I cannot begin to explain how pleasantly surprised I was at this quick read. Regretfully, the premise of this book did not give me exceptionally high hopes for the story or the characters. AGAIN - do not judge a book by it's cover (or even fully by it's short synopsis). The story was sweet and lesson filled from start to finish, cover to cover. Martha tells not one story (about her beloved four-legged friends) but two stories - including a surprise story of human connection as well. I loved the layering of these two stories into one. It is almost as if Harry and Minnie serve as a vessel for telling Martha and Carol's unique life stories as well. This most certainly is a story of both love and friendship. And to be fair, it is not just a story for dog lovers but one for all readers alone. Sweet, bittersweet even - beautiful, insightful, endearing writing.