Thanks to Penguin Books for the gifted copy!

“Being up here makes me feel small, but being with you makes me feel significant.”

Bennet Taylor is still grieving the loss of her boyfriend two years later, feeling guilt over the circumstances of his death and unable to move on for something that gives her life. She’s just existing. Her roommate makes her a dating profile and sends her on a date with Henry Adams, who may just change her life.

A heartfelt debut, PASSION PROJECT is for lovers of the emotional, deeper romance read. Dealing with some heavy topics, Bennet and Henry connect as friends before taking their relationship further, and I think that just makes it even sweeter! I loved their Saturdays together spent on their “passion project” and how they really pushed each other and really were just two puzzle pieces. The NYC setting was fun, I loved the grand gesture, and definitely shed some tears while reading. If you enjoyed PS: I HATE YOU, PROMISE ME SUNSHINE, or Jessica Joyce books, this one’s for you!

I can’t wait for more from London Sperry!

Bennet is living in NYC, but she’s miserable and depressed, pushing away every human connection in her life. Stuck in a temporary job and feeling directionless, her future seems uncertain. When she unexpectedly crosses paths with the guy she once ghosted, a date that never happened, they start meeting every week. Through these encounters, he helps her explore her passions, leading Bennet to question what she knows and, unexpectedly, what she feels.

I loved every bit of this book, it was charming, funny, and profound. The characters were thoughtfully crafted, with well-developed backgrounds that truly enriched the story, giving them remarkable depth.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin books for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

i LOVED the mental health representation in this book! i loved how real and relatable this story felt as someone who is in their 30’s. thank you for this book and these characters!!! will never get over it!

WOW this book was just downright good for my soul. I don’t know if it was where I was mentally reading this, but I was really moved and felt myself healing a little as I read on. The portrayal of the grief, mental health struggles, and panic attacks was so raw and real, it was incredibly well done. I didn’t love the way Bennet’s character was acting and treating Henry towards the end of the book, but honestly the truth of making a normal situation much bigger than it has to be and blowing it out of proportion was true to the story and the character. I am Team Henry forever, but I feel like I could also see how the crappy situations happened (yes they were all the making of Bennet, but I got it).

I also loved the idea of the Passion Project. As someone who has felt a little lost at times in my life, I loved the idea of having experiences to find your passion. Overall, really great read.

Absolute perfection! If I could give it SIX stars, I would! Such a fun, very emotional read. I’m officially a fan. Can’t wait to see what this amazing debut author writes next!

I absolutely loved this book. I found myself emotionally all over the place. There were parts that I laughed out loud and then cried the next. I liked how Bennett would be brutally honest sometimes without even meaning to (scene in the bathroom about Henry’s tattoo) but hated when she couldn’t be honest when it counted (how she felt about Henry at the wedding and just watched him walk away 💔). It did annoy me that she would think Andy’s family wouldn’t want her to be happy and move on with her life. It’s been years…they can’t expect you to be single forever. The best part of this book that I had a smile on my face the whole time was when they stayed the night at Sal’s. And man! kudos to Henry for being okay with her messed up self. I think that’s what I liked most about him is that he was understanding and helped Bennett through her grief. But my heart broke a little at the end when he overheard Bennett’s conversation with Sam’s mom…literally could feel the stab in the heart he was experiencing at that moment. The ending though!!! 👩‍🍳 😘 so sweet! Thank you netgalley for the advanced reader’s copy, I will definitely be recommending.

Ok ok, this book was cuteeee. I knew I was going to like it from the first few pages. Our main girl Bennet is grieving the loss of her dead boyfriend when she meets Henry. A fun, lovable, extroverted "golden retriever" type human. He sparks some life back into her and together they try to figure out what her passion is-post loss of a loved one.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. About 70% in, I was getting a bit frustrated with how Bennet was dealing with the circumstances. It felt a little too unrealistic and immature. Luckily, things changed pretty quickly and she annoyed me less by the end. There were things I was expecting to happen and I appreciate that there were several surprises with where the story went. It felt like a new and fresh romcom instead of just a regurgitated one.

This is a great book to pick up for your contemporary romance!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin books for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this! It reminded me a lot of losing my best friend, in my mom and is special and near and dear to my heart. This is a special book and can be hard to write about grief and coming through that but I feel like our author did an incredible job

Passion Project by London Sperry totally caught me off guard in the best way. Bennet and Henry were funny, flirty, honest, and refreshingly real. Their banter had me smiling constantly, and their deeper conversations hit me right in the heart.

This gave me *Promise Me Sunshine* vibes (a grieving FMC meeting a hopeful MMC who helps her rediscover meaning), but with its own twist! Bennet is grieving the loss of a boyfriend, and the story explores how complicated moving forward can be. The portrayal of grief and depression was beautifully done: raw without being overwhelming. 👏

I loved the NYC backdrop, the mix of humor and heaviness, and how their friendship grew into something more. My only tiny gripe is that the ending felt a bit rushed and frustrating, but overall, this was such a moving, joyful, and thoughtful read. Can’t wait to see what London Sperry writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a winner! I am usually more critical of romance novels, and tend to be hard to please, but I really enjoyed this one. It was refreshing, charming, funny and life-affirming, which are some of the key themes I love about this genre of novel.

