Dare I say this is my favorite read of 2025? Big thanks to the publisher, Ballantine Books, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. “The Road to Tender Hearts” will be published on April 29, 2025.

As usual, I approached this read blind, and at first, it did feel a bit odd, but that is what makes it wonderful. It’s about life and death, how we are all just trying to get on, to do the best we can.

I can’t recommend this enough; it made me laugh and cry. A favorite quote is, “The cat was amused at these two idiot humans, talking about how unfair death is, when it’s one of the few things everyone gets.”

This is my first Annie Hartnett read, and I’ll definitely pick up her earlier novels.

The Road To Tender Hearts follows alcoholic, chronic screw up PJ as he embarks on a cross country road trip with his orphaned great niece/nephew (Luna and Ollie), semi estranged daughter Sophie, and cat Pancakes. Luna, after losing her parents in a murder/suicide, is convinced that biological father is a soap opera star. The motley crew heads off on a road trip attempting to find her biological father.

The subject matter is heavy but the delivery is light. I rated this 4.5 stars and rounded down. The Road to Tender Hearts tackles mental health, bereavement, substance abuse with humor. Fans of Stephen Rowley’s The Guncle and Kevin Wilson’s cannon will adore this quirky read.

Quirky yet often amusing, Hartnett’s latest novel which publishes at the end of the month was an interesting cross country road trip full of all her typical zany characters and personified animals.

There are a lot of serious topics in this one that get glazed over by the cutesy cover, and if trigger warnings were provided might take up half a page. While she uses a National Lampoon’s Vacation quote in the beginning, the feel of the book is anything but Clark Griswold and is a bit misleading. It also felt like it dragged on for awhile, so if you haven’t read Rabbit Cake or Unlikely Animals, start there as I enjoyed those a lot more.

**< Best Book of 2025 >**

The Road to Tender Hearts is a strange, charming, and sneakily emotional novel that completely caught me off guard. Yes, I already know, I judged this book by its cover (which is primo), and imagine my delight when the story inside superseded all expectations. PJ Halliday, a 63-year-old lottery winner, sets off to reconnect with an old flame at a retirement home, but instead finds himself stuck with two orphaned kids, a semi-estranged daughter, and a death-predicting cat named Pancakes. It’s odd-ball, arrestingly funny, and somehow tender without trying too hard.

With every twist and turn, just as your hope fades, you’re thrown a morsel. And as your hope returns, you’re met with irony and loss. As if Hartnett understands something raw and true about humanity—our bottomless appetite for hope, and life’s unrelenting deal with disaster. The tone is playful but the feelings are real, and the absurdity just makes the grief more believable.

This is a story about broken people who keep showing up anyway. It’s about second chances that don’t come easy, and love that arrives a little late but still counts. Honestly? It’s a mess. And that’s exactly what makes it so good.

Reconfigured family unit of father, adult daughter and newly discovered grand niece & nephew go on cross country road trip. Fun, funny, heartwarming, healing & redemption.

I LOVED Unlikely Animals and this book was no different. Hartnett has a way with characters and making the relatable and loveable even with their flows. READ IT!

Deeply heartfelt and full of spirit, this is a wonderful read that will bring joy through the imperfect situation of PJ Halliday and the children he is a guardian of (Luna and Ollie).

Throughout the book, you get a glimpse of the struggle, PJ, an alcoholic grieving the death of his eldest daughter still faces 15 years after her passing. He wants to do sweet and kind things for the children he is a caregiver for but is imperfect and still negotiating his relationship with his youngest daughter, Sophie.

The roadtrip they all take together deepens the reader’s understanding of each of their needs. They are also accompanied by Pancakes, a cat who can predict death. Pancakes’ storyline woven throughout helps bring more humanity to the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I admit I have sat on this review a bit as I didn’t want to write it. I am the unpopular opinion. I did not like this book. I have enjoyed this author, so I struggled with different this one hit for me.

