London Sperry handled Bennet’s grief and guilt authentically. Her emotional paralysis felt real—she’s not just sad, she’s stuck, unable to see a future beyond her loss.

What stood out was her gradual, messy healing process. The “passion project” wasn’t a magical fix, it was a slow process of confronting emotions. Her growth wasn’t linear there were setbacks, doubts, and moments of resisting happiness because it felt like a betrayal. This internal struggle made her breakthrough feel earned.

Henry’s optimism and Bennet’s grief created a dynamic that deepened their interactions. He didn’t pressure her, but he also didn’t let her hide. Instead of grand romantic gestures, he slowly earned her trust, allowing her to grow at her own pace.

What I loved most was that their romance wasn’t just about attraction—it was about connection, understanding, and timing. Bennet needed to heal before she could love again, and Henry was patient, supportive, and willing to wait. When they finally crossed that line, it felt natural, like something that had been building. The chemistry, emotional depth, and tension were all well-done, making this one of the best slow-burn, friends-to-lovers stories I’ve read.

By the end, it wasn’t just about falling in love again (though the romance was well-done), but about Bennet learning to feel joy and excitement again. Grief doesn’t disappear, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from embracing life. Many readers will see themselves in Bennet’s journey, and that emotional depth made this story special.

5⭐️! Wow. I’m genuinely speechless. I found this gem of a book one day as I was scrolling through NetGalley and I cannot believe it’s a debut book!

Grief is such a difficult topic to discuss and portray, and here it’s done in such a raw, authentic, and non-linear way. Not only just that, but the role depression plays in one’s daily life. I can’t express how much I found myself tearing up at how relatable it all felt reading the print.

The characters were so vibrant, making it seem like they’re actually right there with you. I loved getting to know Bennet and Henry on all their little adventures together. And I NEED to talk about New York City… because the city itself IS a character here. As someone who’s been around it consistently, I appreciated how detailed and REAL it’s displayed as. From some of the iconic landmarks, down to the more hidden surrounding areas, you just know that the author truly gets New York. While it’s not all glamorous, this felt almost like a love letter to it.

Do yourself a favor, maybe grab some tissues, and read this! Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!❤️🗽

4.75 ⭐️

This book is just amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I wished it didn’t have to end so soon. Bennet was written so well, her struggle with depression and anxiety, her grief over the loss of her first love, and trying to live in a place that was supposed to be where they lived together. Her growth throughout the book was done so well and was a great representation of how healing isn’t linear. I also adored Henry, everything about him was so sweet and I couldn’t get enough of the two of them and their adventures around New York.

This book is a romance and has plenty of sweet moments but it focuses a lot on grief and healing. It can be heavy at times, because these topics are never easy, but it’s absolutely worth reading.

Bennet is a mess. She’s working temp jobs, living in a city that feels all wrong, and feeling immensely grief-stricken and guilty over the death of her college boyfriend. She wants to be better but she just doesn’t know how. Her best friend keeps pushing her to get out, have fun, and date again. When she finally agrees, her best friend sets her up with a guy found on an app but the night of the date, she panics and no shows, finding a seat at a bar and getting completely drunk. She ends up running into the guy she stood up in a horrible embarrassing and cringy moment and, to make matters worse, runs away only to discover the next day that she’s left her wallet behind. Ultimately when she sees the guy, Henry, again, she’s completely embarrassed and just wants to escape but Henry kind of sucks her in. He’s a friendly, down-to-earth guy who talks to everyone and she finds herself opening up to him in away she hasn’t been able to with anyone else in years. She admits she’s not ready to date and he proposes helping her find her passion in life. They set up a series of weekly friend dates, all designed to help her try new things and experiences.

Just when she’s thinking they’re having a positive impact and she’s coming out of the worst of her grief, she’s faced with her past and has to reconcile the impact losing her boyfriend had on her, the role she potentially played and the damage it did to some of her relationships. As the book unfolds we learn exactly what happened between her and her boyfriend and realize just how badly she’s been hurt.

