Customer Reviews

Dog Handling

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a story about recovery after a bad breakup, reinventing of self and reigniting an old flame. It was also about knowing how to handle men (or dogs, same thing!) in order to keep them coming back for more. This was a fun read, although I do have to say that there wasn't really anything special about it. However, it was enjoyable and effortless to read.
-indifferent

I have read and loved Clare Naylor's previous novels, Love: A User's Guide and Catching Alice and I couldn't wait to read Dog Handling. I was not disappointed -- Dog Handling is Naylor's best romantic comedy to date. Liv is one of the best heroines of this genre and the story -- treat a man like a dog and he'll be eating out of your hand -- keeps you turning the pages, especially when the petty game backfires and she gets more than she bargains for. There are some fun twists during the story that will keep you guessing. I recommend this fun novel to all chick lit enthusiasts.

An avid reader who only recently discovered the chick-lit genre, I devoured this book in a mere few hours only to wish I had taken my time so I could relish the characters and their dialogue for a while longer. If you're looking for a good story that you won't leave you feeling worn out or depressed, then pick up this book and you won't regret it.

I've heard everyone go on and on about how wonderful Clare Naylor is, and I was hoping to be entertained. Yeah, well, I wasn't.

Liv's fiancé dumps her and to heal herself, she takes time off her job and goes to stay with a friend (who's living in a rich-boyfriend-who's-never-there's house) in Sydney, Australia, where she has amazing, chick-litty adventures with gay men and single guys who want nothing more than a shag. Same ol', same ol'. She meets up with her very first love, Ben Parker, who is dating the Girl Everyone Wants, Amelia Fraser. He starts to fancy Liv, who then follows the advice of her gay friend James, to treat men like dogs and they'll always be begging for more. Throw in the prerequisite chick lit twists, and voilà, the story.

There was a lot going on at once in this story, and it made me weary reading it. I didn't even really look forward to reading it that much once I got into it, but I wasn't going to waste all that valuable reading time, so I slogged through. I've read better.

Talented storyteller Clare Naylor (who you may know from her amazing books - "Love: A User's Guide" and "Catching Alice") has a new book called "Dog Handling". It's a very sweet, romantic and funny book about all-around perfect gal Liv Elliot. Liv lives in a great place, has a great job and has a great man. Not only is he great - but they are about to be married. However, that's when it all starts to go pear-shaped. Perfect boyfriend Tim calls the whole thing off and Liv is at a loose end. Insert wonderful friend with a wonderful beach house in Australia.

Liv goes off to the beaches in search of a new and wonderful adventure and hopefully to recuperate from her disaster of an engagement. Predictably - but not unwanted - she meets up with a former flame and that's where the book takes off.

I loved the light and romantic aspect of this book. It's not a hard read - it's perfect for summer and I just found Liv to be like all my friends. We may not do it the right way to begin with ---- but we usually figure it out before it's too late.

This was a great summer read! The story follows Liv Elliott on an Australian sabbatical as she tries to get over the fiancee she didn't really want to marry anyway after he abruptly walks out on her and their engagement. Liv tries to experience everything she's never tried before, from surfing to one-night stands. Along the way, Liv's new circle of friends introduce her to the concepts of "dog handling" which utilizes dog-training methods (since - according to Dave and James - all men are dogs) in order get a man to fall for you. The actual dog handling tips reminded me a lot of another book I received a few years ago as a "get-over-him" gift from a friend called, "How to Make Your Man Behave in 21 Days or Less Using the Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers" by Karen Salmansohn. Funny stuff that (sadly?) seems to ring true sometimes.

"Dog Handling" isn't going to answer any profound questions for you, but Clare Naylor's sense of humor provides for a nice vacation from the serious. Having a brief summer break from cumbersome textbooks, this was a good place to go for an escape

I thought this book was very funny. There were a limited number of characters, so most of them were well-written and developed. As others have said, it is similar to the life of Bridget Jones. I am a mid-twenties gal, and would definitely recommend this to my age group.

Liv is putting the finishing touches on planning her wedding, then suddenly her fiance Tim decides to call it quits. She has a hard time concentrating, and takes a leave of absence to visit a friend in Australia.

After a couple weeks, she runs into the guy she shared a passionate summer romance in the French countryside with when she was 18. Ben Parker is still sexy and now he's an archeologist. Only problem is, he now has Amelia, an heiress for a girlfriend. They just happen to keep bumping into each other, usually when she is not at her best.

She and her best pal, Alex (who is having and affair and is pregnant) are struggling to start a lingerie business, and Amelia is the primary model, so she is trying to throw her weight around. After Liv's disastrous one night stand (as well as a passionate encounter with Ben that also goes ignored the day after), her gay pals let her in on the secret of how to keep men in line - treat `em like dogs and they'll come back for more. Initially, she tries this out on Ben, and it seems to work. But is Ben responding to the dog handling, or does he really want to be with Liv? What'll happen when Tim arrives in Sydney with reconciliation on his mind?

While it starts slow, Naylor's cute story really flows once the reader is transported to Sydney with some really great characters (and a nice secondary romantic triangle).

I need to keep reminding myself that Clare Naylor isn't one of my favorite authors. I enjoy her, but she's not in my top ten. This book has a lot to be desired the only thing I thought it had going for it was the fast that it was set in Australia. It's basically about a girl who was dumped by the man she thought she was going to marry, so she follows her best friend who is a professional "girlfriend" down under. On one of her first days droning around she meets a drag queen who takes her under his wing and coaches her on the idea of treating men like dogs. In the mean time, the new crowd in Australia that she is inducted to by default through her friend happens to be the most popular in the country with connections to boot. This includes her long lost first love who happens to be dating the most well known and beautiful socialite. It's all kind of a circus with the crazy roommate she happens to have and the man of her dreams just happening to be right there after all these years. You can imagine how it ends.....

Alright, so Clare Naylor's book won't answer political questions or rid the world of disease, but it's a book to consider if you're just intent on winding down with something easy to read that has some laughs. Keeping up with Liv's antics and her sessions of "dog training" proves to be amusing, but don't think too hard about this book after you've read it--the sugary quality of it will cloy you.
Yes, this book is safest when restricted to reading on the beach, or anywhere else that doesn't require much thought.