Praise for LILY AND THE OCTOPUS by Steven Rowley
“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.”
—Sara Gruen, bestselling author of Water for Elephants
“Beware the octopus! 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.”
—Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
“You will tear through this big-hearted, inventive novel. A fast and funny read that also happens to be
a profound meditation on love and forgiveness, Lily and the Octopus is a delight.”
—Christina Baker-Kline, bestselling author of Orphan Train
“Singular, spectacular, and touchingly tentacular.”
—Chris Cleave, bestselling author of Little Bee
“Intelligently written, finely observed, and surprisingly moving, this is a book you’ll find hard to put
down.”
—Graeme Simsion, bestselling author of The Rosie Project
“My favorite book of next year: Steven Rowley's Lily and the Octopus. Hilarious, heartbreaking. You will
absolutely cry and you will love it."
—Patrick Ness, bestselling author of The Rest of Us Just Live Here
“Rowley’s portrait of a sensitive, single man facing a pet owner’s worst nightmare brims with the honest
emotions that come from unconditional love. This debut novel is being strongly touted, but for all its
giddiness and gusto, it is about the death of a loved one, and readers who have faced similar situations
will want to think before reaching for this gut-wrenching tale. Once readers commit however, the
emotional toll is well worth it because Rowley has written an exceedingly authentic, keenly insightful,
and heartbreakingly poignant tribute to the purity of love between a pet and its human.”
—Booklist, starred review
“As anyone who has a dachshund knows, this is exactly how they talk. If you have an older dog, or any
dog, he or she is going to be licking plenty of eye rain off your face through the final chapters of this
book. In his funny, ardent and staunchly kooky way, Rowley expresses exactly what it's like to love a
dog.”
—Kirkus Reviews
LILY AND THE OCTOPUS
by Steven Rowley
Simon & Schuster
June 7, 2016
ISBN: 9781501126222
eBook ISBN: 9781501126246