Now this was GOOD.

I applaud London Sperry for writing what felt like an accurate depiction of depression and anxiety, and painting such a raw portrait of grief and how it follows you for years. I fell in love with Bennet almost immediately because I could relate to her. She’s floating in a city that she doesn’t understand and that doesn’t understand her, she feels like she’s a burden on everyone around her, and her room is a mess. She really is a well developed character with real and believable emotions—so well done that even when she self-sabatoged, you understand why she did it—and it makes the reader want to cheer her on (which I did!). There’s a cast of lovable and quirky characters that keeps you reading, and then there's Henry.

Henry! Henry is Bennet’s opposite in almost every way, and also might be the love of my life. Who doesn’t love an understanding, gorgeous, and patient MMC? The chemistry between him and Bennet was tangible and I was eating it up every step of the way. I love a friends to lovers done right, and oh boy was this done right.

I loved the message portrayed throughout this book. That it’s okay to not know what you want to do in your twenties, to be in a foreign city and feel like you don’t fit in, to mourn your first love and still find the courage to fall for your second, that a boy won’t fix all your problems and you’ll probably still need to go to therapy. That friendship is so important! I do wish there was a bit more family focus but that’s personal preference and doesn’t take away from the book as it is now!

True rating is 4.5 because the last 12% (yes, twelve!) had me looking at my invisible camera in shock and rage.

brb going to New York immediately.

I’ll be posting my review on my instagram sometime this week @readbylydiaa and will talk about it in my monthly wrap up on my tiktok @readbylydiaa!

I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOO MUCH!!! I was soo hooked from the very first chapter and I knew it was going to be one of my favouritea this year! The portrayal or grief and depression was so real that it made me cry soo much!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC!

This was a non traditional romance in the sense that grief was basically a third character. I really enjoyed how Bennett had to grapple with her grief and her journey to self acceptance was great to see. I loved Henry, and found him to be such a patient and kind guy. Exactly what Bennett needed.

Bennett could be a frustrating character because she frequently self sabotaged and hurt the people who love her most. While this is relatable and real for many people dealing with grief and depression, I almost wish it wasn’t a love story. I couldn’t help but feel bad for Henry during multiple parts of the book. I’m glad they got there in the end though.

While Bennett’s depression could be frustrating to read through as a reader, I also thought it was a really well done portrayal. It wasn’t glossed over, or made to feel like something that could be gotten over as soon as she found a guy, which I really appreciated. She had to do a lot of healing and I was glad she had Henry there to help her through it. I appreciated that a point was made to say that she alone was responsible for her healing and growth.

Overall this was a great read and I loved the character growth.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This may be Sperry's debut book, but it didn't feel like it (in a good way). This book encompasses the real feelings of grief while adding heart and humor. This book also felt like a love letter to New York City, and I was vibing with it as a former resident there.

London managed to write phenomenal in-depth characters, with great development and a form of storytelling that just drags you into their world head first. Additionally, Henry might be one of my favorite MMCs overall. He's just such a joy to read about. He is the embodiment of a green flag MMC. His character is just a giant hug, saying, "If he wanted to, he would." He shows up for Bennet without expectations just because it's who he is, and he cares. Although this was told from Bennet's POV, there was enough to satisfy me with Henry, but I wish he had a bit more backstory.

It is important to note that grief is a significant theme of the book. How it was approached made me think of Cara Bastone's Promise Me Sunshine in the best possible way, in which myriad emotions are tied with grief. It felt like a multidimensional read while also being sweet and easy to read. I cannot wait for it to go out into the world for everyone to love. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Read if you like:
- Golden retriever/black cat
- One bed
- Single POV
- Friends to lovers

Passion Project reminded me a lot of another book I recently read - Promise Me Sunshine. Both books dealt with grief, but in a beautiful way. For a debut - I really enjoyed Passion Project. It had me laughing out loud (so many funny moments amidst the heavier topics of grief), but also feeling for these characters that are trying to make it work. I enjoyed Henry and Bennett's relationship and the fact that Bennett doesn't trust easily, but Henry is still there for her. Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from London Sperry!

Oh my god, I LOVED this book 😭❤️‍🩹 From the very first chapter I just knew it was gonna be a new favorite and I was SO right. I was honestly shocked to find out this is the author’s debut novel bc the writing is a thousand times more captivating than so many books I’ve read. The way depression and grief were portrayed felt incredibly real, anyone who’s been through it will definitely see themselves in at least some of what the protagonist goes through.

Not gonna lie, I went in expecting a romcom but I definitely cried at least seven times before I lost count (maybe bc I related to the protagonist a little too much). But at the same time I had so much fun too, I don’t even know how to put my love for Henry into words, I just wish everyone had someone like him at least once in their life. My only complaint is how Bennet treated him during the third act drama/breakup, I absolutely hated the whole wedding chapter :( but tbh I loved everything else so much that it didn’t even affect my final rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me access to the eARC for this title.

