Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Passion Project will be officially published on April 8th, 2025!

I'm calling it right now on a rainy night on March 28th, 2025-this will be one of the top summer beach reads of 2025. Bookish socials will go feral over Passion Project and you bet I'll be recommending this to everyone and their mom. I can see London Sperry joining the ranks of Lynn Painter, Emily Henry, and Katherine Center in the "wholesome, sweet rom-com" subgenre of romance novels. The Emily Henry vibes throughout the book that I mentioned in my pre-read thoughts were indeed vibing! (It also helps that the cover is BEAUTIFUL and gives off all the spring and summer vibes. I literally requested to read it BECAUSE of the cover lol.)

Bennet Taylor, a 25-year-old woman, moves to New York City in search of a fresh start after her last boyfriend passes away. She feels as if she's stuck in a deep depression with no prospects, no goals, and no solid path in life as she temps at different jobs around the city. After she ghosts Henry Adams and continuously runs into him time after time after their failed first date, she confesses to him that she's not ready to date. Instead, Henry takes this as an opportunity to help her find out what makes her feel free, feel alive, and find the things she feels passionate about. The name of the project? The Passion Project.

First off, I want to emphasize that this is a debut novel. This is London Sperry's first-ever novel, and I think she knocked it out of the park. The writing flowed in a way that made it feel as if I was listening to--well, I guess reading, but you get the idea--Bennet talk about everything that was going on as if she was sitting right across from me at a restaurant telling me about it. It was easy to read, the dialogue was relatable, and her voice felt and sounded like a 25-year-old. Usually, I give debut authors a ton of grace when it comes to their first novel since they always have room to improve and grow as a writer (although ALL authors can improve), but my first thought reading this was, "Does London Sperry have any other books?" so I stopped reading, looked up her Goodreads author profile, and when I realized that this was the only novel she's written so far, my jaw dropped.

Going into the actual book itself, I love how Bennet and Henry are my age. I feel like a lot of the rom-coms I read these days are about people who aren't my age; they're either in college or they're in their thirties and there's not really an in-between. Reading about characters in a rom-com who are also part of Gen Z made me relate to them a little more because a lot of the people on the older side of Gen Z now are in my position where we're starting our careers and trying to become financially stable to afford a home, get married, etc. (although a lot of that is growing increasingly impossible in today's day and age, at least in the US) but also trying to navigate the real world now as an adult. I can't always relate to characters who are in their thirties as someone who's in their mid-twenties, and I'm no longer a college student so that feels like a lifetime ago. It was just nice to see a rom-com about two people my age. I think I saw someone say that London Sperry is "Gen Z's Emily Henry" and if she keeps writing and making amazing books like this, I'd have to say that I agree.

I feel like growing up, everyone told us that being in your twenties meant having your life together and knowing exactly what you want and what you need to do at any given time. No one ever tells you that being in your twenties is also a time of learning and growing from your mistakes, celebrating your successes, falling in love, getting your heart broken, sometimes struggling to make ends meet financially, creating new friendships, leaving friendships behind that you no longer align with, and everything else in between. But most importantly, it's the fact that you're on your own timeline and no one else can dictate that for you. I think Passion Project does an amazing job at perfectly encapsulating everything that comes with being in your twenties done with a backdrop of spring and summertime in New York City.

I loved watching Henry and Bennet exploring NYC and discovering and trying new things. I recognized a lot of the landmarks and places they went to and I loved watching Bennet find her passion in life and what makes her happy after a devastating loss. Like, I felt as if I WAS in NYC without actually being there! Every time a landmark or iconic location was mentioned I was like, "YUP I know what you're talking about!" Going into Henry and Bennet more, I think their friends-to-lovers story felt organic and didn't feel forced at any point. I think a huge part of why I loved Passion Project so much was because the ups and downs, the slow burn, and the buildup felt natural and realistic.

Speaking of loss, Bennet's struggle to move on from her first love was a great depiction of loss and handling the grief that comes with losing someone you've come to love and care for so much. I think London Sperry did a fantastic job in showing how her loss and grief affected her relationships with other people AND herself, but also in showing that grief and healing are in no way a linear process. The ending made me cry like a baby. I won't go into it further to avoid spoilers but the ending was probably my favorite part of the entire story.

