What I love about Cara Bastone’s writing is her ability to capture such a spectrum of emotion. While I didn’t originally know ifI wanted to read a book with grief as a main plot point, I’m glad I did because I adored this book.

In Promise Me Sunshine, readers travel through tear-jerking grief, find joy in small and thoughtful interactions, and laugh alongside Lenny, Miles, and Ainsley with their silly interactions and banter. I enjoyed Lenny and Miles’ growth (individually and as a pair) throughout the book as well as the relationship with Ainsley, Reese, and Miles.

As a watch out to future readers - this is a slow burn and honestly I spent more of the book heartbroken for Lenny than any other emotion. While I loved seeing Miles be there for her and their friendship blossom, it was no where near as happy as the over could be interpreted as.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cara Bastone, and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing for allowing me access to this ebook. This is one of my most anticipated releases for 2025 and I was not disappointed! Everyone, mark you calendars for March 4th, you'll want to pick this one! Cara Bastone’s second book cements her as a rising star in the romance genre in my opinion!
Lenny is struggling after losing her best friend to cancer, avoiding her family and the grief-stricken life she once knew. She takes a babysitting job for Reese, a single mom, and her daughter Ainsley, but constantly runs into Ainsley’s grumpy uncle, Miles. Miles, who understands grief well, offers to help Lenny complete her "live again" list if she helps him bond with Ainsley. As they spend time together, Lenny begins to heal, realizing that sometimes the end of one chapter leads to a new beginning.
Honestly it's best to just pick this book and enjoy the ride, so many emotions, so many quotes to highlight, it's very emotional especially if you have already had to endure grief. I just loved it so so much!!

Lenny está de luto por la muerte de su mejor amiga. Le afectó tanto que apenas come y duerme; ha perdido el interés por la vida y trabaja porque sabe que debe hacerlo. Por más que intenta salir adelante, no puede.

Miles intenta crear una relación con su hermanastra y su sobrina, pero no sabe cómo hacer que las acciones de su padre no ensombrezcan sus intentos.

Cuando se conocen, se dan cuenta de que pueden ayudarse mutuamente. Lenny puede enseñarle a relacionarse con su sobrina, ya que ella es niñera, mientras que Miles puede enseñarle a vivir con la pérdida, ya que ha pasado por lo mismo con la muerte de su madre y luego con la de su padre.

Hay romance, pero no es el enfoque del libro.

Lo único que no me gustó fue lo de Lenny y las historias que se inventaba cada vez que conocía a un hombre.

Necesito que le agreguen un epílogo.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodness gracious, this book hit it all! I'm a sucker for books with feelings, I think it adds way more depth to a plot versus when it's just fluffy and light. And this had that balance. The emotions and deep feels I got when reading this book had me devouring each page. I'm so excited for it to be released so I can own a hard copy and read it again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!!

I absolutely loved everything about the story, all of the characters, and the message that it has. If you want a book that is a romance with a much deeper story involved, this is the book for you. I literally wanted to cry at some of the dialogue in here because it was just so beautiful!!

A wonderful story about finding love while feeling significant grief. I loved how realistic this book was and that Bastone did not gloss over the hard parts. Long, but fabulous read!

hanks to NetGalley for this early copy! So many wonderful things about this book. The writing was hilarious and the grumpy + sunshine mix was perfection. My favorite aspect of the story was how slowly and thoughtfully he loved her and helped her through her grief. I also loved that their foundation was built on a true friendship and she was never anything but herself with him.

So many sweet moments! I especially loved the tattoo and camping scenes. She is a great author!

“Everyone loves each other in a new and special way. I'm falling but for the first time in a long time I'm not terrified of the concrete. Maybe there is no concrete. Maybe there's just all this brilliant color in messy strokes. Leaves and sky and air and water water water, rushing by. Maybe I've been wrong this whole time and the entire world is not through my eyes. Maybe I've been trapped in a painting all along. Smeared and brilliantly applied. Every color is from the eye of someone who knows exactly what the hell they're doing. I'm uncontainable. I've just cracked the code. How to live a perfect existence: just embrace it all, every lovely/excruciating color.”

“I've been gifted with this day. Frozen in time. A day where everyone moves slowly and carefully. Where the world is cast in diamond. Where the sunshine, never promised, is achingly bright and cold and there's nowhere to hide. I thought it would be immeasurably painful for me to walk this familiar museum again, to know that the closest Miles and Lou will ever get to actually meeting is in my own heart. But instead, I get to see the world-this whole life-in a sparkling and miraculous light.”

