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Running with Hounds...and an English Degree
The last place Denise wanted to land after college was back with her folks in her Podunk-nowhere hometown. With only retail experience on her resume, her writing accolades apparently mean nothing except student loan debt.
So when her parents say they’re moving to an adult living community where she’ll be sleeping on the couch, it’s the last straw. Putting her fruitless creative dreams aside, she interviews with a wealthy couple to watch their retired greyhounds. Sounds easy—until she has to win over their animal psychic and learn to cook steak for dogs. The hounds’ raucous antics only highlight how clueless she is at life as she struggles to not only control them, but the direction she’s headed.
That includes her love life. She meets Logan—hot, ambitious, a player—around the same time her twice-over ex, Alex, calls her, ready for a real relationship. Logan claims the world is her playground; Alex says everything she needs is right there. Not knowing what to do, Denise juggles dating both, falling further down an emotional rabbit hole.
Running toward a shady relationship, with retail hell looming, Denise has the summer to figure out her biggest herself.
So when her parents say they’re moving to an adult living community where she’ll be sleeping on the couch, it’s the last straw. Putting her fruitless creative dreams aside, she interviews with a wealthy couple to watch their retired greyhounds. Sounds easy—until she has to win over their animal psychic and learn to cook steak for dogs. The hounds’ raucous antics only highlight how clueless she is at life as she struggles to not only control them, but the direction she’s headed.
That includes her love life. She meets Logan—hot, ambitious, a player—around the same time her twice-over ex, Alex, calls her, ready for a real relationship. Logan claims the world is her playground; Alex says everything she needs is right there. Not knowing what to do, Denise juggles dating both, falling further down an emotional rabbit hole.
Running toward a shady relationship, with retail hell looming, Denise has the summer to figure out her biggest herself.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2022
19 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Roberts
3 books18 followersD.M. Roberts is a full-time copy editor and weekend writer who self-published her first novel, Letting Go and Holding On, in 2011. Her second novel, Running with Hounds…and an English Degree, released in April 2022, took Silver in The BookFest Awards 2024 romantic comedy category and was included in Kirkus Reviews’ 36 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering.
Originally from Adams, MA, Roberts worked as a reporter and columnist for her hometown newspaper before moving to Worcester to be a copy editor for Gatehouse Media. When the company announced their plans to move, her boyfriend landed a position at Chapman University in Orange, CA, starting two weeks after her last day. So she set out on a six-day cross-country road trip to reach their SoCal home. There, she works on whatever ideas pop into her head, no matter the genre.
Originally from Adams, MA, Roberts worked as a reporter and columnist for her hometown newspaper before moving to Worcester to be a copy editor for Gatehouse Media. When the company announced their plans to move, her boyfriend landed a position at Chapman University in Orange, CA, starting two weeks after her last day. So she set out on a six-day cross-country road trip to reach their SoCal home. There, she works on whatever ideas pop into her head, no matter the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 10, 2022
RUNNING WITH HOUNDS was a cute rom com that made the perfect light summer read. I am pretty much the target audience for rom coms with dogs on the cover and was glad to find this book. Denise is a recent college grad who is struggling to land that first job. This book is SO FUNNY! The snarky voice is funny. The crazy job interviews are funny. Once Denise lands her job dog sitting for Pepper and Dante the greyhounds, who are oh so pampered in their luxury lifestyle of eating fresh grilled steak, their scenes are lots of fun (I particularly loved the escapade in the park with the poop bags.) Denise has a fun group of girlfriends to hang out with, troubles with her parents and their future plans, and troubles with her love life as she tries to figure out which of the two guys she’s been seeing is right for her, her never do well ex who may have turned over a new leaf, or a new guy in her life who might have more potential. What’s a girl supposed to do? This was a cute rom com and I liked seeing Denise find her way! And of course all the scenes with Pepper and Dante! 5/5 stars.
August 18, 2023
The testament to D.M. Robert’s writing is that I thoroughly enjoyed this part rom-com, part coming-of-age caper despite finding the main character Denise pretty hard work at times!
Denise’s situation is eminently relatable to anyone who expected real life to suddenly kick in and launch them triumphantly into adulthood on finishing university. As she, and we, find out… it doesn’t work like that! So we follow Denise as she wings her way uneasily through a series of romantic and work-related comic escapades, while longing for better and brighter things but finding herself unsure about how to set about chasing them.
