Book Review: Almost Perfect

Book: Almost Perfect by Diane Daniels Manning

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Rating: 2 stars

Review:

Almost Perfect is set in the 1990s and is about 70 years old Bess Rutledge who has decided to give up both her career as one of the top breeders of Standard Poodles but also her dream of every entering the Westminster Dog Show.

It wasn't until teenager Benny Neusner entered her life. Benny is not only dealing with issues with his divorced parents but also separate issues with both parents as well as dealing with all the issues at his school for students with special needs. He constantly longs for his mother's approval, love and attention yet she doesn't seem to understand nor care. While his dad and step-mom are trying to turn him into someone he's not. His father seems to believe that all Benny needs is a little discipline and then he will be "normal". Benny attends a school for students who are special needs, it's hard for him to express himself and can become easily frustrated which can lead to him getting angry really quickly. Despite his age, Benny can appear as if he's younger based on his development.

Benny crossed paths with Bess when he found out that one of the last dogs in her care was soon to give birth. Although, Bess offered Benny one of the puppies when they were born he wanted her dog McCreery.

Benny ended up agreeing to raise and train the puppy as a reward for the safe return of Bess's dog McCreery who had been abducted by a dognapper. Benny had found McCreery who was in a pretty bad state but Bess was able to nurse the dog back to health.

Even though the puppy named Breaker will be housed with Bess, Benny wanted to enter Breaker in dog shows but he didn't know the first thing about training a dog. And Bess was stubbornly refusing to offer any help but her son David decided he would help. But things don't go as planned but that's exactly what David was hoping in regards to getting Bess interested again with dog shows.

I know this is supposed to be an uplifting story but most of the time the story dragged along and started to feel a little repetitive. What I found interesting was you don't always see the main characters as someone who is older or someone who has special needs. I just wish the story had been more engaging and cohesive and the characters more likeable.

I also felt like neither Benny's mom, dad or step-mom really cared about him or had his best interests at heart. I didn't really see the point with the mention of the custody issue especially since it was glossed over. It didn't seem believable that either parent cared about Benny because throughout the story his dad and step-mom and not to mention his mother treated Benny as if he was an after thought until he started wining at the dog shows.

This was an okay story but I wish it had been better.