Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Publishing date - 03/04/25
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley , Random House , and author for this e-ARC. Cara Bastone is a must - read author for me! Ready or Not was one of my favorite reads so I was so excited to see another book from this author.

Synopsis - It’s a heart-wrenching yet heartwarming story about Lenny, a girl who’s trying to pick up the pieces after losing her best friend. She’s feeling totally lost until she meets Miles. Miles helps her through her grieving process.

These characters felt so real ; I was sad when the story ended. Would love to see a sequel to this one in the future!! Loved every second of this book!! Highly recommend it when it releases next March.

Promise Me Sunshine
By @carabastone
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release date: March 4, 2025

I'm so glad I snagged this ARC on @netgalley , because after reading and loving Ready of Not, I wanted more from Cara Bastone. This isn't a light hearted romance like you may think from the cover. It's heavy at times and explores navigating relationships in the midst of extreme grief.

Lenny forgets how to live after her life-long best friend dies from cancer. She is overcome with grief and has completely lost herself. She avoids her parents, can't return to the apartment she shared with Lou, and is avoiding the list of things she's supposed to do to live again. The only thing she can do is take temporary babysitting jobs, which leads to her babysitting Ainsley. This is when she meets Ainsley's grumpy uncle Miles.

Miles, having lost loved ones himself, helps Lenny not only check things off her "live again" list, but helps her through the grieving process. In return, Lenny helps him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with his sister, Reese.

This book had me in my feels, making me laugh and cry. I feel like it showed a realistic picture of grief, and also, the one spicy scene was laughably realistic. If I ever had a book boyfriend, Miles may be it. If you've read Ready of Not, you get a tiny cameo in this book.

I can't wait until Promise Me Sunshine is released, because I will be buying a physical copy.

Okay, so this book is basically sunshine in book form. ☀️

It's a heart-wrenching yet heartwarming story about Lenny, a girl who's trying to pick up the pieces after losing her best friend. She's feeling totally lost until she meets Miles, this super sweet guy who's been through his own share of tough times.

I love how this book doesn't shy away from the heavy stuff. Lenny's grief is raw and real, but it's also balanced with some really heartwarming moments. The slow burn romance between her and Miles is chef's kiss. It's one of those relationships where you can just feel the connection between the characters.

One thing I really appreciated was how the author handled the grief aspect. It felt authentic and didn't feel forced at all. And let's not forget about Ainsley, the adorable little girl who adds so much sweetness to the story.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, then you need to read this. It's the kind of book that you'll want to recommend to all your friends.

💌| This is my first book by this author, and I'm so glad I got an ARC of it. Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and everyone involved for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🫂🤍

This book is a beautiful story of two people helping each other through grief and falling in love. Lenny has lost her best friend and her soulmate, Lou, and has not been doing well when she takes on a short term nanny job to care for Ainsley. Since Lou's death or maybe longer, Lenny imagines her life in love with different men and when she meets Ainsley's uncle, Miles, she does the same but quickly falls out of love with Miles because he seems grumpy and she doesn't understand why he is always hanging around Ainsley and her mother, Reese. Of course all of that is explained as Lenny begins to understand Miles' intentions while he helps her through her grieving. I love how not only do they fall in love through adventures and deep conversations and supporting each other but that Miles sets some of his own goals for Lenny (unbeknownst to her) to determine if she is self sufficient enough to be in a relationship before he pursues it. I have had this author's book, Ready or Not on Kindle for some time and now I can't wait to read another book by her!

Thank You Netgalley for the ARC of this beautiful book. I read Ready or Not early this year and was very pleasantly surprised with the writing and story. It wasnt my favorite but I liked it.
Enter Promise Me Sunshine…. wow! I loved it. It was so emotional and healing. The pain of grief of losing someone you love is so great. Its hard to put it into words sometimes. Its almost like a living creature taking over. I knew exactly how Lenny felt. My heart hurt for her.
But can we talk about how perfect Miles was for this situation? He was exactly what she needed to come out of her deep dark pit. I couldnt love this more. They made such a great team as friends to more. It was just so heart warming. I imagine he is what i would have needed to get me out of that deep pit if i didnt already have someone.

