The story follows Rusty, a quiet man living alone in Alaska, who stumbles upon an injured dog beneath an abandoned porch on his fifty-eighth birthday. What starts as an act of compassion turns into a bond that reshapes his life. The book drifts between his routines, memories of lost love, and the growing companionship with the dog he names Goober. Along the way, he reconnects with people from his past, builds unexpected new relationships, and faces the ghosts of his solitude. It is, at its core, about second chances, about what it means to be seen, and about the quiet power of loyalty.

The writing is plainspoken. It’s stripped down, direct, almost conversational. That style made me lean in, like I was hearing Rusty tell me these stories over coffee instead of flipping through pages. I enjoyed how ordinary details, like the smell of cedar or the sound of snow under boots, were given weight. It reminded me that the small, everyday things are where life actually lives. Rusty’s reflections sometimes circled the same ache. Still, that’s part of what made it feel real. Grief and love do repeat themselves.

What surprised me most was how emotional I got. Goober isn’t just a dog in the story. She’s a mirror. She reflects Rusty’s loneliness, but also his stubborn hope. Watching him wrestle with old wounds while learning to trust her presence was touching, even frustrating at times, because it reminded me how often people push away the very thing that could help them heal. I felt protective of Rusty and Goober, like they were people I knew. And when the book delved into his lost love and family tensions, it cut deep. Not because the writing was fancy, but because it was honest.

I’d recommend this book to readers who like slow, thoughtful stories that don’t rely on spectacle. If you’ve ever loved a dog, or if you’ve ever carried the quiet weight of being alone longer than you wanted, this book will hit you where it hurts and where it heals. The Two Dogs Who Stayed is a tender and heartfelt story that I enjoyed reading.

Pages: 232 | ASIN : B0FQ3CC7FN