The Road to Tender Hearts is a novel that may just find its way into your book club’s heart. This novel by Annie Harnett is both humorous and heart-wrenching. The characters are flawed but uniquely loveable. And while grief is a key theme in the story, there’s an underlying hope that drives the reader forward. Not to mention, this story provides all the nostalgic road-trip vibes – you’ll practically feel like you’re in the Volvo yourself, squashed between two kids and a talking cat, on a journey across the country and towards second chances.
If your book club is up for this adventure, this The Road to Tender Hearts book club guide is your companion on the journey! Below you’ll find ten discussion questions to get the conversation flowing. Also included are a synopsis, select reader reviews, and ride-alikes. So buckle your seatbelts, it’s time to enjoy the quirky ride that is The Road to Tender Hearts!
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Synopsis for The Road to Tender Hearts
(We always chose to provide the publisher synopsis because we feel that it’s worthwhile to discuss whether the official book description actually squared with your experience of the book.)
The Road to Tender Hearts, Annie Hartnett
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.
Book Club Questions for The Road to Tender Hearts
These questions have been tailored to this book’s specific reading experience, but if you want more ideas, we also have an article with 101 generic book club questions.
- How would you characterize the overall tone of this novel? Did you think the use of humor throughout the novel balanced the difficult subject matter well?
- Describe your favorite character in three words. What made them your favorite?
- Do you think Sofie’s perspective of her father was fair, or was she too hard on him?
- “The cat watched PJ and Sofie from above…. The cat was amused at these two idiot humans, talking about how unfair death is, when it’s one of the few things everyone gets. Death is a magnificent invention, the cat knew, because it’s the impermanence of life that makes it beautiful.”
Death is prominent across the novel, from the loss of Kate, the Meeklins, characters at various stops on the roadtrip, Ed Cobb, and (presumably) Ivy. How does the quote above provide insight into one perspective on death? How did you feel when it was revealed that Ivy was Pancakes intended companion, not PJ?
- “You need a story about your own life, or the bad stuff in your head writes the story for you.”
Storytelling is a prominent part of the novel – whether it’s PJ’s story to the kids, stories told in AA, or stories Sofie recalls from childhood. Do you have a story that defines you?
- “Kids aren’t resilient. That’s something adults like to say to make themselves feel better, to pretend that kids don’t feel as deeply as adults do. But kids are everything that happens to them. They’re sponges.”
Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?
- PJ romantizes his connection with Michelle Cobb from high school, though there is really no reason for him to assume she would be interested. Was this endearing or delusional?
- How are different ways of coping with grief depicted in this story?
- One of the themes of the novel is second (or third, or fourth) chances. Where did you see this theme playing out throughout the story?
- How did Ollie and Luna force change from PJ? Do you think they are in good hands with him?
Selected Reviews for The Road to Tender Hearts
“And that, ultimately, is what I love most about Hartnett’s works. In all three of her books, she has taken serious subjects such as death and helped readers find the magic and humor in everyday life, even when things might feel bleak. The Road to Tender Hearts is quirky, sweet, tragic, and poignant, all in one beautiful little package, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to fall in love with it as I have.”
“PJ was often irresponsible and downright childish. His obsession with his high school girl friend was a drag. Pancakes was a fun addition except for the constant deaths. The lighthearted moments did not outweigh the deep and utterly depressing topics in this book.”
“PJ Halliday has entered my gallery of favorite characters – along with many of his compatriots in this book. Truly, it just may be the author’s skill at showing a reader in bits who each of her characters are as they move about their lives on her pages. This was a read I thoroughly enjoyed, despite all the hard and dark things happening. They happened like life does. One after another, followed by the bestest, most joyfulest next thing. Then the other-shoes-dropping again. One barely has a chance to catch a breath for a moment, over and over and then you’re old.”
“I think my main problem with the book is that PJ is an unredeemable shit head. You’re clearly supposed to find him lovable despite all of his terrible decisions, but I just wanted to punch him the entire time. He is a man-child of a character who only experiences growth when his daughter calls him out or when he nearly kills himself/someone he loves (but oftentimes, that’s not even enough). I loved everyone else in the book, especially Sophie. PJ does shine in some of his internal dialogues, but the other 99% of the time he’s a plague on this earth.”
What To Read Next
If you read and loved Tender Hearts, I’ve got a few other guides that touch on similar themes. Each has a non-spoiler synopsis toward the top and a link to Amazon reviews and pricing.
- The Lincoln Highway: Mental health challenges, coming of age and a road trip.
- West with Giraffes: Another road trip, this time with Giraffes
- Nothing to See Here: Really, really funny and a lot of heart…but also some seriously messed-up family dynamics.
- How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water: Older character who can be infuriating and who definitely needs to be much more self-aware but you kinda love her anyway.
Incredibly Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt
If you are looking for another novel that balances tough themes with quirky humor and talking animals check out Incredibly Bright Creatures. This novel has several other similarities, including found family, multigenerational perspectives, and a hopefulness that everything works out as it should. Also…octopus!
Here’s the discussion guide for Incredibly Bright Creatures. And also a list of more books featuring octopi.
The House in the Cerulean Sea, T.J Klune
If your favorite story line in The Road to Tender Hearts was PJ’s evolving relationship with Ollie and Luna, you may find some enjoyable similarities in The House in the Cerulean Sea. Linus is a caseworker whose heart warms to a pair of magical children who come under his care. More found family vibes!
Here’s the discussion guide for Cerulean Sea.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed
This memoir from Cheryl Strayed is also about a journey – but rather than driving across the country to find a second chance at love, Strayed is hiking the PCT solo to rediscover herself and process traumatic events in her own way. This read is heavier than The Road to Tender Hearts, but tackles similar themes of grief, addiction, and loss.
If you’ve already read and loved Wild, I’ve also got a list of books about walking, some of which feature women prominently.
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