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Book Review of Marley and Me : Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

Marley and Me : Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 7


This book was given to me by a family member, as I have a yellow lab. I immediately began relating to the stories of getting used to a new puppy and all the personality quirks that you learn to love when raising a new dog. It started out for me as a great light-hearted book that I related to a lot.

However, I soon felt an eerie connection with the book... it began to mirror my own life more and more. My husband and I had welcomed in our yellow lab pup into our home, and we became pregnant around the time I started reading the book. I even had the book with me the day I went to the doctor's office for an ultrasound when I was concerned that something wasn't right with the pregnancy. Afterward, while sitting in a room waiting for the results, I re-read the chapter where the author describes the miscarriage of he and his wife experienced. Shortly after, I was told I had miscarried. It was a devastating experience, but I found a small comfort in being able to read how the situation affected another couple. It helped me grieve, but it also helped me start to heal.

The beauty of this book is the way the story of life is told, weaving lessons of love throughout. It's not just the tale of the family dog (as entertaining as those parts are!), but the entire family. It is particularly special to me, and I'll hold it near my heart for a long time.