5 stars 🌟 LOVED!!! This romance touched on grief, depression, finding your passion, friendship, and falling in love.

Fans of Cara Bastone and Emily Henry will love this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my new favorite book OF ALL TIME.

This book is a breath taking story of grief, friendship, love, & dare I say, passion. The insane amount of dialogue was my FAVORITE PART. It gave the reader such a wonderful insight into each character & the type of person they are.

The meet-cute, friends-to-lovers vibes were absolutely everything I want from every romance novel.

It is perfect. I’d say no notes, but I took A LOT of notes.

Beautifully written.
Insanely insightful.

I have never swooned so hard.
& I LOVE how flawed our FMC is, her journey is something that may be misunderstood by some, but carries such a remarkable message of growing through your pain.

Hmmm okay so i really struggle with rating this one. It started out soo strong for me i was literally giggling outloud and was soo into the banter but then i got so bored by the halfway mark. I wasn’t as interested in Bennet and henry’s “passion project” dates and it felt a little immature but then they did a complete 180 in their relationship and there were some spicy scenes thrown in as well. Idk i think i give it a 3.5-3.75 stars. Not my favorite romance

Passion Project is a single POV friends-to-lovers romance. Bennet is still mourning her boyfriend who passed away when her friend and roommate sign her up for a dating site. Her first date with Henry is a disaster, but against all odds, Henry convinces Bennet that they should be friends. The two embark on a summer of adventures in NY, hoping to help Bennet find passion and direction in her life.

This was an excellent and emotional read that dealt really well with topics of grief, depression, and anxiety. Henry’s optimism was charming and likable, and Bennet’s emotional state felt very relatable. Well worth the read!


Read dates: 03/06/2025- 03/08/2025
Goodreads review: 03/08/2025
Instagram review: 03/09/2025
Blog review: 04/08/2025

Wow! Such a heartfelt and enchanting debut, and with personality to boot!

The premise sucked me in: a romantic comedy centered on Bennet, a woman in her mid-20s with no direction, no future, and no social life, trying to find herself in NYC with the help of Henry, the guy she stood up on a first date. What kept me firmly planted to my couch flying through pages was the banter, hijinks, and chemistry between Bennet and Henry, as well as the explorations of grief and finding fulfillment in life. The story felt very believable to me, especially the dialogue. Giggling and kicking my feet g a l o r e. I also felt immensely for Bennet and the struggles she goes through, even if it veered into self-pitying territory at times.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the pacing. I think the middle dragged on for a bit too long; the story could've been at least 50 pages shorter, and I think that would've made it a bit more impactful. However, that does not detract from the abundant charm this book is packed with.

This author is most definitely one to watch. Can't wait to see what she's got in store for the future!

“Being up here makes me feel small, but being with you makes me feel significant.”

This book had me laughing, all in my feels, and wanting to start my own “passion project.” Passion Project is a beautifully raw and heartwarming story about grief, love, and rediscovering joy in the little things. Bennet is lost in her grief until Henry—patient, persistent, and full of quiet charm—proposes a series of Saturday adventures to help her find her spark again. Their Saturday adventures were so unique and fun, and their chemistry? Absolutely perfect. If you love emotionally rich romances with humor and heart, this one needs to be on your TBR!

I loved this book. Often times, I am drawn to books depicting grief, and this one made me feel so seen. Bennet’s fear of being too broken to be loved again is one I hold, as well, and I definitely shed many tears while reading because of that. I hope to find my own Henry one day, who will choose and love me as he did Bennet.

I didn’t give this five stars because of the last third of the book. I wish the conflict had been different, that London Sperry had navigated the storyline differently, but I still hold this novel so close to my heart and hope everyone comes to love it as I do, too.

I really enjoyed PASSION PROJECT. I found it to be a solid debut that delivered the message it set out to clear. I think we all need to embark on passion projects.

Bennett’s plight was relatable to me and I think it’ll be relatable to a lot of people. She is essentially bed rotting. She’s depressed and living with (barely) functional depression. Henry’s positivity was infectious and knowing that he had his own grief he was grappling with made him even more human.

