This was a solid debut novel, but I would have loved some more character development. Bennet was not very likable and it is difficult to read a romance when one of the people isn’t likable.

Bennet’s 20s in New York are the ultimate struggle. Her temp work isn’t great, no prospects or a social life, and she’s still buried in grief over her first love. Set to go on a first date with Henry, she stands him up, only to awkwardly run into him hours later. She admits that she’s not ready to date but also needing to bring the spark and meaning back to her life. He agrees to help embark on a project to bring passion back to her every day, often through the little things as they agree to try something new every weekend. As Bennet confronts her past and the tragedy that unraveled her, she also must decide if she’s ready to move on and love again.
I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. Anyone who has felt stuck while grieving will be able relate to what Bennet is going through. This also felt like a love letter to New York in a lot of ways, which I enjoyed.
Thank you to Penguin Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this book. I could not fall into the story or even care about any of the characters. The main girl was slightly aggravating. I understand that it is a romcom, but it felt too scripted and convenient. It just left me feeling unsatisfied. I wish I had liked it since I really liked the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eArc for an honest review.

Passion Project is a generally lighthearted rom-com that does involve grappling with grief. The story follows Bennet, who spends each week with the male main character, Henry, looking to identify her passion. Overall, the premise was cute and enjoyable, but I did find some of the conflicts within the story to be a bit contrived. Overall ranking 3 stars.

So I ended up dnf'ing this one at around 40%. Somehow it has taken me roughly 3 weeks to make it even this far and not for lack of trying. I can only stomach about 1-2 chapters per day and even that is feeling like a chore. It's not that it's poorly written, but I am finding the slow pacing to be a bit of a challenge. By now I typically am super invested in my characters and how they will continue to progress. Not only can I not remember our FMC's name, but I am struggling to care about her more than the guy who is waving his grandson's sonogram around. I am not sure if this is a permanent dnf or my mood reader being moody. Either way, I am disappointed in this one given how much everyone was talking about it.

3.5 ⭐ rounded up! I bounced between reading this and listening to the audio on Libro.Fm! This book had so many crazy coincidences and synchronicities to my own life - it was freaking me out! 🤣

All that aside, I did enjoy this book overall! I loved the NYC setting, the fun plot of trying new passion projects throughout the city, and dealing with the reality of adult friendships, and the two-way effort those take to flourish.

Henry was so sweet baby angel! She however treated him so badly at times, I found myself feeling so bad for him! I felt like the hotel room debacle was so unnecessary, but he handled it well.

A cute, summer read! If it's on your tbr definitely give it a go. Not a huge standout for me, but still had a good time reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Libro.Fm for the ARCs! All opinions are completely my own.

3.25 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Viking Group for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I thought this book had so much promise. I thought the premise of Henry helping Bennet find her passion in NYC after losing someone who was important to her. I thought Henry was so wonderful. He was optimistic, joyful, sweet and caring. He's nerdy (in the best way) and a solid character. I struggled with the FMC, Bennet. She was our main focus and narrator. She was certainly hurting and self sabotaging at every turn but it still didn't change the fact that she hurt others. I understand trying to be the person that wants to hold everyone together and fix things so it was hard to watch Henry, Sonya and Andy because I've been there. I've also been Bennet at times and it's real and sad. I still struggled with Bennet's choices throughout the story. Overall, I thought this debut was extremely well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Closed Door Mods: 25, 26

Let me start off by saying I didn't know what this book was going to be about so I went in blindly. also as someone that has never been to NYC, this is the perfect NYC setting.

Now back to the story, our FMC is going through the death of her boyfriend and as you can imagine, it takes a toll on her and she is trying to get a sense of normalcy again when she meets our MMC Henry. Henry is amazing and lovable. Their first date takes a different turn and when our FMC thinks she will never see him again, live gives them a curveball and now they both come up with the idea to find her passion. Hence "PASSION PROJECT"

As they go on with their passion project, their chemistry starts growing. This couples are lovable but I just feel like their love was missing something. Overall, a solid read.