PJ Halliday who is codependent on his ex-wife and her now husband, is a lottery winner (a typical now broke-ish one), gets two kids “left” to him when his terrible brother’s grandchildren are left orphans through a horrible and somewhat ridiculous murder suicide situation. He reluctantly takes the kids but then decides they will go with him on a road trip to marry his long ago high school girlfriend whose long time husband has just died. Yep, you read that right. PJ is 66, not an impulsive, selfish kid, but yet, that is exactly what he is and shows himself to be again and again.

He heads out to his HS girlfriend’s retirement community. He doesn’t even call ahead, but he ropes in his frustrated adult daughter to help him on this foolish and unplanned odyssey with kids who are grieving and also don’t know him. The horrible plan turns out to be mostly that, a horrible plan with some mad cap tangents where I wanted to like PJ a little but also am grateful he is not in my real life. I whole heartedly believe that people should never be told they are “too much” but this guy…too much.

*It’s important to note that PJ’s own daughter died when she was a teenager explaining why his wife left, many marriages don’t survive the loss of a child, and his estrangement with his younger daughter. He doesn’t recognize his own grief which is likely why he walks over everyone else’s. He is also an alcoholic who occasionally tries recovery, so his immaturity makes some sense. Often addicts stop maturing when the addiction begins, for PJ that’s about right. But also, I am making excuses because this if’s often what people do when they can’t explain why someone is such a disaster.

I think I know people like PJ, and that might be my problem with this book. I like to get invested in a story and I just couldn’t.

4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed the latest from Annie Hartnett - she is a master at quirky situations. In her new novel she gives us a road trip and found/actual family coming together through family secrets and A LOT of death. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it's poignant, but yes there is A LOT of death... Not in a creepy way, but quirky/morbid humorous way.

I loved all of the characters and their flaws and motivations, but the quirky death aspect of the book quickly grew a little old to me, especially once I noticed and came to expect it. And it kept coming and coming and coming.

This book is probably best read relatively quickly so this won't be much of an issue, but over the course of several days of reading it did get pretty eye-rolly.

Overall though, the characters and clever plotting made up for it and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the gifted ARC!

Title: The Road to Tender Hearts
Author: Annie Hartnett
Pub Date: April 29, 2025

Ugh, these characters have my heart! I felt the widest range of emotions while reading this book! I laughed out loud SO many more times than any books I've read in the recent past and teared up several times as well! There were also many audible "AWW"s I instinctively let out!

Let me just say this: this book is a special kind of humor and sometimes the humor was downright dark and morbid....but oh, did I find this book to be hilarious. If you're a fan of all things unique and quirky, this one is definitely right up your alley!

I think if I had to make some comparisons to previous books I've read, I'd call it a weirder mix of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife and The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern.

Read if you love:

Quirky Humor
VERY unique and memorable characters
Cats
Road Trips
Books revolving around senior citizens

The ending of this book was nothing less than shocking. The whole plot just gets more brilliant the more I think about it! I think this would be such a blast to read with a bookclub, because the discussion would be a total HOOT!

Annie Hartnett, you took me on the wildest and craziest road trip to one of the strangest destinations and I'd 10/10 go on the journey with you again! I'm adding all her backlist books to my TBR and prioritizing them after this!

4.5 stars, rounded up

Darkly comic, this novel slips around constant themes of grief and loss with lighthearted energy. An unconventional group end up on a road trip - a sixty-something alcoholic, his partly estranged adult daughter, and the previously unknown grandchildren of his estranged brother. Joining them is a cat that knows who nearby will die next. As the group road trips to Arizona from New England, they form bonds and begin to heal. All along, the slight magical realism and funny asides keep all the deaths from dragging the story down. I really enjoy the tone of Ms Hartnett's writing (Unlikely Animals is a book I recommend regularly), and I am glad to have had a chance to read this one early.

In the running to be my favorite book of the year so far! I loved every moment of this family/found family road trip novel. I laughed and cried and remain profoundly moved. Annie Hartnett is a gift.

