This is a heartfelt and witty debut that beautifully captures the journey of rediscovering joy after loss. The chemistry between Bennet and Henry is palpable, with their slow-burning romance offering moments of both levity and deep emotion. Sperry's portrayal of grief and mental health is raw and authentic, resonating with readers who appreciate stories that balance humor with heartfelt depth. Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, this friends-to-lovers tale is a testament to the power of connection and the resilience of the human spirit.

Very sweet! I really enjoyed this one. I liked both the fmc and mmc as characters and loved the NYC setting. The storyline was definitely unique and I think this is a great summer read.

I loved the cover of this book, but its contents weren’t as fun. This book follows 25-year-old Bennet as she recovers from losing her ex-boyfriend, Sam. With the help of Henry, an attractive “friend” she met through a dating app, Bennet sets out to find her passion in life. The premise of Passion Project was promising, but the execution fell a little short, in my opinion. Bennet kept making mistake after mistake, and while that’s relatable (who doesn’t make mistakes??) it quickly became uncomfortable and frustrating for me to read. I enjoyed the romance; that was a perfect slow-burn, friends to lovers plot. Yet the whole “passion project” idea was uninspiring. This book kind of reminded me of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking, for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I truly adored this book! This book is such a resonant coming of age book that touches on heavy topics but also is still a thoughtful, compassionate, and hopeful book. Bennet lives in NYC and lost her passion for life. She is a temp worker and is unsure of what she wants to do. She is also dealing with grief as well of losing someone she loved. Henry, who is a bartender in NYC, decided to help Bennet find her passion again - hence, the Passion Project starts. Bennet and Henry made a plan to try something new in NYC in the hopes Bennet finds her passion again for life.

One of the things I loved about this book is that neither character was perfect. Both of the characters were incredibly relatable characters dealing with their own issues. They were likable characters. Throughout the book, you did really want to root for the characters. I thought the writing of the book was well-done. It flowed very nicely and kept you interested. I did think it could have been a tad shorter near the end. I would give this book four out of five stars and would highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the free ARC in exchange for a review!

I absolutely loved this book. While the main characters choices and lack of communication was frustrating at time, I thoroughly enjoyed this plot and adored Henry. The grief aspect in this was done so well and was really relatable. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read or anyone who needs a reminder to let go and enjoy life again.

Thank you London Sperry and Netgalley for the e-arc. I am leaving this review voluntarily and a ll opinions are my own.

This was such a cute, sad read that kept me enthralled the whole time I was sitting with it.

Can't wait to see what London writes next!

I love the title and once you read this book, you will understand the meaning for it. Henry was a great MMC. Bennet was a lot, but she’s been through a lot. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I can relate to parts of Bennet. I loved that its based in NYC. I love the Henry accepts Bennet the way she is but he’s also going to help bring her passion back.

This was just ok. I had high hopes for it based on the description and the fact it was a Book of the Month. However, it left a lot to be desired. Henry was always Mr. Sunshine to Bennet’s constant gloom. It felt flat, surface level.

This one might be a it isn’t you, it’s me.
I read the book Promise Me Sunshine last month and the similarities are way too on point.
Not sure if it’s because of this but the main character was not my favorite. She acted way too young and immature and had no sense of self awareness. I know she was grieving but her selfishness was hard to handle. Also, the little misunderstanding is a huge eye roll. Be adults, talk about it instead of blocking him.
The sex scene was very awkward and there was no build up or anything-let’s get it on on the rooftop and on the subway. No thanks.

A hopeful and life-affirming story! This book addresses grief and moving forward in life in a way that feels so authentic and true to anyone's experience!

The romance is definitely a sub-plot in this, but again, in a way that feels authentic. I really loved the ways that Bennett and Henry built a very sweet friendship. But it was that friendship that made Bennett's lies and poor communication make NO SENSE. She felt safe with him, but then lied and struggled to communicate with him, even though he was so clear and so patient with her!

I appreciate that we see Bennett take some real steps to heal and grow, and I believe she and Henry make it..but there were things that felt frustrating in the story, so it wasn't a 5 star.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. There were times Bennett made me extremely mad with the way she was treating Henry, but as a person that struggles with anxiety I understood where she was coming from.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a great debut novel. I love the cover. I really liked Henry and Bennet. I’m glad I bought a copy of the book, too.