One of my favorites of 2024 so far! This story is tender and funny and real, and I loved reading every sentence (I highlighted so many lines!). Lenny and Miles’ lives intertwine when Lenny starts nannying Miles’ niece, and soon after meeting they make a deal. Miles will help Lenny learn to live again through the grief of losing her best friend, and Lenny will help Miles bond with his niece. Their journey is so well done that I felt the emotions right along with them. I recommend this book to anyone who likes slow-burn romances or found family, or anyone who needs a good cry. ❤️

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

dnf @25% chapter 8.

i just wasn't feeling it. the writing felt very choppy and the portrayal of grief was absurd. almost like reading a caricature. i went in expecting a tearjerker and a rollercoaster of emotions, but instead i was bored and detached at every word of the book.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback and Cara Bastone for the advance reader's edition! All opinions are my own.

#PromiseMeSunshine #NetGalley

This book is a new favorite! I just finished it, and I'm ready to reread it! I love this author and will read any book she writes, but this book may be my favorite of hers that I've read so far. This book deals with grief: new grief and old. I love the relationship between Lenny and Miles. He is so patient and perfect for her. He is always there for her, no matter where or when, whether it be a text, phone call, or dropping everything and going to her. I also love the relationship that grows between Ainsley and Miles and Ainsley and Lenny. This book is a well-written, slow-burn romance, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group and Cara Bastone, for allowing me to read an ARC of this book and leave my honest review! It made my day when I was approved for this ARC! :)

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Promise me Sunshine follows Lenny after the death of her best friend, Lou, as she’s drowning in grief it’s uncertain she’ll ever surface. Until she meets Miles, no stranger to grief himself, who quietly and patiently walks alongside Lenny and provides support as she crosses items off a list Lou left.

The first half of the book is painfully slow (truthfully I wanted to DNF) but glad I stuck with it. The experience reading the book parallels how life must have felt slogging through grief. As the book progresses and Lenny begins escape the suffocating grief the story picks up and is more engaging.

no no no no noooooo why did it end?????

This book had me laughing my behind off, sobbing under the blankets, and giving my imaginary camera man a run for his money. When I tell you a book like this is worth it, it's worth EVER FLIPPIN PENNY. I just got so lost in this book, and maybe it was because of the slooww burn, but it was mainly because of the story. Grief is a crazy thing, and Cara captured it beautifully. I'm truly speechless.

Ok, character analysis time!
Miles, I love you- never change. When we looked up "looks like they could kill you, is a cinnamon roll" in the dictionary, you would just see Miles Honey. This man, guys, this man. He was EVERYTHING and I'm not ready to let him go 🥺 Literally perfection in written form, and I can't forget to mention the fact that he exactly what our girl Lenny needed. Also, here are a few quick facts that I picked up after observing:
1) When Lenny said that everyone that meant something to her gave her a unique name, of course Miles did it. It wasn't a cheesy nickname either (thank you god), but I was so subtle that we can't even tell that Lenny ever picked up on it.
2) Even though Lenny said she loves him, he never says it back! I kept waiting, and waiting......and waiting. It never came. I think that was awesome, though. Sure, I feel like the words were wanted, but I don't think Lenny actually needed to hear him say it.

Lenny, my gal. Even though she was dealt a rough hand, she was amazing. Very strong, very brave, very...not demure in the best ways. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, but she was perfect. She laid her heart out there to someone she just met, and while it is a little crazy, it was perfect for the story. Anything you know about grief, Lenny was the picture of it. I honestly can't even explain how much I needed her.

Now, the writing. PERFECT- enough said, thank you! This was my first Cara Bastone book, and it will not be my last! Gah, what a ride, but I loved it. My cameraman is sick of me by now; I'm sure 3 am is way past his normal working hours for any other self respecting human that enjoys their REM cycle.

Thank you so so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the eARC! Will very much be looking forward to the next!! 🫶🏼

4.5 stars!! ⭐️ This book made me cry, laugh, cry some more and smile. My heart hurt for Lenny and Miles. Cara did an amazing job depicting life after loss. This love story is a slow burn but in the best way possible.

If you’re a fan of Ready or Not, you’ll also get a fun surprise guest in this book! ❤️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars

This was a truly incredible book. This was a story about grief, hope, healing, and absolutely everything in between. Lenny’s struggle with the loss of her best friend was so emotional and vulnerable and felt like a really realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of grief and learning to live again.
Miles was truly the perfect person to help her through it. He was blunt and realistic and he showed up for her no matter what. He never gave up on her or let her give up on herself and their friendship was so special.
I also loved that Lenny helped Miles as well. His relationship with his niece and his sister was complicated and he had a hard time navigating it but Lenny helped him work things out.
This book is full of so much love, friendship, fun, and emotion. Cara Bastone has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me because I know that I’ll get a story that doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of life but also fills me with so much hope and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

This book is extremely special. It took me a bit longer to finish, because I didn’t want it to end. I was savoring every part of this.

This book hits hard if you’ve ever had to grieve the loss of someone special in your life. Lenny battles grief over the loss of her best friend/sister. She meets Miles, and he is a gem of a man who offers to help her with said grief by completing a check list (because he’s dealt with it himself). Watching their friendship journey was so fun and genuine. Lenny is such a quirky character and seemed very happy on the outside, but she was dealing with a deep heaviness on the inside.

