This really reminded me of being in my 20s and just trying to navigate life. This was a cute story with well rounded characters, I do think someone in their 20s would connect to this a little more than I did.

I have many thoughts on this and they aren’t great. And I don’t feel that writing a bad review does any good in this situation because of the topic of grief in the story. I’m not criticizing the topic and I understand that people have different coping strategies while grieving, but this is not a great representation. Mainly because I couldn’t understand the FMC emotions at all and yet she made her emotions everyone else’s problems but her own. There was a lot of hypocrisy between actions and thoughts and it all centered around her selfish cognitive distortions.

Henry deserved to be treated as a human and not as a codependent emotional well.

Lots of things made me annoyed and at the end I like I can close the book and never think of any of the characters again because of how underwhelming and toxic they all are. The only thing I’m taking from this book is a stomach ache for how “sweet” it is and how much I had to stop myself from dry heaving.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

“Passion Project” by London Sperry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

oh how I LOVED this story!!! Bennet & Henry have the most beautiful story here as they go on passionate adventures that helps bring Bennet back to life.

I love how gentle and thoughtful Henry is throughout this whole story, always acting from his heart. and Bennet is such a relatable, deeply loving character. she holds so much guilt and unshared love, she’s ready to burst when Henry swoops in and helps her relieve some of that pain and lets her finally place some of that love back onto herself.

I absolutely love their sweet, tender love story based in friendship and passion. this story has me in so many tears and laughs, I hope everyone goes and reads it right now 😭🫶

"I'm glad I gave this book a chance. After struggling to empathize with the FMC in the beginning chapters, I realized that was by design. Passion project is a beautiful depiction of recovery from severe depression and persistent grief, making the fantastic point that recovery is possible if you open yourself up to feeling. Much of the early difficulty in empathizing comes from Bennett's own low self-worth and guilt, which makes it clear how depressed she is. Fans of mental health rep, you'll enjoy this. I particularly appreciated the deconstruction and care put into ensuring that Bennett's problems aren't fixed by Henry -- meeting him serves as more of a catalyst. I loved the characters and story. The book's setting also serves as a bit of a love letter to New York or other transplant cities.

Henry's journey is somewhat deemphasized, but individuals who have experienced anticipatory grief will likely empathize with him greatly. He honestly serves as a bit of a foil to Bennett; his character arc mirrors hers in a very quiet way. "

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I will admit that this book made me tear up and it might just have one of my favorite character healing arcs I've ever read in a romance novel. Bennet was not only relatable, but also just human. She felt well-developed and real with her social and general anxiety, but also her immense baggage of shame, guilt and grief. She's known loss, and is dealing with it in her messy way, believing she doesn't deserve to be happy. She feels directionless, uncertain what she wants her future to look like and just about capable of holding temp jobs to live by.

One of the usual problems I have with romance books is how hollow the male main characters read, so it was an incredible discovery to meet Henry, a three dimensional romantic lead. He is positive and upbeat but he's also dealing with his own problems and grief. He feels the pressure to put on a front because that's what expected even when he's falling apart. And he's patient and kind too. I adored him and his dynamic with Bennet.

The relationship evolved slowly (a true slowburn!) and the base is a thick layer of friendship and empathy, which made this a deeper, more realistic romance. I absolutely see this being appreciated by readers seeking more complex romance novels in terms of character development, but as a trigger warning, please note that this book is heavy on depression, anxiety and grief.

Finally, the depictions of summer in NYC definitely made this a perfect summer read to well read in NYC. Quite magical and definitely brought the city and its quirks to life.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, London Sperry, and PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Penguin Books for an ARC of Passion Project.

Bennet is grieving the loss of her college love, Sam. When her roommate encourages her to meet new people and maybe even date, She attempts to go out on a first date but ultimately stands him up. When they unexpectedly bump into each other later, she reluctantly decides they can try to become friends.

This book covers some heavy topics, like grief, guilt, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, but its done in an honest and heartfelt way. There is also a lot of joy, and laughter, love, and hope.

I absolutely adore the MMC, Henry. He's an.absolute golden retriever, but he also has depth. I wish we got a little more insight into his grieving so.their relationship felt a little balanced, but people grieve in different ways.