London Sperry's *Passion Project* is a heartfelt debut that intertwines grief, healing, and the rediscovery of joy within the vibrant setting of New York City. The novel follows Bennet Taylor, a twenty-something navigating the aftermath of her college boyfriend's tragic death. Her chance encounter with Henry Adams—whom she previously stood up on a blind date—sparks an unconventional friendship. Together, they embark on weekly adventures, from pottery classes to rappelling, aiming to reignite Bennet's passion for life. Sperry adeptly balances the weight of grief with moments of humor and warmth, crafting a narrative that resonates with authenticity. While some readers found Bennet's actions challenging, many praised the novel's exploration of mental health and the slow-burning romance that develops. Henry's unwavering support and patience make him a standout character, offering a beacon of hope and stability. For fans of emotionally nuanced romances that don't shy away from life's complexities, *Passion Project* offers a poignant and uplifting journey.

Bennet is a grieving temp worker living in New York City following the death of her college boyfriend. She meets Henry, who encourages her to find her spark again by trying something new each weekend. Cue the witty banter. I don’t usually love romcoms with aimless twenty somethings, but this one was very reminiscent of early Emily Henry novels. The characters had solid growth throughout the story with some heavier themes, but it still managed to be sweet and lighthearted. What I didn’t love - there was some language, the few open door scenes were SUPER spicy (not my thing but it might be yours), and there was a brief miscommunication section that felt overblown. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to romcom readers.

I will preface this by saying I do not stay up late. Ever. However, it is currently 1 am, and here I am writing a review. I love this story so much. It evokes such strong emotions. I was so angry I could cry at times, and then I swooned right along with Bennet as she learned how to love while walking with her grief. Will definitely recommend!!

Passion Project by London Sperry

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

Ok … I need to level here. I struggled with this book and with my rating. And I think I might be the only one. Every single person/reviewer I follow loved this book, and I just couldn’t get into it 😭 It actually put me into a bit of a reading slump, and I know exactly the reason why: Bennet. I loved the premise of the plot, I loved Henry, I loved the setting … but I could not stand Bennet. And I will tell you why.

Passion Project follows fmc Bennet, a young twenty-something living in NYC, working temp jobs, while trying to process the grief of losing her boyfriend in a tragic accident. When Bennet’s BFF Sonya convinces her to go on a date with someone from a dating app, Bennet meets Henry, the sweetest, most golden retriever, cinnamon roll man to exist on the planet. When they don’t spark a love connection after Bennet ghosts their date, Henry offers to help her find her passion, as just friends. They agree to go on one outing a week to try out different “passions” to try and find what Bennet might want to do with her life.

First, I’m going to start with the things I loved about this book. I loved the setting. I will always be down to read a book set in NYC. I love that city with my whole heart, and this book truly was a love letter to the beauty that can be found there for the people who are willing to get out and find it.

I also loved the plot. The idea of a “Passion Project” was so cute and relatable for all of us washed up twenty-somethings who never actually found their “passion” in college like everybody else. It’s true that having a passion or even a hobby that you care deeply about can enrich your life so much. I love that Henry was so driven to help Bennet find hers.

And then there’s Henry … sweet, sweet Henry. Bennet truly did not deserve this man. He did right by her so many times, and she treated him horridly in return. I genuinely don’t know how he put up with her and managed to fall for her in the end. The way his love for the world shone through in every single interaction he had just warmed my heart. Not even being a people person myself, I love that he never met a stranger. He is the greenest of green flags.

Bennet on the other hand … we had beef. And I think the reason I struggled so much with this book is that I have been Sonya. I have been the friend begging someone to make better decisions, to choose happiness, to choose to see the love your family and friends are trying to show you. She pushed away or hurt every single person in her life who cared about her. It was beyond self-sabotage. There was a point where she actively acknowledged that she was making a decision that would hurt not one, but two people who truly cared about her, and yet she still chose to carry on making the decision anyway when she could have so easily just chosen not to. That pissed me off so bad.

