Woodrow on the Bench: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog

“When I say Jenna Blum’s upcoming Woodrow on the Bench wrecked me and that I’m now sobbing eating all the chocolate, I mean it in the best way possible.”—Jodi Picoult 

"Jenna Blum's wonderful moving memoir, is a “girl and her dog” story for the ages!”—Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Those Who Save Us pays tribute to her beloved black Lab, Woodrow, in this beautiful memoir that recalls the last six months of his life and the ways in which he taught her to live. 

 “For anyone who’s ever loved an old dog.”

Since she adopted him as a puppy fifteen years earlier, Jenna Blum and Woodrow have been inseparable. Known to many as “the George Clooney of dogs” for his good looks and charm, Woodrow and his “Mommoo” are fixtures in their Boston neighborhood. 

But Woodrow is aging. As he begins to fail, the true nature of his extraordinary relationship with Jenna is revealed. Jenna may be the dog parent, but it is Woodrow, with his amazing personality and trusting nature, who has much to teach her. A divorcée who has experienced her share of sadness and loss, Jenna discovers, over the months she spends caring for her ailing dog, what it is to be present in the moment, and what it truly means to love.

Aided by an amazing group of friends and buoyed by the support of strangers, Jenna and Woodrow navigate these precious final days together with kindness, humor, and grace. Their unforgettable love story will reaffirm your belief in kindness, break your heart, and leave your spirit soaring.

How do you say goodbye to a friend who taught you how to live?

• A Heartwarming True Story: Meet Woodrow, the "George Clooney of dogs," a charming black Lab who spent fifteen years as the heart of his Boston neighborhood.
• A Tribute to an Old Dog: Follow Jenna and Woodrow through the last six months of his life, a poignant journey filled with grace, humor, and difficult choices as they make the most of their final days together.
• The Kindness of Strangers: Discover how a community of friends, neighbors, and strangers rallied around a woman and her ailing dog, reaffirming a belief in everyday goodness.
• Saying Goodbye to a Pet: A profoundly moving exploration of what it means to be present, to love unconditionally, and to navigate the heartbreak of losing a cherished companion.

Jenna Blum is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of the novels Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, and The Lost Family; of the memoir Woodrow on the Bench; the audio-course “The Author at Work: The Art of Writing Fiction,” and original podcast The Key of Love. Jenna is the CEO and cofounder of the online author interview platform A Mighty Blaze and one of Oprah.com readers’ Top 30 Women Writers. Jenna earned her MA in creative writing at Boston University and has taught workshops for BU, Grub Street Writers, A Mighty Blaze, and numerous other institutions for more than twenty-five years. She interviewed Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation and is a professional public speaker, traveling nationally and internationally to speak about her work. Jenna is based in Boston. For more about Jenna, please visitwww.jennablum.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack.