Hartnett is a master at crafting tender, quirky narratives about family, life, and grief. We get to witness PJ get to know his makeshift family and the highs and lows of how he connects with him in spite of his alcoholism and his sorrow. (I thought the fact that his ex-wife, with whom he's still on good terms, cuts out the bad stories from the newspaper was a really profound image.)

Also, name another book in the history of literature with a sentient cat, an alpaca farm, and a wild soap opera convention. You can't because it didn't exist until Hartnett brought it forth to help us all. Thankful for her - for, in this maelstrom of whimsy, we also find compassion and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

This book captured my heart from the beginning. These characters are delightfully odd and lovable. P.J. is an older man, down on his luck, and hardly functioning when circumstances lead to him becoming the guardian to his niece's children. Additionally, they end up on a cross-country adventure from Massachussetts to Arizona. They are simultaneously the worst and best things to happen to each other. There is plenty of humor to balance the darker parts of this story. Pancakes the Cat, agent of death, is THE BEST! I loved this story and look forward to reading Annie Hartnett's backlist. 5 STARS!

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett - I loved her previous book Unlikely Animals if you haven’t read it I recommend that one as well !

This book had me laughing, crying, and hugging it when I finished. Annie Hartnett has such a gift for writing flawed, lovable characters and stories that manage to be both darkly comic and deeply human.

63-year-old PJ Halliday has lost a lot—his daughter, his marriage, and maybe even the will to care—but when he sees that his high school crush is single again, he sets out on a wild cross-country mission to win her back. What he doesn’t expect is to become the guardian of his brother’s orphaned grandkids… or to bring along his adrift adult daughter… or to be joined by a death-predicting cat named Pancakes.

What follows is one of the most beautifully executed found family journeys I’ve ever read. This isn’t just a road trip—it’s a messy, heartfelt, hilarious shot at redemption, healing, and choosing connection, even when it’s hard. Even when your heart’s already been broken a few times.

I adored every single character. I gasped. I cried. I believed in them. And I’m still thinking about them. I rarely hope for books to become movies, but this one? I need it on screen—and true to the story.

An absolute must-read if you love character-driven stories, smart humor, emotional depth, and books that make you believe in second chances - if you want another endorsement look for @andrea.c.lowry.reads post, her review made me pick this book right up !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Annie Hartnett does it again! Tender, strange, and unforgettable.

I absolutely loved this book. The Road to Tender Hearts is everything I want in a novel—biting wit, deep sadness, lovable weirdos, and just the right amount of magic (or maybe just mystery?) woven into the ordinary.

Annie Hartnett has such a unique voice. She manages to write about grief, mental health, motherhood, and love in a way that’s never heavy-handed, always human. Her characters are flawed and complicated, and I rooted for every single one of them. There were moments that made me laugh out loud, and others that hit like a punch to the heart.

If you liked Unlikely Animals, this one has the same emotional depth and signature strangeness, but it feels even more confident and layered. It walks that delicate line between heartbreaking and hopeful, and I closed the last page feeling a little cracked open—but in the best possible way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This one’s going on my favorites shelf.

😭

I thoroughly enjoyed The Road to Tender Hearts. Found family is one of my favorite themes, and the aspect of a road trip just made for a fun read that I didn't want to end! The characters were well developed and incredibly likable. PJ Halliday, in particular, is a standout—a lottery winner whose life has been marked by personal tragedy, now unexpectedly thrust into the role of guardian for two children.

The dynamic between PJ and his estranged daughter adds real emotional depth, and their reluctant road trip—set in motion by a darkly comedic turn of events—makes for a compelling, sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious read. Their goal: to find PJ’s high school sweetheart, Michelle Cobb, adds a hopeful thread to a story filled with both humor and heartache.

The road trip And I have to mention the cat—such a charming and memorable addition! The writing was so good, and I BAWLED at the end.. I need to read more of Annie Hartnett's books!

thank you to netgalley and Random House publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Annie Hartnett has done it again. Absolutely adored this tale of adventure, and was in love with how well Hartnett blends the joys and the dangers of everyday life. The cast of characters including PJ, Sophie, and the kids were all such a hoot, not to mention Pancakes the cat. Also loved the addition of every supporting character - she perfectly captures them as people as well, and each of their short storylines affect the book brilliantly, A perfect road trip story, and one that I'll revisit in years to come.

I want to start off saying that I'm the only person out of all my friends that did not give this book five stars so it really may just be me and not the book.

I think how this book was presented to me and how to worked out just did not work for me as well as i had hoped after hearing amazing things about Hartnett's writing (Unlikely Animals sits unread on my TBR shelf). Personally, I think the topics presented in this book combined with the very light hearted tone of it just did not work.

There were a few corny bits, but everything else missed the mark. It was more morbid and dark than I was expecting and I don't like when authors shine alcoholism in a light-hearted light.

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This road-trip story is full of surprises, both good and bad. We begin with a family in distress. Tragic events occur, leading to a 62-year-old man named PJ being put in charge of his elementary-aged niece and nephew. To help them cope with their grief, they set off on a road trip with a clear purpose! First, they want to discover who his niece’s real father is, and then PJ wants to find the “one that got away” and propose to her. Lots of chaos ensues. This was a heart-warming family story with a few odd surprises along the way. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would love to read more by this author.

