Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for providing a DRC of this title.

Putting Passion Project down as a rom-dram-com if that's a thing? Romantic, moving story with a real sense of character and place, Passion Project feels like a love letter to the messiness of your twenties, finding your place in the world, and moving on after loss. Genuinely made me laugh and cry!

Would recommend for fans of Float Plan by Trish Doller and Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, and I definitely plan on keeping an eye out for Sperry's future works!

4.5 stars/5.

A gorgeous book that I could not put down! I absolutely loved this story and how it is heart wrenching, romantic, inspiring, witty, and heart warming all at once. Bennet and Henry are such layered and endearing characters that you can't help but root for (even when sometimes the secondhand embarrassment is strong). London Sperry doesn't shy away from their mistakes or flaws, but she also shows you how hard they try and how much they love. I LOVED the "Passion Project" storyline and am taking notes for what adventures I should go on this summer! Very excited for the audiobook - Alex Finke is amazing and I can't wait to hear the story through her voice!

Passion Project by London Sperry is one of the most emotionally resonant novels I’ve encountered, addressing the universal theme of grief and its enduring impact on the human spirit. The narrative poignantly explores how moving forward doesn’t mean letting go of cherished memories. Each line is imbued with a profound sense of rhythm and emotional depth, drawing readers into Bennet’s journey of healing and self-discovery.

London Sperry masterfully crafts a consistent melancholic atmosphere, immersing readers in Bennet’s psyche and evoking empathy with every page. Fans of authors like Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, or those drawn to stories of emotional complexity will find much to love in this book.

The character of Henry is a standout. As the embodiment of gentle, steadfast love, he elevates the narrative to extraordinary heights. His presence is both comforting and unforgettable, making him one of the most endearing love interests in contemporary fiction. Readers seeking stories of genuine companionship and deep emotional connection will resonate with this portrayal.

This is a book for those who value narratives centered on quiet yet transformative relationships, where love is rooted in friendship and mutual respect. Passion Project is not just a story; it’s an experience that lingers long after the final page.

Passion Project is a must add to your TBR list!!

Bennet Taylor is in New York City, trying to live out the life her boyfriend Sam Chase wanted for them before he died, but her grief and guilt prevent her from moving forward. Her best friend and roommate Sonya sets her up on a blind date, but it’s still too soon: Bennet panics and ghosts the guy, only to bump into him again when she loses her wallet and traces her steps back to the bar he happens to work at. Instead of dating, Henry suggests they become friends, and he offers to help Bennet discover her passion.

They do touristy things and niche things, carving out time each Saturday to get to know one another and the city. Henry is a bartender who wants to launch a photography business, and Bennet’s day shadowing him as a photographer’s assistant is fun and eye-opening. Bennet’s employment through a temp agency is another brilliant layer that speaks to how at sea she is, teetering through catering and event mishaps and finding solid ground working shifts at the New York Public Library. The work provides opportunities to resolve conflict and develop other friendships. When Bennet feels the first stirrings of attraction and tries to repress them, and when she finally feels bold and ready to make a move, it’s Henry who gently rejects her, sure she’s not ready, and then keeps the ball in Bennet’s court. Their lovemaking mirrors the sometimes fragile, sometimes joyous, deep emotional connection that is the hallmark of their relationship.

Bennet has been keeping everyone at arm’s length, including Jamie, Sonya’s partner, and is well aware that if she (Bennet) were more well-adjusted, Jamie could move in and Bennet could move out. She’s also estranged from her other best friend, Andy Chase–Sam’s sister, who is still waiting for an RSVP to her wedding. When shortly after defining their relationship, Bennet asks Henry to accompany her as her plus-one, neither of them were expecting her urge to deny any relationship between Bennet and Henry, at the risk of some imaginary upset from the Chase family.

This is a finely written and sensitive story about moving through grief, love for a deceased partner that never goes away, and finding the joy after a loss. Sperry delicately manages both humor and sadness, never diminishes Bennet’s experience or anxiety, and allows space for Henry’s loneliness and emotions alongside Bennet’s heartache. Healing and forgiveness are central themes and make for a satisfying conclusion.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #PassionProject via #NetGalley courtesy of #PenguinPutnam. This review will post to HLBB 4/8/2025.

3.75 stars!!!

I wanted to love this one so much, and I was REALLY drawn in by the voice at the beginning, but the writing quality tapered off after a while. The pacing also seemed to be a bit wonky? I was almost shocked when Henry asks to redo their date, as they'd been feeling pretty platonic for the majority of the book. I was lacking a sense of tension between the two... hm. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a minute.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a hell of a debut novel. I am genuinely blown away. I read a lot of romance, but this one really spoke to me. It was so much more than a normal romance.

It’s a love story to the self. To finding joy again even when all seems lost. To choosing to live even when it seems impossible. To picking happiness over misery.

