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.

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.

Road trip, adventure, loss, and family.

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

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!

fun to listen

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

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

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!

Excellent

This is a beautifully told tale of family and friendship. It’s got humor. It’s got tragedy and it’s got a great cat. Highly recommend!

Wonderful

This is my favorite listen of 2025!! I was literally laughing out loud and crying at times from the clever storyline and characters. The narrator, Mark Bramhall, was incredible. What a feel good story! I absolutely loved everything about it!!

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

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

Fantastic! A New Favorite Book!

I laughed out loud to this incredible story. Delightful story! The characters are so good. I enjoyed it and I’m sad it’s over.