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

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.

©2025 Annie Hartnett (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A long-suffering family finds joy. A clairvoyant cat has premonitions of death and other supernatural talents. Vultures are hoping two orphaned children will stay alive. A dead daughter’s hat talks to her father. A miraculous novel—an actual and spiritual road trip you won’t forget.”—John Irving

“A feel-good, feel-sad, warm, dark, and funny road-trip story, in the grand tradition of Little Miss Sunshine . . . I fell in love with the characters individually but also as one big, messy family, which is what this tenderhearted book is all about.”—Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich

“The Road to Tender Hearts is a brilliant and poignant journey of family, forgiveness, and rediscovery. This road trip has it all—a cast of quirky characters, unhealed family wounds, attempts to rekindle lost connections, even a cat that can sense death, but most of all, it’s great fun! Hartnett, like always, has drawn such complex, endearing, and hilarious characters, you’ll root for them to the very end. This novel will leave you thinking about your own journeys—both the ones taken and the ones still ahead. It’s a moving, unforgettable story about the power we have to change our lives.”—Alison Espach, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding People

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.

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.

best book ive experienced in a very long time

fantastic story, incredible and flawed characters. i laughed, i cried, im sad it is over and may need to start again

The dark sadness but the wholesome feeling it gave!!!!

Amazing amazing amazing amazing!! I loved it so much! I really can’t tell you enough how thankful I am for being able to read this book!

fun to listen

clever plot well told "happy ending" . very sweet story. I would recommend for light reading.

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I loved the narration, the characters and the overall story. I missed it the characters when I was done.

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 story

Perfect narration for an absolutely lovely story. What a wonderful book! I’m so glad to have read this.

The complexity of relationships and families.

Loved the unpredictable way the story unfolded. There was a lot of forgiveness and acceptance in the relationships which was uplifting. A sweet message of the way life works out even amidst sorrow.