Holy cow, this book is beautiful and HEAVY.

Bennet is struggling after the loss of her boyfriend, when they were at a crucial point in their lives trying to decide what their futures would look like. To loose such a vital part of her, while she was deciding who she wanted to be when she grew up, left her in a holding pattern. she’s to scared, too consumed in her grief and just too lost to move forward.

enter Henry. can Henry be the person to help her out on the other side ? Henry too is struggling with his own internal battles, but can they both use their own struggles to be better together?

This is a love story, but it is also a story of overcoming grief. of working through depression, of what the journey of depression can do to a person and how it can just completely overt take every aspect of their life.

Bennet is lucky to have some awesome people in her life who care enough to push her to the other side. While reading this book I cried, I screamed, I cheered and my heart broke and was mended. it is truly a STUNNING debut novel for London Sperry.

I adored this book so much. It immediately hooked me and never dropped my interest. I wanted to savor it and not finish it too fast because I knew I was going to miss it - however, I read it in 12 hours because I couldn't put it down. I loved the MMC and thought he was just so perfect. I think the author did a good job of discussing such a heavy topic in a healthy and relatable way. I just loved it so much and I am already looking forward to rereading soon.

I enjoyed this book. I went into it thinking it would be another cute romantic story about two people meeting and doing fun adventures every weekend, but it is so much more. The two main characters, Bennet and Henry are both dealing with their forms of grief. Bennet is deep into her depression - not seeing friends, not taking care of herself, etc. Henry is dealing with his own form of grief. His isn't shown on the outside, he keeps much of his in and works very hard to show a positive outlook towards other people. I enjoyed reading about how Henry works to help Bennet break free. I would suggest this book to others and anyone grieving.

Passion Project is a fantastic debut that beautifully portrays characters dealing with grief and discovering how to begin again. Bennett has been struggling ever since the loss of her boyfriend and needs a friend to push her out of her comfort zone. Enter Henry, who makes it his mission to help Bennett find her passion after she stands him up on a disastrous blind date.

Bennett has an incredibly emotional journey throughout the story. She emerges as a better person and friend while learning to cope with her grief. She has a supportive team with Henry, Sonya, and Jaime and slowly learns to let them in and accept help.

The relationship development was sweet and a perfect slow-burn from friends to more. Henry is supportive of Bennett but doesn’t push her when she is obviously unsure of not just their relationship but herself. They have different backstories, but they are both going through so much at a young age and evolve together during their weekly projects.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

London Sperry handled Bennet’s grief and guilt authentically. Her emotional paralysis felt real—she’s not just sad, she’s stuck, unable to see a future beyond her loss.

What stood out was her gradual, messy healing process. The “passion project” wasn’t a magical fix, it was a slow process of confronting emotions. Her growth wasn’t linear there were setbacks, doubts, and moments of resisting happiness because it felt like a betrayal. This internal struggle made her breakthrough feel earned.

Henry’s optimism and Bennet’s grief created a dynamic that deepened their interactions. He didn’t pressure her, but he also didn’t let her hide. Instead of grand romantic gestures, he slowly earned her trust, allowing her to grow at her own pace.

What I loved most was that their romance wasn’t just about attraction—it was about connection, understanding, and timing. Bennet needed to heal before she could love again, and Henry was patient, supportive, and willing to wait. When they finally crossed that line, it felt natural, like something that had been building. The chemistry, emotional depth, and tension were all well-done, making this one of the best slow-burn, friends-to-lovers stories I’ve read.

By the end, it wasn’t just about falling in love again (though the romance was well-done), but about Bennet learning to feel joy and excitement again. Grief doesn’t disappear, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from embracing life. Many readers will see themselves in Bennet’s journey, and that emotional depth made this story special.

5⭐️! Wow. I’m genuinely speechless. I found this gem of a book one day as I was scrolling through NetGalley and I cannot believe it’s a debut book!

Grief is such a difficult topic to discuss and portray, and here it’s done in such a raw, authentic, and non-linear way. Not only just that, but the role depression plays in one’s daily life. I can’t express how much I found myself tearing up at how relatable it all felt reading the print.

The characters were so vibrant, making it seem like they’re actually right there with you. I loved getting to know Bennet and Henry on all their little adventures together. And I NEED to talk about New York City… because the city itself IS a character here. As someone who’s been around it consistently, I appreciated how detailed and REAL it’s displayed as. From some of the iconic landmarks, down to the more hidden surrounding areas, you just know that the author truly gets New York. While it’s not all glamorous, this felt almost like a love letter to it.

