The Art of Racing in the Rain BOOK REVIEW

• Date Published:
  2008
• Length:
  352 pages—Listening Time: 6 hours 56 minutes
• Genre:
  Fiction
• Setting:
  Late 1990s to early 2000s, set primarily in Seattle, Washington
• Awards
  Dublin Literary Award Longlist 2010; Audie Award Finalist Solo Narration Male 2009; Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award Winner 2009; Grand Canyon Reader Award Recommended 2012; New York Times bestseller Fiction 2009-2010; Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults 2008
• Languages:
  Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil)
• Sensitive Aspects:
  Cancer and terminal illness, grief and bereavement, death of a spouse/parent, death of a pet dog, animal injury and cruelty, a dog being hit by a car, sexual-assault allegations and false accusations, family conflict and a bitter custody dispute, emotional manipulation and toxic family dynamics, pregnancy and childbirth, medical distress including vomiting and decline from illness, mild sexual content and implied sex, mild profanity and religious exclamations, alcohol use, violence/physical altercation and injury, scatological humor/excrement, and discussions of reincarnation and fate
• Movie
  The 2019 drama film adaptation of The Art of Racing in the Rain was directed by Simon Curtis and released on August 9, 2019. It stars Milo Ventimiglia as race car driver Denny Swift, Amanda Seyfried as his wife Eve, and features Kevin Costner as the voice of their philosophical dog, Enzo.
• Recommended for Book Club:
  Oh, yes!

Everyone should read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Dog person? Read it. “Dogs are fine, but I prefer humans who don’t shed on my sofa” person? Read it. Love racecar driving, roaring engines, and the thrill of taking a corner just a little too fast? Read it. Couldn’t care less about racecar driving and would rather organize your sock drawer than watch a race? Yep. Read it anyway.

Because this book isn’t really about dogs. Or racing. Not entirely.

It’s about love—the messy, aching, fiercely loyal kind. It’s about grief, family, injustice, perseverance, and what it means to keep moving forward when life decides to throw a banana peel directly in your path. And it’s narrated by Enzo, a retriever mix with an old soul, a sharp eye for human nonsense, and a dream that is somehow both completely ridiculous and deeply moving: he wants to come back in his next life as a man.

I know. Stay with me.

Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain is officially on the Readers With Wrinkles Must-Read List of All Time, and I don’t hand out that distinction like free bookmarks at a library sale. This is a 10-star read for me—the kind of story that slides quietly into your heart, rearranges the furniture, and then refuses to leave. You’ll laugh at Enzo’s observations about the strange creatures known as humans. You’ll admire his devotion to his person, aspiring racecar driver Denny Swift. And, fair warning, you may find yourself ugly-crying into a tissue while your own pet stares at you as if you’ve finally lost the plot.

I’ve saved this review for the very last installment of our Paws, Pages and Plot Twists series for a reason. I could have started here, of course. This book would have made a spectacular opening act. But some stories deserve the final spotlight—the lingering standing ovation, the last bite of dessert, the song that plays as the credits roll and makes you sit there for a minute afterward.

This is the crème de la crème. The cherry on top. The book I’ve been holding close because I wanted to end this series with something truly special.

And special doesn’t always mean easy.

Enzo’s story is full of tenderness, but it also has teeth. It asks us to consider what loyalty looks like when everything falls apart. It reminds us that life isn’t fair simply because we’re trying our best. Most of all, it offers one beautiful, enduring truth: when the track is slick, when visibility is low, when you feel certain you’re about to spin out—sometimes the only thing left to do is keep your hands steady and drive through the rain.

Trust me on this one. Put The Art of Racing in the Rain at the top of your reading list. Then come back and tell me whether Enzo didn’t get to you, too.

Told through the unforgettable eyes of Enzo, a wise and fiercely loyal dog, The Art of Racing in the Rain follows his life alongside Denny Swift, an ambitious racecar driver trying to build both a racing career and a family.

Enzo isn’t your average dog. He watches television, studies people with the patience of a philosopher, believes he may one day be reincarnated as a human, and has a particular appreciation for opposable thumbs. More importantly, he adores Denny—and he quickly learns that life, much like racing, isn’t about avoiding every skid or storm. It’s about keeping control when the road gets slick.

As Denny’s world changes with love, parenthood, professional setbacks, and challenges he never saw coming, Enzo becomes the family’s constant witness: observant, protective, funny, and often far more emotionally perceptive than the humans around him. Through Enzo’s narration, Garth Stein explores devotion, resilience, family, ambition, and the strange, beautiful chaos of being human.

Heartwarming but not sugary, funny but capable of breaking your heart in approximately twelve different places, this is a story for anyone who has loved a dog—or needed a reminder that loyalty can be its own kind of superpower.

You should absolutely read The Art of Racing in the Rain because it’s the rare book that feels deeply meaningful without ever feeling like it’s lecturing you. It gives you a dog, a family, a few hard-earned life lessons, and enough heart to leave a permanent paw print.

Reasons to read this delightful book:

Enzo is one of those narrators you’ll never forget

He’s a dog with big opinions, a philosopher’s mind, and zero patience for human behavior that makes no sense—which, frankly, is most human behavior. His voice is funny, tender, and surprisingly wise.

It’s for dog lovers—but not only dog lovers

Yes, Enzo’s devotion will make anyone with a beloved pet nod through tears. But the book’s real magic is how it captures loyalty, love, and showing up for someone when life gets ugly.

You don’t need to care about racing to get hooked

Denny’s work as a racecar driver adds tension and momentum, but racing is really the book’s way of talking about life: keep your eyes forward, stay steady in the skid, and don’t panic when conditions get rough. We could all use that reminder on a Monday morning, couldn’t we?

It understands that family can be beautiful and complicated at the same time

This isn’t a glossy, everything-works-out-perfectly kind of story. It recognizes that loving people can come with fear, sacrifice, mistakes, and moments when you have no clue what to do next.

It will make you feel things—real things

Expect laughter, frustration, hope, and at least a few “I need to put this book down for a minute” moments. It’s emotional without being manipulative, which is a harder trick to pull off than it sounds.

It gives you perspective when life feels unfair

Enzo watches Denny face setbacks that would make many people throw in the towel. The story doesn’t promise that being good prevents bad things from happening; instead, it explores how resilience can look quiet, stubborn, and deeply human.

It’s wonderfully readable

Despite its big emotions and weighty ideas, this is not a book that feels like homework. The chapters move quickly, Enzo keeps the narration lively, and before you know it, you’ll be telling yourself, “Just one more chapter.”

It’s a perfect book-club pick

You’ll have plenty to talk about: whether Enzo’s perspective changes how you see people, the meaning behind the racing metaphors, loyalty, grief, fate, and the question every reader will have by the end—why don’t more books let dogs narrate them?

It stays with you after the final page

Some novels are entertaining while you’re reading them. This one follows you around afterward. You’ll think about Enzo when you see a dog looking out a car window, when life hands you a rough patch, or when you need a little courage to keep moving forward.

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Where Every Good Dog Story Ends—and Stays With Us

And so, with a final wag of the tail and one last page turned, Paws, Pages, and Plot Twists comes to an end. I hope this canine journey has brought you the same joy, comfort, laughter, and occasional lump-in-the-throat feeling that makes loving dogs—and loving books—so extraordinary: both invite us into lives beyond our own, remind us to notice the small moments, and leave permanent paw prints on our hearts. Thank you for following these four-legged characters through every mystery, adventure, and tender goodbye. May your shelves stay full, your reading nook stay cozy, and your life always include a faithful companion nearby—preferably one who thinks every bookish afternoon should end with a treat.

If Enzo completely stole your heart, these eight books should move straight onto your “read this immediately” list. They share his story’s emotional pull, memorable animal companions, resilient characters, and that lovely ability to make you laugh right before they sneak up and punch you in the feelings.

A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Told through the lives of a dog who is repeatedly reincarnated, this warm and emotional novel follows his search for the meaning of his existence and the people he is meant to love. Notable distinctions: spent 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a 2017 film. If you loved Enzo’s soulful, funny canine narration and his belief in returning as a human, this is your most natural next read.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
A proud stray cat named Nana travels across Japan with his beloved owner, Satoru, meeting people from Satoru’s past along the way. Notable distinctions: an international and indie bestseller translated into 33 languages and adapted into a film. If Enzo’s fierce loyalty made you emotional, Nana’s prickly-but-devoted voice will do the same—just with more cat-level judgment.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
After a widow takes a night job cleaning an aquarium, her life unexpectedly intersects with a perceptive giant Pacific octopus and a young man searching for answers about his past. Notable distinctions: instant New York Times bestseller, a Read With Jenna selection, and winner of the 2023 Heartland Prize for Fiction and McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize. If you loved watching Enzo understand more than the people around him, Marcellus will charm you with the same sharp, observant nonhuman perspective. Read the RWW full review here.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Part of this Paws, Pages, and Plot Twists series. A mute boy raised among an extraordinary family-bred line of dogs must confront grief, family upheaval, and a devastating mystery on his Wisconsin farm. Notable distinctions: Oprah’s Book Club selection, New York Times bestseller, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick, and winner of the Colorado Book Award for Fiction. If you want the human-dog bond in The Art of Racing in the Rain with deeper literary intensity and a shadowy, Shakespearean edge, this is the one. Read the full review here.

Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan Part of this Paws, Pages, and Plot Twists series. This heartfelt memoir follows a young couple as their wildly mischievous Labrador grows alongside their family and teaches them what unconditional love really looks like. Notable distinctions: No. 1 international bestseller, spent 76 weeks on bestseller lists, won 2006 Quill Awards in Audiobook and Memoir/Biography, and inspired the hit film. If Enzo’s devotion made you want to hug your own dog, Marley will make you laugh at the chaos and cry over the love. Read the RWW review here.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
In 1960s California, brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott is pushed out of the scientific world and unexpectedly becomes the host of a revolutionary cooking show, with her clever dog, Six-Thirty, firmly in the family orbit. Notable distinctions: 2022 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year, Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel winner, and a major international bestseller. If you loved Denny’s refusal to surrender when life stacked the deck against him, Elizabeth’s stubborn, smart, gloriously uncompromising resilience will be immensely satisfying.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Narrated by Death, this historical novel follows young Liesel Meminger as she finds solace, courage, and connection through stolen books while growing up in Nazi Germany. Notable distinctions: Michael L. Printz Honor Book, 2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award winner, and a Horn Book Fanfare selection. If Enzo’s unusual narration helped you see ordinary human love and loss from a fresh angle, this unforgettable narrator will do exactly that—though you may want to keep tissues within arm’s reach.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Narrated by Ivan, a silverback gorilla living in captivity, this tender novel follows his friendship with an elephant and his growing determination to make life better for those he loves. Notable distinctions: winner of the 2013 John Newbery Medal and a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. If you loved Enzo’s wise, observant voice and the way he quietly carries enormous love, Ivan’s story will be a shorter read with an equally mighty heart.

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