I CRIED. I never cry. Usually that will catapult my rating to five stars but I’m blaming hormones. I loved this book. Bennet’s narration is witty, fresh, and depicts depression perfectly. I don’t want to spoil anything so you’ll have to find out the cause of her grief on your own but it’s truly heartbreaking. Henry is so sweet to her, giving her both space and encouragement when she needs it 🥺. There’s major character development in this one and I really enjoyed Bennet’s transformation. I could totally relate to her shy demeanor loved that she learned to put herself out there more because of Henry.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 rounded up for this debut! The story sucked me in right from the start. However, I got frequently annoyed with the FMC and she almost made me DNF due to her overreactions to seemingly small events. I tried to remember that she was dealing with grief, though, and we all handle it differently, which is possibly part of what the author was trying to demonstrate. Overall, I loved the setting and the “passion project” storyline!

“Passion Project” by London Sperry hits all the right notes of your typical romance novel. The couple get together and break up and it all ends happily. There is an interesting theme of grief that makes the novel stand out. It has a fairly low level of spice if that is a concern.

This was the perfect feel good read. I struggled to put it down and you've myself wanting to get back to it as soon as I could. I am so hopeful this is only the beginning for London Sperry because this book was one of the best thing I've read this year..

It’s crazy sometimes how a book can say exactly what you need to hear.
“You showed me love doesn’t care about whether or not you have your shit together, or if you’re a grieving mess. Love doesn’t care if you’re anxious or depressed or drowning in every day life. Love just loves.”

Passion Project follows Bennet as she attempts to navigate crippling depression and guilt in a city she should be living in with her boyfriend. After her friends swipe on a dating app and convince her to go out with the ever charming Henry, we find ourselves on their adventure with them as they go on different adventures throughout New York City trying to find what Bennet’s passion is. Eventually she does find it, but on the way she starts to address the guilt over the death of her boyfriend and the depression that accompanies it as she grows close with Henry.

Death is, well, death. And it sucks. And carrying the guilt of thinking maybe it’s your fault that person is gone makes it so much worse. I lost my dad 15 years ago while he was home alone. I was out with my nana, and he was alone. I was 12 and sometimes I still think about what would’ve happened had I been there. The grief comes in waves, and I’m only now as an adult getting to the point where I’m actually trying to handle it the right way instead of bottling it up and existing. The way this book hit just really resonated with me. Love comes in different forms—romantic, familial, platonic. And love doesn’t care if you have your shit together. Watching Bennet learn to lean on the people around her, the ones that love and care about her, just hit me. Her friends didn’t care that she was so depressed she could barely get out of bed some days, they loved her anyway. Henry didn’t care that she was still grieving Sam, he loved her anyway and helped her as she worked through it. He was patient and kind. Bennet learned you don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. And sometimes, we all need that reminder. I know I did.

Passion Project is captivating and beautiful. Bennet is relatable, and grows throughout the months we are with her. So does Henry, and so do all the friends around her. They’re all learning to deal with their own shit in their own way, just trying to figure out how to be an adult in NYC. The characters are incredibly well written, and even ones that don’t play a ~major~ role evoke such strong imagery and feelings that they are just as memorable as Bennet and Henry. The way the setting is described can really make you feel like you’re standing on the top of a skyscraper with Bennet and Henry, or tanning on the rooftop oasis with Jamie and Sonya.

London Sperry addresses really tough issues in a way that is still compassionate. There’s never a point where I felt that the topics were not addressed with careful thought and consideration. The writing was not simple per se, but it was written in a way that everything is easily understood, while still delivering an amazing story from the characters to the scenery to the message. I cant wait to read more of her work.

I really cannot recommend this book enough. It was easily a five star read for me. I laughed and cried. I felt connected with the characters. I want to go live in their New York and be their friend.

I did receive a review copy of Passion Project, and am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

I loved this book for the first 75%, like really loved it. But then Bennet changed and I was not here for it. It felt like a total 180 from the beginning and I just had whiplash. Henry deserved more and we deserved more for this ending. I’m bummed.

Passion Project follows Bennet, a woman struggling to work her way through some deep grief, and Henry, a man she meets who offers to help her find her passion. I was immediately pulled in to Bennet and Henry’s world – their connection, their adventures, and the evolution of their friendship into maybe something more. The writing is excellent and I flew through this book. I really appreciate how the author explores and handles Bennet’s grief, as well as how Henry’s character is developed over time. For a debut, I found this to be an exceptional read and one that surpassed my expectations. My only significant criticism is one that I’ve seen other reviewers mention – there is a specific trope that romance novels often include and I really disliked it here. In general, I felt like Bennet made some questionable decisions and treated people fairly poorly, to the point where she was straight up unlikable at certain points. The ending felt a bit rushed but, overall, an entertaining read and one that will be a great fit for the beach this summer.

“Passion Project” by London Sperry was a fun book experience. For a romance, it had some depth to it with complexities of grief and emotional recovery. It reminded me of Cara Bastone’s Promise me Sunshine which was is one of my favorite books. Fans of that book will enjoy this book. This was my first introduction to Sperry’s writing, and I am eager to explore more of her work in the future. Now I need a physical copy as a shelf trophy because that cover is really pretty.
Thank you to NetGallery and PENGUIN GROUP Viking for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Passion Project grabbed me from the very first page. London Sperry's voice is pitch-perfect. The character work drew me in, made me curious, and made me invested in her journey. I loved the juxtaposition of Bennett's black cat energy and Henry's golden retriever vibe, as well as how New York became a character in its own right. New York is the backdrop to so many novels and movies, but I rarely feel transported there. But I was walking beside them, inhaling the thick scent of Manhattan, crackling with the electricity of the city, and feeling the anonymity in the crowd. It takes skill to invite the reader into a journey that begins in such an emotionally dark place, but the author did it expertly. I felt Bennett's pain without being put off by it. I was rooting for her along the way.

