KAT VS. DOGS

How do you work in a store for dog lovers when you’re afraid of dogs?

Seventeen-year-old Kat is living with her Aunt Grace for the summer, working at Best Friends, her aunt’s shop that “sells everything anyone could ever want for their dog child.” It’s the perfect arrangement—except for Kat’s deep-seated fear of dogs, stemming from being bitten as a child. Customer service poses a challenge too: A bride walks in seeking wedding finery for her French bulldogs, and Kat blurts out something insulting about dogs wearing clothes. The customer posts about the encounter online, and Aunt Grace draws a line: If Kat wants this job, she has to adjust her attitude. The pressure ramps up when Hiro, a popular social media personality known as RoverDance, walks into the store—and her heart. Nearly a million people follow him on TikTok, where he shares videos of himself dancing with dogs. He’s in town helping his grandmother, who’s having surgery, but despite Kat’s efforts to fake it, he figures out that she’s not keen on dogs. But when an emergency occurs, Hiro, who’s cued as being of Japanese descent, has to trust her with Pickle, his beloved corgi—and Kat must conquer her fears or lose a chance at romance. Reluctant readers will be drawn into this lively, smoothly written tale. Shipley makes white-presenting Kat a relatable lead, whose personality, fears, and determination pop off the page.

An entertaining, highly accessible story with special appeal for animal lovers.