An absolutely beautiful read! I laughed, I cried, and was rooting for Bennett and Henry the entire time. This was a stunning debut and I will look forward to reading future books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was phenomenal. 5 big stars. I laughed and I cried. I was crying on the stair master at the gym when finishing this book. This is a beautiful love story that handles grief and moving on with tender care. I can’t wait to read what this author writes next!

Bennet is an aimless temp in NYC. She meets Henry after standing him up for a date, and they work out a plan to help her discover her passion.

This is a slow burn friends to lovers romance. Bennet is sometimes challenging to root for, as she is deep in grief from the loss of her college boyfriend. Ultimately, it is a sweet story. It does have a similar vibe to Promise Me Sunshine.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

What an incredible debut! Loved the flow of the beginning of book; it was a fun, light, and easy read. It was both laugh out loud and emotional too. Henry was a dream and everyone’s book friend/boyfriend. He was kind, passionate and inspiring. Bennett on the other hand was stuck in the depressive phase of grief. It was uplifting reading about their adventures because it truly one takes one person to make a difference in someone’s life and Henry was that for Bennett. However, I disliked the ending and how she treated those most important to her. I also felt like there needed to be more emotion leading up to their relationship and the open door romance seemed rushed. Once it hit this point in the book, the pacing changed and felt drawn out and unrealistic/immature. Overall, I love a romance set in NYC and she truly captured the essence of the city through her words. Curious to see what she writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Book publication date: April 8, 2025*
*Reviewed on April 6, 2024*

A book that makes me laugh, cry, AND gives me butterflies gets 5 stars!! Reading Bennet’s journey of losing love to loving again was so beautiful! I could not put this book down.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for books about self-discovery, love after loss, and overcoming mental health problems. This one has it all. It was genuinely one of the best books I have read this year, and I cannot believe it is a debut book.

This book reminded me of First-Time Caller with its witty banter and authentic portrayal of real-life struggles. It also brought Promise Me Sunshine to mind—especially in how it explores mental health and the journey of rediscovering yourself after loss—but somehow, it hits even harder emotionally.

The dynamic and love that builds between the characters felt very natural. I love how their relationship starts off as friends and gradually develops into something more. This was perfect for our FMC because she has alot of guilt and grief to face throughout the book.

The last 20% of this book is a smidge messy. I was not a fan of how things played out at the wedding. The author does wrap up the ending in a way that’s meant to feel satisfying, but it didn’t quite land for me—it just didn’t feel like something that would realistically happen after everything that unfolded. However, that is my one and only complain. I would recommend this book and I cannot wait to read more from this author.


Tropes 💌
- slow burn
- nyc setting
- friends to lovers
- grief
- grumpy x sunshine
- love after loss

Warning: If you don't want to read about how people go through grief, don't read this book. Also don't read it right before bed or work if you don't want to have puffy eyes if you're a deep feeler like me!!

I love that the characters (main and side) are well developed and you come to love them. Who wouldn't love Henry, this easygoing, pleasant to be around, calm, constant presence? But remember, those people need space to feel different things too! Nobody is ever ALWAYS happy!

I wanted to shake Bennett a few times to be like come on, let the people that love you in and let yourself be happy again!! Talk to your people, let the guilt go!!! It happens but it took quite a while.

Overall, I was a mess with emotions, loved the banter, Henry Bennett inside jokes, and all the ways in which they come to live again. If you loved Promise me sunshine by Cara Bartone, you'll love this one!!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

More of a 4.5. I was a big fan of this book. Not only was Bennet relatable as a young woman, but the parts representing her anxiety were the most relatable. Henry was a fun character and it was nice to see a character act with such grace when Bennet revealed her past. It also could not have portrayed grief in a more accurate and relatable way as well. The book itself was an easy read which I love as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved the concept of Passion Project, but it missed the mark for me. Henry was such a sweet MMC and the dates he planned were very unique and fun.

Unfortunately, the FMC, Bennet, was insufferable. I never connected with her and I struggled to believe she was actually overcoming any of the obstacles she was facing. I never got invested in Henry and Bennet’s relationship which is really defeats the point of reading a romance.