The ONLY thing I took off half of a star for was because of a specific trope that happens in the book. I feel like saying what it is outright would be a spoiler so I won't say what it is, but it is a common trope found in a lot of romance books and this one happens multiple times throughout the story. All I'll say about it is that although I can see why it was beneficial for character development, I think the way it was brought about was entirely avoidable and I would've rated the book 5 stars if it wasn't present.

Overall, what a stunning debut novel. This was SO refreshing and enjoyable to read, and I can't wait to see what London Sperry has in store next. She just made it onto my auto-buy author list and although I usually don't buy physical copies of ARCs I've read, I think Passion Project will be the first one I get to put on my shelf.

4.5 🌟

After feeling like I could barely finish a book lately and never getting past 20% in so many, this was a breath of fresh air. I fell in love with this story, the writing, HENRY, the true representation of grief/mental health struggles, the rediscovery of life, friendships & self love Bennet had. This book was heartbreaking but beautiful at the same time. Henry is truly the most kind hearted person and I absolutely adore how he became a safe space for Bennet.

A new unexpected favorite that pulled on my heartstrings. Thank you Penguin Books for the arc!

I don’t love romance, but I read this one on a whim. It’s sweet and tender, funny and charming. It’s a quick read, mainly because you need to see it all work out! Highly recommend! Thanks to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Passion project was a beautiful debut! I loved the characters and the grief Bennet was dealing with felt real. This book is very similar to another book that came out this spring, but Passion Project tackled grief and love with more hope and optimism. I was rooting for these characters to figure it out and be together. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This was a fantastic debut novel! Reading three grief centered novels back to back was a journey but really helped to reiterate that grief comes in all different forms and it comes in waves.

Bennett is overwhelmed with grief after the death of her boyfriend 2 years ago. She is in a spiral of depression and self-loathing and living every day with regret and profound sadness. She is dealing with the aftermath of cutting off her boyfriend’s family, her own family and the single friend she has left. She then meets Henry, who is also managing a different type of grief. While she spirals, he takes a different approach to make the most of things, meet new people, try new things, make connections. They agree to spend the summer getting Bennett back on track to finding her passion by trying new things and going new places.

I loved Henry. His kindness and the way he interacts with strangers was admirable. He was honest and upstanding. Never tried to force Bennett or grew weary of her feelings. I also really loved the supporting characters. Her roommate, Sonya and her semi-retired coworker waiting on his first grandchild. They really added two completely different storylines that were great additions to this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the advanced copy!

“All stories are love stories.”

This novel is the exact blend of humor, swoon, tenderness, and hope that everybody needs in their lives immediately. A STUNNING debut that highlights the beauty and power of love in many different forms (romantic, platonic, familial). And I really appreciated the time spent curating loveable, interesting side characters. (Yes this is a shout out to Sal).

The way London Sperry managed to write about grief without sacrificing the light, joyful tone of the novel was perfect. I was laughing one moment and crying the next — just the way I like it.

And as someone who is usually resigned to trudge through the very beginning of books until I get invested, I can happily report that this one had me hooked immediately. I binged it in 2 days!

Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of the third act conflict and the way it played out near the end of the book, but the characters explained themselves and reconciled nicely, and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment from the rest of the story.

Moral of the story - read it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Passion Project is a debut novel of two grieving young adults and their journey from strangers, to friends, to lovers. Even though they are grieving different situations, he understands what she’s going through so his goal is to help her find her passion again through Passion Projects.

A fictional story that felt so realistic that I quickly connected with its very relatable characters. I found myself having empathy for them as if they were real and not fictional. I was pleasantly surprised that I loved this as much as I did! And I was shocked to learn this was a debut novel. The plot sounds similar to others, but the strong character development that focuses more on the realistic outcomes and raw emotions, the hurt and guilt, that comes after losing a loved one makes this story unique. Not to mention, it has the most lovable, supportive, and diverse side characters and found family/friends. I appreciated the realistic mental health representation and that there was a clear understanding of how the grieving/healing process looks and lasts differently for everyone.

