I am truly honored to have received an advanced reader copy of this book, set to be released in May 2025. From the moment I learned that Cara Bastone was publishing a new book, I was filled with anticipation. I dove into the story blindly, unaware that one of the main themes would be grief.
As someone who is all too familiar with loss, I can say that the topic is handled with sensitivity and grace.
I could totally relate to Lenny; Miles' character was absolutely surprising—he was so gentle and wise. As usual, NYC plays its own role, and I really enjoyed how it’s described because it feels very real.
Even if you are going through a difficult grief process, I would absolutely recommend this book. I both laughed and cried, finding moments of joy and sorrow.
Beautiful book!

5 beautiful 🌟. I thought this was a beautiful story showing the journey of grief and finding out you can heal through immense pain and be happy on the other side. Miles and Lenny both were dealing with their own grief journey but their friendship was so sweet. Miles is the definition of a grumpy teddy bear and I was here for it. Lenny is quirky in her own way but breaks Miles down bit by bit. One of my favorite lines from this book was:
"Because making someone believe they're home is so much better than being told I'm pretty" ugh stoppp
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

Hmm. I’m not sure on this one. It is a pretty sad set up. Lenny is deep in the throes of grief over the passing of her best friend. She is taking short term nanny jobs to stay afloat. She is nannying for Mile’s niece. Miles is grumpy and somewhat estranged from his sister and niece and trying to get to know them. Miles agrees to help Lenny with her list of things to live if she can teach him how to be around his niece. The story drags along as Lenny tries to be human again. I think my main concern is Miles. It almost comes off as a savior complex and the whole story feels unnatural. By the time the hope and joy section came around, you’ve been trudging in the depression and misery of the story for so long, it was hard to appreciate. At best this is a library rental if you don’t mind being sad.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up. I HIGHLY preferred this to Bastone’s previous book, Ready Or Not. This one felt
more like an actual romance, and the kid in this— while older, which is usually not my favorite— was great! This was just… so good. As someone who has gone through an insurmountable amount of grief this year, there’s something so special about reading books that have characters who get you. Grief is a part of love, and those who grieve deserve to have love. I loved this book and I can’t wait to get a physical copy ❤️

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that made me cry and laugh in equal measure. What a punch in the gut with such realistic displays of moving forward after grief, alongside fun chemistry and hilarious banter. I loved everything about this book and, while I read an e-ARC, I intend to purchase a copy for my “favorites” shelf.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance reader copy.

I absolutely adored this novel. It does have romance but it's focused on the FMC, Lenny, going through grief after losing her best friend to cancer. It was painfully real and I was wrought with emotion while reading it. Though it was heavy at times, it was a really good book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this!
This story follows Lenny, who is trying to navigate after losing her best friend and soulmate to the terrible C. She's taken on a babysitting job that puts her front and center with Miles, a seemingly grumpy (but completely not) Uncle trying to connect with his niece. We follow them as they work to cross of the 'live life' list left for Lenny and help pull her from her deepest stages of grief.
This is, in its heart, a romance, but gosh it is SO much more. This is a moving, gut punching view into grief, trauma, friendship, love, and the power of the people we consider our soulmates. First Lenny: she is conflicted, messy, heartfelt, and just so well rounded. I loved the flashbacks to her friendship with Lou, and I thought the portrayal of her heartbreak was so completely genuine. I also loved that many many times, Lenny used humor or sarcasm to mask her emotions: this is me to an absolute T. It was like seeing myself on the pages if I ever lost my Lou
Miles comes off at first as grumpy but he is just a breath of genuine care and attention. He goes above and beyond for his sister, niece, and Lenny because he wants people to succeed to the depths of his soul, and it never once felt contrite. I LOVE how slow burn their romance was (it needed to play second fiddle to the rest of the story) and I particularly like how he pushed her to make friends without any amount of jealousy or animosity. The lack of a third act breakup was also excellent.
There are books every year that knock my socks off with the emotional truth bombs they bring to romance and this is easily my pick for 2024: brilliant.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

i was really charmed by cara bastone's 2023 release, ready or not, and was excited to see what she did next and this did not disappoint! promise me sunshine is about lenny navigating her grief after losing her best friend to cancer and forging a connection with miles, the uncle of the ainsley, the little girl that lenny nannies for. while the barebones of the plot sounds pretty heavy this story is still told with so much light and joy and it strikes a really impressive balance between being highly emotionally impactful but still really fun to read. i loved both leads and found the supporting characters we had in ainsley and reese really endearing too.

don't miss this one when it comes out in march!

