Wow this book is beautifully written. I love Miles. Omg. I cried so many times especially in the last chapters. I loved that the romance was a slow burn but the way the grieving process was approached was also slow and tender. I really enjoyed this.

I loved this book! Lenny is feeling a little lost after losing her best friend to cancer. She starts a new babysitting job. She begins a new friendship with the little girl’s uncle. They start working on her “live again” list hoping she will feel better. The story has some loss and grief. And it has some adventures and some romance. Loved Miles!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and really enjoyed, several other books by Cara Bastone, so I had high hopes for this book. This book definitely lived up to my expectations. It was wonderful!

This book put me through the wringer.

Lenny has lost her best friend to cancer and can barely function. She has cut herself off from everyone in her life. She meets Miles, who recognizes the grief she is experiencing and offers to help her. Lenny is very resistant at first, but finally agrees.

Lenny's grief was devastating to read about and all I wanted was for her to get help. The process of her recovery is not quick and it is not simple. However, Miles was with her every step of the way. While I assumed Miles would be a love interest, he never treated her as anything other than a friend until he knew she was ready. There was no hint of romantic feelings until very late in the book. I wouldn't say it's a slow burn, as Lenny was in no shape to even think about a relationship, but if you like for characters to really know each other before becoming romantically involved, you will appreciate this.

I loved this book, but fair warning to anyone who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. This could be a very tough read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ebook ARC of this book.

I want to thank NetGalley for the advance readers copy of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Batstone. Promise Me Sunshine, was such a good book to get me out of my slump!

Lenny is grieving her best friend, her sister and is hanging on by a thread. Lenny starts a new nannying job, where she meets Myles. They start going through a life list together.

I loved the way the book talks about grief. Often it is heavy at time, but it is so relatable.

Promise Me Sunshine is an emotionally layered story about grief, healing, and unexpected love. Lenny is lost in the aftermath of her best friend's death, drifting through life until a nanny job introduces her to Ainsley—and her quiet, guarded uncle, Miles. Both Lenny and Miles are carrying unspoken grief, and when Miles proposes a partnership to help each other move forward, it sparks a slow, meaningful journey toward connection.

As they check off items on Lenny’s “live again” list and navigate family struggles, their bond deepens. Through vulnerability, laughter, and small acts of trust, they begin to rediscover hope—not just in life, but in each other. This is a story about how love, found family, and shared pain can lead to something quietly transformative.

Absolutely loved this one! Miles and Lenny’s relationship was so beautifully written. This book had so many raw moments between the two of them where they shared about their grief and I found it to be very realistic. I like the the romance aspect of the book was more of a subplot and the book focused much more on the grief of the main characters and how that affected their lives and relationships that they had with other characters in the book.

God if this isn’t the definition of heartbreak in a book. This book was SO well written and so beautiful while also proving how deteriorating grief can be.

Still reeling from the loss of her best friend, Lenny is barely holding it together—avoiding her old life and just getting by with babysitting gigs. Her newest job brings her into the orbit of overworked mom Reese, sweet kid Ainsley, and Ainsley’s grumpy uncle Miles. When Miles offers to help Lenny with her “live again” list in exchange for her help connecting with his family, an unexpected friendship forms—and maybe something more. As they both navigate grief, Lenny starts to wonder if healing might look a lot like falling in love.

I love love love this author and her writing. This book was so gd heavy but so worth the read. I would reread this again and again!!

4.75 ⭐️

“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.”

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

I really enjoyed this book & I loved the way this author wrote grief. Grief is one of those things that looks different in each person. Grief can also feel never ending & it’s hard to see yourself getting better or getting through it. Our FMC recently lost her best friend and she’s deeply struggling to get through it. She doesn’t know how to cope with the loss of her other half nor does she want to. She struggles with the idea of getting through the grief because it is the only thing she has left of her. The character development in this book was exceptional and I felt such a deep connection to these characters.

Our MMC lost his mother and cousin not too long ago but has come to a point in his life where the grief is tolerable and he’s learned how to cope. He comes to an agreement with our FMC to help her knock things off her list of things to feel alive. In exchange for helping her, he needs help bonding with his half sister & niece. He wasn’t apart of their lives for a long time and struggles with building relationships with them.

Our MMC went through everything our FMC is currently going through so he has a lot of insight on how to help. Seeing their relationship blossom was so emotional. She described him as someone who went to hell with her and brought her back. Reading how their connection got deeper and deeper through grief was tear-jerking.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would 100% recommend this. I think if you’re struggling with grief this book could be quite healing.

