The Dogs of Venice

I loved Steven Rowley’s The Guncle a few years ago, and I’ve been wanting to read more from. His newest release is a short story, The Dogs of Venice. Though first published as an audiobook five years ago, this new print edition reworks the story and gives it a Christmastime setting.

Paul and his husband Darren have spent months planning a trip to Venice. But then Darren announces he wants a divorce, and Paul ends up going on the vacation alone. He’s lonely and adrift, and becomes fixated on one of the stray dogs that roams the city. Paul thinks that, if only he can interact with the dog, he might be able to find his way forward again.

What I Liked:

• Learning to feel whole on your own. Paul is grieving the dissolution of his marriage and the many ways Darren thought Paul didn’t measure up. But now on his own once more, Paul is learning how to function on his own, feel enough on his own, and regain some confidence in himself. It’s not a simple journey, and he faces a setback or two, but I liked seeing the little ways Paul regains himself here.
• The dog! Though kept at arm’s distance for most of the story, the dog becomes a point of obsession for Paul. He’s a cute dog, to be sure, but for Paul, the dog represents something more: freedom, confidence, the chance to start over. They have an interesting interaction by the end, and I like the glimpse into Paul’s next steps.
• Exploring Venice. In a somewhat ironic contrast to Paul, I spent (part of) my honeymoon in Venice, and I loved this city of bridges and canals and plazas. Reading this book brought back so many memories, and I loved getting to see more of Venice more through Paul’s eyes.

Final Thoughts

The Dogs of Venice is only 80 pages, but it packs a lot of feeling into its short format. This is a snapshot of a man in the turbulence of change, a loss of self but also a chance to find himself again, with a little help from a stray dog. Despite its brevity, this story is a beautiful summation of grief and an honest look at how small steps still count as moving forward. This is only my second time reading Steven Rowley, and I look forward to diving into more of his books.

Special thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy The Dogs of Venice here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

The Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Fiction
Setting	Venice, Italy
Number of Pages	80
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	October 14, 2025 (rerelease)
Publisher	G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Official Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants and The Guncle, a heartwarming story about finding oneself in one of the most romantic cities on Earth.

After months of planning a romantic holiday getaway in Venice, Paul is blindsided when his five-year marriage suddenly unravels. Fueled by heartbreak, Paul endeavors to take the trip alone.

Soon after arriving in Italy, he notices a small, scruffy, self-assured dog trotting alongside a canal with the confidence he so desperately wants for himself. When their paths cross again, Paul feels compelled to learn how his new four-legged friend thrives on his own. Amid the food, sights, and welcoming people of Venice, Paul’s journey culminates in a magical encounter that leads him to feel real connection—to a dog, to a foreign city and, most importantly, to himself.

Capturing Steven Rowley’s signature wit, insight, and indelible characters, The Dogs of Venice offers another timeless story of love lost, and independence found—a holiday tonic for the soul.