Joint Custody

The mother-daughter writing duo of Baratz-Logsted (The Other Brother) and Logsted debuts with a laugh-out-loud rom-com set in New York City’s publishing world and narrated by Gatz, an erudite border collie. When the three-year relationship between Gatz’s owners, the Man, a lauded literary author, and the Woman, a respected editor, ends, the two agree to share custody of their beloved pooch. Gatz does not approve. Convinced that the Man and the Woman are meant to be together, he resolutely gobbles up two pounds of chocolate, hoping his resulting health crisis will bond them. But his plan backfires, causing an argument that sends the Man into a series of meaningless affairs and the Woman into the arms of a possibly perfect New Man. Gatz, a Renaissance canine with an appreciation of all things literary and a love for Bruno Mars, provides a unique perspective on his owners’ human foibles and emotional vulnerabilities as they struggle to move forward with their lives. This touching, hilarious outing is worthy of two paws up. Agent: Pamela Harty, the Knight Agency. (Jan.)