This is a really wonderful debut novel. The writing is excellent and the I loved Bennet and Henry’s story — definitely a new favorite author!

Recently, I have read several books that had themes of grief in them. Sometimes it was a major part of the conflict in the story or just in the background. Almost every time it creates a heaviness to the story that can create a disparity between that theme and the rest of the story. Sometimes it slows the pace down or even causes the rest of the plot to stop all together. Often it just feels a bit out of place for the rest of the story, especially in romance stories.

The Passion Project is the first book that I have read that was able to weave grief into a story of hope and light. A story about recovering and healing from a significant loss.

I didn't realize that this story was going to be a grief story. I probably wouldn't have read it had I known, but I am so glad to have read this book. It is worth seeing Bennett (0ur female main character) journey through grief and guilt. Henry (our male main character) is also dealing with grief in a different way but just as real. Both characters are trying to find a way through life while dealing with emotions that can be so heavy you feel them in a physical way. It is a beautiful story of learning to heal and better yourself and finding love along the way.

Henry is a wonderfully fun character that balances our Bennett's more doom and gloom personality. Or you could say his sunshine to her grump. Even though London Sperry shows that our personalities can have different layers depending on the situation and who is around us in that situation. I really love how Henry keeps nogging Bennett out of her shell that she has created around herself. While she doesn't let him get away without sharing some of himself with her as well.

This is a slow romance due to Bennett's personal conflicts that she has at the beginning of this book. I really love how it takes time for her to get to a place that she can be open to love. This book covers starts around May and goes to September. The time coverage feels natural and is not jaring. How Herny navigates this conflict is really lovely. It shows a true gentleman at work. We do only have Bennet's point of view throughout this book, but I didn't miss not having Henry's as well.

I found the pacing of this book is wonderful. I couldn't put it down and read it very quickly. Yet it doesn't at all feel rushed. There is a part at the end of the book that felt like we had the same conflict twice, that I didn't love. Yet the ending was satisfying and felt very realistic. In fact, this whole story felt more realistic than most romance novels tend to feel. There is one intimate scene int his book, otherwise it is mostly kissing scenes.

4.75 ⭐️

i loved this book soooo much! what an incredible debut! the writing flowed so perfectly and was so immersive! i was captivated right from the start! i went into this book blind and never expected it to blow my mind like it did!
this story is about figuring out how to do life after you've lost so much that it feels almost impossible to go on. the exploration of grief, depression, loneliness, the weight of expectations from family/friends and everything that losing someone entails is so honest and laced with so much emotion while also being hopeful, lighthearted and so relatable. i love love loved henry and bennett so much! henry is sweet and kind and generous and patient and supportive and encouraging and charming and also hottt and truly just the cinnamon roll boyfriend of every girl's dreams (mine included)! and bennett is all sad girl vibes (which i loved bc same!), but she's trying! she's not giving up on herself, she's a fighter and i admire her for it! she is at her core a girl that loves hard!!! you can't help but smile at all their interactions and root for them the entire time! i love a GOOD strangers to friends to lovers and this one is SO good! their banter made me giggly and their slow burn is filled with tension and big feelings! so many swoonworthy moments between the two but my favorites were all their intimate moments of vulnerability where they opened up and let each other in. i was so proud and so moved! also, i reeeally enjoy books set in new york- something about the city just feels so warm and inviting. i love all the places we got to explore with henry and bennett and all of the side characters were so wonderful.
some scenes in the end were a little rushed but other than that this book is perfection!

and now i need to go find someone to go passion hunting with on saturdays!


thank you so much to Penguin Books and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

PASSION PROJECT by London Sperry

This. Book. I don’t think I could love it more? First of all, there’s Bennet who’s grieving her boyfriend’s death and completely lost in a life she can’t quite commit to. Then there’s Henry — swoon — who decides to help Bennet find something she’s passionate about as she tries to find her footing in NYC. As they adventure throughout the city, Bennet begins to open herself back up — to life, to Henry and to love.

