This book was perfection!! And a debut novel?! This book will stay with me forever! 🥹🫶🏽

The whole time I was reading I just wanted to jump through these pages and give Bennett the biggest hug. I just loved her so much! She was so real, so honest and was just trying so hard. You could just feel her grief radiating off the page. It was just so raw. Her character whether you’ve experienced this level of grief or not just felt so real and relatable. And Henry.., please he was the perfect human. While also experiencing a different form of grief he hid his with his sunshine personality. He was always just so kind. To everyone. No matter what.
Together… they were just everything. I loved them and their story so incredibly much! 😍

I could go on forever about this book and I’ll recommend it to everyone forever. Because this book was just that good. It was absolutely beautiful!

Passion Project is a heartwarming and fast-paced read for anyone who loves a second-chance-at-love story. After matching with Henry on a dating app, Bennet embarks on her first date since tragically losing her first love. While the date doesn’t go as expected, it sparks the beginning of a summer full of fun and self-discovery as Henry helps Bennet rediscover her passion for life. It’s impossible not to fall for Henry as he encourages the reserved Bennet to embrace new experiences and adventures in New York City. Thank you to Penguin Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

‘If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love.’

So. I honestly wanted to beat the stupid right outta Bennet so many times & take her place so I could lick Henry’s clavicle.

But you have to pull your couth together, okay people?! You gotta dig deeper than that. Deeper into her guilt, her grief, her misery… to truly find the empathy, to understand her... Instead of wanting to go toe to toe with her inside of a UFC fight cage and lighting her hair on fire with a bundle of matches. (Mannn, that was such a great analogy, them matches!)

Ugh, Passion Project was so sugary and sweet and yummy and cuddly. My teeth are gonna hate me later, I just know it. But it was so stinkin adorable and I absolutely love when a debut turns out this solid and impresses the sus right out of me! Genuinely looking forward to reading more of Sperry’s work.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Penguin Books for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub: 4.8.2025.

Passion Project was a book I requested on a whim because it is a Book Of The Month choice. I knew nothing of it going into it and man was I just absolutely floored by it. This is a debut?? Someone is lying. London Sperry, you’ve just became an auto buy author.

I absolutely adore books that explore topics such as grief and depression. This felt so real and I can tell Sperry did a lot of research in the process of writing this story. I loved Bennet’s character growth as she works through the loss of her college boyfriend. And Henry’s whole character was absolutely lovely. He was kind, compassionate, funny, and I was rooting for him every step of the way. The dialogue felt so real and I adored their banter. I also loved the side characters and would read stories about each and every one of them.

There’s something so special about a book about grief that just nails the topic perfectly. I had this same feeling with Promise Me Sunshine. So if you enjoyed that one you’ll likely enjoy this one as well!

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

After seeing Passion Project was a BOTM pick also read now on NetGalley, I snagged it and I’m so glad I did!

This is a stellar debut! I loved the writing, it really immersed me in the story immediately and I became so attached to both Henry and Bennett. I am so excited to see what the author does next if her debut is this good! 5 stars- no notes.

The plot reminded me a lot of Promise Me Sunshine which I had recently read but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it! If you liked that one, you will for sure like this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

WOW WOW WOW 6 SHINING STARS (I haven’t read a book this fast in months!!) I adored this story. It was a heartbreaking picture of grief, healing, and love. I wanted to hug my girl Bennet. Her story of grief & depression and how it really does change you was so well done (and so relatable for me). And HENRY>>>> I love a golden retriever man (with glasses a bonus for me) his character was everything good you could want. His patience and excitement to experience Joy with Bennet was so special. He truly is the person you want in your court. Watching them become friends was everything I could I have wanted, it felt so natural & healing to see how they both truly just saw each other. This is going on my list of soul special books!! this truly altered my brain chemistry. A WINNING DEBUT NOVEL!!! i fear i will never get over this story

4.5⭐️ Why aren’t more people talking about this book?!

I am a romance girlie, and a romance with depth and more serious themes gets bonus points from me. While this book starts off light (the very first line had me laughing), it also gets to the deeper stuff pretty early on. Even though Bennet was a flawed character, she felt messy in a real way. Seeing how she dealt with (or didn’t deal with) her grief over the course of the story was heartbreaking, frustrating, and hopeful.

All of the side characters in this book were great, and I loved seeing how each of their relationships with Bennet evolved. We’ve got healing old friendships, forging new friendships, and some self-love in there too. And we have Henry🥹

Henry and Bennet’s friendship was so sweet, and I was 100% here for their chemistry, banter, and support of one another. Each of their adventures had me smiling and laughing, and the NYC setting was the cherry on top. While my heart was having a hard time dealing with all of the conflict at the end, it truly felt worth it overall.

I was blown away that this was a debut, and I’m already looking forward to what she writes next.

