The Road to Tender Hearts

Bookseller recommendation

“What a heart-warming, delightful, touching, absolutely WONDERFUL book!! I loved PJ (main character) from the moment I met him. He's so sweetly flawed. I'm a dog person, but loved Pancakes....the agent of death. I'm a "my kids vs. other people's kids" kind of person, yet I wanted to keep Luna and Ollie too. That's what a good story will do for you...show you a side of yourself you didn't yet know existed. Buy the hardcover...but then listen to it on Libro.fm. It is literally the best narration I've heard in AGES.”

— Kathy • The Well-Read Moose

Bookseller recommendation

“For fans of A Man Called Ove and Little Miss Sunshine, these characters will have your whole heart. ”

— Corina • The Wandering Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“One of the best books I've read this year. A must-read for those who loved the movie Little Miss Sunshine. This book takes you on a cross-country road trip with quirky characters while they're searching for love and acceptance. Heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny. ”

— Krystal • The Book Loft St. Jacobs

Bookseller recommendation

“The Road to Tender Hearts is a quirky, charming read that officially places Annie Hartnett on my short list of living authors I’d love to have a glass of wine with. While some of the early sections felt arguably unnecessary—teetering between dark humor and just plain disturbing—their presence (or absence) doesn’t ultimately alter the heart of the novel. The remaining 95% is a delight. The characters are maddening and familiar in equal measure; you’ll recognize pieces of yourself in them, even as you want to shake them into making better choices. Still, you can’t help but root for them to find their way. The twist near the end serves as a clever reminder not to take everything too seriously—and to meet life’s messiness with a bit of levity. I’d recommend this novel to anyone looking for a smart, offbeat read full of humor, heart, and just the right touch of irreverence.”

— Elizabeth • Thirsty Caterpillar

Bookseller recommendation

“I can't describe how much I love this book -- but I will try! PJ lost the woman of dreams to his best friend in his youth. After a lifetime of shiftless living, the loss of a daughter, and the divorce of his wife (who is about to marry his new bet friend), he discovers his old romantic rival has died. He decides to drive from Massachusetts to Arizona to woo her back. Only, complications arrive in the form of two orphaned, precocious great nephews and nieces and a therapy cat that predicts the deaths of everyone around it. They all pile in a car with PJ's surviving daughter and road trip to not only woo his old flame but to discover the paternity of one of the kids. It's hilarious, heart-breaking, sweet, and acerbic... sometimes all on the same page. This book is so beautifully written and transporting, the characters are so vividly drawn, and that cat is a hoot -- I could not stop reading until the lovely twist ending. Every single thing works, and this one reads as though a woman was channeling the quirkiness and sweetness of John Irving. A real original and one of the best of the year, I am certain. Get ready to fall in love!”

— Bill • An Unlikely Story

Bookseller recommendation

“Light, funny and touching with unforgettable characters and even a cat named Pancake. The cat attaches himself to a family in transition and they all head out on a crazy road trip with varied agendas during which Pancake is found to have unusual powers. Though nothing in their story turns out as planned, the twists, turns and hilarity wind up giving them all an even better story than they'd hoped for. ”

— Patience • Underground Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A wacky and wonderful road trip book with unforgettable characters and delightfully narrated by Mark Bramhall. Themes of family relationships, grief and healing are handled with beauty and humor. ”

— Carolyn • Mrs. Dalloway's

Bookseller recommendation

“Looking for a funny and heartwarming story? The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett is a delightful cross country adventure with a bit of heartbreak and plenty of humor. I really enjoyed the humanness of PJ and the whole cast of characters. 5 stars from me! ”

— Anne • Cherry Street Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Nothing says “summer reading” quite like a classic road trip novel! This one is so fun- there’s a great cast of characters (including a very intuitive cat) and the narrator does a great job embodying each one. Funny, sweet, messy- you won’t regret taking the road to Tender Hearts retirement community with PJ and his cobbled-together family. ”

— Kelsie • Red Balloon Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“How many bad decisions can one family make and still survive? What starts as the road trip from hell does, indeed, create tender hearts. Come along for a feel good read that takes no prisoners.”

— Anita Gett • Main Street Books Davidson

Bookseller recommendation

“A curmudgeon, his daughter, two orphans and an orange cat set off on a road trip from Massachusetts to Arizona. PJ hopes to find his true love at the Tender Hearts retirement community, and finds much more than that along the way. Hartnett's characters are quirky, relatable, and entirely human. ”

— Melissa • Elephant Ear Books

Bookseller recommendation

“I hate cats - even fictional ones - but Pancakes is a hero and this book is golden. If you aren't won over by the gas leak, question your humanity.”

— Alissa • South Main Book Company