We can't do have stars on here but i would actually give this book 3.5 stars
This was a good book, it touched on heavier topics such as death of a partner, and mental health specifically depression and anxiety. But it also mixed in some lighthearted funny parts too. I liked all the passion project endeavors, like the tattoo class. I loved Henry I thought he was a great character all around. Bennet bothered me, and i know that is part of the storyline, that she is a woman so stuck in her grief she can't get out of it but I even with that I didn't like how she treated some of the other characters in the book, especially Henry.

The premise of Passion Project—following London’s search for her passion—felt both original and compelling, ensuring there was never a dull moment. Sperry writes about grief in a way that feels honest and grounded, without overdoing it. And Henry? Easily the most precious golden retriever man—loyal, supportive, and impossible not to root for (especially given some of Bennett's questionable choices). The book is thoughtful, well-paced, and genuinely enjoyable.

Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to Penguin Books & NetGalley for the e-ARC.

4.5 stars.

I’m an instant fan of books with NYC as a supporting character. I’ve visited twice and it’s one of my favorite cities. So this one was right up my alley.

The fmc is going through a tough time and I think the author does a great job of showing us the grief and depression, not just telling us about it. She self-sabotages a lot and makes some poor decisions throughout the novel, but I feel that makes it very genuine to what she is going through although, it was quite frustrating at times. She has a support system around her, but in true fashion, doesn’t see it. Until Henry comes into the picture, our mmc.

Henry was a breath of fresh air. The ultimate golden retriever book bf. He just put a smile on my face every time he was on the page. Loved everything about him.

This was a debut novel, and was a good one at that! My only gripe with the story is that the conclusion felt a bit rushed. I would have liked the fmc’s self reflection to the conclusion to be a bit more fleshed out. However, I cannot wait to read this authors future works.

I have mixed feelings about this one. Henry and the other characters in Bennet's life were so likable and enjoyable. However our MC and narrator, Bennett, was so frustrating throughout most of the book. I appreciated her journey through grief and guilt at the loss of her college boyfriend, but she acted so recklessly and selfishly to so many people throughout the entire novel. I can understand her journey as we can become stunted in our life when something traumatic happens at a pivotal age and changes the course of our lives. I really enjoyed the different excursions Henry and Bennett went on. I think we too often get stuck in our ways and make our worlds too narrow.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I really loved this book! Very relatable as I am a girl in her twenties who’s lacking passion at the moment (where’s my Henry), but also very lovely writing and beautiful explorations of finding joy in life. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the arc!

Rom Com set in heart of New York? Yes please! London Sperry's debut novel "Passion Project" is a heartfelt read with deep and charismatic characters who will pull on your heart strings. The MMC is just adorable, and patient and kind and honest with our FMC, who goes through a very deep and emotional transition. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a little sunshine in their lives, even if it may be found in unusual places. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was so great! I am not typically a romance-y reader but I really enjoyed this one. I think it's easy to put yourself in Bennett's shoes (maybe not with a dead lover, but definitely with grief and sadness), and how could you NOT love Henry? It had me on the edge of my seat when Bennett started realizing she had feelings for Henry, it broke my heart when Bennett was so secretive at Andy's wedding and then AGAIN when we discovered Henry was just dating Bennett as a favor, but then the end of the story wrapped me back up...because who doesn't love a happy ending!! Great story, and wonderfully written!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I recently read another romance book with a similar grief theme, but this had enough of a difference to feel original in the storyline. Bennet is still grieving (and feeling guilty) over the loss of her boyfriend. Her whole world is just lacking in any spark to live a full life. Enter Henry (who I totally adored!) who Bennet bails on for a blind date...but their paths cross again, leading him to offer the "passion project" to help Bennet find her passion.

I loved the activities, the banter, the organic connection and friendship that builds between our couple. So much to smile and swoon over...until the last part of the book. I really disliked the direction the book took towards the end. I understand grief makes you lash out, but Bennet's behavior/choices she makes and how she hurts Henry at the wedding was really heartbreaking. Yes, there is an "aha moment" where she realizes her mistake, but I think Bennet should have had to make more amends to get her happily ever after.

4.5 stars