₊˚.༄♡ I'm a mess of utter delight and tears!

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a love letter to best friends, New York and that one special someone. And it explored all three in perfect harmony.

It's a book about standing again when life throws you down and the people who help you get back up. For Lenny, who's barely alive after losing her best friend, it's Miles who steps in to lend a hand.

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The way the story progresses from Lenny being down on her feet to processing her grief to finally being cautiously hopeful and gaining new experiences even slowly realising she's in love and how seamlessly it was all knitted together is a testament to some great writing

Miles is a solid throughout Lenny's journey and although he at times was surly and grumpy he's quite a gentle bear and a perfect pair to her rambunctiousness.

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4.02 / 5☆

Thanks to Random House Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cara Bastone’s 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 follows Lenny as she mourns the death of her longtime best friend Lou from cancer. Normally a nanny, Lenny’s grief has kept her from seeking a full-time childcare job; instead, she has been taking short-term babysitting gigs. In fact, it has kept her from a lot of things—dating, socializing, spending time with her parents, taking care of herself in general. This was the opposite of what Lou had wanted, as she had left Lenny with a “live again” to-do list to complete after her passing. Enter Miles, the grouchy, awkward uncle of Lenny’s latest babysitting charge. Noticing her sorrow, he offers her a deal: teach him how he can bond with his niece, and he’ll help her cross things off her “live again” list.

This is a well-written novel that portrays the complex and emotional nature of mourning. It is also a slow-burn romance between two people healing from their respective losses. The book moved a bit too sluggishly for me at times, but I think others will appreciate the measured pace of this friends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine love story. Thank you to Dial Press for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow--she's done it again. I was a huge fan of Ready or Not, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Promise Me Sunshine here on NetGalley. No one balances the bitter and the sweet quite like Cara Bastone. These characters felt so real, I didn't want to say goodbye!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is my second Cara Bastone novel and I can safely say I like this author - she writes a quirky, lovable story that I can’t put down. This book is about grief, but there’s so much happiness and friendship in it too. It read like a YA book to me. If you’re looking to support someone who’s grieving this book offers helpful tips and perspectives.

Taking a big deep breath after that one. Phew. Grief is heavy. What a pervasive, all encompassing thing for Lenny to be living through.

Miles is the person we all wish we had in those awful moments. The light in the dark. The sunshine that warms us. And by all metrics, he’s a grumpy, standoffish, quiet man when taken at face value, but I loved seeing the depth of his character as the story progressed.

Seeing platonic love with Lenny and Lou felt so special and how lucky were they to find that in their lifetime and the way Miles held space for it was just so thoughtful.

This book really balanced humor with these deep feelings and Lenny was an absolute riot. Her inner monologue had me rolling at times. Truly hysterical.

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This turned out to be such a bummer for me. In the beginning I was pretty hooked, read almost 30% in one night. Felt like it was going to be a 4 star read for me, and then went downhill. The pacing was all over the place - sometimes I was into it and other times I was so bored. A ton of dialogue between Miles and Lenny, and most of it was so dorky and awkward. I just couldn't relate to them at all. I also felt like there was no plot, like nothing to keep me wanting to read. They were just living their everyday lives... and then the part that irked me the most was how unrealistic it was. There is no way her parents and people in her life let her just leave her apartment as is for 6+ months bc her best friend died. They would have helped her clean it out! And what about Lou's family was that ever mentioned? They should have helped too! And Lenny's dependency on Lou was pretty unhealthy honestly.. she needed more in her life. I just could not get behind this one unfortunately.

Wow, where do I even begin? This book is an absolute gem! It’s a beautifully woven tale of grief, love, and the humor that helps us navigate life’s toughest moments. I was completely swept away by Lenny’s journey—she totally gives off Jess from New Girl vibes! Grieving the loss of her best friend, Lou, Lenny is struggling to find her footing until she meets Miles, who has his own history of loss. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their playful banter is perfection!

Reading this book felt like a personal experience for me. I laughed, cried, and felt an overwhelming sense of hope throughout. Having lost my grandfather a few years ago, I resonated deeply with Lenny’s struggle to move on. Just like her, I found ways to embrace the quirky, weird sides of life, and it was so refreshing to see that captured in the story.

The characters are relatable, and I couldn’t help but bond with Lenny and Lou. My own best friend is just as wacky, loyal, and amazing, and I can’t imagine life without her. A huge shoutout to my girl DCO! This story resonated with me on so many levels—it felt like it was written just for me.

Cara Bastone has an incredible talent for balancing heavy emotions with uplifting moments. The story does delve into some heart-wrenching territory, but it’s also filled with laughter and inspiration. And let me tell you, I truly appreciated how the author approached the intimate scenes. They felt real—awkward, funny, and sweet, rather than the overly polished encounters you often find in other books.

