Book Review: The Tail of Augustus Moon

By Sara Steven

Augustus (Gus for short) is independent. He’s prone to late night strolls and can be very territorial over his home and the most cherished possession and love of his life, Maisie. He stands his ground at all costs, and won’t take no for an answer.

Not surprisingly, Gus is a cat.

In The Tail of Augustus Moon, we are given insight from a feline’s perspective. Left behind after his prior owners skipped town, Gus had been on his own and fending for himself before Maisie moved into the neighborhood. Knowing it’s time to settle his paws and plant roots again, Gus sets out to woo Maisie into adopting him. It’s no easy task. Maisie is set in her ways, too, having lived a rather lonely existence that includes a string of broken romances. She wanted to escape to the country for peace and in pops Gus, ready to spoil all she’s set out to do. Really, she’s more of a dog person.

“So she fell for it and here I am, about to live in luxury again. In the end it was so simple. All I had to do was turn up a few times, tell her my sorry tale and miaow my way into her life. Oh yes, and put my paw out and touch her hand. That always works a treat….”

Thus begins an "Odd Couple" relationship. Gus gets angry when Maisie goes out without him. Maisie gets annoyed when Gus gives her one of his special “presents”. Anything with a tail and resembling a rodent should be off limits. Over time they form a very special bond built on trust and mutual respect, only to have it potentially shattered by another man, and not of the feline variety, either. Gus has no room in his life for competition, especially where humans are concerned. Gus is number #1, and that’s it. End of story. For Maisie though, it's a tough choice to make. If the two men she loves most in life can't get along, what is she to do?

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book that is written from the human and feline perspective. I was surprised to find that it’s a unique twist, and cleverly done! Melanie Whitehouse has created a sweet tale (or is that tail) about the bond between pets and their humans. Throw in some drama, and it’s a really cute read. It really makes you think about what’s really going on inside the mind of your furry friend!

Thanks to Book Guild for the book in exchange for an honest review.