I found the story and the characters hard to connect with. As someone who has also experienced grief it didn’t look like this. I think the characters in this book and their experiences were quite narrow and I think Miles character took advantage of the FMC. I didn’t really like either of them. I think the storyline was okay, but I just wanted it to be more universal.

This is the first novel I’ve read by CB, and I’m so impressed; absolutely loved this romance. Definitely want to read more books from this author.

Cara Bastone deliver yet another amazing contemporary romance. In Promise me Sunshine, she beautifully executes a romance that’s filled with grief and depth. Our two main characters are incredibly well structured characters with traits that make them unique. Through her incredible writing she illustrated grief and loss of a loved one wonderfully. Watching the small and big moments between Miles and Lenny was truly a delight. Cara never fails to write story lines that are out of the ordinary and enjoyable.

Miles and Lenny have forever been engraved in my heart, seeing their emotional friendship grow into a relationship that gives hope to romance was amazing. I laughed, I cried, I felt it all reading Promise me Sunshine. No notes.

My heart was so full after reading this book! After reading Ready or Not, I knew I had to read this and would enjoy it immensely.

This was simply beautiful. The grief. The journey. What a completely fantastic story. I loved every single character in this book - I felt like I knew them. Miles was wonderful. Lenny was imperfect. This was definitely a slow burn, but it was so necessary for Lenny to deal with her grief.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and the author for this ARC.

Cara Bastone delivers another standout romance with Promise Me Sunshine, solidifying why she’s one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. The two main characters are incredibly well-drawn, and their slow-burn love story feels authentic and deeply satisfying. Bastone writes profoundly about grief in this novel, capturing the nuances of mourning a love that was platonic but still life-shaping and deeply important. It’s a touching exploration that adds emotional depth to the story. She avoids overused tropes, and when the characters finally come together, it’s meaningful and perfectly woven into their journey—not just a generic moment. Promise Me Sunshine is another win from Bastone, and I’m already looking forward to her next book.

Loved this story of life after loss. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have picked up from this author - she keeps it real yet extremely engaging. I am beyond obsessed with Miles. 10/10. Absolutely no notes! Everyone should read (and participate in the author’s “challenge” at the end)!

this book was incredible and one you NEED to add to your 2025 tbr 💫💫💫

this story was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. Cara’s writing and storytelling makes you go along on the journey with her characters as if you were going through it yourself. When we meet Lenny, she is in the deepest stages of grief and the book takes you on each difficult and maybe ugly stage of navigating it. Lenny is a strong but beautifully human character and seeing her explore and at times struggle with romantic love, friendships, family and careers while experiencing this insurmountable loss creates such a deep connection between the reader and story.

My only true complaint is that I wish the connection between Miles and Lenny or the reason for him helping was a bit stronger. Honestly though, their relationship from strangers to TRUE FRIENDS to lovers is so realistic. The reader gets to experience all of these small and big moments between the couple and actually see them fall in love. Miles was a pillar of strength and reliability through Lenny’s journey with grief and loss. I loved learning about him and his past life, and his love for his family.

Another thing I loved about this book were the side characters. I loved seeing Lenny find friendships because it is so difficult as an adult. Each friend was so unique and rallied behind her. Also, Reese and Ainsley were the perfect addition. I’m not usually a fan of kids but Ainsley was just so fun! And the storyline between Reese and Miles was the perfect touch to bring depth to all the characters.

Overall, this is such a great book and I highly recommend it!!!!! love love love 🥹

I liked this book. It was a quick and surprisingly light read that covered a heavy topic. I found it to be well written and thoughtful while still allowing for some moments of levity and fun as we went along on the characters journey. I'm a little impossible to please when it comes to giving 5 stars on books like this, like its nothing perspective shifting on the topic of grief. But I also don't want something that heavy and deep in my romance books either idk. solid 4 stars though!!

Ahhhh I loved this book so much! Ready or Not was such a surprising 5/5 for me (I don’t usually love accidental pregnancy) and I was so excited to read more from Cara. This did not disappoint at ALL!!! Go read this immediately!

I was not very impressed with Bastone’s release this year, Ready or Not, so my expectations were not high for this novel. But the premise of this book interested me, and my expectations were blown out of the water. This is not only one of the best books I have read this year but one of the best books I have ever read. This was simply a masterclass of romance and writing.

Many authors write books about grief, but I think Cara Bastone found such a unique and powerful way to write grief in this novel. It wasn’t simply something that Lenny was battling on her own it helped to bring Miles and Lenny together. Which helped to create a very tender and deep romantic intimacy between the two main characters. Grief happens to everyone, and it was so beautiful to see how it can bring people together instead of the way it often tears people apart.

The two main characters had such a strong, deep emotional connection and friendship before they started to build a physical relationship, which was so refreshing and enjoyable to read.