I cried, and my heart broke for both Lenny and Miles. I absolutely loved how she could call him at ANY TIME, even in the early early morning and he’d be there for her. This was such a slow burn, but there could’ve been no smut and I still would’ve loved this the same.

Highly recommend this read.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Aw, I really loved this book! It’s a funny, heartwarming, and gentle journey through grief and friendship (that you find yourself hoping will turn into something more). The author tackles difficult themes about heartbreak and grief, but she handles them so gently and beautifully that they never become overwhelming to the reader. I say this as someone currently in the midst of my own grief journey. I was a bit worried that I might not be in a good mental space to read this book, but it ended up feeling very healing to me. And I never felt bogged down in the sadness; there were plenty of funny, lighthearted moments, too. I laughed out loud multiple times. I loved the main characters, and was enthusiastically rooting for both of them. And there were so many great side characters, too. Just an all-around enjoyable, satisfying read.

5 sunshine stars 🌞⭐️

Tenderly written and delicately crafted, Cara Bastone pens a heartwarming story about two people’s journey through grief and learning how to live again.

Promise Me Sunshine follows Lenny, who is struggling with the death of her best friend Lou. Lenny works part-time as a nanny to Reese and her daughter Ainsley. There she meets Miles, Ainsley’s uncle, who seems dubious about Lenny’s qualification as a nanny. Lenny notices that Miles's relationship with Reese and Ainsley seems estranged, while Miles recognizes Lenny is still in the stages of grieving after finding a life-after-death book she accidentally drops from her bag. Miles, who considers himself a grief expert, offers a trade-off: help him get closer to his niece and sister, and in exchange, he’ll help Lenny with her grief and help her check off her live-again list. Lenny accepts Miles’s proposal but realizes there’s more to life after bereavement.

Lenny is such a delightful and charming character. Even though she is grieving, she still manages to put on a smile and try to be a happy person to those around her. Not to mention her humorous internalized love story monologue she fictionalizes in her head. However, when she is alone with her grief, she is able to shed all pretenses and become vulnerable. Her love for Lou was precious and unrivaled, and Cara conveyed it benignantly throughout the book. Miles, on the other hand, isn’t good with people, but he’s loyal and persistent, especially to those he loves and cares about. His constant concern regarding Lenny’s whereabouts and mental and emotional state was so sincere and ingenuous. Similar to Lenny, Miles also understands the effects of how grief can affect and transform a person, and for that, he takes it upon himself to make sure Lenny’s well-being is taken care of by continuously making sure she eats. His love language being acts of service is so attractive and swoon-worthy. There’s always something so honorable about the men Cara writes, and Miles is truly a prime example of that; another notable mention is Shep.

Promise Me Sunshine is a book about grief, family, love, and life after loss. It’s a journey of acceptance and allowance and learning not to retreat into isolation when things become too overwhelming to handle. But most of all, it’s a book about rediscovering yourself after losing yourself to grief and relearning how to love and live again and appreciate the simple things in life again. This was such a phenomenal read and I genuinely enjoyed reading every page of it. I cannot wait to read more from Cara especially with the snippet at the end of the book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This review will be published on 10/4 on Goodreads.

6 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was phenomenal. I will think about it daily and know I will for the rest of my life.
Promise Me Sunshine is a book of healing, laughter, romance, and falling back in love with life. I've read books on grief before and this is the first time I truly felt seen and understood. As someone who has had a major loss in my life I've been searching for a book to capture the ebbs and flows loss brings you through.
I felt hope. I felt joy. I related to both Lenny and Miles in different ways. Being the one to help pull someone out, and being the one carried from the darkness.
I can not wait for the day I hold this book in my hands physically so I can reread it over and over.

Thank you so much, NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book!

4.5 stars. A sweet story of grief and a friendship that might become something more. I was rooting for Lenny and Miles, although I felt like he was a little overbearing/controlling when they first met. What was supposed to come across as caring could also be seen as a little stalkerish if Lenny wasn’t into it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

4.75 stars!!

this book is a beautiful & hopeful romance that touches on the heavy burden of grief. it’s both heartbreaking and uplifting. i cried and laughed and swooned. i love how cara dove into the different layers of grief while also adding in those fun moments. she perfectly captured the feeling of losing someone you love & fighting your way back to life. BEAUTIFUL 😭

I LOVE MILES WITH MY WHOLE HEART!!! the way this man showed up again and again for lenny 😭😭😭 the way he supported her with this calming steady presence!! but also he’s soooo hot & !!!! loves big in everything !!!

lenny my sweet lenny i love her & her quirky personality. i want to be her friend. ainsley & reese & the whole gang !!! they’re all amazing!!

thank you Dial Press & Netgalley for the arc! This is my honest review.