When I saw the title and the cover of The Treehouse on Dog River Road, I was sold. It sounded like a cute read, and yes, it turned out to be one. In this book we meet Hannah, who after leaving her job in Boston accepts the 'job' of taking care of her sister's little kids for the summer in order to take a time-out and figure out what she wants. Little did she know she would have an intriguing neighbor in our other MC. Nathan has just moved back to Vermont to be closer to family. Happy to own a home for the first time, he is looking for someone to settle down with. Through a series of hilarious meetings, some instigated by the kids, some by Cooper, Nathan's escape artist of a dog.

Overall, this was a sweet book. The way Hannah throws herself at the treehouse-building project was admirable and for someone who likes to tackle big and overly ambitious projects like that, a joy of recognition. I loved seeing Nathan's connection to and love for his family. Little Nora is a trooper and an all-round awesome character. Finally, the setting against a Vermont summer drips from the pages, making me believe I was there all the time.

I will say there were a couple of things I had an issue with. First and foremost, suspension of disbelief will be required. Who in their right minds would leave their 4 and 6 year-olds with their aunt who has never spent much time with kids to go on a research trip in South America?! What? I also wasn't too big a fan of Hannah's behavior towards the romance developing between her and Nathan, putting such a clear end to everything.

All in all, some good parts, some not so great, but I'd definitely pick up another book by this author as this was only the debut!

When her life seems to be falling apart, Hannah accepts a job for the summer taking care of her sister's two kids while her and her husband travel for work. How hard can it be to take care of two young kids especially with them in summer camp all day. This will give Hannah plenty of time to rethink her life, next career and new city.

The nights and weekends with the kids are full and busy but Hannah realizes she's going to need a project to occupy herself while the kids are in camp. She dreams up a treehouse for her niece and nephew and once she gets approval from her sister the building begins. There's a new neighbour next door and she should probably let them know what she's up to.

The last thing Hannah expected to do this summer is to fall for a guy. But it's fine. He's just a summer fling. No big deal. Except he's perfect in every way. But Hannah's determined not to make life decisions based on a guy. This time she's following her dreams. Vermont is nice but she really thinks Denver is where it's at.

The Treehouse on Dog River Road seemed very predictable and in some ways it was but there were definitely parts that weren't predictable. Overall it was a really great story with some interesting twists and turns.

Going into this, I wasn't expecting much. I mostly requested this because it sounded like a fun read and the title was interesting. I can't say that this disappointed me since I had 0 expectations, but it didn't impress me either. Middle of the road kind of book for me.
As for the characters, I liked Nathan and I was glad we had his POV at times, and Hannah was meh. Nora was the best character. I loved her and sometimes she made me laugh. Cooper was my second fave, mostly because he's a dog and my dog is also called Cooper.
The romance felt rushed, which to be honest fits with Hannah's mind set of it being a summer fling. Nontheless, I didn't vibe with it. Although they had their cute and funny moments, halfway through I didn't really care about their relationship (mostly because I already knew where it was going). Their dialogues felt like long monologues at times. Someone else in their review said that it felt like they were being interviewed by each other and I think that's pretty accurate.
The ending was so weird. It came out of nowehre and didn't really make sense, in my opinion. Also, I felt like an epilogue would have made sense.
The book as a whole was confusing at times. Names would randomly appear and make no sense to me. For example, instead of referring to her mother as "mom, mother..." the author used "Elizabeth" which really confused me. This happened several times as there were so many names and characters.
Overall, a fast read and a cute idea but to me it fell flat.

This was a cute story and I think there's potential here, but ultimately it fell flat for me. The writing feels like a stream of consciousness and I could have done without hearing a lot of Hannah's inner thoughts.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the premise is a bit faulty. I'm not sure how many parents would leave their two children (ages 6 and 4) with someone who admittedly has never spent more than a few hours alone with them... For an entire summer... While they are in South America. I recognize that Hannah is the children's aunt, but it's made pretty clear that her experience with children was minimal prior to this summer "job". If the author had created a character who enjoys kids and regularly spends time with her niece and nephew, I think this could have been a fun plot

The majority of the plot focuses on Hannah's big summer project: building a treehouse. The reader is treated to every little detail of the task, whether they want to be or not. I found this to be pretty dull and struggled not to skim past Hannah's very detailed descriptions of lumber, screws, and building plans.

I will say, the cover is absolutely adorable and the characters were cute, especially six-year-old Nora. I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't my favorite.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Catherine Drake for allowing me to be an early reader

I absolutely loved this book! It was truly written with so much love! The characters were well designed and had many layers to them! The Vermont setting enhanced the plot and the character dynamics were so amazing! I loved the romance aspect of this book and I didn’t want it to end!

What a fun book! Nothing beats New England in the summer! Not only did it make me wish I was in Vermont, but it made me wish I had an epic tree house.

Thank you NetGallery for the advanced copy!