★★★★★
The Road to Tender Hearts (Annie Hartnett - releasing 2025)
e-ARC Review

✧ Read with me ✧ Instagram ✧| @haileydianereads

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Ballantine Books, and Annie Hartnett for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest book review! 🥰🙌

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy…
- Families who need a second chance
- A cat who can predict death (the harbinger of death)
- Dark comedy (seriously, things get bleak at times)
- Uplifting stories that will reconnect you with your humanity
- Poignant, yet life-affirming, writing that will gut you to your core

SPLENDID! Seriously, of the 30+ books I’ve read so far in 2025, this takes the cake as the overall best book I’ve read. There are so many factors that go into that statement, but I just want to applaud Annie Hartnett for accomplishing such a masterpiece. This novel made me laugh and cry - sometimes, at the same time! Not only is this novel witty and chalked full of ridiculously funny scenarios, but it will hit readers in the heart. From the impact of prolonged grief to a parent who simply cannot get their shit together, this book holds nothing back. Immediately, I’ve added Hartnett’s other novels (Unlikely Animals and Rabbit Cake) to my TBR.

RATING SYSTEM: I rate my books by 5 literary element groupings: plot and pacing, characters and development, setting and world building, dialogue and writing style. See below for a full review:

📖Plot and Pacing
PJ Halliday is simultaneously the luckiest and unluckiest of men. Winning a million dollar lottery? Luckily? The unexpected death of your daughter who was eighteen and only days away from her high school graduation? Unlucky. At 63, PJ has barely lived. He’s only ever left Pondville twice in his life - basic training and Vietnam. Readers meet PJ and will instantly have feelings towards him - good or bad. Maybe both. PJ has spent the last fifteen years drinking to numb his pain and it has cost him his wife and youngest daughter, Sophie. Both can’t help but love him, but have put in place some boundaries for self-preservation. PJ is asked to care for two tragically orphaned kids he’s never met at the same time he decides to take his first cross-country road trip to reunite with “the one who got away.” As Sophie reluctantly agrees to round out the party size to four (plus one deadly cat), PJ leads the way as the rag-tag group starts their journey. The pacing of this whimsical trip to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community slows for no one! Readers should expect an engaging story of hope, resilience, truths, sorrows and second chances.

🧞‍♀️Characters and Development
While the main character, PJ, may not be every reader’s cup of tea, he is written in such an endearing way that leaves the reader feeling that they might be a member of this quirky family. While PJ learns some hard lessons and has to confront truths he’s always known but wasn’t quite ready to come to terms with, readers have a whole cast of characters to enjoy getting acquainted with along the trek. Luna (10) and Ollie (9) are the two children, Irish twins, PJ has recently been given custody of and they’ve endured more trauma in a day than many adults in one lifetime. Sophie, PJ’s eldest, and Ivy, PJ’s ex-wife are still coming to terms with all the ways in which PJ has failed them. Fred, Ivy’s boyfriend, is one of the most patient characters I’ve ever met in a novel. This is the family you can’t look away from when a scene unfolds in public. They’re magnetic and gritty while remaining true to life. The best part about the novel is witnessing these characters grow in ways that seem impossible at the start. The emotional souvenirs from this road trip may prove to be invaluable.

🌇Setting and World Building
Set in the spring/summer of 2014, PJ and his family embark on a road trip from Massachusetts to Arizona. So much of this adventure immerses the reader in the car and alongside the family for meals and motel stops. As a Tennessean, the Waffle House and Cracker Barrel stops felt reminiscent of my own memories and associations with those diners. If you’ve ever taken a family road trip and stopped at some questionable (read mediocre) sites, this is a story that might provide you with some nostalgia.

🗣️Dialogue
One of the most compelling aspects of this story is just how hysterical, yet heart-wrenching, the dialogue is - especially the internal dialogue. It’s smart and witty. It is satirical at times and completely raw at others. There’s something truly beautiful that unfolds once all of the truths are laid out bare for the reader. I could not have enjoyed the character interactions more. At times, the absurdity of the situations or actions seem too much to bear, but in reality, we probably all know someone we can picture saying these exact words. They may have good intentions, but they have no filter and can leave a path of destruction behind them.

