Gary Goldstein
“Smart, funny, and a pure delight, with a story so propulsive it practically wags its tail. A perfect read for anyone who has ever loved a dog or lost their way. I loved it!”
Susan Walter, USA Today bestselling author of Murder at 30,000 Feet
and Letters from Strangers
Also available
on audiobook
from
Tantor Media
“I’m not saying I caused the divorce, but I was definitely in the car.” – Betty, the springer spaniel
Meet Layla and Franklin Bishop. They’re a married Los Angeles pair in their late thirties, whose twelve-year relationship began like a house on fire—but now all that’s left are the dying embers. When a maddening incident involving the couple, a fender bender, a gushing Hydro Flask, and their back-seated dog, Betty, becomes the last straw for the teetering spouses, they impulsively separate.
Money, work matters, and property issues quickly complicate things. But when Layla and Franklin each demand full custody of Betty, the road to divorce gets impossibly bumpy, even with the help of their tough-love mediator. Parents, friends, and potential new romantic partners are along for the twisty ride, as Layla and Franklin navigate their way apart. Meanwhile, Betty works, in her mysterious canine way, to reunite her humans. But is she barking up the wrong tree?
Told from the alternating points of view of Layla, Franklin, and Betty, Canine Custody is a funny, candid, sexy, at times bittersweet look at what draws lovers to each other, how those same things can send them packing, and the surprising role our pets can play in life’s major decisions.
#CanineCustodyNovel
Listen on Spotify: bit.ly/4c85wLQ
L.A. Book Launch - 9/27/26
PRAISE FOR CANINE CUSTODY
“As warm and tender as a curled-up dog by your side, Canine Custody reminds us that the hard work required to make love last is absolutely worth it. It’s an ode to the complexities of marriage, to the healing power of second chances, and to all the little things we simply don’t want to live without.”
- Matthew Norman, author of Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon
“Smart, funny, and a pure delight, with a story so propulsive it practically wags its tail.
A perfect read for anyone who has ever loved a dog or lost their way. I loved it!”
- Susan Walter, bestselling author of Murder at 30,000 Feet
and Letters From Strangers
“Raw, real, and personal. As intimate a portrayal of two people struggling with modern life and marital issues as you’re likely to find… plus (perhaps double plus) there’s a wonderful dog!”
– W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose
and A Dog’s Perfect Christmas
"If every couple needs a dog, every divorcing couple needs Betty, the devoted canine in the
middle of an unhappy custody battle. Brought to life by Goldstein’s delightful prose,
Canine Custody is honest, unexpected, thoughtful, and as enjoyable as being scratched behind
the ears." - Ken Pisani, LA Times bestselling author of AMP’D
“Charming, uplifting, and surprisingly touching. A tonal high-wire act that will remind you what really matters in a relationship—and how we could all use a little canine optimism from time to time.”
- Alfredo Botello, award-winning author of 180 Days
"A delightful romantic comedy filled with lots of fun twists and surprises that kept me hooked."
- Rick Spees, author of Capitol Gains and Capitol Losses
“A fun, passionate, finger-pointing tale of how a dog can change any relationship. Dog lovers rejoice!”
- Marc Renson, award-winning author of How Will I Know and Is the Coffee Fresh?
“A delightful novel with three engaging characters who traverse the ups and downs of marriage.
That one of them is their very clever dog, Betty, makes this ride especially entertaining. A treat!”
– Terri Hanauer, author of The Lightness of Rain
“You don't have to be a dog—or a dog person—to enjoy Goldstein's latest novel,
a witty and delightful portrait of a very unique ‘love triangle.”
- Peter Lefcourt, author of The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story
“Uplifting and fun as well as thought-provoking… Goldstein’s exploration of love, separation, and the possibilities that lie between makes for a thoroughly engrossing story that is delightful and unexpectedly light-hearted, given its serious subject.”
- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review