4.5 ⭐️ (rounding up)

If you want a heartwarming and yet darkly comedic novel about a 60+ year old man driving across the country with his adult daughter, two kids, and a cat named Pancake, this is the book for you. Annie Hartnett developed these characters so well, showing their humanity and brokenness, while injecting humor and silly circumstances to keep this road trip moving quickly. If you want a bit of magical realism in the form of a cat that can predict death, Pancake can offer you that as well. 😂

This is not a story about a cat but this sweet bringer of death is a good way of reminding the reader about the horrible things that happen to people in life but why life is still worth living and what good can come from a life well-lived, even if the good comes from a second chance.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book.

This is truly a crazy book, and I loved it so much. PJ is a 63-year-old divorced man who was ruined forever by his 18-year-old daughter's tragic death and spent most of the next two decades immersed in alcoholism. He goes to his ex-wife's house every morning to have breakfast with her and her husband, and he won $1.5 million in the lottery a couple years ago, so he doesn't worry about much. Then, abruptly, he is charged with caring for his estranged brother's grandkids, who have lost both their parents in quick succession. PJ decides to drive the kids, along with his adult daughter who he has a complicated relationship with, to Tuscon so he can woo his high school sweetheart whose husband just died (crazy lmao). And of course, chaos ensues.

This book was not at all what I expected but so much better than I could have predicted. There's a lot of death in this book, which I wasn't exactly prepared for - the book basically starts and ends with death, and there's a lot of it along the way. But don't let that deter you at all from reading this. Despite the ostensibly heavy subject matter, this is an incredibly heartwarming, funny, and hopeful book. I was touched by so many parts of it: the beautiful depiction of how romantic relationships can end but people can still remain in each other's lives in a different form, the exploration of how grief warps your life forever and affects every aspect of your world, the impenetrable bond between siblings who have been through the worst things imaginable, the quest to be a better parent after failing at it so completely, how death is everywhere and is not always scary, etc.

This is also just a very witty book, and I was cracking up for so much of it. The dynamic of a guy trying to stop drinking and abruptly take charge of kids, a kid who is earnest and sweet, a kid who is a firecracker and suspicious of everything, and a goth adult daughter is endlessly entertaining, and Hartnett's vignettes of their road trip feel so visceral and fun. The side characters feel fleshed out, and I cared so much about all the characters. Overall, this was a delightful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett is like nothing I’ve ever read before (this is my first Hartnett novel).

She manages to make a book dark and light, devastating and delightful, traumatic and hilarious, and sad but uplifting. And on top of all of that, there is a cat named Pancakes.

PJ, aged 63, is a lottery winner, but beyond that, he is not lucky at all. He’s massively struggling years after his teenage daughter’s death. He’s become a hoarder and an alcoholic, and his ex-wife and his new fiance keep a close watch on him, giving him breakfast and the daily newspaper each morning—complete with all the saddest stories cut out.

That’s why he hasn’t heard that his estranged brother’s family has experienced a huge trauma, leaving behind two children—whom PJ is suddenly responsible for, despite being unable to care for himself.

This story follows PJ, his surviving daughter, the two kids and Pancakes as they road trip across the country to achieve two audacious and perhaps very impractical goals.

I laughed and got teary-eyed, but I think the constantly shifting tones kept me from emotionally connecting as deeply as I do with my very favorites. Still, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it!

4.25 ⭐️

A road trip with a 63 year old alcoholic, two orphans, an estranged daughter, and a death predicting cat. What could go wrong?

Despite winning the literal lottery, PJ Halliday has had a rough go at life. His daughter died as a teenager, his wife left him, he spends every day in the local bar, his remaining daughter won’t have a relationship with him. When he unexpectedly is named as guardian for two children, he’s given a second chance at life.

While everything begins with unfortunate circumstances, this book somehow remains so much fun. You can’t help but cheer for PJ and the kids. Imagine if Frederick Fife (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife - Anna Johnston) and Eddie Winston (Eddie Winston is Looking for Love - Marianne Cronin) drank too much and dropped a few F bombs - that is PJ and I love him.

Annie Hartnett has done it again! I'd even go as far as to say that this one is the most "accessible" of her three novels so far - while she still brings her trademark quirk, it's toned down a bit compared to her others, but of course still delivers a heartwarming, emotional, funny and overall delightful story.

In The Road to Tender Hearts, we follow 60-something PJ Halliday - although he won over a million dollars on a scratch off ticket, he’s now down on his luck in every other way. PJ is continuing to grieve the loss of his teenage daughter years prior, muddling his way through a divorce and what some would call an unhealthy relationship with his ex-wife and her new partner, all while hoping that the next heart attack he has won’t be the one that does him in for good. Through some unexpected events, PJ finds himself as the new guardian of two elementary-age siblings. And to contribute even more to his whole life turning upside down, PJ spots an obituary of a high school friend who had married the girl that he had a crush on back then. Once he realizes that this past crush is now single again, he scoops up the kiddos and his own young adult daughter to embark on a cross-country road trip to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community, all in the hopes of finding love again. Oh, and how can I forget - there’s also a cat named Pancakes that the story just wouldn’t be the same without!

