Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for a digital ARC of Passion Project.

This one is strange for me to review because it is FREAKISHLY similar to Promise Me Sunshine, which also recently came out. I actually had to double-check the pub dates to make sure there wasn't a way for the author to steal the plot. Since I just read Promise Me Sunshine, I found myself comparing the two and I ADORED the former so it was hard to fully immerse myself in this one.

That being said, I loved this one too. Henry is just the perfect most patient book boyfriend that towards the end I thought Bennet didn't deserve. I wish her ah-ha moment wasn't so rushed, like people have been telling her the same things over and over and then finally she believes it? Either way, I enjoyed this and will read more from the author as I really liked her writing style.

if I had a nickel for every 2025 book set in nyc about a girl grieving and a boy trying to help her overcome her grief I’d have two nickels which isn’t a lot of money but it’s weird that it happened twice. what’s not weird is that I loved both of them. much like promise me sunshine by cara bastone, passion project spoke to my soul in a way that is hard to put into words. it is funny and romantic as well as profound and emotional. it made me giggle and twirl my hair, but it also touched something deep within me. the writing flowed perfectly at all times and there was never a minute I wished I was doing something else other than devouring this story. books that manage to make me feel this way are the reason I love reading. an instant favorite.

I really loved this book. There were parts especially in the beginning where I was like “this is giving lit fic vibes” but honestly it was a beautiful love story. Watching Bennet simultaneously fall in love with Henry and her life/herself, and overcome her grief was amazing. Some parts had me absolutely hooked to where I would read until I couldn’t stay awake (in a good way). Henry was also a total dream and I love him. New book boyfriend alert?

You should read this if:
🍕 You’re a fan of more thought-provoking romances
🍕 You love character growth
🍕 You’re looking for book that feels realistic

TW, tropes, and things to know:
Illness of parent, death of partner, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship issues, breakups, Alzheimer’s/dementia, car accidents, alcohol use, one one bed, blind date, slow burn

3.75 stars rounded up!

Overall I really enjoyed this one. I loved the writing style, the setting, and the premise of the book. However, I did struggle a little bit.

I think the grief portrayal was so incredibly well done and written. Grief is not an easy thing to deal with or go trough. It is frustrating for the person grieving, and for the people around them. It is messy, raw, emotional, and so very real. Whever I found myself getting frustrated at Bennet for things she said or did, or didn't say or do, I reminded myself that she was grieving. And that my frustration was mostly because of how raw and real her grief journey was. Props to London because Benner is the most honest and true portrayal of a grieving journey I have ever read.

I will say during the middle I felt myself disconnecting a bit from the story, It started feeling a tiny bit repetitive and that's probably why this rating isn't higher. I kinda just wanted them to talk more and in a deeper way? When Bennet finally trusted Henry enough to open up though the book shone, and her pulling back from that hit very close to home.

Henry was a shining star! What an incredible MMC. Patient, steady, honest, open, a little moody and broody, the perfect match for Bennet. I love how he made her feel safe, how he showed her she deserves love no matter what life looks like for her, and how he always managed to be honest, even when there were moments she didn't want or deserve that honesty, without being cruel.

Overall I do recommend this book! And I was very teary eyed in the end. It's honest and human. I can't wait to read more from London!

Thank you to Penguin Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.
I cannot get over that this a debut novel!!!!
The author has a clear direction, strong voice and makes the most of every page.
Bennett and Henry are opposites yet similar in their struggles. Both are battling their past failures, loneliness, and grief. Their friendship takes the center stage as they open themselves up to being vulnerable with each other and themselves.
The author depicts depression and anxiety in an extremely honest and relatable way. There is a perfect mix of humor, quirkiness, and heartfelt moments that will sweep you away.
This book not only a love letter to New York City, it is a love letter to ourselves. To take chances, to find love, and to embrace new beginnings.

I will recommend to anyone who will listen.

I needed a palate cleanser after reading several dark thrillers in a row, and this was great for that! Bennet Taylor is stricken with grief still a couple of years after her boyfriend's tragic death, and she hasn't really been able to find her place in work, friendships, relationships, etc... since then. Enter Henry, a blind date she ghosts who somehow still stumbles his way in to her life and promises friendship only if she accompanies him on a series of adventures around New York City that they both hope will reignite her spark for something (anything!) to be passionate about. It's cute and sweet while still dealing with themes of trauma, grief, guilt, and loneliness. Absolutely a strong debut for romance lovers that has both sadness and humor in it, and I really appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC!