This book has officially made me a lifelong fan of Cara Bastone! She’s an auto-buy author for me, and if you haven’t checked out her previous novel, Ready or Not, you’re missing out. Plus, her romance series on Audible is a total must-listen; the narration is absolutely stellar! I was eager to see what she would deliver next, and Promise Me Sunshine did not disappoint. This novel gutted me in the best way possible, beautifully depicting the journey of healing from grief while finding love and family. I’m definitely going to grab a hard copy when it releases!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed Ready or Not, so I was curious to see what Cara Bastone would come up with as her follow-up (and for those who also enjoyed RoN, there's a nice surprise near the end of Promise Me Sunshine). This novel gutted me, in all the best ways. It was such a loving depiction of recovering from grief and trying to find family. The fact that it's also a romance made it easier to navigate because there would be at least a Happy for Now. This is one I might need to buy in hard copy when it comes out.

This is a beautiful story about grief and also finding love—-with humor throughout to balance it out but you definitely still feel the emotions. Lenny (who gave me Jess from New Girl vibes) is grieving for the death of her best friend, Lou. She’s having a horrible time moving forward until she meets Miles (who experienced his own grief) who helps her navigate and heal through this difficult journey. Their relationship is sweet and their banter perfection.

Wow. What can I say. I loved this book. I laughed. I was emotional. I felt hope. I lost my Grandfather a few years ago and it was very difficult to move on—-just like Lenny. Through my grief and depression I was still able to joke, be a little weird (in a fun and good way) and laugh—just like Lenny.

I felt like this book was written for me. I was so connected to it. I cannot imagine life without my best friend. I don’t want to. Like Lou, my best friend is wacky, funny, loyal, smart and just overall amazing. Shout out to my girl DCO!! I really bonded with this story….as you can tell.

The story can be heavy and even heartbreaking but it is also uplifting and funny. My life too has been heavy and heartbreaking but it’s also been fun and inspiring. I have difficulty with emotions but Cara Bastone has a way of giving me all the heart feels.

I also want to add I appreciate how the author handled the sex scene. It wasn’t so….for lack of a better word “porn.” It was awkward. It was funny. It was sweet. Which is more realistic than what I’ve read in other stories.

So obviously I loved this book! Also to add, Cara Bastone is an auto buy author for me. Check out her previous novel “ Ready or not.” She also has a romance (and also humorous) series on Audible which I devoured. The narration and performance is muy excelente.

5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Releases 03/04/2025

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

I wasn't sure anything could compete with my love for Ready or Not, but the author delivered another captivating love story you will not soon forget. I loved it.

Promise Me Sunshine is a standalone story about friendship and grief. Healing and growth. And falling in love. This is a story that builds slowly. And I mean SLOWLY. Building a friendship from an initial dislike. The way that I SWOONED over Miles though. The way he cared for her. Supported her. Showed up for her. He was always one step ahead. He's like this broody cinnamon roll that I'm not sure I've experience before, but adored. We don't get his POV, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I felt everything. It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I did- I fell hard for them both and was completely captivated. Let this be your warning- stick with it, trust the slow burn.

Because this story is packed full of emotion, tender moments, and even humor too. If you're looking for a book with spice though, you won't find that here until the very end. And I really love how awkward and real the author writes that first time to be. But when I tell you that you don't need it here- I mean that you can feel their connection as their relationship evolves and grows. As they evolve and grow both individually too.

I really loved it. I highlighted so much of this book I wish I could share here. I highly recommend checking it out! And I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

*Thank you to Random House Publishing/Dial Press for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and given freely.

“And this journey through grief...It’s what we do for the great loves of our lives.”

Hey so this book destroyed me in the most beautiful of ways 😭. Promise Me Sunshine might just be my favorite romance book to date. The kindness shared between Lenny and Miles had me so undone. Cara Bastone truly has a fan for life. She has such an ability to blend the soft wonderful parts of life with the most painful and make you laugh while doing it. What a gift to anyone who is grieving or helping someone through grief. It healed such a deep part of me, and I am forever grateful!!

This book is out in March and I will not be shutting up about it until everyone has had the opportunity to read this beautiful book. Please put it on your TBRs! Thank you to @netgalley and as always @carabastone for the ARC.

This was the second novel that I’ve read and absolutely loved by Cara Bastone. This one was a heavy one for sure, the novel dives deep in to the grieving process. The heavy themes might be hard for someone fresh in the grieving process to read. I don’t think I’d recommend it to someone in that stage. However, I think she did a wonderful job balancing the heavy topics out with fun quirky characters that I loved. The two main characters were so well developed and I loved their super slow burn story. Their story was at times painfully slow but totally worth the slow burn in my opinion. I wished we had seen more of Reese and the little girls characters in this book. Their side story felt like an afterthought at times. Overall, a beautifully written novel that made me laugh and cry hysterically. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Run to get your copy when it releases on March 4th!

