This is a heartwarming tale of family, tragedy, and redemption. PJ Halliday is a 63 year old drunk who has failed his family time after time after the death of his elder daughter. His wife Ivy finally divorced him, but still, in her way, looks after. His surviving daughter hates him and loves him. She continues to rescue him, telling herself it’s for her mother’s sake, not realizing her love and need for him.
PJ is surprisingly name guardian of 9 and 10 year old grand niece a nephew he had never met.
During the ensuing road trip PJ, his daughter Sophie, and the children, Luna and Ollie face many emotional ups and downs, eventually becoming a family! Humor, sadness, misunderstanding, and so much love make this a wonderful read.

In Annie Hartnetts The Road to Tender Hearts we follow the cross country journey of 63 year old P.J. Halliday, a warm hearted man whose life has fallen apart since his daughter died at the age of 18. Before long we see him departing on a cross country drive with his estranged daughter, a great niece and nephew who have suddenly come into his life after their parents tragic death, and a cat who can predict people deaths.

The story is told in the authors usual brand of quirky humor which did not really work for me in Unlikely Animals but was a hit for me this time. I loved getting to know these characters as they became a real family. Much of the plot is outlandish, but it somehow works and I am sure anyone who has loved her previous works will like this one, and even those who didn't, like me, may want to give it a try if you enjoy heartwarming family stories.

Thank you to net galley and Random house for the e galley in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one so much. I love Hartnett's novels and I think this one is the best yet. There are moments that really stick out and make you laugh and feel for the characters. It really has a Kevin Wilson vibe to it, and that is a compliment for sure. Excellent! Loved it!

Annie Hartnett’s “The Road to Tender Hearts” delivers dark humor, tragedy, and quirky family dynamics as we join PJ Halliday’s single-minded mission to reunite with his high school sweetheart.

PJ is an unlikable protagonist on so many levels: he is self-centered, irresponsible, and leans on alcohol for emotional support. He’s also authentic and goes all in to support his community, friends, family, and exes. For that, you can’t help but love him.

As PJ makes his journey, we follow the journey of an orange cat named Pancakes who has a knack for predicting when death is near. Pancake’s presence as a throughline in the story is a reminder that with every moment, every dumb mistake, or every generous act, death continues to draw closer. And with that, we must continue to go all-in on living life.

This book had me in a chokehold the moment the death-predicting cat appeared. Annie Hartnett is a gifted writer who can take the darkest subjects and weave them into a beautiful, reflective story. I loved following PJ on his arc, and it’s super heartwarming to see characters like him (I.e., alcoholic, lying men) have their redemption and grow as a person, even in their older age. A truly stunning novel, I will always read anything Annie Hartnett puts out.

This book felt so different compared to other things I’ve read recently. It’s sweet, dark, and quirky all at once. The omniscient narration fit the story perfectly, and each character was unique and fleshed out, even if we only met them for a paragraph. I will definitely be recommending this one.

I have loved all the books I’ve read by this author, Unlikely Animals is a book I have always loved and recommend to friends! So when I had the opportunity to read this book early, I had to try. This book had so many emotions in it. This author knows how to take a really tough subject and make it easier and more light hearted to read which I enjoy. It helps because certain things trigger me to read, but the way she words it I am able to get through it and that’s what I love about her reading. I fell in love with all of the characters and I absolutely loved Pancake! I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!

Annie Hartnett is the very best at writing stories that increase a reader’s empathy as they turn the page. All while being truly hilarious, smart, generous and quirky. With a cast of characters that includes a veteran, a psychic cat, a thief, and a domesticated alligator, you would think that all of these elements would make the story too all over the place. But not in Hartnett’s capable hands. She manages to take on a murder-suicide, alcoholism, divorce, parental abandonment, and even the loss of a child in this novel all while feeling like you’ve been given a big, genuine hug in the process.

This adventure is exactly what my worn out mind and heart needed right now in 2025 and I hope that it gets the praise and attention it deserves.

What Hartnett did with this novel is a feat.

PJ Halliday is a retired lottery winner with a heart that's just too big to handle all of the devastation this world. After a family tragedy, he was never quite able to control his drinking. Even winning 1.5 million dollars wasn't enough to save his marriage, but he still visits his ex-wife, Ivy and her husband Fred, every morning for breakfast. His goth daughter, Sophie, never really got to be a kid again after the events that changed her family and has spent every day since having to be the responsible one. Two kids are left orphaned after a family catastrophe, and irresponsible PJ is the only family member that can stop them from ending in foster care. Luna is bright, but strong willed with an aptitude for kleptomania. Ollie is a sweetheart who just wants to stay with his sister and have everyone around him be happy again. This story would be nothing (just kidding) without the sprinkle of magical realism brought by Pancakes by the cat, who can predict who is next to die in a room full of people.

