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
5 stars – This may end up being my favorite read of 2026. It took me over 6 months to finally pick up my copy, but once I started, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and had to recount the story to my husband as it progressed because I had to share it with SOMEONE.
I grew to love this little dysfunctional family and everyone they met along the way. They all made mistakes and questionable choices, but their hearts were in the right place, and that’s what made them so easy to root for. Even with all the craziness, the story felt so real. The addition of Pancakes was the cherry on top – a bit of a magical-ish aspect without going too deep.
The grief was handled pretty well. I was constantly switching between laughing and crying. It’s present throughout the story without ever feeling overwhelming, though I can definitely see why it might hit a little too close to home for some.
By the end, it felt like I was saying goodbye to people I’d genuinely come to care about. This is one of those stories that will stay with me for a long time and I’m begging someone to make it into a movie or mini-series. I need to see PJ & co. on my TV!