Cara continues to blow me away!!

Amazing doesn’t even cover it. This book is exceptional and I feel honored to have read it. It’s emotional, heartfelt, comforting, and is one of the best books I’ve ever read that covers grief. She took two complicated characters and made them not only lovable, but honest, relatable, and real.

This book is raw, beautiful, and a must read!!! I urge everyone to read it. Miles and Lenny are complicated and lost, but end up not only finding each other but themselves in the most unconventional yet conventional way possible.

The way they lean on and trust one another makes me cry thinking about it. I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this book, but I never wanted it to end. They’re perfectly imperfect and I loved every second of their story and this book.

This book is like a hug. A story of found family, grief, and love.

This book has so many levels, from finding love, to standing up to people who do not truly know you, to supporting others through grief.

I cannot recommend this book enough

Cara Bastone’s Promise Me Sunshine is a beautiful depiction of one path through tragic loss. The two main characters have both experienced devastating loss, but one was sudden and one was prolonged through cancer. This plot choice emphasizes the similarities of grief as well as allowing for individual approaches to coming out the other side.

First, Bastone can write! Her descriptions and detail are beautiful and seamless. That alone is reason enough to read this book.

Second, she creates realistic characters who become interwoven in one another’s lives in natural ways that can be used as a roadmap for creating community in any circumstance.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. Recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where do I start? This book is heavy, realistic and just beautiful. Its a story about life after grief and the struggles after losing someone. I feel like the book is a little long but I still love every bit of it! The romance and love story is also very natural and very realistic. Definitely recommend! ❤️

Cara Bastone is one of those authors that’s a given for me. I’ll read anything she writes and have read them all. This book did not disappoint. Lenny is in the midst of some horrible grief. She meets miles and he is essential to bringing her back. It’s super cute. I love the characters from the start. I felt their connection and grief. Thanks to NetGalley, Cara Bastone and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Promise me Sunshine is one of the best books I’ve read this year! I loved every. single. word.

Lenny is lost in her grief after losing her best friend, Lou. Miles is desperate to connect with his sister and niece, his only remaining family. A last-minute babysitting gig drops Lenny into Miles’s life, and the ensuing connection they find leads to a beautiful story filled with humor and emotion.

Main characters Lenny and Miles are a dreamy grumpy-sunshine match. They’re flawed and relatable, and I absolutely loved their character development. The secondary characters are equally entertaining, and added so much to the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House and, of course, Cara Bastone for this ARC opportunity!

Promise Me Sunshine held my hand and gently guided me through falling in love with Cara Bastone’s writing, again. I devoured Ready Or Not last year, giggling at a reading party in Brooklyn. It was the first of her novels I heard about/read. This one being the second. Now I have to go through the rest of her works — obviously. I’m in love.

As for a review, how do I say this concisely and comprehensively? NYC is one of my favorite cities to read about and there’s nothing like seeing this city illuminated in black and white, by an author who just gets it (much like there’s almost nothing worse than suffering through the POV of someone who doesn’t).

Cry in public! Hug in the middle of the street! Make out like no one else matters! These are moments pulled straight from my reality, and it makes imagining these characters all the more interesting. I truly love a blue collar worker. I adore the concept of a lovely and delusional ramble-brained lady.

When I read CB’s characters, I see myself reflected and I feel real. The whimsy and the laughter and the completely ‘unreal’ POV that most other people often ridicule and clearly don’t understand. Picturing myself in the oddities and strange synchronicities of it all is beyond words.

Long story short, Ready Or Not made me cry. And Promise Me Sunshine? My tears may or may not have been coincidental. I love Miles, I love Lenny, I love Lou. Every focal character in this book is deliciously flawed, but also kind and nuanced and enjoyable. I love it! (Can you tell?)

Thank you Cara Bastone for writing this book. Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC. Thank you for the existence of books about grief that can help me face my own losses and channel my tears through something more abstract than myself. And thank you for love stories that always make me want to see the other side.

4.5 stars. What a beautiful story of friends turning into lovers and a realistic portrayal of grief and losing a loved one. Lenny & Miles worked their way into my heart with their tender and easy way of being there for each other. The way Miles cared about Lenny and wanted to make sure she was happy and safe was actually everything to me. This book was not an easy read with the grief and flashback scenes but I thought the author did an amazing job keeping it lighthearted with humor and friendship. The character growth was absolutely stunning and I truly loved every character. The story was entertaining and fast paced, and I loved how Miles and Lenny were true friends to lovers. That really made this book for me and I loved it so much. Cara Bastone books will always tear me apart and put me back together and I love her for that 🧡