Keynote Three: Dogs of YA (Feat. All the Doggos You Could Ever Need)

       I don’t know about you guys, but I love dogs with my entire being (and that’s an understatement). Dogs are the cutest, kindest, and most lovable creatures to ever walk this planet, and you can’t convince me otherwise. The best part of my day is opening up my Twitter feed to find a new tweet from @dog_feelings. My dad even got me a “gooob morning” mug. (#dadgoals) So, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to compile three of my favorite YA books with dogs in them. 

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Save the Date
by Morgan Matson

       Charlie Grant's older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can't wait for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
       The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster. There's the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, 

​house alarm that won't stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
       There are the relatives who aren't speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo. Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner's nephew is unexpectedly, distractedly cute.
       Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she'll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

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​Doggo: Waffles the Beagle

       I read Save the Date this past summer with a couple of friends and had a fantastic time discussing it with them. (Click to read Part 1 and Part 2 of our book club discussions.) The book is absolutely adorable and filled with cute family scenes, laugh out loud jokes, and moments that made me tear up. Morgan Matson is a brilliant writer, so when I heard she was releasing a new book this year, I was ecstatic. This book surpassed my expectations, and I’m not sure how. What is unique about this story is the timeline; all the events take place in the span of a weekend! It is a great contemporary to shake up your reading. The Grants are sure to wow you (including Waffles, who provided me with many laughs, I can assure you. He is very mischievous).

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To All the Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han

       To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. 

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​Doggo: Jamie Fox-Pickle the Wheaten Terrier

       This book is another contemporary “rom-com” that I guarantee will make you swoon. This cute love story follows a high school girl named Lara Jean who gets her love letters sent out to her past crushes. It’s another book featuring a great family (and dog) who provide many laughs and heartfelt moments. Lara Jean’s sister, Kitty, is the one who wants the dog in the family, and the negotiation it took between her and her dad had me smiling from ear to ear. Every child at heart can relate to her desperate need of a dog. 

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The Unexpected Everything
by Morgan Matson

       Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).
       But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that? 

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Book Depository

Amazon

​Doggo: Bertie the Great Pyrenees*

       And, of course, two out of the three books on this list are by Queen Morgan**. This book has more of a focus on dogs since Andie, the main character, is a DOG WALKER!!! I WANT TO BE A DOG WALKER MORE THAN ANYTHING. I mean, people pay you to hang out with ALL THE DOGGOS!! I will be a dog walker one day, just you wait. But until then, I have to live vicariously through Andie and her perfect life, and you can, too! So, if you’ve been waiting for this whole blog post for a book that focuses primarily on dogs, here you go. Read, enjoy, and be merry. You’re welcome. (Click to read my full review.)

*I had to do some research on what type of dog he was based on the cover and book description because I don’t think the book ever said what type of dog he was. Feel free to comment if you know what type of dog he is!
**She is, and will forever be, the contemporary YA Queen. You can’t change my opinion.

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       Those are all the dog books I have for you this time, but don’t worry. If I find another great one, I will be sure to share it with you ASAP. ;)

Lover of all the doggos,
Ashton

Let’s Discuss:
Are you a dog owner? What breed is your favorite?
What’s your favorite book featuring dogs?