A Heartbeat at My Feet
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Author: Kristin Judd
Published: 2026
Genre: English
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IBC Editorial Rating: 4.5/5
This book is handpicked by the IBC Editorial Team. If you are an author, publisher, or reader and would like to have a book reviewed by IBC, you may reach us at editorial@indianbookclub.com — we’ll be happy to review it.
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Editorial Review:
Fate has a sense of humor, and it proves it in this witty, heartfelt tale of love and second chances. After years of deferred dreams, Josie Ballard is finally set for a summer adventure in Sorrento, only to discover her husband's infidelity on the eve of their departure. Devastated but unwilling to abandon the trip entirely, Josie leaves her marriage behind and heads to the sun-drenched Italian coast alone, her future entirely uncertain. Thousands of miles away, Cicero, a rather snobbish terrier grieving the loss of his beloved owner, wanders the ruins of Pompeii with a broken heart of his own. When Cicero and Josie collide amid the ancient ruins, two lost souls find each other, and Cicero, ever the expert on matters of the heart, sets out to guide Josie toward healing, friendship, and perhaps something more.
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Book Summary:
Josie Ballard has spent years waiting for her life to finally open up, and a long-planned trip to Sorrento feels like the beginning of that new chapter, until she discovers her husband's betrayal the night before they are set to leave. Rather than cancel the trip entirely, Josie decides to go anyway, alone, uncertain of what awaits her on the Italian coast but unwilling to let heartbreak take away everything she had planned. Meanwhile, in the ruins of Pompeii, a terrier named Cicero is navigating his own grief after losing the human he loved most. Snobbish, wise beyond his years, and utterly devoted to matters of the heart, Cicero wanders the ancient ruins until a flustered, kind-eyed tourist crosses his path, and something between them clicks into place immediately. As Josie begins to rebuild her life in Italy, Cicero takes it upon himself to guide her, leading her toward Hugo, a charming and somewhat contrary local bookseller. Set against the backdrop of quaint villages, sun-dappled olive orchards, and the shimmering Mediterranean coastline, Josie and Hugo's friendship slowly begins to deepen, with Cicero quietly orchestrating much of it behind the scenes, certain that dogs understand love better than anyone.
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Key Takeaways:
“Grief and healing as a shared journey”: Both Josie and Cicero are navigating profound loss when their paths cross, and the novel draws a gentle parallel between human heartbreak and canine grief, showing how healing often arrives most powerfully through unexpected companionship. “Second chances found where least expected”: Josie's decision to continue her Italian adventure alone, rather than retreat entirely after her husband's betrayal, becomes the foundation for a story about how new beginnings often emerge from the wreckage of what we thought our lives would be. “Unconditional loyalty as its own form of love”: Cicero's devotion to guiding the humans in his life toward happiness, even at his own quiet cost, offers a tender meditation on the particular, uncomplicated love that dogs offer, often with more wisdom than the people around them realize. “Humor as a companion to heartbreak”: Despite its emotional core, the novel finds genuine lightness and wit throughout, particularly through Cicero's droll, opinionated perspective, balancing real heartache with warmth and humor in equal measure.
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Iconic Lines, Scenes & Characters:
"Josie Ballard": Devastated by betrayal yet determined not to let it define her future, Josie's choice to embrace her Italian adventure alone gives the novel its emotional foundation, her healing unfolding gradually alongside her growing friendship with Hugo. "Cicero": A wise, snobbish, and utterly endearing terrier grieving his own loss, Cicero emerges as the novel's true heart, his perceptive observations and quiet matchmaking efforts giving the story much of its charm and emotional depth. "The meeting in Pompeii's ruins": Josie and Cicero's chance encounter among the ancient ruins sets the entire novel in motion, two grieving souls recognizing something familiar in each other amid an unlikely backdrop of history and loss. "Hugo, the local bookseller": Charming and somewhat contrary, Hugo becomes the object of Cicero's careful, determined matchmaking efforts, his slow-building connection with Josie offering the novel's central romantic thread.
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Who Should Read This:
Readers who love heartwarming stories about second chances and healing after betrayal will find Josie's journey toward rebuilding her life in Italy genuinely uplifting and emotionally satisfying. Anyone who adores stories told partly from an animal's perspective will appreciate Cicero's wise, witty narration, which adds real warmth and humor throughout the novel. Fans of atmospheric, sun-drenched romances set against a richly rendered Italian backdrop will enjoy how vividly the novel captures the charm of the Amalfi Coast and its surrounding villages. A note for readers: this is an emotionally warm read that balances real heartbreak with genuine humor and hope, making it a comforting choice for readers going through their own season of change or healing.
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IBC Editorial Note:
This review is part of the Indian Book Club’s editorial initiative to spotlight books that inspire, inform, and leave a lasting impact on readers. Every title featured is carefully handpicked and reviewed by the IBC Editorial Team to maintain quality, authenticity, and literary value. If you are an author, publisher, or reader and would like to submit a book for review, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please write to us at: editorial@indianbookclub.com Our team personally evaluates each submission, and selected books are featured as official IBC Editorial Reviews on our platform.
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