In her candid and evocative debut memoir, “Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About: A Memoir,” social media creator and rescue advocate Isabel Klee delivers a deeply personal coming-of-age story set against the chaotic backdrop of New York City. Known to millions online via her platform @SimonSits, Klee begins her narrative at age twenty, leaving upstate college life behind for a cramped Manhattan basement apartment. Driven by a lifelong passion for animal welfare, her path clarifies as she lands a role assisting with The Dogist photo project and begins fostering shelter dogs.

As she navigates the dizzying whirlwind of young adulthood—marked by fickle relationships, career uncertainty, and urban isolation—Klee finds her ultimate anchor in animal rescue, particularly in Simon, a rescued Jindo mix who becomes her “soulmate dog.” Opening her small home to reactive, traumatized, and medically vulnerable pups, Klee discovers striking parallels between the patience required to rehabilitate a fragile animal and the self-compassion needed to heal her own heart from twenty-something heartbreak.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in Klee’s unflinching emotional grit; she intentionally resists romanticizing the animal rescue process. Readers are treated to a raw, authentic look at the sheer exhaustion, steep learning curves, and emotional toll of caring for high-needs dogs—including those suffering from severe canine epilepsy—without hiding behind polished internet aesthetics. Klee builds resonant thematic bridges between dog behavioral training and setting personal boundaries in human relationships, offering insightful reflections on unconditional devotion and emotional healing. Written with a warm, conversational, and “sisterly” tone, her narrative seamlessly blends vulnerability, sharp humor, and NYC charm so effectively that reading it feels like catching up with a trusted friend over coffee.

Despite its compelling emotional core, the memoir has a few minor drawbacks worth noting. The narrative occasionally jumps between different years and foster cases to align with specific thematic motifs rather than following a strict timeline, which can briefly disrupt the reader’s sense of Klee’s personal chronological maturation. Additionally, Klee tends to underplay how her massive social media platform facilitated her foster adoption successes, making a few logistically daunting turnarounds feel slightly more effortless than they would be for the average foster parent. Nevertheless, Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About remains an endearing, poignant read ideal for animal lovers and anyone finding their footing in young adulthood. Isabel Klee ultimately proves that while boyfriends and city apartments come and go, the lessons learned from saving a rescue dog endure forever.

Star Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5 stars)

– The Moving Words Review