I don’t know if I have words to articulate just how much I loved this book. I don’t think a book has ever made me smile and cry in such equal measures. I was a complete puddle by the time I finished, but in a good way. This story grabbed my heart in the best and most profound way. Passion Project is a love story, a journey of self-discovery and giving yourself permission to live, and a love letter to summers in New York. Bennet moves to NYC to escape personal tragedy and finds herself miserable, unmotivated, and directionless. After a disastrous would-be first date with Henry, he convinces her to let him help her find her passion (as a friend). At the start of the book I thought this would be a feel-good, lighthearted read, and although it did leave me feeling warm and fuzzy, it was somehow so much more than that. The way this book dealt with grief was so raw and moving. It felt very real and made this the type of book that will stick with you for a long time - and if you’ve dealt with trying to move on while grieving, it might just heal you a little bit too. Reading this felt like reading the adult version of the John Green books I obsessed over in high school, and that’s pretty much the highest compliment I can give. I think what I always loved about his books was the idea that opening yourself up to vulnerability can completely change your life - and Bennet’s story in Passion Project is the perfect example of that.

I know a lot of people like their romances light and fluffy. I enjoy light and fluffy romances too! But there’s a special place in my heart for romances like Passion Project. They celebrate love, but they don’t shy away from the hard stuff. The way the author dealt with difficult topics like grief, anxiety, and depression while simultaneously weaving in the most lovable characters (Sal!) and a plethora of feel-good moments was so special. Reading this felt like watching my favorite 2000s romcoms, but with more depth. I smiled, I cried, I deeply regretted not reading the physical version of this book so I could physically hug it to my chest after I finished it. I fell hard for Bennet and Henry and seeing their story unfold brought me so much joy. This one is out April 8th and believe me when I say you *need* to add it to your TBR.

The quote that will stick with me the most from this one: “Here, I’m broken, but in a beautiful way, in a way that all my pieces reflect light and color; not darkness.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good debut and I understand why lots of people are loving!! This just wasn’t really my romance vibe 😭 the grief stuff is a lot and I was getting tired of Bennet’s self sabotage. I guess that’s the point? To understand how hard it is for someone to fight their way out of depression. Something was missing for me with the Sam storyline but idk what. I was so annoyed of how she acted at the wedding 🫠🫠🫠 but loved Henry and all of the side characters!! The writing was good and I’d def be interested in more books by this author in the future!

This book was such a treat! The perfect balance of fun, summer rom-com, and more serious discussions of grief and how it looks different for everyone. 

A passion project is the cutest plot for a romance book probably ever. The perfect plot, no notes. There are so many fun adventures in here that made it so much fun to read. It was a pleasant reminder to make time to try new things and go on adventures every once in a while.

I loved how from the very beginning Henry respects Bennet and her boundaries. No pressure, just the option to do something exciting if she's up for it. An author can truly never go wrong naming their MMC Henry. He's a very sweet and understanding love interest, perfect for Bennet and the grief she is experiencing throughout the book.

My main, and only, gripe is the third-act breakup. Why!!! It was a very frustrating point that honestly was unnecessary to the plot and Bennet's character development. Sperry almost lost me here and I had to put the book down for a minute to take some deep breaths. I empathize with Bennet and her struggles with grief and depression, but you don't treat people this way. These were conversations that were already had, so it just felt repetitive and contrived. The resolution is then rushed as there's only so much more left in the book, and I wish it was something Bennet and Henry worked on for a little longer before jumping back in.

Overall, though, this was such a cute read and I'm so glad I picked it up!

I thought it was a good book. I appreciated that she ended up going to therapy at the end and working to heal. I did think that all the things she did in the city sounded expensive and not necessarily something she would be able to afford on her income. I wish communication had been a little better but I think that is also kind of the point?

I was 100% here for the depression, anxiety, and grief representation! Bennet’s struggles are ones so many people face and that often don’t get enough representation in the romance genre. But Passion Project was still fun and felt like a summer rom-com! It just also had moments of depth where Bennet couldn’t get out of bed or a wave of grief crashed over her and took her out of commission for a while.

Henry was the perfect counterpart to Bennett. The description of him as a golden retriever is so apt and perfect. Any scene he was in immediately brought a smile to my face.

The third act breakup in Passion Project was devastating to me and honestly almost ruined the book. I really didn’t know how Sperry was going to recover the characters enough for me to be satisfied. I’m not sure she fully achieved that. I’m happy with the ending because I think Bennett and Henry work well together, but one of them was done SO dirty by the narrative it still makes me upset to think about.

Passion Project by London Sperry was a cute romance that follows Bennet and Henry as Henry tries to convince Bennet that she has a passion she has yet to find.

This book was fun and flirty, and will definitely be a cute beach read for many! My beef with this book and why I didn’t give it a glowing review was because of many of Bennet’s choices. It felt like she was making some choices that were intentionally hurtful and then used grief and/or mental health to blame Henry for her behavior. Obviously a real issue to have debilitating depression, but some of Bennet’s actions seemed to just be mean for the sake of it. I wasn’t sure Henry deserved Bennet at the end 🤣. I also thought we could have learned more about Henry, he just sort of seemed to be there?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Passion Project releases 4/8!

