THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS

I loved this unabashedly quirky, funny/sad, deeply touching story about a 60-something man who embarks on a cross country road trip with his estranged daughter and two orphaned siblings, in order to try to reconnect with his high school crush. I’ve seen comps to a John Irving novel for the wild events that transpire en route, but I was also reminded of two favorite books - The Guncle and Nothing to See Here - where children become a path forward for their unexpected caregivers. Annie Hartnett has created such a warm, human tale about grief, healing, and connection that I wished these characters were real, so I could give them a lil hug at the end.
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This book has a zillion content warnings and the characters suffer some terrible tragedies. And yet - it also reminds us that life, with all of its sweetest highs and most awful lows, must always keep going. If you love big hearted stories that are a little weird in the best ways, with characters whose tender kindnesses and aching losses may make you weep, put this on your TBR asap.
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Pancakes is the scene-stealing cat who can predict death (yes, you read that right). So was there really any other choice what to pair with this book? Even if you’re a dog person, pancakes will win your heart. Books with an animal as a key supporting character are the best! Six-thirty from Lessons In Chemistry is my all time fave. Do you have a favorite fictional animal? Let me know in the comments!