⭐️REVIEW⭐️

Promise Me Sunshine was a beautiful story about grief and love and will make you feel every emotion in between. This is the second book I’ve read by Cara Bastone and she keeps impressing me with each book. She manages to weave human uncertainty/insecurity and humor so well that I keep coming back for her books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - beautiful story, I do feel that the MMC could have been developed a bit more but overall a great read I would recommend to most.

I do want to the note that the cover is STUNNING and I would love to see more books in this design.

6⭐️!!!!!!! READ THIS BOOK.

This book is a healing journey. For them, for me, maybe for you, too.

Overcoming grief, finally coming up for air and gasping for breath again after being underwater for so, so long.

The ability that Cara has to take seemingly simple moments between characters, or thoughts running through Lenny’s mind, and turn them into DEEPLY meaningful moments that evoke so many emotions within me as a reader is *unmatched*.

Everything down to the word choice to form a sentence felt extremely intentional and often times made me cry just from experiencing the beauty of it all.

I don’t know if I could love a book more. I will never shut up about it. I already want to reread it, paint it on my forehead, buy a copy for all of my friends.

This one is a MUST-READ. ❤️‍🩹

Thank you, Cara Bastone, for pouring your heart into this book. And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m forever grateful.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Cara Bastone for writing such sweet and moving books. I laughed and cried through the whole thing!!

This story starts off with lovable Lenny trying to keep others happy while drowning in her own grief. Miles comes off as a cold know it all, and it has been pushing away the people he wants to get close to. Lenny and Miles are so opposite, but their own losses have brought them together to continue the healing process.

I loved the flashbacks when we got to see the relationship between Lenny and her best friend Lou. I would love for some bonus material from Miles’ POV.

There were so many great elements to this story. Bravo!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Book: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Genre: Romance

I loved this book! Promise Me Sunshine is a heartfelt story about grief, healing after the loss of a loved one to cancer, and finding love again. As a pharmacist working in oncology, I see firsthand how devastating cancer can be—not just for patients but for their loved ones as well. I cannot even begin to imagine the immense grief that comes with losing someone to this disease, and this book captured that pain and the journey toward healing so beautifully.

I also loved the setting! The story takes place in NYC and Brooklyn, with scenes on the Staten Island Ferry—places I grew up visiting as a New Jersey resident. It made the book feel even more personal and nostalgic for me, adding another layer of connection to an already emotional and beautiful read.

The story follows Lenny, who is struggling to move forward after losing her best friend, Lou, to cancer. She feels completely stuck until she starts babysitting for a little girl named Ainsley, which leads her to meet Ainsley’s uncle, Miles. Their first interactions are a bit rough, but Miles is patient, kind, and always seems to know the right thing to say. Their slow-burn romance unfolds so naturally, and I loved watching their connection grow. What really stood out to me was how authentically the book handles grief—Lenny’s emotions felt so raw and real, and her healing process wasn’t rushed. Miles doesn’t try to “fix” her, but he supports her in such a heartfelt and genuine way. This was such a beautiful, emotional, and ultimately uplifting read!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and Random House Publishing Group @thedialpress for sending me this lovely eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book is now available!!

Promise Me Sunshine has me in my feels.

Lenny lost her best friend, her soulmate, to cancer. She’s struggling to live without her other half when she meets Miles. Miles understands grief and wants to help Lenny “live again” by completing a list that her best friend left for her after she died.

Let’s just say, I cried a lot while reading this book and everyone needs a Miles of their own. This is my first FIVE star of 2025! Cara Bastone wrote a beautiful book. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

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

I thought I would like this book, but I loved this book more than I was expecting. I appreciated the way the book handled the topic of grief and the way that it can turn someone's life upside down and make you want to pull away from others, as well as how love and support from others is how we make our way through. I loved the found family relationships in this book and we all need a Miles in our life. Any book that can make me feel the pain and anguish along with swooning and giggling is an automatic 5 stars.

The way my heart strings were pulled throughout the entire book. Need everyone to read this! Miles and Lenny are just what everyone needs if they’re grieving.

Thanks to NetGallery and The Dial Press for the E-ARC of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

I think, that I've found my new favorite author. I've read a couple of Bastone's books and I have adored them. She writes in a way that not only is funny but has SO MUCH heart in it. This book is no exception. I cried, I laughed, and I cried again while reading because the way grief is depicted, felt so honest that I just couldn't help but feel everything deep in my soul. I loved seeing a FMC grow in the way Lenny does, and LOVED seeing a "strangers to friends to lovers" develop so beautifully throughout the book. YES, it is a slow burn, BUT in my opinion, the perfect kind. The book is simply one of my favorites this year.


