This is a love story between… desperately trying to free itself from a hopeless situation.
She almost kept walking by. She had her own problems and besides… no one had ever stopped to help her.
Who we’re ultimately meant to be is a journey without end, but there’s always a defined start…
Hazel had no idea the dog would be her beginning, her second chance, the miracle she never saw coming. She named him Atticus. He grew up to be a very bad—and completely awesome—dog. He took Hazel on a life-changing journey filled with mischievous adventure to find her happily ever after. In the end, Hazel grew up to be completely awesome, too.
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Sawyer Bennett has once again shown us what a talented and diverse author she is with her fur babies tales in Atticus: A Woman’s Journey With The Worlds Worst Behaved Dog, I’m not sure I have the words to describe just how much I loved Atticus and his tales.
Hazel Roundtree has not had an easy life she seems to stumble from disaster to the next from dropping out of high school to being dumped for younger models and now she finds herself sleeping on her friend Charmin’s couch. A late night drunken walk leads Hazel to a ditch where she finds a puppy caught up in barbed wire not only is the puppy trapped he is scared and all skin and bones so Hazel knows what needs to be done rescue him and get him to a vet so she ends up sleeping on the doorstep of Dr Oley W Peel waiting for the elderly vet to open up. What follows is a story of friendships and love in places we would never normally be looking, this book has so many feel good factors about it, I laughed and I cried as I followed Hazel and Atticus’s journey but every tear I shed was well worth it because this book really stole a piece of my heart. This is a must read for all Sawyer Bennett fans and for all fur baby lovers. Brilliant read.
Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog is a standalone book. If you’ve read other books by this author, you know she writes a fabulous hot, steamy, page turning book. This is going to be nothing like them, with the exception of page turning. This book really hit home in a lot of ways, I found a lot of similarities between Hazel and myself, the journey she went through to find herself. Be prepared this book is going to make you ugly cry, I would keep a box of Kleenex’s handy. I was more prepared for the comedic stunts of a wayward dog. I can relate, I have a Newfoundland that sounds like it is Atticus’s brother from another mother. Good to know I’m not the only one with a destructive attention seeking, bratty dog! The book will make you laugh and cry. The book is very well written and the story line flowed, it was impossible to put down- surprising since I only read romance. There is a minute amount in the book, but it’s not the focus and something that doesn’t happen until way into the book. I loved the friendship that developed between Hazel and Oley, that then included Bernard and others into the fold. Watching the dynamic between Oley and Hazel was very interesting as well as how Atticus helped change Hazel’s life, and helped her to find herself. It is obvious the thought and attention that went into this book, as well as the depth of the book. As the relationships evolve (not romantic type) and you learn more of the backstory, it was hard to not despise Oley’s children. All the other characters you meet it is hard not to like them. The characters and their interactions felt very real and the situations realistic. This book was outstanding and was an easy to give 5 star rating. Though I hope no more are written like this because I used over half a box of Kleenex ugly crying. You’ve been forewarned! Hope this helps! Happy Reading!!!
Atticus was amazing, very heartwarming, funny, a little bit sad; but I really loved it. It’s about a woman and a dog and both of them needing each other. Unconditional love between a pet and their human. also about new friendships, family issues being fixed. I thoroughly enjoyed ready all of Atticus shenanigans. you don’t need to be an animal lover to read this book, I highly recommend it.
This is not your typical Sawyer Bennett romance for sure. But what is typical, is that this book is full of love. Loving yourself, loving your friends, your loved ones, and of course, your pets.
Haven’t you ever wondered what your dog was thinking when he/she did something? Well we have Sawyer’s version of what they are thinking here. So funny, yet innocent.
It is simply amazing how finding a puppy on the way for cigarettes and coffee could change Hazel’s life and everyone else’s around her. When one door closes, another opens.
Hug your pet and give them a belly rub, they deserve it.
A change of pace from Sawyer’s normal books. Don’t expect to find a hot and heavy romance here. Atticus is amazing and reminds me of my dog. I really loved Hazel’s journey to finding her way with Atti by her side. This is an absolutely touching story. It’s beautifully done.
