First published 2022
Rover opens his eyes for the first time in a world that smells of warmth and milk. The golden retriever puppy learns to walk, to play, and to love his littermates before humans arrive to choose new families for each dog. Rover finds himself separated from everything familiar when a family takes him to their home. He must navigate the confusing rules of human life while missing his mother and siblings. The puppy struggles to understand what his people want from him as he grows from a clumsy ball of fur into a loyal companion. Through mistakes and small victories, Rover discovers that love can grow in unexpected places. His journey reveals how connection and belonging develop between species that speak different languages but share the same need for family.
Genres: fiction, animals, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
310 pages · Kindle Edition · Storytide