okay here is the review everyone was waiting for!!

i absolutely adored this book! lenny and miles reminded me of laurel and luke so damn much! lenny with her witty banter and flying comebacks; miles and his grumpiness with a total soft side for lenny.

it did not take long for me to be hooked on this book. i read this book in less than 24 hours. i love the decipition of grief, loss and healing this book portrays. it was beautiful and realistic and valid. no one’s grief looks alike and some people may be able to relate to this book for those reasons. lenny’s grief shows up as humor, and when that fails to work, she cries and cries. i do wish we had more insight on mile’s journey on grief. we do learn about mile’s story but i felt disconnected from his experience with grief.

lenny and miles work together beautifully and i love them together. i have seen a lot of comments about the *sex scene* in the end of this book… yes it was awkward but it felt very representative of their relationship as a whole too so i honestly just brushed past it lol

thank you netgalley and random house publishing for the arc in exchange for a review!

How do I even begin to put into words how incredible Promise Me Sunshine is? Cara Bastone has managed to capture the brutal journey of grief with such tenderness and accuracy while still maintaining a sense of hope even during Lenny's darkest moments. While this is definitely a love story of Lenny & Miles, I was drawn to all of the threads of love throughout: Miles & Ainsley, Lenny & her new friends, Lenny learning to love life again. I sobbed multiple times, both from sadness & from joy. Promise Me Sunshine is going on my all-time favorites shelf at home & will be something I recommend over and over again. I'd give this six stars if I could.

Trigger warning: This book includes very detailed descriptions of grief and resulting depression. It's handled with extreme care, but could be very triggering for those with a recent loss.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is a beautifully written story about grief, healing, and finding love. After losing her best friend, Lenny feels completely lost but then she meets Miles, a grumpy guy who sees right through her act. He offers to help her move on if she helps him fix his relationship with his niece, Ainsley. The chemistry between Lenny and Miles builds slowly, and I loved watching her learn to open up again. It's a heartwarming, emotional journey about starting over and finding light after loss.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
416 Pages
Publishing today March 4th, 2025

•Trigger Warning• Death of friend, death by cancer, grief

Lenny, a young woman who is grieving the loss of her bestfriend, has her life turned upside down by a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again. Miles, the grumpy stranger, agrees to help Lenny complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with his niece after a hard relationship with his sister.

This book is so special to me. It broke my heart & put it back together. As someone who lost their bestfriend tragically in high school, I feel as though I could resonate with Lenny & her battle with grief. I loved that Lenny had someone to help work through her grief on her own terms. I love that this book truly showed that although grief will always be a part of you, there are ways to adapt & learn to live through episodes of grief. Beautiful writing with even more beautiful characters. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Read if you like:
✨Books that makes you cry
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Slow Burn

#carabastone #friendstolovers #grumpysunshine #slowburn #romance

“This is a love story, I swear. This is what happens when you’ve promised someone you’ll live again.”

A massive thank you to Random House Publishing, Cara Bastone, and NetGalley for allowing me to access an eARC of “Promise Me Sunshine” in exchange for my honest review.

To begin, this is currently my favorite book I’ve read so far in 2025, and I have read so many good books this year. I think I enjoyed it so much because it perfectly encapsulates grief, resilience, and love all while serving Cara Bastone’s humor and wit that shines through her characters. I loved “Ready on Not”, and I love this one even more; I immediately ordered myself a physical copy after devouring this eARC because I needed a physical copy to hold and cherish after the emotional journey this story took me on.

Lenny is SUCH a refreshing character. She is unabashedly herself (and a little unhinged), but she was a realistic female main character with all of her quirks, charms, and humanity. And Miles! Don’t get me started on the man Miles Honey is. Seeing his interactions with Reese and relationship with Ainsley grow all while he helps Lenny find her way back her herself was such a treat to get to follow along with.

I wholeheartedly loved this story and will shout my love for it from the rooftops so everyone else in the world can see enjoy it as well!!

6 stars!!!

Cara Bastone has completely stolen my heart with Promise Me Sunshine! This book was everything I wanted—sweet, deeply emotional, and brimming with passion, hope, and love. The slow burn romance was beautifully done, unfolding in a way that felt so natural and tender, making every moment between the characters even more meaningful.

