I couldn't really get into this one and ended up not finishing it. Definitely not a typical romcom but the writing was really nice

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced coipy!

“Passion Project” was delightful! The main characters were flawed but genuine. I was cheering for them throughout the book. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. I’ve already given the hard copy of this book as a gift, so clearly I recommend it!

I enjoyed this book! It was very emotional, yet funny, and I had a good time reading it. I thought Bennet and Henry worked very well together, and I really loved watching their relationship develop! I also thought the premise of the book was very interesting, and the plot was well executed. Overall, I would recommend this book :)

This book was an easy summer read. The banter between the two main characters was really fun and the way New York was described was very vibrant and immersive. I thought Henry was a great male romantic character. Bennett got a little overwhelming as a narrator

This was such a beautifully written book! I absolutely adored the premise, the characters and their arcs. My this book felt like I was watching a movie, so vivid in its descriptions. This was such a realistic and beautiful portrayal of healing and growing together through grief. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down.

A cute book about finding yourself and also finding love. I will say the main female lead did get a little much for me at times with how she seemed to go to extremes. The hobbies they tried made me want to try some in my own life!

Passion Project was a fun read, with depth. The characters were well- written with great development. I loved seeing how Bennett grew through her relationship with Henry and the books meditations on grief. One of the my favorite things about this book was the NYC became a character of its own. I love when books have a strong setting. Pick up this one up!

This one is billed as a romcom but it goes much deeper, exploring grief and starting over.

Bennet Taylor lost her first love to a car accident and starting over is hard. She’s not ready to date, but Henry Adams isn’t ready to just let her go after they meet. They begin a “passion project” and the goal is to try one new thing each week to try to get Bennet’s passion for life back.

The story gets flirty, dramatic, exciting, and frustrating. I really loved watching the two MCs relationship develop and seeing how Bennet grows and processes. The miscommunication plot device is used in a frustrating way, but it’s not a deal breaker for the whole book. Definitely check it out if you enjoy the deeper romcoms like Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry.

Struggled with this one, mostly because I couldn't connect to the FMC. I found that she was at the center at most of her drama and it mostly just annoyed me. I did appreciate the humor, NYC atmosphere and the MMC, but I'm not sure I would read this one again.

I loved the first half and the passion project dates. The book lost me in the second half though. They way both characters dealt with conflict made me start to dislike them.

Bennet is a very relatable character. She lost the love of her life and doesn’t want to leave the house or get close to anyone. She’s afraid to feel that pain again. She is meant to go on a blind date with a guy named Henry and she ends up ghosting him, but these two end up meeting up accidentally after Bennet has a rough day. Henry is there to make her day better and they start something called a “Passion Project”.

I enjoy friends to lovers. And the Passion Project was such a cleaver idea, I might have to start one myself. There were times I wanted to slap Bennet, and tell her to get over it and let herself be happy, but I know how hard it is when you feel you don’t deserve to be happy. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to my friends.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC. I appreciate you letting me get a chance to read this ebook.

This was absolutely adorable! The FMC makes sone questionable choices, but don’t we all. Overall a solid 4 star read. The perfect summer romance book.

Thank you Penguin Books and NetGalley for the DRC of Passion Project! All I pinions in this review are my own.

To say I loved this book is an understatement! Sperry writes with so much heart and humor. In addition to being a romance, Passion Project is an exploration of grief and how to continue to honor people who are no longer with us without holding on to grief. I can't wait to read Sperry's next book!

Passion Project by London Sperry is a sweet, introspective rom-com that gently balances humor and heartache. Bennet Taylor’s struggle to find joy in the wake of personal loss is relatable, and the premise—using weekly adventures to reignite her passion for life—offers a charming structure that keeps the story moving. Henry is the kind of love interest rom-com fans will root for: patient, funny, and emotionally grounded. Their banter is light and believable, and the slow-burn chemistry that builds throughout the “just friends” premise adds a satisfying emotional arc.

That said, the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, especially in the middle, where the grief themes occasionally outshine the momentum of the romantic and comedic elements. Some readers may wish for a deeper exploration of certain emotional beats or a more dramatic payoff. Still, Passion Project succeeds as a hopeful, compassionate story about healing, self-discovery, and learning to let love back in. It’s a thoughtful feel-good read that’s equal parts cozy and cathartic.

What a debut! I’ve been on a run of self-discovery, healing from grief romances, and this pushed to the head of the class. I loved the depth of these characters, the romanticism of New York, and the journey to find one’s passion.

4/5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book. I had been anticipating a rom-com type book but it was a much deeper look at grief, guilt, relationships and love. I’ve recommended it to multiple people since finishing it.

Why did I wait so long to read this book?! PASSION PROJECT is a sparkling and heart-warming debut that has me anxiously awaiting whatever London Sperry publishes next. Combining friends-to-lovers and a book where the setting (New York City) felt like another character, this was a warm hug of a book I'll definitely read again.

Filled with friendship, personal growth, false starts, and healing from a tremendous loss, I was hooked on Bennet and Henry's story right away. When Bennet ghosts Henry and realizes she isn't ready to date yet after losing her boyfriend, I felt so much for her. I just wanted to tell her it would be okay! I really loved how she went from dreading her standing Saturday plans with Henry to looking forward to them to falling for him.

Definitely check this one out!

Passion Project was sharp, sexy, and surprisingly emotional—in the best way. The chemistry? Instant. The banter? Flawless. And the slow unraveling of feelings had me hooked. I devoured it and loved every minute.

I loved passion project! The setting and adventures were perfection and the character development was spot on

Passion Project was an engaging story that hooks you right from the beginning; in the restaurant bathroom. The dynamic between the characters had me rooting for them from the get-go. Bennet was a complicated and nuanced character, who, even at her lowest and most self-destructive had me rooting for her. Sperry constructed and navigated the reader through the choppy waters of Bennet's grief and guilt with a masterful and careful hand. Henry was the ultimate romantic lead in his care and patience; there should be more bespeckled romantic comedy leads named Henry. Passion Project carves its way into your heart and encourages the reader to hope and be brave to take the leaps that feel the scariest...and reminds us that sometimes the scariest leap is getting out of our own way.