“Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature.”

From Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain.

As a puppy, Enzo was adopted by race car driver Denny whose infectious love of the sport easily transferred to the young dog.  For a while, it’s just Denny and Enzo spending time at the racetrack, studying Denny’s old racing footage, and hanging out with Denny’s friends, but when Denny meets Eve, Enzo knows that his life will be different.  Where Denny had previously spent all of his attention on racing and Enzo, once he marries Eve his attention is focused on building a successful marriage, getting along with her wealthy and disapproving parents, and eventually caring for their daughter, Zoë.  While life is different, Enzo is happy to help Denny however he can, whether that’s being there for Eve, protecting Zoë, or helping Denny review his racing footage.  However, when Eve falls unexpectedly ill, Enzo watches the family’s entire life fall apart at the seams.  Enzo’s frustration at his dog-ly inability to speak or help Denny more is only enhanced as he watches Denny take a step back from racing, increase his parental responsibilities, face an ugly custody battle, and struggle with what he should do for Zoë.  The one constant that pushes Enzo to not give up is knowing that Denny is the world’s best racer, and he just needs a little help on the most important race of their lives to win.

Stein’s novel is sweet, captivating, and heartbreaking as the canine narrator guides readers through a story that is full of life.  The inspiration for the 2019 movie of the same name is an easy read that is intriguing for any reader, but especially so for dog-lovers or fans of the popular Dog’s Purpose series.  While intense and heartbreaking at times, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a must-read that highlights the power of love and family.