This is one of those books you love and hate. You love it because the dog Lily is portrayed with such realistic canine character, yet you hate it because it inspires raw emotions. As a dog-lover, I'm extremely sensitive to stories with dog characters, whether it's a happy story or a sad story. I read this book in one giant gulp. The story was whimsical, magical and beautiful, all the while it was sad and crushing. Many of the scenarios and scenes come back to me, making this one of the most memorable books I've read in a long time.

I really loved the beginning of this novel. It is sweet and endearing but I am not going to be able to finish it. I have been warned why this is making so many people cry and I really do not do well with that kind of thing at all. Thank you for the opportunity.

So, I very rarely pick up a book and not read it. But, unfortunately, this was one of those books. I couldn't get past the voice of the writer. It grated on my nerves. On the other hand, I love the cover of the book. :) Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review even though I didn't finish it.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will. Enjoy

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review, though this is more about the audiobook -- because the hilarious performance added so much beyond what my head-reading voice would have done, especially the voices he used for both Lily and the Octopus, as well as some friends and other characters.
This is a very emotional story about a man who is way too attached to his dog, and what happens to that relationship and the human ones around them. They are such a unit, with their boy talk, board game nights, etc.; but through an unfortunate process, the human is spurred to reconnect with others of his breed.
It's an amazing look at the battle for Lily's life, the dilemmas over treatment and coping options, and effects.

Do you like gorgeously written books?
Do you like books that make you cry like a tiny baby?
Do you like dogs?

THEN READ THIS BOOK.

It's a quick read despite the devastation that accompanies it. Beautiful crying happens. It's great.

Cancer stories are a trigger for me, even told in this unique narrative.

This book was not for me, and I feel a little unfair in writing this review as I think, in large part, it's because I'm not a huge dog person. Don't get me wrong - I love dogs and do enjoy books that involve them in their storylines, but I from never having been a dog owner I'm not sure I was able to fully appreciate the bond and relationship between a human and their dog. For me, the narrative was a little over the top cutesy, but again that's a personal style preference.

This one made me laugh out loud, but also made me cry. Lily and the Octopus captures the pure love we have for our fur babies, and the unabashed adoration they give in return. It has taken me a year to get the courage to read this book, but I am so glad I did.

Before I started this book I knew that it would make me cry. What I didn't know, was that it would be worth it. This was a wonderful book (and Michael Urie kills it in the audiobook). Honestly, I couldn't put it down, and more than anything I just wanted to give Ted a hug and get rid of every octopus. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is a rather heartbreaking story about a man and his aging dog and the life they lived together. The underlying story in this book is quite lovely and the author's note at the end was a beautiful tribute to Lily. However, I could have done without the whole octopus theme. I also wasn't overly found of how the dog was personified throughout the book. Yes, people talk to their dogs and have "conversations" but the board games and the themes of first love pushed it too far for me. It simply made Ted seem like a sad, lonely, pathetic man. When the inflatable sharks took on their own voice it was way too much. I also wasn't fond of the entire boat/fishing trip theme. I guess I just couldn't latch onto the imagery in this book. As I got to the end of this book (at about 85% finished), it became more real, more heart wrenching, more likable. Finally, it all came together and I felt a connection with Ted and Lily. Unfortunately...not a book I felt compelled to pick up once I started.

Lily and the Octopus opens on a Thursday evening. Ted knows it was a Thursday because that's the day he and Lilly, his beloved dachshund, reserve for talking about boys they think are cute. (They don't always agree but they do tend toward younger men.) He suddenly notices the octopus. On Lily's head. He's not sure how or when it came to reside there and he clearly feels some guilt over not having noticed it sooner. He, of course, understands what the octopus is but he will not call it anything other than "the octopus". Not when speaking about it to his best friend, Trent. Or to his questionably competent therapist, Jenny. Not even to Lilly's own veterinarian.

Throughout the book, we learn about how Ted came to choose Lily (the runt of the litter!), and the many adventures (real and imagined) they've had together throughout the years.

The one thing that struck me throughout this story was how authentic Ted's voice was. There was no doubt in my mind that Steven Rowley had loved and lost a dog at some point. The anthropomorphizing was so spot-on! I can just see Lily talking to Ted. A head tilt here, an averted gaze there. I totally get how he knew what she was thinking at every moment.

I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that, at the end of this book, Lilly does lose her battle with the octopus. And yes, I did cry a fair amount. But this book is so much more than your typical loved-and-lost dog story . It's about self-discovery, unconditional love, and a life well-lived.

To be fair, I realize have a different perspective than most on the loss of an old dog such as Lily. You see, Lily was one of the lucky ones. She lived with and was loved by the same person her whole life. Only 10% of dogs are so lucky. 10%!! And though she was 12, which is not super-old for a doxie, she had lived a fairly long life. So, while I felt so sorry for Ted, I was able to feel happy for Lily in many ways. I see so much suffering and cruelty in the dog rescue world. I wish they could all live and die like Lily; with life-long respect, dignity, and love.

I loved reading this interview with the author featured on Electric Lit. He talks about giving Lily a voice, his insistence that Lily have an octopus (a giraffe would not have worked), and his unwillingness to allow the book to be de-gayed. The latter of which, thankfully, was not an issue to anyone except Surely (not her real name) on Goodreads.

I'm so happy that I finally read this book. Some part of me probably procrastinated in some Freudian way fearing the sadness but I needn't have worried. The scales still managed to tip toward happy here. And I can now cross this book off my 2017 Mount TBR Challenge. I'll also be posting a link to this review from Read Diverse Books as I'm participating in The Read Diverse 2017 Challenge this year as well. Read Diverse Books is committed to reviewing, discussing, and promoting books written by and about people of color and other marginalized voices. If you're not already subscribing, please check out Naz' blog!

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.