OH MY GOSH!! The easiest five stars I’ve ever given for a romance book. It’s like a 2000’s dream come true. It’s uptown girls, but the banter of Anna Ferris and Chris Evan’s in what’s your number, but also Patrick Veronas level of sweetness when it comes to Kat in 10 things I hate about you!

Reading this book was a rollercoaster I never wanted to get off! I laughed, and cried, and ached, and smiled, and swooned all in the span of devouring this book. Yes, it was romantic, but it was also so much more. Grief is a huge theme in the book but Cara dealt with it (and her characters) so tenderly.

And speaking of tender - Miles and Lenny. I can’t really think of a book that I’ve read recently where there were two characters that just needed each other as much as Miles and Lenny did at that very moment in time, that I cheered for them to stand on their own as hard as I did when they came together.

This being my first book by Cara aside, it didn’t take me long to get into the book and Cara’s writing has such a gentle movie quality about it. I loved everything about this and can’t wait to recommend to anyone who would listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

This was a slow burn of swoon. And heartbreak. I saw a review that stated this book was a caricature of grief and I take offense. As someone who, even three years later, is still navigating the grief waters after losing my dad, I think this book is a very accurate portrayal of the grief process and how overwhelming and overpowering it can be.

I am very much into these books where the main character needs to be taken care of by someone. This gives me so many Nobody Wants This vibes (watch it if you haven’t) and I was utterly smitten with Lenny and Miles. Actually, I was smitten with all the characters. But back to the slow burn of swoon. Holy heck, Miles. He was so wonderful and I know there are probably plenty of people who would say his character isn’t realistic, but who the hell cares. He was beautiful and sweet and swoon-worthy. I loved the banter between his and Lenny. The whole build up to the end was just lovely.

This was a super cute slow-burn romance! Lenny and Miles are the sweetest!
The way that the author addresses grief in this book is amazing. She does such a great job taking us through Lenny's journey with grief after losing her best friend.
This book was so down to earth. Miles seemed like he could be a real guy I could meet and date, not some fictional man that doesn't really exist in real life.
I really enjoyed this book and I'd highly recommend it especially if you enjoy a good slow burn!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Dial Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Firstly, I want to address the grief in this book.

Reading a story like this a couple months after my father passed away was both cathartic and devastating at the same time. I have to say I really resonated with Lenny at different times with how her grief hit her. I think a lot of people handle grief differently but this book gives a good point of view on how wrecked your life feels afterward. You still have to continue to work and put on a good face around you but on the inside your a complete mess. I think the author did a great job of describing Lenny's struggle with that. Lenny touches on how this time period in a persons life feels FAKE. Like this part of your life is a dream, its not real. There is no way that this person that was so important in your life is just gone. Time is such a weird concept when you're grieving. It feels like the days are just moving and moving and you are just stuck. The author does a great job at depicting that through Lenny's struggles with trying to pick herself up when everything hits again.

Now, the romance? That was also a hit for me! I love Miles. He had so much patience with Lenny. I love that he took her under his wing and helped her navigate the immense feelings that come with losing someone. And I love that Lenny was also able to help him connect with his family. You can tell that Miles cares deeply for the people who are close to him. Watching him step up and take the cues that Lenny provides for him to open that space to have a good relationship with his sister and niece was so satisfying. Good feels all around reading the relationships in this story develop.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the arc in an exchange for an honest review!

The first half of this book did tend to lose me a bit. Grief is such a heavy subject that is hard to tackle. Especially because grief looks different on everyone. I saw so much of myself in Lenny that it was hard to judge her and her response to things. I felt so seen by this character. I loved how patient, understanding and mindful Miles was towards her. He really gave her the space to grow and heal without being pushy. The way the book started off and she left so alone to the end where she has all these new people in her life and also is being mindful to reach out to the people who have always been in her life. Cara Bastone really did amazing with this book. The slow burn was SLOW, but so worth it in my opinion. The second half of this book is where I really felt all these new people magic and the spark between Lenny and Miles. Their journey together both healing and helping each other really pulled at my heart. I love them

Wow, this book really deserves all the hype it has been getting so far!
It was beautifully written and I was completely moved by the story. I thought the author did an amazing job of balancing the heavy topic of grief with the lighthearted moments. The book kept me interested from beginning to end.