I loved the journey this book took me on, even though I wanted to shake Bennett a bit towards the end. This is a solid rom-com that dealt with some heavy topics so definitely not just a rom-com. I recommend this to all lovers of rom-coms and contemporary fiction.

I truly believe I’ve found a new favorite, Passion Project is everything I want in a romance and, after striking out a lot over the last year, came at the perfect time. Genuinely funny, touching, and oh so romantic — I was literally kicking my feet and giggling. In a world of shadow daddies, professional athletes and mafia men, Passion Project has the grandeur of a romance novel, while still feeling ultimately realistic.

(also bennet has my exact brand of anxiety which was super cool and also very scary. london sperry might live in my walls)

Gosh, I love this book. As someone who has dealt with the hollowness of grief, I connected with Bennet's depression and stagnancy. It's hard to move to New York City alone in your twenties without a solid job or support system, and it's even harder when your boyfriend and soulmate who you were supposed to move with passed away suddenly in a car accident. Passion Project is about moving forward, not moving on — opening yourself up to new friends and adventures and loving someone new despite your fear. This is a romance novel for the NYC transplants who aren't sure they can hack it, for the temps and the bartenders and the cater waiters, for the readers who want a happily-ever-after with a side of "oh thank god they're going to therapy." London Sperry is a captivating new voice and I can't wait to read more from her in the years to come.

An absolutely beautiful story about accepting grief and learning to love again. Passion Project had just the right amount of humor and heartbreak to the point of laughing and literally crying while reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I went into this completely blind based on a recommendation from a fellow bookstagrammer, and boy am I glad I did! Passion Project exceeded all of my expectations, it is such an incredible debut novel. The author did an excellent job tackling the difficult topics of grief, depression, anxiety and learning how to find yourself after grief. I enjoyed following along as Bennett learned how to live again. Henry’s character also served as the perfect example of how it’s possible to love people through their grief and allowing them the space to figure out things in the own way.

Finally, as a person who has suffered from debilitating anxiety, this book made me feel seen. I can’t wait to see what else this author comes up with!

Wow. What an incredible debut!

I devoured Passion Project in less than twenty-four hours. It was a tug-of-war of emotion; one moment, I was laughing, the next, I was in tears and clutching my heart.

My heart ached for the main character, Daphne. The grief, the depression, the anxiety. Also, may I applaud an accurate description of panic attacks and anxiety? I often get so frustrated reading descriptions of panic attacks, yet they were portrayed so well in this book. This might be something that most people overlook, however, accurate depictions of this are important to me and quickly change how I view the writing in a story.

All of the characters in Passion Project had such believable and realistic reactions to the circumstances at hand. I adored Henry’s character. He was so understanding, never quick to anger- we love an emotionally mature man. He was so patient and understanding, even when Daphne made hurtful choices, and he handled them gracefully.

I appreciated how minimal the direct miscommunication was. It was a deeper miscommunication- the characters didn’t know what they wanted and needed- a miscommunication of brain and heart. A few times, I wanted to shake Daphne by the shoulders and ask what she was doing. They were the kind of choices you know someone needs to go through with to grow, learn, and heal.

Simultaneously, there were moments I was so proud that I wanted to clap and cheer her on. It’s not easy to push yourself out of a dark space, to try even when it feels impossible. To show up even when you know you’re going to be late. The exploration of grief and healing was just- ugh. I am tearing up trying to word how well written the main character’s grief was. I think anyone who has lost someone dear to them will be able to connect with Daphne’s tempestuous inward journey of overcoming her loss.


I am the same age as Daphne. I have also made a move to a big city and have been sitting stagnant in my depression and anxiety. Just this year, I have started the journey of coming out of my shell, meeting people, and making this city my home. I didn’t expect this book to feel so deeply relatable. What a wonderful ending this story had.

Passion Project has left me with a kernel of courage and hope that things might just be okay.