This story is interesting because the main topic, grief, is so universal yet so unique to each individual that experiences it. Lenny enters the novel drowning in the grief of losing her lifelong best friend to cancer, and she is absolutely unable to crawl her way out of the pain for more than a day or two at a time. This is a level of grief that I felt very uncomfortable with at first because it felt so foreign to me and it actually made me feel guilty - why didn’t I feel this level of pain when I lost my parent for example? I had to pause in my reading a few times to think about this a lot and realize that it’s about the support system that you have in place before and after the incident takes place that can really shape how you wade your way out of the darkness. Also, I thought a lot about the idea of “measuring” grief and how unfair that really is because it looks and feels so different to each person.

That takes me to Miles. He is a fascinating counter to Lenny in that he has also lost people close to him, but he has come out on the other side of it and is not ready to be the rock for another person. I just love how Bastone writes her male MCs because they are so steadfast and kind and what you hope that a partner will be for you in real life (props to my real life hubby for sure).

I loved this book even though I really do not like reading about grief. I liked seeing how Lenny took the helping hand that Miles offered and worked her way out of the pain that she was feeling. I think that the message that we don’t “get over grief” but learn to let it live with us is a powerful thing and something that is so true. This book is going to sit with me for awhile, and I’m really happy about that.

There was a lot of ATA (Attention to Arm) in this book and for that, I must give it a 5 star.

I had read Ready or Not earlier this year and really enjoyed it! So when I received the arc for Promise Me Sunshine I knew I was hoping I was going to like it. This book felt leveled up from Bastone's first with the topics of grief, character development, and the plot of the book. The writing was so funny in a way that I find most romance novels cringey and I can always appreciate a good slow burn from our MC's.

I highly recommend adding to your TBR when it comes out in March 2025, but in the meantime, would suggest reading Ready or Not.

thank you random house publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Aaaah what a fantastic book. Touching, heartfelt and just beautiful. Intense at times dealing with grief and just a lovely read. Truly enjoyed it.

Definitely my top favourite romance read! I particularly loved how this book emphasizes that while grief can feel isolating, finding support and companionship can lead to unexpected growth and renewal. The chemistry between Lenny and Miles is palpable, and their relationship blossoms in a way that feels both organic and profound. The author’s ability to balance humor with heavy themes creates a rich tapestry of emotions that kept me engaged throughout.

Really beautiful story and such a poignant and genuine portrayal of grief. I loved the language and imagery. I really loved the slow burn love story and the tension and build up! Wow! Loved all the characters, just really well done!

Whew, this one gave me lots of feelings. This is a romance, but it’s heavily focused on the FMC, Lenny, moving through the stages of grief after losing her best friend to cancer. Cara Bastone writes in such an unfiltered way, with quirky little side commentary and random thoughts thrown in, so you kind of feel like you’re actually living inside the character’s head, even more than a typical book. And in this case, this book hit deep as Lenny worked through her grief and depression.

I don’t cry easily when reading, but this one made me full out cry at one point. Partially for the character and what she was going through, and partially because it just hit a little too close to home and it reminded me of a time where I felt as down and hopeless as Lenny was feeling. It all just felt a little too real, and I have to think the author was writing from experience on this one. Whether people can relate to the grief aspect or not, I’m sure a lot of people can relate to the hopelessness of going through depression at some point in their lives.

All that said, it was a really good book. Yes, it’s light on the romance, but it’s heavy on the heart and friendship, and you’ll be fully engaged, because you’ll want nothing more than to see Lenny come out on the other side of her grief and start to really live again.

Shoutout to the Ethan cameo, as well! I loved Ready or Not, so that was a fun and unexpected little peek into that world again!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Dial Press for the ARC of this book!