I cried, giggled, and felt so much joy while reading this book. This book made me feel very hopeful about romance. Lenny and Miles have carved themselves a spot on my heart and will live inside me for years to come.

I adore this book!!!! It was so good! Both as a book about characters living with grief and as a romance novel.


But, to be clear, this book has grief front and center from page one. So, if you might not be in a space for that, know your limits.


Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.


I know this might seem weird after my note, but this book was so funny. Lenny, the main character, is hilarious. (Not poking fun at the effects of grief, but her personality is so funny) Dry humor abounds in this book, which I adore. But there’s also just “WTF was that” and the reader is not alone in the feeling. I believe that Bastone does a a great job of taking the reader along the journey of the characters, both sad/difficult and kind/joyful moments.


And these characters! There is a full cast, that all make sense and participate in the journey with Lenny and Miles in one way or another. Plus, they bring a lot of authenticity to the book, with their little moments and side stories. (Also, on the topic of authenticity, grief is a unique experience and Lenny and Miles’ representation of grief felt real to me. And as someone currently working through grief, parts of that grief journey felt excising and healing for me. Truly, art being art.)


And yes, this is a romance novel. And a slow burn. I loved the pacing and the development. I loved their struggles and their characters. I adore Miles as a romantic lead and as just a (fictional :( ) guy. And I love Lou and Lou and Lenny. And I love Lenny.


So in summary, I love this book. I read most of it sitting with my dogs on Christmas Eve and I loved doing that. I love the sad bits, they made me cry. And I love the joyful bits, they also made me cry. So glad I read this book, especially right now

This books was really good but I feel like she added so much unnecessary stuff. But other than that I really enjoyed miles and Lenny’s relationship! Such a beautiful story!

I loved this book. I throughly enjoyed Cara Bastone’s 2024 book- Ready or Not and this one is even better!! Such a slow burn romance but so well written it kept me hooked. Didn’t want to put it down. And the depiction of the feelings that come with grief were accurate. If you’ve ever experienced it you know.
Miles is a perfect romance book character. Caring and perceptive. And perfectly charming.
I will likely read this one again!!

I loved this book! I was a huge fan of “Ready or Not” & was worried “Promise Me Sunshine” wouldnt be able to live up to those same expectations, but it did. It was one of those drop everything & read till it is finished type books…
I loved the relationship between Miles & Lenny. He was the perfect best friend & just what Lenny needed even though she didnt realize it at first.
I already cant wait for the next book from Cara! Ill be 1st in line to read it for sure.

This was a great book for a sensitive topic! It had beautiful, funny, serious, uplifting moments. Both of the main characters were fleshed out and lovely. I really enjoyed reading this novel!

A wonderful, lovely heart wrenching book that will touch your heart. Two people-a woman who is in the deep grips of grief from her best friend’s dying and a man trying to form a relationship with his half-sister and her daughter-slowly but surely work together using their strengths to try and bring wholeness into their lives. Truly a touching story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this is my second Cara Bastone romance now, and though I don't dislike her novels necessarily--her characters are well-drawn and her writing is great and snappy--I've come to the conclusion that they're just too low angst for me. the romance itself is always very positive and wholesome--the love interests are kind and supportive and sweet--which is nice, but also reads as a little...boring to me personally. not that I want some kind of toxic love interest, but more that I want romance where the romantic relationship has tension, conflict, friction--some oomph. and this novel has conflict for sure, but not when it comes to the romance. and i think that's really my issue here: I want there to be conflict IN the romance itself, not just outside it, and based on the (admittedly small sample size of) two Cara Bastone novels that I've read so far, her novels don't really align with that.

Thank you NetGalley, Cara Bastone and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of what just might be my favorite read of 2024. This was a truly beautiful story of grief and love, unlike anything I’ve ever encountered before. If anyone’s looking for a great book club read for 2025, look no further. There are so many meaningful topics addressed throughout Promise Me Sunshine, I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.

Thank you NetGalley, Cara Bastone and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

This book started off slow for me but I ended up loving it!!! We meet Lenny who is grieving the death of her best friend/sister/soulmate Lou as she takes on a babysitting job for a busy working mom, Stella, with an amazing 7 year old name Ainsley. There to "oversee" that Ainsley is safe is her uncle Miles who seems very by the book and not of fan of Lenny's. As the days go by and Lenny and Miles get to know each other, they open up about their own struggles and hatch a plan to help each other. Miles will help Lenny complete her Live Again list created by Lou to help Lenny experience life again after her death. Miles needs help connecting with Ainsley (and Stella) and asks Lenny to teach him how to do this. As they move through the list and Miles begins to understand his niece, these two begin to get closer and learn to experience life again as they both deal with grief, growing new relationships and learning to "live again".


This book tugged at my heart strings but also made you laugh at loud at scenes. I was happy to read another book by Cara Bastone and can't wait to read more!