Love, Clancy: Diary of a Good Dog

I might include a plot reveal or two in this review, so if that’s an issue for you, then please avert your eyes.

Love, Clancy (Diary of a Good Dog) is a fantastic book. When you finish reading it, you will be so reluctant to depart from Clancy’s colorful and crazy world.

This heartwarming and delightful tale — the latest from talented author W. Bruce Cameron — is an absolute joy of a journey.
Clancy, our canine narrator, provides humorous and astute insights into the nature of human relationships, the mutual love between dogs and their people, as well as a few highly persuasive arguments that explain why cats are the bane of any dog’s existence. (Don’t tell Clancy, but I love cats, too. I love dogs — so much! — and I also totally love cats. Shhhh…)

Thank you to the publishers for gifting me with an Advance Reader Copy ahead of the publication date.

Love, Clancy (Diary of a Good Dog) is wonderfully entertaining and genuinely fun from the first page to the last. The novel explores a wide range of easily relatable topics, and traverses many emotional experiences along the spectrum of possibilities. A good read for all ages, although some of the adult characters make questionable decisions during their brief stay in Las Vegas. These plot twists are subtle, however, and will only be perceived by the most astute young readers.

But here’s the important part: Yes, Virginia, There Is a Happy Ending. (I warned you about plot reveals!) This novel also achieves that rare feat of an exceptionally good feel-good story: a storyline that manages to be both lighthearted and profound at the same time.

I have remarked before that it is rather uncanny how accurately W. Bruce Cameron perceives the inner monologues of our furry friends. From the intricate Machiavellian plots contrived by Clancy against the diabolical and fishy-smelling Kelsey, to the understandings about many things between Clancy and all of the other dogs; from Clancy’s lamentation of his “horrifying stink” following a trip to the groomer, to his unwavering desire to be a good dog for his person (unless, of course, Kelsey is around) — Cameron nails it with specificity, precision, and plenty of heart.

I loved best of all the magical scene with June fireflies amidst the crepuscular glow of sultry summer twilight.

I also thoroughly enjoyed Rhiannon’s displays of ferocity towards any dog brave enough to challenge her: always a fearsome lashing out with her talons, followed by a cool, insouciant licking of her paws. I laughed out loud at each foiled attempt, each plot born of Clancy’s inexhaustible drive to discover a plan for finally and permanently ridding himself of the cat. Not Rhiannon but Kelsey, the first cat he is forced to live with. (Such horror!) The one he is always trying to push out through the screen into the great unknown of the outside world, or to starve into willingly leaving by secretly eating her food. (More plot revelations! You can’t say I didn’t warn you!)

An especially delightful PLOT SPOILER: Clancy ends up living with not one but two cats, which I think is sheer perfection.

There are likable protagonists, both human and canine, plus funny supporting characters, and perhaps a villain and a schlep or two (and two cats!) thrown into the mix for good measure. If these characters manage to get under your skin, it is simply due to the author’s skillfulness. It’s called writing prowess, people.

It is why, in another classic tale by another celebrated author, we root for Pip and revile Estella; and why, in this novel, the guy named Guy made my skin crawl and I occasionally wanted to spike Maddy’s drink with a heavy dose of melatonin supplementation. (Wouldn’t hurt her a bit, it’s 100% natural and already produced by the human body, she would just get a good night’s sleep, is all. )

I find Clancy and JayB to be fabulously charming. Same goes for the entire troupe of dogs (plus the one cat who travels in the van with the dogs and the humans, and the other cat who is safely placed in the temporary care of a cat sitter for the entirety of the Vegas expedition and adventure). I am of course referring to Rhiannon and Kelsey, respectively. I am oddly impartial about Alana. I actually kind of wanted JayB to pursue the newly-single Dominique.

As far as I’m concerned, while Alana was busy waffling, JayB could have said forget it and moved on to greener and more luxurious pastures. Roughly eight billion people currently inhabit the planet. But Alana comes to her senses after doing a typical silly girl thing and making JayB literally chase after her, so.. even though she chooses a predictable tactic that doesn’t always work out so well IRL, it seems to have worked out for her and JayB.

You really should read Love, Clancy! Unless you have an aversion to adorable dogs. Or you hate warm, fuzzy feelings. Or you just don’t like humor or happiness. Then go read some Dostoevsky or Tolstoy. But for everyone else, read this book!

Just finished this amazing book by my favorite author W Bruce Cameron. Like all of his books it’s funny and touching and written in a voice that is uniquely charming and uniquely Bruce. He captures the thoughts and feelings of his dog characters the way you and I would imagine they are thinking and feeling with humor and accuracy. His human characters are likable and funny. The story is entertaining with lots of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing throughout the book and wondering what will happen next even when you’re not reading. If you were looking for something to read or even if you’re not you will love, love LOVE Love, Clancy!

Great story. Would recommend

I teach high school English, and I often have students who tell me they "don't read." There is nothing more disheartening than hearing those words. I started by assigning a different novel from W. Bruce Cameron called "Emory's Gift." My students loved it. Soon they were seeking out W. Bruce Cameron novels to read. The new novel is no exception. My students attended one of his book signings and bought "Love, Clancy," and of the 4 kids who read it, 3 finished it in one weekend. They have all told me how much they love the book. I knew I would, too, and was not surprised when I could not put it down and finished it in a couple of hours. Students want to know where to get it!! Love it when that happens!!

W. Bruce Cameron has done it again! My daughters and I are huge dog lovers (all animals really) and absolutely love the heartwarming stories that Cameron gives us. Love, Clancy is an amazing story told by our furry friends point of view. It's a book that will have you laughing and I can guarantee you won't be able to put down. I highly recommend it.

Thank you W. Bruce Cameron, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Net Galley for this ARC!

A very entertaining book by one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to his next one! Check it out!!

First let me start by saying I’m so happy to add this wonderful book to my collection. I have fallen madly in love with Clancy. He’s super smart and so very funny. As always, W.Bruce Cameron has captured my full attention with his insightful writing from a dogs view. By the way, there is no such thing as a bad dog! Clancy has stolen my heart. A must read for not only dog lovers but for everyone to enjoy!!!!

Thank you Net Galley, Forge and Tom Doherty Associates Book for surprising me with an advance reading copy of Love, Clancy!

The book arrived Saturday afternoon and I jumped right in.

W. Bruce Cameron is one of my most favorite storytellers! This new book is wonderfully engaging and entertaining.

Clancy captured my heart ♥️

An easy, must read dog classic like all of W. Bruce Cameron’s books especially my two ALL TIME favs: A Dog’s Purpose & The Dogs of Christmas.

In the words of Clancy ~ “ Every time my person speaks, his voice stirs a love within me.”

Love, Clancy would be an excellent film!

Love this entire series! W. Bruce Cameron is an amazing author!

Pure love! This is one of Cameron’s funniest books yet. Not only is seeing the world from a dog’s perspective endlessly entertaining, but the characters in this book are a whole other level of hilarity. From the clueless ‘ex’ girlfriend with the Norm McDonald level of malaprops, to the lottery winning dad thinking his cash flow is endless, I giggle snorted through this entire novel. The author narrates the audiobook and is the perfect voice for Clancy the yellow lab. I was so enjoying the book that I purchased the hard cover and turned the pages as Bruce read to me. He has a gift for interesting and realistic characters, and solid, entertaining and plausible story lines. I couldn’t put it down and now am sorry I finished it. I’ve got the oddest craving for bacon……