Lenny is grieving the loss of her best friend. Miles is trying to connect with his sister and niece after losing their dad/grandpa. They agree to help each other through their difficult tasks. They discover new ways of coping and become along the way.
This book is so amazing. The characters in the book are so real and the emotions are incredibly raw. It is truly okay not to be okay, especially when dealing with loss. Having a relationship with relatives needs work and trust. Oh, and the friends. I loved that feeling of how great it is when you find the people who get you, quirks and all. The parents are so real. They worry about their daughter but they give her space to cope with her emotions. The relationships in the book are portrayed in a relatable way. I really connected with how the book addresses difficult aspects of life with respect and effectiveness. I went through so many emotions reading this and I loved every bit of it.

This book takes you through the journey of two very opposite personalities helping one another find the joys in life while navigating difficult and unconventional relationships.

I found this story to be so sweet and enjoyed the friendship that our two main characters built together. The little wins they both saw through their journeys of healing was so heartwarming and I thought the writing was beautiful during those parts.

There were times when I found it to be a little cringey, and I was not completely sold on the main characters love at the end. I think they’re maybe just platonic soulmates and could work up to more than that one day but regardless, it was sweet and the author still took a majority of the book to focus on healing rather than a relationship so, I get it.

Last point on why I took off a few points here: I liked the idea of them helping one another out and I’ve never personally dealt with grief in this regard so maybe just ignore me here but…girly should’ve gone to therapy at some point too lol

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the arc of Promise Me Sunshine in exchange for my honest review.

Cara Bastone has once again delivered a novel that is impossible to forget with her latest book, Promise Me Sunshine. The storyline is rich with layers and overflowing with intense emotions, making it impossible for me to focus on anything else while reading! This fresh, brilliant, and original read has firmly secured its place among my favorite books of the year! I highly recommend this 5-star novel for a buddy read with your best friend – it's an experience you won't want to miss!

3.5 ⭐

This a beautiful story about grief and friendship with a hint of romance. While Lenny is finding her way through life again after losing her best friend, she meets Miles as she's the nanny of his niece. They make a truce for her to help connect him with his niece while he helps her with grieving and her "list to live again". Lenny and Miles are so sweet and need to be protected at all costs 🥹

It did take me a bit to get into this and felt a little slow at the beginning. I also feel like the romance part didn't really pick up until 75% but completely understand it was more a story of Lenny's journey. At times she thoroughly annoyed me but that's also why her character arc from where she started to where she ends up is the true MVP of this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A lovely story of grief and the ways it manifests. This book deals with two people learning to connect and be part of the world again after two major but very different love stories and man I wept. Both characters are so expertly drawn and so is their pain. The supporting characters are incredibly nuanced and three dimensional. You just root for both these people to be okay and that’s the best thing I can say about a book, that the characters feel that real to me. Strong recommend!

This was fantastic & undoubtedly Cara's best work. Authentic, emotional, and cathartic, this book simultaneously covers grief, friendship, and love all in perfect balance. The story follows Lenny, a lonely late 20s New Yorker trying to navigate life following the loss of her best friend. She is plastering on a fake smile as she begins what is intended to be a short term stint as a babysitter but it becomes extended as she bonds with 7-year-old Ainsley and her broody uncle Miles. Miles and Lenny, though somewhat hostile strangers at the start, strike up a friendship when he asks her to help him bond with his niece and in exchange becomes her grief coach of sorts. Miles isn't a stranger to tragic loss and the process of grieving and he becomes her steady guide through it all and helps her complete items on a list that her best friend left her in order for her to live again.

This book really illustrates how vital friendships are in the aftermath of loss and the importance of having someone to depend on as you grieve. I appreciate the way Cara developed these characters and it was so refreshing to have leads who prioritized healthy communication and genuine respect for one another as they became the closest of friends. I particularly love how at times when Lenny wasn't sure what she was feeling underneath her mess of emotions that Miles always knew when to give her space to think or when to be close. This also has perhaps one of the most well executed slow burns I've ever read and the way the romance evolved was the most natural progression. Lenny and Miles just fit with one another so perfectly, his quiet and perceptive self with Lenny's more quirky and bold type. It was so amusing to see his reactions to all the ridiculous things Lenny would say and joke with him over and very gradually Lenny seemed to crack his stone-cold facade. I loved how focused Miles was on her healing and how careful he was with her heart. I also adore how both these characters turned into better versions of themselves in their relationship with one another.

My only very minor complaints would be how appreciated an epilogue would have been and I would have loved to see the list Lenny was working on in full, but despite that this book was absolutely phenomenal.

4.5/5⭐