3 out of 5 Stars
This novel showed up on the shelves of my local library and I had to pick it up. I’ve seen some good reviews for it plus the cover looked adorable. And honestly, who doesn’t love a novel about dogs?
The SetupNational Book Award finalist and bestselling author Meg Rosoff’s charming, hilarious new novel about a young New Yorker’s search for happiness and the two dogs who help him find it—the perfect summer read
Jonathan Trefoil’s boss is unhinged, his relationship baffling, and his apartment just the wrong side of legal. His girlfriend wants to marry someone just like him—only richer and with a different sense of humor. He doesn’t remember life being this confusing, back before everyone expected him to act like a grown-up.
When his brother asks him to look after his dogs, Jonathan’s world view begins to shift. Could a border collie and a cocker spaniel hold the key to life, the universe, and everything? Their sly maneuvering on daily walks and visits to the alluring vet suggest that human emotional intelligence may not be top dog after all.
A funny, wise romantic comedy set in Manhattan, Jonathan Unleashed is a story of tangled relationships, friendships, and dogs. Rosoff’s novel is for anyone wondering what to be when they grow up, and how on earth to get there.
My Thoughts?Overall, this book was an adorable, yet somewhat awkwardly uncomfortable read. The novel highlights some of the vaguely depressing truths of life as a millennial. Jonathan’s life is in a tail spin. He’s in a job that he hates, in an apartment he can’t afford, living with a woman who he likes but can’t really see himself marrying. Until she asks him to marry her as part of an advertising promotion for her job at a bridal company. Throw in two dogs that are secretly conspiring against his relationship and we have a fun romantic comedy in the works.
Rosoff’s writing is witty and intelligent, though sometimes it seemed like she was trying too hard. I pride myself on having a pretty decent vocabulary, but even I don’t throw out words like “panacea” and “parabola” as part of regular conversation. But that being said, the writing style was easy to read and engaging. There were several scenes that left me giggling, especially plenty of humorous moments where I wondered just how much the dogs really understood of human relationships. I also loved how Jonathan incorporated his dogs and all of the people in his life into his comic book re-imagining of Dante’s Inferno (starring his dog, Dante).
Jonathan Unleashed has a memorable cast of over-the-top characters, including Jonathan’s crazy friend Max and the androgynous office intern, Greeley. Greeley’s gender is questioned throughout the book, with the strange manner of dress and eccentric behavior, but you can’t help but love the zen-like intern. Greeley becomes a sort of spiritual guide to Jonathan and pretty much kicks our main character in the tail, forcing him to actually make a real decision for once in his life.
Despite all the fun and cute moments, there were some things that really irked me about this book. Mainly Jonathan’s inability to stop fantasizing about other women (and possibly even other men). He bounces around between proclaiming his love to a cafe owner, then crushes over his vet, then starts talking about his wedding to his girlfriend in the same breath. He also spent a large part of the book complaining about his terrible job without doing anything about it, which began to get annoying toward the end.
All together, I enjoyed Jonathan Unleashed and give it 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a light and entertaining read for any dog lovers out there with an adorably sweet (if slightly predictable) ending. Even if you’re not a dog lover, it makes for a cute rom com