Thanks again to Netgallery and The Dial press for the E-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Cara Bastone’s Promise Me Sunshine follows Lenny, a young woman seeped in grief after losing her best friend. She’s avoiding her old life and barely holding things together. Her latest babysitting job introduces her to Ainsley’s grumpy uncle, Miles, who offers to help her complete a “live again” list in exchange for her help connecting with Ainsley.

I really wanted to love this book, especially after Ready or Not, which completely won me over. But something about Promise Me Sunshine didn’t hit the same way. Lenny and Miles both had big emotions and personal struggles, but their chemistry didn’t fully land for me. At times, it felt like Miles saw Lenny as a project to fix, which created a weird dynamic that made their romance feel a little off. Maybe it’s unfair to compare the two books so directly since they tell very different stories, but Ready or Not set the bar high, and this one didn’t quite reach it for me.

That said, if you like emotional, grief-centered romances with a lot of character work, this might work for you.

Big thanks to Cara Bastone, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

4.5 stars
I am such a big fan of Cara Bastone’s books! I waited to listen to the audiobook as I’m also a fan of Alex Finke’s narration. The beginning of this book was rough with all of the deep grief themes. We were thrust right from the start into Lenny’s struggle to live after the death of her childhood best friend. It was a balancing act over the course of the book so it wasn’t too much. Miles definitely made that process easier on the eyes/ears (depending on whether you read or listen)! I bonded with each of the characters and had all the feels by the end. Please give us a novella to check in on everyone again!!

Thank you to the publisher for the eArc.

4.5

Cara Bastone has solidified herself as an author that I will read anything from. The start of this book had me a little sceptical for some reason but that went away quickly.

This book explores the aspect of romance of being someone’s person so beautifully. It was so tender and emotionally charged I had such a good time with it.

I will definitely be recommending this.

This was EVERYTHING. Reading Promise Me Sunshine was like wrapping myself in a warm, cozy blanket of comfort. *the song "labyrinth" by taylor swift in a book*

first of all, I feel like the friends-to-lovers trope doesn't always get the love it deserves and this was executed flawlessly 🤌 I also really identified with Miles and appreciated his character so much. He's so thoughtful and generous, and seeing him trying to show up for his family even when he’s wasn't quite sure how was so endearing.

I do wish there were more nuggets of some of Lenny and Lou’s core memories together as besties to deepen their backstory, but ultimately I didn't need to feel connected to Lou to understand how Lenny was feeling and connect with her.

What I loved most was how the book handles the heavy theme of grief without ever making it burdensome for the reader. It’s sprinkled with moments of light-heartedness and comedic relief that don’t undermine the gravity of its message, but, instead, add a layer of realism that anyone who’s experienced loss can appreciate. (sometimes you have to laugh so you don't cry...)

overall, Promise Me Sunshine is a journey through the shadows back into the light. if you need a touching story about finding yourself and falling in love again when you least expect it - you must read! (it's set in later summer/fall if you're a seasonal reader!)

This was such an unexpected surprise in the best way possible. I loved every second of this book and it immediately pulled me out of my reading slump. All of the characters were well-fleshed out and I loved them all. This truly was a beautifully written story about love, grief, and healing. I could not imagine the pain of losing my best friend in that way and I felt every emotion Lenny was going through. I felt every emotion possible while reading this book. Cara has been added to my list of auto-buy authors!!! Going to read Ready or Not right now.

Lenny and Miles forever <3

Goodness gracious this book 😭😭😭

I truly didn’t think I’d ever love anything Cara Bastone wrote as much as I loved Ready or Not. She came in koolaid man style to tell me what a dummy I am for thinking that.

I freaking LOVED this book. Like holy heck what even are other books when this exists loved?

I truly can not even describe how beautifully written this is. Raw in its exploration of grief. What it means to live after the loss of the greatest love of your life(especially when that love isn’t a romantic love). How to move forward without that person. How GUILTY you feel for living.

Ugh just go read this book. I love Lenny. MILES. 😭😭I love miles with every fiber of my being. My goodness.

I heard rave reviews of Cara Bastone’s first novel Ready Or Not, but honestly the subject matter of the book did not interest me. However, when given the chance I jumped at the earc of Promise Me Sunshine.
This is a heavier romance about a woman named Lenny grieving the death of her best friend Lou. Lenny is given a short term nannying gig and meets Miles along the way. Miles has also dealt with enormous grief in his life. They both show each other how to live again.
This book does an incredible job capturing grief. It is a love letter to NYC. Readers should check trigger warning before picking it up and know that it is a slow slow burn. In fact, at times it reads more like women’s fiction in the best way possible. I do agree with some other reviews and wish there was an epilogue. Ultimately, though, I really enjoyed my time with book and just got her first novel Ready Or Not from the library.
A huge thank you to Cara Bastone, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Dial Press Trade Paperback for the EARC. I truly enjoyed my time with this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

This was such a heartfelt and real look into living and loving again while grief throws your life into complete chaos.