Grief is such a lonely, messy thing — and London navigates it with such care, without being delicate about it. Her writing is the perfect balance of humor and heart. It’s emotional, extremely funny and so damn hopeful. Also, I may also be dehydrated from crying? But in a good way. Go read this book!

Passion Project comes out 4/8.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin House for the ARC!

A beautifully raw and real story that had me laughing, crying, and absolutely rooting for the characters. And let me tell you when a book makes me feel this much? It’s doing something very right.

A grieving, lost Bennet teams up with a charming adventurer, Henry for a "passion project" of wild New York City escapades—strictly as friends (yeah, right)—only to discover that moving on might mean opening her heart again.

One of the strongest elements of this book was its portrayal of grief. It wasn’t just a background detail—it was real, it was messy, and it showed just how differently people handle it. What I loved most was how it emphasized that grief doesn’t have to hold you back. It’s something you carry, but it doesn’t have to define you. THAT MESSAGE HIT ME RIGHT IN THE FEELS!!! 😭

Bennet stole my heart and ran off with it. Sperry captured her voice so well. You just knew her. She wasn’t just a character; she was a whole person with depth, flaws, and a growth arc that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. And then there’s Henry. This man. He was charming, heartfelt, and just a delight to read. I fell in love with him right alongside Bennet. My only tiny wish? That we got to dive a little deeper into Henry’s own journey.


Also, I need to say this: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE COVER. This might look like a light, fun romance at first glance, but prepare yourself. This book takes you through the full emotional spectrum.

Pacing-wise, this book shined in so many ways. The romance had time to develop naturally, and we truly got to know these characters. My one little critique? Some of the big emotional moments toward the end felt a tad rushed.

But honestly? By the time I closed the book, I was so full of love and warmth for Bennet and Henry that I could overlook the small hiccups. This was beautiful, emotional, and completely worth every page.

I don't have enough words for this book. It definitely is a rollercoaster ride of emotions!

Passion Project by London Sperry is a stunning debut that beautifully balances grief, love, and the long road to rediscovering oneself. It’s slow-burn perfection, the kind that makes you savor every moment as Bennet and Henry build something real, something rooted in friendship first.

Bennet’s journey is one that hit me hard. After losing her ex, Sam, years ago, she’s been drowning in grief, stuck in a cycle of guilt and numbness. When a friend signs her up for a dating app, she matches with Henry—only to ghost him in a panic. But fate (or the magic of New York City) intervenes, and when they meet again, she’s honest: she’s not ready to date. Instead of walking away, Henry steps up, becoming the friend she desperately needs. And let me tell you, watching him help her find her passion again? Absolutely heart-melting.

From fun adventures around NYC to deeply emotional moments, this book had me feeling everything. The last part of the story, in particular, broke me in the best way—Bennet’s struggle with guilt was palpable, and while I wished she had confronted it sooner, her growth by the end made it all the more rewarding.

London Sperry has crafted a beautifully written story about love, loss, and the courage to embrace life again. It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and full of moments that will stay with me for a long time. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC.

Book Review

📖📖📖📖📖

I laughed, I cried, I related, and I rooted for Bennet like there was no tomorrow. This is a top ten read for me in 2025 for sure. I am so appreciative to @netgalley and @penguinbooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is for every person out there that suffers from depression or anxiety. For every person who has grief so severe they struggle to put one foot in front of the other. For every person who just rolls over and goes back to sleep, for days on end.

Bennet loses the love of her life. She moves to NYC to fulfill Sam’s dream, and loses herself in the process. Enter Henry and the Passion Project.

What’s your passion? If you had ten seconds to answer that, could you? Through adventures and mistrial, Bennet learns how to live again, a little at a time.

