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Lily and the Octopus

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Lily and the Octopus

By: Steven Rowley
Narrated by: Michael Urie
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About this listen

A national bestseller combining the emotional depth of The Art of Racing in the Rain with the magical spirit of The Life of Pi, “Lily and the Octopus is the dog book you must read this summer” (The Washington Post).

Ted—a gay, single, struggling writer is stuck: unable to open himself up to intimacy except through the steadfast companionship of Lily, his elderly dachshund. When Lily’s health is compromised, Ted vows to save her by any means necessary. By turns hilarious and poignant, an adventure with spins into magic realism and beautifully evoked truths of loss and longing, Lily and the Octopus reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.

Introducing a dazzling and completely original new voice in fiction and an unforgettable hound that will break your heart—and put it back together again. Remember the last book you told someone they had to read? Lily and the Octopus is the next one. “Startlingly imaginative...this love story is sure to assert its place in the canine lit pack...Be prepared for outright laughs and searing or silly moments of canine and human recognition. And grab a tissue: “THERE! WILL! BE! EYE! RAIN!” (New York Newsday).
Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism Romantic Comedy Romance Comedy Heartfelt
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This is joyful sad story of the strong bond between animals and humans. Beautifully written and narrated.

Heartbreakingly tender

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I hate this book for making me cry. I wasn’t expecting it at all having gone into it without reading much about the story. But it perfectly captured the love of having a dog and equally the devastation when losing your best friend. It was awful and heartbreaking but beautiful.

Loved yet hated

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I would never have read it if I had known what it was about before I started because I am grieving and was looking for something to distract me. The story is so well written that even when I realised what it was about I couldn’t stop listening. It really helped me.

What a beautiful story about a gorgeous relationship.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.