Cara Bastone’s Ready or Not was one of my favorite 2024 reads so Promise Me Sunshine was one of my most anticipated reads this year. And did it live up the hype? Yes, it’s a 5 star read for me! But with caveats, because you might need to be in a certain headspace before picking it up.

This one has Bastone’s signature wit and humor but it’s also HEAVY. Much sadder than I was anticipating. Lenny’s grief is palpable and so many scenes had me in tears.

If readers have recently lost someone they love, this book might be too much. But if you’re further along in your grief journey, I think this book is incredibly relatable. It’ll soothe your soul as you follow along with Lenny as she tries to check things off her “live again” list.

Promise Me Sunshine does deliver on the romance, in the form of Miles, who understands what Lenny is going through and helps her find ways to heal, bit by bit. It’s a very slow burn romance but it builds up in a way that fits both characters perfectly.

Just like in Ready or Not, Bastone’s writing is absolutely beautiful. I love her pacing, her character and setting descriptions, and her ability to lift emotional scenes right off the page, leaving me with all the feels.

This one is sad but worth sticking with. For the romance, for the healing, for the found family, and for the HEA that one discovers when they truly know they can continue living even after the worst pain imaginable.

Also, if you have the chance to listen to this one, do it! It’s narrated by Alex Finke (who also did Ready or Not) and it’s amazing!

This is a cute, fun romance, that delivers on its premise. As a bookseller, I will recommend this book and think it will generally have wide appeal. With that being said, I thought it was just fine.

In this book, Lenny is struggling with her grief after her best friend passes away. She meets Miles and they make an agreement that will help her through her grief, and help him connect with his family. My favorite scenes in this book were with Lenny and Ainsley (the little girl Lenny was nannying). They were very cute, funny, and wholesome.

This book tackles a lot of heavy subjects, specifically grief, in a very raw and realistic manner. This is more of a "women's fiction" book with romance, rather than a romance book. The romance is obviously building up throughout the book, but the MMC and FMC don't actually get together until the 90% mark. It reminded me of authors like Mhairi McFarlane and Ashley Poston.

Unfortunately, a few things in this didn't really work for me. Lenny was giving a little too quirky, millennial cringe for my personal taste. Some of her comments, jokes, etc. just didn't really land for me. And the sex scene... god it was so awkward. I was genuinely cringing throughout the entirety of their intimate scenes. I didn't really connect with either of the main characters like I expected to, which is why this is a 3 star.

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Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Promise Me Sunshine
by Cara Bastone
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Where is the 6 stars button.
♾️ 😭♾️😭♾️😍♾️😍😭♾️

🧡 Friends to lovers
🚢 Grief + Loss is a huge part
🧡 Healing through love
🚢 Slow burn
🧡 He takes care of her (understatement)
🚢 She's his niece's nanny
🧡 Single 1st person POV

The books that squeeze my heart are always the books that are hardest for me to write a review for. I just never feel like I can say enough/ the right things.

This book is BEAUTIFUL. It is raw and painful in all the ways grief is. Both Miles and Lenny have experienced grief and lost people they were the closest too. Lenny's is more recent and she is in the thick of it. With grief's hands fully grasping her Miles helps show her there is a light to be shined again.

Miles is the most caring and kind human and must be protected at all costs. Lenny is beautiful (the best damn nanny!) and gentle spirited.

This is a romance... A love story, there is a hea. BUT it's so much more. I think I highlighted half the book.

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

My words can't do it justice. Please add this one to your tbr.

Thank you @netgalley @randomhouse @thedialpress for this earc.

oh my GOD this was incredible. I have loved Cara Bastone since I read "Ready or Not" last year, and "Promise Me Sunshine" has solidified itself in myself as a "soul book". Everyone is familiar with grief, in various capacities, but wow this book read me inside and out. My heart ached for Lenny and for Miles, both in their shared grief, but also their separate experiences, and they are truly the definition of two people absolutely meant for each other. The development of their relationship was so impactful, and Miles' steadfast-ness brought me to my knees. This was so beautifully devastating, while also being relatable, funny, and quirky, and that is the true stamp of Cara Bastone. She has an absolute fan in me forever. I love her words and her ability to step into my brain and tell me exactly what I need to hear, and I feel so healed by her books by the end. Just truly incredible and an immediate recommend.