Lenny’s world has ended when her best friend and soul mate loses her battle with cancer. Lenny is trying to fake her way through life without Lou. She takes a new nanny job and meets the little girl’s uncle who is only a few years out of his own grief spiral. He decides to help her on her journey to come back to life and maybe they’ll find joy in life together.

I can’t even tell you how many times this book made me cry, so well written and so well encompassing Lenny’s experience with grief. Miles’s coping techniques are so great and maybe I shouldn’t have read this book immediately after loosing several family members of my own but this was a godsend. Super slow burn and good spice but not for most of the book. Amazing strangers to friends to lovers with real friendships and real healing. Such a pleasure to get lost in.

“I’m never sleeping when I close my eyes like this with you.”
“Then what are you doing?”
He pauses and I think he might not answer. But then he says,
“I’m committing the moment to memory.”

I came to the internet and asked for a book recommendation that would emotionally wreck me before putting me back together and Promise Me Sunshine was recommended more times than I can count so it was a no brainer that I had to immediately download the audiobook and dive right in. So I now have all of those who recommended this to me to thank for the discovery of one of my newest favorite books of all time.

I have a thing for romance books that explore grief because what is grief but an evolution of love? That extension that it has no choice but to morph into after time. As someone who has felt a lot of loss in my life, there is something really cathartic having feelings put into words in such beautiful and relatable ways through romance novels and Promise Me Sunshine was definitely one of those kinds of books. The way that Cara Bastone explored grief and the way that it demands to be felt and the ebbs and flows of a nonlinear growth that we experience as we're walking through it was devastatingly beautiful and it felt so real, raw and relatable to me.

“Grief is a relationship...It's the way we figure out how to keep loving them even though they're gone. And in order to do that we have to keep on going. And going and going.' His hold is tighter and tighter and mine is tighter and tighter and I've slid off the desk and into his lap. 'You are not betraying her by healing,' he whispers directly into my ear. 'You are honoring her. You are learning to love her exactly as she is. As someone who isn't here anymore...That's who she is now. And this journey through grief...It's what we do for the great loves of our lives.”

Promise Me Sunshine is one of those rare books where I love the relationship between the two main characters but I also loved them equally on their own as individuals.

Having this story be told from Lenny's point of view and doing the audiobook genuinely felt like I was being told a recounting of all the events from a friend while we were catching up. I think a lot of that had to do with the way that it was written but also due to the performance of the audiobook narrator, Alex Finke, who really did an absolutely phenomenal job (so much so I've been checking out other books narrated by her so that I can read them as well). Lenny was a well-rounded character who wasn't without her flaws and so it was impossible for me not to like her. I found her to be hilarious and I wish that she was a real person so that I could go and befriend her because she genuinely seems like such a good person to have around and in your corner.

Miles probably had one of the gruffest introductions ever and I felt offended on behalf of Lenny but he is genuinely one of my favorite male main characters I've ever come across. Just like I said that Lenny is the type of person you'd want in your corner, I think Miles deserves that same title because he fights for the people he cares about in a way that I think a lot of people shy away from because of it being too tough to deal with. The dedication for this books was to the people who are like Miles and I just thought that was such a beautiful sentiment because it acknowledges those who help walk people out of dark points in their life without making them seem like they need to fix themselves.

The chemistry between Lenny and Miles was fire from the beginning, even when they both felt a little ruffled by one another. Their banter was off the charts and their friendship just seemed like that perfect sort of steady walk into love that I just love so much from the friends to lovers trope. And I loved how they helped each other through their own personal struggles and how much grace they had towards one another at all times.

The supporting cast for this book was equally iconic. I loved how their friend group sort of formed and how encouraging Miles was about Lenny going and making new friends and then Ainsley really stole the show. She seems like such a cool kid!

Overall the takeaway is that this book is going down as one of my all-time favorites. A heart-book for sure and I will be diving headfirst into Cara Bastone's entire backlist now because her writing is so beautiful and I want to see what other stories and characters she has come up with!

- strangers to friends to lovers
- slow burn
- journey through grief
- they help each other
- a lot of flirting
- set in nyc
- found family
- "live again" bucket list
- strained family dynamics
- hurt x comfort
- grumpy x sunshine
- single pov
- amazing audiobook

Grief can be all-consuming and gut-wrenching. Lenny’s best friend since childhood and roommate died from cancer. Lenny was her caretaker, Lou was her sounding board, her spitfire, and her whole world. The loss of Lou has wrecked Lenny. She can’t even sleep in their apartment, and she is supposed to be completing a list that Lou created to keep Lenny from grieving. Right now, you are probably thinking…”This doesn’t sound like a romance to me.” Hang on…because I promise you, good things are happening in this novel.

