Not until I finished this book did I realize that it was by the same author as _The Girl With Three Birthdays_, a book I remembered enjoying when it came out a couple of years ago. This book is a very different kind of memoir than that one, as this book centers on Eddington’s many years as the wife of a Michigan veterinarian, but Eddington’s writing remains appealing regardless of the story she is telling. Because she herself is not a veterinarian, the perspective is slightly different from that of the James Herriot books, and many of the stories Eddington tells involve her own family’s pets over the years. But the often adventuresome, sometimes sad, and sometimes messy experiences she has to relate are almost wholly charmingly told here….and the reason for not looking in the freezer, per the warning in the title, ends up being what one might predict, and the warning is understandable. I was happy to read this book and will be happy to read anything else Patti Eddington might decide to write.

Don’t Look in the Freezer is a book for animal lovers and it is wonderful! Patti Eddington is the wife of a veterinarian and the mother of a vet tech and her memoir is full of the laugh out loud funny, sad and totally unexpected animal events that have happened in her long marriage. The title refers to what could be waiting in the freezer along with the ice cream and the frozen vegetables (you can guess). Each chapter is a short story in itself recounting an adventure. Dr. Jim’s experience with a bat, the cat in the ceiling, the day Gabbi the greyhound escaped, floating squirrels, the threatened pig dump - these are all my favorites. Underneath “the very strange life of a veterinarians’s wife” is the story of a marriage. A long, successful marriage. Patti dealt with missed special occasions when there were vet emergencies. She helped support Jim’s new career with long commutes to her newspaper jobs and evening hours helping at the vet office. She raised a daughter and cared for many, many cats and dogs at home and in the clinic. Don’t Look in the Freezer is a gem! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, She Writes Press and Patti Eddington for this ARC.

A delightful memoir by the wife of a veterinarian. Perfect for animal lovers and fans of poignant and funny life stories.

Have you truly loved a pet or creature in your time here on Earth? Have you even had some of these critters that tested your nerves & made you remark they will be “your very last pet ever” or even the last of your livestock? Initially I worried this book might be too sad bec’ we all know our pets do not live as long as humans. A veterinarian’s office has been the locale for too many farewells in my 60+ years.

You need not worry here, I read this book in 2 days bec’ it was a pleasure & during that time - I had a family member check thinking I was crying. I was laughing so darn hard at these adventures that the author’s pets & patients provided. The good news.? This went on & on throughout the entire 248 pages.

In these times, you don’t know how I welcome that opportunity to smile & laugh!. This book will stir your memory of pets from long ago or a pet you knew at someone’s home. Rest assured too that this book is written by an acclaimed journalist so you are getting a quality storyteller.

I was probably only 20/30 pages & I only wished I could meet this author & her spouse (the Dr) to tell them what reading it meant! Hopefully the fact that I am preordering two copies is a measure of my admiration. When you have to order a copy for your best friend 1,000 miles away bec’ you know she will love it, this is a good read.

The NetGalley provided this book in exchange for a fair & honest review. This is my first attempt at writing for NetGalley. May every coming book match this one and if I ever do get yet another “last pet”, Sophie
Zankman” is what its name will be, Read/buy this book to find out how that relates to Steve Martin in 1995’s The Father Of The Bride Part 2 & this particular read & get one of the endless giggles.

One of a kind book. So interesting. If you’re an animal lover you need to read this book.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got this book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Don't Look in the Freezer is such a delightful collection of heartfelt memories and funny moments that I read it as fast -- if not faster -- than a novel.

I considered Don't Look in the Freezer as a collection of themed essays or short story style remembrances assembled into a book versus a linear memoir. I think this is essential to understand going in as the stories are more or less separated into themes within each chapter. This means the timeline goes back and forth regularly. Given this isn't a 'memoir,' I found it easy to keep up and think Patti Eddington did a good job of establishing the main players early. Very occasionally, you may encounter an additional mention of an employee who hasn't appeared for a while, but Patti usually attaches a brief note about them that clears things up -- oh, this was the teen with a crush or the first employee, etc.

The anecdotes in this book run a full range of emotions. While there is sad (and you receive a disclaimer about a chapter that could be more sensitive early on), the book overall focuses on humorous moments or heartwarming tales. There is the journey before and the struggle through veterinary school, rough early years working for other -- often less caring -- individuals, and notes about Patti's career in media. There is also a good bit of reflection featuring better times, so you end up with a solid tale of success even though the book doesn't live in this arena. Most of it has the spotlight firmly on anecdotes featuring animal care or the pursuit and maintenance of a practice.

I think Patti is charming, and I loved her stories about Vet Jim and her daughter. The family's love for their own personal pets and those they care for really shines through. After reading this, I wish more of us had doctors for humans who cared as much!

Patti's other book will be a definite read for me now.