When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master, and by the threat of eviction: dogs are prohibited in her apartment building. But while troubles abound, rich and surprising rewards lie in store for both of them. Elegiac and searching, The Friend is both a meditation on loss and a celebration of human-canine devotion.—Penguin Putnam
"A poignant novel about a woman who adopts her longtime friend's Great Dane following his sudden death. Nunez deftly explores friendship, love, and loss in this National Book Award winning book."—Submitted by Jen H., Community Engagement Librarian