What a wonderful debut from London Sperry. This novel had me crying for much of the latter half and giggling/kicking my feet other times. Bennet Taylor was a highly relatable female main character, who is struggling with her depression and grief, and goes on a whirlwind of events with one Henry Adams.

A lot of my thoughts are about how good of a depiction of grief this novel illustrates. At times, you’re frustrated with Bennet’s actions, but wow does it feel accurate to the experience of intense sadness. None of her actions, even the bad ones, are out of place and that realistic depiction is refreshing and utterly upsetting at times. Sperry captures Bennet’s voice so well, it’s one of the strongest parts of this novel. Her character is known and goes through a really heartwarming arc. I loved Henry as well, I think he was a delight to read and had me falling in love with him too. I think maybe there could have been more for him with his journey that we sort of neglect at times, so that’s where I might feel a little incomplete with this novel. I assume this is due to the novel being in Bennet’s point of view, but there were still moments of growth for Henry that I wish we could have gotten.

Pacing-wise, this novel killed it for the most part. The romance was believable and we spent a lot of time getting to know the characters, but I did feel as though the ending was a tad rushed through and some of the ‘realizations’ happened too quickly. Even so, I was happy by the end and felt so warm for Henry and Bennet.

Sperry did a wonderful job at placing this novel too. You can feel New York City so incredibly well, picture everything being described and really believe this is where the characters are living. I’m so glad to have read this book, it’s refreshing, entertaining, and so uplifting.

Thank you to Netgalley/Penguin Books for the ARC!!!

I simply could not put this book down.

Bennet is the kind of character who you are rooting for a screaming at through the page at the same time. She falls into the trap that we all feel in our early 20’s, that everyone else has their shit together while she has no clue what to do with her life. This is only compounded by the fact that she is still grieving the loss of her college sweetheart.

When Bennet meets Henry, you can’t help but cheer them on. Their banter, energy, and (platonic?) love for each other kept drawing me in with every chapter. The last 50 pages had me crying, cringing, and kicking my feet. Bennet and Henry will be living in my head rent free for a while.

Bennet is pretty depressed. After the death of her boyfriend, she moved to NYC with a friend to live out his dreams. NYC is not what she was expecting though, and she finds herself hiding in bed more often than not. When her roommate urges her to go on a date, she decides to try, but it does not go well. When she runs into Henry later and he wants to start a friendship, she reluctantly agrees. Will Henry be able to help her?

Somehow I keep picking up grief books? Is it me? Have there always been so many books with grief and I just didn’t realize it since I wasn’t in the thick of it? Either way, I really enjoyed this book! I felt so much for Bennet, and I loved the growing relationship with Henry. There were two little things in this book that were just not realistic and really bothered me though. One, newborns do not smile and laugh when you shake toys at them during a newborn shoot, you also don’t want them to look at you because their eyes are not focused yet so they won’t be sharp in the photo. The second one is a one bedroom in Brooklyn does not have space for two people to live there and have a full photography studio as well. Besides those two things, that really weren’t the end of the world, just stood out to me, I really loved every second of this book!

Thank you to @VikingBooks for my gifted copy of this book!

4.5!

what a stunningly beautiful and raw debut. this story absolutely blew me away; not only is the concept unique and fun but the characters felt so real and fleshed out. it explores grief and battling depression, trying to find yourself, and platonic and romantic relationships.

not only is there emotional depth but also humor and banter and all things that make you feel giddy. there are few books that genuinely make me laugh out loud and then have tears streaming down my face only a couple of pages later. this book touched me in so many ways. it ripped by heart out but also put it back together.

bennet infuriated me at times but only because i related so heavily to her (especially with her self-sabotaging but bear with her PLEASE). there were so many moments when her inner monologue was exactly what i was thinking as i read it. she is so complex (just like all of the emotions she experiences throughout the book) and her arc was something beautiful to read. oh henry. golden boy henry. when do i get to find my henry. truly one of the best MMCs i have ever had the pleasure of meeting (through books of course).

this book felt like a love letter to finding yourself as well as one to NYC (one of my happiest places). immediately adding London Sperry to my list of authors who I will read anything they write, even a grocery list, (alongside Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Ashley Poston, and Elsie Silver!!!)

thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for this arc! you must read this as soon as its out on april 8th!!!