As for the characters, I adored the protagonist Lenny. She puts on this sunshiny persona, but in reality, she is drowning in grief after the loss of her best friend. Her healing journey was depicted realistically. It was not linear and we got to see her experience good days and bad days after her loss. Every day she was trying her best and, little by little, she starts learning how to live again. And Miles! He reminded me so much of Jacob from Yours Truly. He was the sweetest and has the best intentions, but sometimes his actions and his words don’t come off that way because of his gruff exterior. He cares deeply for others and just needed some help in showcasing it better.

The romance was a slow burn for sure. It doesn’t really kick in until the last third of the book, but there were subtle hints here and there. It didn’t bother me too much because I loved reading about Lenny and Miles’ friendship. They understood and complemented each other so well.

All in all, this was a great read and I will definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next release.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

(A review will be posted on my Instagram @aghopelessromantic on release day as well)

Beautiful, aching, heart-wrenching, and slow burn.

This is a story about coming back to life as much as it's a story about a romance.

If you're looking for spice (I often am), this might not be the book for you, but for me, the intimacy PROMISE ME SUNSHINE builds more than makes up for it. It is such a DEEP novel and I loved it so much.

If you’re looking for a book that sucks you in and makes it impossible to put down, this is the book for you. It is raw and real and honest and everything in between. It portrays grief so well. It broke my heart and put it back together. Such an awesome story about friendship and moving on with your life afterwords. I loved every single page of this book.

A huge thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

I requested this sooo quickly after reading Ready or Not by this author and sobbing!! This one was good, but I just didn't quite connect with it as much. This is a beautiful portrayal of life after grief, and I did think that was done really well. The story was fun to follow and Ainsley was my absolute favourite, but it did feel cheesy and a bit cringe at points. However, I would reread it!!

This was a lovely read. I was pleasantly surprised when I read Cara's other book Ready or Not so I was excited to hear she had a new one coming out. I really appreciated how Bastone portrayed grief and depression. As someone who is intimately familiar with both, I was able to see myself in Lenny's behavior, thoughts, and emotions. When Miles said, "Something good for you. Something bad for you. And a change of scenery," I yelled, "yes, that!" because it clicked in my head that those are steps I take when I'm going through hard times. The romance, of course, is also well done, but I liked how the majority of the book focused on their friendship and learning to live with grief. And that Lenny isn't "fixed" or over her grief just because of her relationship with Miles.

Separately, I said this in a review for Ready or Not but I think that Cara Bastone uses inclusive language really well. There is a trans character in this book who is never outwardly described as trans but you're able to gather from context clues. I appreciate that this is a departure from what I normally see when characters are described like, "she was a beautiful trans woman who looked like x,y,z."

Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

No notes. A true must-read. Promise Me Sunshine is, without a doubt, the best book I've read all year.

Cara Bastone won my heart with Ready or Not last year, and with Promise Me Sunshine, she has done it again. This book is an emotional rollercoaster—heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and painful, but also filled with so much love, joy, and hope. It completely broke me during the first chapter (yes, I cried on a plane), but finishing it was worth every tear.

Lenny is shattered after the devastating loss of her best friend to cancer. She spends her nights aimlessly riding the Long Island Ferry and her days babysitting the sweetest little girl, all while drowning in her grief. Enter Miles—the grumpy upstairs neighbor and protective uncle who, at first, distrusts Lenny's childcare abilities while keeping his distance. When Miles learns about Lenny's loss, and Lenny discovers Miles is struggling to connect with his niece and sister, they strike a deal. He’ll be her "grief wingman" and help her through her loss, and she’ll teach him how to get closer to his family.

