Of the last several books I’ve read, 3 were ARCs and all were 5-star reads. Thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!!

Ever since her best friend and roommate Lou died, Lenny has been barely hanging on. She’s not eating, she’s barely sleeping, and the thought of going back to their apartment—in which all of Lou’s stuff is still where she left it—has Lenny on the verge of hysteria.

Lenny can’t even handle a full-time job; all she can do are short-term babysitting arrangements, because there’s no real commitment. Her latest gig, watching the daughter of a hard-working single mom, is terrific—Lenny really connects with young Ainsley, and it takes her mind off her own problems, if only for a bit.

The only drawback is that Ainsley’s uncle Miles, a brooding handsome yet grumpy man, hangs around whenever Lenny is there. He seems to find fault with everything Lenny does—how she dresses, what she feeds Ainsley, etc. But it turns out Miles isn’t being critical: he can see that Lenny is grieving, and he understands grief and trying to move past it all too well.

Once Lenny lets her guard down a bit, Miles makes her a deal. He’ll help her cross everything off her “live again” list if she can help him build a relationship with Ainsley and her mother, Reese. (He always seems angry and standoffish when he’s around them.) Little by little, Lenny realizes she can still grieve Lou while rebuilding her life—and maybe there’s even some romance in store.

This was just so beautiful. It’s definitely an emotional read but Lenny, Miles, and all of the other characters are so complex and dynamic. I’ll read anything that Cara Bastone writes!!

The book will publish 3/4/2025.

This book has changed my DNA. I loved Cara’s writing from when I first read Ready or Not and I had a feeling this one would be just as colorful, lively, creative and heartfelt. It did not miss at all.

This is the story of Lenny who lost her best friend to cancer and is not handling her grief well. She works as a nanny during the day and spends her nights anywhere except her apartment where Lou’s things are still present. Lenny takes a one time weekend gig for a single mom and her daughter, not knowing they’ll introduce her to the man that will help her out of her deep, dark pit of despair, because he’s been there before and he knows how hard it is to live again.

Miles helps Lenny find joy, find peace and ultimately find herself by tackling the “life again” list Lou left her. They go camping, all night dancing, learn new hobbies, and feed each other. In some ways the day to day is very mundane but that’s what makes it beautiful.

I adored Miles and lost it when they got matching lone wolf tattoos. Simply, he’s hot, he’s loyal, and he cares like nobody’s business.

This book is a friends to lovers story, sure, but it’s also about family dynamics, healing and grief, finding oneself after you’ve lost your other half, a love letter to New York City, and found family. The way CB address grief is like it’s its own character and she takes us on a journey that feels joyful even when feeling absolutely terrible.

If you’ve lost someone, this might be a hard read, but you’re probably someone who would benefit from it most.

Vibes:
Grief exploration
Friends to lovers
Hurt x comfort
Grumpy x sunshine
Slow burn
New York City
Kids
Complex family dynamics

Cw: death by cancer, death by car accident, contemplation of suicide, intense grief discussions

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group for allowing me access to this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.25⭐ this book has tons of 5 star reviews, but the book I read was not what I was expecting. It's s part rom-com, part ode to grief and life and moving on.

The writing wasn't quite my style, and the first third of this book was a bit painful for me to get through because I just wasn't invested in the story, especially when the first words to describe Miles are "He's not good-looking, really. Low grade sexy." I was SO confused by that statement, and the rest of the paragraph doesn't sound much better or more flattering in my opinion, and so for the first half of this book I pictured Miles as an average dude with a buzz cut, stubble, and a bit of a gut. Honestly, a bit like one of my exs. And then to get halfway in and he has abs? And people keep saying he's hot? My brain was very confused and it detracted from the story.

But once I got past that part, it was a very heartwarming book. I also didn't expect so the romance to be squished at the end, but the logic behind it made sense at least.

This is a six billion stars book. I loved every single second of it. Everything hit for me. The emotional depth. The character development. The romance. The authentic male love interest. The grief and mourning. A book dealing with such sadness and grief made me feel giddy and warm and comforted and loved. I loved that feeling. One of the best books to come out of 2025.

Lenny is drowning in grief. She can function just enough to take short term babysitting gigs, but not more. Miles is trying to connect with his sister and niece and failing. The two make a deal, Miles will keep Lenny from drowning and Lenny will teach Miles how to befriend his niece, Ainsley. The result is a tender, slow burn romance, that explores so many facets of love. When Lenny and Miles have their first kiss, it feels epic, and earned. And then, in true Cara Bastone fashion, the mundane interrupts. This is a book in which the Earth keeps spinning whether your life has fallen apart, or the man you’re going to love forever kisses you for the first time.

