The Road to Tender Hearts

A Novel

De: Annie Hartnett

Narrado por: Mark Bramhall

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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—by the beloved author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals

“A miraculous novel—an actual and spiritual road trip you won’t forget.”—John Irving

AN NPR AND LIT HUB BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

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 the 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 thinks he can ask Sophie, his adult daughter who’s adrift in her twenties, 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 fresh 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.

Heartwarming

Adored this book. Such a sweet, funny, tragic story. If you love books with found family, grief, hope, roadtrips, cats and humor you will adore this one. I didn’t think I would like it as much with the narrator but it really did work nicely. I laughed so hard, I cried, this book was just so sweet.

Lovable characters that make you laugh

This book is one of those you you will not want it to end. In addition to lovely characters that make you laugh out loud, Pancakes, the cat, is a true philosopher. You will learn from his wisdom and you will not soon forget this family. Loved the narration, a true gem!

Fabulous.

The funny and sweet far outweighed the sad. I truly laughed out loud many times. I appreciated that it wasn’t a normal “feel good” story and yet was clearly a feel good story! Stick with it. And, perfect choice of narrator! Highly recommend!

Sweet and funny. What a great combination!

This book is heartwarming, funny, and you just feel like you're on the road trip right alongside the characters!

Road trip, adventure, loss, and family.

At times incredibly sad, sometimes so funny, just like life. A great story about love of family found.