Bennet is relatable, which is sometimes to her detriment, because there is more than one moment where she lets her anxiety win and treats the people around her terribly – it’s so hard to watch! The relationship between Bennet and Henry was so cute and felt super authentic until the last quarter of the book. Spoilers ahead!

Bennet once again makes a fear-based decision that puts all of her relationships at jeopardy and then they resolve it in half a second, with barely anything shown on page. There’s one conversation between them and then they’re back together and that’s that. I haaaaate a third act breakup, but I think in the story this one would’ve made sense had there been more resolution offered! I wanted to see Bennet and Henry actively work through it, rather than just seeing an epilogue with one sentence updates.

I did enjoy this book overall, and I think especially for those tripe fans, it will be a hit!

One of my favorite romances books this year! Honestly ever!! The writing was so incredible in this book it had such a great pace and I wasn’t bored at any point. The plot was really cute while carrying such a deeper message.

I LOVED the characters. Both individually and together. I really connected on a deeper level with both Bennet and Henry. They were such flawed and realistic characters which made me love them even more. The bond they built together truly felt so strong and sweet. They showed each other the messier parts of one another and still showed up for the other. I love how the built such a strong friendship first before staring a relationship.

The mental health and grief representation was done SO well. It felt very realistic and raw while still showing hope and a path to healing. It was so beautiful and made me so multiple time throughout the book.

I can’t wait till release day so I can pick up a physical copy of my baby!!

***Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin House Pub for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 lovely stars!

This story was flipping adorable! I do want to make a weird point that I was confused as hell in the beginning as to who the FMC really was. Was she a lesbian? What happened to her ex?! Sonya or Sam?! What?! Ohhhhh…her roommate is a lesbian and her ex-boyfriend was killed in a car accident. Okay. That makes more sense knowing that upfront. I felt dragged along for a couple of chapters, but maybe that was just me.

I absolutely fell in love with Henry from the start. He was EVERYTHINGGGGGGG we love in our book boyfriends. He was kind, patient, loving & thoughtful. He did and said all the right things!! We all wanted Bennie girl to jump his bones & make it raunchy…but it was just not that kinda book! I’ve been clearly reading too much dark romance lately 🥴

I could not put this one down. I wanted to be reading it at all times. It had me choked up a few times, but I didn’t sob my damn eyes out. It was emotional and beautiful. I am not usually a fan of FMC characters who suffer from depression because those books seem to be a drag for me, but this one was just too cute to hate. Did Bennie girl grind my gears?! Hell to the yes! I wanted to smack the shit out of her several times. I almost wanted to throw my phone a few times because….GIVE ME HENRY BITCH!!!! Ya know?! Sorry, I’m getting all worked up here. Ya just want her to get her shit together already, but her crazy is what keeps the story unique I guess.

I loved Sal, that cutie!! Eggplant baby?! What was up with that?! 🤔🫣

Okay, I really want to know who paid for all these extravagant dates tho?!? That kinda bothered me. They both struggle with money, so I couldn’t figure out who was paying for everything? Also, what tf did they leave the wine & the pizza on the bar that time (not being specific to spoil, but if you read this book you know)!!?? Why not finish the pizza & wine first?! Take it with you?! Did she leave her suitcase at the stadium too?! Like…🤯 idk why these tiny details bother me, but I’m gonna be up all night thinking about them now.

That ending had me like a sucker with a lolly. Got me good. Loved it!

4.5 stars rounded up

Bennet Taylor is struggling to cope with her grief and depression years after her boyfriend died in a terrible accident. She feels lost and aimless in New York City until she meets Henry Adams. Henry is the complete opposite of Bennet- focused, energetic, joyful- and he wants to help her find her passion for life again. They embark on a “passion project” of new experiences together so that Bennet can figure out what she’s meant to do and who she wants to be.

Passion Project is an incredible debut novel! The writing was flawless. The premise drew me in immediately, and I found myself relating to both main characters in different ways. Not only is it hard to go through life with mental health challenges, it’s hard to watch someone you love experience this as well. I found myself getting frustrated with Bennet at times, which I think was sort of the point. Depression isn’t something that can just be “overcome.” There are good days and bad days, steps forward and setbacks. The main conflict was particularly hard for me to read, but I still loved this book so much!

