3.25 ⭐️

I really loved the concept of this one but the middle of this book seemed to drag on and I found myself not wanting to pick it up for a bit, hence why it took me a bit longer than I would have liked for me to finish.

I really enjoyed the last 30% or so when it began to pick back up a bit but would've loved another chapter or two from where we leave our main characters off. I usually love a slow burn but on that front it didn't hit the mark for me.

Still enjoyed and am looking forward to reading other books from this author in the future! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow, this book hit me with all the feels, cringe, and humor I guess I needed! What a punch!

Now, I enjoyed the book a majority of the time, but I will warn you it does involve some saddening moments that had me put it aside more than I’d like. This book was the story of one woman’s grief of their favorite person ever and it shows. Every moment was an incredible experience for the reader to share with our dear Lenny & I loved it. So much laughter that I truly loved about Cara’s debut!


I will say the end felt a bit rushed but it was well worth the time for me. I’m so freaking grateful to Dial Press for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review!

“’I took it second by second. Sometime soon you’ll be getting from minute to minute and then day by day. And so on. But… the point isn’t trying to get where you’re not. The point is just… enduring.’”

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is a heart wrenchingly beautiful journey from the he depths of grief to finally experiencing joy in life’s day to day activities again. Lenny’s best friend/soul mate Lou dies, plunging her into a deep depression. Unable to care for herself properly or function day to day, she throws herself into caring for Ainsley, a 7 year old who Lenny nannies for. Through caring for Ainsley she meets Miles who helps her figure out how to live (and love) again.

Despite never losing a best friend, I was able to relate to Lenny’s struggle with depression. Bastone was able to capture how the weight of depression feels in the body and mind without being too triggering. I was worried this book would be too heavy for me to read, but she did a great job at conveying how much Lenny was struggling without upsetting the reader.

Lenny is charming and relatable. I love how she has a brief, imagined love affair with almost every new man she meets. I also love to imagine the inner workings of people’s lives I meet in passing. Miles is the perfect balance of bossy and compassionate. He is steadfastly there for Lenny through the good, bad, and ugly moments of her journey. The spicy parts are also realistic in that they’re not perfectly staged and choreographed; they’re a bit awkward and raw while still being passionate.

I loved the Ethan cameo (Ready or Not was one of my top favorite reads of 2024) and I especially loved the list at the end of things to try if you’re trying to “Live Again” like Lenny.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and honestly review this beautiful novel. I can’t wait to read more from Cara Bastone in the future!

4.5 stars

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is a poignant and heartwarming exploration of grief, friendship, and love. Lenny, the protagonist, is reeling from the loss of her best friend, Lou, and finds solace in the unlikely friendship of the grumpy yet kind-hearted Miles.

She beautifully captures the complexities of grief, painting a realistic and empathetic portrait of Lenny's journey. The depth of her friendship with Lou is truly touching, highlighting the enduring power of platonic love.

The slow-burn romance between Lenny and Miles is equally compelling. Their connection, rooted in shared experiences and mutual understanding, is both tender and invigorating. Bastone masterfully builds the tension, making the eventual realization of their feelings all the more satisfying.

A standout aspect of the book is the way it portrays the healing power of friendship. Miles' unwavering support and gentle guidance are instrumental in helping Lenny navigate her grief and emerge stronger. His presence in her life is a testament to the transformative impact of genuine human connection.

Promise Me Sunshine is a must-read for anyone seeking a poignant and uplifting story. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love, friendship, and hope can prevail.

What to say about this book...it was everything! Lenny is going through grief of her best friend and when she least expects it, meets Miles through her temp nanny job for Ainsley. Miles is there for her at any point of time Lenny needs in exchange for helping him in his relationship with Ainsley.
With time. Miles and Lenny grow closer, through Ainsley, through grief, through experiences to help each other in a specific problem. Their chemistry since the start jumps out of the pages.
Lenny is witty, quick, smart and weird. She holds it all together in front of everyone but Miles is able to see right through that and tells her to let go and allow him to help her. And she's grown to be my favorite book character of all time.
The characters? New York is a character in itself. And it's beautiful. Seeing Lenny and Miles love for each other grow slowly in this book is executed perfectly. Grief? A character. Seeing a glimpse of Lenny's life before, during and after. I was extremely immersed in this book since page 1.


