. She also bumps into Bryson, the man who broke her heart when he disappeared from her life without a word. Due to circumstances and the deep respect for her mentor, together they work to save the rescue shelter that was such a big part of their lives and of the community. I loved Evie’s friends and how they always had her back no matter what. I also loved that they worked together to save the shelter, that she finally decided to stand up for herself and that she finally got her mother to “get her” and let her live her life on her own terms. I did want the author to do better by Evie. She kept going back to men who treated her poorly and though I enjoy and look forward to the inevitable happily ever after, I'd have liked Bryson to do better and Evie to recognize her worth. I did get the happily ever after I read this genre for, but found it a bit disingenuous. The narration was fabulous and absolutely added to the listening experience.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen to this adorable story!

Adorable and quick audiobook. I absolutely loved the narrator. I listened to this on 1.25 speed and it was perfect. I enjoyed the simpleness of the story, but at time it did drag on a little. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Tropes:
~Second change romance
~Animal lovers
~Forced proximity

Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon explores the dynamics of coming from different economic backgrounds, which could have added depth to the story. However, the issue felt overly emphasized, becoming the central focus and dragging out the conflict more than necessary. What should have been a straightforward conversation between two mature adults instead turned into a prolonged miscommunication, which made the tension feel manufactured.
Evie, the main character, started off likeable, but as the conflict wore on, her reactions became harder to sympathize with. At times, it felt like she was upset with the love interest simply for not understanding her privileged background, or for being insecure about it, which made her character less relatable.
That said, the romance itself was sweet, and the dogs absolutely stole the show. Their presence added a heartwarming charm to the story. I just wish the other themes the author introduced had been given more attention and resolution, rather than being left underdeveloped.
Overall, this is a light, enjoyable read if you're in the mood for a sweet romance with adorable dogs—but expect a bit of frustration with the central conflict.

This was super cute! Took me a couple chapters to settle in but I really enjoyed it a lot. The dogs are of course the stars of the show! The characters fell for each other quickly but I liked their connection by the end. This is a nice quick read, great for a palette cleanser. Lighthearted and fun! This was my first book by this author and I’ll be checking out their other work!

The audiobook narrator was very good. She had a lot of variation in her tone so I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen to this cute ALC!
Pugs and Kisses was so freaking cute! If you're looking for a cute read with no drama, this one is for you! Also if you're a dog lover, this is for you!!
Narration:
Listening Speed: 2X
Narrator: Marissa Hampton
Feedback: Marissa got such a lovely voice! Very warm and absolutely perfect for this story!

Such a cute book! I listened to this in one setting on a roadtrip and I really enjoyed it. There was relationship AND family drama, Romance, pet adoption, and showed main character growth. There were times I was audibly trying to interact with the scenes, laughed out loud, and cheered for the characters. It was a little on the cheesy side at times, but it fit well with the story.

This was such a damn good read! It gives you success black doctors, dogs, saving a dog shelter, supportive friends, challenging relationships with your parents, a cheating ex, and a second chance at a roman that was 10 years in the making. I loved this book real bad!

This was definitely a good time but also nothing revolutionary - I kinda knew how the plot was gonna play out from the beginning, but I still liked how it all ended up happening. The third-act conflict felt both blown out of proportion and also not taken seriously enough, which kinda made the ending feel a little off. I also don't think things were wrapped up like at all with her ex, but that may just be that I like it when they have a big confrontation.

The narrator for this did such a great job with it - I do wish it had been a duet style since it was dual POV, but Melissa Hampton did a great job narrating both characters and making their POV's distinct.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

3.5⭐️ Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

In Pugs and Kisses, we follow Evie and Bryson, two veterinarians, who are trying to save an animal rescue that they both worked at in the beginning of their career’s. Although they are both adjusting to sudden life changes, they find themselves drawn to each other for a second chance at love.

In this book you’ll find heartfelt moments, strong female friendships, humorous characters, and adorable pups. The writing style reminds me of a mix of Abby Jimenez and Kennedy Ryan.

The audiobook was very well done! The narrator does a great job of changing her tone to fit the different characters (both male and female). She’s also great at expressing emotions, making you feel what the characters feel.

The one thing I didn’t really like was that the plot fell short a little towards the middle of the book. It got a bit slow for my liking, but I think that this book was made to be more of a cozy romance than an emotional one.

The audiobook was super quick and a really nice book to throw on while driving. I would recommend if you’re looking for an easy, cozy romance!

Off the heels of finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, Evie's life is suddenly more chaotic - she is without a steady job, she has impulsively adopted a dog, and an old flame from the past has crashed back into her life. When a friend from her Vet school days comes back to town and they learn their beloved community animal shelter is at risk of closing, Evie and Bryson team up. Doing whatever they can to save this important part of their past and important resource in their community, they rekindle their friendship and start to wonder what would happen if it escalates to more.