5⭐

LOVED:
- Just so much about this was so lovely. I really liked the idea of the Passion Project itself and the two of them, Henry and Bennet, exploring new things for both of them. It just really worked for me. I’m genuinely shocked that this book is a debut because its character beats are just really stunning at points.
- Bennet is a very complex character and I really empathized with her and loved her.. I can see people who read this complaining about her being immature - because she is and that’s the point. She’s supposed to be emotionally stunted after what happened with her ex-boyfriend Sam and she is not sure how to continue her life as her life. She struggles with her mental health to the point of severe depressive episodes that were incredibly relatable to someone who also struggles with their own mental health. I also understood her need to not seem insensitive or selfish in front of Sam’s family and the whole everything of how she felt with Henry in the last act of the book. It was so hard to read, but I found that to be a good thing since it felt grounded.
- Oh boy. Oh Henry. Not my weakness of a character trope with someone who feels they’re only good for what other people see them as - in Henry’s case that would be constantly being expected to be ‘charming’. And the last act just broke my heart. I just love him. And the beginning is so good for him, too. His desire to make friends? And seeing him do that? Just incredible. I also just loved his little character quirks like his skin getting blotchy when he was embarrassed and his glasses, etc. What a good boy.
- Jamie is so good as a side character. Sal is also just adorable. The other side characters were alright (for the most part) but those two were so enchanting.
The epilogue felt like real closure which I LOVED. It let us know how everyone was doing without closing the loop entirely on the story of the characters which I think was just done masterfully.
- This cover is so lovely. But…what is her outfit. It makes her look like a teenager and pushes this into looking more YA, which is just a bummer.
I loved that this book made me cry. That is NOT easy. But the Andy’s wedding was just an emotional roller-coaster for me and I was more than here for it.

LAMENTED:
- Why were there so many mentions of alcohol. I get in the beginning and when they’re at the restaurant, but there are so many side mentions of alcohol all the time (like grabbing the hard seltzers when they’re leaving is apartment? Was that necessary?) It just felt like a lot.
- Sarah felt unnecessary and just there to add drama for the sake of drama. I don’t think anything would have really changed if she wasn’t there. Or wasn’t as antagonistic. It just felt kind of uninspired for a book at this level.
- I wish we got more with Henry and his relationship with his parents and his connection to Colorado. Obviously we got a lot more with Bennet and her life outside of NY just because she was our POV character (and this should have absolutely been a single POV, for sure). But I wanted to know more about Henry’s former life in NY even if not for more about Colorado.
- This book was preetttyy white. I would have loved to have seen some more diversity. I mean...it's New York City.

LONGED FOR:
- More insight into Henry’s life, his story, just him. I just wanted more Henry, I’m not sorry.
- Less mentions of alcohol
- These characters to be happy, god dammit. (They are, don't worry)

Will I read the next one? : God yes. Absolutely. I’m so angry at how good this book is. I’m so jealous of this writing.

Wow, this was a delight to read. I feel like the author hit the nail on the head with explaining how people can feel passionless and wonder about what excites them like when they were kids. This was enjoyable to see how the main character learns to get back out into her life with the help of a friend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars. Lately I seem to be being drawn to books that are explorations in grief and healing journeys, and I’m not mad about it. Everyone grieves differently and seeing books putting the struggles and dark times on page alongside characters who understand and offer support specific to their person is a moving thing to read. Passion Project is another one of these books and an incredibly impressive debut.

Bennet is a wildly complex character who is deeply entrenched in her grief. She has stalled out rather than any kind of forward movement in processing. It’s painful to be in her mind at times while reading because she is hurting so intensely. There are days when her depression is debilitating. But little spots of light start peeking through. She meets Henry (not in the way she intended) and through a series of mishaps and unfortunate events, their “passion project” is born.

It’s not a straight line where Bennet is magically better and no longer struggling. She is a prime example of the ebbs and flows of the grieving process, but the difference is that she *wants* to heal now. She’s waking up. She’s seeing the people around her again. She still missteps in her relationships — in a big way with Henry — but she’s living and finding herself again.

