LOVE, LOVE LOVED it!!!!!!! I absolutely loved "Rabbit Cake " and "Unlikely Animals, " so I was so excited to read this book. It definitely didn't disappoint. Annie Hartnett's books are magical. The characters come to life. I felt like I was right there with PJ, Kate, Luna, Ollie and Pancakes on their crazy, wild adventure. What doesn't happen on their way to Texas? Everywhere they stopped was an experience all on its own. Not sure I would have wanted to go on this trip, especially if Pancakes decided he loved me and wanted to spend time with me. I loved that cat, but also feared him. He was the Grim Reaper of cats. An orange furred agent of death. He was so loving, traveled well and would even wear a leash. Loved when PJ said he didn't recognize his cat (Pancakes) because he got a haircut. Was the social worker really doing her job when she allowed Ollie and Luna to stay with PJ? PJ tries his hardest but he really needs Ivy and Fred around. I love their relationship, although Ivy and Fred enable PJ. Ivy clips all the newspapers, feeds PJ breakfast every morning, does all of his shopping... just to name a few. I kept wondering how $1.5 million would last that long. PJ won the lottery eight years ago. He constantly gives money away, except to his brother. Getting back to the crazy trip. My favorite stop was Big Kevin's Alpaca Ranch. I want an alpaca or two. Naturally, Pancakes had to go sit on the lap of Big Kevin's wife. So she's probably dead. Who knew soap star events are so crazy? Then throw in a hungry alligator, T. Boone Pickens. The museum of puppets was creepy. A Texas police officer thought they had a dead body in their car, but no it was just a wax arm. I'm not sure the kids or PJ would have survived if Kate wasn't along for the ride. They definitely wouldn't have survived without Pancakes. PJ's determination to marry Michelle Cobb, even though he hasn't seen her since high school. Pancakes loved staying at Tender Hearts Retirement Community. Can't imagine why!!! I loved this book so much. The ending!!! I might have teared up knowing what was eventually going to happen. I wanted to keep reading about everyone and see what they were up to. I hated when it was over. This was definitely one of my favorite reads.

Definitely recommend the book. The book was full of surprises, there were hilarious moments, along with serious and emotional ones. You never know what's going to happen. Loved the characters, story and writing style- everything about the book. It was AMAZING!! Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel by Annie Hartnett from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. This book is expected to be published on April 29, 2025.

Annie Hartnett has a way of writing books that I just love to read. I think some of it is her dark sense of humor, but I mostly think it is the way she incorporates animals into her stories. They aren't just set dressing. The Road to Tender Hearts delivered on that again. I've done my share of road trips, but I don't think any of them have been quite this eventful. It reminded me a bit of National Lampoon's Vacation in that way. This is a little bit of spoilers, but the part about the soap opera convention was really spot-on. It makes me think Annie may have been to one...for research? If you want to read something that will lightly tug at your heartstrings but will mostly make you laugh, you will want to get a copy of this as soon as you can.

Bonus points for Pancakes who should have his own series.

Pancakes the cat is the absolute best character in this wonderful story. The carful of family members traveling across country are full of surprises. There were many laugh out loud moments and some very serious scenes. I really enjoyed the writing and the ending.

Found this one to be interesting but forgettable.
The cat really got me! But the main character and overall road trip took me out of it.

After reading and loving Unlikely Animals, I was happy to be granted the opportunity to read The Road to Tender Hearts through netgalley. Annie Hartnett is known for humorous, heartwarming, whacky plots and this is no exception. This time, Hartnett’s story involves a senior citizen looking to reunite with his high school crush, his daughter, two orphaned kids and a cat that can predict (or is it cause?) death.
The story is bonkers. It goes from one weird plot point to another. The characters are ones your heart just goes out to. PJ is 63, alcoholic and still dependent on his ex-wife to take care of him. But in a fluke, he finds himself the guardian of two siblings. I appreciated that PJ struggled to find sobriety. Likewise, Hartnett doesn’t try to paint two kids who are wise beyond their years. These kids have never known stability and it shows. More than anything, they want to be able to rely on an adult. And Sophie is realistically painted as the child of an alcoholic.
I’m not a cat fan, but Pancakes was probably my favorite character. The anthropomorphism didn’t feel overdone.
The book moves at a brisk pace. The humor isn’t laugh out loud funny, and often is more poignant than dark. I loved the twists at the end and didn’t see them coming. There were quite a few loose threads left dangling, so folks expecting everything tied up with a neat bow will be disappointed. But such is life.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

4 stars

This feels like a '90s holiday feel-good movie, with cheesy scenes and funny moments throughout.

