Lily and the Octopus
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.
A National Bestseller
An Indie Next Pick
A Library Reads Pick
A Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Month
A Washington Post Notable Book of 2016
Published in twenty languages
“A national bestseller combining the emotional depth of The Art of Racing in the Rain with the magical spirit of The Life of Pi. YOU! MUST! READ! THIS! BOOK!”
“Startlingly imaginative...‘Lily and the Octopus’ is a love story sure to assert its place in the canine lit pack. Be prepared for outright laughs and searing moments of canine and human recognition. And grab a tissue: THERE! WILL! BE! EYE! RAIN!”
“A big-hearted, inventive, funny novel that also happens to be a profound meditation on love and forgiveness. ”
“Steven Rowley’s touching, fresh, energetic novel isn’t simply another ‘boy and his dog’ story. It is a profound exploration of grief—how we find ourselves lost, how we search for reason, how we sacrifice ourselves for our loved ones, all to avoid paying the octopus. But the octopus will be paid. And in settling that debt, in the magical, hopeful world of Lily and the Octopus, we will learn to live—and love—again. A wonderfully moving story.”
“An exceedingly authentic, keenly insightful, and heartbreakingly poignant tribute to the purity of love between a pet and its human.”
“My favorite book of the year: Steven Rowley’s Lily and the Octopus. Hilarious, heartbreaking. You will absolutely cry and you will love it.”
“A quirky and deeply affecting charmer of a novel, Lily and the Octopus is funny, wise, and utterly original in its exploration of what it means to love any mortal creature. This brave little dachshund will capture your heart, as will her prickly, tenderhearted, and irresistible owner. Don’t miss their adventures together.”
“A whimsical, touching tale.”