Marissa Hampton is a phenomenal narrator, and I love her portrayal of Evie and Bryson's story. In both the humorous and emotional scenes, she transported me into the middle of the story and made it truly come alive as an audiobook. Full of heart, humor, and lots of adorable dogs, Pugs and Kisses is a perfect read for animal and romance lovers alike.

This story is as cute as its cover, and I want to hang this cover up as art on my wall so that’s saying something. It’s also a great contender for books about women who aren’t lawyers or writers. Evie’s a vet which is a surprisingly under utilised character profession given the animal side character opportunities it gives us. Bryson’s a vet surgeon, aka also a friend to animals, making him an even swoonier hero. The two of them together are saving animal shelters and falling (back) in love as they do it, and the rest of the book is just cute all round. I also loved how the narration for this book captured the voice and vibes of Evie well, and it was easy to listen to given how conversational it was. The only time I had an issue was during the spicy scenes. They felt like they were being read to me rather than performed if that makes sense, so it didn’t feel as impactful as they might have otherwise felt. It’s still an amazing audiobook though and Marissa’s narration really drags you into the story.

Thanks Netgalley and Hachette Audio for letting me in on this one.

Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon is such a cozy, heartfelt read! If you’re a dog lover, this one will definitely tug at your heartstrings. The story follows Evie and Bryson: two veterinarians who had a brief romantic spark back in college that didn’t quite work out. Years later, Bryson returns to their hometown for a new job he accepted, and fate brings them back together when they discover the beloved veterinary sanctuary they once interned at is in danger of closing. Determined to save the place that meant so much to them and their mentor, they team up to protect it. In the process they end up rekindling the love they thought they’d left behind. ❤️❤️
It’s warm, nostalgic, and such a super sweet second chance romance and slow burn ❤️🐶🐾

As a dog lover I loved hearing about all the pups they treat as well as their own 🥹. Evie’s mother drove me absolutely crazy and I did wish that there was a bit more of a conflict regarding Evie’s issue with her mother because it seemed to be resolved a bit quickly but I think nonetheless this was a wonderful story.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed it! The production was done quite well, I enjoyed the short music at the beginning and would’ve liked to hear more of that! I also enjoyed the narrators friendly demeanor and tone! It made the book both engaging and relaxing.

All in all this is definitely a book I’d recommend! Can’t wait for this to release so I can get a physical copy for my bookshelf 💗

SUPER CUTE I loved the friendships especially, the girls were SO FUNNY (it's rare a book will have me laughing out loud but Evie's two besties were so blunt and hilarious I loved them!) and the main love interest was unremarkable, but a good match for the main character Evie. As in, I wouldn't add him to my list of book boyfriends, but I'm glad they got together. Also, HATE Evie's mother the strained relationship was PAINFUL in a way that means it was really well-executed but because of how much it made me hate her, I unfortunately could not get behind the redemption arc. Sorry.

Also, I really wish this book was marketed as the second book in a series, because I could tell when I was reading it that it was a sequel and also (very clearly) whose story would come in the next book, so not having read the first book in the series made me feel excluded. I for sure think readers would benefit from understanding what they're getting into when picking up this book.

Absolutely obsessed. The narrator was perfect, to the point that I thought there were two different narrators. The story was hilarious, heartwarming and exactly what I wanted

Dogs and Second chance romance done right ; what not to like?
I had been reading alot of fantasy books lately so this was a good palette cleanser. It was a fun and cute read.
🔸Second chance
🔸veterinarians
🔸fast paced; easy to read
🔸no long chapters
🔸feel good read
🔸little spicy
🔸dog lovers

This was such a cute, cozy read!! I adored the main characters and their love of animals. The strong FMC and strong female friendships were also a joy to read! There wasn’t TOO much drama, but just enough that each of the main characters had to work through some issues to get to some personal growth. The storyline was super sweet and the ending was adorable and so satisfying for a hopeless romantic (and dog lover)! I would rate the spice maybe one 🌶️. The voice narrator in this audiobook was also wonderful!!

Cute rom-com filled with cute dogs, love, healing, and adventure as the two main characters try to save the animal shelter. I love second chance romance and this along with the the sisterhood of Evie and her friends really made it a great story. I was hooked since the first chapter and really rooted for them the entire way.

This is a really cute second chance rom com. I think dog lovers will really love and appreciate this one.

A vet and a surgeon?! Yeah what an incredible power couple. I personally loved that she named her dog, Waffles because that’s my cats name!!!!! So it only slightly hurt when her friend kept saying it’s a stupid name lol.

I really wish there wasn’t a 3rd act conflict however. It felt a bit rushed with this being a shorter story. I didn’t like the things Bryson said at all and it was hard to forgive him so quickly honestly. When the rest of the story felt so sweet and cute, I didn’t want the bad things. But cest la vie.

The audiobook was really well done. For it being one narrator she did a fantastic job and handling both voices. I didn’t feel confused at all which is a huge plus.