Dog Parks, Deception, and the Search for Real Connection

June Kennerson is a lonely housewife looking for friends. She is excited when she takes her dog Willow to the dog park and meets two potential new friends, Alex and Val. Little does June know that Val and Alex have ulterior motives to get close to her. Val is a private eye hired by June’s husband to find out if June is cheating on him, and Alex wants to learn more about June’s husband. Will June getting to know these two women eventually break her heart, or will her eyes be opened to everyone in her social orbit?

I have to admit that the sole reason why I chose this book was the cover alone. The dog looks so cute and cuddly. I just want to smush her face so much. That aside, I am quite pleased that my choice in book covers led me to a unique find. Animals are fascinating, especially dogs. They are observant, kind, and unique souls who want the same things as we do: love and affection. However, one of the interesting things that I found about animals is that they can often give you insight into the personality of their owners, which makes the book stand out so much more. 

Val is lonely in a different sense than June. Val’s parents really never showed her any affection, which scarred her even deeper when she watched her father murder her mother. Ever since then, she has been closed off. She got her dog Cash so that she could spy on June more easily at the dog park she frequents. However, Cash’s constant need to be around Val made her realize how much she missed being needed and how great it feels to have someone she loves in her life. Alex has frequent panic attacks. She actually met her dog, Bruce, during the middle of one. He understood that she was in trouble and snuggled against her, which helped calm her down. Willow is June’s best friend. They love doing things together. However, Willow doesn’t have any dog friends until she meets Cash and Bruce. It makes you realize how much dogs and humans are social animals, and they need each other in their lives for companionship and emotional support. 

As much as I love seeing owners become close to their pets, I felt that the biggest takeaway from the book was June’s journey with female friendships. Friends are easy in grade school, high school, and college. You are constantly in forced proximity with others at the same location. It is easier to figure out things to do or places to go because you still see your classmates multiple times a week, whether it is in the classroom, clubs, or school events. 

However, once school is over, people spread out to do their own thing, whether it is a new career, a new relationship, or having children. If you are like June and me, you wake up one day in your 30s or 40s and realize you don’t have close friendships. People from school went away, and you ended up with no social circle in your life. Like June, I found it maddening because meeting people as an adult is difficult. You have to go out of your way to find places to interact with others, which is hard for people like me who are homebound because of an illness. 

I think that is why I read in bated breath as June got to know Val and Alex better. Despite their motives, I really wanted June to make the connections that she desired and hoped that Val and Alex didn’t hurt her. June is very genuine with her trust and feelings, and I hoped throughout the book that Val and Alex would reciprocate that affection and not cause June heartbreak in the end. I also hoped they helped June see her husband for who he really is.

Overall, I am a very big fan of the book. It illustrates the importance of female friendships and having furry friends in our lives. Humans were never meant to live alone, which is why it is so important to reach out. Building community not only helps you grow as a person, but also helps you realize all the wonderful things out there available to you.