I’ve loved Annie Hartnett’s t wo prior novels to date, and I just can’t get enough of the way she writes her characters. Although there are certainly times that you just want to shake all of them, she also makes their backstories and intentions so clear that you can’t help but root for them. It’s so easy to fall in love with PJ, Sophie, Pancakes, Luna and Ollie and all of their imperfections, and there’s even a touch of magical realism that's just a cherry on top. Just like her other novels, this one finds a way to take on serious topics like death, divorce, loneliness and abandonment in such a whimsical, quirky, relatable way. All of the small details woven throughout the story are more than enough to evoke universal emotions for readers across the board, from sorrow to humor and everything in between.

The Road to Tender Hearts is one that has stuck with me long after finishing it, and I hope that it hits all of the right notes in the same way for readers of all genres! There’s something for everyone to love in this darkly comic, found family, whimsical story that’s hopeful and satisfying in the best ways. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Annie Hartnett delivers another touching and quirky story with The Road to Tender Hearts. PJ Halliday is flawed but lovable, and his journey with his daughter, grandkids, and the death-sensing cat Pancakes is both emotional and oddly charming. Some of PJ’s choices were frustrating, and a few parts dragged a bit, but the heart of the story—family, forgiveness, and second chances—shines through. It’s heartfelt, funny, and a little weird in the best way.

When PJ gets custody of his dead brothers' grandkids that he didn't know about, he decides he's going to turn his life around and be good for them. With the help of his somewhat estranged daughter, the two adults and two kids (and one mysterious cat named Pancakes) set out on a road trip. Their destination is to see PJ's high school crush at Tender Hearts in Arizona, but they have many adventures (misadventures) along the way.

If you are tired of reading the same old storylines, then you should read this book. It is very original and has four interesting main characters to root for and roll your eyes at their choices. The cat is of course my favorite, and it could have also been the most annoying character but was written so well. I love a road trip book, but they can also get irritating, and this one is done just right. It definitely kept me guessing at what would happen next and at least it wasn't predictable. I enjoyed this cross between National Lampoon's Vacation and a book by Amy Poeppel. I loved (and sometimes loathed) this messy family.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House | Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Annie Hartnett. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

PJ Halliday’s life hasn’t turned out like he thought. His marriage fell apart after the sudden death of their oldest daughter, he’s mostly estranged from his younger daughter, Sophie, and he’s pretty much spent his million-dollar lottery win on alcohol. He comes across an obituary and realizes his high school sweetheart is now single. He decides he’s going to drive from Massachusetts to her retirement home in Arizona to win back her heart. But before he can leave, a tragedy leaves 2 young kids in his care. He expands his road trip plans to include them and Sophie, along with Pancakes, a former nursing home therapy cat with a knack of predicting death.

I’m a huge fan of Hartnett’s books, and this one is so wonderful! Full of darkly comedic humor about some heavy subjects, the characters once again shine. They are flawed, broken, but still remain hopeful that better things can happen; they will all break your heart and mend it back. I felt emotionally invested in all of them and their stories. Plus, who doesn’t love a crazy road trip? Highly recommended!

I was so thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book as I adored Annie’s “Unlikely Animals” a few years ago.
This book is a “darkly comedic” story of a divorced alcoholic on a wildly improbable road trip with his trouble daughter and two young siblings who, through a series of (UNFORTUNATE!) events, are now under his care.
This book had everything, including one of my favorite tropes - found family. It is equal parts dark (to be honest, I almost put it down for a bit in the beginning), sad, hilarious, hopeful, tragic and heartwarming. I laughed and cried (just as I had with her prior novel!) There is a good amount of whimsy (talking inanimate objects and animals) which I don’t gravitate to much but MAN! - I will read anything Annie writes. She wove an amazing narrative and lovingly tied together so many little details that all culminate into such a satisfying ending. I did not want this book to end and I will miss all of the characters so, so much. If readers are sensitive to certain topics (lots of trigger warnings!) it may not be their cup of tea - I will say for myself I strongly dislike “children in peril” narratives but I am so glad I stuck with this through a bit of an uncertain beginning. The whimsy and tenderness (ha!) of her writing added much needed levity. I am certain this will be one of the best books I’ll read in 2025. Thank you SO much to Ballantine/Random House for the advanced copy. I cannot wait to see Annie on her book tour!! This book hits shelves tomorrow, 4/29/25!

A zany dysfunctional, multigenerational family road trip story about healing from past trauma, chosen family, second chances and family secrets. This had a cast of kooky characters brought together through tragic circumstances (it even included a retirement home cat called Pancakes that could predict people's deaths). Great on audio narrated by Mark Bramhall, this one gave off tons of The guncle vibes and is sure to have you both laughing and tearing up as the story unfolds. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this one!!! so heartfelt and funny but also dark and sad. Will be recommending to many readers - this author is officially one of my favorites.