I turn to Cara Bastone when I want to read about a good, solid dude quietly falling in love with a slight mess of an FMC. Also when I’m homesick for Brooklyn. Promise Me Sunshine did not disappoint with regards to the former. And I will forgive her for setting this primarily in Manhattan (this time). Because she still wrote NYC in all its nooks-and-crannies glory and made me want to finally check out the Staten Island Ferry

Our heroine and POV character, Lenny, is still drowning in grief after losing her bff (named Lou) to cancer a couple months before. This is not a glamorous portrayal of grief by any means. By the time we get the full picture, you just want to throw Lenny in a shower and then tuck her into a bed made of feathers. Despite near-constant melancholy and a tendency to spend her nights on a ferry or at (Monday!) dance parties, Lenny remains functional and works as a freelance nanny.

Miles is Lenny’s new client’s brother. His story is too complicated to summarize here, but I will say that he is no stranger to grief and is also a bricklayer (!) from Upstate New York.

When Miles sees how good Lenny is with his niece (and finds out why she looks like a junkie), he proposes a trade: he’ll help her navigate through grief if she teaches him how to win his niece’s heart.

Friendship and love ensues and it is all very sweet and emotional and, as per usual for Bastone, uses the New York City setting masterfully.

Bastone is also very good at setting up classic tropes or introducing potential clichés and then quickly discarding them, opting for a more nuanced and realistic story that will leave you believing that you, too, can meet a bricklayer who will take you camping just as soon as he’s done playing badminton with his niece.

For instance, Miles is the son of a (recently deceased) famous musician. But this is not a story about celebrity or money.

There is also a list that Lenny had written with Lou to help the former “live again” after Lou passed. But where another author might use the list as a device for proximity or emotional connection, that is not the case here. Yes, they check things off as the story unfolds. But they don’t use it as an excuse to hang out, nor does a character ever point to the list as an excuse to deny their feelings toward each other.

In fact, I don’t think we ever actually see the list in its entirety.

Also, Cara Bastone never fails to provide what I like to call a “jump cry”. I’ll just be minding my own business and BAM, a sentence will knock the tears right out of me. This happened three times in this book, and all were tears of…not sadness and not joy. But tears of sweetness. Like the sentiment was just so simple and empathetic and perfect, that my nervous system couldn’t handle seeing that particular combination of words on screen.

Anyway, I liked this very much and if you like other Cara Bastone books (or friends-to-lovers in general), I think you will too.

Cara Bastone has sealed herself as a must read author for me! Ready or Not was so wonderfully written that I had high expectations for Promise Me Sunshine and I was just blown away by the story. This book was so real and raw and full of hope and a promise of good things to come even at your lowest point, if you just open yourself up to it. Lenny and Miles are a shining example of a healthy relationship formed from common experiences that may have destroyed them, but with the love, caring, and patience that they both needed, moved them towards their happy ending. Miles is the best type of guy, the green flag guy, who just wants to help guide Lenny to a place of living and not just surviving, of finding joy again. Grief is a beast that comes for us all at some point and Bastone delivers a gutting look into Lenny’s grief that doesn’t feel like she was trying too hard to sell a story. I’m still feeling all the feels after finishing this book, so I know my thoughts seem like they’re rambling but I wanted to get them all down while it’s fresh.

I want to give a huge thanks to Dial Press and Net Galley for the ARC. All the opinions and feelings in my review are my own.

I was completely and joyfully surprised by this book!
I've only ever read Cara Bastone's short stories on audible (which are so cute, btw). So when I discovered this novel, I RAN.
The plot, the character growth, the depth, the overall message, and of course... MILES! I highlighted many inspiring quotes, funny lines, and swooning moments. Beautifully done, and I can't wait to discover more of Bastone's work.

But why 4 stars instead of 5? The book got a little too steamy for me toward the end. But that's obviously more of a personal preference. If that's something that doesn't bother you, this may be an easy 5 star read for you ❤️

₊˚.༄♡ I'm a mess of utter delight and tears!

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a love letter to best friends, New York and that one special someone. And it explored all three in perfect harmony.

It's a book about standing again when life throws you down and the people who help you get back up. For Lenny, who's barely alive after losing her best friend, it's Miles who steps in to lend a hand.

- ~ -

The way the story progresses from Lenny being down on her feet to processing her grief to finally being cautiously hopeful and gaining new experiences even slowly realising she's in love and how seamlessly it was all knitted together is a testament to some great writing

Miles is a solid throughout Lenny's journey and although he at times was surly and grumpy he's quite a gentle bear and a perfect pair to her rambunctiousness.

