Fifty-year-old formerly famous childrens’ book author Judy Vogel is anxious. Separated from her anxious, failed musician husband, they still live in the same house in order to support their anxious thirteen-year-old Montessori school attending son.

One day, Judy dons a cotton cross-body baby sling and begins carrying the family dog, a mini-sheltie. Since it gives her comfort and the dog doesn’t seem to mind, she begins wearing the dog everywhere she goes. Driving is difficult, school visits awkward, other dog park users critical but she persists.

The novels gets darker as the story advances but it never disappoints.