📝Writing Style
I STRUGGLE to read (and enjoy) novels where the main character is downright unlikable at times. However, Hartnett’s ability to create a backstory and character arc for PJ that keeps me interested this journey will take him is unparalleled. Truly, Hartnett does what few other writers have been able to convince me of when it comes to redemptive stories. Outside of the character writing, Hartnett’s approach to humor and levity is perfectly placed. I laughed, out loud - loudly at times. The writing felt reminiscent of any great travel. I was so glad I took the journey, but happy to find myself at home in the end. I cannot wait to read her other stories.

❉BONUS❉: Emotional Connection
The entirety of this book was an emotional rollercoaster. There were times when I just could not stand PJ and his decision-making. However, I was often reminded of a loved one who is so similar to his character. At other times in the book, I wanted to hug Sophie and whisper to her that she didn’t always have to be so strong. Wow, wow, wow. This book really did leave me speechless (and in a puddle of tears - happy & sad ones).

😤The Flaws
I always try to find a flaw. Sometimes, I try to find a flaw just so that I feel I did a thorough job critiquing a book. I’m sure this novel may have a flaw or two, but I’m not going to go looking. Nope. For me, this book is flawless. No notes!

I want to move Hartnett’s two other books to the top of my TBR list, but I must stay committed to the cause and continue down my list for the year. I am hoping these can be added later in the year because I am so extremely impressed with Hartnett’s writing style and ability to tell such an engaging story.

Gratitude, always.
- H.

This is the first book I’ve read by Annie and I really enjoyed it! It’s definitely dark and there are some parts in the book that were disturbing. I’d definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings before reading the book.

I really like PJ. I can relate to him when it comes to not wanting to read about bad stuff that happens. I think he’s ex-wife is sweet and I really like the friendship they have. Things definitely haven’t been easy for him but he decides to take a road trip to Tender Hearts Retirement Community so he can win back his high school sweetheart, Michelle!

PJ is ready for a fresh start! But can his heart handle it?

I really loved the characters in the book! PJ definitely stressed me out at times! I absolutely love pancakes the cat! This was a really cute read but also dark.

I really like Annie’s writing. I definitely plan to read more of her books!

Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱
Publication Date: April 29th 2025

Thank you so much NetGalley, Annie and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC!

#TheRoadtoTenderHearts #NetGalley

I am thoroughly enjoying Annie Harnett's works, having read all her books published to date. Her upcoming release, scheduled for April 29th, is truly captivating. This poignant narrative expertly weaves together elements of sadness, hope, humor, and adventure, culminating in a road trip embarked upon by PJ. PJ, a man in his sixties, is uniquely situated, being best friends with his ex-wife and her husband, Fred, while also navigating a complicated relationship with his estranged daughter, Sophie. Furthermore, PJ has recently discovered two previously unknown relatives, and his cat possesses an uncanny ability to sense death. Following a tragic murder-suicide involving his niece, PJ undertakes a road trip to Arizona with his newly formed family to reunite with a recently widowed ex-girlfriend. Concurrently, his ex-wife embarks on a journey to Alaska, while Fred, PJ's best friend and neighbor, plans to propose to Ivy, PJ's ex-wife. The intricate web of characters, each bearing their own scars, serves as a powerful backdrop for a narrative centered on healing and redemption. Through their collective experiences, Annie Harnett masterfully illustrates the human capacity for resilience and the transformative power of interpersonal connections. I found this book deeply moving, as it reaffirms the possibility of happiness and genuine relationships, regardless of past adversity. Annie Harnett's writing is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for hope and renewal. #Netgalley #TheTenderRoadToHearts

This may be the feel good book of the year.

If you loved Frederick Fife definitely check this one out.
It’s a long winding story filled with quirky kids and adults, a roadtrip, a cat named Pancake and some twists and turns.
The story and characters are absorbing and while slight caricatures I loved them all. Especially pancakes. God do I need a cat now?!
4+

“The Road to Tender Hearts” is the story of alcoholic lottery winner PJ and the road trip he takes with his new cat named Pancakes, his youngest daughter, and his great niece and great nephew who he has just assumed guardianship of.

They’re a motley crew who haven’t got much in common except that their lives so far have involved a fair amount of tragedy and heartache. But maybe that’ll all change when they reach the end of their journey?

