I so wanted to like this book. I followed the hunt for Wolfy on Facebook, and held my fingers crossed for him, I cheered when he was found, and so I wanted to read the rest of his story.

I got about a third of the way through, before Wolfy gets lost, I told myself to keep going, but I just couldn't get past how unpleasant Kate Spicer comes across on paper, and I couldn't finish the book. Does she realise? Did she think it was going to endear her to us to read of her coke habit? Of how she lets people down all the time?

All I wanted was a nice, warm story about a doggy...

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I was filled with joy and sadness in equal measure. Well worth a read if you are a dog lover

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K. /Ebury Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Lost Dog: a Love Story’ by Kate Spicer in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful memoir that chronicles journalist Kate Spicer’s adoption of a rescue dog named Wolfy. When considering adoption she was a bit thrown by his lurcher credentials. ‘Any idea what mix there is in there?’ ‘Well, he’s a bit chunky, I reckon he could be a labradoodle saluki cross but I really don’t know.’ Labradoodle/saluki? This wasn’t the regal lurcher blend I had in mind. I liked the look of the shaggy lurchers; they were robust, like mutts, yet with a leggy, lean, royally handsome silhouette that felt all pedigree. I’d look dead cool beside one of those, I thought.’

Despite this Kate is aware that a dog is not a fashion statement and her life certainly changes when Wolfy arrives. She basically falls in love. Then Wolfy disappears and Kate, her partner, and friends frantically search the streets of London for him. She also utilises social media to spread the word.

I have to admit that I was a little wary about reading a memoir in which a beloved animal companion goes missing. So I deliberately spoiled myself by searching for her #FindWolfy - that’s how much of a softie I am.

While I am more a cat person, I loved this funny, insightful and moving memoir. Certainly recommended.

I enjoyed this. The dog parts were great but there was a big cast of other characters that popped up throughout the book that were more of a distraction from the main story than adding anything to it for me. I really enjoyed the ending though.

This is a story about overcoming addiction by putting others before yourself, in Kate Spicer’s case it was her dog. This way not appeal if you aren’t an animal lover, and will be difficult to relate to if you aren’t a city professional or ‘media type’. That said It is well written with some tight observations on modern life.

I defy anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Wolfy. I started reading this book and when I got to part two I had to keep reading without pause to the end. Kate is a journalist, disillusioned and somewhat lost. On a cocaine fuelled night she writes 'I am just enjoying the anaesthetic escapism from a non-specific discomfort that throughout my whole adult life I have never quite been able to escape unless I am high'. She decides that she will adopt a dog. Little did she know the effect Wolfy would have on her life 'Beauty without ego, love without conditions, regal without entitlement, packaged in fur and by my side'. He makes everything better. So imagine her heartbreak when he runs away whilst in the care of her brother. So begins the worst 9 days of her life as she is consumed with trying to find him. Social media campaigns, consulting psychics, hours pounding the streets, she is determined to find her lost dog. Read this book and fall in love. Truly beautiful.

Kate is a middle aged woman who would like some order and stability in her life but is easily distracted into a chaotic/insecure lifestyle. Kate hasn't managed to find any real anchors, although she is in a relationship that is meaningful, there is little the couple share to cement it together and distractions keep taking Kate on troubled paths. When Kate gets a dog Wolfy, it somehow changes her life. This is not a soppy story, as it isn't all plain sailing. Kate has to develop this new relationship. I am not sure if this book is about loss or love or both.
Wolfy goes missing and Kate realises how her life has been affected by her dog, as she continues the search for him.
I liked the book as it was down to earth, believable, it was touching. I wasn't sure who I was routing for, Kate or Wolfy. Throughout this book I always had an underlying fear of how it would end. I knew I must finish it quickly and I did.

I normally really enjoy this sort of book so was looking forward to reading, but gave up halfway through from disinterest. Couldn't warm to the author and her story, found the writing tedious and the author irritating. I'm sure there are those who will enjoy this story but it wasn't for me.

As someone who loves her dogs and has herself been ‘saved’ by their unconditional love and companionship I really enjoyed this book and everything held within it.
Such an emotionally-driven, honest and well written book.

I love my dog, I love reading about dogs, so this book looked promising to me. I hadn't heard of the author beforehand, so was pleased to find her writing style is very accessible, However, I didn't much appreciate the overwhelming sense of fashionable living and the inevitable crash landing that led to a dog joining her life. But to then appreciate the company and kinship, the stability and love that comes with dog ownership, she then loses the poor thing! Careless and reckless behaviour, the soul searching that followed just didn't warm me enough to really feel the impact, but this is still a very well written ode to a lost love.

This is a rather compelling love story about a woman who finds her way back to her best self by falling for a dishevelled lurcher and adopting him. I didn't know anything about Kate Spicer before I started reading this. I am impressed that she is so frank in the way she writes about herself. To be honest, she doesn't paint the best picture of herself, and I did wonder at the start, quite where the book was going. The dog is the salvation of the book as well as the person. Even though I'm not a dog person, I rather warmed to Wolfy. He seemed such a rakish charmer.

The story of how "Wolfie, a lurcher dog, purchased by Kate Spicer, changes her life for the better. Wolfie proves to be the catalyst that incentivises Katie to change her life-style. Instead of drinking, partying and occasionally using drugs she becomes someone who regularly walks her dog and socialises with other owners. Wolfie's unconditional love also helps Katie rebuild her relationship with her partner. But, lest you think this sounds like a somewhat predictable read, let me add that when Wolfie goes missing Katie's life is turned upside down and the story acquires a completely different dimension. Her desperate search through the darker parts of London will touch the heart of any dog owner. As to the out-turn - buy the book, enjoy the read and find out.

It’s not really new material- girl whose life is a bit of a car crash finds some sort of redemption and meaning after adopting a dog.

Not really much more to say, if you like this sort of book you will enjoy it. I didn’t find anything new on offer

This book appealed to me because of the comparisons to Fleabag and I love anything dog related but overall it wasn't for me. I wasn't keen on the writing style and found it really difficult to get into and I had no connection with the main character. I hate marking anything DNF but I found this such a slog that I gave up about 3/4 of the way through.

A story that all pet owners dread. The emotions felt by the owners are well described but I did find some of the book rather tedious.

Kate, a well-known journalist, decides, after one too many nights on the drugs and drink, to adopt a rescue dog - a lurcher she calls Wolfy. Almost instantly, her messy life is transformed by this adorable creature. She finds herself making better and more responsible decisions, making new friends, her relationship improving, and her world opening up. But then...Wolfy runs away.

I really enjoyed this book. Kate writes so poignantly and honestly about the changes that needed to be made in her life and how becoming a dog-owner helped make those changes happen. And thankfully it does, spoiler alert, have a happy ending.

A must-read for dog lovers!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Kate Spicer's book really touched me. My own rescue dog has done more for me than can ever be told, so I really engaged with the story of Kate and Wolfy. The book puts into words just how much you can love/fall in love with a dog, and I read the story of Wolfy's disappearance with my heart in my mouth even though I knew the outcome from reading about the book.
It's also a tale of social media working at its most positive best.

Sorry but this not my type of book. I did not like the writing style and found it very hard to keep reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Heartwarming, visceral, funny, moving and perfect for that dog person in your life. Wolfy is a dog that anyone could fall in love with.

A sweet tale (or should that be tail) about how a rescue dog saves the main character Kate from the bottle and a messy life only to go missing. As Kate searches for her new best friend she comes across a whole range of characters. At times funny and tragic this story explores the bonds between man and his four legged friend, and how they can both save each other.
This is a great book for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a fluff ball with four legs and a wagging tail.