When I saw this was available on Net Galley, I was SO EXCITED!! Since reading the premise of this story, this novel was right up my alley. This story had the perfect mix of both serious topics and the fun rom-com banter. For me to enjoy a romance story, I have to connect to the characters on a deeper level and have a way to relate or see the characters as real humans, with depth and flaws. Bennet and Henry have REAL depth to them, with a raw and relatable past. They have unresolved trauma, and instead of their problems magically going away, they actually take time to communicate and work on their issues. Did some of Bennet's choices anger me? Yes. But she is a twenty something young woman struggling through grief, of course she is going to have some trust issues and attachment problems. Bennet's depression was portrayed so well, to the point where I felt seen like she had written some of my own thoughts down. This was not insta love, the perfect slow burn, and very well written. I will read anything London writes and so impressed with her debut! And the cover is perfect.

Told in single-POV, <i>Passion Project</i> follows Bennet who has been stuck under the weight of her grief from losing her college boyfriend for years, and her misery seeps off her like a cheap perfume. I’m not saying that to be cruel, I’m saying that because it comes off the page. But, she is soon forced out of her wallowing by a first date gone wrong with Henry. Sure, she ghosted him, but what if they tried to find what she was passionate about in life? It seems like a ridiculous suggestion, but with nothing else going well in her life, Bennet agrees.

From tattoo parlors, Coney Island, dog adoption events and even the Statue of Liberty, Sperry weaves a coming of age tale for those in their mid-20s that blends devastation and grief with the hope of a brighter day, and I’m glad Bennet found that.

For me, the book was the strongest while Bennet and Henry were developing their friendship and going on their weekly adventures. I never got the sense that the two of them <i>should</i> be more than that, nor did I feel like Bennet was ever in a place to contemplate a relationship. So when Bennet and Henry do end up in a relationship, my interest in the story weaned….and kept weaning as Bennet behaved like she wasn’t ready for a relationship and ended up hearing herself and Henry.

By the end, there was a HEA for Bennet and Henry, and Bennet’s growth throughout the book was lovely to follow, but as I sit back and think on it, I don’t feel like the reader ever got to know Henry as well as Bennet did, which is a shame. I also feel that Bennet took way too long to get out of her own way for the HEA to carry the weight it was supposed to, but other readers will disagree! I also feel like this is much more Women's Fiction than a Romance, but there is a decent balance of both genres.

Thank you to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

A wonderful, emotional roller coaster ride of a debut. Had to sit on this one for a couple of days after finishing it because Passion Project made me feel all the things. While it’s a romance novel, Passion Project heavily focuses on themes of grief and healing (on the part of both the main characters, but even more so focused on Bennet due to the first person, single POV narrative) and Bennet’s struggles with mental health (depression and anxiety), and it makes for a heavy story at times, but you also can’t help but root for her and want her to find her way in life.

Bennet’s character is so relatable; she doesn’t have it all figured out, she doesn’t know what she wants, she feels all the things, and she doesn’t know how to get back to the person she used to be—before she knew the grief of losing a loved one that overshadowed everything else, before the guilt that came with it. I warmed up to her at once. I feel like I haven’t read enough romance novels with protagonists who don’t have a passion that they know of, and while I love to read about characters that do know what they want, sometimes I want to feel more like it’s okay to not know (which I don’t, and it is okay! It’s just hard to remember when everyone seems like they have something figured out, but it’s a part of life), so it makes me happy to have a protagonist like Bennet. Going along on her journey through immense grief but also finding herself is so healing, and I wanted the best for her, which she got in her friends and in Henry.

Henry is a cinnamon roll sweetheart of a man; I love that Bennet’s first thing she likes about him is his kindness because kindness makes a man (and anyone honestly) infinitely more attractive, and he’s just what she needs. His optimism and spontaneity help to brighten Bennet’s life, and he’s such an important part in kickstarting her desire to live again, her slow realization that she *can* be happy and that she deserves to be happy. He’s so patient and warm and lovely, and he’s a true friend to Bennet when she needed one most. I adore Henry and the way Bennet and Henry become fast friends and banter and just purely enjoy spending time with one another, that evolution into flirtation as they open up to each other and then finally taking the leap into something more than friends. His candidness about how others perceive him as an extrovert when really he learned to like hearing others’ stories and isn’t actually happy all the time helped flesh out his character (important when it’s single first person POV and you don’t get to be inside his head). The immediate comfort and safety Bennet feels with him is everything. He radiates the warmth she needs and is her safe space and I love them together.