While Bennet made some decisions that really frustrated me, I think it nails home one of the bigger themes of this book, "having your shit together is not a prerequisite for love."

I'm so glad she ultimately decides to speak to a therapist. I do think there was a missed opportunity to shine a light on how therapy can be beneficial, but also think it's helpful to show that it might not be helpful until the person who needs it is ready/willing to be receptive.

Overall I really enjoyed this book!

A sweet story about a grieving woman struggling to thrive in NYC, and a fun-loving guy who just wants everyone to be happy. Passion Project is about how these two people meet weekly to find the woman’s “passion,” since right now Bennett only temps and caters. She’s grieving the loss of her longtime boyfriend Sam years later, and Henry is just the person to help her get over him. Henry is kind and understanding while Bennett is cautious and flaky. All of this culminates at Sam’s sister’s wedding where Henry attends as her date, but Bennett can’t fully commit to calling him her boyfriend in front of Sam’s family. Can they survive the ghost of Sam?
I liked Passion Project- the NYC setting adds a fast pace with lots of interesting “passions” to explore. The characters were okay but maybe needed a bit more development. The plot was good and the third act breakup was sort of weird but also kind of believable? Overall I enjoyed this but it won’t be at the top of my books of the year!

3.5 stars
Bennet isn't ready to date, still grieving the loss of someone she loved with her full heart, when she meets Henry. From there, the two travel all over New York City, experiencing many firsts, getting out of their comfort shells, finding out that passions don't always have to come right away, and ultimately, finding love. This book was a nice read. I won't lie, it did take me a hot second to fully get into this book, but I am honestly so glad I did.

Bennet's grief showcased how her depression works, and it was well written and the topic was handled with a lot of care. The book made it feel as though I was experiencing it with her, and that really helped me feel when she started to break free of its hold. Henry was this golden retriever of a guy, who really lit up the room when he entered it. I remember feeling happy and excited when I would read his name because that's the energy he gave. When the two really talked, it was honestly so sweet. And even though there are technically two "third act break ups" (one of them is a 2 second act and 2/3rds break up), they were 100% needed to show how much the two loved each other, even if they were a little bit of an iffy couple to start. I really enjoyed this book and it's such an amazing summer read. If you see this on any shelf, pick it up and enjoy it because it's totally worth it!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for giving me this ARC and all opinions are my own.

YES YES YES!!!! I usually don't love the book of the month pick books but they really did something with this book. The way grief is written about in this book gets an A++. The MMC is so lovable and does such a great job of supporting her in the ways she needs and doesn't just plow through with his wants. The perfect man does exist, he is right here inside of this book, it's Henry. 4.5 stars!

Rated 4.25. I really enjoyed this debut novel and want to thank netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. Topics of grief are handled so gently and the author used humor perfectly. I loved the 2 main characters so much and truly was rooting for them through every page. My heart was singing at the way in which the author decided to conclude this touching story. Highly recommend!

The Passion Project by London Sperry is a heartfelt and inspiring read that showcases the main character’s vulnerability and creative spirit. We follow Bennet Taylor on a journey of self-discovery after experiencing loss and grief. She finds Henry and they embark on some adventures to help her find her passion for life again. The writing is raw and honest, drawing readers into a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth. While a few sections felt slightly repetitive, the overall message remains powerful and uplifting. It's a strong debut that leaves a lasting impression and promises great things ahead from Sperry.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!

Cute rom-com! Nothing life changing, but a solid romance with a sweet ending. Love a well-rounded story and that it touched on navigating grief and moving forward.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This felt so relevant to feelings I had as a 20 year old! I wish there was a Henry in my time to help me muddle through it all. Loved these main characters.

Disclaimer- I received a digital ARC of this to read in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are genuine and my own. Major thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Penguin Books for the ARC I read.

I loved a LOT about this book. I'm new to the romance genre, but was drawn to this novel for its focus on mental health, trauma and growth. I read mostly horror, and have many favorites with that theme, but also have personal experience similar to this specific narrative. The author seemed to have researched well and to know what she was talking about. I wanted the best for the FMC, Bennet, and Henry was the most helpful, understanding, amazing MMC throughout. He was one of the best guys I've read in a romance thus far, never getting on my nerves or giving me the ick, so their romantic development really worked for me. I was also pleasantly surprised by their unique adventures, having feared that the book would be too NYC-specific for my liking.

