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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Welp, this book was not what I was expecting. And I am not saying that in a bad way. I am saying that in an “OMG this book is so much more than I was expecting” way.
I was expecting a sweet and fun book about a dog called Atticus. And whilst I got that, I got so much more.
Told in dual POV – Atticus the dog’s POV, and his owner Hazel’s POV.
What we are given is so,so much more. It is a tail – yeah, I didn’t misspell that – of unconditional love, of finding our way when all hope is lost, friendship and family.
I love, love, love the story from Atticus’ POV. I know we think that dog’s can’t understand us, but gosh I wish they are thinking like him. Though I know when it comes to food, they are allll thinking like him.
Another thing I wasn’t expecting was all the emotions. Oh god, the feels! I spent plenty of time reading Atticus through tears – I didn’t sign up for that Miss Bennett!
Another thing this book has done has made me miss my Rani girl a lot this week. She crossed the rainbow bridge last year and it has made me think about her a lot.
Full of funny, sad, heartwarming, loving moments, run out and buy a copy of Atticus – you won’t be disappointed.
Oh, and make sure you follow real life Atticus on Instagram @atticuscrazydog.
I’ve spent the past 2 days looking for words to write a review that might do this book justice. There are none. It was such a beautiful story. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for Hazel and found myself wondering how soon I could get my own Atticus.
This was an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming story about the incredible bond between Hazel & Atticus, and what their relationship does for so many other people. When she finds the little pup, it not only rescues him but he also rescues her. And then in turn they rescue Oley and Bernard and do so many wonderful things. Hazel’s life does a complete 180 from the point she decides to keep Atti until the end of the story. What a heck of a journey it is!!
I laughed so hard and then I cried so hard and simply couldn’t read fast enough! It is simply a wonderful book! I cant’t day enough good things about it! This is a must read for anyone who just loves a feel good story and loves dogs! Two paws up for Sawyer Bennett!!
I thought the book was just going to be from Atticus, the dog’s POV and I prepared not to like it. Boy was I wrong, I loved it. The story is also from Hazel’s POV. Hazel is a broken woman who just got thrown out of her house by her husband. Atticus is the dog who saves her life. Along the way, they meet other people who becomes part of their lives. This heartfelt story will hit you in the heart. It’s emotional and heart warming, get your box of tissue ready.
Review copy was received for an honest opinion.
Oh my gosh…Atticus is a dog that you have to live even if you are not a dog lover. But though this book is about a dog…its really about three very different in very different stages of their life.
Sawyer Bennett makes you laugh through Atticus’ point of view of his “misbehavior”. You root for each character to succeed. Sawyer also makes you cry in a very real struggle with death. She writes in a way that makes you feel as if you are experiencing every event along with Hazel and Atticus.
Atticus by Sawyer Bennett is the story of a dog. Yes, you read that right and Sawyer Bennett has done it again, given us a beautiful, heartwarming story from the point of view of a dog and his owner, Hazel.
We meet Hazel who is living on her friend’s couch after her husband kicks her out. Soon after, she rescues Atticus when he is tangled in some wires and injured. She quickly falls in love and becomes friends with the veterinarian, Oley.
Taking in Atticus teaches Hazel so much about her own self-worth and she grows from the experience. In many ways, Atticus rescues her.
The supporting characters are wonderful and I wonder if we will have the opportunity to see them in future books.
This was such a moving story. I laughed, cried, and did not want the story to end.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
I listened to the audio version of this book from Chirp. This book about a found dog helping the women who rescued him to find herself was an utter joy to experience! Through the tiny pup found in a ditch, Hazel grows from a down on her luck woman to a woman who begins to learn that genuine love is the best thing to have in the world. Atticus helps her discover a whole other family in people that she meets and helps her recover the family that she thought had given up on her.
This is told from dual points of view–Hazel’s and Atticus’. I love the narration for Atticus by Bahni Turpin. She made it so much fun! There are a sad place or two in the book, but the lighthearted and bust-you-buttons with happiness points far outweigh those.
LOVED! LOVED! LOVED!
What a wonderful, emotional journey, Atticus took me on. I laughed, cried, smiled with happiness, and cringed with embarrassment for Hazel, but also for Oley’s son and daughter. Hazel’s path was rough, but finding Atticus helped her find her way. I fell in !ove with the totally bad, exuberant dog, and found myself laughing out loud at his antics. I would definitely give it more than five stars if I was able. It’s a must read!!!
