The Love Hunter by Jon Hassler (1996)

Hated it. 

I could give several reasons, but here's the most important one:

Chris (the main character) is telling Rachel, his best friend's wife, about his feelings for her and how her wonderfulness has given him life and hope. He's been empty inside and cynical since his own divorce.

He gives an example: After his ex-wife Karen and kids move to California, he still must walk Karen's dog, Ms. Rover. Along the roadside, they encounter a pulled-over work truck whose radio or CB is broadcasting dispatchers and such. One voice sounds just like Karen's, and Ms. Rover pulls eagerly, happily toward it, thinking it's her mistress, whom she loves and misses.

After they cross the road, Ms. Rover is still pulling towards the voice. Even though there's traffic, Chris lets go of the leash, and watches as Ms. Rover runs happily toward the voice, and is promptly run over by a delivery truck.

If someone told this to me my response would not be "You poor man. You must have been very unhappy." It would be "You disgust me. You're a piece of shit. Never talk to me again."

And now that's kind of my feeling about Hassler.