Simon Burke loves animals and prefers them to people. Much to his surprise, someone quickly responds to his ad for help, and when he opens the door the following day, he’s caught off guard by the beautiful man waiting on his doorstep. He quickly discovers that navigating crutches, exhaustion, and caring for a menagerie of animals is nearly impossible, and he turns to PetShare, an app that matches up pet owners with caregivers. Jack hates asking for help and resents needing it, and finally convinces a worried and doubtful Charlie he’s fine on his own. Following a brief hospital stay, his older brother Charlie brings him home and gets him settled. After a frantic chase in the dark, Jack finds himself alone at the bottom of a ditch, concussed and with a broken leg. Out for a walk late one evening, one of the dogs runs away.

Depressed, stung by the betrayal, and newly plagued with doubts about his talent, he hides away in his Wyoming cabin with only his pack of rescued dogs and cats for company. Jack Matheson is an acclaimed children’s book illustrator on hiatus since his best friend (and collaborator) stole a story from him and then sold it as his own. It’s a shame the opposites-attract love story is tender and lovely. I was so fixated (and distracted) by these furry friends – and all their pet hair and smelly fur – I couldn’t enjoy the romance. Jack, one-half of the principal couple, has A LOT of pets (four dogs three cats) and refers to them as his pack. But animals and pack are at its heart, and if you aren’t a big time dog or cat lover, this book is a tough sell.

Unfortunately, despite these things – and my fondness for this author’s work – I didn’t really like Better Than People. I like dogs and cats, and I like shifter stories that center ‘pack’.

Better than people roan parrish