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Review by Wendy Liebman, comedienne, Amazon TV special “Taller On TV”
I loved Gus Goodboy — a funny, magical romantic comedy about the surprise and danger of getting exactly what you wish for. Once I surrendered to its wonderfully absurd premise, I couldn’t wait to see where the story would go. It’s a fun ride — with your head out the window.
Review by Nadine Taylor, author of Amazon bestseller “If My Heart Had Wings: A World War II Love Story”
If you’ve ever wished you could find a guy with all the great characteristics that belong to your dog – sweet, affectionate, loyal, fun-loving, and ready to defend you at the drop of a hat – this is the book for you. Charming, sweet, funny and very readable, Gus Goodboy is a worthy read for anyone who has ever loved a dog – or any animal.
The story begins when Melissa, a 35-year-old landscape designer, is about to slog through her umpteenth date with pleasant but boring Cliff and has a mother who’s pressuring her to go on another dreary blind date, when she discovers that the only guy she’s attracted to is gay. She’s ready to give up on the whole men/love/marriage thing when she absentmindedly picks a dandelion from the garden, blows on it, and wishes for somebody nice, fun, loyal, and cuddly, just like her dog, Gus. As the feathery seeds fly off into the wind, one lands on Gus’s nose, and suddenly her dog turns into the perfect man – with one exception: he still acts like a dog.
So begins a hilarious romp with Melissa and her dog-morphed-into-man, Gus, who still chomps on Milk Bones, constantly sticks his nose out the window while riding in the car, has no idea why he needs to wear clothes, and gets stuck wiggling through the doggie door although the front door is right beside it. Melissa’s first priority is teaching Gus to use the toilet instead of the backyard for calls of nature, which is harder than it sounds. Next is keeping him clothed, as a naked man tends to attract way too much attention. At the same time, Melissa teaches Gus some words so he can (kind of) communicate with other people.
While everyone seems to find Gus charming, he’s also exceedingly eccentric (if not downright weird). It doesn’t help that in public, Melissa needs to lead her handsome new “friend” around via a chain collar and leash, while shouting “sit” and “stay” to make him behave. Teaching Gus to sit at a table in a restaurant and eat a bowl of stew is next to impossible. When he hears the distant wail of a siren, an irresistible urge for pursuit sends Gus racing through the streets at breakneck speed, almost getting hit by countless vehicles. Then suddenly he finds himself lost in the middle of the city, with its unfamiliar sounds, sights, and smells. The story of how he and Melissa are finally reunited is heartwarming, funny, and wonderfully sweet.
The authors describe this story as “two souls trying to figure out how to navigate an inconceivable turn of events with nothing but love and determination.” But in order to do that, Melissa must figure out a way to transform Gus-the-man back into Gus, her beloved dog. It’s worth the read to find out what happens.