I absolutely ADORED this book and can't believe it is a debut! Honestly, I will read anything London Sperry writes next following this one. Bennet and Henry were so special to me I wish I never had to say goodbye to them.

This book was the perfect blend of grief, growth, and unexpected joy. Bennet is messy, raw, and so relatable as she fumbles through life in her twenties, weighed down by loss and searching for something—anything—to bring her back to herself. Enter Henry: charming, thoughtful, and exactly the kind of person you’d want helping you rediscover your spark.

I loved watching their “passion project” unfold through all the wild, funny, and sometimes emotional adventures. The banter sizzled, the chemistry felt effortless, and the emotional payoff was so worth it. It’s a love story, yes—but it’s also about self-love, second chances, and the sometimes bumpy road to healing.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, heartbroken, or unsure of what’s next, this book will meet you there—and lift you up.

3.5 ⭐️ As one of my absolute favorite places, I loved the NYC summer vibes in this book! I thought their passion project dates were very fun & interesting. I also loved that we got to see their relationship grow in a friendly way before it became more romantic. We also get some pretty cool, memorable side characters that you become attached to! I enjoyed the representation and look we got into mental health, and how it affected Bennet's life & story.

The one thing that turned me off of this book & knocked down the rating was the third-act breakup. It was absolutely ridiculous, and let me tell you... Henry is a PATIENT man. The fact that he was even willing to go through with her plan was insane, and he should have immediately booked a plane ticket home.

Thank you to Penguin Books for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I went into this expecting something tender & lighthearted, and it ended up being way more layered. it's really a story about grief and healing!

Bennett lost her boyfriend two years ago and has been struggling with depression ever since. She moved to New York because that's where he wanted to live, but she still hasn't found her place there. She doesn't have a steady job or a social life yet.
Her friend encourages her to go on a date with a guy from a dating app, but she realizes she's not ready and runs away, only to later meet him in a restaurant across the street. Henry decides to help her find a passion, and they start meeting every
Saturday.
Henry is just amazing! I adore him! He's patient, kind, and funny, and the way he supported the heroine was just heartwarming! Also, he wears glasses (my weakness) and has a collection of rocks.

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

3.5⭐️ rounded up because any book that makes me cry deserves to be rated higher (the Yankees stadium scene, IYKYK).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This one was cute! Henry is PERFECT, and the way the FMC treated him was gross. He deserves everything beautiful. I wish we got to dive a little deeper into his background, but the entire focus is around Bennet and her trauma, but he was the true star.

Overall, I'd recommended for something quick, but don't say I didn't warn you if it makes you angry.

The Passion Project started off very strong. I loved the vibe and was immediately drawn in. There were parts of the book where I found the main character annoying (but I think that was the point since she was dealing with so much). I’ve thankfully never dealt with this type of grief but imagine I would be similar in moods as the main character. However, I must say Henry is SAINT for dealing with some of her behaviors. I really hope Bennett learned to charge her phone. I loved the friendship makeups in the story more than the romance makeup. Overall, a good book! Great for a debut.

This was a sweet and cute book. I loved Henry and his positive outlook on life and I even liked Bennett and how her struggles were very realistically portrayed. If I had a complaint, it would be that the ending was almost glossed over. Sometimes when there is a character with such big problems, I kind of wish authors would spend a bit more time on the counseling that the character pursues and continues to show growth that way. Overall, a cute book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bennet is a grieving mess who is holed up in her own head. After the loss of her first love, she moves to New York City with her best friend. She then spends all of her time working with a temp angency and just existing, pushing everything and everyone away.

This story is full of grief, guilt, self-sabotage, experiencing love after loss and the beauty of finally allowing happiness and magic back in.

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

The intertwining of grief and love is a story of endurance and I think this book encapsulates that perfectly. It is a story that needs to be told with care and tenderness and I felt so safe while reading London's writing. In my opinion, the intricacies of grief and the unique ways in which each person experiences it is something that's hard to capture in one novel but this was so well done. Bennet and Henry's love story perfectly balanced the heavier tones of grief without diminishing its importance and validating that these two experiences can, and often do, exist and be tended to at the same time.

After seeing this as a Book of the Month, I was excited to receive this as an ARC! Full disclosure: this is very similar to Promise Me Sunshine.

What makes this book unique, to me, were the Star Wars references. We get Darth Maul rock (lol) and several Star Wars versions of F/Marry/Kill.

My fave scene was the one bed trope scene. Having the dolls around the bed brought back memories. As a preteen, I also had my grandmother's porcelain dolls around my bed. Why, I will never know, because it is truly nightmare fuel.

Fave Quote: "Being up here makes me feel small, but being with you makes me feel significant."

This review will be posted on my booksta, toomanyfivestarreads.

Passion Project is not only a great romance, but a journey through grief and self discovery. I loved everything about this book. The well developed characters are real and relatable. Henry is lovable, funny and d that cinnamon roll guy we all want to date. Bennett starts as appearing weak and whiny, then grows to a strong and capable human with Henry’s guidance. This would make a fabulous addition to your beach bag for summer!

What a great way to incorporate grief into a romance. Bennett losing her college boyfriend in a very pivotal time in her life where she was evolving into her adult self with him made her very real and raw character. Then there was Henry, who is seemingly very full of life person who also has his own struggles with family and grief. I think that it bennnet and Henry meeting at the time they did and fulfilling a a gap in each other’s world that they really needed is such a real expression of love. I have to say the only thing I didn’t like in this book was how Bennett broke up with the college boyfriend and ultimately hid things from him and lied to him when she could’ve just chose honesty.. I feel like there was a better way to create. That story without having Bennett makes such a poor choice overall, a really great story of self discovery after grief.

I really tried to like this. I did, but I just didn’t like the heroine. She was too much of a hot mess. Flat, toxic characters

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of Passion Project. I absolutely loved the NYC setting and the idea of the passion project as a concept to help Bennet out of her funk, but something just fell flat for me. I loved the character of Henry and honestly thought they should have just stayed friends at the end of the book.

4 stars! This debut novel from London Sperry gives Cara Bastone, Promise me Sunshine Vibes. Bennett is grieving the death of her ex boyfriend when she meets Henry, the biggest cinnamon roll in the world! I absolutely loved this book up until the wedding scene, which seemed so out of place and manufactured. It won’t stop me from reading her next novel though.

Thank you Penguin Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

4 stars!!!! ⭐️ I went into this expecting something tender & lighthearted, and it ended up being way more layered. it’s really a story about grief and healing, and if you’re a fan of emily henry, the writing definitely scratches that itch!! (I can’t believe it’s a debut!) the pacing worked really well, and it hooked me from the first few chapters.

i’ll be honest, I didn’t always love bennet as a main character. she frustrated me a lot, but in a way that felt very human. she’s hurting, she’s stuck, and she pushes people away. even though that made her hard to root for sometimes, it also made sense. I just wish therapy had come into the picture sooner. I think stories like this could be even more powerful if healing wasn’t saved for the final chapters. henry (the love interest) on the other hand... perfect. maybe too perfect?? the side characters were also such a bright spot, and the new york setting was absolute MAGIC! it felt vivid and alive, almost like its own character.

i’d absolutely read more from london sperry!

thanks to penguin books and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

70% of this book was beautiful and moving. And 25% was exhausting. And 5% enraging. but books like this are what makes reading so wonderful.

Cute RomCom book.
The story was good and it kept me engaged but it wasn't a binge book.
It was a nice easy read, if you have nothing else to read and just want something to pass the time.
Characters were good and the descriptions were great.

Very cute rom-com and about loving someone after death. It just didn't have anything that really wow'd me but overall, good story line.