Henry is completely endearing along the way. Even as it’s clear there’s more to the story of how he and Bennet meet, he’s genuine and invested in knowing Bennet. He has a big heart, but he’s got his own hurts going on below the outgoing exterior he presents. He cares deeply, wants to be there for Bennet, doesn’t shy away from apologizing, but also knows when he needs to be the one being apologized to. There are so many complex dynamics to the relationship with Bennet in all its forms, and he handles them with care and grace while still being able to recognize when it’s time to put himself first.

Bennet may start surfacing when she begins spending time with Henry, but she does eventually realize she needs to heal for herself more than anyone else. She grows so much throughout this book. She makes mistakes. She hurts people she cares about. She believes she’s moving forward, but there’s still a tether holding onto her. She reaches a breaking point and acknowledges that tether. She begins to really move forward.

Passion Project is an emotionally raw and tender debut novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A phenomenal debut that deserves all the praise!

London Sperry’s Passion Project is nothing short of breathtaking. As a debut novel, it completely blew me away. Readers often get asked why we love books, and our answers vary—because it’s fun, because the real world sucks, because dragons are cool. And all of that is true. But this book reminded me of one of the most important reasons I read: to feel less alone in an often lonely world.

There’s something incredibly powerful about connecting with a character so deeply that their emotions feel like your own. Bennett, our FMC, was painfully relatable. We all go through seasons of feeling lost, aimless, like we’re drowning with no way out. Passion Project is a heartbreaking exploration of grief and loss, but also a stunningly beautiful story of hope—of finding love, not just in another person, but in life itself. Of rediscovering passion and learning to look forward to the next day.

London did an incredible job weaving humor and romance into a deeply emotional journey. And let’s talk about Henry—our MMC, the absolute gold standard of men. Gentle, patient, kind, earnest, and so understanding of what Bennett was going through. Watching them fall in love was pure joy.

I cried a lot while reading this. Tears of sadness, joy, and release. It’s the kind of book that grips your heart and refuses to let go. London Sperry crafted something truly special, and I can only hope this novel gets all the love and hype it so deeply deserves.

So lovely! Passion Project is an engaging rom-com that manages to be cozy and hopeful as it tackles more serious topics of grief and self-discovery.

Bennet moved to NYC to live the life she thought she would have with her boyfriend. It has been years since he died and Bennet is no closer to figuring out her life. When a blind date disaster turns into a friendship, Bennet finds herself searching for her passion.

This was really sweet. Henry is a gem and it was great to see him support Bennet as she learns to live and love again. There is a great mix of lighthearted banter and exploration of heavier issues. I think the pacing was rushed in the last few chapters with a ton of events happening in short sequence. Overall, a delight to read! 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I really enjoyed this debut romance by London Sperry! I was a little unsure about this book going in because I knew grief was a major theme. I shouldn’t have worried. Sperry has a perfect voice for rom-coms. I was sucked in from page one. The book tackles heavy topics, but there’s a deftness to the prose that doesn’t make the book *feel* heavy. The story also balances the tough moments with lighter ones, so the narrative never feels bogged down.

Bennet’s grief is handled with care. She’s a character you want to root for, someone struggling with life and dealing with depression as she bounces from temp job to temp job where she’s often mistreated. This book nails the messiness of spending your twenties living in a big city as you try to figure yourself out. The setting was one of my favorite parts. New York City is as much a part of the story as Bennet’s journey to healing from grief and understanding she’s worthy of love.

While this is single POV and definitely Bennet’s story, Henry was my favorite character. He’s a swoonworthy romance hero: a genuinely good guy who wants nothing but the best for Bennet and thinks she hung the moon. It was a joy reading about the two of them spending time together on their passion project and falling in love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Rom-coms that bring together grief and growth with a romance are my sweet spot. Passion Project made me laugh, sigh, and close the book happily at the end. Recommend!