I enjoyed this book. I appreciated how real and raw the topic of grief was explored in this story. It wasn’t heavy while covering some intense themes. Miles and Lenny’s friendship was a little strange for me, but I still believed it. It felt like the romance was secondary to the grief plot, and Lenny was a little cringe at times for me. But overall I enjoyed reading this and think others would too.

Probably closer to 4.5 stars for me. So so cute. The characters were so imperfect and real and refreshing, and the story is one that will have an impact for anyone who has ever lost someone they love. I thought it was wonderful.

I’m an automatic buy for Cara Bastogne at this point. The setting. The grief. The friendship. The love. And of course falling asleep on ferries and a fear of one’s apartment. I really enjoyed this book and the way that Lenny and Miles came together even during the hardest period of Lenny’s life. The book is emotional and deep without overshadowing the romance.

Five glowing stars! Cara Bastone has done it again. After being completely captivated by her storytelling in Ready or Not, I eagerly anticipated Promise Me Sunshine, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. This book is a masterclass in weaving profound emotional depth into a heartwarming contemporary romance.

Lenny is a character I instantly connected with. Grieving the profound loss of her best friend, she's navigating life adrift and struggling to find her footing. Her journey through sorrow and the arduous process of healing is depicted with such raw honesty. As someone who values friendship deeply, I felt every pang of her heart and recognized the painful realities of loss. Bastone perfectly captures the isolating nature of grief and the sheer strength it takes to simply keep going.

Then there's Miles, our quiet, dependable hero. He's the kind of man everyone wishes they had in their corner—loyal, kind, and incredibly supportive. His own experience with loss gives him a unique understanding of Lenny's pain, and his efforts to help her heal are truly admirable. His gentle strength and unwavering presence make him utterly swoon-worthy.

The romance itself is a beautiful slow burn that builds with incredible tension and genuine connection. Their banter provides much-needed lightness, creating a perfect balance against the heavier themes. You can feel the chemistry radiating from the pages as they navigate their complicated emotions and shared vulnerabilities. The way they become each other's unexpected saviors, finding solace and love amidst their pain, is incredibly satisfying.

Promise Me Sunshine is a powerful, raw, and ultimately uplifting story about coping with loss, finding strength, and discovering love when you least expect it. It's a testament to Cara Bastone's exceptional ability to write profound emotional narratives alongside captivating romance. This book has everything, and you'd be missing out if you let it pass you by.

Holy heck Lenny and Miles made me laugh and ugly cry within SECONDS of each other. Cara Bastone’s writing is truly some of the best I’ve ever read, and her storytelling abilities are unmatched. What a devastating and hopeful book.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice story with a lot of grief in the back story that meshed well together. It's kind of deep for a romance and I think that threw me off a little. Well written and I liked that the main character was able to work through her grief. If you are in to a slow burn then I would definitely recommend this book.

Audiobook Review: Alex Finke is a fabulous narrator. She captures Lenny’s personality and all the ups and downs of her journey. She does an excellent job with the other characters as well. I definitely recommend the audio.

Review: I loved this book. I’m drawn to books about grief and this is definitely a book about grief. It’s also about healing and community and friendship and moving on and resilience and support. And the slow burn romance was exquisite and perfect given the grief journey that Lenny was on. Miles as a support and as someone who was just trying so hard to be helpful was so touching and relatable. Great character development and growth and connection.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

"Promise Me Sunshine" is the kind of book that will rip your heart out and then, piece by piece, gently stitch it back together.

At the heart of this emotional journey is Lenny, who is drowning in the grief of losing her best friend and soulmate, Lou. Just when it seems the world has gone completely gray, she meets the grump next door. Could this unexpected connection be what ultimately saves her? Can the pain of one person’s grief truly light the way through another’s darkness?

This novel explores those questions with raw honesty and poignant tenderness. The cast of characters is unforgettable, each one bringing something unique and healing to Lenny’s life. From the adorable little Ainsley, busy and work-obsessed Reese, to the guarded yet kind-hearted Miles, every relationship feels deeply authentic and essential to Lenny’s journey.

"Promise Me Sunshine" is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story about loss, healing, and the surprising ways love can find you when you least expect it. A must-read for anyone who’s ever known heartbreak and hoped for a second chance at joy.

Cara Bastone truly knows how to write a heartbreaking romance, her depiction of grief and loss is heartbreaking, but real. My new favorite book of hers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of "Promise Me Sunshine" by Cara Bastone. All opinions are my own,

This has been my favorite book of 2025. Bastone's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I read this in a day because I couldn't put it down. It was very emotional and beautiful exploration of grief and how we go through it. Lots of tears but very happy and hopeful book too.

Go read this book!!!

Amazing novel! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! It was a phenomenal story of grief and trust. I loves the two main characters so much and the setting in NYC was a special treat!