It would be easy to say that Lenny is a mess in need of rescuing and that Miles comes along to save her. But that would be inaccurate. Lenny and Miles are equals exchanging knowledge in their areas of expertise. Miles’ expertise is getting through life altering grief and Lenny’s is getting along with people, specially child people. They make it possible for the other to get through the rough patch.

Having gotten through some rough stuff myself, I was nodding along with the choices being made. Sometimes the thing we need when we can’t take care of ourselves is to take care of someone else. I was very familiar with Lenny’s feeling that she couldn’t feed and water herself, but she could keep it together enough to make Ainsley feel safe and cared for. If there is a thesis to this story, it’s that we cannot get through hard stuff alone.

I love Promise Me Sunshine for many reasons. Probably the biggest reason is that Lenny’s grief is for her friend, not a parent or a partner, a friend. What gets her through the very worst of the grief is more friendship. Friendship doesn’t often get its due, and Cara Bastone is serving up a romance in which all kinds of friendships are centered. It’s a gorgeously human book, and the kind of softness I need right now. Go forth and make friends, love people and let them love you. Eat something delicious. Be willing to be silly.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Random House and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Cara Bastone has become an instant buy author for me. The way she story tells is honestly beautiful. Promise Me Sunshine is about Lenny, who is grieving her best friend who recently passed away, who meets Miles who is also grieving and navigating his new family dynamics. This story is so, so much more than girl meets boy and falls in love. It’s emotional and witty and made up of all of the elements of a wonderful book

4.25/5 stars
Grief can present itself in a myriad of different ways. For Lenny, it's avoiding her apartment - once shared with her childhood best friend who has recently passed from cancer - at every cost imaginable. Which is why she agrees to a weekend babysitting gig with an adorable little girl, Ainsley...anddd subsequently meeting her very ornery and apprehensive uncle, Miles. Lenny's quirky behaviors quickly earn the favor of Ainsley and the side-eye detriment of Miles. However, after learning of Lenny's predicament of avoiding her home, Miles offers her a solution. He'll help her overcome her immense depression by helping her fulfill her friend's dying wish, her "start living again" list. All he's asking for in return is a chance to learn how to gain favor in his niece's good graces.

What started as two completely opposite strangers meeting randomly became a unique story of overcoming grief. Lenny, a babysitter who can jester families with her joyfulness (but in only very short spurts of time), cannot easily fool Miles. Miles, someone we later learn of having experienced loss in his own way, feels like he is the perfect person to help Lenny. I like how these two individuals, unable to really free themselves of their own burdens, were able to help each other instead.

Where most romcoms deal with heavy subject matter by glossing over the hard topics in a couple of chapters, Cara Bastone profoundly serves the reality of grief in each chapter. Lenny is desperately trying to ready herself after losing her closest friend, and sometimes the hardest thing to do is admitting there are no rules or guides to any of it - the only way out is through. Same for Miles and wanting to grow a relationship with his seven-year-old niece. You just figure it out by slowly doing it. While I normally like to see the FMC and MMC profess their admiration for each other by at least the 50% mark, it was really nice to see a solid foundation of friendship before you could tell that there were some undercurrent feelings building up. A true slow burn, (kinda) enemies to friends to lovahhhhs (as Lenny would say). And talk about an anticipatory kiss! Gah!

Many thanks to Random House Books, NetGalley, and Cara Bastone for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

In Promise Me Sunshine we Meet Lenny. A woman in her late 20s struggling with the loss of her best friend. Her life has become a shell of what it used to be. Only taking on temporary work she becomes a Nanny for Ainsley. In comes Ainsley’s uncle Miles who’s kind of a jerk but has made it his mission to help Lenny live again.

This is my first book from this author and I genuinely could not put it down. Lenny was such a great lovable and relatable character from the beginning. The way she felt grief and the journey we went on with her was a very realistic portrayal of what it’s like to go through and how hard it is to go when we lose someone we love so dearly.

Miles is the definition of a misunderstood socially awkward cinnamon roll MC. Outwardly he is stoic but inside he is a compassionate lovable person. He is the type of man that is the rock in the storm. He is not some Prince Charming fairytale Mc but he is a realistic love you at you at your lowest and love all of you type of character.