Bastone’s writing is effortlessly engaging, pulling me in from the very first page. The characters were so well-developed, and their journey felt incredibly real—full of longing, vulnerability, and those little moments that make love feel inevitable. I found myself completely invested in their story, and by the end, I was in tears.

This book is a perfect reminder of the power of love and second chances. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish, leaving you with a warm, hopeful feeling. If you love slow-burn romances with heart and depth, Promise Me Sunshine is an absolute must-read!

CWs needed for raw and painful depiction of grief. If you’re dealing with a recent loss, save this book for later.

Things I loved about Promise Me Sunshine:

-In Lenny we get a deeply real and unflinching portrayal of the way grief wrecks you; the utter lack of control and the nonlinear process of adjusting to a fundamentally altered reality. It’s heartbreaking. At times I had to stop and wonder to myself what Cara Bastone has been through to be able to write this..

-Overwhelmed with grief and barely functioning, all of Lenny’s walls are down, but this lets Miles see her and get to know her intimately. His gruff honesty, his calm determined acceptance of every unhinged or sad thing Lenny does/says— and importantly his status as a person who didn’t know her before—allow him to penetrate the fog of grief. Miles, in turn, desperately needed someone to care for and be strong for; to find some good use for the hard won wisdom of overcoming immense loss. And he needed someone steadfast and loyal, whose positive regard he didn’t have to work for. In this way they both end up with a person who they feel safe with, even as they’re still getting to know each other.

-This book is masterfully paced/timed/plotted. Friends to lovers is believable here because Bastone knows the beats she needs to hit to transition them, the signs to plant along the way so you know it was there all along. At the beginning of the book it’s impossible to imagine Lenny and Miles on equal footing. To use her metaphor, Lenny is drowning. Bastone shows you each step of her growth, so deftly that you don’t even realize it at first that she’s treading water until she’s almost on dry land.

-Lenny realizes her feelings for Miles in a huge rush, an overwhelming tide of feeling that almost reminded me of the Psy-Changeling books when the mating bond is accepted by both partners. The emotion has been building since they met, subconsciously because there was no room for it with the immensity her grief, but once her mind and heart are open she’s inundated by it. She has to grapple with the idea of allowing herself to feel joy, to plan for a future where grief and happiness are not mutually exclusive.

-Finally, I adore the tactile affection in Cara Bastone’s books. Chin and face touches, hammock snuggles, the best hugs ever written.

If I had one qualm it’s that, as a social worker myself and someone who has gone through devastating loss, I had to suspend my own judgement a bit because really Lenny was unwell and probably needed a therapist in addition to Miles’ support.

Lenny is mourning her longtime best friend, Lou. Her grief has kept her from doing anything much, riding the fairy all night to avoid going home to a Lou-less apartment, jumping from little job to little job, landing a short-term babysitting gig for Reese and her daughter, Ainsley. She has been putting off living, even if she promised Lou she woud live again once she was gone. She even has a laminated list of things to do, and she takes it everywhere, but has no idea of how to accomplish it. On the first day she babysits Ainsley, she meets Miles, Reese's brother, who is grouchy and seems like an ass, and who is very relunctant in leaving his niece alone with a woman who is such a big mess. They eventually start talking, and once he realizes she's grieving, he offers her his help, having been through it himself fairly recently, in exchange of her teaching him how to better connect with his sister and niece.
I absolutely loved Ready or Not, so when I saw a new title by Cada Bastone on NetGalley, I pounced on it so fast! And let me tell you, this grumpy sunshine, strangers to friends to lovers romance was just as good. Once you understand that Miles is just an awkward grouch and not an ass, he is so caring and sweet! I laughed out loud many times, even if the matter of greif is very present in the story. Keep in mind that this is a slow burn, but in the best of ways!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don’t think I can get my thoughts on this book to come out of my head right. It was just such a feeling of a book. There is a lot of grief in this book so please go in ready for that, though please know it is very well handled so if you feel in the right head space I’d go for it. I felt like I grew to know the characters so well especially the main two. It’s a slow burn too but it completely makes sense with what Lenny is going through and so never feels overly drawn out.

I do wish the ending hadn’t been so rushed just to get some more closure on Lenny’s journey and where she is at the end of the book.

I had read Cara Bastone’s novella for audible before this, which are very different in tone, still good just lighter by nature. So I was concerned about the heavier subjects in this book but as I said above they were handled with expert care.

