You Lucky Dog

June 15, 2020
A canine mix-up leads to unexpected love in this bright, bubbly rom-com from bestseller London (A Royal Kiss & Tell). Freelance publicist Carly Kennedy’s path would likely never have crossed with neuroscientist Max Sheffington were it not for their drug-dealing dog walker getting arrested and their two near-identical basset hounds being returned to the wrong owners. A frazzled Carly spends two days untangling the mystery of the switched hounds, only to finally arrive at Max’s door and discover that her previously well-behaved Baxter is now a bandana-wearing couch potato. Adding insult to injury, Max has the gall to ask her to continue to look after his basset, Hazel, over the weekend while he attends an out-of-town dog show with his autistic brother. Swayed by his desperate situation, Carly reluctantly agrees—with disastrous results. There’s heady chemistry between the optimistic Carly and the slightly nerdy Max as they stumble into coparenting the pooches, with the fabulous, four-legged supporting characters providing both laugh-out-loud hilarity and some touching moments. Readers will be in doggie heaven. Agent: Jenny Bent, the Bent Agency.

Starred review from August 1, 2020
Right house, wrong dog. That is the first thing freelance publicist Carly Kennedy thinks when she arrives home and discovers an imposter basset hound with a penchant for chewing on her sofa cushions in the place usually occupied by her beloved, if slightly morose, Baxter. After sorting out a basset hound mix-up involving her dogwalker, Carly, with her new canine friend in tow, tracks down Baxter's rightful owner, geeky-cute neuroscience professor Max Sheffington, who despite his dressing Baxter up in a bandana seems like a real sweetie. Given her recent rotten experiences with men, Carly is definitely interested in Max. But with everything else going on in her life, is this a case of right guy, wrong time? Once again, London proves she is a master of deliciously snarky dialogue and delectable sexual chemistry, both of which are expertly infused in a delightful love story that not only joyfully celebrates the special bond between humans and dogs but also doesn't shy away from exploring some of life's more serious challenges, including living with a neurodiverse family member.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)