I thought the FMC's grief and trauma was handled very well. I found Bennet's defensiveness and lashing out to be true to life. I can understand why people found her frustrating, but I felt compassion for her, and was much more committed to her story because it was reminiscent of my own experience. If you have a loved one who has dealt with severe depression, I think you'll share my sentiment. Yes, severe depression makes you defensive and makes you attack the ones who try to help you. Depression very often convinces you that you don't deserve love, help, or attention. Grief complicates Bennet's mind even more, making her feel irrationally guilty for any joy she starts to experience pretty deep into the story.

The tonal shifts in writing echoed Bennet's mental health, and I had no problem with them. My criticisms which keep this from a 5 were, first: the weird and unnecessary comments Bennet made, mostly the ones about feminism. Paraphrasing here, but Bennett will say that their friendship is casual, and that she doesn't need him, “Because feminism,” and Henry echoes it back, nodding like that's a normal sentence. She asks things like, “Is it anti feminist ... That a man makes me this happy?” It's odd, disrupts the flow of their conversation, and made the characters feel a bit less real. Very early in the book, <spoiler>Bennet states that, “This won’t be a boy saves girl and teaches her how to live type situation…I’m not a damsel in distress.”</spoiler> And then... <spoiler>Henry saves her and teaches her how to live.</spoiler> Sigh. I'm obviously a feminist, and have helped someone who didn't think they deserved help (very similar to the FMC), but quotes like these were cheesy and cheapened the book for me.

The second criticism: how Henry continued to be treated, especially at <spoiler>the wedding.</spoiler> Ouch. Like I said. I do understand Bennet, her mood swings and tendency to lash out. However, she just does not let up on Henry enough. Her character growth was stifled, and she could have realistically treated him better and acted less insensitively. Henry was the greenest of green flags, understanding Bennet's history, forgiving every mistake she made, doing his very best to bring her happiness. Henry is an unrealistically good guy, but even if he was more flawed, he would deserve much better than his treatment in this novel.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut, in my opinion. Yes, it had flaws that kept it from being a 5 star, but it was still one of my favorite romance novels I've read. I am SO happy to have discovered a romance author who seems to work for me. I had a great, emotional time reading Passion Project, and I look forward to reading Sperry's next book.

This is a great book to encapsulate the feeling of being in your 20s. I will always LOVE a NYC rom-com!

Bennett’s boyfriend Sam died and she’s never gotten over him. She dropped out of college and moved to New York because that’s what he wanted for them both, but it’s not what she wanted for herself. Everything is just about the guilt she feels about his death. She hasn’t found a real job, so she’s just temping as much as she can. All is pretty bleak in her life until one of her girlfriends persuades her to go on a blind date with someone from a dating app. So she’s meets Henry.

They begin with a pretty disastrous first date, and then he tells her she needs to find her passion. He proposes the idea that he’ll help her do that if she joins him in a weekly outing to try, a surprise and different activity that she hasn’t ever done. She agrees, somewhat reluctantly, and they have a deal.

In the course of the outings, Bennett begins to feel something for Henry, and she thought she’d never feel again. I don’t want to spoil the remainder of the story, and there’s definitely a lot more there, but it’s worth the read. The only negative was towards the end; I wasn’t particularly happy with the way we got there.

I’m giving this one 4 stars!

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I think this book was so well done & so consumable - I enjoyed it from start to finish and immediately ran to my group chat to recommend to others!

This book was great! It tackled difficult topics and it made the characters feel more “real” and relatable. I was rooting for the main characters throughout the story and wanting them to find their happily ever after. I would definitely recommend this to a friend!

#NETGALLEYARC

3.75 🌟

This reminded me of another book I read recently. sunshine vs passion?! best friend vs boyfriend?! still enjoyed it!

This is such a deep story about growing up and figuring out what you're doing with your life. These characters captured a piece of my heart, and I really enjoyed spending time with them.