I thought the NYC story setting was immersive and so easy to read. Henry was a real gem of a MMC, and, unlike some other reviews I’ve seen, Bennet did not bother me. I thought her actions were justifiable for someone who had been through real grief as a young adult, and I did feel like she reached her character growth by the end. I loved watching her and Henry’s storyline develop and I will happily read anything Sperry writes next!

An excellent debut that is worth the hype it’s getting!

Passion Project was an absolute gem—equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and quietly profound. Bennet Taylor’s journey through grief, quarter-life confusion, and self-discovery felt so honest and relatable, it hit me right in the feels. Her dry humor and emotional walls made her instantly endearing, and I was rooting for her from page one.
The “passion project” premise was such a charming, clever way to structure the story. Each Saturday adventure brought Bennet a little closer to rediscovering who she was, and watching her chemistry with Henry bloom through these moments was nothing short of delightful. Henry was the perfect balance of goofy, patient, and swoony, and their slow-burn connection built so naturally that I couldn’t help but grin through most of it.
The author also handled themes of grief and emotional paralysis with a really light but respectful touch—never too heavy, but still impactful. The writing had a breezy rhythm, the banter sparkled, and the emotions snuck up on me in the best way. By the end, I didn’t just want to cheer for Bennet—I wanted to go out and start a passion project of my own.
Warm, witty, and full of heart, this was a standout romance that reminded me how beautiful it can be to start again.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Bennet & Henry. New York City is a character throughout the book. We start off in a really bad place in Bennett’s life. She’s depressed and nothing is working out for her. The most debilitating thing is her grief over Sam. She shared an apartment with her best friend Sonya who loves NYC which only makes her feel that much more lonely and pathetic.
When we first meet Henry, he is first meeting Bennet but in an absolutely hilarious way (not for Bennett). Henry is cheeky, funny, and lighthearted; even with everything he has going on in his life.
Grieving the death of her boyfriend has left her life without passion. Henry’s goal is to help her find it again. The way their relationship starts and grows and blossoms throughout this book is realistic, lovely to be a part of, and honest. I loved falling in love with their love. This book also handled very serious subjects in a beautiful way.
I absolutely loved this book! This was an amazing debut book by this author and I absolutely fell in love with her writing! She gives her characters so much detail that you feel connected to them which makes the read that much more enjoyable! I will def be reading more by this author!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/159013247

This was an incredible read that was incredibly relatable. I adored Bennet and Henry and how this handled grief after losing someone you love.

I really enjoyed that the MC Henry was not problematic. It was nice seeing a MC that listened and communicated well. I also felt Bennetts grief and mental health was portrayed in a very accurate and relatable way. I just did not really feel the romance or sparks as much as I would have liked. But overall I enjoyed it.

I loved the cover and the premise of the book, but I thought the story was just ok. Henry was sweet, but I was frustrated with Bennet. And the "passion project" didn't really live up to my expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I haven’t felt this seen reading a book in a long time. And for a debut too!

There was so much to love here…the comedic writing with relatable MCs, the NYC setting, the strangers-to-friends-to-lovers plot, the whole passion project idea. It was a really solid summer romance that I will be recommending to everyone. But I mean, I will always be a sucker for a story that is romantic about baseball, especially Yankees baseball.

It was a five star read for me until third-act. I will say I may be a bit sensitive rn because I just finished another summer read which had a very similar third-act breakup. But honestly, I just did not enjoy how the FMC treated the MMC and I felt like I had to suspend reality quite a bit for the ending.

For certain readers, this book may be triggering due to its content regarding the death of a partner. It also feels important to note here, that therapy was not mentioned (with positive connotation) until past the 90% mark. Which seemed like an odd choice for a story that discusses grief this heavily.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to give my candid feedback.

This boom has the best city vibes ever! It was so informative and thought provoking! Finding your way in the world can be tough but with the right people in your orbit, it becomes such a gift!!

Thanks to Penguin Books for my advanced copy of Passion Project.

This was a fantastic debut and I saw so many glowing reviews --- I enjoyed it, but after reading two other books where grief was the main focus was a lot for me.

A story of loss and redemption- Bennet’s journey out of pain into finding purpose and her people. Simmering romance that rolls out over time and the shared experiences of Bennet and Henry as he guides her through dating adventures that build Bennet’s confidence and commitment to her health/wellness. Henry is a terrific “everyman” who normalizes the emotions involved in falling for someone in deep grief.

This book was sweet. Loved the friendship between the two MCs but personally felt the whole passion project a little contrived. The NYC setting didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping for, but overall it was an enjoyable read and I would definitely pick up another book by London Sperry in the future. Received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.