I loved the snarky narrative voice in which Denise shares her adventures, but found myself frequently wanting to give her a friendly shake as she blunders into a love triangle with two completely unsuitable (in different ways) romantic interests and stands in judgement on those taking ‘dead-end’ jobs to earn money, while relying on the support of her parents to avoid having to do exactly the same. Luckily, she didn’t need my intervention, as she also has a great group of supportive friends ready to jump in and tell her when she’s being unreasonable, and as the book progresses we see her grow and change, starting to look outward and forward instead of constantly inward.
The audiobook narrator does a great job, reading clearly and at a good pace, and perfectly capturing the wry, humorous tone I had imagined on reading the e-book. I found it a relaxing, easy listen to dip in and out of while doing other things or before bed.
You shouldn’t go into this expecting a traditional romcom, as I spent most of the book wondering why she was bothering with either of her romantic interests rather than rooting for one of them over the other, but if you are looking for a funny adult-coming-of-age story with lots of details about writing and adorable dogs, sprinkled lavishly with comedic disasters, then this is the read for you.
And as someone who worked in accounts with an English degree in my 20s, I will admit that I wish I had followed Denise and gone to the dogs instead!
Denise’s situation is eminently relatable to anyone who expected real life to suddenly kick in and launch them triumphantly into adulthood on finishing university. As she, and we, find out… it doesn’t work like that! So we follow Denise as she wings her way uneasily through a series of romantic and work-related comic escapades, while longing for better and brighter things but finding herself unsure about how to set about chasing them.
I loved the snarky narrative voice in which Denise shares her adventures, but found myself frequently wanting to give her a friendly shake as she blunders into a love triangle with two completely unsuitable (in different ways) romantic interests and stands in judgement on those taking ‘dead-end’ jobs to earn money, while relying on the support of her parents to avoid having to do exactly the same. Luckily, she didn’t need my intervention, as she also has a great group of supportive friends ready to jump in and tell her when she’s being unreasonable, and as the book progresses we see her grow and change, starting to look outward and forward instead of constantly inward.
The audiobook narrator does a great job, reading clearly and at a good pace, and perfectly capturing the wry, humorous tone I had imagined on reading the e-book. I found it a relaxing, easy listen to dip in and out of while doing other things or before bed.
You shouldn’t go into this expecting a traditional romcom, as I spent most of the book wondering why she was bothering with either of her romantic interests rather than rooting for one of them over the other, but if you are looking for a funny adult-coming-of-age story with lots of details about writing and adorable dogs, sprinkled lavishly with comedic disasters, then this is the read for you.
And as someone who worked in accounts with an English degree in my 20s, I will admit that I wish I had followed Denise and gone to the dogs instead!
June 7, 2022
Denise is trying to figure out what to do after a young lifetime spent being praised for her academic work. Her struggle to find her way in the world is at the heart of this book, and Roberts handles that struggle with humor that never forgets its serious core.
I will say, as someone who rarely reads straight rom-coms, the romance in this book felt a bit flat for me - I didn't feel like either of the men in the requisite love triangle were particularly compelling, either for my own interests or as a solid match for Denise. But luckily, this book has so much more in it.
What does sing for me is Roberts's prose. She is a fantastic comic writer, and multiple one-liners had me literally giggling. When Denise is dragged rock climbing on a date, for example, she "landed in upward-facing gecko." A group of women walking their dogs are compared to World War Z zombies as they decimate a stash of poo bags. As Denise delves into the strange world of freelance writing, she encounters everything from "horrorscopes" to paranormal romance, and in that latter category, a dinosaur-themed book: "That wasn't paranormal or erotic - more like psychotic!" All of the wry turns of phrase make the book a joy to read.
And ultimately, there is the core message of a woman's coming-of-age story. As someone who teaches in the humanities, I would highly recommend this book to any of my students. It shows both that your academic achievement won't necessarily translate directly into a job, but also that an open mind and a drive to succeed can lead you places you never imagined. It shows a very real protagonist in a small town, seeing her friends landing back in the grocery clerk job they thought they escaped, being rejected from grad school, or finding a surprisingly good way forward.
If the "rom" didn't stick for me, the "com" absolutely did, as did the larger message. And of course, there are dogs! How can you not love a book with dogs???
I will say, as someone who rarely reads straight rom-coms, the romance in this book felt a bit flat for me - I didn't feel like either of the men in the requisite love triangle were particularly compelling, either for my own interests or as a solid match for Denise. But luckily, this book has so much more in it.