If you are a fan of Abby Jimenez then I’d recommend this book, they have the same ability to find the happiness and humour while also handling more delicate subjects with care that they feature.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. Cara is one of my auto-buy/auto-read authors. Her writing is phenomenal and unique with full of emotion. Cara has done it again with this friends to lovers romance. The way Miles is the perfect balance for Lenny and helps lift her up through her grief. I just love them together!

I absolutely loved Cara Bastone’s “Ready or Not” and was excited to see she had a new book coming out. I was super excited to read it! The subject matter is pretty heavy, however, and I have found it hard to read due to my own current circumstances. With that being said, Bastone handles these topics with the sincerity and delicacy they deserve. I’d recommend this book to anyone not bothered by the content warnings! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Cara Bastone’s books just keep getting better and better. I absolutely devoured this book and didn’t want to put it down. It pulls at your heartstrings and what an emotional ride. Miles and Lenny were so perfect together and I loved how they leaned on each other when they needed to but as their relationship progressed, there was a clear line of “we’re not in this relationship because we need each other but because we love each other.” I thought Cara Bastone did such a great job of making that line clear. I will read anything she writes at this point.

Promise Me Sunshine was a fantastic book! Lenny is grieving the loss of her best friend, Lou. Lenny has had difficulty moving forward with her life since Lou passed away from cancer. She begins babysitting for a little girl, Ainsley, and her mother, Reese. It is through them, she meets Miles, Ainsley’s uncle. Their relationship starts out rocky, but Miles is determined to help Lenny push through her grief.
The characters are realistic and relatable. Lenny’s character arc is an integral part of the story. I rooted for her as she works through her pain and grief. The relationship between Lenny and Miles was touching at times as he helps her deal with her grief.
This was a wonderful novel about healing and moving forward with life.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I warn you, only read this if you’re emotionally strong!

Easily a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

Lenny is dealing with grief after her best friend passed.
🧡“Hey, Lou. You ruined me for friends. I don’t know how to be casual friends with anyone. You were my soulmate. How do I settle for less?” 😭

She’s working random odd babysitting jobs that don’t require much commitment but will keep her mind occupied. Enter Miles, the uncle of the little girl she nannies for. Miles is super grumpy, but as we learn more about him we find out he is such a sweetie with the biggest heart.
🧡"Lenny, when I look at your face, I feel like I'm finally home after a really long day at work." I immediately turn my face into my pillow and attempt to withstand rapture.

This is a delicious slow burn romance, and I am obsessed with Lenny and Miles. They are so perfect for each other. Miles is the BEST man. Men should take notes ‼️

I cried so much. Lenny’s feelings of grief hit HARD and her journey of healing is too relatable to anyone who has dealt with grief.
🧡“I’ve spent the entire day pretending I’m not bleeding on the inside.”
But at the same time she’s hilarious and kept me laughing.

Quotes (I highlighted a million things, but these are my favorites):

🧡“My mom asked me if you treat me well, Miles. You know what I said to her?” “What’s that,” he says in a low, husky voice. “I said that you walked into hell and dragged me back out.”

This BROKE ME:
🧡"Miles," I gasp into the phone when he answers. "Lenny?" His voice sounds like it's already sliding into shoes, grabbing a coat and his keys off the hook. "What's going on?"
"I'm on the ferry again," I tell him. "I wanna be somewhere else." Somewhere painless and dark. "I'm coming," he says. "Don't hang up."

🧡"Grief," he says in a low voice, pinning me to him, holding me in place against him,
"becomes your companion, Lenny. As awful as it is, it's your constant.
"Grief is a relationship," he continues. "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. And going and going."

Siri, play Ripple by Good Neighbours 🥹

Thank you Cara Bastone, NetGalley, and The Dial Press for this eARC. 💛🧡❤️

Where do i begin with this wholesome masterpiece… Cara Castone’s writing is one of my absolute favorites especially with Promise Me Sunshine. The amount of love and care you can feel between the characters and real-life scenarios that they undergo was just so beautiful to read. Something I can find lackluster in romance books is what this book excels at.. premises and situations occur and affect characters not just because but because there is specific and heartfelt intention of these situations for the main characters. that alone in itself made this book so so good in my opinion.

