Clara’s Verdict
I will confess I came to Olive, Mabel & Me with mild scepticism. Dog books have a well-worn tendency to drown in sentimentality, or to mistake viral charm for literary substance. Andrew Cotter’s book does neither. It is genuinely, consistently funny – the sporting commentary voice applied to domestic Labrador behaviour is a joke that keeps paying out well past the point you expect it to expire – but it is also something more considered: a thoughtful, at times quietly moving book about what dogs actually do for us, and what the natural world does for the human spirit under pressure.
Cotter is a real writer, not a viral video with a book deal attached, and the distinction matters enormously. The prose has pace and specificity; the observations about Olive and Mabel as individuals (rather than as a collective) are genuinely acute; and the book earns its more reflective passages because Cotter has done the comedic work to justify the shift in register. This was a popular book for good reasons, and as an audiobook it has a particular warmth that suits the subject matter entirely.
About the Audiobook
Olive and Mabel are the Labradors who broke the internet. With more than fifty million views on social media, Andrew Cotter’s brilliant commentaries on videos of his dogs have resonated with dog owners and sports fans around the world, giving millions something to smile about in a particularly testing period. Olive and Mabel entertained us with their dinner contest, Game of Bones, Zoom meeting, online dating, and more during the long months of lockdown when there was nothing else to commentate on.
In Olive, Mabel & Me, Cotter tells the heart-warming story of life with his two famous Labradors – the full account of their unexpected rise to internet stardom, how the dogs are navigating their newfound fame (celebrity fans, more offers of biscuits), and how trips to the beaches and mountains of Scotland help them all find peace and happiness away from a hectic world. Above all, this is a book about the love we have for our dogs, the companionship and joy they bring, and about how we can all benefit from being just a little bit more Labrador. The audiobook runs to 6 hours and 15 minutes.
The Narration
Andrew Cotter narrates his own book, which is exactly the right call, and which no other narrator could have replicated. The timing and comic inflection that made the Olive and Mabel videos work translate directly and naturally to the spoken word – Cotter has a broadcaster’s ear for rhythm and pacing, and the specific deadpan quality of his delivery is essential to the comedy. When he describes Mabel’s relationship with food, or Olive’s dignified disapproval of her sibling’s enthusiasm, you are hearing the same voice that made millions laugh during lockdown, and the continuity matters. For a listener who came to the book through the videos, this is a genuine pleasure. For those encountering Cotter’s voice for the first time, it quickly becomes one.
What Readers Say
The response from listeners has been overwhelmingly warm. One reviewer wrote that the book is “a heartwarming, life-affirming piece of work about goodness and the beneficial connection between humans, animals and the natural world – not just a book about dogs, but an exploration of many things.” Another could not put it down: “It made me laugh out loud. It made me want to climb mountains in Scotland.” A third called it “a real love story – man and dogs in perfect partnership.” More practically minded reviewers pointed out that chapters eleven and twelve contain thoughtful and responsible advice about choosing a puppy responsibly, which several readers found genuinely useful. The audiobook carries a rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Audible.
It is also worth noting that Olive, Mabel & Me sits within a broader tradition of British writing about dogs and country life that runs from P. G. Wodehouse’s affectionate portrayals of terriers through James Herriot and beyond. Cotter is firmly in that tradition – unsentimental about the realities of animal behaviour, clear-eyed about what dogs actually want (food, proximity, and the occasional tennis ball), and genuinely funny about the gap between our projections onto them and their actual inner lives. Mabel in particular emerges as one of the great comic characters of recent British non-fiction: a dog of boundless appetite and zero introspection, cheerfully indifferent to the fame that has been thrust upon her.
Who Should Listen?
Dog owners, obviously – this is close to the ideal audiobook for any Labrador owner in particular. But equally: anyone who has turned to the natural world for sanity during difficult times, or who simply enjoys beautifully observed writing about the comedy of human-animal cohabitation. The book also works well for those who find earnest non-fiction difficult; Cotter’s comedy keeps the tone light even when the material becomes more reflective. This is a book for long walks, ideally with your own dog at your heels. Available on Audible UK, Kobo, and Scribd.