I always love stories that talk about grief and the many different ways it can affect a person and how to live with it, but this sadly wasn’t a favourite. I didn’t fall in love with either main character and instantly didn't like the way they acted; our FMC especially was quite frustrating to me. However, I did really like New York City as a character of its own — it’s always something that brings a certain je ne sais quoi that I adore. Not the biggest fan of this myself, but I would still recommend this if you're looking for a book on loss with a corny little romance!

I enjoyed the overall concept of this story and the relationship dynamics of two troubled people but not the graphic sex scenes. Can’t understand the need to explain everything, wasting words. But that aside, Bennet was such a sad sack and Henry was just the thing to help her realize how special she is. Predictable ending but very satisfying. For those who like rom-coms with lots of spice, this book is for you. Many thanks to #netgalley #passionproject #londonsperry for the chance to read and review this book.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced readers copy.

Such a meet cute and healing book. Bennet is lost after losing her boyfriend. She meets someone who challenges her to find her passion. I delighted in reading about her emergence. Everyone needs and deserves encouragement and love. This book was a great reminder.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on April 2nd, 2025. Links provided.

Bennet Taylor is stuck in a bit of a life slump. She’s working a temp job in New York, feels directionless, and hasn’t been able to shake off the grief from losing her first love. After an awkward run-in with Henry Adams - whom she literally just stood up for a first date - Bennet admits she hasn’t felt excited about anything in years. Instead of accepting Bennet’s desire to hole up for the rest of her life, Henry proposes a deal: every Saturday, they’ll try something new, with the goal of helping her find a spark for life again. As the weeks go on and their adventures draw them closer, Bennet starts to feel a shift, but old fears and unresolved emotions come up, forcing her to face the past. Passion Project mixes fun adventures with deeper emotional moments, making it a refreshing read about finding joy, letting go of grief, opening yourself up to healing and love, and rediscovering what makes you feel alive.

Passion Project was such an enjoyable read! The way it captures the ups and downs of life, especially when dealing with grief and healing, really resonated with me. Bennet’s journey of rediscovering her passion for life after losing Sam felt so real, and I loved seeing her and Henry explore New York City while trying out new activities. The chemistry between them was perfect, and their friendship-to-lovers transition felt natural and heartfelt. The witty banter between the two was so enjoyable, and the way the book handled grief - showing it’s never a linear path - was really well done. Henry was such a patient, supportive, and lovable character. This book had the perfect mix of humor, emotion, and personal growth, and I think it’s a great choice for fans of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry. If this is London Sperry’s debut, I can’t even imagine how amazing her next novel will be!

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Passion Project in return for my honest review.

One of the best romance books I've read this year! I loved the Passion Project. It's not often you find a well written romance that is also deeply reflective and emotional. I couldn't put it down - I wanted to see Bennett figure out how to move past her grief and figure out how to fall in love with Henry. I loved watching her find herself again after drowning in her grief for so long. This is an amazing debut novel and I can't wait to read what's next!

*Emotional intelligence has entered the chat*

I couldn't be happier for us Romance lovers! London Sperry, thank you and congratulations. In the words of Prue Leith, "What a little triumph!" I cannot believe this is a debut novel.

Bennet moves to New York City to start a life following the sudden loss of her first love. She is deep in the trenches of grief and depression. Bennet spends her days as a temp worker taking in various jobs to afford NYC. However, every moment in between is too hard to exist. Experiencing grief through fiction can be tricky; moreover, I believe London Sperry shines through with timely and beautifully written prose. I laughed. I cried. I fell in love. Mostly with Bennet's growth, but Henry is a wonderful guy, too. Henry is a loveable and charming photographer/bartender that Bennet stands up a couple of times. ;) There's a couple of twists and turns on this journey, but only 2 scenes were over the top for me. The secondary characters were also great! I enjoyed Sonya and Sal the most.

If you enjoyed Cara Bastone's newest book, Promise Me Sunshine, you'll love this gem, too!!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC!

PASSION PROJECT

Romance — 4⭐️

“Here, I’m broken, but in a beautiful way, in a way that all my pieces reflect light and color…”

Bennet has isolated herself in her grief when she crosses paths with Henry. She confesses that it’s been years since she’s felt passionate about anything. But Henry is determined to help her find her spark. Every Friday, they try something new in hopes of reigniting her passion—and naturally, it’s not just passion that gets sparked.

This story blends a slow-burn romcom with a heartfelt journey of healing. I’m always drawn to love-after-loss stories that go beyond the surface. The portrayal of grief was thoughtful and realistic.

While I adored the friends-to-lovers aspect, I think I connected even more with Bennet’s personal journey. That said, Henry & Bennet had their moments that made me tear up, too.

The storyline is similar to Promise Me Sunshine, which I loved when I read it back in 2024, but as someone stuck in their own “unlovable era,” I’m here for ALL the books that inspire and remind you to embrace love and life! Highly recommend.

I already picked up the physical copy because this one is definitely a keeper for my shelf!