PJ finds out his high school sweetheart is recently widowed, and he ensnares his new crew to come with him on a road trip from Massachusetts to Arizona to propose to his lost love. Hilarity ensues, and you'll find yourself growing attached to each and every one of these flawed people. This story is sweet, without being cloying, and Hartnett is able to bring light to situations that should be too dark to even want to talk about. All I know is I'll have these characters in my heart for years to come.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for giving me access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look out for The Road to Tender Hearts on April 29th, 2025!

tw: CSA, suicide, cancer, alcoholism, death (a LOT of death), family conflict

If I had a dollar for every time I read an Annie Hartnett book and immediately was like “WOW okay that’s my new favorite Annie Hartnett book”, I would have exactly three dollars - one for Unlikely Animals, one for Rabbit Cake, and now one for her latest novel, The Road to Tender Hearts.

Is Hartnett actually a clairvoyant who can see into the hearts and souls of every living thing, making her perfectly capture the big & small every day worries that make up the tapestry of a life? Does she somehow have the ability to speak to animals, giving her the power to beautifully capture their spirits in written word? I AM LEANING TOWARD YES!

I needed a book that would make me feel emotional, yet hopeful - The Road to Tender Hearts couldn’t be more perfect for that need. I don’t want to describe the plot because getting to know the characters & their respective storylines is such an important part of this reading journey. Just know, you will laugh and you will want to cry and you will fall in love with an orange tabby named Pancakes.

Hartnett writes with a tenderness that makes me feel entirely safe as a reader. Even when bad things happened in the book, I trusted that Hartnett would see these characters (and me!!) through the darkness with a thoughtful, loving hand.

This book is a gem and I am so grateful I was lucky enough to receive an ARC. Pounce on this one as soon as you’re able to; it’s a moving story about family, love, and suffering - but at its heart, it is about hope.

Annie Hartnett has the amazing ability to make you want to laugh, cry, strangle a main character, and adopt a cat. This story is so sad but also so redeeming and heartwarming. I loved following along with PJ, Luna, Ollie, and Sophie, through every bump in the road. This was a beautiful story of redemption and family.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the ARC This book was as the title claims it to be. This was very light hearted given the heavy themes dealt with. The characters can seem so fantastical that it lead to a disconnect for me at times. Overall, it was a sweet & quick read.

I did not go into this book knowing much of what to expect, then finished it wondering where it's been all my life. As I write that observation, I chuckle as I realize that's a bit like how our characters start and end their own journey. Stuffed with dark humor and themes, Hartnett succeeds in balancing this callously riotous tale with genuinely tender and tear-jerking moments.

Our adult characters are flawed and pained and real, the "Irish twins" are wild and sweet and so funny, and Pancakes is perfect in every way and one of the kindest, cutest and fluffiest depictions of the Grim Reaper I've come across. I found myself so heavily invested in seeing where this story went, how characters were going to grow and change, and absolutely loved every plot point through to the end. Not to mention: nearly everything the kids said was gold.

In that same vein, the dialouge was so well written. The pacing was perfect, all the little side characters throughout even felt like real people, and the character arcs were something special to see unfold, if not a bit heartbreaking, nervewracking and frustrating at times. But that's just life, isn't it?

Besides individual growth and revelations, the relationships between each character fostered some of the sweetest and moving moments that will stick with me.

Be warned, this can be a difficult read for some, so please be aware that there are very heavy, very complicated subjects inherent to the story. I would advise looking for a list of content warnings before diving right in. I would hate for someone to read this with certain expectations and then be blindsided by how dark some of the themes and humor can be.

For those who do choose to read it, just know that this book is as sweet as it is sour, bitter and gratingly human. There might be a character in this book that reflects someone in your own life, or maybe even a character you see yourself in — and that may be alarming or uncomfortable.

Be gentle with yourself. Be kind. Be open and reflective and know that while others may have hurt you, while you yourself may make mistakes, change isn't impossible if you're willing to do the hard work of loving yourself, letting yourself be loved, while also loving those who surround you, need you and care for you in ways that they might need.

That is what The Road to Tended Hearts has urged to remind me, most of all. And that's why I'm giving it five stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Randomhouse Publishing Group for this ARC! Thank you Annie Hartnett for writing something so brutally beautiful. The Road to Tender Hearts is set to publish on April 29, 2025!