The Road to Tender Hearts is a moving and beautifully crafted story that pulls you in from the first page. The characters are deeply relatable, with emotional arcs that feel genuine and powerful. The authors signature style of writing shines with little quirks and magic moments without being overdone, striking a perfect balance between depth and readability. A heartfelt, unforgettable read that lingers long after the last page.

The Road to Tender Hearts is an unforgettable journey, both emotionally and literally. At times, I wasn’t sure where this book was taking me, but I was more than willing to go along for the ride. Annie Hartnett delivers a story full of heart, chaos, and deeply human characters. PJ Halliday is a lottery winner whose life is anything but lucky. He leans heavily on his ex-wife and her new husband for stability. Still reeling from the loss of one daughter and disconnected from the other, PJ finds himself on a spontaneous road trip with his estranged daughter and his brother’s grandchildren, who are dealing with their own tragic loss. It’s an unlikely group, thrown together in grief and dysfunction, but somehow it works. PJ is a mess yet I couldn’t help but root for him. The unpredictability of the plot mirrors PJ’s own life, and that sense of not knowing what’s around the next corner becomes part of the novel’s charm. Sometimes, you just have to trust the author and enjoy the journey. This is a novel that lingers long after the final page. I’m recommending it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories, cross-genre reads, and quirky, unforgettable personalities.

If you love a zany road trip novel, it's time to add The Road to Tender Hearts to your TBR! I really enjoyed Unlikely Animals, and this was a fun follow-up. Looking forward to whatever Annie writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett completely stole my heart. I picked it up because it was featured on Anne Bogel’s (Modern Mrs. Darcy) Summer Reading List, and I am so glad I did. This book is dark in all the right ways raw, real and heartbreaking. But also unexpectedly funny and full of heart.

PJ, with all his childishness and emotional messiness, felt frustratingly familiar, especially for someone like me who grew up with an alcoholic parent. Hartnett does an incredible job capturing the complexity of broken relationships, family pain, and reluctant healing. Every single character was well-drawn and lovable in their own quirky way, but I have to say that the cat stole the show. BEST. CHARACTER. EVER.

The road trip storyline was the perfect backdrop for this emotional journey, and I just adored every moment of it. I’ve already been recommending this book to friends, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Road to Tender Hearts is poignant, hilarious, messy, and unforgettable. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it.

So delightful and I appreciated how Hartnett used humor to work through the characters grief. The writing is so snappy and I just had a wonderful time with every chapter.

Unlikely Animals is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to read Annie Hartnett's new book. It did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it! It was quirky and heartwarming but also a little grim at times. I was immediately attached to everyone in this found family, and I didn't want the road trip to end!
I have already ordered my own copy because I know I will read this one again. I cannot wait to recommend it to readers! I feel like it is well written and has just the right blend of heart, humor, and hope.

Take an unforgettable journey to the Tender Hearts retirement community in this amazing book! The characters are so unique and yet relatable in their vulnerabilities. The only disappointment in this book was that it had to end!

Annie Hartnett books always pull me deeply into their worlds, and this book was no exception. I have been telling all my book loving friends that this one is a must read. The character development is superb and the storyline is extremely well-conceived and written flawlessly. The pace is just right for the story development. I cannot praise this book enough!

I can, without a doubt, highly recommend this fabulous book. It will leave you with a warm heart and a smile on your face.

I am very grateful to Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this book through Netgalley. All of the opinions throughout this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! The author did an incredible job of crafting a story about sad, heavy things in a way that stole your heart with a fun cast of characters. Though the characters weren't always likable at times (looking at you, PJ) they were real and flawed and human. The road trip part of the story was entertaining and had laugh out loud moments. But my favorite character (and favorite thing about the book in general was Pancakes the cat!

I put off doing this review because I didn't know how to put into words how much I loved this book and Annie Hartnett. I enjoy her books so much, The characters are wholesome, the situations, while outlandish, can be relatable. She deals with hard topics with humor, not unlike myself. I will continue to read her books. Auto buy Author for me.

Although I applaud the author on diving into subjects usually avoided by families, I didn't enjoy this book. It reminded me of a different version road trip from Little Miss Sunshine. The writing was good, but the plot was just unbelievable. I guess since I usually read serious books, I just wasn't meant for this one. Didn't get attached to any of the characters except the cat, Pancakes.

I do think this would make an entertaining movie if the pearl clutchers could get past telling young children the truth about life events.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

The book is about a man who deals with a lot of struggles: alcoholism, losing a child, divorce. He doesn’t necessarily deal with everything, the most easy way and sometimes ropes people into his shenanigans, but you can tell he has a good heart along the way.
He is left with two children after they go through a tragedy And is encouraged by one of them to travel across the country to meet their biological father, which starts a journey with him two children, a stray cat, and his daughter. This book is so funny in spite of all the tragedy and horrific things that happen to each one of these characters but I found myself laughing out loud, smiling and also heartbroken for him and the children and his daughter. This was truly an excellent book and I would recommend this book to everyone I know..

Hijinks ensue with lottery winner PJ take his orphaned great neice and nephew on a road trip to meet his expected love of his life. This was weird in the best way, heartwarming, and lovely.