I fell completely in love with both characters and especially loved Henry and his earnestness. He is a good person down to his bones and seeing his positive impact on Bennet was so sweet to watch unfold.

The portrayal of grief throughout the book is achingly raw and I pretty much cried the entire time. Towards the end I really couldn’t see the pages, I had to keep drying my eyes.

This book will resonate with a lot of different people, but specifically people who have experienced grief, any form of it.

I cannot recommend this enough when it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group-Viking for the advanced reader copy.

After Bennet Taylor's boyfriend, Sam, dies in a car accident, she hides herself away for two years in sadness while trying to honor him by moving to New York (the dream he had for both of them). When Bennet's roommate convinces her to go on a date, Bennet ends up puking in a bathroom in the restaurant across the street. Her date, Henry, ends up finding her and getting her to agree to work with him on a Passion Project--trying to find Bennet's passion and way back into the world.

This was a sweet debut romance that feels like both a love letter to NYC and to finding one's way back into the world of the living after a terrible loss. Sperry did a great job of balancing the tragedy of losing Sam with the sweet excitement of finding someone new to love. I'm looking forward to what this author publishes next.

Passion Project is out April 8, 2025

If you are looking for a book to push your comfort zone, make you laugh, cry and fall in love with love, force you to restrain when you want to strangle a character or even embrace a character, LOOK NO FURTHER! I really lost myself a bit in this one. The main character struggles through grief, anxiety and severe depression, and while it is hard to relate to her isolation and depths of despair at times, I think it is also eye-opening to anyone with a partner that has struggled with this. There are moments when Bennet's character is self-absorbed in grief and broken beyond recognition, but other moments when she is funny, giving, full of life and love. This is the true eye of grief and depression. We all go through it differently, and I am grateful to this author for highlighting some of the darkest sides of such a difficult struggle. ALL THAT ASIDE, this story is heartwarming, real and relatable. The Passion Project takes Bennet and Henry through the streets of New York in search of activities and moments that spark joy and passion. Henry is relentlessly charming and lovely, and someone that anyone would love to have in their life, as a friend or lover. We all need to lean on others now and then, and this story highlights that process, through the good and bad. Oh, and the dashes of humor throughout are a plus. :)
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC #PassionProject #NetGalley

An easy favorite line:
<i>"Having your shit together is not a prerequisite for love."</i>

I wasn’t prepared to like this book as much as I did. From Bennet’s anxiety to Henry’s complexity to the secondary characters and plot lines, I didn’t want to put this one down. The banter between Bennet and Henry was delightful, and everything felt very real, in the best sense. I loved the exploration of issues such as grief, friendship, second chances. My only complaint was that Bennet’s mental health issues seemed to be resolved somewhat easily? The passion projects that they take on were delightful. 4.5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc of this highly enjoyable romance!

Passion Project is everything I want in a love story. It blurs the lines between genres—giving the banter and excitement of a rom-com while tackling the heavier women’s fiction themes of mental health, grief, and self-discovery.

Bennet, our FMC, is funny and heartbreakingly relatable. I was often frustrated with her decisions, but it never felt overdone because I truly empathized with why she is the way she is. Henry, the MMC, is sunshine in human form. From his rock collection to his slightly crooked glasses.

I devoured this in one day. The balance between funny (without being cringey) and emotional was perfection, and my only complaint is that there wasn’t more. Thank you to NetGalley, Viking, and London Sperry (who I’m excited to see more from in the future) for the digital ARC! 🫶🏻

Passion Project tells the story of Bennet, who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend. Bennet connects with Henry, and he helps her regain her sense of self. The parts of the book touching on Bennet's experience with grief and depression were sensitively-written and felt realistic, though I'm sure everyone handles these things differently. Henry is an absolute sweetheart, a picture-perfect romance novel boyfriend. I enjoyed reading about their adventures together, and the NYC setting was vividly and accurately described.

My only criticism is that I felt like it was a really short turnaround time from the events at the wedding to the happy ending. I thought Bennet's actions and feelings in the third-act conflict were so real and believable (even if they were messy and heartbreaking to read about), and it was a bit surprising that things were able to turn around from that so quickly. I was rooting for Bennet to take care of herself and find peace in a more meaningful, sustainable way.

I enjoyed The Passion Project. I thought it was a clever premise, carried out well. I liked the little outings the author devised. They were fun! Recommended for libraries where romance novels are popular.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book!! It's full of grief and love and found family and romance. Bennett, grieving the loss of her first love, feels out of place in NYC. She is balancing several temp jobs, can't bring herself to date, and rebuffs her friends' attempts to bring her out of her shell. But a failed first date turned friend, Henry, decides to launch a passion project. Each week, they'll try something new until she finds something she loves.

I love how this book tackles grief. Bennett really transforms over the course of the novel, but her grief is never written off or downplayed. Henry is so emotionally mature but still feels real. Even the side characters felt fleshed out. The actual story is fun but poignant.