I could not put this book down. Or should I say Kindle? Every chance I got today I was hooked to the words!

This one is good for the soul! It’s out on April 8th!

Add it to your list!

#arc #imalreadyhungry #tendollarbet

What a wonderful debut from London Sperry. This novel had me crying for much of the latter half and giggling/kicking my feet other times. Bennet Taylor was a highly relatable female main character, who is struggling with her depression and grief, and goes on a whirlwind of events with one Henry Adams.

A lot of my thoughts are about how good of a depiction of grief this novel illustrates. At times, you’re frustrated with Bennet’s actions, but wow does it feel accurate to the experience of intense sadness. None of her actions, even the bad ones, are out of place and that realistic depiction is refreshing and utterly upsetting at times. Sperry captures Bennet’s voice so well, it’s one of the strongest parts of this novel. Her character is known and goes through a really heartwarming arc. I loved Henry as well, I think he was a delight to read and had me falling in love with him too. I think maybe there could have been more for him with his journey that we sort of neglect at times, so that’s where I might feel a little incomplete with this novel. I assume this is due to the novel being in Bennet’s point of view, but there were still moments of growth for Henry that I wish we could have gotten.

Pacing-wise, this novel killed it for the most part. The romance was believable and we spent a lot of time getting to know the characters, but I did feel as though the ending was a tad rushed through and some of the ‘realizations’ happened too quickly. Even so, I was happy by the end and felt so warm for Henry and Bennet.

Sperry did a wonderful job at placing this novel too. You can feel New York City so incredibly well, picture everything being described and really believe this is where the characters are living. I’m so glad to have read this book, it’s refreshing, entertaining, and so uplifting.

Thank you to Netgalley/Penguin Books for the ARC!!!

I simply could not put this book down.

Bennet is the kind of character who you are rooting for a screaming at through the page at the same time. She falls into the trap that we all feel in our early 20’s, that everyone else has their shit together while she has no clue what to do with her life. This is only compounded by the fact that she is still grieving the loss of her college sweetheart.

When Bennet meets Henry, you can’t help but cheer them on. Their banter, energy, and (platonic?) love for each other kept drawing me in with every chapter. The last 50 pages had me crying, cringing, and kicking my feet. Bennet and Henry will be living in my head rent free for a while.

Bennet is pretty depressed. After the death of her boyfriend, she moved to NYC with a friend to live out his dreams. NYC is not what she was expecting though, and she finds herself hiding in bed more often than not. When her roommate urges her to go on a date, she decides to try, but it does not go well. When she runs into Henry later and he wants to start a friendship, she reluctantly agrees. Will Henry be able to help her?

Somehow I keep picking up grief books? Is it me? Have there always been so many books with grief and I just didn’t realize it since I wasn’t in the thick of it? Either way, I really enjoyed this book! I felt so much for Bennet, and I loved the growing relationship with Henry. There were two little things in this book that were just not realistic and really bothered me though. One, newborns do not smile and laugh when you shake toys at them during a newborn shoot, you also don’t want them to look at you because their eyes are not focused yet so they won’t be sharp in the photo. The second one is a one bedroom in Brooklyn does not have space for two people to live there and have a full photography studio as well. Besides those two things, that really weren’t the end of the world, just stood out to me, I really loved every second of this book!

Thank you to @VikingBooks for my gifted copy of this book!

4.5!

what a stunningly beautiful and raw debut. this story absolutely blew me away; not only is the concept unique and fun but the characters felt so real and fleshed out. it explores grief and battling depression, trying to find yourself, and platonic and romantic relationships.

not only is there emotional depth but also humor and banter and all things that make you feel giddy. there are few books that genuinely make me laugh out loud and then have tears streaming down my face only a couple of pages later. this book touched me in so many ways. it ripped by heart out but also put it back together.

bennet infuriated me at times but only because i related so heavily to her (especially with her self-sabotaging but bear with her PLEASE). there were so many moments when her inner monologue was exactly what i was thinking as i read it. she is so complex (just like all of the emotions she experiences throughout the book) and her arc was something beautiful to read. oh henry. golden boy henry. when do i get to find my henry. truly one of the best MMCs i have ever had the pleasure of meeting (through books of course).

this book felt like a love letter to finding yourself as well as one to NYC (one of my happiest places). immediately adding London Sperry to my list of authors who I will read anything they write, even a grocery list, (alongside Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Ashley Poston, and Elsie Silver!!!)

thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for this arc! you must read this as soon as its out on april 8th!!!

When I saw this was available on Net Galley, I was SO EXCITED!! Since reading the premise of this story, this novel was right up my alley. This story had the perfect mix of both serious topics and the fun rom-com banter. For me to enjoy a romance story, I have to connect to the characters on a deeper level and have a way to relate or see the characters as real humans, with depth and flaws. Bennet and Henry have REAL depth to them, with a raw and relatable past. They have unresolved trauma, and instead of their problems magically going away, they actually take time to communicate and work on their issues. Did some of Bennet's choices anger me? Yes. But she is a twenty something young woman struggling through grief, of course she is going to have some trust issues and attachment problems. Bennet's depression was portrayed so well, to the point where I felt seen like she had written some of my own thoughts down. This was not insta love, the perfect slow burn, and very well written. I will read anything London writes and so impressed with her debut! And the cover is perfect.

Told in single-POV, <i>Passion Project</i> follows Bennet who has been stuck under the weight of her grief from losing her college boyfriend for years, and her misery seeps off her like a cheap perfume. I’m not saying that to be cruel, I’m saying that because it comes off the page. But, she is soon forced out of her wallowing by a first date gone wrong with Henry. Sure, she ghosted him, but what if they tried to find what she was passionate about in life? It seems like a ridiculous suggestion, but with nothing else going well in her life, Bennet agrees.

From tattoo parlors, Coney Island, dog adoption events and even the Statue of Liberty, Sperry weaves a coming of age tale for those in their mid-20s that blends devastation and grief with the hope of a brighter day, and I’m glad Bennet found that.

For me, the book was the strongest while Bennet and Henry were developing their friendship and going on their weekly adventures. I never got the sense that the two of them <i>should</i> be more than that, nor did I feel like Bennet was ever in a place to contemplate a relationship. So when Bennet and Henry do end up in a relationship, my interest in the story weaned….and kept weaning as Bennet behaved like she wasn’t ready for a relationship and ended up hearing herself and Henry.

By the end, there was a HEA for Bennet and Henry, and Bennet’s growth throughout the book was lovely to follow, but as I sit back and think on it, I don’t feel like the reader ever got to know Henry as well as Bennet did, which is a shame. I also feel that Bennet took way too long to get out of her own way for the HEA to carry the weight it was supposed to, but other readers will disagree! I also feel like this is much more Women's Fiction than a Romance, but there is a decent balance of both genres.

Thank you to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

A wonderful, emotional roller coaster ride of a debut. Had to sit on this one for a couple of days after finishing it because Passion Project made me feel all the things. While it’s a romance novel, Passion Project heavily focuses on themes of grief and healing (on the part of both the main characters, but even more so focused on Bennet due to the first person, single POV narrative) and Bennet’s struggles with mental health (depression and anxiety), and it makes for a heavy story at times, but you also can’t help but root for her and want her to find her way in life.

Bennet’s character is so relatable; she doesn’t have it all figured out, she doesn’t know what she wants, she feels all the things, and she doesn’t know how to get back to the person she used to be—before she knew the grief of losing a loved one that overshadowed everything else, before the guilt that came with it. I warmed up to her at once. I feel like I haven’t read enough romance novels with protagonists who don’t have a passion that they know of, and while I love to read about characters that do know what they want, sometimes I want to feel more like it’s okay to not know (which I don’t, and it is okay! It’s just hard to remember when everyone seems like they have something figured out, but it’s a part of life), so it makes me happy to have a protagonist like Bennet. Going along on her journey through immense grief but also finding herself is so healing, and I wanted the best for her, which she got in her friends and in Henry.

Henry is a cinnamon roll sweetheart of a man; I love that Bennet’s first thing she likes about him is his kindness because kindness makes a man (and anyone honestly) infinitely more attractive, and he’s just what she needs. His optimism and spontaneity help to brighten Bennet’s life, and he’s such an important part in kickstarting her desire to live again, her slow realization that she *can* be happy and that she deserves to be happy. He’s so patient and warm and lovely, and he’s a true friend to Bennet when she needed one most. I adore Henry and the way Bennet and Henry become fast friends and banter and just purely enjoy spending time with one another, that evolution into flirtation as they open up to each other and then finally taking the leap into something more than friends. His candidness about how others perceive him as an extrovert when really he learned to like hearing others’ stories and isn’t actually happy all the time helped flesh out his character (important when it’s single first person POV and you don’t get to be inside his head). The immediate comfort and safety Bennet feels with him is everything. He radiates the warmth she needs and is her safe space and I love them together.

That said, it’s definitely not a straight path from start to finish, as Bennet learns and experiences a lot along the way. You just know that it’s gonna hurt, but it’s gonna hurt in a good way (the angst where you both want to shake Bennet but also give her a big hug because you understand how difficult it is), but ultimately, the understanding she comes to of her grief and her moment of closure of sorts is one of the most beautiful scenes in the book (and made me cry 😭). And the resolution to the third act conflict also made me cry because her grand gesture for Henry is so earnest and heartfelt and so *them* that I reread them making up (and the epilogue) right after finishing the book for the first time. Bennet and Henry laying all their cards out on the table is so raw and lovely and sweet, and it truly shows the openness they finally reached by the end, the desire to support each other through the hard times and celebrate with each other’s wins. I loved all the adventures they went on, pushing themselves to try new things and growing as people and making new friends. I’m so proud of both of them by the end, but especially of Bennet because though she stumbled many a time, she found her footing and fixed her mistakes (yes for finally going to therapy and acknowledging that she needed to be the one to fix herself but also that part of the reason for going to therapy was because she wanted to love Henry right because she knows he also deserves the best, and that she needs to love and accept herself, too).

Not sure if this is that coherent but I’m still full of feelings about Passion Project and am sure I’ll reread it when I’m feeling a little lost or need a good cry. It’s a gentle hand on your shoulder, a warm blanket and cup of hot tea, a pat on the head of a book. Don’t let the cover fool you into thinking it’s a light read though; prepare yourself for a sometimes rough but fun and beautifully messy ride.

Thank you to Netgalley/Penguin Books for the ARC.

I cried. So automatically a five star read.

This is a story of a woman drowning in grief and guilt and a man who looks at strangers as friends he hasn’t met yet.

Perfect for fans of “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue and “The Last Love Note” by Emma Grey.

Passion Project explores the layers of depression, grief, and guilt. The pressure we feel to be like everyone else and have a list of accomplishments a mile long before we are 30. The characters were incredibly well developed and the pacing was great.

Wow, I can't believe this is London Sperry's debut novel. I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4 stars. The main characters, Bennet and Henry, were so likeable and relatable. I loved Bennet and found her to be extremely relatable, she was messy without being a hot mess. Bennet's life is pretty aimless and directionless and maybe I'm a terrible person, but I found that to be really comforting. This book explores grief, the guilt associated with moving on from that loss, friendship, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Henry is probably one of the sweetest and more sincere male main characters I've ever read.

Overall, it was such a sweet and easy read. To anyone who has ever felt lost in life, this book is for you.

Format: ebook

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the arc!

A sweet story that made me smile and had depth.
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.