4.75 ⭐️
I loved this book so much! I am unbelievably obsessed with Henry omg & Bennet was also such a good character poor girl had so much going on her choices STRESSED me out sometimes but i can also see where she was coming from. I really connected with Bennet which made this story just that much more deep for me. I had so much fun with this i cried and giggled and kicked my feet. One of my favorite arc’s so far!

Wow what a surprise this book was to me! I went in expecting a fluffy and fun romantic comedy and what it actually was is a heartfelt story with romance, trauma recovery, and many funny moments. Bennett is depressed after losing her boyfriend in a car accident (to which she thinks is her fault). She moves to NYC to fulfill his dream for them but she can’t seem to make anything there work for her. When her roommate sets her up on a blind date, she bails and gets drunk at the restaurant across the street, only to end up meeting her blind date anyways in an embarrassing set of events. Henry is kind and sweet and a little nerdy and sees Bennett for what she is. Together they decide to be just friends and find Bennetts true passion so she can stay in New York and create the life she dreamt of. I loved their banter, and that their relationship was built on a friendship. The cast of side characters is charming as well. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a feel good book.

Thank you to @netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing me the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Passion Project is a love letter to NYC that is told around the story of Bennet, who is trying to find her way without the love of her life. Worried about her, her friends encourage her to go on a blind date. Unfortunately the date doesn't go as planned. But as fate would have it, she runs into Henry, our golden retriever MMC. They travel around NYC looking for their passion when in reality their passion may be each other!

This was such a great book! Topics such as heartbreak and loss are written beautifully. I would recommend this book to everyone!

#NetGalley #PassionProject

First thank you to penguin Vikings boom and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: Bennett is grieving for your boyfriend and stuck. Her friends set her up on a date and she stands him up. She ends up going to his restaurant and they become friends when he encourages her to find her passion. Will she find passion with him too?

What I liked: this is a good portrayal of grief and what it is like. I also read promise me sunshine which is very similar to this so it felt too similar to me.

The Passion Project by London Sperry is a heartfelt and engaging story about grief, healing, and rediscovering joy.

Bennet Taylor’s journey feels very real—she’s stuck, overwhelmed by grief, and just trying to find her footing again. At times, the story felt heavy, but given the themes of loss and growth, it made sense and added emotional depth to her character. I appreciated that the author didn’t rush Bennet’s healing process; it felt honest and relatable.

Henry was such a bright spot. His patience, humor, and the friendship-first dynamic he built with Bennet were refreshing and charming. Their adventures around New York City brought some lightness to the story, and I loved seeing Bennet slowly come back to life through each new experience. There’s a good balance of sparkling banter and heartfelt moments that kept me invested throughout.

The Passion Project is a flirty, fun, yet thoughtful read perfect for anyone who loves stories about finding happiness after heartache. I look forward to reading more from London Sperry!

This book was seriously so phenomenal. I’m obsessed with everything about it, especially Henry and how sweet and understanding he was. I loved how well he treated Bennett. I also really loved Bennett’s character, and despite not going through grief like her, I could relate to her some of her overactive thoughts and moments of panic. This book really really spoke to me, it’s definitely one of my new all time favorites!

I was going to give this five stars up until the 80% mark now it’s a 3.5.

I think the author did really well writing this and it was actually very enjoyable. I lovedddd Henry but Bennett made me pretty annoyed at times. I didn’t like how she constantly pushed everyone away and hurting them in the process. Although I do understand why she did it it still annoyed me. Especially during the wedding between her and Henry I couldn’t. Henry didn’t deserve any of that at all.

I think that if Bennett had been better at communicating with him and even her friends this would’ve stayed at five stars. I will say that Bennett was relatable at times.

I am kinda sad that this could’ve been a perfect book had the miscommunication not happened 😔😔😔 but I still think it was good. I mean it had me excited to pick it up whenever I could and then once we hit 80% it seemed like everything just fell apart.

I LOVED this book! The main characters, Bennet and Henry were so well written, and I connected with each of their individual stories. I loved following Bennet and Henry navigate grief while learning how to live and love in NYC! The Passion Project touched my heart and soul, and was exactly what I needed to spark the pursuit of passion in my own life. Everyone needs to read this book!

I really enjoyed this book! The narrator did an incredible job on the audio. This book captures so much wittiness and banter while also struggling with overwhelming depression, grief and anxiety. Both heartfelt and humorous!

This book is the debut novel by London Sperry and that's hard to believe. It's so good. I guess the informal theme for this book should be "Having your shit together is not a prerequisite for love." It's also my favorite quote from this book. This is a romantic story about a girl named Bennet who is still in love with her late boyfriend from college. She has tried to move on but just hasn't. Then she meets Henry. Henry talks her into doing Passion Projects to try to find out how to get her passion for life back. Of course, over the summer of projects they fall for each other. Will Henry's love for Bennet be enough to help her get past her grief for Sam? Read the book, you'll love it! Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I loved it! I'm sure this won't be my last book by London Speery!

“Having your shit together isn’t a prerequisite for love.” This was such an emotionally devastating book but so so good! I loved how Bennet’s grief journey is portrayed and it reminds that healing isn’t linear and that you don’t need to be perfect for love to find you. It’s okay to be a work in progress.