Once again, Sawyer Bennett takes you on an incredibly amazing ride! Unfortunately, my review won’t be able to do this book justice.
Hazel is a very much down on her luck woman. Her husband left her for his mistress. She’s sleeping on a friend’s couch and works as a bartender. Her car broke down and she can’t afford the repairs. While she’s walking to avoid her roommates boyfriend one morning, she comes across a very yucky dog. He’s trapped in some wires and muddy, thin and cold. She carries the dog to the nearest vet and waits and her new adventure begins. This is one of those moments that can change your life forever. The roller coaster of emotions will leave you wrecked but no one can take you on a journey like this than Sawyer Bennett. Who else could write a story and include the point of view of Atticus, the dog?
You don’t want to miss this one!
This is an amazing story of life. There’s no other way to describe it. Hazel’s life was a drunken/stoned POS until she comes across Atticus caught up in barbed wire in a culvert. And so the journey begins.
Atticus, and his crotchety old vet, help Hazel to see who she can be. Oley also sees how much life he still has left in him thanks to Hazel and Atticus. Yes, it’s a journey of finding yourself and your self-worth, but it also takes the reader on a journey of love, aging and death.
The story of this book hit me extremely hard since it hit so close to home. I am currently dealing with the aging and death aspect of everything as well as a troublesome pup. I felt like the author can see my every day trials and tribulations and she portrayed them perfectly. I’ve never read a fiction book that is this close to real life.
With that being said, you will cry and you will laugh and you will shake your head in dismay and disbelief. But you will definitely walk away emotional.
WOW! Oh my goodness, just WOW! If there was any way to give this more than 5 stars I’m down for that. This is by far the best book this year!!!! Hazel is stumbling through life and not at all surviving when she hears a whine that turns out to be a puppy in a culvert. After rescuing that puppy she takes him to the local vet and waits for him to open the office. This sets off a whole spiral of wonder. Did Hazel rescue a puppy or did the puppy rescue her? Whatever the result was it changes the lives of everyone in their immediate and extended lives. This book made me laugh and it made me cry and it made me look at my dogs with eyes wide open and a nod (truth). The many characters surrounding Hazel and Atticus bring much joy to this story and add just the right amount of charm. This should be on everyone must read list for this year and every year in the future!
Absolutely ALL the feels with Atticus! Be prepared with a box of tissues and time to regroup. I want my own Atticus! I definitely appreciated watching Hazel and Atticus forge their own path throughout this book. The cover is almost too cute, too!
I don’t know where to start. Being a dog lover & owner, I could not wait to dive into Sawyer’s latest book, thinking she was taking us on a happy adventure regarding Atticus’ life (I mean, come on; look at the cover!!) What I did not expect was the parallel story of Hazel, Atticus’ Owner. This book has been so emotional for me that it’s been very difficult to put down. I was riveted to Hazel’s story and of the people who became closest to her. Two of the characters, Olley & Bernard, are two unlikely people who befriend Hazel at a very critical point in her life. Each different and unique; yet both equally as important (Olley arguably more so, but in the end, they’re both become part of her family).
This story is not what you think, although, don’t get me wrong; Atticus is a “Hoot” and I love him so much, I’m thinking of looking into his breed!! But yet again, Sawyer takes us on an unexpected journey that reminds us life is not always fair or kind, however, a simple act of compassion and a chance encounter with a stranger can make you start to believe again.
Much, Much love for this book!!
Atticus is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming story, you wont want to put down. Hazel has been really down on her luck until one night she finds a fine-fury-friend stuck in a ditch. Atticus changes her life by giving her unconditional love and the confidence she needs. Trust me, you will laugh one minute and cry the next. Sawyer Bennett is my go-to author because she is such a wonderful story teller. I highly recommend this story, you will fall in love with Hazel and her fur baby.