Although at times I was really stressed out by some of the choices that PJ made, ultimately I fell for each of the characters and was rooting so hard for them each to find a happy ending, whatever that looked like.

I’d highly recommend this book for fans of “Remarkably Bright Creatures”, “Lessons in Chemistry”, Amy Poeppel, or readers who just like a ‘found family’ vibe in general (even though the characters in this book are related, it still gives off that vibe). It’s one of those books that you’ll finish feeling like you just received a warm hug.

The Road to Tender Hearts is a delightful novel that truly has everything I love in a story—family drama, lovable yet flawed characters, themes of found family, and even some lighthearted moments.

PJ Halliday, a former Massachusetts Lottery winner, unexpectedly finds himself taking care of two spirited orphans just as he’s about to head out on a cross-country journey to reconnect with his former almost-girlfriend, Michelle Cobb.

To give you some context... After losing his oldest daughter in a tragic accident fifteen years ago and going through a divorce from the love of his life, PJ turned to drinking and has struggled to maintain sobriety since. Despite their separation, he and Ivy still hold a deep love for each other, so much so that PJ enjoys breakfast at Ivy and her fiancé Fred's house every morning. When Fred announces they’ll be getting married right after their long vacation in Alaska and asks PJ to be his best man, life takes an unexpected turn. Suddenly, PJ becomes the guardian of two young children just as Ivy and Fred are off to Alaska. He turns to his youngest daughter, Sophie, who is dealing with her own challenges and is weary of finding her dad passed out on the streets. Together, Sophie, PJ, the two kids, and a cat embark on their journey, learning valuable life lessons along the way.

This was definitely a FIVE STAR read for me! I can’t wait to dive into more works by this author. A big thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

When 63 year old PJ Halliday sees an obituary for an old high school friend turned romantic rival, he realizes his high school crush is finally single again. He decides to take a cross country road trip to win her over. Only one problem, PJ has also suddenly found himself the legal guardian of his estranged brother's two grandchildren. As PJ, his daughter, and the two children (and a cat named Pancake who may or may not be a harbinger of death) embark on their journey, the begin to help each other unpack the tragedies they've all been through.

The plot of this one was a little fantastical, but I loved it. The book is built upon the backs of some truly awful tragedies, but it still manages to have some really great comedic moments. I absolutely loved the addition of Pancake the cat, who at times felt like the only responsible adult in the book. All of the characters were really well thought out and fully developed, no matter how small their role was. Overall this was a really cute read that pulled on your heartstrings in just the right way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc!

This book won’t be for everyone. But for those who enjoy dark comedy, a dash of magical realism, and a lot of quirkiness—all leading to an incredibly sweet ending—this will be pretty much perfect. It’s the dark comedy that I think will hinder some. This is not a light a book. Usually I’d just direct people to check out the content warnings on StoryGraph, but I do think it’s necessary to underscore here that the book deals with a murder-suicide, death of a child, grief, child abuse, and domestic abuse. When trying to describe the book to my husband yesterday, I made the realization that A LOT of people die in this book. So be warned: There is humor to be found here, but it is dark.

The story revolves around the incredibly flawed PJ Halliday. He’s a former lottery winner, though you’d never guess it by looking at him or walking through his home. He’s divorced, but still has breakfast daily with his ex-wife and her boyfriend. He’s an alcoholic, still grieving the death of his eldest daughter 15 years prior. His surviving daughter doesn’t talk to him. When we begin the book, he’s made an impulsive decision to drive across the country to propose to “the one who got away.” (Her husband just died.) But then, PJ unexpectedly finds himself the guardian of two young children—one of whom is convinced that her real father is a famous soap opera star. One thing leads to another and PJ, his surviving daughter, a cat (who can sense when someone is about to die), and the two kids are off on a cross-country trip to confront the soap opera actor, propose, and see the country.

PJ is going to aggravate you. You will downright hate him at times. He makes dumb decisions and is incredibly selfish. But that just means that he can have a really lovely redemptive arc. I would never want to be on this road trip, but goodness I loved reading about it.