The grief and the way is was explored and explained made my heart shrivel and tears drop from my eyes. the amount of love and adoration I had for lenny despite her having a really quirky personality (i am mellow as a cat lol so that was a fun surprise to read a very extrinsic main lead and still have a fun time with it)

Following her and miles friendship just felt like the warmest hug ever. there’s many instances in books where there is a lack of build up or it just feels like main characters are pushed to have feelings for each other out of thin air… but the gradual build up to lenny and miles friendship and then turned relationship hit the softest part of my heart and it hit really hard (hit me soft and hard lover here hehe)

I think i would have loved more scenes of lenny and miles as a couple and just figuring out her grief instead of it kinda coming together towards the end but nonetheless this book just felt the most mundane and human but in the best way possible. i can’t wait for what’s next in Cara Bastone’s writing journey because i am obsessed with the two i have read so far!! I can’t wait to go in store and pick up this book! i highly recommend you guys to read if you are in need of a heartfelt, emotional, but also healing romance (has hits of literary fiction/romance mix)!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for the arc @netgalley @thedialpress @carabastone
Here is my HONEST REVIEW 🩷

This book really captivated me from beggining to end. The way the author developed the story really left me speechless.
I loved the way Miles with kindness and understanding accompanies Lenny in her process of acceptance and liberation to find a way to continue living acknowledging her pain and grief. He takes her by the hand and is there for her through her darkest moments when she can’t bear to be in her head and deal with her own thoughts . He helps her find the way back to herself to relearn how to take care of herself and love living again. Grief is such a deep feeling that it can disconnect us from reality completely. We are the owners of the keys but sometimes a little push along the way can help us float back to the surface and live. I have no words to express how much I loved this book. It really touched my heart in so many ways, I couldn’t stop crying while reading it. It has definitely become the best book I’ve read this year. I will treasure every single bit of it and carry it on my heart and mind always

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!

Sorry to anyone that may disagree and to anyone considering picking this up, I have to leave this rave review for you to ponder:

If I had to describe this book in just a few words, they would be: heartwrenching, beautiful and healing.

This is a hard but beautiful read for anyone who has lost someone. It takes you on the journey of grief in such a whimsical and easy-to-digest way that you laugh, cry, and self-reflect in a way you never thought a rom-com would make you. I'm tearing up just writing this review because this book left such a lasting feeling on me.

Lenny is a Zoey Deutch-coded, struggling ray of sunshine who recently lost her best friend and has been simply existing. Enter Miles - the uncle of her current babysitting gig and the person that ultimately saves her from spiraling to a place where she wouldn’t return. Between his steadfast and just downright swoon-worthy support of her grief/healing journey paired with the unfiltered joy and love from Ainsley, it really isn’t a shock that this book had me crying at several points.

It’s a beautiful story. Plain and simple. I went into this expecting a fluffy romance with a dash of hurt but was pleasantly swept away by Cara Bastone’s ability to suck you in, keep you smiling and always somehow manages to make you cry.

I truly adored every single character in this book and want to give them all the biggest hug and possibly never let go.

(also absolutely loved seeing Ethan from Ready or Not!)

It’s never easy reading a book that deals with grief, how do you add hope to a book that deals with losing someone and their journey of trying to cope with that? Well, I can honestly say Cara Bastone does that and more with this book. The way that I wanted to read this book in one sitting, but I forced myself to put it down and take my time enjoying this book because I wanted to live in this book a little longer. This story is about grief and living with that grief after.

The characters Leny and Miles go through so much and I love that the author takes the time to develop the characters as friends, you see the character development, they go through the way they learn how to lean on another person for help.

While this book might not be for many people, as grief is something everyone goes through, and you might not be in the right headspace to read it but if you ever find yourself ready to read about grief, I encourage you to pick up this book. It has a lot of heart and a lot of hope.

Solid 5 stars



Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

DNF 27%. I tried hard to get into this one! The characters were not my favorite. I just kept thinking he just met her and barely knows her to be knocking out the list her and her best friend made. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I have not actually finished this book, however, I am going ahead and sending feedback. I tried really hard to finish this before the release date, but emotionally, it was very hard for me. I just lost my dad to cancer in December, so this hit extremely close to home for me. Cara Bastone did a beautiful job of capturing grief and how complicated it is. As stated, I'm not finished with the book, BUT I already know it's a 5 star read for me. In a way, reading this has been so healing for me, but it also makes me cry every time I pick it up, so it's taking longer than expected to finish.