Road trips are often marked by spontaneity. They offer side quests, junk food, hotel pools and a chance to see the country with fresh eyes.But no road trip is quite as spontaneous as the one in “The Road to Tender Hearts.” This darkly funny novel follows 63-year-old lottery winner PJ Halliday, his estranged daughter, two orphaned kids who have just come into his care and a therapy cat named Pancakes — who happens to be a harbinger of death — on a six-day cross-country road trip to win back PJ’s high school girlfriend. Along the way, the group faces past trauma, the meaning of family and the tender hopes of new beginnings.This week, to kick off Big Books and Bold Ideas virtual summer road trip series, Kerri Miller talks with author Annie Hartnett about “The Road to Tender Hearts,” which was just published on paperback. Along the way, they discuss what makes a road trip magical (or not), and how being open to adventure can be a balm for grief, restlessness and a cynical outlook. Guest: Annie Hartnett is the award-winning author of three novels: “Rabbit Cake,” “Unlikely Animals,” and the national bestseller, “The Road to Tender Hearts.” Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.

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