Do yourself a favor, maybe grab some tissues, and read this! Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!❤️🗽

4.75 ⭐️

This book is just amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I wished it didn’t have to end so soon. Bennet was written so well, her struggle with depression and anxiety, her grief over the loss of her first love, and trying to live in a place that was supposed to be where they lived together. Her growth throughout the book was done so well and was a great representation of how healing isn’t linear. I also adored Henry, everything about him was so sweet and I couldn’t get enough of the two of them and their adventures around New York.

This book is a romance and has plenty of sweet moments but it focuses a lot on grief and healing. It can be heavy at times, because these topics are never easy, but it’s absolutely worth reading.

Bennet is a mess. She’s working temp jobs, living in a city that feels all wrong, and feeling immensely grief-stricken and guilty over the death of her college boyfriend. She wants to be better but she just doesn’t know how. Her best friend keeps pushing her to get out, have fun, and date again. When she finally agrees, her best friend sets her up with a guy found on an app but the night of the date, she panics and no shows, finding a seat at a bar and getting completely drunk. She ends up running into the guy she stood up in a horrible embarrassing and cringy moment and, to make matters worse, runs away only to discover the next day that she’s left her wallet behind. Ultimately when she sees the guy, Henry, again, she’s completely embarrassed and just wants to escape but Henry kind of sucks her in. He’s a friendly, down-to-earth guy who talks to everyone and she finds herself opening up to him in away she hasn’t been able to with anyone else in years. She admits she’s not ready to date and he proposes helping her find her passion in life. They set up a series of weekly friend dates, all designed to help her try new things and experiences.

Just when she’s thinking they’re having a positive impact and she’s coming out of the worst of her grief, she’s faced with her past and has to reconcile the impact losing her boyfriend had on her, the role she potentially played and the damage it did to some of her relationships. As the book unfolds we learn exactly what happened between her and her boyfriend and realize just how badly she’s been hurt.

This is a really wonderful debut novel. The writing is excellent and the I loved Bennet and Henry’s story — definitely a new favorite author!

Recently, I have read several books that had themes of grief in them. Sometimes it was a major part of the conflict in the story or just in the background. Almost every time it creates a heaviness to the story that can create a disparity between that theme and the rest of the story. Sometimes it slows the pace down or even causes the rest of the plot to stop all together. Often it just feels a bit out of place for the rest of the story, especially in romance stories.

The Passion Project is the first book that I have read that was able to weave grief into a story of hope and light. A story about recovering and healing from a significant loss.

I didn't realize that this story was going to be a grief story. I probably wouldn't have read it had I known, but I am so glad to have read this book. It is worth seeing Bennett (0ur female main character) journey through grief and guilt. Henry (our male main character) is also dealing with grief in a different way but just as real. Both characters are trying to find a way through life while dealing with emotions that can be so heavy you feel them in a physical way. It is a beautiful story of learning to heal and better yourself and finding love along the way.

Henry is a wonderfully fun character that balances our Bennett's more doom and gloom personality. Or you could say his sunshine to her grump. Even though London Sperry shows that our personalities can have different layers depending on the situation and who is around us in that situation. I really love how Henry keeps nogging Bennett out of her shell that she has created around herself. While she doesn't let him get away without sharing some of himself with her as well.

This is a slow romance due to Bennett's personal conflicts that she has at the beginning of this book. I really love how it takes time for her to get to a place that she can be open to love. This book covers starts around May and goes to September. The time coverage feels natural and is not jaring. How Herny navigates this conflict is really lovely. It shows a true gentleman at work. We do only have Bennet's point of view throughout this book, but I didn't miss not having Henry's as well.

I found the pacing of this book is wonderful. I couldn't put it down and read it very quickly. Yet it doesn't at all feel rushed. There is a part at the end of the book that felt like we had the same conflict twice, that I didn't love. Yet the ending was satisfying and felt very realistic. In fact, this whole story felt more realistic than most romance novels tend to feel. There is one intimate scene int his book, otherwise it is mostly kissing scenes.

4.75 ⭐️

i loved this book soooo much! what an incredible debut! the writing flowed so perfectly and was so immersive! i was captivated right from the start! i went into this book blind and never expected it to blow my mind like it did!
this story is about figuring out how to do life after you've lost so much that it feels almost impossible to go on. the exploration of grief, depression, loneliness, the weight of expectations from family/friends and everything that losing someone entails is so honest and laced with so much emotion while also being hopeful, lighthearted and so relatable. i love love loved henry and bennett so much! henry is sweet and kind and generous and patient and supportive and encouraging and charming and also hottt and truly just the cinnamon roll boyfriend of every girl's dreams (mine included)! and bennett is all sad girl vibes (which i loved bc same!), but she's trying! she's not giving up on herself, she's a fighter and i admire her for it! she is at her core a girl that loves hard!!! you can't help but smile at all their interactions and root for them the entire time! i love a GOOD strangers to friends to lovers and this one is SO good! their banter made me giggly and their slow burn is filled with tension and big feelings! so many swoonworthy moments between the two but my favorites were all their intimate moments of vulnerability where they opened up and let each other in. i was so proud and so moved! also, i reeeally enjoy books set in new york- something about the city just feels so warm and inviting. i love all the places we got to explore with henry and bennett and all of the side characters were so wonderful.
some scenes in the end were a little rushed but other than that this book is perfection!