I want to live in this book and give Lenny and Miles a big hug and tell them everything will be okay. I will always remember this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Cara Bastone writes the most fluid and funny dialogue and I will never not enjoy a romance by her for this reason alone. Promise Me Sunshine is her most emotionally mature and gut wrenching novel yet, but even when she had me in tears she had me laughing or swooning on the next page.

This is a romance that defines odds, looks at real life, has real conversations and approaches relationships in grown up ways. It was refreshing. No problems here, just two people getting through it and finding something in the rubble.

This books is a romantic and healing slice of life. It’s an absolutely beautiful representation of grief with realistic and relatable characters. There’s no 3rd act break up. It’s just a sweet slow burn, friends to lovers romance with lots of hard hitting life lessons sprinkled throughout. It’s just one giant warm hug. I may even love it more than Ready or Not, which says a lot because I love that book so much! There’s just something extra special about this one. I can’t wait until it releases and the rest of the world can love it, too.

This book is a heartwarming journey that beautifully blends romance, friendship, and the power of second chances. The characters feel like old friends, and their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. I was particularly drawn to the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and healing—her growth throughout the story is both inspiring and uplifting.

The chemistry between the leads is electric! Their banter is witty and charming, making every interaction a joy to read. I found myself laughing, swooning, and even tearing up at some of the more poignant moments. The way Bastone captures the complexities of love and relationships is truly remarkable.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read that warms your heart and leaves you with a smile, "Promise Me Sunshine" is a must! It’s the perfect book to curl up with on a cozy afternoon. Grab your favorite blanket and get ready to be swept away by this delightful story! 💖✨

In Promise Me Sunshine, Lenny is drowning; she lost her best friend, roommate, partner in crime, and soul mate, Lou to cancer. Now, Lenny rides the Staten Island Ferry all night to avoid going home to the apartment she shared with Lou. She carries around a backpack filled with all her clothes, so she doesn’t have to return to their place. She hasn’t talked to her parents in months. To keep her head above water, Lenny takes short-term nanny assignments. While on assignment, she meets single mom, Reese; her daughter Ainsley; and the uncle, Miles, each of whom will help Lenny navigate the terrain of grief.

Promise Me Sunshine had me crying buckets of tears for the loss that Lenny is trying to learn to live with. It was a heart wrenching novel, but I didn’t feel hollow or depressed when I finished it. Instead, reading it felt like a warm hug. Yes, it was sad, but the themes of love, friendship, laughter, and hope ran strongly throughout the narrative. The characters were interesting, zany, kind, and fully fleshed out. I fell in love with Lenny and wanted to offer to be her new best friend. The book offers a real look at what it means to lose a loved one and to grieve that loss. Overall, it was a beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Lenny is a mess after her best friend, Lou, dies from cancer. She avoids her family, sleeps on the ferry, and cries all the time. Her life changes when she meets Miles, a stern and shy man, and the uncle of the young girl she nannys. Miles becomes her closest friend and helps her through her blinding grief.

'Promise Me Sunshine' is a beautiful book about loss and finding oneself again. This book envelopes the healing process after tragedy. The friendships, love, and grief described are endearing and lifelike. I laughed out loud at the banter and teasing between the main characters. I loved the friendships Lenny gained and the meet cutes that started them. I found Miles adorable and someone I would want on my team. My heart ached for Lenny and I couldn't help but cheer her on as she achieved goals and did things that were hard.

The only issue I have with the book is that the pacing during the first quarter felt choppy. However, this may have been intentional to portray the extreme grief Lenny was feeling. Overall a book I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

Cara Bastone’s voice is always very lovely and fun. This book was heavy on my heart in the best way, as stories that deal so genuinely with grief often are. Miles is too good for this world!

Thank you for the ARC! This was absolutely spectacular! I really appreciated how Cara Bastone wrote about such a big topic and was able to pull every emotion out of you. The book had me laughing, smirking, crying, and kicking my feet! The characters are so lovable and we see them develop so much throughout the story. This was very easy to follow and I can't wait to tell everyone to read it!

Infinity Stars!