The story follows 60-year-old "man-child" PJ Halliday as he embarks on a road trip with his 'children' and a certain orange tabby cat. I loved his chaotic mind—there were so many moments where I gritted my teeth at his antics. He was both frustrating and endearing, and despite his flaws, I could see why his ex wife still held him dear.

My favorite characters was Sophie, the most 'normal' one from this bunch haha and I related to her so much, especially when she voiced a fear that hit me right in the gut :

"I am afraid this is all i will ever have, and that I will feel sad and empty forever"


This was a bit cheesy for my taste, but i will still give it 4 stars, because i enjoyed it and this made me awake till 1 AM (always a sign of a good read) Plus, it taught me a fun fact I never knew: when an alpaca gives birth, it’s called an unpacking! Who knew?

Note : Thank you Ballantine Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Hartnett's debut novel, Rabbit Cake, and enjoyed her sophomore novel, Unlikely Animals, though the latter doesn't stick with me at all. While The Road to Tender Hearts does feature some of the quirkiness I associate with Hartnett, I found this book a bit stranger and less enjoyable than her others. Road trip novels can be a fun escape, but the road trip in this one is a bit slow in coming, and the stops along the way are a mixed bag. However, what I liked least about this novel were the anthropomorphic objects and animals that appear throughout (several animals, houses, etc). The characters themselves are fine, but not astounding, and the protagonist PJ is a bit unbelievably naive and simple for a man in his 60s who has lost a daughter and been divorced. To be fair, there are some witty and fun moments, and the children are unique and enjoyably odd. There is also the occasional heartfelt scene, but overall, this book dragged a bit and lacked Hartnett's usual magic.

THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS was such an absolute delight to read that it made me feel so fortunate that I was able to experience reading this book. It's easily one of my favorite books in the past year. There's so much humor, heart, and healing in this book that it felt therapeutic. Who knew a book with so much death in it could be so incredibly funny, charming and heartfelt? Found family, forgiveness, resilience, bettering oneself and finding the love and good even in the craziest of situations...so many great wholesome moments that reminds us of the beauty of life.

I deeply cared for all the characters in this book and loved them dearly. And I really admired the writing and frankly am in just awe of this author. I can't wait to read her other work and whatever she decides to grants us with next!!

Much gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ms Hartnett does it again & is propelled to my personal "auto-buy" author list. All of the main characters had appeal & had me rooting for them; the storyline hooked me in from the start, was very engaging. Would love to see follow-up tales of this cast of characters! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for this ARC opportunity.

*Just a heads up, this novel is full of possible triggers, and I'll add a content warning at the end.*
I have heard wonderful things about Annie Harnett's writing, and I have to agree. To take content like this and make it not only touching, but darkly comedic in moments is no small feat. If you've ever faced a life altering tragedy you realize that humor shows its face at the oddest of times. This novel read as being honest even with the smidge of magical realism.

P.J. is a man whose life has been wrought with tragedy. He also happens to be a lottery winner. Upon hearing that his high school crush is a new widow, he decides a cross-country road trip is in order to reconnect and finally get his happily ever after. Before he can leave, P.J. inherits his estranged brother's orphaned grandchildren. He invites his daughter Sophie along because he knows he's going to need a hand. There's also the small matter of his license being revoked from multiple DUIs. Sophie's resentment towards her father is felt in each exchange. My heart went out to her. P.J. also brings the former nursing home cat, Pancakes, who predicts death.

I'm keeping the description ⬆️ rather vague to avoid spoilers because I read this without any prior knowledge, and I think it added to the experience. The characters are well drawn with flaws and heartwarming growth. P.J. is a character that is easy to find frustrating, but I felt like he was written true to his personality and circumstances. His behavior made sense even when I wanted to yell at him. The entire cast of characters had interesting arcs. No one felt glossed over. The pace kept me flying through the pages. The intricate detailing in the plot made this layered story impossible to put down. I cared about each of these characters and wanted them to find their own slice of happiness.