“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” —Loretta Young
Atticus and Hazel’s journey is a heartwarming tale. Atticus is so mischievous and fun, and I adored reading some of the chapters from his canine perspective! Atticus brought much needed levity to Hazel’s journey of self-discovery, acceptance, forgiveness, loss, love and friendship. Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog is all about the adventure of how one pup can change your life in ways you never even imagined.
An emotionally beautiful and wonderful story.
There’s just something about a dog’s devotion, a dog’s love, that saves you. That helps you heal even when you don’t realize you need healing.
Surprisingly enjoyable. And a very different concept! It was a bit long and Hazel was a bit of a doormat in the beginning, but that was just to highlight what a change Atticus made in her life. A great cast of secondary characters that will bring the feels.
When I started seeing this book pop up on Facebook, the cover really caught my eye. I am a dog lover, my life kind of revolves around my pups so anything to do with dogs I’m always interested. But I was also a bit apprehensive because I’ve had some experiences with books where the story gutted me and I was really afraid this would happen with this book. I took a chance and I am so glad I did!
This story brought out so many emotions in me. A bit of heart-break, seeing Atticus as a puppy lost and hurt was hard and also seeing Hazel at her lowest (it did take me a bit to warm up to her). Then the laugh out loud moments with all of the antics of Atticus and reading his thoughts was so much fun! I also loved seeing Hazel grow emotionally throughout the story. She opened up her heart and finds the unconditional love of Atticus, it was actually beautiful. They saved each other.
This book also features so many other wonderful secondary characters, Dr. Peele, the grumpy veterinarian, Bernard the homeless Vietnam veteran who Hazel befriends, Hazel’s former roommate Charmin, Hazel’s estranged mother and sister, Bernard‘s son Tyrone and finally Jack and Scout. They each impacted the lives of Hazel and Atticus in so many ways, good and bad.
I really cannot say anymore how much I loved this story! I smiled so much throughout the book. I just loved the POV of Atticus, he loved Hazel so much and he is such a bad dog! There is some sadness at the end too, but not the kind I was afraid of.
The added bonus for me was finding the real Atticus’ instagram page, @atticuscrazydog, you all have to check it out! This was definitely a must read!
Hazel abandoned her parents and her life to run away with a seal. Months later after suffering a miscarriage, she was single, without an academic degree and with nowhere to go.
Her dream was to find the prince charming and live the fairy tale: to marry and be happily ever after taking care of her sweet husband, doing all household tasks in her house with the white fence. Darren Roundtree was the fulfillment of that dream. Until betraying her and driving her out of the house.
Again without a roof and without a pair, Hazel spends her days sleeping on a couch, her nights working as a bartender and her breaks with drinks and men, still in search of the perfect husband who will make her happy.
I started the book without much expectation. It is narrated in the first person and one of the narrators is the friendly canine. Atticus, a trickster Bernese mountain. This animal narrator makes the narrative interesting, cute and unusual.
At some point in the reading, you realize that all of Hazel’s problems reside in her very low self-esteem. Because she can not love herself, the protagonist makes lousy choices and becomes dependent on love relationships. That most do not end well or barely start.
The encounter with the little cub, changes her life forever. One step at a time. Gradually it improves her choices and attitudes, rebuilds her self image. More than that, she allows herself to help others and be helped in return, transforming her life. The presence of Atticus directs her to a life with purpose and hope.
If the beginning is taken by the total lack of hope, perspective and even some contempt, the development is dramatic and at the same time funny, while the ending is emotional and full of tenderness. A great reading that speaks about friendship, purpose and happiness, in a light, comforting and unique way.
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What did I like about this fiction novel?
Entertaining / Wonderful characters / Witty / Original / Page-turner / Realistic / HEA
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Writing style: Dual POVs (Hazel’s and Atticus’)
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Dual formats owned: Kindle e-book and Audible audiobook
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Lead & Supporting Characters:
Hazel Roundtree (heroine)
Atticus (Hazel’s dog)
Dr. Oley Peele (veterinarian/Hazel’s employer/friend)
Charmin (Hazel’s buddy)
Bernard (Oley and Hazel’s friend)
Darren (Hazel’s ex-husband)
Jack and Scout (Hazel’s romantic interest and his dog)
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Cross posted Audible Review Title: ‘Superbly written and narrated!’