Can we take a minute to appreciate this phenomenal cover? I think it symbolizes that even after the darkest of times, it may not currently feel like it, but it will get better and the sun will shine again.

I am becoming a huge fan of Alex Finke’s work. She’s so bubbly and full of energy at all the right times. Her tone and pacing are spot on as she delivered a flawless performance bringing the emotions of the characters to life.

If you loved PS I Love You and/or Promise Me Sunshine, then you’ll love Passion Project!

Found family
Forgiveness
Self Discovery
Cinnamon roll MC
A love letter to NYC
Debut Novel

Thank you @PRHAudio, @penguinbooks, @vikingbooks, @NetGalley for the #gifted ARC & ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I basically could've copied my review from Promise Me Sunshine and used it on this book too: similar themes addressing grief and depression, an absolutely amazing and super supportive male main character, and awesome side characters. BUT these were different enough that I was able to really enjoy both, and I absolutely devoured this one 😭🥰 Henry is such a sweetheart, oh my goodness, and I loved their weekly adventures as they tried to spark passion and a new sense of purpose for Bennet. So, so good!

Read if you love:
🤍 NYC adventures
🤍 books that make you cry

This did not feel like a debut book. The timing was great and there was a perfect mix of banter and serious issues. My only small complaint is there were a few too many “break-ups” to make this a 5 star for me. I get that she was dealing with grief and guilt, which made it feel realistic but also took me out of enjoying the story.

Thank NetGalley and Penguin Group for an early copy.

At first I thought this was the most depressing book ever. I wasn’t sure if I could stick with it. The protagonist was simply too sad. However, I am so glad I kept reading. Once Henry came into the story, which was very early on, the story got much brighter. This is a great romance but also deals with serious issues like grief and guilt. It is a romance as well and has a lighter tone in spots. It is also about friendship and putting yourself back together after a tragedy. All of the characters are well developed. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a poignant romance.

The Passion Project by London Sperry was so fun. A flirty read that kept me up way past my bedtime. I loved the banter between Bennett and Henry. Bennett was such a fun character to explore and Henry was as swoony as ever. I enjoyed how this author tackled tough subjects like loss and grief but kept it light and lovely. Reading this book gave me all the hope. This is a book I will be recommending to my girlfriends.

This book was such a thoughtful, well-written exploration of grief, self-discovery, and moving forward. If you have read Promise Me Sunshine, it has a similar style of ripping out your heart and putting it back together again.

Bennet is a mess of depression, wrapped up in her own anxiety and grief. She’s dealing with the loss of her first love and has her not really living, just going through the motions of life. After ghosting her attempt at a date, Henry (the man she was supposed to meet) finds her on the floor of a bathroom, drunk, and decides he is going to befriend Bennet. The “Passion Project” is born, a series of “just friends” adventures that push Bennet outside of her comfort zone.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how real Bennet’s struggles felt. Her grief and anxiety weren’t just plot points, they shaped her choices (even the frustrating ones that made me want to yell at her). And Henry? He is a dream. At first glance, he’s Bennet’s total opposite, he is charismatic, easygoing, and open in ways she just can’t be. But as the story unfolds, we see beneath his charm, making him feel real and authenitc.

Let’s talk about the humor. Never has a book had me going from laughing to crying quite as much as this one. The banter was so so good. Star Wars FMK debates, Mamma Mia 2 deep dives, and the necessary appreciation for Pride & Prejudice. The side characters added so much heart, especially Sal the grandpa and Fred the dog.

Passion Project is a touching and uplifting read.

I can't believe this is a debut. So insanely well done!
As a girl in her mid-twenties that often feels lost and passionless like Bennet, going on this journey with her was so cathartic. While my aimlessness is more of a product of gifted-kid burnout, anxiety, and my general disdain for corporate America, Bennet's is the result of being trapped by grief and guilt. Seeing her navigate those emotions as she comes to terms with who she wants to be was so powerful. (Yes I cried, but that's no one's business but my own). I love her and I love Henry. Henry is charming right off the bat, but he is also so much more than just that. He's so easy to fall in love with as a reader. He's tender, kind, and soulful despite his own burdens. A clear reminder that it costs nothing to be kind. I will always adore sunshine mmcs that have some real depth to them.
I will definitely keep my eye out for more from London Sperry. I will definitely reread this once I get my hands on the audiobook.