I loved this book dearly. It made me laugh and I was rooting for all of the characters so much. The writing style is so interesting - sometimes switching POV between paragraphs - and it’s done so well.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC

5 STARS

I couldn’t help but imagine this book being narrated by Jim Dale, à la PUSHING DAISIES. Niche reference, but that’s the vibe here.

PJ Halliday is a 60-something lottery winner whose life has been anything but lucky: his oldest daughter died unexpectedly on the night of her senior prom, leading PJ to a life of alcoholism and a crumbled marriage. When the story begins, PJ’s time seems to be running out as he’s already had three heart attacks and spends all his time and money (what’s left of it) at the bar.

When he sees the obituary for his high school crush’s husband, however, he has a new purpose. Immediately, PJ hatches a plan to road trip to Arizona to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community to woo Michelle after all these years.

Like everything in his life, however, tragedy complicates his best-laid plans, and PJ finds himself as the guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren, Luna and Ollie. Undeterred, PJ enlists the help of his daughter Sophie and the foursome, plus one former nursing home therapy cat named Pancake with a knack for detecting impending death, heads to Arizona. Of course, their trip is anything but straightforward, and what follows is a quirky, heartbreakingly hopeful story of love, hope, and the messy task of building a family.

I loved UNLIKELY ANIMALS when I read it in 2022, and this one topped it. If you enjoy books with complicated characters you can’t help but root for, with a dose of realistic optimism and a hint of whimsy (again, think PUSHING DAISIES—there is a cat who predicts death here), this book would be a great fit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance review copy of this book!

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 is a quirky warm hug of a book.

Annie Hartnett sends a lottery winner/hoarder, a death-predicting cat, two precocious orphans and an estranged daughter on a road trip to track down a soap opera star and a long-lost love, and creates a beautiful story of found family and forgiveness.

This was the perfect book to listen to in the car - the narration made me feel like I was on the road with the characters - and I was blown away by the writing and the way the author weaves sub-plots and little details into bigger payoffs down the line. Trust me when I tell you this is a trip worth taking.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

The most interesting thing I have read in awhile - a true traumedy.

An accidental murder suicide, two orphans left to an unstable uncle they’ve never met, and a summer road trip they’ll never forget. A whacky cast of characters: Pancakes the cat who is an angel of death, Luna the orphan who’s convinced her real father is a day time soap star, and of course uncle PJ: a hot mess lottery winning alcoholic divorcee who still depends on his ex wife for everything.

You’ll go from giggling to cringing to crying so fast. Definitely the one to get you out of a reading slump!

This is a story about a man named PJ who drinks too much, still has breakfast with this ex wife and her new boyfriend, and who barely has a relationship with his daughter. When his great niece and nephew need a home PJ, along with his daughter Sophia and the amazing cat Pancake, he takes them in and takes them on a cross country trip. This story was so beautifully written and I feel in love with all the characters. This story shows the importance of forgiven and the resiliency that people can show.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to review this advanced copy.

What a funny, heartwarming, quirky book. Each character was very different and unique and endearing in this road trip story. Pancakes the cat was my favorite! The relationships between the characters are all a bit unconventional - from the adult daughter, to PJ (the father), and the two foster kids. Death is a theme throughout the book and the author has a funny/dark sense of humor way of talking about it. This was well written but I could see it being a miss for some people that don't have that sense of humor.

Quirky characters? I’m drawn to them. Bizarre scenarios? The weirder, the better. Multigenerational stories? Love them!!! Found family that’s family? I’m all in. Broken people healing broken people? You’re speaking my language. An orange kitty named Pancakes with death radar? Why the heck not?

THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS is chock full of all of this. Annie Hartnett’s writing draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. Our main character, PJ, is a damaged man. He’s lonely (his ex-wife and her significant other are his best friends), isolated (his daughter doesn’t speak to him), guilt ridden (he’s grieving the death of his oldest daughter), depressed (manifested by his hoarding), battling addiction (multiple DUIs and still drinking), and somewhat delusional (he’s obsessed with his high school crush despite having no contact with her for more than 40 years). And, yet, after a family tragedy, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deems him the best candidate to care for two recently orphaned children.

Following that logic, PJ, his daughter, his two young charges, and Pancakes set off on a cross country expedition in search of the happiness that has eluded them. Their quest is unconventional and often hilarious which is in direct conflict with the volume of misery and tragedy that surrounds them. It seems incongruous to be entertained by a book rife with despair.

While there are lighthearted moments and situations, this is a heavy book. Readers are advised to check the content warnings (there are many) before stepping into this novel. I did not and found myself unprepared for the weight it placed on my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a warm and funny read with a cast full of unconventional, lovable characters. A bit reminiscent of A Man Called Ove (which is one of my favs).
PJ is an endearing character and I was continually amused (and sometimes frustrated) by his antics.
With the added touch of magical realism and a kitty, the story is even better!! Pancakes is sure to win your heart.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.