There was just something about the blurb, title and cover of The Treehouse On Dog River Road that caught my attention and made it impossible to resist adding this debut to my shelves... I've been looking for an entertaining and uplifting contemporary romance, and I definitely hit the jackpot here. This debut is focused on self-improvement, family as well as a slow-burn romance that hits all the marks; a very strong debut and Catherine Drake will definitely be firm on my radar in the future!

The Vermont setting is a real bonus and the descriptions made it come alive for me. The backdrop of the Green Mountains, the nature, the different activities the main characters went on during the story... It definitely made me want to visit myself. I could also appreciate that the natural disaster element was something that actually happened in the area; it made the story feel more credible. Another bonus is without doubt the central role of the dog Cooper. I always love it when a story incorporates a pet into the story, and Cooper was not only adorable but also important to the plot itself.

The story has a dual POV structure and switches between Hannah and Nathan. Both characters were easy to grow attached to and the rest of the side characters were great as well. It's interesting to see their relationship slowly develop, and the fact that the two are (temporary) neighbors makes for a great proximity trope. I liked how the children of Hannah's sister Molly are portrayed and incorporated into the plot; they made for cute additions and are of course easy 'obstacles' to prevent Hannah and Nathan getting to know each other better.

Family is an important element in The Treehouse On Dog River Road for both main characters. Hannah is looking after her sister's kids of course, but we also see her parents popping up. Nathan seems to have a close relationship with his family as well and on top of this we have his sister's wedding incorporated into the plot. Like I mentioned before, this story is also about self-discovery. Hannah is trying to find out where to go next and what her future life will look like... I like the way she tackled her thinking by starting a physically challenging project by building the kids a treehouse.

All in all The Treehouse On Dog River Road turned out to be a very satisfying debut that is mainly uplifting with a few heavier moments sprinkled in. It's a great slow-burn romance without sexy scenes (another bonus!) and a family-focused contemporary about discovering yourself and making tough choices about the future. Recommended if you enjoy the genre!

I was really enjoying this book at the beginning and then i felt like it kinda fell flat for me. I think any longer and i wouldn't have finished it. Was a good book length.

My latest review: The Treehouse on Dog River Road, by Catherine Drake - slated to release officially on May 10th, 2022.

What it's about: Hannah is looking is having a mini life crisis. Her current job no longer interested her, so when layoffs started happening, she wasn't as sad as some of her other coworkers to go. However, she has no idea what she would like to do in place of this. She spends a good portion of the book trying to find other things she is passionate about.

What I liked: I liked that Hannah spent the summer watching her sister Molly and her husband Ted's children as a sort of nanny for the season while they went off on a work trip. For some reason, I always enjoy books involving children. They were cute characters.

I also liked Nathan's character, and how close he was with his family members. You could see this through his grandfather's birthday celebration and his sister Grace's wedding. We love us a good family-oriented man. :) He also has a dog - who wouldn't want a man with a pet?!

What I wasn't a fan of: I didn't like how quickly Hannah tried to dismiss the idea of a relationship with Nathan after completing her summer at her sister's house. She was ready to write him off at the drop of a hat, like her emotions had some sort of switch that could be turned on and off so easily. But mostly, my main concern or issue with the book was how poorly it was formatted. I'm not sure if it's because it hasn't gone through the final editing process, or because my Kindle is the original 2007 version, but it didn't fare so well while I was reading it. There were some lines misplaced periodically throughout.

Overall, I would rate this novel a solid 3/5 stars!

If Catherine Drake’s The Tree House on Dog River Road is any indication of her works to come, I will be a fan for life! I was shocked to discover that this was her first book.

Hannah Spencer and Nathan Wild are the most relatable “book couple” I have read recently. Their love story is for those who want a realistic look at dating in the 21st century.

Both Hannah and Nathan are on the cusp of their adult lives truly starting. Hannah, has just been let go from her unfulfilling job in Boston and decides to take a few months to figure out her next move. She spends her summer in Vermont taking care of her niece and nephew so her sister and brother-in-law, both professors, can conduct research in Central America. Nathan, a first time homeowner, just moved back to Vermont to be close to family. While he is a little more established, having a great job working in tech, he is ready to have a forever plus one.

This is a super cute read that not only kept me intrigued, but highlighted the importance of caring for our ever changing planet. Drake does not preach at her readers. She used real life events to communicate her point which can best be shown through the work of Molly and Ted’s research.

If you are looking for a sweet, romantic story, look no further!

Special thanks to NetGalley.com and She Writes Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

4 Stars!

I would first like to thank NetGalley & She Writes Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review of the material! :)

Gosh — I’m still buzzing from this novel!!

I want to start off by saying that I really loved the way that Catherine Drake incorporated the essence of Vermont into the novel — I now have an urge to book a ticket to explore the state this summer (in an attempt to put myself in Hannah’s shoes).

I adore the small town ambiance that this novel exudes, and found it to be a cozy, feel-good read! :)

Hannah is a cross road in her life. She is twentysix and has just left her job in boston to babysit her sister's children durins the summer while trying to figure her life out. Little she knows that Vermont and a handsome and great guiy-next-door will put her life outside down and will help her find her future.