What does sing for me is Roberts's prose. She is a fantastic comic writer, and multiple one-liners had me literally giggling. When Denise is dragged rock climbing on a date, for example, she "landed in upward-facing gecko." A group of women walking their dogs are compared to World War Z zombies as they decimate a stash of poo bags. As Denise delves into the strange world of freelance writing, she encounters everything from "horrorscopes" to paranormal romance, and in that latter category, a dinosaur-themed book: "That wasn't paranormal or erotic - more like psychotic!" All of the wry turns of phrase make the book a joy to read.
And ultimately, there is the core message of a woman's coming-of-age story. As someone who teaches in the humanities, I would highly recommend this book to any of my students. It shows both that your academic achievement won't necessarily translate directly into a job, but also that an open mind and a drive to succeed can lead you places you never imagined. It shows a very real protagonist in a small town, seeing her friends landing back in the grocery clerk job they thought they escaped, being rejected from grad school, or finding a surprisingly good way forward.
If the "rom" didn't stick for me, the "com" absolutely did, as did the larger message. And of course, there are dogs! How can you not love a book with dogs???
July 2, 2023
Running with Hounds... and an English Degree by D.M. Roberts
 I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Travelling Pages Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
The last place Denise wanted to land after college was back with her folks in her Podunk-nowhere hometown. With only retail experience on her resume, her writing accolades apparently mean nothing except student loan debt.
So when her parents say they’re moving to an adult living community where she’ll be sleeping on the couch, it’s the last straw. Putting her fruitless creative dreams aside, she interviews with a wealthy couple to watch their retired greyhounds. Sounds easy—until she has to win over their animal psychic and learn to cook steak for dogs. The hounds’ raucous antics only highlight how clueless she is at life as she struggles to not only control them, but the direction she’s headed.
That includes her love life. She meets Logan—hot, ambitious, a player—around the same time her twice-over ex, Alex, calls her, ready for a real relationship. Logan claims the world is her playground; Alex says everything she needs is right there. Not knowing what to do, Denise juggles dating both, falling further down an emotional rabbit hole.
Running toward a shady relationship, with retail hell looming, Denise has the summer to figure out her biggest herself.
My Opinion
This is a lovely summer read. With dogs featuring heavily, this book will appeal to animal lovers. Personally, I thought this book got off to slow start, but it soon had me hooked.
Denise is a recent graduate, in need of somewhere to live as well as trying to find herself a job. This is a very relatable story and teaches us that things don't always work out as planned. This is the first book I have read by D.M. Roberts, but it probably won't be the last. I listened to this as an audiobook and I can confirm that it worked well.
Rating: 4/5
 I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Travelling Pages Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
The last place Denise wanted to land after college was back with her folks in her Podunk-nowhere hometown. With only retail experience on her resume, her writing accolades apparently mean nothing except student loan debt.
So when her parents say they’re moving to an adult living community where she’ll be sleeping on the couch, it’s the last straw. Putting her fruitless creative dreams aside, she interviews with a wealthy couple to watch their retired greyhounds. Sounds easy—until she has to win over their animal psychic and learn to cook steak for dogs. The hounds’ raucous antics only highlight how clueless she is at life as she struggles to not only control them, but the direction she’s headed.
That includes her love life. She meets Logan—hot, ambitious, a player—around the same time her twice-over ex, Alex, calls her, ready for a real relationship. Logan claims the world is her playground; Alex says everything she needs is right there. Not knowing what to do, Denise juggles dating both, falling further down an emotional rabbit hole.
Running toward a shady relationship, with retail hell looming, Denise has the summer to figure out her biggest herself.
My Opinion
This is a lovely summer read. With dogs featuring heavily, this book will appeal to animal lovers. Personally, I thought this book got off to slow start, but it soon had me hooked.
Denise is a recent graduate, in need of somewhere to live as well as trying to find herself a job. This is a very relatable story and teaches us that things don't always work out as planned. This is the first book I have read by D.M. Roberts, but it probably won't be the last. I listened to this as an audiobook and I can confirm that it worked well.
Rating: 4/5
November 24, 2022
Running with Hounds is a light-hearted, fun romp through the life of Denise, an average woman who, just out of college, finds herself a dog caretaker of sorts despite vying for a more established career. This involves job interviews littered throughout, as well as the drama within both friendships and a cheeky love triangle.
