Absolutely stunning! Such a beautiful love story. It completely captivated me. I wish I could read it again for the first time!

Oh Cara, I love ya. This author delivers story after story with an epic plot, a journey that resonates, shows growth of character and has a swoony ending. With her stories you start and before you know it, you’ve been reading for hours and devoured it. Just lovely!

An unexpected, unique love story from an author who never disappoints. My only gripe is that we never learned what age the MMC was!?! Thanks for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m writing this review about 30% in because I already know it’s going to be 5 stars. I love Lenny, I love how real she is and she’s vocal about her struggles to Miles. I cannot imagine losing my friend to cancer but Cara is writing Lenny’s grief journey and how it’s not always easy and how you will have a lot of bad days. Miles is wonderful, he’s the grumpy to her sunshine and I love how he keeps showing up for Lenny and his sister. Ainsley is adorable and such a good light to have in the book. Again I’m not done with the book yet but I already know I’m going to love it and it’s quickly becoming my favorite read of the year. Would 100% recommend!

A beautiful story of grief, love, and finding your sunshine again. Lenny finding her way back to herself was beautiful. Miles is a sweetheart and we all deserve to have a Miles in our life!

This is my 2nd book from Cara Bastone & all I can say is I’m obsessed. The representation of grief was so real, and the balance between grief and more lighthearted moments was perfect. Will definitely be recommending this all around.

what a fantastic read! the grief in this book was written so beautifully, it had me crying in parts. the pining was palpable between the main characters and you could see the love shining through the acts of service the MMC did for the FMC! i love grumpy guys who are secretly a softie for their one girl in books and Miles is exactly that!!!

A beautiful story about grief with a friends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine slow burn romance. Their romance was so tender and full of heart, Miles truly cared so much for Lenny and the things he’d do for her made my chest ache. There’s a hurt/comfort moment in this book that I don’t think I’m ever going to forget. You need to mark your calendars for March 4th 2025 and pick this up on release day, you won’t regret it. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cara Bastone is the only author I've read that can have me smiling like an idiot on the couch in my living room.

The story of Miles & Lenny is one that many can relate to, learning to live and love through grief. It showed personal growth as well as a damn cute love story.

I'll gladly read anything Cara writes. Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for this ARC ebook for review.

This was top tier. It was the slowest of burns but in the best way. The main character's journey through grief with help was so well written.

Wow. 4.5 ⭐️

This book was emotional and unlike anything I’ve read before.

I loved that the main focus of the book was living again. The relationship between Lenny and Miles was so well developed but the main focus was their journey through grief together through the complex emotions together. Yes they fell in love but unlike most romances that was not the overwhelming theme in this book.

I took away 1/2 of a star because the ending felt incomplete. I would’ve loved to see an epilogue.

If you loved Shep from Ready or Not you need to read this now.

The way Cara Bastone writes continues to wow me. Can’t wait to see more from her. Adding her to my auto buy list.

Thank you Dial Press, NetGalley and the author Cara Bastone for allowing me to read the eARC.

Cara does it again! And by “it,” I mean convince me that humans are capable of so many different kinds of soul-deep, earth-shattering love. How dare she make me fall head over heels for these imperfect characters who I will never forget and inevitably name my dog after (true story…go ready *Ready or Not* and try not to fall in love with that man)!!!!

Lenny and Miles, even Ainsley and Reese, are a part of me now. I have never read a book that handled grief so perfectly. What a messy, beautiful, touching, emotional story. 5 stars, no doubt will read again and recommend to everyone who has lost someone close to them.

Special thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this highly anticipated ARC! Don’t miss this one; out on March 4, 2025. 🩷

LITERALLY PERFECT! I was so scared reading this book that it wouldn’t recognize Lenny’s grief being replaced with love for Miles and was so please with how it turned out. 5 stars!!

Really really enjoyed Cara Bastone’s latest release. Moments of joy, grief, and everything in between. I’m not one to often actually laugh out loud while reading a book but I absolutely did during this one. There were also a number of heartwarming, and sweet moments that are real highlights of this book. I very much enjoyed all of Miles and Ainsley’s interactions and seeing that storyline unfold.

I also very much loved all the characters in this book. I found myself many times wishing I could join them in whatever they were doing. You really could fully immerse yourself in the story and the characters.

Will absolutely be recommending this one on and before release!

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Cara Bastone’s writing pulls emotions out of me that I didn’t even know existed. Her writing is beautiful and I genuinely never wanted to book to end. If you like “show don’t tell” writing or Emily Henry books, you’ll love this book as well as Cara’s others. 5/5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the early copy ❤️

What a beautiful, moving book! While this could be categorized as a romance, it is really about finding yourself again after devastating loss and the people who help you along the way. Bastone treats each of her characters in such a delicate way. As a reader, you can immerse yourself in this world and feel that you too are making this journey. The growth is earned and nothing feels rushed for the sake of the story. The ending is so much more beautiful because you know these characters so well. I highly recommend this book!

“This is what happens when you promised someone you’ll live again”

This book was an emotional gut punch in the best way possible. It follows Lenny, a twenty something nanny , who is sleeping on trains to avoid going home to the apartment she used to share with her late best friend, Lou. Without Lou, Lenny doesn’t know what to live for. One day she takes a weekend nannying gig looking after Ainsley, a precocious 7 year old being raised by a single mom. Ainsley also has an overbearing yet standoffish uncle, Miles, who lives upstairs and takes it upon himself to hover over Lenny while she works. But, when Miles, who has experienced immense losses in his life, sees Lenny’s grief book, he takes it upon himself to be his grief guide.

This is a romance book with the emotional heft of a literary fiction. Lenny’s grief is written so well, the reader can feel it seeping out of the book. Cara Bastone handles Lenny’s grief journey with such care, it’s clear she has experienced loss and lived to see the other side herself. Lenny’s healing journey isn’t linear. She makes progress and then she backslides. She also isn’t magically healed because she falls in love. Love isn’t what saved her. Miles is very intentional about making Lenny live and heal for herself, not for him. This book easily could’ve said that love is the antidote for grief but instead it highlights a harder but realistic truth: when you choose to keep living despite the shit, you can open yourself up to love again, and isn’t that worth fighting for?

WOW WOW WOW! I never expected to be so emotionally impacted by a story! I loved Cara Bastone's previous book that I didn't even read the synopsis of this one before I dove in - and I almost put it down when I realized what the storyline was going to entail (I lost my sister the same way Lenny lost her Lou) but I am so glad I did not. This story was not only romantic and funny - it made me think about my own grief and how people mourn.

"There is nothing wrong with you. You're getting used to a new reality. And you don't know how to live right now. It'll all come back. You'll take care of yourself again."

I was so moved by the story of Lenny and Miles - two people who have a chance meeting and end up bringing each other back to life after tragedy. This is definitely a slow burn romance, but it is so worth the wait! Lenny is hysterical and complicated - Miles is the perfect male lead. This is a story about friendship, friends that become family, and forgiving yourself. While I did laugh a lot this story also made me think about my own grief.

This was the first book I have read from this author. I will be looking for more! I enjoyed this book and read it in one day! I would definitely recommend this book.

If I could give it 6 stars, I would. Honestly one of my favorite reads of the year!

I cried with Lenny during her grief. I giggled at Miles through his awkwardness. Their entire friendship was so precious and unconditional. I saw the realistic sides of new friendships, love, grief and family. Long story short Cara nailed it AGAIN!!! Miles and Lenny are ✨everything✨

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC! I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to read it before publication. I can’t wait to reread it and listen to the audiobook on March 4th, 2025 after the official release.