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Overall rating:
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Performance rating:
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Story rating:
I am so stunned that I forgot to post a written review the minute I finished this wonderful story in July 2018. It was a huge oversight on my part because everything about Hazel Roundtree’s journey to become a more self-realized person was fantastic! The fact that it included Atticus, one of the most endearing canine characters ever written in a novel, and a few other key supporting characters made it all the more special. And narrator Bahni Turpin gave a stellar performance not only as all the very human characters but also as the puppy who becomes arguably the world’s worst behaved dog.
Every since I completed this book, I recommend it every chance I get. In fact, I just recommended it today to a friend on GoodReads which is how I discovered I had yet to review it at all.
My final verdict: Read this irresistibly entertaining book!
Although this is one of my favorite authors, this book is a change for her. It is a wonderful story about how one dog can bring so much love and change in a young woman’s life. Atticus touches the lives of so many people with his “doggie” ways, and I just loved the story. Hope you do too!
I just finished reading this wonderful book and I feel joy and sadness at the same time. This story caused so many bittersweet feelings, and I’m sorry it ended, but happy that it was such a brilliant end.
This book chronicles the life of a woman who hit rock bottom in her life, penniless and homeless, yet an act of kindness saved her life. She found a puppy all mangled up and twisted in barbed wire, saved him and took him to the vet. In spite of her dire circumstances she took the puppy in and her life started to turn 180 degrees on her, slowly but surely.
Her puppy Atticus seemed to be like a guardian angel who came to her life to change it to a better route and bring her happiness; from a woman who thought she was worthless to a very worthy existence and a full life, with friends and family. Atticus was terribly badly behaved, yet he caused such a warm hearted reaction in Hazel. He was the precious bad kid to her warm mama heart.
The book is written in dual POV, as seen by Hazel and by Atticus. Needless to say, the chapters with Atticus’ POV are a riot, very entertaining and heartwarming. I loved the phrase that Atticus was Hazel’s doggy Zanax fix, when he so graciously offered his head for ear scratches to help soothe Hazel’s moments of sadness. I loved reading about the huge love Atticus and Hazel had for each other, loved all Atticus’ antics, and how Atticus formed a ruckus when his human was away from him.
This is a book about empowerment, forgiveness, overcoming obstacles, and making all your possibilities come true. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed every single page of this book. I feel I ended up a better person after I read this, it’s the power of doggy love, so I think I had some Atticus doggy fix too. It’s entertaining, emotional, heartwarming and totally delightful. Totally recommend!
You owe it to yourself to meet Atticus, the world’s sweetest worst-behaved dog and his unlikely mom, Hazel. The book, as the author states, is based upon a true story—I’d love to meet the unforgettable people you grow to know and love during this book~~and the exceptionally perspective dog, Atticus. Told by alternating points of view—Hazel’s and Atticus’—the unlikely pair bring together a group of people with nothing in common other than the need for companionship, friendship and ultimately love. Add in Atticus’ hilarious antics and his rationale for each…you’ll find the perfect family-friendly books that will stay with you long after you reach “The End.”
I have been trying to write this review for several days now and I
just can’t seem to find the right words to describe this incredible
story of Hazel’s journey to discover herself in the most unexpected
way and when she rescues a puppy to be named Atticus the journey gets
even more epic.
I knew this book was going to be different from what the author
typically writes, but she so did not disappoint. There is so much
packed into this book. You will be struggling right along with Hazel,
cheering her on, crying with her and falling in love with Atticus. I
loved how the author had many chapters told from Atticus’s point of
view. It just added to this beautifully written story. I am looking
forward to reading more from this author.
If you’re a romance reader then Atticus is an entirely different kind of book! Atticus is women’s fiction at its best. It has a wonderful read that I didn’t want to put down. Hazel has an inspiring story about her “going nowhere” life and the dog that truly saved her. Atticus does not read like fiction. It’s akin to reading a biography. Truly. Fun fact, Atticus even has a real life Instagram!
If you’re looking for a book with sexy times this is not your book. Miss Bennett will endear her characters to you like no one else. Be prepared to cry. I did. You’ll fall in love with goofy, sweet Atticus and his friends Hazel, Oley, Bernard, and more. 4.5 stars for this wonderful heart-warming story!