by: Annie Hartnett
Goodreads synopsis:
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—from the beloved author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals
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 an 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 figures he can ask Sophie, his adult daughter, adrift in her 20s, 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 second 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.
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓🤓
I listened to this on a road trip. It was really, really funny. The humor was similar to Carl Hiassen or Richard Russo. It was pretty dark and sarcastic, but very entertaining. It was reminiscent of the movie Little Miss Sunshine, with the road trip portion of the book. I loved it!
Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓🤓
Probably my favorite book of the month. A little A Man Called Ove, a little The Lincoln Highway, a mix of lovable characters who have been going through some rough times but have not given up hope. Pursuing dreams may not always work out as anticipated, but sometimes the best part is the journey and the people you encounter are the relationships you build along the way. Some laugh out loud moments and some very poignant ones as well. It’s a good story – read it.
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 