“Not everyone will accept help when they’re grieving. Some people just…go inward and bear it all alone.”

Lenny can’t focus on really anything, so she takes on part-time babysitting gigs like watching Ainsley, the daughter of a professional single mom who travels for work and needs someone to stay with her. What Lenny doesn’t expect is Ainsley’s looming and disapproving Uncle Miles. He seems to be everywhere they go, questioning Lenny’s ideas and decisions. Then Miles finds out that Lenny is sleeping on the ferry and notices the signs of grieving because he has lived through it.

“I’ve spent the entire day pretending I’m not bleeding on the inside. The emotion fights its way out of me in waves. “

Lenny, Miles, and Ainsley go through their days playing games, doing crafts, and when Lenny is off duty, Miles helps her complete the list Lou left behind for her to do. Lenny and Miles’ relationship is a slow burn, starting off as a friendship, and slowly their love for each other begins to grow. As readers, we can see it happening, but it takes Lenny and Miles a bit to realize it.

There are some heavy topics and pure sadness as Lenny struggles with her feelings of loss, anger, and deep heartbreak over Lou’s death. Those who have lost a loved one will easily relate to Lenny and her struggles to even shower and get dressed. But, patient Miles helps her find a way to see the future and herself in it. Miles was like a warm hug to a cold, hungry, and scared animal. The author’s dedication speaks to this perfectly…

“For anyone who has ever been a Miles for someone else. I know it can sometimes feel thankless. So, thank you. This book is a love letter to you.”

There were definitely some lighter and funnier moments in the story, including Lenny’s wild and imaginatively detailed dreams about every man she sees on the street, in the coffee shop, on the ferry, etc, and the kind of marriage they would have, kids, what they would do for fun, and more.

I really loved the relationship that developed between Lenny and Miles. It felt realistic, special, and…frankly…romantic. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Miles offers a bit of advice to Lenny about her grief. I found it so profound and something that I am going to think of when I’m feeling sad (daughter going back to college), stressed (just need a break), or missing my dad. I think you might like it too.

“When everything is going dark and you can’t understand why…when the grief catches up to you again…Just remember. Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery. That’s the winning formula.”

“And this journey through grief... It's what we do for the great loves of our lives.”

I can sincerely say that this book is one that I will cherish forever. Promise Me Sunshine is a story of loss, love, and what we do with that love when our person is gone.
Grief is debilitating. It's messy, has no boundaries and no rules. Cara Bastone absolutely nailed this feeling right in the head with this book. I can't tell you how many times I cried along with Lenny (pro tip: listen to the audiobook while you read this one - the narrator, Alex Finke, does such a sensational job with this character) or how many times I laughed with her as she navigated this time in her life. I genuinely felt like I was in her head and completely understood her; from her nights spent making new friends, to nights where she wound up sobbing on a sidewalk curb because the grief was too much. Lenny is everything to me, and I am so grateful that her story was told with such care and love.

“But the thing about losing the person you love the most on earth is—somehow—you still have to do mundane things like tie your shoes and make enough money to continue to exist in this punishing world.”

“He treats you well?”
“Mom, he walked into hell and dragged me back out.”

I love Miles with every inch of my heart, and then some. I absolutely enjoyed that this story was not an "insta love" fest where we'd just glide past the major topics. Cara Bastone, the genius that you are. Miles was exactly what Lenny needed when she didn't even know what she needed. A friend. Someone to help. Someone to lend a hand and say "eat" when you can barely remember to do that by yourself. Their story was beautiful, and watching Miles address his own grief as well was such an essential part to the story.

I laughed. I cried. I loved. What else is a book supposed to do?
“Just remember. Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery. That’s the winning formula.”

A feel-good, emotionally satisfying romance about finding your footing, trusting yourself, and letting love in at your own pace. If you like slow-burn, character-driven stories with a lot of heart, this one will leave you smiling.

Holy emotional book. This is easily one of my top reads of 2025! I do wish it was dual POV but it was still amazing. This book hit me in my feels and I could feel the grief coming off the page. High recommend! If I could give it six stars I would.

Love Cara Bastone’s style, and her notes on grief were so real. She has a way of making heavy subjects seem lighter, in the best possible way.

By the end of this book, I was sobbing. Lenny loses her best friend, her soulmate, her love of her life, to cancer and can't find a way to live again. She takes a nanny job and there she meets Miles, the uncle and these two don't make the best first impressions. But when he finds out exactly what's got Lenny to the point where she isn't taking care of herself, he becomes her new lifeline. He teaches her to live again, and helps her slowly start to heal.