Oh my! This book is unlike any other I have read before. Atticus stole my heart. I feel like this author has lived my life. I have been single longer than I have been married but I have my own fur baby who saved me. I truly believe pets and people are put in to our lives when we need them most and Atticus is proof of that. I encourage you to grab this book and enjoy it while at the park with your fur baby by your side.
I don’t even know where to begin! S. Bennett aka Sawyer Bennett absolutely blew me away with this phenomenal journey. And that is exactly what it is, a journey.
Bennett has created a masterpiece that will resonate with such a wide range of readers, that I seriously want to stand on the corner and pass this book out to everyone i see.
Atticus is one of those books you will read again and again. Why?! Because there are so many characters that each of us can relate to. A woman finding herself again, and older gentleman making his way through life, and man who had seen better days and still knows that there are more battles ahead. And a dog, a dog that brings them all together.
Bennett proves that it is all about moments and what we do with those moments that matter.
We each have the ability to affect the lives around us. Let’s hope we can all make a positive impact and show the world we’ve got this!!! Right, Atticus?!
5 Huge Stars!!!
This book is so unlike anything Sawyer Bennett has written and yet it is just like every book she has written. I know, your like what the heck are you talking about?!
Well here is why I say that: it’s unlike any books because this isn’t an erotic romance. It’s not about a couple in romantic terms at all.
But it’s like every book of hers because it has emotion, oh my gosh the emotion! It has love, but not romantic love. It’s the love of friends, parents and pets. It’s about loving yourself and being happy with who you are.
Just believe me when I say you have to read this amazing tale of Atticus the crazy, amazing lovable pup and the woman who needs him in her life.
What a truly delightful, beautiful, heartwarming and touching story. Hazel, Oley, and Atticus together made their lives complete. Each was missing something the others filled. Atticus changed Hazel’s life the day she rescued him. She was going nowhere in her life and Atticus somehow put her on the path of survival and love. She didn’t know the first thing about raising a dog but somehow they figured it out. He even was able to bring Oley into their lives on that day. Atticus turned their world around for the better and became a part of them. This story started with so much loneliness and progressed to so much joy and love. So many special characters each added to the bond that was created with a fiesty dog.
This story was so heartwarming that I found myself sitting with my own dog while reading it petting her and looking at her and wondering if she was thinking things that Atticus did. I will never look at her the same way again. This is a story that will touch your heart and never let you forget the special bond a dog can have with their human.
What a phenomenal story! Heartwarming book about a dog and his owner! Atticus will touch your heart like no other! Sawyer will capture your heart and mind through the adventures of Atticus and leave you with a smile and a full heart!!
Women’s Fiction (though men will like it too). Standalone. NEW FAVORITE!!!
*As always, scroll to the bottom for my down & dirty short review*
When I read a book I am totally gushing over, I try to wait a little bit to review it to see if the euphoria wears off. But after reading Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog by Sawyer Bennett , I wanted to start the review right away because I am just too excited to share it with you! Sigh….Atticus was everything I love in a book and so much more! I smiled the whole time, even when I was crying. I completely fell in love, and can’t stop gushing about it! While you don’t have to be a dog lover to appreciate Atticus, any animal lover won’t be able to resist this one. Told in dual point of view from both Hazel and Atticus (my favorite chapters of course), you won’t be able to get enough of this doggo.
“Did you know your foot smells just like Frito corn chips?” (I love this line because so do my dog’s feet!)
Hazel is basically a loser in a dead-end life. She is 32, a high school drop-out, her husband cheated on her then kicked her out with nothing, she has no car, she is working as a bartender in a dying bar and sleeping on her friend and her horrible boyfriend’s couch. Hazel is flat broke, miserable, and sees no hope in her future.
Atticus is a curious little pupper. He was part of a breeder’s litter of Bernese Mountain Dogs with one blue and one brown eye. He was so much more curious and sneaky than his brothers and sisters that he couldn’t resist wandering off to investigate the delicious smoky smell. Next thing you know, Hazel is walking by a ditch to spend her last few cents on cigarettes and hears a whimpering puppy. She finds the pup covered in slimy mud and wrapped in barbed wire. Tempted to leave it in the hopes that someone better finds it, or it dies painlessly, Hazel just can’t walk away from the pitiful creature.