A debut novel!?! I will now be reading everything London Sperry writes!!! 😍
This was such a heartwarming, emotional, real love story that deals with loss, grief, and finding your place in the world beyond that. The FMC, Bennet, lost her boyfriend two years ago and is now depressed and struggling living in NYC. She does temp work but pretty much spends the rest of her time shutting everyone else out. Her roommate convinces her to go on a date with a guy from a dating app but she fails miserably at that too.
When she runs into Henry again, he convinces her to meet up as friends every Saturday doing things around the city to help her find her passion. I adored Henry! He was so sweet and patient with Bennet and exactly what she needed in her life to get her out of the funk she was in.
The Passion Project is one of those stories that just makes you smile even though it really deals with a lot of heavy subject matter. I read the last 15% on a flight and had to stop several times to stop myself from crying in public! 😭🤣 The only reason I didn’t rate it 5 stars was because Bennet’s decisions in the latter half of the book and the way she treated sweet Henry pissed me off!

Thank you Penguin Books and NetGalley for my copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️ i loved this so so much!!! the banter & ease in bennet & henry’s relationship was so so good & i am just obsessed with them!!! there were just a couple things that kept it from being 5 stars but i could definitely see myself looking past them and upping the rating upon a reread!! the conflict at the end annoyed me in ways but then it also felt true to the characters so it actually didn’t make me super mad but i hated it in the moment!! the vibes were immaculate & the writing was so satisfying to read!!! i am so so excited for future books from london!!

oh also i don’t swear but this quote has already meant so much to me & changed my perspective on love & life (& i read it 2 hours ago) so i have to share:
“having your sh*t together is not a prerequisite for love.”
ok i’m gonna go sit in a corner and rethink my entire life, byeeee🫠🤯


thank you to netgalley & the publisher for a e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!

I can’t form a coherent thought about this book because I’m so emotional but I loved it and I hope you do too! Full review to come when i can pull myself together. Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏾✨

4.25 ⭐️ “Being up here makes me feel small, but being with you makes me feel significant.”
The cover of this book and the New York setting immediately sucked me in to reading it and I ended up really enjoying it! I really loved the depiction of grief in this book. In this book you are following Bennet as she deals through all her grief following a great loss in her life and her journey as she rediscovers her spark for her life. I appreciated how this book shows the ups and downs of the identity crisis you experience and the difficulty of picking yourself back up after a life altering loss. I felt so much for Bennet and I loved seeing her heal and reconnect with the people in her life after struggling with so much alone. I absolutely adored Henry’s character!!! He was so charming, sincere, and such a sweetheart! I loved how they formed such a strong friendship with each other before it turned romantic. Definitely a slow burn! Their little adventures throughout New York were so much fun to follow!! I loved how they pushed each other out of their comfort zones and made each other feel seen. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a New York set rom com that also packs an emotional punch!

This is such a deeply felt romance that explores grief with nuance and care. At times, I wanted the slow burn to burn a little faster, but it all ends with a very satisfying happily ever after.

Thank you Penguin Books for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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4.5 stars

I can’t believe this is a debut novel! London Sperry introduced a very unique storyline into a genre that can feel quite repetitive sometimes and I’m so grateful this story exists. I think I felt just about every emotion known to man reading this — I laughed, I full on cried, I raged, and everything else under the sun. While there were certain parts of the plot that didn’t work for me and Bennet could really frustrate me to no end sometimes, I’m glad I enjoyed the writing because without a doubt I’ll be picking up the next book from this author.

If you’re looking for a story that focuses on living life with heavy grief, learning to open your heart and take risks again, and a very slow burn (but worth it) romance (be warned: the romance is pushing sub-plot status for this story), definitely pick up this book!

I liked that this story followed a young woman, Bennet, who was deeply heartbroken and weighed down by grief, yet gradually found the hope and courage to heal and love again.

At times, the romance felt forced and overly cheesy. The contrast between Bennet being excessively selfish and Henry being unrealistically nice felt exaggerated and hard to believe. However, there were also moments that were genuinely funny and heartwarming.

I recommend it to anyone looking for a light read with a happy ending.

I LOVEDDDDDD THIS READ!! The book had me from the beginning and I am so excited to yap about this so so much!!

This was a delightful book. I loved both the characters of Bennet and Sam and all of their adventures throughout the city of Harlem and NYC. Bennet is stuck in a rut and her best friend Sonya is trying to get her out ot it by signing her up for a blind dating service. While the actual date flops, her date (Sam) decides to help her get out of her rut and find her passion instead.

Positives:
Extremely likeable main male character
Themes such as overcoming loss and grief, struggling with depression, friends to lovers, finding your passion, friends as family, etc.
I loved the setting and all of their adventures while trying to find Bennet's passion
Beautiful cover

Negatives:
A bit of miscommunication interferring with their relationship but it is not over the top.
The main female character was a bit more unlikeable and immature

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this

Sometimes romance hooks take a bit to develop and find their footing, but THIS grabbed me from the opening page all the way to the end. I adore stories that are rooted in something much deeper than a blind date gone wrong and this delivered. Bennet is deep in her grief following the death of her significant other but is attempting to date and meets Henry, the glowing definition of golden retriever. While they are the definition of slow burn with insanely palpable chemistry, they instead start "Passion Projects": meet ups to try and find something for Bennet to feel passionate about. It's this adorably beautiful friends to lovers transition that is so deeply rooted in grief, overcoming, and the definition of love.

