Does the thought of a long car trip make you cringe or feel excited? If you are looking for a cozy, heartwarming book that makes you smile, then you should definitely read The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. It’s an endearing novel that brought back car trip memories for me, even though I’ve never taken one with a long-lost uncle, his daughter, two kids, and a “talking” cat.
4/5 stars ★★★★☆ (It is really a 4.5 for me)
To read about the premise: https://amzn.to/4lNkQje
Published on: April 29th, 2025
From the publisher: 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
What I Liked About The Road to Tender Hearts:
Initially, the cover didn’t appeal to me, but after finishing the book, it totally makes sense. Each character is represented on the cover, and they are all lovable in their own way. My favorite, though, was Pancakes, the cat. He couldn’t talk out loud, but you could read his thoughts, which kept me laughing. I mean, who doesn’t love a cat that walks on a leash and is called, “The angel of death”?
I also loved the two kids, Luna and Ollie. Luna is a tough-minded fourth-grader, and I have a feeling we would have been friends at that age. Her “Irish twin,” Ollie, is sweet and caring, and their sibling relationship is one of the highlights of the story.
A Mix of Light and Dark
At times, the events in the story didn’t seem plausible, but for some reason, it just added to the fun and humor. This is balanced by the realistic subplots that deal with serious topics like death and alcoholism. I love a story that can make me laugh while still having a grounding sense of reality.
I definitely recommend this book. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Where To Buy The Road to Tender Hearts and More:
- Purchase The Road to Tender Hearts: https://amzn.to/4mrwilH
- If you liked this book, I also recommend these other family-oriented books:
- My Friends by Fredrik Backman
- The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
- Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
- Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-that-i-loved-in-2024/
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Annie Hartnett for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: What is your favorite car trip that you have ever taken? I’d love to hear the stories.
Leave a Reply