I loved this book!

This was such a quick read for me as I was quickly caught up in the characters. Bennet and Henry are quickly two characters to root for. Not only is this a love story, it is also a journey for Bennet as she discovers who she is after being pulled under in grief. I was surprised to find this was a debut novel. I am recommending this to readers of all ages who enjoy contemporary women's fiction and romance (however I believe this one goes a deeper than traditional romance tropes). I look forward to the next book from London Sperry - she is an author to watch.

It was enjoyable to read! I adored how relatable the characters were. A heartwarming, tender, humorous, and joyous romance. It's as much about adult maturation and grief as it is about romance and love!

A perfect debut brimming with humor and heart! London Sperry masterfully balances heavy topics with a fresh, funny voice that will have readers doubled over laughing one page and teary eyed the next. Henry and Bennet have my whole heart and I can't wait to devour whatever Sperry does next. A truly brilliant romcom.

What a delightful debut! I would say it’s a 4.75 stars for me.
I really loved the writing style, I was hooked from the very first chapter. The opening line? Just chef’s kiss (pun intended, iykyk).

This book follows Bennet’s journey through grief, finding herself after losing the one thing that she believed defined who she was, and generally finding not just love, but joy in not just existing, but actually living. And of course, Henry, the ULTIMATE book boyfriend. I love him so much, his character wasn’t just a prince charming coming to the rescue, he also had his demons to deal with and helping Bennet through her grief helped him as well, and that was just beautiful.

Even though this book talks about grief and depression, I had so much fun reading it! The banter was amazing and the characters were well written, the only thing I would change about it is that I wish we had seen more of Bennet & Andy’s friendship as well as her relationship with Sam, but other than that, it was just right! Also this cover is so beautiful!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Viking for the early digital copy! ✨

Passion project is a beautifully written book that balances grief and romance and comedy as Bennet, a grieving, depressed woman who starts the book off betrayed by spaghetti carbonara (honestly I love this funny opening SO much) misses a date her best friend has set up for her, only to run into Henry, the man she ghosted on the date in the bar she sits in after not showing up. Despite the awkward meet cute, they decide to be just friends, and embark on a Passion Project, or a journey to try to figure out what Bennet is passionate about and wants to do with her life. Grieving her dead ex-boyfriend, she struggles with allowing herself to be happy again, and seemingly happy-go-lucky, he struggles with feeling lonely on the inside despite getting along so well with everyone he meets. They are both charming and imperfect and I love them and this book so very much.

Thank you to London Sperry, Penguin Books, and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

After Bennet moves to New York to live out her boyfriend's dream, she finds herself shut off and floundering in her 20s. When she matches with Henry on a dating app, she doesn't even make it to the date before she panics and stands him up. In a twist of fate, they meet again and the passion project is born, much to Bennet's dismay. As she and Henry try to discover Bennet's passion, she finds herself, healing, and life she's been longing for along the way. Will she let go of the expectations she has had for herself and live a life worth living or settle for much less?

Wow, what an absolutely DELIGHTFUL debut. 4.5 stars!

This story follows Bennet, who is grieving the loss of her first love. She feels directionless and lost while living in New York City. She gets set up on a date by friends who want to help her, but instead of going, she stands up her date, Henry. However, she winds up seeing Henry again, and rather than walk away from Bennet, Henry offers to help. Every Saturday, they will work on finding Bennet's passion - as friends. From tattooing to carpentry to working at a dog shelter, Bennet's spark for life starts to come back.

From the start of this book, I was completely taken by Bennet's story. My girl is going THROUGH it and I felt I was right there with her. She's consistently shutting out the people that are reaching out and that truly care for her. I felt her journey through grief was so well-written while still balancing it with humor and romance. Even though Bennet is struggling with Depression with a capital D, she still manages to be funny, compassionate, and a wonderfully complex character. Henry, on the other hand is gentle, patient, SO kind, and the classic definition of a "cinnamon roll" boyfriend. He's so understanding of what Bennet is going through and it was such a pleasure to read about them falling in love 🥹🥲

Some of my favorite parts of this book are when Henry and Bennet are on their Passion Project journey. All the different places they go to, classes they try, or daredevil antics they get into made these parts so engaging and fun to read about. Pair that with the chemistry the two leads have and it's a match made in heaven. I also love that NYC was truly a character in this story. Books like this reallyyyy make me want to visit. Lastly, I also loved the supporting characters of Sal, Sonya, and Jamie. Truly made the story even better.

Overall, this is a beautiful, funny, poignant, and charming debut of a romance novel about not only love after loss, but also what happens when you open yourself up to new opportunities that come your way (romantic or not!). I think this is great for fans of Cara Bastone, Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry or Ashley Poston. Thank you to Penguin Books and Netgalley for this ARC!