CWs: grief and trauma, mental illness

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

જ⁀➴ 3.25 ✰

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹“It feels like I’m returning to him after a long journey, like I’ve met him in a past life, rather than mere months ago. It’s a kind of familiarity that lives below my skin, warming me from the inside out.”⋆𐙚₊˚⊹


Passion Project follows Bennet Taylor, a twenty-something temp worker in New York City who’s stuck in a rut—grieving the loss of her first love and feeling disconnected from everything, including herself. After a chance encounter with Henry Adams, whom she had recently stood up for a date, Bennet makes a tipsy confession: she hasn’t felt passionate about anything in years. Instead of walking away, Henry proposes a plan to help her rediscover excitement in life by trying something new together every Saturday. As their “passion project” unfolds, so does their connection, forcing Bennet to confront her grief, her fears, and the question of whether she’s ready to truly move on.




➳ my thoughts:


This book was going really well, it was 5 stars material until the last 20%. Nonetheless I think this was a really stable debut.

To start, the writing in this book was beautiful. It was effortlessly readable, with the words flowing so smoothly that it felt like I was being carried through the story without even trying. This is the kind of book that doesn’t feel like a chore to read, not until around the 80% mark lol. Up until then, I was completely absorbed.

I loved how vivid the nyc setting is, the mentions of the places, how it describes the city. it was just very pleasant to read about. It made me want to hop on the train and go to where the characters went. The author describes this book as a love letter to the city and it really feels like that.

The dynamic between the characters was enjoyable and entertaining for the most part.

Bennet’s character development was really well done—at least during the phase when she and Henry were still building their friendship. It felt genuine and promising, like she was slowly healing and learning how to open up. But once they started dating, it was as if all of that growth just vanished. It almost felt like everything she had worked through was undone, and she reverted back to square one. Honestly, she clearly wasn’t in a place where she could truly commit to a relationship, and it showed.

At this point, I kind of have personal beef with her—seriously, lmao. There were moments when her actions felt manipulative, especially toward Henry. If he got upset or even just slightly hurt by something she said or did, she would immediately bring up her grief and the difficult years she’s been through. And look, I totally understand that depression and grief are incredibly hard to navigate, and they don’t just disappear—but I didn’t like how she weaponized her pain to make Henry feel guilty. It was like he always ended up being the one to apologize, even when he hadn’t done anything wrong. It just didn’t sit right with me. This girl needed to go to a therapist asap, she should have cared more about it than getting a new boyfriend.

This book is obviously more about Bennet than Henry so we don’t see too much about his character imo, which is sad because he is a really good mmc.


Another major complaint I have about this book is that Henry genuinely deserved so much better than Bennet, and the conflict at the end only solidified that for me. There was this one situation where Bennet basically showed that she had never truly moved on from her late ex. In doing so, she hurt Henry, who had been nothing but patient and supportive throughout their relationship. What frustrated me the most, though, wasn’t just the conflict itself—it was how the entire situation was resolved.

The resolution felt incredibly rushed. Bennet suddenly seemed to “get over” her dead ex overnight, without any real emotional unpacking or growth shown on the page. And the worst part? She didn’t even grovel!!!!😭 Like, not even a proper apology or genuine moment of accountability for the pain she caused Henry—just a quick emotional turnaround in the last chapter, and we’re supposed to believe everything’s fine? I really wish the author had taken more time to explore the aftermath of that moment and given us a resolution that felt more earned and meaningful. Because the way it ended, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Bennet was never going to love Henry the way he deserved to be loved.


The ending was honestly very underwhelming and left me feeling nothing. I wanted to be moved, to feel some sort of emotional payoff but instead, it just fell flat. Bennet’s love confession didn’t hit the way it was probably meant to—it was completely overshadowed by the weight of the previous conflict. By the time she gave her big speech about love, I just couldn’t bring myself to care.

Instead of feeling touched or happy for them, I was still stuck on how poorly she treated Henry. Her words felt empty because they came too late and lacked the emotional groundwork needed to make them believable. I was just sulking through that whole final scene, thinking about how Henry deserved so much more than half-hearted apologies and rushed declarations. It was supposed to be a romantic and satisfying conclusion, but for me, it just didn’t deliver.


overall: I know it sounds like I hated the book but I was really into it and loving it until the third act breakup. I’m sure that a lot of people are going to absolutely love it, and my problems with the book were personal so everyone should give it a shot and read it.

This is very similar to promise me sunshine by Cara bastone which was a plus for me because that is one of my favorites book but the execution at the end in this one failed me.


💌tropes:

ꨄ︎ slow burn
ꨄ︎ nyc setting
ꨄ︎ friends to lovers
ꨄ︎ grief
ꨄ︎ grumpy x sunshine
ꨄ︎ love after loss