Marianne’s Pick of the Week: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Harnett

“…the cat knew, because it’s the impermanence of life that makes it perfect.”

Family, redemption, and cats are all subjects that draw me to a book. Annie Harnett beautifully explores these topics in her quirky, heart-tugging novel, The Road to Tender Hearts.

From the opening pages when Pancakes, the cat, not only predicts death at the senior center but also engineers his escape from an animal shelter I was hooked. A escape artist cat that can predict death? Sign me up!

Our story protagonist is PJ Halliday, the Pondville, MA lottery winner ($1.5 million) and town drunk with a heart of gold. He mourns his eldest daughter’s death by overindulging in drink and his spending his lottery winnings. The mornings are for breakfast with his ex-wife and her boyfriend (his best friend Fred). Ivy, PJ’s ex-wife, clips out any stories of animal deaths or human tragedy from the paper. PJ is liable to go on a “bender” is he reads a tale of human or animal tragedy.

PJ opens the paper one morning to find that his high school flame’s husband has died. He decides to take a road trip to the Tender Hearts 55+ community in Tucson, Arizona to woo her back. However, before he can leave, PJ becomes guardian to his deceased brother’s grandchildren (Ollie and Ivy) whose parents died tragically. Sophie, PJ’s daughter, who is concerned about the children’s safety, decides to tag along on the trip. Finally, Pancakes, who upon his escape from the shelter, finds his way to PJ and joins the crew.

They embark on their cross-country road trip and adventure ensues. Ivy is certain her father is a soap opera star, Mark Stanpole. She convinces the group to detour to Los Angeles to have him take a paternity test. Sophie and PJ argue and face the fifteenth anniversary of their sister’s/daughter’s death. Pancakes provides hilarious commentary along the way.

Harnett explores heavy topics with a deft touch. This story is chock full of humor and quirkiness. Harnett characters are fully realized. These are good people who sometimes do questionable things. They learn that life continues and things change. It is change that makes life perfect.

This one is for you if you enjoyed Emma Straub’s All Adults Here or Virgil Wander by Lief Enger.