Synopses & Reviews
The hilarious and heartfelt chronicle of a woman learning the secrets of love, health, and happiness from some very surprising teachers: her dogs.
Julie Klam was thirty, single, and working as a part-time clerk in an insurance company, wondering if she would ever meet the man she could spend the rest of her life with. And then it happened. She met the irresistible Otto, her first in a long line of Boston terriers, and fell instantly in love.
You Had Me at Woof is the often hilarious and always sincere story of how one woman discovered life's most important lessons from her relationships with her canine companions. From Otto, Julie realized what it might feel like to find "the one." She learned to share her home, her heart, and her limited resources with another, and she found an authentic friend in the process. But that was just the beginning. Over the years her brood has grown to one husband, one daughter, and several Boston terriers. And although she had much to learn about how to care for them-walks at 2 a.m., vet visits, behavior problems-she was surprised and delighted to find that her dogs had more wisdom to convey to her than she had ever dreamed. And caring for them has made her a better person-and completely and utterly opened her heart. Riotously funny and unexpectedly poignant, You Had Me at Woof recounts the hidden surprises, pleasures, and revelations of letting any mutt, beagle, terrier, or bulldog go charging through your world.
Watch a Video
Review
Praise for Patience Bloom's real-life love story:
“A nice, sweet, romantic story.”
— Rachael Ray
Review
Praise for Patience Bloom's real-life love story:
and#8220;A nice, sweet, romantic story.and#8221;
and#8212; Rachael Ray
Praise forand#160;Romance is My Day Job:
"What makes Romance is my Day Joband#160;unique and charming is the author's arc: a quirky combination of professional, survivor, romance genre fan, and Desperately Seeking Single...And since she shows us her best and her worst while becoming a heroine worthy of her real hero, we like her, and find her pretty brave." - Bobbi Dumas, NPR.org
and#8220;The beautiful irony of the title says it alland#8212;erudite romance editor by day, lonely girl by night. Bloom (editor, Harlequin) offers the American, real, and highly relatable version of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jonesand#8230;thatand#8217;s bound to be consumed in great gulps. Highly recommended for romantics of all stripes.and#8221;and#8211;and#160;Library Journal,and#160;starred review
"In the end, it's not romance but something more elusive that Bloom finds: intimacy. Romance may wane as the quotidian details of cohabitation intrude on hearts and flowers, but that's when true love begins."and#160;and#8211;and#160;Kirkus Reviews
"Bloom's lively memoir is sure to captivate those engrossed in the worlds of romance fictional and real."and#160;and#8211;and#160;Booklist
"Ultimately, Patience's heroism lies in her extraordinary optimism about the male sex despite the abundance of evidence she encounters to the contrary" - Bookreporter.com
"An absolute delight. Funny, charming and totally honest. I was transported. Patience Bloom will make you believe in the power of a great happily-ever-after!" and#8211; Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author of Three Little Words
and#160;
and#8220;This book is fantastic! Patience Bloom has written a real-life fairy tale. and#160;Romance is My Day Job is for romance readers and memoir readers alike.and#8221; and#8212;Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author of On the Island and the forthcoming Covet
and#8220;I love everything about this book. Prepare to have your heart stolen and your faith renewed." and#8211; Marie Ferrarella, USA Today bestselling author of A Small Fortune
and#8220;Beautifully written, laugh out loud funny and poignant.and#8221; and#8211; Mary Burton, USA Today bestselling author of The Seventh Victim
Synopsis
Who knows the ins and outs of romance better than a Harlequin editor? A surprising and exhilarating look into Patience Blooms unexpected real-life love story.
At some point, weve all wished romance could be more like fiction. Patience Bloom certainly did, many times over. As a teen she fell in love with Harlequin novels and imagined her life would turn out just like the heroines on the page: That shy guy she had a crush on wouldnt just take her outhed sweep her off her feet with witty banter, quiet charm, and a secret life as a rock star. Not exactly her reality, but Bloom kept reading books that fed her reveries.
Years later she moved to New York and found her dream job, editing romances for Harlequin. Every day, her romantic fantasies came trueon paper. Bloom became an expert when it came to fictional love stories, editing amazing books and learning everything she could about the romance business. But her dating life remained uninspired. She nearly gave up on love.
Then one day a real-life chance at romance made her wonder if what shed been writing and editing all those years might be true. A Facebook message from a high school friend, Sam, sparked a relationship with more promise than shed had in years. But Sam lived thousands of miles awaythey hadnt seen each other in more than twenty years. Was it worth the risk?
Finally, Bloom learned: Love and romance can conquer all.
Synopsis
Why isnand#8217;t real-life romance more like fiction?
and#160;
Patience Bloom asked herself this question, many times over. As a teen she fell in love with Harlequin novels and imagined her life would turn out just like their heroines: That shy guy she had a crush on would sweep her off her feet and turn out to be a rock star. Not exactly her reality, but Patience kept hoping.
Years later she found her dream job, editing romances for Harlequin itself. Every day, her fantasies came trueand#151;on the page. Her dating life, however, remained uninspired. She nearly gave up hope. Then one day Patience got a real-life chance at romance, but Sam lived thousands of miles away. Was it worth the risk? Could love conquer all?and#160;
About the Author
Julie Klam grew up in Bedford, New York. After attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and interning at Late Night with David Letterman, she went on to write for such publications as O, The Oprah Magazine, Rolling Stone, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and The New York Times Magazine and for the VH1 television show Pop-Up Video, where she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Writing. She married the show's producer, Paul Leo. They live with their daughter and three dogs in Manhattan.