Both of them wet and hurt and shivering, they wait at the local vet for them to open. When the angry old vet Dr. Peele arrives, he won’t look at the dog for free. Hazel will have to work it off. And even though she bonded with the puppy, she can’t take him.
“I can’t even take care of myself, much less a dog.”
Of course, she can’t resist the dog with the huge personality and expressive face for long, and Atticus gets attached to Hazel quickly. He can read her moods and knows who is friend and who is foe.
My tail wags because it’s the most perfect place to get scratches. Hazel leans over me, and I smile up at her while she pets me. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Atticus?” Why yes. Yes, I am. I give a little woof of acknowledgment.
So began Hazel’s rebirth. Now that she had something to care about, to get excited about, and something she needed to be responsible for, Hazel began to clean up her act. She worked days at the vet to work off her bill and hid the dog in the back of the bar at night while she worked. Until Atticus caused a little too much trouble.
That’s when Hazel’s new life filled with new self-worth, friendship, family, love, adventure, fun, and heartbreak began.
“Just think about what a trio we made. A cranky old veterinarian, a worthless bartender, and a homeless guy.”
I so loved watching Hazel blossom into the woman she became with Atticus by her side. But my favorite were the chapters from Atticus’s POV!
“But seriously… they can’t leave a yummy, savory, pork-smelly piece of food out and think I’ve got the willpower to resist. Hazel had it in a pan while the oven was pre-heating. She went to the bathroom… and the opportunity presented itself.”
“Her first clue I was up to mischief should have been in the fact I didn’t follow her in to watch her potty. She didn’t even leave the door cracked to keep an eye on me. I swear, I don’t know where that woman’s head was at, but there was nothing I could do.”
“She smells of disloyalty and cat dander. I try to ignore her for a little bit, but that never quite works because I love her too much.”
“I’m fascinated by that tiny human sitting on Liz’s lap. He smells amazing, especially his butt. I watched earlier as Hazel tried to help Liz change a poopy diaper. My mouth watered, and Hazel gagged.”
I am re-reading through the book to pick which of the quotes to use, and I am right back into it. This is a book I need to read again, I was hesitant on getting the audiobook though, because how well can you do a dog’s voice, right? But I just listened to the sample (included on my blog), and I have to check it out for a re-read because I am not ready to leave Atticus.
“Of course you knew he was in there,” Hazel breathes out softly. “You’re a wonder dog.”
Yes. I. Am.
Likes:
•The pacing was perfect. It never felt quick or rushed.
•Atticus. How can you not love Atticus?
•Hazel’s character growth.
•The deep love among friends and the message that sometimes good friends are more to you than your family.
•The way the dog’s happiness at being with Hazel was everything.
•How all the people who came into Hazel’s life had a meaningful reason.
•How even while my dog was licking the ugly tears from my face I was still loving the story.
•Hazel’s journey to self-worth.
•Bernard and Dr. Peele’s friendship.
•How Hazel didn’t need a man to make her happy.
•A little romantic touch thrown in for good measure.
Dislikes (not really):
•I have no dislikes at all, but I wouldn’t have minded if Atticus’s chapters were a bit more dog-like. I guess that’s because I read Thoughts of Dog and a vocalize my dog’s thoughts to my son in a more child-like way.
•The sense of fear and foreboding I felt throughout the book because it said “painful heartbreak” in the blurb.