- ~ -

4.02 / 5☆

Thanks to Random House Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cara Bastone’s 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 follows Lenny as she mourns the death of her longtime best friend Lou from cancer. Normally a nanny, Lenny’s grief has kept her from seeking a full-time childcare job; instead, she has been taking short-term babysitting gigs. In fact, it has kept her from a lot of things—dating, socializing, spending time with her parents, taking care of herself in general. This was the opposite of what Lou had wanted, as she had left Lenny with a “live again” to-do list to complete after her passing. Enter Miles, the grouchy, awkward uncle of Lenny’s latest babysitting charge. Noticing her sorrow, he offers her a deal: teach him how he can bond with his niece, and he’ll help her cross things off her “live again” list.

This is a well-written novel that portrays the complex and emotional nature of mourning. It is also a slow-burn romance between two people healing from their respective losses. The book moved a bit too sluggishly for me at times, but I think others will appreciate the measured pace of this friends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine love story. Thank you to Dial Press for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow--she's done it again. I was a huge fan of Ready or Not, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Promise Me Sunshine here on NetGalley. No one balances the bitter and the sweet quite like Cara Bastone. These characters felt so real, I didn't want to say goodbye!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is my second Cara Bastone novel and I can safely say I like this author - she writes a quirky, lovable story that I can’t put down. This book is about grief, but there’s so much happiness and friendship in it too. It read like a YA book to me. If you’re looking to support someone who’s grieving this book offers helpful tips and perspectives.

Taking a big deep breath after that one. Phew. Grief is heavy. What a pervasive, all encompassing thing for Lenny to be living through.

Miles is the person we all wish we had in those awful moments. The light in the dark. The sunshine that warms us. And by all metrics, he’s a grumpy, standoffish, quiet man when taken at face value, but I loved seeing the depth of his character as the story progressed.

Seeing platonic love with Lenny and Lou felt so special and how lucky were they to find that in their lifetime and the way Miles held space for it was just so thoughtful.

This book really balanced humor with these deep feelings and Lenny was an absolute riot. Her inner monologue had me rolling at times. Truly hysterical.

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This turned out to be such a bummer for me. In the beginning I was pretty hooked, read almost 30% in one night. Felt like it was going to be a 4 star read for me, and then went downhill. The pacing was all over the place - sometimes I was into it and other times I was so bored. A ton of dialogue between Miles and Lenny, and most of it was so dorky and awkward. I just couldn't relate to them at all. I also felt like there was no plot, like nothing to keep me wanting to read. They were just living their everyday lives... and then the part that irked me the most was how unrealistic it was. There is no way her parents and people in her life let her just leave her apartment as is for 6+ months bc her best friend died. They would have helped her clean it out! And what about Lou's family was that ever mentioned? They should have helped too! And Lenny's dependency on Lou was pretty unhealthy honestly.. she needed more in her life. I just could not get behind this one unfortunately.

Wow, where do I even begin? This book is an absolute gem! It’s a beautifully woven tale of grief, love, and the humor that helps us navigate life’s toughest moments. I was completely swept away by Lenny’s journey—she totally gives off Jess from New Girl vibes! Grieving the loss of her best friend, Lou, Lenny is struggling to find her footing until she meets Miles, who has his own history of loss. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their playful banter is perfection!

Reading this book felt like a personal experience for me. I laughed, cried, and felt an overwhelming sense of hope throughout. Having lost my grandfather a few years ago, I resonated deeply with Lenny’s struggle to move on. Just like her, I found ways to embrace the quirky, weird sides of life, and it was so refreshing to see that captured in the story.

The characters are relatable, and I couldn’t help but bond with Lenny and Lou. My own best friend is just as wacky, loyal, and amazing, and I can’t imagine life without her. A huge shoutout to my girl DCO! This story resonated with me on so many levels—it felt like it was written just for me.

Cara Bastone has an incredible talent for balancing heavy emotions with uplifting moments. The story does delve into some heart-wrenching territory, but it’s also filled with laughter and inspiration. And let me tell you, I truly appreciated how the author approached the intimate scenes. They felt real—awkward, funny, and sweet, rather than the overly polished encounters you often find in other books.