I loved how they started out as strictly friends. Yes you knew there was some underlying attraction but they both grew to really get to know each other and be there for one another. Miles was everything she needed to help her live again but Lenny was also everything he needed to be himself. Their love story felt deep and so healing. The slow burn and the build was done nicely. There is some spice in it but not a lot. (🌶️🌶️/5 18+)

All in all I absolute loved this book. If your looking for a good emotional and healing romance book you’ll
Love this one.

Thank you Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the digital Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Release date:3/4/25

4.5 stars

Promise Me Sunshine was such an emotional exploration of grief and loss. It’s about breaking and healing and showing love and care in big and small ways. The slow burn, friends to lovers romance builds steadily, but this one fell more into women’s fiction for me since it’s Lenny’s journey that takes center stage.

The story is heartbreaking at times, but there’s also beauty in the healing. Cara Bastone masterfully balances the heavier elements with lots of humor and joy. The slow burn was glacial, but the chemistry between Lenny and Miles was sexy just like a Darcy fist clench. Miles was beyond swoony and was such a sweetheart. I loved how supportive he was and how he truly understood Lenny. The ending did feel a little rushed as things all came together, but this really was such a heartfelt and thoughtful read.

I mainly listened to the audiobook of Promise Me Sunshine and I was completely blown away by Alex Finke’s performance. Her comedic timing is incredible and she brings an energy to the story that few can. Her narration truly elevates Cara Bastone’s words. Her gut wrenching performance had me shedding a tear or two and I can’t recommend this audiobook enough.

Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5+++ stars
Story 4.5 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

CW: grief, death of loved ones (past), cancer, stroke, parental infidelity

I spent this entire book crying my eyes out because it was so tragic and sad. While I didn't like Ready or Not, this book was a lot sadder but also so much more cohesive to me.

First off, Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! The way I gasped when I got approved!

I am in love with the way this was written. The entire pace of this story matches perfectly with the topics approached. It was what made this book 5 stars ( for me ) and it will hold a VERY special place in my heart.

Miles, bless him, is a very straight forward, shy and stubborn character who deep down just needed people to stick with him and have patience. He was just still navigating with his losses even though his loss happened years ago. Lenny was the epitome of someone who just tried to make it day by day and pushed her emotions deep down and locked them away in a box until she couldn’t do it anymore. I love both Lenny AND Miles so much for VERY different reasons- I fear I’ll need 5-10 business day at least before I recover.


** SN: I laughed and kicked my feet giggling MULTIPLE times throughout the story. Cara you’ve become an auto buy author for me. Pls I need more books :D**

When I saw I was approved for this arc, I was beyond excited because Cara can do no wrong. I was glued to every word from the first page. She doesn't rush a single aspect and despite it being a slow burn, the pace is well set and keeps you coming back chapter after chapter.

Thanks to publishers & author for this ARC.
This was my first Cara Bastone book.
MCs Miles & Lenny meet at the right time. Miles who has walked through some hard times, teaches Lenny how to survive and thrive through her grief. This book had some sad moments and triggers but it was good. I liked how the characters spent the entire book getting to know each other. This was definitely a slow burn. This was a book about love but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a romance. CB showed us how two people can connect on multiple levels. Definitely made me cry at times. The MCs shared this relationship that was equally balanced. They both helped each other get to where they needed to be or were hoping to be. I would recommend this. Ainsley’s character alone was definitely one of my favs.

Lenny and Miles found each other at the right time. Lenny has just lost her best friend and roommate, and she is struggling through her grief. She feels lost and directionless. She is taking temporary nanny positions, and she is avoiding going back home. When she meets Miles, she is taking care of his niece. He has a proposition for Lenny: he will be her 'grief wingman', if she will help him develop his relationship with his sister and niece.

They embark on a journey through grief, and they develop a strong friendship. When feelings get stronger, Lenny wonders if she can truly be happy with Miles. Miles is so sweet to Lenny, and he takes such good care of her. He even washes her hair! The slow burn romance was so well earned and deserved.

The New York City setting adds so much to the landscape, and it's an integral part of the story. I enjoyed seeing the ferry and so many parts of New York City.

Overall, this was a really heartwarming story, and it will stick with me for years to come.

Honestly picked the book because of the cute cover and we have the same first name. Was not expecting it to be as emotional as it was. Got me in the feels and processing grief along with them.

