This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m delighted to spotlight DOG PERSON by bestselling author Camille Pagán—a heartfelt, humorous story that will tug at your heartstrings. Told through the unforgettable voice of Harold, an aging dog with a mission, this novel beautifully explores grief, healing, and the enduring power of love.
LIGHTNING ROUND
In three words, describe the feeling readers will have when they finish your book.
Warm, grateful, alive
What’s your favorite writing season: cozy winter, hopeful spring, beachy summer, or reflective fall?
Cozy winter is when I get the most writing done; summer is when I have my best ideas.
What’s one snack or treat that always appears when you’re deep in writing mode?
Coffee, coffee, and all the coffee! My go-to is a cortado.
THE SPRING SPARK
April often feels like a season of renewal. Did anything about this story feel like a fresh start for you as a writer?
Yes, absolutely—I wrote this novel after experiencing a pretty profound loss in my personal life. Because of that, it took me about twice as long as usual to write and edit this book, but the experience was so healing.
What was the very first image, line, or idea that sparked this book?
The first line of the novel reads, “There are two kinds of people in this world: dog people, and people who still need to meet the right dog.” I wasn’t really a dog person until I adopted my own aging mutt (who’s now 14), but the experience changed my life—and inspired me to write this novel.
Setting can shape a story in powerful ways. What role does the setting play in your book, and what inspired you to choose it?
This novel takes place in Southwest Michigan, which is an area of my home state that I love and where I spend as much time as possible. It’s also largely set in a (fictional) independent bookstore. I spend time in bookstores the way some people spend time in shoe stores; they’re my happy place, so I really wanted to set a novel in one!
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
Spring is a time for new reads. What book is currently at the top of your TBR pile and why?
I’m excited to read Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau’s WE WOULD NEVER TELL; I couldn’t put down her last novel, THE FRENCH HONEYMOON. I’m also a huge fan of Kitty Johnson, so I’ll be picking up WHERE THE SEA LAVENDER GROS as well. And my friend Laura Vanderkam has a new non-fiction book called BIG TIME that I just started and am already loving.
Writing can be a long journey. Was there a moment while working on this book when you thought, this is why I love being an author?
Yes, in the last round of major edits, the book finally came together in the most wonderful way. It was like working on a puzzle for over a year and then spotting the last few pieces and knowing exactly where they belonged in the big picture. That’s the moment that I live for when I’m writing.
LOOKING AHEAD
Without giving away spoilers, what can readers look forward to from you next?
Here’s a sneak peek of my next book: Determined to repair a rift with her oldest friend, a self-critical woman resolves to hide her heartbreak-turned-existential crisis during his wedding—but when crisis strikes, she’s forced to team up with the man who brings out her worst, complicating her ability to save the wedding … and safeguard her heart.
Where can readers connect with you and keep up with your latest writing news? (Website, social media, newsletter, etc.)
I’m most active on Instagram. And you can find all my links on my website.
BONUS: The Author’s Playlist
What songs capture the mood of your book or inspire you while writing?
“Stick Season,” Noah Kahan
“Me Voy,” Julieta Venegas
"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” Etta James
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
In this delightfully heartwarming novel, an elderly dog named Harold is determined to help his grieving owner, Miguel, find a reason to go on after loss. Now if only Miguel would stop getting in Harold’s way by being so very . . . human.
Harold may be an aging mutt—but Amelia May, the romance novelist who adopted him, taught him a thing or two about the human heart before she died. And she left Harold with a final task: to help her partner, Miguel, find love again.
Trouble is, the grief-ridden recluse rarely goes out, not even to the bookstore he and Amelia owned together. Now it’s in danger of going under, and when a renowned author doesn’t show up for his event, it pushes the store’s already precarious finances into the red. In a final attempt to save the bookstore, Miguel and Harold set out to find the no-show and insist he fulfill his obligation. But instead they’re greeted by Fiona, his sunny yet secretive sister.
Fiona is intent on protecting her brother’s privacy—and to Harold’s horror, she doesn’t like dogs. But her precocious eleven-year-old daughter, who’s also named Amelia, immediately befriends Harold . . . and he can’t help but wonder if his Amelia was right when she said there are no coincidences in life.
Harold is quickly running out of time to accomplish his mission, but if he can just convince his infuriatingly stubborn person to let Fiona in, he’s certain Miguel will find something far more important than a missing author: his own happy ending.
Uplifting, smartly observed, and hilariously insightful, Dog Person is as undeniably charming as its beloved narrator, Harold, and offers a much-needed reminder that while not all love is unconditional, it is still always worthwhile.
Romance [ Delacorte Press, On Sale: April 7, 2026, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9798217092055 / eISBN: 9798217092062 ]
Camille Pagán is the Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and #1 Kindle bestselling author of "witty and delightful" novels (Library Journal) about life's what-ifs. Her books have been translated into twenty languages, and her second novel, Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, has been optioned for film by Jessica Chastain's Freckle Films. A journalist and former magazine editor, her work has appeared in Fast Company, Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others.
Jennifer Vido is the author of The Gull Island Series, sweet Lowcountry romances inspired by her love of coastal living and small-town charm. Serendipity by the Sea won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest, and Baltimore Magazine readers named her Best Local Author in 2024 and 2025.
A Vanderbilt graduate, Jennifer traded in teaching French to follow her dream of becoming an author. She loves discovering and sharing literary gems through her Jen's Jewels column, celebrating the books that make her heart happy.
Jennifer lives in Maryland with her husband and is mom to two grown sons. Her rescue dog, Fripp, is her constant companion, though he's better at napping than editing. When she's not writing, you'll find her at the beach with her toes in the sand, dreaming about her next romance.
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