When you sit down to read this book, you get tears in your eyes. The amount of love Lenny has for her best friend is an amazing thing. After her death, Lenny can't even go to their apartment because it holds all the memories the two shared together. But Miles helps her, with baby steps, to start living for herself again. She makes friends, completes the Live Again List the best friends wrote, and she even starts to fall in love. The grief in this book was written so well, especially when the romance aspect was involved. This book is a romance, but it isn't all this book is. It's about grief, losing yourself, getting out and doing hard things, finding people to support and love you again, and getting yourself back to life. Miles does that and when they fall in love, it's because he is her person, her other love of her life that she knows will always be there to help her.

I couldn't get enough of this book and it's honestly an amazing read. EVERYBODY should read it (in my humble opinion).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book!

I know I have so many of her books that I haven't read yet (and I am definitely looking forward to that) but with just a few books Cara Bastone has so easily become a must read author for me. So far there's been a mix in FMC and MMC of grumpy, golden retriever, sunshine, falling apart, steady, broken, lost, searching - come what may, I have been so ready to be along for the ride.

This book deals with loss. Losing your person. The one that you live for and then realizing that there's an after. That somehow, you're supposed to keep on living. You're supposed to keep living when your reason to breath is gone.

Lenny is having a rough time. She pulls it together enough to show up for work - just weekend babysitting gigs, nothing like the long term nannying she used to do. When she meets Ainsley for the first time, she's also confronted with Miles, her grumpy and disapproving uncle who stays suspiciously on the sidelines. Despite falling instantly in love with him - she has a tendency to form fantasies with every man she lays eyes on - she quickly falls out of love with every word he has to say to her.

After spilling her bag and Miles nosily seeing its contents, he surprises her with a deal: help him be better with Ainsley, find a way to get to really know her, because he has no clue how to operate around kids. In return, he'll help her with her "live again" checklist.

The way this story deals with grief, broken families, second chances, how to be there for someone who doesn't know how to ask for help. While also having this core of banter and humor, silliness and grief, it's such a unique mix and so well handled.

Definitely will be recommending, and reading more from this author! Most likely will read again too!

I can see why the reviews are so good on this one. I absolutely loved Lenny and Miles. Lenny grabbed my heart right away and I was laughing and crying along with her. Miles I liked right away despite a rough beginning.

This story got me in my heart strings immediately. I was instantly hooked. I haven't done this in awhile but I took the afternoon today to really enjoy and finish it.

Lenny lost her friend Lou to cancer. They were best friends and room mates. Now Lenny is struggling and barely hanging on. I came to think of her as adrift.

Lenny ends up baby sitting for a little girl named Ainsley and this is where miles comes in. He is Ainsley's uncle and he seems to always be hanging around. He is so grouchy ! But they are drawn together.

Through this novel Miles will help Lenny navigate her grief and start to heal. This is a beautiful story and quite frankly it healed a part of my soul. I knew exactly how Lenny was feeling and it was captured so beautifully on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this fantastic arc

Really beautiful story about grief and healing. Definitely a different vibe from her first book, but I still enjoyed this one and the characters in it. Lenny gets help with a “live again” list after losing her best friend and Miles gets her help connecting with his niece. It’s a cute heartwarming story with complicated characters!

I adored this book so much just like her previous book, Ready or Not! I loved the way it was humorous despite being about grief- it was magically and seamlessly the perfect balance! Lenny’s inner thoughts were especially hilarious and relatable - she reminded me so much of Lorelei Gilmore! I rarely read friends to lovers, but this one was done so well and I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future! I cannot recommend this book enough! One of the rare five star reviews I’ve given in 2025!

4.5 rounded up

Promise Me Sunshine deals with grief after losing the most important person in Lenny’s life. I don’t have experience, but I do think this story shows the process of trying to live after loss and every hard part of that process.

The story was captivating from the beginning and I liked Lenny. Even through her grief is she funny. We see her character growth, but the author does write in that grief is always there.

The side characters were wonderful and helped Lenny through her grief. I wanted to be part of their friend group. Ainsley always added fun.

I enjoyed the slow burn between the characters, but the hookup didn’t need to happen. The story was wrapping up nicely and It felt written in just to have it in the story.

I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Felt like I wasn't in a great place to read this book. I've read other reviews and it seems like this one just didn't land for me in the same way it is for others.

One part I really liked was the concept of "Do something bad for yourself, something good for yourself, then a change of scenery."