Through difficult conversations, sleepless nights, shared tears, and moments of joy, Miles and Lenny slowly learn to live again, side by side. This book is raw and painful, yet filled with hope, reminding us that even in the darkest times, we need someone to walk through the pain with us. It beautifully explores how grief lingers and becomes a part of us because the people we've lost remain a part of our souls.

Cara Bastone captures this emotional journey with such depth, while also balancing moments of humor and warmth. Lenny’s inner thoughts, often hilarious and unexpected, lightened the emotional weight of the story. The slow-burn romance between Lenny and Miles was wonderfully developed—it took its time, which felt right for the delicate journey of healing they were on.

Beyond the romance, I loved how Miles' relationship with his family evolved, and how Lenny slowly reconnected with her own. The character development was masterfully done, and the emotional connections felt genuine.

Even amidst the heartbreak, Promise Me Sunshine was brimming with honesty and joy. It might have broken me, but it did so in the absolute best way possible. Thank you, NetGalley and The Dial Press, for providing this ARC for review.

Read if you enjoy:

Grumpy/Sunshine dynamics
Forced proximity
Slow burn romance

The slow burn that’s worth waiting for. I’ve never experienced grief like the main characters in this book but I truly felt like I was right there with them. A wonderful story of grief, friendship, self love and love-love.

4.5 ⭐️ A beautiful, hilarious, heartbreaking read. Truly a gift to have been able to read this ARC. Ready or not has been on my shelf for a while and now it’s next up on my tbr!

I would like to start by thanking my lucky star (and NetGalley) for receiving the ARC of this book.

Cara Bastone is Emily Henry for the girlies who go to therapy.

This is the second time this year (Hi, Ready or not.) that Cara Bastone does fuzzy things to my heart. While reading this book, I cried like five times, but I also laughed out loud many times. And I just couldn't put this book down and ended up reading it in one day (yes, I had other plans that had to be rescheduled).

In Promise me Sunshine, we follow Lenny's journey trying to Live Again after her best friend Lou passes away from ovarian cancer. As Lenny says, Lou wasn't just her best friend, Lou was her soulmate. The only thing that helps Lenny continue living is nannying, and in one of her jobs she meets someone who can help her try and finish the list she created with Lou to help her "live again".

I can't wait to go on the Staten Island Ferry after reading this book, and I'll never look at New York in the winter the same way again.

Cara Bastone, girl, if you need a baby sitter to finish the next book faster, hit me up! I have absolutely no experience, but I am dying for the next book already =P

"Promise Me Sunshine" is an emotional journey of grief, healing, and unexpected romance. Lenny is struggling to cope with the death of her best friend, Lou, who left her with a "live again" to-do list to help her navigate the stages of grief.

The story follows Lenny, a nanny still reeling from Lou’s passing due to cancer. She's avoiding her family, her apartment, and the list of promises Lou made her commit to, trying to cope with her grief. She takes on a temporary babysitting job for Reese and her daughter, Ainsley, where she meets Reese’s brother, Miles.

Miles is initially grumpy and mistrustful of Lenny, but he soon reveals his own struggles with grief, having tragically lost his mother and cousin. Together, Lenny and Miles form an unexpected bond, agreeing to help each other: Lenny will help him improve his relationship with Reese and Ainsley, and Miles will support her in completing her “live again” to-do list. As they work together, their relationship evolves from reluctant acquaintances to close friends and eventually into something deeper.

Character Dynamics:
1. Lenny: A well-drawn, relatable character navigating high-functioning depression and the overwhelming grief of losing someone she loved. Her tendency to romanticize potential love interests adds a layer of vulnerability to her character. Lenny’s journey is raw and honest as she learns to live without Lou.
2. Miles: At first, he seems like the typical “grumpy” love interest, but he quickly proves to be far more layered. His own unresolved grief often matches Lenny’s struggles, and their shared pain brings them together. His relationship with his half-sister, Reese, adds depth to his character and offers a nice subplot that complements the central romance.
3. Lou (in flashbacks): While Lou is no longer alive, her presence is felt throughout the story. The flashbacks to her battle with cancer add emotional weight to Lenny's current grief, emphasizing their deep connection.