Surprisingly, Roberts has done a good job of making seemingly mundane portions of the novel quite entertaining and humorous. The job interviews and dates, and all the interactions that surround them, have clearly had a lot of creativity put into them, ensuring the reader is entertained even though the underlying impact of some of the scenes may be somewhat irrelevant. This, coupled with moments of genuine tenderness, make for an entertaining and engaging read that doesn't tax the reader with too much emotional weight, but rather, a gentle adventure that is the life of Denise.
It is refreshing that all the characters seem genuinely three dimensional, as there is no defined "villain" within the novel; everyone has their own motivations, and Roberts seems to utilize the same creativity she imparts on interactions to ensure no one character follows a typical projection, and is presented with a humility towards their own humanity.
A fun, captivating read, edited with precision and finesse, starring a lovable protagonist who is just trying to find her place in the world.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
Surprisingly, Roberts has done a good job of making seemingly mundane portions of the novel quite entertaining and humorous. The job interviews and dates, and all the interactions that surround them, have clearly had a lot of creativity put into them, ensuring the reader is entertained even though the underlying impact of some of the scenes may be somewhat irrelevant. This, coupled with moments of genuine tenderness, make for an entertaining and engaging read that doesn't tax the reader with too much emotional weight, but rather, a gentle adventure that is the life of Denise.
It is refreshing that all the characters seem genuinely three dimensional, as there is no defined "villain" within the novel; everyone has their own motivations, and Roberts seems to utilize the same creativity she imparts on interactions to ensure no one character follows a typical projection, and is presented with a humility towards their own humanity.
A fun, captivating read, edited with precision and finesse, starring a lovable protagonist who is just trying to find her place in the world.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
March 30, 2023
This was a well written book that I believe a lot of people can relate to. It started out a little slow but focuses on “adulting” and how it never is quite what you expect it to be. You go to college and have a degree in hand and expect everything to just fall into place, but oftentimes, you need to come up with Plan B or Plan C. This is also true for those that have been downsized, looking for a career change or even those thinking about following their true passion. The book is a glimpse into the life of Denise, a college graduate with an English degree (obviously from the title) and a dream to pursue writing novels. Life isn’t so easy as she struggles to find anything and ends up dog sitting for a summer. Over the summer she learns that nothing is handed to you and when you open yourself to new opportunities, you just might find your way to happiness, or at least a job to pay the bills and a start to reaching your dreams. Throw in a group of friends with their own issues and a couple of guys to add to the mix and life can be crazy but anything but boring. I received a free copy for an honest review.
July 21, 2023
I was immediately interested in this book based off the title. I love Greyhounds and my English classes were always what I gravitated towards in college, so naturually I was intrigued.
Based off the description of the book, I got exactly what I expected. It's a little slow to start, but it reads a like your classic modern romance. No huge plot twists (I will admit I still have a few chapters left so that could change, but I doubt it). Nothing really unexpected. Just a nice steady read.
I had a few laughs, and I cringed in a few places. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It felt like I was ready a less family orientated version of a Hallmark movie.
My one complaint was in the audiobook, the narration does feel a bit monotone. It took some getting used to and given the slow start of the book it was a bit of a challenge to keep listening, but after a few chapters I did find myself adapting.
Overall a decent read, I would recommend it to friends who like this genre and will update my review when I finish reading.
Based off the description of the book, I got exactly what I expected. It's a little slow to start, but it reads a like your classic modern romance. No huge plot twists (I will admit I still have a few chapters left so that could change, but I doubt it). Nothing really unexpected. Just a nice steady read.
I had a few laughs, and I cringed in a few places. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It felt like I was ready a less family orientated version of a Hallmark movie.
My one complaint was in the audiobook, the narration does feel a bit monotone. It took some getting used to and given the slow start of the book it was a bit of a challenge to keep listening, but after a few chapters I did find myself adapting.
Overall a decent read, I would recommend it to friends who like this genre and will update my review when I finish reading.
March 24, 2023
What a great read! Roberts is a new author for me and I'm so glad I was able to get a copy of this book! A delightfully funny read which is just what I needed! Our main character is Denise who is fresh outa school and looking for her first job...the interviews were hilarious! After landing her first job as a dog sitter for posh greyhounds Dante and Pepper the humor continues. Add to that a great cast of characters - besties, romantic interests and parent drama all cumulates for a great read that I couldn't put down! I wouldn't necessarily call this a rom-com but more of a comedy come of age. Either way it was great and I'm definitely going to be looking forward to more from Roberts now!
I received a complimentary copy of the book at my request from the author via Voracious Readers
Only and voluntarily provided this review.