I couldn’t put this book down! I loved the characters Henry and Bennet! They were so relatable. I wanted to be friends with Henry! The book had romance and humor. Definitely a 5 ⭐️ read!

I really enjoyed reading Passion Project - mostly because of Henry. He seems like an actual angel. I found myself a little frustrated with Bennet and Sonya - separately and together - neither of them seemed to know each other at all despite being friends "forever." It felt a little bit like the development of relationships was maybe neglected a bit in an effort to give us a lot of time with Henry and Bennet and this made them other relationships feel ... immature? or just like new friends rather than a deeper connection. I was happy to read about anxiety, depression, and grief in a real way while still being a fun and enjoyable book. Overall, I would recommend the book, it has a great story line and great dialogue! Plus fun activities ideas in new york.

Thank you netgalley and Penguin Books for the Arc!

✨ARC provided by Penguin Books & NetGalley✨

My first 5⭐️ read of the year!

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll laugh some more and then somewhere in the middle, you’ll be holding your chest because this book will pull at your heartstrings.

Bennett is drowning in her grief over the death of her first love, Sam. Aimlessly wandering, Bennett is without direction as she works odd jobs as a temp worker in NYC, the city she moved to because of Sam.

Attempting to help her out of her slump, friends arrange for Bennett to go on a date, only for her to ghost the guy just before they’re set to meet. Instead, she opts to drown her sorrows with a few too many bottles of Côtes du Rhône and familiarizing herself with the floor of an Italian restaurant. There she comes face-to-face with the very man she stood up, Henry.

With the help of liquid courage, Bennett admits she isn’t ready to date and seemingly, doesn’t have a passion for anything, and hasn’t for years. This sparks an idea in Henry as he suggests he helps her find her passion by trying new things together— taking classes and going to new places, every Saturday.

Out of this, the ‘Passion Project’ is born. As the two spend more and more time together, Bennett will have to come to terms with her feelings, figure out what she wants, and decide if she is truly ready to move on.

Prepare yourself for cheeky banter, palpable tension, and a smile to be plastered across your face as you tag along Bennett’s journey of navigating her grief, rediscovering herself after loss, and learning having your sh*t together isn’t a prerequisite for love.

Wow, this was AMAZING!!!
Way to debut your first book London Sperry cuz it def hit me in the feels for sure!!! This book just sucked me in from the first page and it kept me hooked!
This story is sad but so cute, it just took you on rollercoaster of emotions from the lows to the highs. I really adored Bennet and Henry, it just makes me smile and feel happy to know I finished this beautiful story.

Sweet Henry, you are the best!!
IYKYK this scene got me 👰🏼‍♀️📝⚾️❤️‍🩹😭

I’m def in my sad girl romance era cuz first with Promise Me Sunshine by CB and then I watched Netflix The Life List as I was reading this…I be in my feels with all this grief but the HEA is worth it 🥰

4.75⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Books for this ARC!

Bennet is struggling through her 20s in New York after the loss of her college boyfriend. When she tries to go on her first ever date with another man, she's hit with an anxiety attack and ghosts the poor guy, but when they run into each other anyway, they find an unlikely kinship. Henry is lonely in the city too, and they agree to meet up once a week and go on adventures to help Bennet rejoin the land of the living and find something she's passionate about.


I will always be so drawn to love after loss stories. I thought this was really well done, and Bennet's healing and growth felt very real to me. This was a really stunning debut, overall. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for Bennet and Henry every step of the way.

There were elements of miscommunication or poor decision-making that were frustrating in the moment but ultimately made sense for the characters as I got to know them better. There were also times where this sort of crossed the line into cliché or corny, but honestly, is it really a romcom if it's not a little corny? That's what makes it cozy and lovable. Of course there's only one bed, of course the rain starts pouring at just the right moment, of course a conversation is overheard at just the wrong moment.

This is a story I could definitely see myself rereading when I'm in a slump and just want something that I know is quick and sweet, but I don't think the details of this one will stick with me.

Thanks Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Five stars for an OUTSTANDING debut novel from London Sperry! Passion Project is a beautiful story about grief, friendship, and love of all kinds that had me hooked from page one. I will be recommending it to everyone that I know!!!

After standing up Henry on their first date, Bennet unexpectedly runs into him and drunkenly shares that she doesn’t have a passion for anything. Being the sweet angel he is, Henry agrees to help her find her passion via a summer of new experiences and adventure.

London’s writing is so captivating and descriptive in the way that I love (showing, not telling). She handled grief in such a careful and knowledgeable way that made me feel every emotion. To sweet Bennet, I want to give you the biggest hug ever. To Henry, you kind, patient, loving human….. I adore you endlessly; please never change.

I laughed, I cried, and I will be (not so) patiently waiting for more of London’s writing!!!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!*

Full review will be posted on Instagram and Goodreads on 4/8 :)