4 Stars

Cara Bastone wowed me last year with Ready or Not— it was one of my favorite books of the year so I was thrilled when I got approved for an ARC of Promise Me Sunshine.

Our story follows quirky Lenny who is in, to quote my favorite girl Anne Shirley, the depths of despair after losing her best friend Lou to cancer. She’s just aimlessly being tossed through life when she takes on a temp nanny job for a single-mom and her daughter. Through her new job she ends up meeting grumpy Miles who has been through grief himself and they make a deal to conquer Lenny’s grief while also helping Miles forge a relationship with his sister & niece.

Promise Me Sunshine was less about romance for me and more about grief & friendship. I enjoyed it but I wanted a bit more *romantic* build up with the main couple. I felt like it went from zero to ten really fast? But maybe that’s just me. The ending also felt kind of abrupt to me! Without giving any spoilers I will say I was shocked when the chapter ended and there wasn’t more or at least an epilogue! The first half was probably a solid 5 star read for me though.

While, Promise Me Sunshine wasn’t exactly what I wanted it to be, it was enjoyable & I am still a Fangirl of Cara Bastone. Her writing is really beautiful. She also has like four Audible Originals as well which are all so fun & I would recommend. Can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Dial Press for my advance review copy.

*No words, just tears.*

Actually, I do have words. This book was absolutely extraordinary. Cara paints an achingly beautiful, nuanced picture of what living through grief can look like.

Lennie and Miles’ friendship is one of the most beautiful friends-to-lovers journeys I’ve ever read. The way he becomes her person left me in a puddle of tears.

The side characters are awesome too. The whole book was just absolute perfection.

📖 Book Review

Title: Promise Me Sunshine
Author: Cara Bastone

Description:
Lenny is lost after the death of her best friend, Lou, until a grumpy yet intriguing stranger enters her life, promising to help her rediscover joy. In this heartfelt, slow-burn romance, grief and healing are deeply intertwined, making for a poignant story of second chances and self-discovery.

My Thoughts:
This book was such a unique take on romance because it beautifully weaves grief and healing into the story. The emotions felt raw and real, and Cara Bastone’s writing truly shines in capturing the complexity of Lenny’s journey. Even though I was juggling multiple books, I kept going back to this one because of how beautifully the writing flowed.

I loved how the romance wasn’t rushed but instead unfolded slowly and naturally, making it even more meaningful. That said, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit slower than I would’ve liked, but the emotional depth of the story made up for it. This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about finding yourself after loss, and I found myself reflecting on how love and life can coexist with grief. The themes were handled with so much care and sensitivity.

Genre: Romance

Age Range: Adult

Favorite Quote:
“Sometimes, the best way to honor the ones you’ve lost is to start living the life they’d want for you.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Publication Date: March 4, 2025

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

I will post my review January 27th, 2025 on https://www.instagram.com/musiesmamareads?igsh=OXIyY2gxYTd2YjE1&utm_source=qr

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice rating: 🌶️/5

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me early access in exchange for my honest review.

Let me just say, I love Cara Bastone. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. The slow burn was very very slow. Like didn’t happen til almost the end slow. I found myself often getting bored or having the ICK about the storyline which sucks, because like I said, I love this author. I just think this one wasn’t not for me. It still was a very cute story and the parts about grief were written so well. So, I still would recommend but maybe in audiobook version.

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

FMC: Helen "Lenny" (28yrs)
MMC: Miles Honey

I loved everything about this book, and it's the book of the year for me. I know the year just started, but this is a book that I would hold dear to my heart for the rest of the year and possibly forever. It's a beautiful raw journey and I recommend to everyone, and I hope that at the end of this book you come out looking at the sunshine like I did. I can't promise you that you will love this book as much as I did (I really loved it so I hope you do too), but I can promise you that it's a beautiful book.

This is the first book I read by the author and I'm sold to read the rest of her book. I read the blurb, and I immediately knew I had to read it. From the blurb, I wanted to meet Lenny. I fell in love with Lenny from the first chapter. I felt like the author did a phenomenal job in writing Lenny and helping readers connect with her. The book is through Lenny's POV, and from the very first chapter you want to know more about her, and we are rooting for her. Miles comes along really early on the book, and I loved everything about their very first meeting and it just goes from there. I felt like I was living these adventures with Lenny and Miles as I was reading. I have so many moments I would love to talk about because I truly loved everything about them, but I'll leave it to you. Life is chaos and at times pain, and I hope that in life we find ourselves a Miles.