I am fully aware that I may not be the intended audience for this book. I do not struggle with depression or anxiety myself, so I cannot speak to what Bennet’s headspace in this book was. I have, however, been the Sonya’s, the Andy’s, and the Henry’s. And it is TOUGH. I think I just really struggled to read about that when it’s so close to my own personal experience. At some point, you have to realize you’ve done everything you can for someone, and it’s in their own hands to heal. I do love that Henry and Sonya both protected their own peace and made the decisions they had to to take care of themselves, not Bennet.

As far as being well-written and well-plotted, this book is good, especially for a debut. I would love to try another book from this author because I genuinely think Bennet was what made this book a struggle for me. I can’t wait to see what she releases next, and I will definitely be picking up a copy of whatever it is.

Thank you to NetGalley, London Sperry, and Random House Viking for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own!

Passion Project by London Sperry was an enjoyable and emotional romance. I enjoyed the buildup of the relationship between Henry and Bennet. However, I felt the ending was a little rushed. I believe that if the reader would have gotten to witness Bennet start to actually take the steps to go to therapy and actively make changes, the reconciliation would have been more believable instead of Henry's quick reaction to forgive Bennet without question. Overall, this was a great read.

I LOVED this book! Bennet felt so real and raw. I read this right after Promise me Sunshine and it did not disappoint!! It shows what it feels like as an adult to work through grief while moving past it but still feeling it. Henry was such an amazing love interest and I had such a fun time with the romance as well!

3.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

I think this book had a lot of opportunity to blow me out of the park, however, it sorta fell short for me. The author attempted to write charming and lovable characters - but to me it read more like immature/childish behavior. The pacing also felt off on this one - not a lot was happening and the story had several lulls. When it did pick up, it was short lived and started to decline again. I believe this is a debut novel, and for what it's worth, I think it's a great first attempt.

3.5 rounded to 4 -- A unique story of a character navigating grief after the loss of her boyfriend. She needs to find her passion for life again and partners with a man she'd stood up for a date before to go on adventures together and they end up falling for each other. Some events at the end of the story didn't sit well with me which lowered my rating. Would be a nice book for a summer vacation especially in NYC!

Passion Project surprised me—in the best way. It’s not just about finding new hobbies with a cute guy (though yes, we love that). It’s about navigating the fog of grief, depression, and that very specific “what am I doing with my life?” chaos spiral of your twenties.

Bennet felt real. Her apartment’s a disaster, her life’s a mess, and she’s not magically cured by love or skydiving or whatever. The emotional slump is depicted with honesty—like, yes, girl, I too have sat on the floor surrounded by half-eaten snacks, dirty laundry, and unfinished thoughts.

Henry is sweet without being a savior, and their connection builds slow and soft, with just the right amount of banter to keep things light.

If you like your romance with depth, messiness, and a main character who’s actually working through it, this one’s for you.

4.5 stars. One star deducted for making me feel feelings I wasn’t prepared for.

Thank you to NetGalley, London Sperry, and the publisher for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 4/5 Stars!

This book is about Bennet Taylor, who’s living in New York trying to start her life over after she lost her college boyfriend. She’s struggling to carry on without him with her grief and depression consuming her and affecting all her relationships in her life. After ghosting her blind date, Henry, they meet up again under odd circumstances and together they start Bennet’s Passion Project. Bennet’s humor was what made the book. It would have been a bit of a downer without her weirdness and the banter. I think this was a great portrayal of grief and how trauma can affect us. Henry was an absolute delight and the lightness that this story needed. The side characters were all fully developed and were woven in perfectly too. I loved London Sperry’s debut novel and I will add this author to my must read in the future.

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

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

Passion Project is a very good debut novel! I loved the city setting of this rom com and the overall story. The ending wasn’t the best for me, I feel like it could have been a little more developed, but overall, loved the idea of this story and how it was executed. Henry and Bennet were well written characters that you could connect with.