The language is perfection. The steamy scenes are great. The slow burn is a beautiful payoff. When we do get to the real dramatic tension (going to her significant other's sister's wedding), it's a type of palpable drama that you just believe. Even the third act breakup, which I normally can't stand, really worked.

Pure adoration. I raced through this, felt every emotion humanly possible while reading, and could easily start over.

Bennet meets Henry through an app, then stands him up. But that is not the last we see of him. As the book progresses you start to understand why. An emotional read at times.

Easy comfort read. I didn’t even notice time passing I was so absorbed in the story.

I loved Henry, such a sweet golden retriever MMC. London’s portrayal of grief and guilt through Bennett was interesting. I wished there had been more emotion in the writing, but Bennett couldn’t handle her emotions so I thought London’s writing did a great job of conveying that.

This is one where I wish we had at least a couple chapters from the MMC’s POV. I want to know what kept him around, what did he see in her after such a rough start?

Overall a fun read!

This book was so good! I loved it and will be buying a physical copy for my shelf to reread and share

Passion Project is a truly heartwarming and sweet book. My first from London Sperry and I'm sure will not be my last. Hitting the ground running with Bennet Taylor, it wasn't hard to understand her struggles as she tried to live the life she was supposed to have with her beloved Sam Chase by her side. With the backdrop of New York City, the whirlwind of emotions that drives Bennet to barely make it through the day was at times exhausting. I could feel her despair at not knowing how to simply live without the love of her life. We don't get to know exactly why he is no longer with her until much later in the book as a confession of sorts with the man who would ultimately save her, one wonderful Henry Adams. Once they are in each other's orbits, thus starts the Passion Project wherein Henry tries to get Bennet to find her passion. What she might need and/or want in order to truly live life again. And although they begin this wild journey to discovery as hesitant friends, eventually much more is at stake and I wondered through most of this book whether or not Bennet had what it would take to finally move on.

I must admit there were times when I thought Bennet's lack of enthusiasm for anything outside her bedroom door was simply just too much. But then as the pages flew by (and they really did since the writing is easy and well-paced) I came to realize just how much pain she was in and that although she tried hard to stay engaged with her more than loyal friend and roommate in Sonya, sometimes she just couldn't. I worried that she'd drive away everyone who cared and there were times when that almost happened but thankfully with Henry's help, the darkness started to lift and rays of sun began peeking through.

Henry is a love and a half. His positive nature and the fact that he wanted to be around Bennet when their first date from meeting through an app went belly up almost immediately, was beyond endearing. Helping Bennet find her 'thing' was never easy but the more time they spent together, the more Bennet started to open up and finally see the world around her once more. I loved their Saturdays when Henry would set up the next adventure, bringing out real smiles and a sense of accomplishment even at the smaller stuff. He truly cared about Bennet and even when things became uncomfortably intimate, he stayed the course and remained her Passion Project companion no matter what. He's a keeper of the highest order and we should all be so lucky as to have someone like Henry in our lives.

I will say that when truths leak out (which was a complete surprise to both myself and Bennet) I wasn't sure what her future would actually hold if she couldn't trust those closest to her again. But thankfully Bennet is surrounded by well-meaning and caring friends like Sonya, Jamie, Sal and most importantly, Henry. I was glad to see her finally able to forgive and realize that life doesn't always go to plan. But with love by your side in whatever shape that might be, you can find the will to move forward.

A crucial part of the book has Bennet once again questioning whether or not her decisions wrt Sam are the right thing for everyone involved. There is a world of hurt not only within her but starts to spread to those she cares about most. I wondered how Bennet might fix things to finally find her forever and I was both surprised and very pleased at her grand gestures that came out of her 'come-to-Jesus' moment that shook her to her core. I applaud her courage throughout this well-written book and was thrilled she was able to realize there is so much life to be lived, it may just look a bit differently than what she first imagined.

This book is labeled a rom-com and yes, there are many funny moments in this wild and unforgettable journey. But to me, it's more poignant than that as the albatross that is Sam and his leaving plagued Bennet for the better part of two years. However, her charming inner thoughts and her lack of a filter most of the time did have me chuckling and it made for the understanding of how a man like Henry could fall head over heels for this mess of a woman.

Passion Project made me tear up. It made me laugh a bit but most of all, it made me smile with pride that Bennet realized she's only human with flaws like the rest of us. And, most importantly, that one can have two loves of their lives. You just have to be brave enough to hold on tight and know how lucky you are that two people saw in you what you couldn't.

5 big stars.