and now i need to go find someone to go passion hunting with on saturdays!


thank you so much to Penguin Books and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

PASSION PROJECT by London Sperry

This. Book. I don’t think I could love it more? First of all, there’s Bennet who’s grieving her boyfriend’s death and completely lost in a life she can’t quite commit to. Then there’s Henry — swoon — who decides to help Bennet find something she’s passionate about as she tries to find her footing in NYC. As they adventure throughout the city, Bennet begins to open herself back up — to life, to Henry and to love.

Grief is such a lonely, messy thing — and London navigates it with such care, without being delicate about it. Her writing is the perfect balance of humor and heart. It’s emotional, extremely funny and so damn hopeful. Also, I may also be dehydrated from crying? But in a good way. Go read this book!

Passion Project comes out 4/8.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin House for the ARC!

A beautifully raw and real story that had me laughing, crying, and absolutely rooting for the characters. And let me tell you when a book makes me feel this much? It’s doing something very right.

A grieving, lost Bennet teams up with a charming adventurer, Henry for a "passion project" of wild New York City escapades—strictly as friends (yeah, right)—only to discover that moving on might mean opening her heart again.

One of the strongest elements of this book was its portrayal of grief. It wasn’t just a background detail—it was real, it was messy, and it showed just how differently people handle it. What I loved most was how it emphasized that grief doesn’t have to hold you back. It’s something you carry, but it doesn’t have to define you. THAT MESSAGE HIT ME RIGHT IN THE FEELS!!! 😭

Bennet stole my heart and ran off with it. Sperry captured her voice so well. You just knew her. She wasn’t just a character; she was a whole person with depth, flaws, and a growth arc that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. And then there’s Henry. This man. He was charming, heartfelt, and just a delight to read. I fell in love with him right alongside Bennet. My only tiny wish? That we got to dive a little deeper into Henry’s own journey.


Also, I need to say this: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE COVER. This might look like a light, fun romance at first glance, but prepare yourself. This book takes you through the full emotional spectrum.

Pacing-wise, this book shined in so many ways. The romance had time to develop naturally, and we truly got to know these characters. My one little critique? Some of the big emotional moments toward the end felt a tad rushed.

But honestly? By the time I closed the book, I was so full of love and warmth for Bennet and Henry that I could overlook the small hiccups. This was beautiful, emotional, and completely worth every page.

I don't have enough words for this book. It definitely is a rollercoaster ride of emotions!

Passion Project by London Sperry is a stunning debut that beautifully balances grief, love, and the long road to rediscovering oneself. It’s slow-burn perfection, the kind that makes you savor every moment as Bennet and Henry build something real, something rooted in friendship first.

Bennet’s journey is one that hit me hard. After losing her ex, Sam, years ago, she’s been drowning in grief, stuck in a cycle of guilt and numbness. When a friend signs her up for a dating app, she matches with Henry—only to ghost him in a panic. But fate (or the magic of New York City) intervenes, and when they meet again, she’s honest: she’s not ready to date. Instead of walking away, Henry steps up, becoming the friend she desperately needs. And let me tell you, watching him help her find her passion again? Absolutely heart-melting.

From fun adventures around NYC to deeply emotional moments, this book had me feeling everything. The last part of the story, in particular, broke me in the best way—Bennet’s struggle with guilt was palpable, and while I wished she had confronted it sooner, her growth by the end made it all the more rewarding.

London Sperry has crafted a beautifully written story about love, loss, and the courage to embrace life again. It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and full of moments that will stay with me for a long time. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC.

Book Review

📖📖📖📖📖

I laughed, I cried, I related, and I rooted for Bennet like there was no tomorrow. This is a top ten read for me in 2025 for sure. I am so appreciative to @netgalley and @penguinbooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is for every person out there that suffers from depression or anxiety. For every person who has grief so severe they struggle to put one foot in front of the other. For every person who just rolls over and goes back to sleep, for days on end.

Bennet loses the love of her life. She moves to NYC to fulfill Sam’s dream, and loses herself in the process. Enter Henry and the Passion Project.

What’s your passion? If you had ten seconds to answer that, could you? Through adventures and mistrial, Bennet learns how to live again, a little at a time.

I could not put this book down. Or should I say Kindle? Every chance I got today I was hooked to the words!

This one is good for the soul! It’s out on April 8th!

Add it to your list!

#arc #imalreadyhungry #tendollarbet