cover image Pug Actually

Pug Actually

Matt Dunn. Mira, $15.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-7783-1123-2

Dunn (Then I Met You) delivers a quirky romance told by a lovable four-legged narrator. Pug Doug is far more astute in the ways of the heart than Julie, his hapless, 35-year-old owner, who’s stuck in an unsatisfying affair with her married louse-of-a-boss. As a rescue himself, Doug recognizes that his beloved Julie is now the one in need of saving. So when Julie’s father and his friend Dot conspire to set up Julie with Dot’s divorced son, Tom, Doug is all for it—and is even willing to look past the fact that Tom is a V-E-T. But the instant spark between Julie and Tom ignites into an argument when Tom—whose ex cheated on him—learns of Julie’s affair. Despite this disastrous first meeting, Doug is sure that Tom is the right guy for Julie and will do whatever it takes to bring the pair together—including suffering bodily harm in hopes of landing himself and Julie in Tom’s office. Alternately poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, Dunn’s cute narrative effortlessly conveys both Julie’s and Tom’s vulnerabilities and all-too-human foibles. Doug’s hilarious antics, astute observations, and dogged determination to get the pair together pull at the heartstrings on the way to a thoroughly satisfying happily ever after.[em] Agent: Hayley Steed, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (June) [/em]