The Down & Dirty:
I think Atticus may be a new all-time favorite. It’s nice to have a book you love that you can recommend to anyone whether they read romance or not. If you are a dog lover (or any animal), you will especially love Atticus. If you aren’t, you will become one after reading it. I couldn’t shut up about Atticus to my family, and I think I read my son half of it. Getting in Atticus’s head was so much fun because my dog Lucy reminds me of him in many ways. She is crazy in love with me, she won’t go out with anyone but me, goes bonkers when I get home (way more than anyone else), sleeps on my head, growls at my husband when he touches me and gets into all kind of trouble even when she knows the rules. For goodness sakes, she poops right in front of her doggy door when I leave because she is mad at me. Until I had this dog, I never really understood how smart and in-sync an animal can be with its owner, and I think that made Atticus even more special to me.
While Atticus is a story about a dog, it is SO MUCH MORE. This was such a strong story about how love and family can come in the most unlikely forms. About recognizing your self-worth and living up to it. About how much unconditional love for another being can change you profoundly. It was about love and friendship and self-worth. It brought out every emotion and made me feel so deeply that my dog had to lick my tears away. Atticus was a saga that spanned around 7 years, so don’t expect it to be a quick, fluffy read about a dog, and grab your tissues. I literally hugged my Kindle (and my dog) when I finished. I can’t help but give Atticus ALL the stars. He’s such a GOOD BOY!
Rating: 5+++++ Stars, Heat 0
Atticus is most certainly a love story, but not in the usual sense of the term. It’s a unique tale that illustrates the power of unconditional love and the fact that the only way that a person can have/find/hold onto love is if she loves herself first, understanding her true worth based on who she is to herself and not necessarily as other people see her, and while that may take time and it may cause heartache and pain, it’s essential to living a full and happy life…it’s essential in order to revel in the ordinariness of life and understand one’s true place…one’s true path regardless of any road blocks or bad experiences that may have to be dealt with in order to get there.
The two main characters of Atticus are Hazel Roundtree and Atticus, her dog who almost wasn’t her dog because she contemplated not helping the pup when she found him. But in deciding to stop and help Atticus even though no one ever stopped to help her, she finds out the true meaning of unconditional love and while Atticus isn’t the most behaved dog in the world, he’s hers and he teaches her, not only how to take care of him and seek out help when she can’t do it alone, but he also shows her how to love herself…how to care for herself when it seems like no-one else will or can. Atticus gives Hazel hope; he gives her a caring companion; he gives her a best friend who understands more than she’ll ever know. Atticus gives her a purpose…a second chance. He helps her find herself and in doing so, he allows her to be ready when someone comes into her life that’s worthy of her mind, her heart, and her soul.
Relationships are a necessity in life and just when Hazel thinks she has no-one and nothing, she finds the one animal she never knew she needed, Atticus, and through him, Hazel finds a whole cast of characters who become as essential to her as Atticus, and it’s with their help…their guidance that this dog and his owner learn to traverse through this thing called life and find a way to do more than just survive…more than just exist and that opens up a world of possibilities for them both.
S. Bennett does a fantastic job of creating both a light-hearted and an emotional feel to this story, which is fitting considering that that’s how life works…there are highs and lows and ups and downs throughout the course of one’s existence and it’s in those moments, both the good and the bad, that people learn who they really are and what they’re really capable of, and boy are Hazel and Atticus worth more than they think!
4.5 Poison Apples
Heartwarming, beautiful, something new and special. This book gave me all the feels. Every single one. It’s different and just wonderful. Atticus is the best and Hazel is a heroine you can get behind.
Oh My! I love all of Sawyer Bennett’s books, but every once in awhile, she totally out does herself. She did that with The Hard Truth About Sunshine, and she has done it again with Atticus. It is so hard to characterize what genre this is. There is an HEA, after a bout of tears, but I would hardly call this a romance. It isn’t exactly a women’s fiction genre either, and although a dog is the star of the show in this book, it is not just for animal lovers. This book is just too unique to place in any genre. It is uniquely Sawyer Bennett. I honestly do not know how she even wrote it, except that she explains at the beginning of the book that her actual dog did a lot of the antics that Atticus does, so that must have been fun. Even though I had seen reviews about this book from others, I truly did not know what this story was about. For that reason, I am not going to say a word about the plot. Every reader needs to experience the wonderful ride that is Atticus!