Review: The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel

The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel by Annie Hartnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel by Annie Hartnett from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.  This book is expected to be published on April 29, 2025.

Annie Hartnett has a way of writing books that I just love to read.  I think some of it is her dark sense of humor, but I mostly think it is the way she incorporates animals into her stories.  They aren't just set dressing.  The Road to Tender Hearts delivered on that again.  I've done my share of road trips, but I don't think any of them have been quite this eventful.  It reminded me a bit of National Lampoon's Vacation in that way.  This is a little bit of spoilers, but the part about the soap opera convention was really spot-on.  It makes me think Annie may have been to one...for research?  If you want to read something that will lightly tug at your heartstrings but will mostly make you laugh, you will want to get a copy of this as soon as you can.  

Bonus points for Pancakes who should have his own series. 

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Review: Starter Villain

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will admit that this cover picture and title was enough to make me want to read Starter Villain by John Scalzi.  My beloved Izzy was the perfect villain's cat.  She generally had disdain for any human other than me.  She would approve of this book.  In fact, I think she may have been the basis for one of the characters.  This book was so much fun I would want to read a sequel or a whole series.  If you like Despicable Me, Minions, Bond villains, cats, or dolphins, you will enjoy this book.  If you don't like even one of those things or this book, I am adding you to my list of people to go after once I get my villain business off the ground.  I was inspired!

Bonus points:  Have I mentioned the cats?

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Review: New Adventures in Space Opera

New Adventures in Space Opera by Jonathan Strahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Adventures in Space Opera is an anthology of short stories written by a variety of great authors and edited by Jonathan Strahan.  I knew I wanted to read this when I saw it included Charlie Jane Anders, but there are other writers I really enjoy reading as well.  You can read the stories in any order you like.  If you aren't sure about space opera, this is a good entry point because each story could be read in a sitting.  You aren't buying into hundreds of pages of epic storytelling.  And yet, you still get a taste of the genre.  

Bonus points: The Becky Chambers story is an origin story of a character in of one of her books but won't spoil anything for you.  I found it so sweet and was so happy it was included.  

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Review: (Don't) Call Mum

(Don't) Call Mum by Matt Wesolowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of (Don't) Call Mum by Matt Wesolowski from Wild Hunt Books. The book is expected to be released May 8, 2025.

I have loved every book Matt Wesolowki has written. When I saw that Matt would be participating in the Wild Hunt Books' The Northern Weird Project, I was very excited. "Northern Weird" sounds like a typical day for me. I needed to read this. I am going to do my best not to give anything away. It mostly takes place on a train. It is definitely creepy. It reminds us that folklore often has a basis in some truth. There is a reason a story catches on and sticks with a group of people, even if it gets embellished over time. It is a very fast read because you really want to know what's going to happen next. Hope you have a chance to read it!

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