That said, it’s definitely not a straight path from start to finish, as Bennet learns and experiences a lot along the way. You just know that it’s gonna hurt, but it’s gonna hurt in a good way (the angst where you both want to shake Bennet but also give her a big hug because you understand how difficult it is), but ultimately, the understanding she comes to of her grief and her moment of closure of sorts is one of the most beautiful scenes in the book (and made me cry 😭). And the resolution to the third act conflict also made me cry because her grand gesture for Henry is so earnest and heartfelt and so *them* that I reread them making up (and the epilogue) right after finishing the book for the first time. Bennet and Henry laying all their cards out on the table is so raw and lovely and sweet, and it truly shows the openness they finally reached by the end, the desire to support each other through the hard times and celebrate with each other’s wins. I loved all the adventures they went on, pushing themselves to try new things and growing as people and making new friends. I’m so proud of both of them by the end, but especially of Bennet because though she stumbled many a time, she found her footing and fixed her mistakes (yes for finally going to therapy and acknowledging that she needed to be the one to fix herself but also that part of the reason for going to therapy was because she wanted to love Henry right because she knows he also deserves the best, and that she needs to love and accept herself, too).

Not sure if this is that coherent but I’m still full of feelings about Passion Project and am sure I’ll reread it when I’m feeling a little lost or need a good cry. It’s a gentle hand on your shoulder, a warm blanket and cup of hot tea, a pat on the head of a book. Don’t let the cover fool you into thinking it’s a light read though; prepare yourself for a sometimes rough but fun and beautifully messy ride.

Thank you to Netgalley/Penguin Books for the ARC.

I cried. So automatically a five star read.

This is a story of a woman drowning in grief and guilt and a man who looks at strangers as friends he hasn’t met yet.

Perfect for fans of “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue and “The Last Love Note” by Emma Grey.

Passion Project explores the layers of depression, grief, and guilt. The pressure we feel to be like everyone else and have a list of accomplishments a mile long before we are 30. The characters were incredibly well developed and the pacing was great.

Wow, I can't believe this is London Sperry's debut novel. I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4 stars. The main characters, Bennet and Henry, were so likeable and relatable. I loved Bennet and found her to be extremely relatable, she was messy without being a hot mess. Bennet's life is pretty aimless and directionless and maybe I'm a terrible person, but I found that to be really comforting. This book explores grief, the guilt associated with moving on from that loss, friendship, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Henry is probably one of the sweetest and more sincere male main characters I've ever read.

Overall, it was such a sweet and easy read. To anyone who has ever felt lost in life, this book is for you.

Format: ebook

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the arc!

A sweet story that made me smile and had depth.
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

This book was a sweet friends to lovers book that tackled the subject of grief (as well as the friends called anxiety, depression, & guilt) within a new romance quite nicely. The main female character was "flawed" (I use that very loosely as mental health makes you do and feel some crazy things) but felt very relatable. She had an amazing support system; she just needed to let them in. Most importantly, she needed to actually give herself permission to begin the process of healing herself first. The main male character was the most wholesome cinnamon roll I have read in a contemporary rom-com. He had such unwavering patience and even though there were some bumps in their journey, he was such a rock for her, and was okay with being vulnerable. I love the concept intentionally stepping out of comfort zones to find your passion, as its something I personally am still working on (let's just say I'm a decade+ older than main characters) so that was what initially drew me to the story. The HEA had everything wrapped up nicely, and this was quick read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

I almost don't even have words to describe this book. It's been a long time since a story has so thoroughly wrecked me and put me back together. I read this book in one sitting because I could not imagine stepping away for even a second. Bennet's journey through her grief and depression was written in incredible detail. I had visceral responses every time she broke down. I loved watching the people around her love her so well and slowly help coax her out of the void. Henry was everything we could have asked for in this story. He was gentle, kind, patient, but he still challenged her and didn't accept less than he deserved even while she was trying to sort through her feelings. Every character in this story truly added to it. Even though the story had heavy topics, I would find myself laughing 30 seconds after something made me cry. I loved this book front to back.
Thank you so much to Penguin books for access to this eARC.

