Moving to My Dog’s Hometown is a memoir about a decision I made in my mid-30s to reroute my life from New York City to a tiny town in New Hampshire that I knew virtually nothing about—except that it was the town where my now ex-husband and I adopted our dog Ronan. My decision to move to Hanover was motivated by a desperate need for change and the fact that I’d been offered a “garden” apartment that I could almost afford. I never expected things to work out, but sometimes challenging circumstances and a cosmic hunch lead you right where you’re meant to be.
Here’s what a few lovely people who have read it are saying . . .
“Vereckey writes with a reporter’s observational eye, an essayist’s heart and a divorcée’s skewering wit. Inspired by the love of a dog, this is a feel-good story with some bite.” Seven Days (full review)
“An honest portrait of someone trying to navigate through the unknown and figure out what home means when everything familiar has fallen away. Vereckey’s engaging voice and warm observations keep the pages turning.” Kirkus Reviews (full review)
“This is a delightfully uplifting, engrossing memoir that will captivate readers, particularly dog lovers, but also those interested in emotive, intimate tales of self-discovery following major life changes.” Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize (full review)
“The best thing about this book? I could say the narrator herself—she’s the kind of bestie you want sitting one bar stool over, explaining your astrological chart or cracking you up. I could also note the excellent writing, but what I really love most about Betsy Vereckey’s memoir is that it makes me believe in signs from the universe (even signs with fur and big noses) that can help guide us to a fresh start and find our way home.”
—Joni B. Cole, author of Party Like It’s 2044
“Funny, raw, and quietly luminous…With sharp humor and deep tenderness, Moving to My Dog’s Hometown proves that freedom isn’t found in a perfect plan, but in the mess of beginning again.”
—Kelly McMasters, author of The Leaving Season, a Good Morning America May Books Pick
“A love story of the best kind, Moving to My Dog’s Hometown reminds us that with personal courage and meaningful support, we can endure life’s toughest challenges. For anyone stuck in a less-than-satisfying life situation, this is a story to inspire hope, for it assures us we can create happy next chapters.”
—Marjorie Nelson Matthews, author of The Red Wheelbarrow
“Vereckey is a raconteur at the top of her game. This is a memoir that vividly evokes the power of community: how we find it; how we nurture it; how it shapes us.”
—Ernest Scheyder, National Book Award longlisted author of The War Below