Anne grew up in an abusive home, leading to severe depression and a determination to do better as a mother. One of her sons wants a dog from the time he is a baby; Anne very much does not. For years she appeases him with creatures who live in cages and tanks, but on his tenth birthday she can no longer say no-and she proceeds to fall in love with their new four-legged family member, Mattie. Then Mattie dies a sudden and tragic death, and Anne feels herself begin to sink back into depression.
Trying to cope, she immediately adopts Milo-a dog who, unbeknownst to her, has already been returned to the rescue by several families due to his aggressive behavior. But even after she realizes Milo is dangerous, she's committed to trying to give him a chance at a good life.
Anne's journey takes the reader from dog school into the deep woods as she perseveres with Milo's lifelong rehabilitation and her unwavering efforts to be a good mother to her sons. Working with Milo strengthens Anne and expands her ability to love. Ten years later, when Milo dies, Anne faces another choice: close the door to that part of her heart, or risk loving another dog after two tragic losses?
Anne grew up in an abusive home, leading to severe depression and a determination to do better as a mother. One of her sons wants a dog from the time he is a baby; Anne very much does not. For years she appeases him with creatures who live in cages and tanks, but on his tenth birthday she can no longer say no-and she proceeds to fall in love with their new four-legged family member, Mattie. Then Mattie dies a sudden and tragic death, and Anne feels herself begin to sink back into depression.
Trying to cope, she immediately adopts Milo-a dog who, unbeknownst to her, has already been returned to the rescue by several families due to his aggressive behavior. But even after she realizes Milo is dangerous, she's committed to trying to give him a chance at a good life.
Anne's journey takes the reader from dog school into the deep woods as she perseveres with Milo's lifelong rehabilitation and her unwavering efforts to be a good mother to her sons. Working with Milo strengthens Anne and expands her ability to love. Ten years later, when Milo dies, Anne faces another choice: close the door to that part of her heart, or risk loving another dog after two tragic losses?
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Anne Abel is an author, storyteller, and influencer. Her first memoir, Mattie, Milo, and Me (2024), about unwittingly rescuing an aggressive dog, was inspired by her Moth StorySLAM win in New York City. Her second memoir, High Hopes, was inspired by her Moth StorySLAM win in Chicago. In January, 2025 she was featured in Newsweek.com, "Boomer's story about how she met her husband of 45 years captivates internet." She holds an MFA from The New School for Social Research, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a BS in chemical engineering from Tufts University. She has freelanced for multiple outlets over the course of her career.
Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Andy and their cavapoo puppy, Wendell. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok: @annesimaabel
2024 Living Now Book Awards Silver Medalist in Animals/Pets
2024 International Book Awards Winner in Animals/Pets: Narrative
Nonfiction
"A warm memoir about a woman's connection to--and transformation
because of--her dog."
--Foreword Reviews "... a certain kind of pet lover, looking for a
comforting reminder of the powerful bond that can occur between
animals and humans, may finish this book teary-eyed. . . .reminder
that dogs aren't just pets but also vessels of love, hope, and
recovery."
--Kirkus Reviews "Abel debuts with a heart-warming memoir
spotlighting the intense bond between dogs and their owners. . . .
Animal lovers will relish the central role that Abel's pets play in
her wellbeing throughout the narrative."
--Booklife "Incredibly poignant memoir . . . honors the resilience
of the human spirit and the enduring power of love--even in the
face of severe loss."
--The Book Revue "Mattie, Milo and Me began as a winning story told
on April 1, 2019 at a Moth StorySlam in New York City. The theme
for the evening was Bamboozled. In her five-minute story, Anne and
her dog Milo captured the hearts of the audience. In fact, it was
such a hit that she wrote this memoir to answer the many questions
posed by people who wanted to know more. Ultimately, Anne wove her
compelling SLAM story into a gorgeous meditation on unconditional
love. This is one of those books you won't want to put down, but
also one you won't want to finish."
--Inga Glodowski, The Moth "Anne Abel's memoir Mattie, Milo, and Me
is a beautifully written testament to the journey of dog ownership.
This memoir takes you on an emotional ride that anyone who has
loved a pet can surely identify with. You'll laugh, cry, and want
to hug your dog by the end. A must-read!"
--Gary and Allie Vider, owners of Metro Pets NYC "Not every book a
person reads is worth time and energy. Mattie, Milo, and Me is a
rare combination: an absorbing, well-told tale that also leaves the
reader changed in an unexpected and positive way. This is not just
a book about an aggressive and abandoned rescue dog and the woman
who courageously rescued him. This is also a book about love and
hope; despair and depression. It is an entertaining and absorbing
story on one level, and on another level, a deep dive into love and
loss, hope and redemption, and what gives life meaning."
--Jeanne Gemmill Griffin, PhD "Mattie, Milo, and Me by Anne Abel is
a touching story that made me smile with joy. Yet the heartbreak
around loss touched my heart as well. The joy, the comfort that
Anne experienced with Mattie and then with Milo filled the pages.
The joy of loving and the pain of losing them was heartfelt. The
mutual love that the Abel family experienced with each other was
real, honest, and unconditional, even as Anne dealt with her
mother's inability to express the human connection of a mother's
love. This story shows us how love and sorrow are so
intertwined."
--Sister Kathy McShane, Sister of Saint Joseph "I love Anne Abel's
memoir, Mattie, Milo and Me. It had me laughing out loud. Yet, it
so touching that it had me in tears, too. This book is brilliant.
Anne's resilience with Milo is admirable and inspirational. And her
joys and struggles, relatable. I learned a lot. I highly
recommend."
--Natalie Aronow, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine "Mattie, Milo and
Me is a tender story with opposite emotional strings. One is: love
denied by emotionally abusive parents, the other is: love received
from a very caring husband and beloved sons. Through steadfast
determination and a loving heart, the writer's lifelong quest to be
a good mother is realized in both the human and animal realms. Most
of all it spins a loving tale of how dogs bring true joy, healing,
and comfort to us. Mattie, Milo, and Anne were true gifts to each
other."
--Sister Marian Behrle, Sisters of Saint Joseph
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