Themes:
1. Grief and Loss: At its core, this book is a heartfelt exploration of the different ways people cope with loss. Lenny’s grief is palpable and realistic, and her internal struggles are balanced with moments of lightness as she attempts to heal.
2. Healing and Moving Forward: The story demonstrates how it’s possible to rebuild life after loss, not by forgetting, but by honoring the memory of loved ones while finding joy again.
3. Found Family: Lenny’s evolving relationship with Reese, Ainsley, and Miles shows that family doesn’t always come from blood; sometimes it’s the connections we make along the way that matter the most.
4. Romance: The slow-burn between Lenny and Miles is tender and natural, never overshadowing the story’s heavier themes but instead enhancing them. Their love grows organically through shared vulnerability and mutual support.
5. Pacing and Writing Style: The writing style is sensitive and authentic, with deeply personal, reflective moments balanced by witty dialogue and charming interactions between characters. The pacing is slow and deliberate, giving time for the emotional depth of the story to unfold, but it remains engaging throughout.

Final Thoughts: "Promise Me Sunshine" is a powerful story about love, loss, and the path to recovery. Its careful balance of romance and grief offers an emotionally rich reading experience that will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the depths of loss. Personally, I found this book deeply relatable. Lenny’s journey highlights that there is no single way to deal with grief—it looks different for everyone. Her path of healing felt authentic and real, and I could empathize with the challenges she faced. The book beautifully captures that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and comparing grief journeys is impossible. Both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, this book showcases Cara Bastone’s ability to write complex, emotionally driven stories with sincerity and heart.

Rating: 4.5/5

OMG, loved this book. Lenny is relatable (even though I've never lost my best friend to cancer). Her journey is poignant and messy and I loved her self awareness. Miles is an excellent counterpart to Lenny and him stepping in to be her grief sherpa is amazing. I just loved this book. I can't say enough good things!!

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone follows Lenny, who is struggling to navigate life after the death of her best friend. Grief has left her feeling lost, and she’s avoiding everything that reminds her of her loss. Taking on temporary babysitting jobs is the only way she feels she can cope, which leads her to work for Reese and her daughter, Ainsley. Then comes Miles, Ainsley’s grumpy uncle, who unexpectedly offers Lenny a deal: he’ll help her complete her “live again” list if she’ll help him reconnect with his family. As they bond through shared grief and a series of heartfelt moments, Lenny begins to find hope and maybe even a new beginning.

I’d rate Promise Me Sunshine 4 to 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed the slow build between Lenny and Miles, though at times, it felt almost too slow. The gradual deepening of their connection felt real, and I appreciated how both characters were handling their own struggles in such a genuine way. The depiction of grief was incredibly relatable, and I found myself getting choked up during several emotional moments. The supporting characters, especially the friends they made along the way, added warmth to the story. However, the abrupt ending was a bit of a letdown. It felt like the story was cut off just when things were really coming together, though I wonder if that’s leaving room for a sequel focused on Lenny and Miles in the future.

I’m crying as I type this review out, this book has changed me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Dial Press for this advanced copy of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone.

First, my rating: 5/5 stars total perfection.

My review: Have you ever watched a movie that you know will make you cry, but it’s your favorite? That’s what this book was for me. I cried while smiling so many times. Lenny’s journey in this book is such a deep look into grief, and living on after we lose the one we love. It hurt, the book cuts deep into your heart but you root for Lenny and her growth throughout.
And Miles, my sweet Miles, is the best man I’ve read in a long time.
I can’t even put into words how beautiful this book was. My only critique wasn’t I was not ready for the ending. I need an epilogue. That’s all. Everything else was beautiful.

I'm so happy I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, especially after reading Ready or Not this year and absolutely loving it! I feel like the same can be said about Promise Me Sunshine, I don't have much experience with grief but I seriously connected with Lenny in every way. Lenny and Miles' companionship was just what they needed and they'll be on my mind for a while.