TITLE: The Meet-Poop
AUTHOR: Noelle Salazar
PUBLISHER: Noelle Salazar
PUBLISHING DATE: December 2, 2025
PAGES: 322
SOURCE: ARC
FROM GOODREADS: Shit happens…
Supermodel Lior Flynn is at the top of her game: gorgeous, confident, and successful. But as her thirtieth birthday looms, she finds herself growing tired of the constant media scrutiny and even more tired of men who only view her as arm candy. Yearning to travel the world's beautiful places rather than just pose in them, she's ready for a change and ready to make a real connection—if she can find the courage to take the first step.
Bestselling novelist Graham Forrester is still reeling from the collapse of his marriage to a flashy socialite turned influencer and officially done with high-drama women. Trapped post-divorce in a house that no longer feels like home and tending to his beloved old dog Brontë who doesn't have long to live, he knows he's stuck in a desperate rut but has no idea how to get out.
When Lior's designer sneaker hits a steaming pile of you-know-what from the sweet golden retriever at the end of Graham's leash, it's no meet-cute - in fact, it's a meet-poop. And every encounter after is somehow messier than the first, until a chance moment when both let their guards down and sparks fly. But can Lior trust Graham not to put her in a book and bolster his own fame? And can Graham trust that the drama of Lior's life won't derail his own?
Graham is an author working on his latest book. His best friend and 4-legged pal, Brontë, is also growing older and the vet has advised she is probably nearing the end of her life. Graham wants nothing more to spend time with his dog and finish his novel. While walking her one day, Brontë has an accident Graham doesn't realize. Along comes supermodel Lior, who steps in it. Lior herself has just received some bad news and she ends up stepping in it. She goes off on Graham (but not Brontë) and Graham and soon becomes the topic of Graham's latest editorial for a nation-wide newspaper.
Once the article publishes, Lior realizes the man she accosted is actually one of her favorite authors. They continue to cross paths in the city, bot accidentally and then conveniently arranged, and eventually find some sort of comfort in each other. Lior, Graham and Brontë grow closer but both adults have baggage which prevent them from realizing how much their feelings are actually growing. But Br may know. After all, Lior is the only other person who has ever gotten a two-thump tail approval from Brontë.
This book had it all. The title might imply it's a lighthearted rom-com, but the author tackles a lot of deeper topics - family trauma, friendships, loss, complicated family dynamics and lifestyle changes. She also tackles losing a much-loved pet/family member. I loved Brontë and the relationship she had with Graham and the community. Even when she passed, it was covered with grace and from an author I'm betting has experienced this type of loss herself.
Salazar didn't wrap Lior and Graham's story in a nice package with a pretty bow which I respected and enjoyed. Both characters showed quite a bit of growth and development as the book progressed and the side characters added substance and added to the plot, never distracting from it. Of course, there is an upcoming release focusing on Lior's best friend who just happens to be a veterinarian and of course, I'm counting the days to read that one as well. Don't ignore this book because the dog dies. I never once regretted picking it up and loved reading Brontë (and Graham and Lior's) story.
MY RATING: 5 PAWS
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