I think the third act needed more of a conflict; it felt incomplete to me.

Promise me Sunshine is my third Cara Bastone book and my third 5 star from her. This author never misses for me. I find her writing so addictive!

This story is emotional. Lenny loses here lifelong best friend to cancer, and doesn’t deal with the grief well. Miles relates to her grief and helps her healing process. In return, Lenny helps Miles bond with his estranged sister and niece.

A lot of the story is heavy. It doesn’t shy away from the ugliest effect of grief on mental health. However, Cara Bastone is a skilled writer. She balances the sadness with just enough romantic moments and flirty banter to keep the reader happy. The pain is present, and the levity balances it out.

Grief is a big part of the plot, but the emphasis of the story is healing and receiving support from people who care about you. Lenny goes from being totally alone, to fostering a loving, supportive community. Miles also works to heal his relationship with his sister and niece.

The development from support to friendship to romance is done perfectly. The love feels genuine. Miles gives Lenny so much support, not just because of the deal they strike, but because he genuinely cares for her. In return, Lenny supports Miles once she is able to.

I always recommend Cara Bastone to romance readers, and this story is no exception. It’s another phenomenal entry in her catalog. Please pick this one up!

I love this author so much and I loved reading the book. Absolutely amazing and I definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy!
I have to give it up to Cara Bastone for creating a really original, beautifully emotional, and super original romance. I loved both the main characters and the side characters. The story felt so rich, and I did shed tears. I highly recommend!

The concept was there and I was excited for it, but the two main character’s personalities were not for me. At the beginning they really had no chemistry and their interactions were quite cringey. Unfortunately this book fell flat for me.

This book wrecked me. It’s real, raw and goes through grief in such a gut wrenching way.

It was an incredible ride: funny, emotional, and healing. Story follows Lenny Bellamy, who’s a mess after her soul sister / bff Lou died of cancer. She’s walking around in zombie mode, avoiding her loved ones, the apartment they shared, and their “live again” list. She meets Miles, who considers himself a silent grief expert and perfect for the job of helping her check off her bucket‑list items to live again, if she helps him connect with Ainsley (his niece) and sort out family drama.

Lenny is chaotic and quirky and seeing her grieving in such a raw way made me sick to my stomach. I legit felt for her every breakdown and small win. Miles was sweet - I could tell he was tough to crack but good on the inside. I loved how he was always there, steady, someone for her to lean on and always wanting to help and make her feel better. He showed up for her every single time and that’s the behavior you want, ladies!!!

The only thing that made me not rate this 5 stars is that the book took so long to go through their journey with grief that it was such a slow burn… when we got to the romance, we could barely have much of it. Made the ending feel slightly rushed in comparison and we didn’t get to experience it much of it afterwards.

But overall?? This is the kind of romance I crave: heartwarming, tear‑jerking, slow‑burn, with emotional depth and a sprinkle of comedy. A beautiful, heartfelt journey about grieving, healing, and learning to live again.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lenny is drowning in grief after the death of her best friend, clinging to the edges of her old life and ignoring the “live again” list they made together. She’s scraping by with short-term babysitting jobs when she’s hired to help a single mom, Reese, and her sharp, insightful daughter Ainsley. But it’s Ainsley’s grumpy uncle, Miles, who truly rattles Lenny, because he sees through the façade she’s desperate to maintain. Miles understands grief intimately, and surprisingly, offers to help Lenny tick off her healing list if she’ll help him connect better with his fractured family. What follows is a slow-burn, late-night-ferry-rides, ramen-under-the-stars kind of story—one that proves healing doesn’t come easy, but love might just find you when you least expect it.

Tropes
* Grumpy x sunshine (literally!)
* Found family
* Healing through connection
* Grief and love intertwined
* “Let’s help each other” pact
* Babysitter & single-parent family dynamic
* Emotional slow burn
* Late-night vulnerability moments
* Deep, honest exploration of grief and identity after loss
* Cosy, introspective vibes with unexpected humour
* A romance that blossoms out of mutual healing, not perfection

Promise Me Sunshine is a deeply tender, character-driven romance that handles the complexities of grief with a remarkable mix of honesty, heart, and hope. Cara Bastone’s writing glows with emotional intelligence and understated humour, making Lenny’s journey one you’ll root for from the very first page. Miles is the perfect counterpart: quietly compassionate, bluntly observant, and willing to sit in the hard parts without trying to fix them. Their chemistry simmers until it becomes something warm and soul-deep. With gentle pacing and richly emotional arcs, this book is a soft place to land for anyone who's ever had to rebuild themselves piece by piece.