The idea behind this book really intrigued me—it had so much potential. The premise was rich, and I was excited to dive in. But as I read, the writing often caught me off guard. There were several moments where it felt like the author didn’t quite trust the reader to interpret the subtext, which can be an “ick” for many readers.

In adult fiction, it’s not that backstory or explanation is inherently bad—it’s how it’s delivered. At times, the prose veered into over-explaining, which interrupted the flow and emotional impact. Bennet’s dialogue, in particular, sometimes felt unnatural. There were moments when she spoke more like a character in a YA novel than an adult navigating deep, complex grief.

This story follows Bennett Taylor after the loss of her first love, as she begins the difficult process of grieving and, eventually, dating again. With support from her childhood friend and roommate, Sasha, Bennett is gently nudged into the world of online dating. Sasha creates a profile and encourages her to meet someone new. But when the night of her first date arrives, Bennett is overwhelmed. Rather than cancel, she drinks herself sick in the bathroom of the Italian restaurant where she’s hiding from everything. That’s where she first (accidentally) encounters Henry Adams—the man she stood up. As she stumbles out of the bathroom, mortified and panicked, she runs into Henry and bolts before she can come up with an excuse… or a fake name.

This story wants to say something meaningful about love, loss, and moving on—and I do believe it has the bones for it. But the execution left me wanting: more subtlety, more trust in the reader, and a more consistent, grounded voice.

Grieving the loss of her first love, Bennet is feeling lost and directionless. After her roommate sets her up on a date that Bennet no shows for after her anxiety gets the best of her, she never expects to meet Henry, the man that she stood up. In a twist of fate, Henry offers to help Bennet find her passion. Every Saturday they will meet up for their “Passion Project”. Reluctantly, Bennet begins to trust Henry and their friendship starts to blossom into something more. For the first time in a long time, Bennet begins to feel hopeful again.

Going into this book I truly didn’t expect that I was going to fall head over heels in love with it. There are some books and characters that I feel like were written with me in mind, and this book and Bennet are a perfect example of this. Reading from Bennet’s POV felt like looking in a mirror; I truly felt as though there were moments in which the two of us shared a brain. Bennet’s depression and anxiety so closely mirrored my own. Her low points and her thoughts during these periods throughout the book made me feel so seen. Her realization that the only one capable of fixing her was herself was also something that resonated deeply with me.

Henry is the most perfect cinnamon roll MMC. He is so patient and gentle with Bennet. His compassion and care for her never wavered, and he always had her best interest in mind. He sees Bennet as so much more than her flaws, and believes that she is worthy and capable of whatever she sets her mind two. Watching as their friendship blossomed into a romance made my heart positively ACHE.

NYC was the absolute perfect backdrop to this story. Up until this summer with Henry, Bennet never felt as though she fit into the city. All of the characters and situations that Bennet and Henry meet and find themselves in were some of my favorite parts of the book - I was always wondering what they were going to get up to next! All of the side characters were also so strong and played such important roles in the story.

London Sperry, you have a fan in me! This was an absolutely incredible debut, and I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next. I cannot possibly recommend this book enough, and think it would be the perfect book to add to your spring/summer TBR! Passion Project is one of my new all time favorite books, and Bennet is one of my new soul characters. I am so grateful that this book exists!!

Thank you SO MUCH Penguin Books and Netgalley for this ARC!!

Début author London Sperry’s Passion Project is a love letter to New York, and an intense representation of prolonged grief. With its vibrant setting, agreeable characters and tender moments, there’s much to enjoy about this book – but in the end I wasn’t convinced by the romance.