Will this road trip end in bliss for P.J. and his unlikely band of travelers?

There are so many possible triggers in the novel I can't say with certainty that my list is complete.
**Content Warning**
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Suicide
alcoholism
cancer
drug use
sexual abuse
arson
murder
poisoning
death of a child
divorce
A LOT of DEATH

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for providing an Advance Reading Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Sixty-three-year-old divorcee PJ Halliday feels adrift when his ex-wife and her boyfriend, who happen to be his only friends, leave town for a long trip to Alaska. When he discovers that his high school sweetheart has just been widowed, he decides to drive across the country to woo her. Before he can leave, he is suddenly named guardian of his grandniece and grandnephew, who he didn’t know existed. With the two kids, his daughter, and a cat who can predict death in tow, he decides to make the trip anyway.

Annie Hartnett has done it again with a quirky plot and lovable characters. I enjoyed this dark comedy from page one. The characters are flawed and messy as is the journey they take together. Despite dark themes, the book feels uplifting and full of love and second chances. One of the best books I've read so far this year.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Annie Harnett for the advanced copy of this beautiful book.

I have very few words for this book now that I am finished. From the beginning, I knew it was going to be an amazing journey based solely on Pancakes the cat. In my next life, I hope I come back as him. This story was full to the brim of second chances, love, loss, redemption, reality, and dreams. A perfect combination of anything and everything you could ask from a book. I laughed just as much as I cried.

I found myself in Sophie - hurting and broken after the sudden loss of a sibling that no one understands; feeling like you need to bottle it up and be there for everyone else.

I found myself in PJ; a hoper and dreamer, always trying to see the good in the world and the people in it.

I found myself in Ollie and Luna; the whimsy that is trying to find (or keep) a sense of normalcy when life turns you upside down.

This book made me want to go on a road trip of my own, just maybe with less death!

Kind of a dark start at the beginning of the book but I quickly realized it was so I wouldn't grow attached to a couple of characters. Oh Pancakes! Just enough pancakes for him to be a good anchor charcter of the book. Luna and Ollie show PJ how to live again. Great road trip story.

The Road To Tender Hearts deals with a lot of heavy subjects with a light touch. For the most part that works. Alcoholism, Death of a Child, Abuse are among the issues embedded within this story. I often don't like to read novels that deal with such difficult subjects however I was impressed with how the author didn't shy away from these topics and still the the novel never felt weighed down. Much of this trauma is in the rear-view mirror and the main characters are grappling with how to move forward. Overall, this is a hopeful story about found family and repairing relationships. The best character, of course was the cat. Thank you to #NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I adored the newest title by author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals.. It is such a heartwarming story but readers must know that it is rooted in sadness and a lot of trauma. Thankfully the trauma is mainly the back story but still it is quite dark and heartbreaking. But this book shows how found family, a community of unusual characters, and a roadtrip can heal our hearts not just the characters themselves. I loved the quirky characters to pieces and also wanted to simultaneously slap them upside the head. For instance, PJ (the main character) keeps screwing up but if he didn’t it wouldn’t be real at all, especially in regards to him trying to break habits that aren’t as easy as he wants it to be. I am so grateful the author didn’t just make everything okay for everyone. It will be an ongoing battle but the characters have each other and that’s not nothing! There are bits of wonderful magic sprinkled in with the cat Pancakes. Although whether that is magic or not we can’t say for sure as grief and animals may have connections we can’t understand but we may believe.

PJ Halliday is an irresponsible alcoholic. But that’s okay because he’s still lovable, right? And he means well!

PJ is on a mission to win the heart of his newly widowed high school crush. To do this he has to take a cross-country road trip from Massachusetts to Arizona. His twentysomething daughter and his adolescent niece and nephew are also along for the ride.

This story is darkly funny and has a certain charm to it that ropes you in. Think Remarkably Bright Creatures and A Man Called Ove. (I’m sorry. I know we’re all tired of those being used as comparisons)

While this book had a lot of good moments, somewhere along this arduous road I grew tired of PJ and his antics. However, I do think there will be plenty of people that love this book. It has book club and eventual mini-series adaptation written all over it.

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.