2.5

I didn’t like this as much as I thought I was going to. The writing style is my LEAST favorite thing about this story. It was very straight forward, robotic and too simplistic for me. The dialogue between the characters often felt like they were being interviewed by eachother. The story itself is honestly just okay.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**

Hannah Spencer is 28 years old and at a crossroads in her life. She was recently laid off from her job. She decides to help babysit for her sister, Molly for the summer. Norah 6, and Owen 4 keep her busy. She decides to build a treehouse in the backyard when they are at summer camp. She meets the new neighbor and starts a friendship.

I was totally immersed in this book. I loved the characters and the setting. I ended up reading the whole thing in a few hours. I'm sad it's over I'm going to miss the characters.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of The Treehouse On Dog River Road. I loved the story of Hannah, figuring out her life.

This story is so sweet. It’s a fun and quick read that will also make you laugh. It felt rushed in some parts but overall, I really liked it. I’m looking forward to more books from Catherine.
I recommend this reading.

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free e-ARC of The Treehouse on Dog River Road in exchange of an honest review.

Hannah Spencer, 28, is a twenty-eight-year-old woman who wants to improve everything about her life. Nathan Wild has recently returned to Vermont after 10 years in cities, and he has no plans to change anything about his life.

Hannah heads to Vermont for the summer to look after her sister's children and do some serious soul searching after being laid off from her depressing job in Boston. She begins on an ambitious project: building a treehouse for her niece and nephew, set against the gorgeous landscape of the Green Mountains. She devises a strategy to kick-start her life with a new job out West while she hammers away. Will Nathan-next-door, on the other hand, make her desire to shift course more difficult? The Treehouse on Dog River Road is a humorous, romantic, and inspiring story about a young lady taking control of her life and making difficult choices about love and employment to create the life she desires.

Everything in this book appealed to me. The scenery is so relaxing that it reminds me of the province where my family vacations every year. The characters were quite endearing. The chemistry between them was incredible. However, I believe it was a little hurried.

Because it's promoted as an enemies to lovers story, I was expecting more banter. I really enjoyed the tropes of forced proximity and fake dating. All of my favorite tropes were mixed in one book, making this novel feel like a fever dream.

This seemed like it would be a wonderful escapist read. I liked the characters and the Vermont setting, but everything about it fell flat and halfway through the book I was no longer interested in seeing how to story played out.

This book is incredibly sweet. It's just waiting to be made into a Hallmark movie (and I mean that as a compliment.) Hannah is an idealistic millennial who went from building houses in Kenya to a soul sucking job and is ready to get back to her philanthropic roots. She spends the summer watching her niece and nephew while trying to figure out what her future looks like and building a treehouse for the kids to rival all treehouses. Enter approachably hot neighbor Nathan. He and his adorable dog Cooper worm their way into Hannah, Nora, and Owen's lives for the summer. But is it just for the summer?

I admired Hannah's drive to find a job that benefitted society and got why she wanted to make the job decision for herself but oh man, her compartmentalization of the different sections of her life was annoying. It was incredibly naive of her to think that would actually work. Nathan was a bit too sweet and submissive for me. But despite all these things I loved the book. It does have an out of the blue Nicholas Sparks style end, but more of a The Longest Road or The Notebook bittersweet end, not Nights of Rodanthe or Dear John want to smash the book against a wall type end lol.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Ideally after finished a book the reader should have a positive reaction for a happy ending or a mystery solved. I was just glad to finish.

Hannah happily accepted redundancy from her boring job in Boston and received enough money to keep her financially solvent for a few months while she concentrated on what she wants in life and 'finds herself'.

Hannah's sister Molly and brother-in-law Ted are scientists who are invited to spend two months in Patagonia researching their individual subjects , they suggest that Hannah moves into their house in Vermont to care for their two children, aged 6 and 4. What! Hannah is single, completely inexperienced with children, has only spent a few hours with the family and never alone with the children, yet the parents plan to leave her totally in charge. No Way. This is a terrible suggestion.

The children are registered for summer day camp, leaving Hannah alone during the day to decide her future and look for work, instead she decides to single handed build a tree house in the garden. A mammoth and ambitious plan when the only building experience she's had was helping to build houses in Africa. Nice idea, but I wondered where all the building material would be kept as would be a magnet for any child to investigate.

Newly moved in Nathan-next-door offers to occasionally help building the tree house, there is a definite attraction between them, but she continually states she'll leave Vermont after the summer. Yet on their first date she's mentally planning future couple activities. He'd be an ideal boyfriend, attentive and loving, while she insist he's only temporary.

I didn't enjoy the writing style, finding it more reportage than a novel and containing far too much waffle. Also couldn't connect with Hannah who seemed self absorbed and played mind games with Nathan.

I felt the end was rushed with all problems being resolved in a few pages. It wasn't a bad book, remove the unnecessary details, add some genuine romance to Nathan and Hannah's relationship and this could gain 4 or 5-star rating. As it stands, I consider my 3-stars are generous.