Bennet Taylor is living in New York, depressed and drowning in grief and guilt after the death of her boyfriend, Sam. She’s dropped out of college and is working casual gigs all over the city but not really making a place for herself. Her well-meaning flatmate Sonya finagles a date for her with photographer Henry Adams but Bennet dips out when she has a panic attack. Henry tracks her down and offers to set up a series of weekly dates to explore New York and find things that Bennet could be passionate about. Bennet reluctantly agrees and these dates are terrific – from practising tattooing (on a rockmelon!), puppy rescues, picnics and ferry rides, to walks in the park - Henry is great at organising them and he’s so patient with Bennet, and I loved the depictions of New York as they move around the city during a hot and steamy summer. Henry is a delight. He’s funny, positive and extroverted and enormously kind; Bennet comes out of her shell, and they fall in love. It’s a slow burn with a little bit of steam when she’s able to open herself to him.

I also loved Bennet’s relationship with her flatmate, Sonya, who gives her space to reflect on her relationships and Henry. Sonya and her girlfriend Jamie add some layers to the plot and make Bennet feel less isolated. They are instrumental in Bennet getting herself together – eventually.

Unfortunately the story lost me when Bennet takes Henry to Sam’s sister’s wedding and she hurts him – and for all Bennet’s character growth, she can’t see that alive-Henry is more important than dead-Sam. As Henry puts it: “You deserve to be happy Bennet, but so do I.” Apparently Henry’s kindness and patience is not enough for Bennet who is still tightly enmeshed in her anguish over Sam.

I really struggled with Bennet at times, even though I wanted to give her a hug. So many grief portrayals overlap with self-absorption, which is what happens here, even though she tries to move on from her depression. Henry is all in, but he knows his own worth and there’s only so much he can take of being second-best. Bennet’s muddled thinking goes on for too long and made it hard for me to believe that she would be a loving and present partner. I only wish Bennet had let go of Sam sooner, and appreciated Henry a bit more. She does get it together in the final chapters, but it’s a bit too late.

For a debut, Passion Project is promising, and I’d recommend it for the New York scenes and the slow burn between the leads, but the third act and Bennet’s too-long indecision took the shine off the book for me.

I loved this book! It was a sweet and charming tribute to grief and the hope that will allow us to share our hearts again. The writing was wonderful and I couldn’t put this book down. Thank you to Penguin and Net Galley for the ARC! 4.25/5 stars.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I absolutely devoured it in 2 days.

Bennet is lost in her grief and is moving through the motions while living and working in NYC. She is “set up” with Henry but their first date doesn’t go as planned. When they see each other again, they come up with a plan to find her passion—a plan for activities Henry plans based on Bennet’s interests. I would have liked to see more of the Passion Project dates or maybe to have learned more about Henry and his other passions.

I think Sperry is a beautifully reflective writer who both delved deep into tough topics while also writing a sweet and hopeful novel! Yes, Bennet did things that were frustrating at times BUT THAT WAS THE POINT! She had to make some mistakes to learn and grow from them. Henry is a SWOONWORTHY MMC but again I would have liked to learn more about him and his struggles as we did Bennet.

I loved this book and I hope it gets all of the attention it rightfully deserves! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book early. I can’t wait to read more from London Sperry!

Read this if you like:
•friends to lovers
•grief
•mental health rep
•finding your passion

Bennet is just trying to survive life while grieving her dead boyfriend and trying to honor his legacy. Deep in grief and pushing people away, she meets Henry. Henry agrees to help Bennet find her passion. They do fun adventures all summer and grow closer and closer until Bennets past catches up with her and she has to confront it.

This book was amazing. It was raw, it was messy and it was so so real. From pushing people away to wanting to find your passion in life, this book is incredibly relatable and well written. Thank you penguin Viking for eARC

I was NOT expecting to love this one as much as I did! Oh my goodness what a sweet and swoony story. I absolutely loved Passion Project by London Sperry. I don't usually love when the characters are complete strangers at the beginning of a romance (meaning they have no backstory connection) because I find it hard to buy into the "falling in love in a short amount of time" element. I despise insta-love. I was worried about that occurring with this book, but I'm happy to report that wasn't the case at all! It felt very realistic throughout the course of the book. The two main characters became friends, and then it developed into something more in a reasonable amount of time. And while the third-act breakup was so frustrating, it was also so incredibly believable due to the circumstances. I could so see this one being a real life scenario, you know? Ugh, it was so good. I LOVE THIS ONE!