I received a complimentary copy of the book at my request from the author via Voracious Readers
Only and voluntarily provided this review.
March 28, 2023
Received this book via voracious readers. I really enjoyed the story about finding your path when you graduate with a degree.
Not everything turns out as you planned it and even though there will always be obstacles, you need to decide what you really want out of life. This includes relationships, work and who and what you want to be.
I loved that that Denise’s friends group although always there for her we’re not afraid to say it as it is and all had things too deal with themselves. It’s good to know you’re not the only one.
A good read highly recommended.
Not everything turns out as you planned it and even though there will always be obstacles, you need to decide what you really want out of life. This includes relationships, work and who and what you want to be.
I loved that that Denise’s friends group although always there for her we’re not afraid to say it as it is and all had things too deal with themselves. It’s good to know you’re not the only one.
A good read highly recommended.
August 14, 2023
The perfect summer read! Though our main character is trying to find her way (and that could be a heavy topic), the author put a comical spin on everything! The story is a light-hearted romcom served with a heaping helping of humor and spark. From wonderful friends to not-so-wonderful parents and love life to job interviews, there's never a dull moment. She lands a job pampering ultra-spoiled hounds, Pepper and Dante. In the end, life is more about determination and perseverance. Good read and lots of laughs!
August 19, 2023
This is a really cute book. Denise is a character who is clearly at a crossroads in life - with her next moves weighing on her - where will she live, what "career" job will she end up in, which guy is right for her?
I love the message that not everyone has their dream career when leaving college. Let's be honest, the dream career at that moment is not usually the norm. As you grow, so do your thoughts and feelings about places and people in your life.
Overall, I thought this was a good book that was well written.
Thank you Travelling Pages Tours and D.M. Roberts for the #gifted book.
I love the message that not everyone has their dream career when leaving college. Let's be honest, the dream career at that moment is not usually the norm. As you grow, so do your thoughts and feelings about places and people in your life.
Overall, I thought this was a good book that was well written.
Thank you Travelling Pages Tours and D.M. Roberts for the #gifted book.
November 25, 2022
I liked this book, but I thought that Denise was a total brat sponging off her parents, dating two men at the same time. She had just graduation from college and had trouble finding a job as a writer. How she kept dating her ex after all he had done to her I do not have a clue. Between her girl posse who gave her advice that she didn't take and dog sitting retired Greyhounds who ate better than her I enjoyed Denise's story.
March 11, 2023
I enjoyed this book. The characters and their struggles seemed very authentic. I appreciated how the love triangle was a little unusual and full of realistic complications. Overall it made me feel like this could have been any recent college graduate who is still finding their way.
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
June 6, 2022
A very entertaining book! Many turns of phrase that elicited a loud chuckle or two and the narrative is flowing in a captivating way. Worth spending the time and recommended to all "fresh off the boat" college graduates.
June 14, 2023
I received this book as an ARC.
A captivatingly educational and interesting novel of a young woman and her life difficulties, in which she learns her lessons in a not-so-hard way!
A captivatingly educational and interesting novel of a young woman and her life difficulties, in which she learns her lessons in a not-so-hard way!
June 20, 2024
Absolutely captivating. Could not put it down. So much coming at you from all angles. Needed to see how it all ended for Denise.
August 28, 2023
This was such a cute summer read! It was a mix of romance, finding ones self worth and discovery. I liked that it had different layers to the story and that it wasn’t just a romcom or just a book about someone finding themselves after college.
August 14, 2023
3.5
I really enjoyed getting to Denise and her family in this book. Her emotional growth was clearly defined and realistically developed. Is anyone ready for life immediate after schooling? Roberts did a great job of identifying the turmoil of becoming an adult in a way that may hit close to home for some. The dogs made the book for me (sorry I’m a dog lover 🤷♀️). I laughed out loud with some of their antics. And admittedly groaned with others. I wish that I had read this one., rather than listening.
I really enjoyed getting to Denise and her family in this book. Her emotional growth was clearly defined and realistically developed. Is anyone ready for life immediate after schooling? Roberts did a great job of identifying the turmoil of becoming an adult in a way that may hit close to home for some. The dogs made the book for me (sorry I’m a dog lover 🤷♀️). I laughed out loud with some of their antics. And admittedly groaned with others. I wish that I had read this one., rather than listening.
July 30, 2024
Running with Hounds and an English Degree is a winsomely fun read packed with humorous antics with the dogs but balanced with the seriousness of coming to terms with being an adult while still reaching for your dream.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews