It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it.
The heroine is dealing with a heavy loss and works as a nanny, while the hero is trying to connect with his niece and half-sister. They decide to help each other.

When I read Ready or Not, I fell in love with Shep, and now I’ve fallen for Miles—Cara Bastone creates perfect men! Miles feels like a warm blanket you just want to wrap yourself in. I was delighted by how he helped Lenny heal and how patiently he waited for her. And, in turn, how Lenny always stood by him. Oh, how I loved the scenes with little Ainsley! It was so touching to see how Miles found his way into her heart.

The story unfolds slowly, but you don’t even notice how quickly you’re turning the pages. By the end, you feel so close to the characters that you don’t want to say goodbye. Definitely one of my favorite books of 2024! I can’t wait for the author’s next release.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓grumpy/sunshine
✓hurt/comfort
✓exploration of grief
✓cinnamon roll mmc
✓friends to lovers

Thank you to Random House (Dial Press) and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my heart, this book easily will be in my top reads for 2025. This was the most beautiful and approachable description/explanation/exploration of grief I have read, and I truly have not been able to stop thinking about it since I read it. This was my first book by Cara Bastone and CERTAINLY will not be my last.

I loved absolutely everything about the relationship between Lenny and Miles, from friendship to something more. They were there for each other when they could be, and really wanted to help one another through their grief and current challenges. The way that they were so connected to one another while struggling so deeply was so special. Their personal journeys of navigating such immense and tragic losses were so real and raw and struck a chord with me - as grief truly is never linear! As someone who lost 3 grandparents in 4 years, even a decade later I still deal with random waves of grief that were so perfectly described in this book, and it really tugged on my heart. They were perfectly interwoven in every aspect of this book, and it made me laugh and cry and feel like a big warm hug. From them helping each other live the way they want to, to being there to support when a bump in the road was hit, to their sweet friendship that becomes love... truly there was nothing about it that I did not love and feel so tenderhearted about.

My most favorite quote: "Grief is a relationship... It's the way we figure out how to keep loving them even though they're gone". This really hit hard for me because it is so true!! Grief is a symbol of how much love we had for someone, and it's an opportunity (even though it makes us sad) to remember how special they were in our lives and continue that love. It doesn't go away just because they aren't physically with us!

What an absolutely beautiful portrait of living through grief. I am so thankful for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book, and I cannot wait to read it over and over again. Thank you to NetGalley, Dial Press and Random House for this eARC!

I just… loved this book so much 🥹 Lenny & Miles are everything.
all the feels & all the stars ♾️

💭 overall thoughts:
I fell in love with Lenny instantly, and Miles very soon after (I loved that they met in chapter 1).

❤️‍🩹 Though she’s heavily dealing with her grief (and it was so sad/difficult at times to watch her spiral), Lenny is also hilarious, and had me laughing along with the tears.
She’s one of my favorite fmcs I’ve ever read, and I loved being in her head.

💙 Miles is the ultimate protector, always looking out for Lenny from the start. He’s got his own baggage, and finds his way through by helping her live again.

💜 They both give each other purpose, and feel like the definition of two halves of a whole.

As someone who has experienced the loss of a best friend, I feel that Cara handled this incredibly well.
I found so many of Lenny’s behaviours & internal thoughts to be relatable, and so many pieces of Miles’ advice to have me reflecting on how I’ve processed my own grief.

read if you love:
💛 strangers to friends to lovers
❤️‍🩹 healing through grief
🌦 grumpy sunshine
🏙 NYC setting
💙 protective mmc
🫶🏼 family + found family
🐢 very slow burn (but very worth it!)
💖 single 1st person pov

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group (The Dial Press) & NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

A heartfelt and beautifully crafted romance, Promise Me Sunshine shines with warmth, wit, and emotional depth. Cara Bastone’s writing is engaging, her characters are wonderfully relatable, and the story is both uplifting and deeply moving. A perfect feel-good read for romance lovers!

Promise Me Sunshine is a whirlwind journey through grief. Cara Bastone takes us along as Lenny Bellamy tries to move on after the untimely death of her bestie Lou. Her pain could be felt with every turn of the page and although at times it was hard to imagine what she might be going through, losing the true love of her life thus far, her actions felt real and appropriate. And that's to say, even when they were met with the kind of compassion and empathy only another survivor could understand. And when that's in the form of the broody, mysterious and handsome Miles Honey, so starts the beginning of each finding not only their footing again, but their unexpected forever.

This lengthy book dives deep into the unsettled mind of Lenny and the threads she is barely holding onto as she navigates the world without Lou by her side. I was impressed by her courage to carry on even when she didn't want to, always a light to those she met, yet always feeling like a dark cloud nonetheless. But Miles saw her spark, though currently dulled, and I loved how he never gave up on her no matter what. He saved her in more ways than one and rescued her from her dire thoughts when the world wouldn't stop turning. They simply have this connection that only a person left behind could understand.

Her new gig as a nanny to the adorable Ainsley becomes her new lifeline of sorts, as she is confronted with the stoic Miles, and his own difficulties in fitting in with his role as her long-lost uncle. Their first encounters are awkward at best but thankfully Lenny is honest and curious to a fault, yet always knowing when not to push, as they begin to spend some time together. But it's those silent pleas that no one else can hear that endears Miles to Lenny, as he somehow saves her over and over again when the walls start to close in on her heart. I, too, was amazed at his intuition when Lenny needed him most, even as closed off and mysterious as he seemed to be.

Lenny's persistence and her selflessness in allowing Miles to get closer to his new family in Ainsley and his half-sister Reese was a true high point of the book for me. I loved how she pushed him even when he balked and how satisfying it felt for Lenny to see Miles's own light start to shine once more.

This isn't an easy book to digest, especially for those hurting from unbearable loss. But I feel as if Bastone did a great job in portraying grief and how in the end, it didn't take Lenny away from the world. Instead, she showed that the fight to carry on, although never easy, is possible when you allow yourself to fall apart when needed and to maybe allow someone else to bear your burdens when they simply are too much.

Thankfully, there are some lighter moments, especially with Ainsley, that offer a respite from all the sadness. And there are a few times where the focus is on Miles' grief at the loss of his mother and 'brother' and that helped Lenny immensely come to grips with losing Lou the way that she did and truly start to move on and live again.

Overall, it's a good book and although I thought it was a bit too long, I honestly don't know where Bastone could've shortened it. In the end, it's an honest look at grief and offers up a chance to understand what it means to lose someone beyond close to you. And how to somehow find that sliver of hope together with an abundance of unexpected love, that you'll be okay without them. To that point, Promise Me Sunshine succeeds tenfold.

4 stars.

Promise Me Sunshine, is a heartwarming and contemporary romance and it tore at my heartstrings.

I have a soft spot for the main character, Lenny. She is grieving the loss of her best friend since childhood and is a bit of a mess. Her friend died after battling cancer, leaving Lenny lost and with a broken spirit. Now she’s trying to figure out how to go on when her bff is not at her side. She's avoiding her concerned parents by not taking their calls or visiting. She is unable to go back to the apartment they shared. Instead she rides the ferry back and forth and losing herself in the pain. She is ignoring the list of things she's supposed to do to help her live again.

She lands a part time nanny job. Reese is an overworked single mom raising seven year old Ainsley. Perfect part time job to distract Lenny from her grieving.

Miles is the lingering Uncle who lives upstairs. He immediately gives Lenny vibes like this stranger can’t care for his niece. Quick background on Miles: his mom and cousin were killed in a car accident (he knows all about grief). Recently his estranged father contacts him because his step sister and niece needs Miles’ help.
Miles sees right through and he offers her a proposition. Miles wants to help Lenny complete everything on her
"live again" list if she'll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with his half sister, Reese.

The pair (Lenny/Miles) speak all the ugly of grieving. Heartwarming and triggers that push one out of their comfort zone and face their sadness. Miles is the pull Lenny needs to move forward. Lenny is the push to balance the friendship.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Pub Group for the ARC read in exchange for my review.

Know that this is suffused with grief. That Lenny is in such bad shape after the death of her best friend, her heart, Lou from cancer that she can't go home to the apartment they shared and instead rides the Staten Island ferry at night. And then she's hired by Reese to babysit 7 year old wise beyond her years Ainsley and meets Miles, who is also struggling. I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable leaving my kid with Lenny given how she's described but Reese does and it tuns out to be the best thing for all of them. You know, don't you, how this will end but Bastone takes the reader on an emotional, funny, and engaging journey with terrific supporting characters (I was a fan of Jericho) that round out the cast. There are some small twists here as Miles helps Lenny move forward. You will find yourself rooting for everyone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Bastone is a terrific storyteller and this is a very good read.

5 Stars – A Heartfelt, Grief-Heavy Romance You Can't Miss!

Promise Me Sunshine* by Cara Bastone is a stunning, emotional rollercoaster of a romance. This slow-burn journey of grief, healing, and love had me hooked from the very first page.

Lenny is grieving the loss of her best friend Lou, and it's heartbreaking to witness her struggle with the overwhelming weight of that loss. Her grief is so raw, real, and relatable that I couldn't help but feel for her every step of the way. Enter Miles, the grumpy, socially awkward uncle who recognizes her pain and wants to help her heal. Their relationship starts with tension but evolves into something beautiful, full of compassion, patience, and, ultimately, love.

The way grief is portrayed in this book is truly masterful. Lenny’s emotional journey, from avoiding the world to finally accepting it, is so deeply moving. And Miles? He’s the perfect balance of sweet and gruff—his dedication to helping Lenny and his quiet strength just made me fall in love with him. The banter between Lenny and Miles adds a touch of levity to an otherwise heavy story, making their connection feel both real and heartwarming.

The romance is everything—slow burn, rich with emotional depth, and full of moments that will make your heart race and your eyes tear up. The way Lenny and Miles’ relationship grows from reluctant allies to a deep, soul-shaking connection was beautifully done. I also appreciated how Lenny’s grief didn’t just disappear; it was something she learned to live with, and the love she found with Miles didn’t erase her past—it helped her heal.

This book isn’t just about love—it’s about learning to live again after loss. The writing is pure magic, and the way the author blends grief with romance is nothing short of brilliant.

If you’re looking for a romance that will make you feel everything, *Promise Me Sunshine* is a must-read. It’s raw, emotional, and utterly captivating. I couldn’t put it down, and I know you won’t be able to either.

This book genuinely made me feel so happy and that’s gonna be hard to translate into words. I loved each and every character and how their story played out. Cara Bastone is a treasure.

I want to thank Net Galley & Penguin for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

IMMEDIATELY 6 STARS

Holy Shit! I haven’t felt this way about a book in a while. Miles is literally the most perfect grumpy man ever and I fell in love with him from the second he was described. It was so fun being inside Lenny’s head and seeing how she was dealing with grief throughout. It was so much fun reading this book but I also cried so many times...

This novel follows Lenny six months after her nest friend dies and she has to pick the pieces of her life back up. She is doing terrible, understandably and picks up a nannying gig. She meets grumpy Miles, who is literally anti her until he learns what she is going through. They embark on a healing journey, where Miles is her “grief wingman” and they take this journey together.

This book had so many important themes about love, friendship, loss, and grief and i loved every second of it. I physically refused to put it down. This is my first from Cara Bastone but will not be my last. I am obsessed with the characters and the way she described New York. I want this book tattooed on my forehead and I need every girl who is going through something to pick this up because this taught me so many lessons and made me feel less alone.

This is a friends to lovers done right!!!! which I feel like is hard to do, and I cannot wait to get a physical copy and annotate the hell out of it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of Promise me Sunshine! After reading Ready or Not by this same author last spring I was really looking forward to this new book. Unfortunately it did not meet the mark for me and was not quite what I was expecting in this book.

This book was much heavier on the grief side than anything else and I found the writing to be choppy and hard to follow. I just never fully felt myself connected to Lenny our FMC or Miles the MMC. I felt like we kind of got thrown into the story and had a hard time getting into it and kept hoping it would grip me. Even by 50% in I was still struggling.

I know everyone walks through grief differently but Lenny seemed to be so in her own head and way that it was hard to see her views fully. I did appreciate Miles when he did open up and we got to see past his awkward misunderstood often exterior. While I think he deeply cared for Lenny she probably needed more therapy and professional help outside of just him and I wish that had been represented. I think the grief and heaviness really took over any chemistry between the two of them that when it did finally get to that point it just didn’t feel natural or as believable. As someone who’s lost close loved ones and walked through my own grief and loss I do like the author trying to write that in, just wasn’t what I was looking for in this book particularly.

I found myself just overall having to trudge through it. I do think it could be a good read for others as long as readers know the depth of the grief process they will walk through with Lenny and the triggers it could bring. Other readers may connect with it better than I did. I think it had a lot of potential but unfortunately just fell flat for me.

Again thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

It took me a bit to wrap my head around how to review this book because under so many other circumstances it would have been a 5 star read for me; and, I KNOW it will be for many of you! So, this is me telling you to read this beautiful story about grief, growth, and the immeasurable ways to be loved and supported through hard times.

The story of Lenny and Miles's loss is kindred in the most special way. The selflessness of Miles to dig deep into this own experience to help Lenny through her own is a heart melting, swoony experience. In turn, the way Lenny teaches Miles to be there for his sister and niece in an unabashed, supportive way made me smile as he found his groove with his own family. Their slow-burn friends to lovers moments were so tender and soft, so special.

You may be thinking, well then, why not five stars?! For me, when an experience such as grief is shared as the main story line in such a visceral way as Lenny's is in this book, I will either lean into the character, having so many of the same feelings that I internally feel the their pain or, it will be hard to relate because it isn't the way I process loss. In this case, Lenny is an emotional flood; whereas, I am an emotional dam. It was hard for me to related to the outward signs of her true brokenness (that were likely much healthier than anything I every did) and therefore, made the connection throughout the book harder. Clearly, this is a ME thing! Which I think is okay! We all take different experiences into our reads and that's what makes reading so special!

So, should you pick up this book?! The writing is amazing and the characters have so much depth and a true growth journey so, if you love that in a book, Yes, absolutely try it!

I adored this book. The way it captures grief is so real and heartbreaking, and as someone who deals with grief myself, I really appreciated how raw and honest it felt.

Lenny is such a relatable character, and her journey of learning to be herself again after her loss, with Miles’ help, is beautiful.

This is a touching story of love, loss, and finding a way to live despite the pain we go through. Highly recommend!

Following the devastating loss of her best friend Lou to cancer, Lenny's life has been at a standstill, and she left feeling lost in the world. She has avoided her parents, her old apartment she shared with Lou, and anything else in her life - outside of her nannying job. But that all changes when Lenny goes to work for Reese to watch her daughter Ainsley. There, she meets Reese's brother Miles. Miles sees straight through her faked happiness and offers her a deal. He will help her begin the process of learning how to live again in exchange for Lenny teaching Miles to be taught how to be more comfortable and interact with Ainsley more. In the process of helping each other, Lenny and Miles relationship also blossoms.

This was a remarkable novel, taking the reader on a journey of grief - the ups, the downs, and everything in between. You really feel for Lenny and what she is experiencing, including the changes and regressions throughout. I also enjoyed how beautifully and slowly the relationship developed between Lenny and Miles. I tend to dislike books where the relationship feels too rushed. This book has a good balance of lightness and seriousness without understating one or the other.

Thank you, Dial Press, NetGalley, and Cara Bastone, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Lenny, when I look at your face, I feel like I’m finally home after a really long day at work.”

This book 😭❤️‍🩹
It is a perfect blend of charming & gut-wrenching. I adored both of the characters and felt every piece of emotion throughout this story. The story follows Lenny after she loses the closest person in her life, her best friend Lou. She meets Miles, someone who is no stranger to grief, and he offers to help her live again.

Everything about this story completely sucked me in and had my absolute attention - the slow-burn romance (my favorite!), navigating grief, learning to live again after the worst has happened, just everything. It was just incredible. Even with the heaviness of the plot, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times (I rarely do this while reading). I loved the banter and side characters as much as the rest of the story!

This was my first Cara Bastone book and, man, how does it get better than that?

I have to somehow review a perfect book. A book that tackled the most heinous experience grief after the death of your soulmate best friend. That was so rooted in real life with hilariously akward oblivious romance. A city that has seen everything and yet each character is relatable and mysterious and cherished. I don't even care if any of that makes sense because Cara Bastone has all the best sentences and you should be busy reading her book and not my review.

Let me get some thoughts out though because I'm in need of somewhere to put them. Lenny's grief and depression is a visceral reading experience. Lack of self care, inability to keep a regular sleep schedule, loss of appetite, fugue-like behavior, and panic attacks are all on page in technicolor.

And yet, this is one of the most tender and gentle stories I've ever read. It's patience and understanding. There's a mug of coffee or tea, or a blanket and fuzzy socks waiting for you after the lows. After the burnout from overconfidence. After trying everything to be better and you're not perfect still. This book says "take your time."

And the romance - the swoony slow burn of love that happens when you least expect it. Miles is the stuff of fantasy while being just "a guy". He's gruff and heavy handed and shy and ticklish and loyal. His own loss informs his compassion for Lenny but it also makes him anxious. He craves reassurance, will sacrifice everything for family, is the opposite of casual. I love how obliviously sexy he is for finishing off Lenny's half eaten egg sandwich. Volunteering for his niece's talent show. A rule follower that takes "no pockets" very seriously. He walked through hell of his own and chose to walk through it again with and for Lenny.

I'm rambling now and I can't bring myself to care. I relate to much of Lenny's depression journey and her daily struggles mirror my own. I will cherish PROMISE ME SUNSHINE for the rest of forever for always.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing |Dial Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Promise me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is a revelation as far as romance novels go. The plot intertwines the lives of two strangers as they navigate grief and the not-so-straightforward journey of healing together. It’s such a unique experience; Bastone has written something all its own but so deeply familiar. The dialogue flows effortlessly, the relationship evolves effortlessly and I know that writing a novel is not an effortless thing. So, this story is particularly magical. While this is not an easy read in theme by any means, the pacing flows beautifully and the love story unfolds in tandem with the main characters personal arcs. We see them fall in love as they do; slowly and then all at once while they weren’t looking.
There is so much humor and so much heart that seems to naturally radiate from the main characters and wraps you up in a giant, cozy hug. These two people go on a whirlwind adventure around NYC while facing pain and despair and fall in love right before our eyes. Like I said, it’s magical.
This story is for every single person whose best friend is their person, their soulmate, the love of their life and their family when all the chips are down. It’s unfathomable to think about what happens if we lose that person; this book beautifully explores that grief and how living again is possible. I think this is going to be a favorite of many readers when it releases. It’s already one of mine.

4.5 ⭐️

Such a beautifully written book about the realities of living with tremendous grief and how healing isn’t linear. Lenny and Miles are deeply flawed and deeply real characters trying to survive in the world. and I loved every single part of them. EVERY. SINGLE. PART!!

Cara Bastone’s writing is unlike any other. equal parts humour, raw reflections of real characters, and deeply emotional monologues. She can have you laughing one page and crying the next. And isn’t that so beautiful?? how someone’s writing can make you feel so deeply???!

Miles is the person who’s there for you when you lose your person in life. the way he stepped up to pull Lenny ‘through hell and back’ knowing exactly how she felt. I absolutely adored the way their relationship developed. It wasn’t a slow burn or a insta-love, but rather a gradual TRUE friendship that began to blossom into more once they kept showing they cared for each other.

While this is a romance book first and foremost, it’s also a book about experiencing life after loss and the grief that accompanies it. SO well written & highly recommend! comes out march 4th <3 Thank you Dial Press, NetGalley & Cara Bastone for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I literally adore this book🥹 This book hit me right in the feels on all levels. The characters, the story, the journey.. loved it all!!

Promise Me Sunshine follows Lenny after the loss of her best friend Lou. Lenny is really struggling with her grief until she meets Miles, the uncle of the child she’s just started nannying. Miles knows a thing or two about grief & he vows to help Lenny live again, just like her best friend wanted. The journey these two go on together is really sweet & amazing to read!

I really loved Lenny’s personality & just how real this book felt. And as for Miles…. omg he has my heart! The absolute sweetest guy! I really enjoyed their journey & watching Miles guide Lenny through her grief. The lists are everything 😍(iykyk) & the ending had me in tears (in the best way). I have not had to experience this kind of grief in my life, but if I ever do, I will come back to this book because it was amazing! This was my first read by Cara Bastone & I will be reading alllll her books now!❤️

Thank you to NetGalley, Cara Bastone & Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

i am so grateful that i was able to receive an eARC of this book (thank you netgalley and random house publishing!) because let me tell you - this book is god-tier level for me.

lenny recently lost her best friend to cancer, and is trying to figure out how life goes on without her person. while in the depths of her grief, she meets miles through a babysitting gig, and although he appears rude and standoffish, he really just wants to connect with his sister and niece, and also help lenny work through her grief in the process.

there’s not enough praise in the world that i can give to this book. lenny is hilarious (being in her head was an absolute treat) and also feeling every stage of grief, struggling with the idea of moving on in life with not just her best friend, but love of her life. lenny’s relationship with her best friend reminded me of my own family and friendships - many inside jokes, turning something sad into something funny, lots of love and laughter.

miles is the classic grumpy mmc, but that only lasts the first 20% of the book. having lost people close to him as well, he helps lenny push through her grief so she doesn’t face it alone. his main focus was to be there for lenny - i wish every person grieving had a miles to help them through it.

this was funny, raw, emotional, and everything i wanted in a book. cara bastone wrote a masterpiece!