ARC REVIEW!!!

I absolutely loved this book so much it was so phenomenal!! Reading about Bennet growth throughout the book was so beautiful and watching the healing process with everything she did made me so happy. The last 30% had me sobbing so much I was a little upset about it at first but I think it’s what gave Bennet the final push in her healing journey to do better for herself and I also just truly love a good heartfelt angsty moment and this gave it to me. Henry was also the most perfect mmc so caring and patient I have no complaints about him at all! I recommend this book to everyone it’s lovely!!❤️

Sooo sweet! This DEBUT?! novel by London Sperry is an easy 5 stars! A quick read that will keep you engaged from start to finish— I loved Passion Project so much & will recommend it to everyone, forever.

This rom-com follows Bennet, an anxious girl dealing with grief, depression & guilt, as she navigates life after loss. For years she's been struggling to piece her life back together & to actually live again... but she just can't seem to quite break through her barriers. She becomes friends with Henry, ironically after standing him up on a date, & together they plan mini adventures & outings in hopes to help Bennet through her sadness & find what she's passionate about; aka their "Passion Project".

The exploration of grief & the way that anxiety manifests itself (be it physically or emotionally) was so raw & real that I found myself relating to Bennet so much. It was so validating to read a book that enters the mind of someone who thinks like me.

🗽 NYC setting
😢 learning to deal with grief & guilt
✌️ hopeful
🫂 friendship
🩹 mending & healing
💔 heartbreak
💞 friends-to-lovers
🪞 self-discovery
✅ I cried
🌶️ 2/5 spicy level

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking & London Sperry for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

This was a really lovely book about grief and moving on and discovering who you are. Bennet is struggling to move on after the death of her boyfriend. She meets Henry after ghosting him on a first date and the two become friends and Henry decides to help Bennet discover her passion.
I loved the friendship between these two. Henry was so sweet and happy and exactly what Bennet needed. He pushed her out of her comfort zone and to try new things. I loved how Bennet also helped push Henry and supported him as well. Henry was so patient and understanding of the time that Bennet needed and of her conflicting feelings. Bennet was struggling with a lot of guilt and fear about moving on and she really struggled to see herself in a new relationship.
I thought this book did a great job of showing the ups and downs of grief and moving on. The relationship between Bennet and Henry was really sweet and I especially loved the little found family they built along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!

this was an absolutely stunning debut!!!

like??? i can't get over how good it was !! genuinely so hopeful, beautiful & tender !!! the way grief was approached in this book while also tackling the struggle of feeling worth it, of knowing who you are, of feeling excited about life?? 😭😭😭😭 such a real, raw and authentic representation to the crippling depression and exhaustion you feel when you lose someone you love. i cried a lot!!!

HENRY! HENRY! HENRY! this man is the sweetest most wholesome man !!! but he's also SO FUN! a literal bundle of joy!! but he also has his own struggles and heartaches, and i love how we get to see both sides of him (happy & sad). but let me tell you !! the way this man shows up for bennet day after day, with no expectations other than friendship. the way he wants her to enjoy life again & do things that bring her joy. OMG what a man!!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH !!!!!!

this book was so SO easy to read & love and enjoy. you can't help but root for bennet & henry in every single endeavor. it's full of laughs and lots of tears, but mostly it's full of hope. it reminds you to try new things, find your passion and to go after what you want -- living each day to the fullest!!

i genuinely cannot wait to see what london sperry writes next 🤭

also: if you liked promise me sunshine by cara bastone, you need to read this one!

thank you so much Penguin Books & Netgalley for the arc! this is my honest review.

Such a sweet / fun / sappy story of Bennet, a young woman with a grieving soul, and wonderful Henry, the guy that she stands up for their first date. Passion Project explores friendship, grief, depression, and love in a delightful rom-com. The story is easy to follow, with a limited number of characters, but is also somewhat predictable. I read it in record time, and loved the satisfying ending. This would be a great vacay read as the chapters are short, and the subject matter is light, but meaningful. I recommend it to those headed for the beach...