It is always hard for me to write a review for a book that changed my life but here I go:

wow! Cara Bastone has quickly become one of my all-time favorite writers and Promise Me Sunshine is her best book yet!

This was my first time physically reading Cara's work (I had previously only experienced her writing via audio) and it was so fucking cool to see how much care she puts into every sentence. She is such a stylized writer and it pays off. Lenny's voice is clear and consistent and she manages to develop the other main character Miles, and the side characters all through Lenny's eyes too, which is not easy to pull off. Every literary device and punctuation choice held purpose and drove the story forward.



One of my favorite things about the book is that it didn't shy away from the ugly parts of grief and instead embraced it in full force. I've never read a grief journey that forced the reader to travel rock bottom in real-time alongside the main character. Lenny's pain over losing her best friend was so raw and honest. We were with her every step of the way as she clawed her way back to life too. I learned so much about myself and even picked up some copying strategies from Lenny and Miles along the way. (Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery <3)

and the ROMANCE!!!!!!! Cara Bastone is so good at writing about non-sexual intimacy. The slow burn between Miles and Lenny was so delicious. I love that Miles was as equally flawed as Lenny and that they both grew into the people each other needed before they dived into a romantic relationship. Every moment between these two has been imprinted on my brain. Some of the best romantic gestures I've ever read in my entire life. By the time these two do have sex, I was bursting with pure joy!!! Cara is so good at writing sex scenes that feel authentic and at times a little awkward (in the best way). Often with smut in trad-published romances the language and tone switch so abruptly that the smut will feel unnecessary and out of character for the leads. But again Cara is so good at keeping things copacetic!

Cara Bastone is such a gift to the romance genre and I'm so grateful to have read her work. Her commitment to her craft does not go unnoticed and is such a breath of fresh air in a genre where craft can get lost in the sauce at times. And the preview for her next book????? INSANE!!!! I am seated!

5 Beautiful Stars!
This is a beautiful story about two friends, Lenny and Miles, who help guide each other through grief and life. I loved the transition from friends to lovers. This book took readers on the journey alongside them, and I was crying and laughing and swooning the entire time!

Following Lenny as she is reeling from the death of her best friend, I thought Cara Bastone did a wonderful job of portraying her behaviors, feelings, and mannerisms as she adjusted to her new reality. I felt her loss so deeply, and I genuinely felt like I was also grieving. Having a best friend who is truly a soulmate is such a beautiful thing to witness and experience, and I just wanted to give Lenny a big hug from the start of this book. Her character development and journey through grief, with the help of Miles, was so, so good. I cried!! I love her!! She deserves the entire world.

Miles! WHAT A MAN!!! He quite literally is such a beautiful person, inside and out. The way he cared for Lenny, sat at rock bottom with her, and eventually pulled her out of the dark place that is grief and depression, made me cryyy. I loved how he had his own personal dilemma that he needed help with because it sparked such a loving and caring dynamic between Lenny and Miles. They leaned on each other when they needed it most, and I adored it. Miles, the man who instantly dropped whatever he was doing whenever Lenny needed him, is a top-tier man. He was patient, steady, thoughtful, funny, and just overall the kind of man you want by your side.

Everything about Lenny and Miles's relationship development felt very real to me. They started out with a mutually beneficial friendship dynamic that transformed into love and companionship. Their conversations felt so realistic, and their communication was very mature. Their bond was perfectly balanced and genuine. The shift from friends to lovers was slow, but it was so worth it in the end. This is not a fun and lighthearted read. It deals with very serious topics and emotions, but I thought Bastone did a great job of also bringing in light elements that made readers feel a variety of emotions. I know that Lenny and Miles will stick with me for a while. I loved this book so much!!

Promise Me Sunshine was a very real look at the ebb and flow of grief. After losing her best friend to cancer, Lenny is barely surviving. It's all she can do to put one foot in front of the other. She takes on a short-term nanny gig to avoid going home to her (previously shared) apartment and ends up meeting Miles. Miles and Lenny's meeting is the epitome of "like recognizes like." Miles has been through the grief journey and is now on the other side, but he instantly recognizes that Lenny is struggling. He proposes an idea to help Lenny "live again" if she will help him connect with his niece (who happens to be Lenny's babsitting charge). Their relationship, born out of desperation, bleeds into an authentic friendship of trust and transparency, and eventally maybe something more...