The Road to Tender Hearts is a quirky road trip novel about PJ, a former mail carrier who is a Massachusetts lottery winner, a grieving father who lost his teenage daughter, a divorcee who remains close friends with his wife, and an alcoholic. PJ learns he has been named guardian for his estranged niece's two children after a Visine murder and suicide. Luna and Ollie are Irish twins age ten and nine. Within days of accepting the children, they, along with PJ's adult daughter, Sophie, are off on a road trip to Arizona so PJ can reunite with a high school crush. Pancakes, the orange cat, is also along for the ride. The plot involves misadventures and deep conversations about family relationships among PJ, Sophie, and the kids. A subplot involves Luna's quest to prove a current soap opera star is her father. Annie Harnett's new novel is highly recommended for discussion groups who enjoy unconventional plots and characters.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. I have previously read another book by this author [book:Unlikely Animals|58502645] which I enjoyed greatly, but I have to say that this book surpasses even that way. I would give 6 stars if I could. I love all of the main characters including the orange cat, Pancakes. I do give a trigger warning for domestic violence, suicide, murder, and sexual impropriety, but once you get past that part of the book, it's just a heartwarming tale of 4 people and a cat on a mission. It is both funny and tragic and a great escape from current reality.

This book is profound and brilliant, without taking itself too seriously. I read the description and the blurbs about it written by other authors and I thought that this would be a really easy premise to mess up. Annie Hartnett knocks it out of the park. This book is sad, yet funny, yet serious, and unserious all at the same time. PJ is a screwup, but you find yourself hoping he can get himself together. The kids are challenging, but realistic. Pancakes might be my favorite character. I laughed, I cried, and I will recommend this when it is published.

This book’s title is a play on words. PJ Halliday and his found family set off on a long road trip to Tender Hearts Retirement Community to meet up with a recently widowed woman that PJ knew in high school and wished he had married. On the way, the curmudgeonly PJ finds his heart becoming tender as he gets to know his newly-found great niece and nephew, and his daughter, with whom he has had trouble getting along. It’s a story reminiscent of Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here, with quirky but lovable characters. PJ, in particular, has an interesting story. A lottery winner who has squandered almost all of his earnings, PJ has never been able to get over the death of his oldest daughter 15 years previously, drinking himself to passing out every night. PJ lost his wife along the way (to his best friend Fred) and has never known how to deal with his surviving daughter. When his niece and her husband die in a murder-suicide, PJ finds himself the guardian of a great niece and nephew he never knew existed. As he comes to terms with his new circumstances, PJ reads of the recent widow-hood of a girl he knew from high school. On a whim, PJ packs his new niece and nephew into his friend’s car for a cross-country road-trip to start up a new relationship with the now widowed woman. His daughter comes along at the last minute to drive, as PJ’s license is still suspended from his last DUI.

I thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on PJ’s trip with his new family. The dialogue between the characters is snappy and the characters themselves are interesting and nuanced. There is enough adventure to keep the story fizzing along and, while the ending is somewhat predictable, it’s highly satisfying. I recommended this book to readers who liked Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here or to whom the crazy synopsis sounds like fun. I should say that I also read and liked the author’s previous book, Unlikely Animals, but that this one is my favorite of hers.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with this DRC. This book publishes in April.

Having previously enjoyed the author's book, Unlikely Animals, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. Once again, the characters are quirky, sometimes difficult, but also lovable. There is even a death-predicting cat, handy to have around as many important as well as minor characters drop dead, often just mentioned "in passing". The family dynamics are very unusual, but that is part of the charm of the book. Occasionally readers will need to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. There is the perfect combination of comedy and tragedy, and I particularly loved how the children in the book were immediately incorporated into the family who gave them everything they needed and accepted them as individuals. The road trip portion of the book was very entertaining, and I wish it had continued longer. The humor in the book offset the sadness, and I was left feeling optimistic about the good in people. I think book discussion groups would enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it to all readers.

Thank you for my advanced reading copy NetGalley and publisher. The book had o one tragical even after another. I suppose it is the meaning of dark comedy. I was construed as rather depressing in my eyes. It had its moments but overall it felt long and sad. I

Annie Hartnett is a master at taking quirky, tragically flawed characters dealing with heavy topics and blending in humor and everyday magic to create a warm, feel-good story. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 (Pub 04.29) continues this trend and I loved it. I loved the characters. I loved the story. I loved the whole reading experience.


MORE:
Antics and adventure
Road trip
Laugh out loud funny
Brought me close to tears
Depth of emotions
Second chances (Love/parenting/past)
Precocious, but not annoying children
Pancakes the Cat with amazing inner dialogue
Found family
Humor and heft
Blended family dynamics
Rediscovering selves and each other


If you haven't read Annie Hartnett's earlier books, 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴 and 𝘙𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘬𝘦, pick those up to fill in the time between now and this release.


"𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘰. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦."