Audiobook Review - The Road to Tender Hearts

Title: The Road to Tender Hearts

Author: Annie Hartnett

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Contemporary/Literary Fiction

{Thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook of The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett.  It’s narrated by Mark Bramhall that excelled at this humorous story.}

--Quirky

--Sarcastic

--Dry Wit

--Darkly Humorous

I mean, there is a cat named Pancakes who can predict death.  (CW: There is a lot of death in this book—murder, suicide, carbon monoxide poising, to name a few—off pages.)

I’m going to be completely honest and say that it took me a bit to settle into this story—I almost, almost even DNF’d it—but gosh did this story and characters really grow on me.  I’m so glad that I continued and gave it a chance.  Now, consider me an Annie Hartnett fan and will be reading her previous two books—Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals.

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”

You would think sixty-three year old, million-dollar lottery winner, PJ Halliday is full of luck.  But, instead he’s never been able to cope with the sudden death of his teenage daughter and marriage falling apart, resulting in frivolously spending his winnings and drinking way too much at the local pub.  It’s just as well because he probably won’t live long into retirement having had three heart attacks already.

But, maybe his luck is about to change…over his daily morning breakfast and newspaper reading he reads about the obituary of and old rival that married his high school sweetheart, Michelle Cobb.  With a new lease on life, PJ finds sobriety and decides to make a road trip to—The Tender Hearts Retirement Community—to pay a visit to Michelle.

Before PJ can hit the road, he becomes the guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren.  Figuring he’ll need some help with this adventure, he enlists the help of his daughter, Sophie, to come along.  And of course the cat comes along too!  You won’t want to miss their shenanigans!

This is a touching story full of character growth.  I highly recommend it! 4.5 ⭐️