The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

 

Summary (from the publisher): A darkly comic and warm-hearted novel about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush—bringing together his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat who can predict death—from the beloved author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals.

At sixty-three years old, million-dollar lottery winner PJ Halliday would be the luckiest man in Pondville, Massachusetts, if it weren’t for the tragedies of his life: the sudden death of his eldest daughter and the way his marriage fell apart after that. Since then, PJ spends both his money and his time at the bar, and he probably doesn’t have much time left—he’s had three heart attacks already.

But when PJ reads an obituary of his old romantic rival, he realizes his high school sweetheart, Michelle Cobb, is finally single again. Filled with a new enthusiasm for life, PJ decides he’s going to drive across the country to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community in Arizona to win Michelle back.

Before PJ can hit the road, tragedy strikes Pondville, leaving PJ the sudden guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren. Anyone else would be deterred from the planned trip, but PJ figures the orphaned kids might benefit from getting out of town. PJ also figures he can ask Sophie, his adult daughter, adrift in her 20s, to come along to babysit. And there’s one more surprise addition to the roster: Pancakes, a former nursing home therapy cat with a knack of predicting death, who recently turned up outside PJ’s home.

This could be the second chance PJ has long hoped for—a second shot at love and parenting—but does he have the strength to do both those things again? It’s very possible his heart can’t take it.

Review: What an unexpected delight. This was such an interesting mix of dark comedy and warmhearted plot, and I ate it all up. 

PJ Halliday is a sixty-three-year-old, million-dollar lottery winner who would feel very lucky if it wasn't for the sudden death of his oldest daughter and the way his marriage fell apart in the aftermath. Unexpectedly, PJ finds himself the sole guardian of his estranged brother's grandchildren and he agrees to take them on a road trip, along with his adult daughter Sophie and a cat named Pancakes he just adopted on a whim when it wandered up to him.  

This was such a ragtag collection of characters and plot points. PJ is a very flawed character in so many ways and yet I found his optimism, generosity, and bigheartedness so endearing. When his ex-wife's boyfriend asks his permission to marry his ex-wife and PJ responds by being overwhelmed by gratitude and joy to be included, that was it for me. PJ had my heart despite his many and obvious flaws and multitude of mistakes. This story was quirky and different and unique. It's about life and death, second chances, and the enduring nature of love. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times and I was so highly entertained by this story and was never able to predict what would happen next.  

This book will not be for everyone. It has a macabre slant that some may find off-putting. A lot of people die in this book or are about to die. And one of the main characters is a sentient cat who occasionally puts his two cents into the narrative and who is also clairvoyant in that he can predict when people are about to die. This also has a lot of trigger warnings for many (alcoholism, death by drowning and poisoning, suicide etc.).

This was beautifully narrated on audio. The narrator did a wonderful job at brining this to life. I especially appreciated the gruff voice he gave PJ's dialogue. 

Stars: 5