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Passion Project.

4.5-4.75★

Henry has my whole heart!! he was the sweetest soul and so patient with Bennet. I really really enjoyed this. It was slow burn perfection. I always love when a couple builds a friendship first and that’s what Bennet needed. After losing her ex, Sam, years ago, she’s been consumed by grief, feeling like there’s no escape from it. It was literally swallowing her whole, so much so that she lost herself and purpose.

When her friend sets her up on a dating app, she matches with Henry. Only when it’s time for their date, she panics and ghosts him. There’s some details in-between but when these two meet again, Bennet admits that she’s just not ready to date yet. Henry accepts that and realizes quickly that a friend is what she needs more than anything.

I loved the premise of this so much. Henry tasks himself with helping Bennet find her passion and they do all sorts of things around New York City to accomplish that.
It’s so much fun and it honestly reminded me of why I love visiting New York so much.

As fun as this was though, it also had a lot of emotional moments. Especially the last part, my heart was hurting so much for both Bennet and Henry. I really needed Bennet to work through her guilt over what happened with Sam because it was hurting not only everyone around her, but herself too. I do wish it happened sooner in the book but I’m happy that we did eventually see growth from her.

This was such a well written story about love, happiness, friendship and grief. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin books for the ARC.

4.25 stars.

Thank you to Penguin Books for allowing me access to the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so, I requested this ARC on a whim. I had seen a few posts about it on social media, and I think there was one comparing the writing to an Emily Henry book that finally sold me on it. And I am so SO glad I did.

This book absolutely grips you from the moment you start reading. There's no entry period where it takes a minute to get into the book and get your mind settled in this new story. You are pulled in immediately and I absolutely could not put this book down until it was finished.

For a debut novel, the writing in this is fantastic. The author really knows how to describe an emotional state and have the reader FEEL that emotion and understand it, even if its not something they deal with in real life. I'm not one to normally get emotional with books, but the way that London Sperry describes grief and love and depression really tugged at me to feel that way too. I also loved some of her descriptions of seemingly simple ideas... for example:
"Where are we going?" I say flatly, pinching the end of the lit fuse of the conversation and snuffing out any potential banter.

The plot was also really well put together and the details of the past are woven so intricately into the details of the present that it doesn't feel like two separate thoughts or like the character is going on some random tangent. Both of the main characters were well-written and had wonderful chemistry, and I adored Henry so much. I struggled a bit more with Bennet, but she also struggled with herself, so, fair.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was what the author chose as The Big Conflict (or the 3rd Act Breakup, I think others call it). I wanted to scream at the one main character for choosing to do things as they did instead of taking a moment to think it through and talk it out. But I'm really glad that the story didn't end there and that the character's stories were wrapped up in a really satisfying way.

[Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

Bennet Taylor is stuck in a rut, with no passion, no direction, and no social life. Her roommate sets her up on a date, but still grieving after the death of her first love, Bennet ends up ghosting Henry. But when she sees him again, Henry offers to help her find her passion. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. But as their "passion project" continues, and their friendship deepens, Bennet has to decide if she’s ready to move on and embrace love and happiness again.

My heart ached for Bennet! She is having a rough time battling grief and depression and ultimately has begun shutting everyone out. Yet somehow, Henry is able to chip away at Bennet’s walls and with his help, she goes on a journey where she learns to open herself to new opportunities.

This is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance. Not only is Henry respectful of Bennet saying she only wants to be friends, but he’s kind and patient with her as she slowly opens up to him. He’s just a delightful cinnamon roll and I wish we got to learn more about him. Their banter will have you laughing. I will say that the third act is rough. Bennet’s habit of self-sabotage comes out in full force, and there’s nothing you can do but watch (read) as it happens.

Honestly, I wavered between 4 and 5 stars but for now, I’m going to go with 4 stars just based on how quickly Bennet was able to fix everything (a little unrealistic). I may come back and update this later.

This is a story about second chances, self-discovery, and finding what makes you happy. I was shocked to learn that this was Sperry’s debut novel… I cannot wait to see where she takes us next!