I loved the banter between the two - Miles's dry sense of humor was the perfect compliment to Lenny's rambling tangents. She was grieving and depressed, but was still able to throw out a zinger or two - which was refreshing. Cara Bastone did an beautiful job depicting the roller coaster of grief and the ever-changing emotions that come along with it. I appreciated that she wrote it as a journey and not a destination. My only critique of the entire story was the verrrrrrry end. The bedroom scene felt a little bit "silly" for lack of a better word. The vocabulary/descriptions used by Lenny were a bit a juvenile in my opinion and seemed to differ from the tone of the rest of the book. Other than that, a great read that I really enjoyed! Not a "fluff" piece by any means - but one that encourages you to love the people you're with and to remember that everyone we encounter could be fighting a battle we know nothing about. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The book focuses on Lenny as she navigates her grief after losing her childhood best friend to cancer. While the MMC is introduced early on, I liked that the romance developed slowly over time instead of happening immediately. It felt more realistic, especially given the heavier subject matter.

I thought Cara Bastone did a great job melding heaviness and humor throughout the novel. If you enjoy Bastone’s other romance books, this is one of hers that I wouldn’t miss.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Cara Bastone is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. She write humor and heft like no other. I high lighted so many passages about grief and living your life. I high lighted so many passages that made me actually laugh out loud. I love how well Miles love Lenny and I loved each and every supporting character. I will be revisiting this when it's released on audio. I can't recommend it enough.

It is almost 3am as I type this because I could not put this book down until I finished it. This book was NOT at all what I was expecting. It was much heavier and much more meaningful. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Ready or Not, but this one takes the cake. This book took my breath away, and I am so thankful for the privilege to have been able to read an advanced copy.

Miles is so perfect, and he reminds me SO much of my husband. Always giving, always serving, always caring like a mother hen. 🤭 This book impacted me in such a huge way. Such a beautiful story of grief and love. It’s raw and real, and makes me want to give the author a big hug because there’s no way she wrote this without having lived some version of this grief herself. Lenny is a legend, an icon, the picture of resilience. Cara did such a beautiful job with this!

This is easily one of my favorite reads of 2024, and I can’t wait for this to be out in the world for others to experience as well! I most certainly need a shelf trophy of this one.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley, Random House, and Cara Bastone for the privilege of entrusting me with this ARC.

In case it wasn’t obvious enough, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book.

Promise Me Sunshine will be released on March 4, 2025. Preorder now! 🫶🏻

Promise Me Sunshine is only my 2nd novel by Cara Bastone, but I consider her auto-buy going forward. I feel sorry for those who scan the synopsis and assume they don’t want a book about death and/or grief, because they are missing out on a true treasure. Lenny is highly relatable as the friend who’s trying to pick up the pieces after losing her lifelong bff. Cara manages to gorgeously weave a love story between two people who truly belong together. I wanted to hang out with Lenny and Miles, I genuinely felt like we could be friends irl. I don’t want to post spoilers, this book manages to surprise you, make you cackle, and likely shed a tear or two as you navigate the recovery process with these richly crafted characters. I absolutely adored this book! I can hardly wait for its release next year even though it’s easily one of my favorite reads of THIS YEAR!

My Rating: 4.25 stars

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the early ebook copy of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone. This heartwarming and deeply emotional story about Lenny and Miles left a lasting impression on me. Their journey from strangers to friends to lovers was beautifully written, showing how love and friendship can emerge even in life’s darkest moments.

Lenny and Miles meet at pivotal times in their lives, both grappling with loss and trying to rebuild. Their connection felt authentic and earned, with the author skillfully showing (rather than telling) how their bond grew from friendship into something deeper. Miles is an especially standout character—his steadfast support and care for Lenny made me think everyone could use a “Miles” in their life.

That said, be prepared for a story with a heavy focus on grief. It’s the core of this book, so there are moments that feel quite heavy. However, the themes of healing and found family are uplifting, making the journey worth it.

With its mix of poignant grief, slow-burn romance, and the warmth of found family, Promise Me Sunshine is a touching read. If you enjoy stories about emotional growth and love blooming in unexpected ways, this one’s for you.