This book has officially made me a lifelong fan of Cara Bastone! She’s an auto-buy author for me, and if you haven’t checked out her previous novel, Ready or Not, you’re missing out. Plus, her romance series on Audible is a total must-listen; the narration is absolutely stellar! I was eager to see what she would deliver next, and Promise Me Sunshine did not disappoint. This novel gutted me in the best way possible, beautifully depicting the journey of healing from grief while finding love and family. I’m definitely going to grab a hard copy when it releases!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed Ready or Not, so I was curious to see what Cara Bastone would come up with as her follow-up (and for those who also enjoyed RoN, there's a nice surprise near the end of Promise Me Sunshine). This novel gutted me, in all the best ways. It was such a loving depiction of recovering from grief and trying to find family. The fact that it's also a romance made it easier to navigate because there would be at least a Happy for Now. This is one I might need to buy in hard copy when it comes out.

This is a beautiful story about grief and also finding love—-with humor throughout to balance it out but you definitely still feel the emotions. Lenny (who gave me Jess from New Girl vibes) is grieving for the death of her best friend, Lou. She’s having a horrible time moving forward until she meets Miles (who experienced his own grief) who helps her navigate and heal through this difficult journey. Their relationship is sweet and their banter perfection.

Wow. What can I say. I loved this book. I laughed. I was emotional. I felt hope. I lost my Grandfather a few years ago and it was very difficult to move on—-just like Lenny. Through my grief and depression I was still able to joke, be a little weird (in a fun and good way) and laugh—just like Lenny.

I felt like this book was written for me. I was so connected to it. I cannot imagine life without my best friend. I don’t want to. Like Lou, my best friend is wacky, funny, loyal, smart and just overall amazing. Shout out to my girl DCO!! I really bonded with this story….as you can tell.

The story can be heavy and even heartbreaking but it is also uplifting and funny. My life too has been heavy and heartbreaking but it’s also been fun and inspiring. I have difficulty with emotions but Cara Bastone has a way of giving me all the heart feels.

I also want to add I appreciate how the author handled the sex scene. It wasn’t so….for lack of a better word “porn.” It was awkward. It was funny. It was sweet. Which is more realistic than what I’ve read in other stories.

So obviously I loved this book! Also to add, Cara Bastone is an auto buy author for me. Check out her previous novel “ Ready or not.” She also has a romance (and also humorous) series on Audible which I devoured. The narration and performance is muy excelente.

5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Releases 03/04/2025

Thank you NetGalley, Cara Bastone and The Dial Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure anything could compete with my love for Ready or Not, but the author delivered another captivating love story you will not soon forget. I loved it.

Promise Me Sunshine is a standalone story about friendship and grief. Healing and growth. And falling in love. This is a story that builds slowly. And I mean SLOWLY. Building a friendship from an initial dislike. The way that I SWOONED over Miles though. The way he cared for her. Supported her. Showed up for her. He was always one step ahead. He's like this broody cinnamon roll that I'm not sure I've experience before, but adored. We don't get his POV, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I felt everything. It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I did- I fell hard for them both and was completely captivated. Let this be your warning- stick with it, trust the slow burn.

Because this story is packed full of emotion, tender moments, and even humor too. If you're looking for a book with spice though, you won't find that here until the very end. And I really love how awkward and real the author writes that first time to be. But when I tell you that you don't need it here- I mean that you can feel their connection as their relationship evolves and grows. As they evolve and grow both individually too.

I really loved it. I highlighted so much of this book I wish I could share here. I highly recommend checking it out! And I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

*Thank you to Random House Publishing/Dial Press for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and given freely.

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

Hey so this book destroyed me in the most beautiful of ways 😭. Promise Me Sunshine might just be my favorite romance book to date. The kindness shared between Lenny and Miles had me so undone. Cara Bastone truly has a fan for life. She has such an ability to blend the soft wonderful parts of life with the most painful and make you laugh while doing it. What a gift to anyone who is grieving or helping someone through grief. It healed such a deep part of me, and I am forever grateful!!

This book is out in March and I will not be shutting up about it until everyone has had the opportunity to read this beautiful book. Please put it on your TBRs! Thank you to @netgalley and as always @carabastone for the ARC.

This was the second novel that I’ve read and absolutely loved by Cara Bastone. This one was a heavy one for sure, the novel dives deep in to the grieving process. The heavy themes might be hard for someone fresh in the grieving process to read. I don’t think I’d recommend it to someone in that stage. However, I think she did a wonderful job balancing the heavy topics out with fun quirky characters that I loved. The two main characters were so well developed and I loved their super slow burn story. Their story was at times painfully slow but totally worth the slow burn in my opinion. I wished we had seen more of Reese and the little girls characters in this book. Their side story felt like an afterthought at times. Overall, a beautifully written novel that made me laugh and cry hysterically. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Run to get your copy when it releases on March 4th!