Promise Me Sunshine 🌅🐺✨

"𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙮, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠."

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I had the absolute best time buddy reading this one with my bestie Kassi! We laughed, we cried and kicked our feet over this amazing book.

I instantly related to Lenny, who is currently grieving the loss of her best friend. Struggling in every way and unable to even go home to face the empty apartment they shared, she sleeps on the ferry. We find her working her most recent temporary babysitting job- helping an overworked, single mom Reese and her energetic daughter, Ainsley. And we also meet Miles, Ainsley’s grumpy but very cute uncle. When Miles follows Lenny “home” after work one day he uncovers her current living situation. Deep in her grief, feeling completely alone, Miles shares his own struggles with grief and vows to help Lenny walk through hers by checking off the list of “to do’s” Lenny’s best friend left her before she passed.

Let me tell y’all this book made me laugh but also sob at the accuracy of it all. Miles seems a lil rude at first but is really the sweetest cinnamon roll. Caring for Lenny, when she doesn’t want to care for herself. Making sure she eats, has a safe place to stay, that she never feels alone. He is everything someone walking through the hardest days of loss needs. Both of these beautifully broken people needed healing, they find it together and it is absolute magic.

Promise Me Sunshine follows Lenny, a woman who is mourning the loss of her best friend and Miles, the broody, misunderstood uncle of the child Lenny is nannying. Throughout the story, Lenny navigates her grief with the help of Miles. It is Friends to Lovers, but didn’t feel like there was much of a romantic connection and I honestly felt like the open door scene didn’t fit the tender tone of the book.. I thought that the premise of the book was different and not something I had read before. Overall, I enjoyed the read! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Cara Bastone and Netgally for the ARC!

finished just in time for release day!

Promise Me Sunshine is a contemporary romance that has exploratory themes of grief, healing, and trying to take life one day at a time.

In Promise Me Sunshine, our main character, Lenny, is struggling to cope with feelings of grief after losing her best friend, Lou. Lenny seems to be in survival mode, unable to focus on anything other than the current day. Eventually, she meets Miles, who is also struggling with his own grief and the two form a begrudging friendship, despite not liking each other during their first impressions.

I thought the characters in this book were so well written. They were complex, deep, and I felt like I could really feel their emotions throughout the book. The two seem to help each other work through their grief, and slowly start to fall for each other. I thought the slow burn between Lenny and Miles was so sweet, and honestly although one section did make me feel awkward, I think it was needed to show a realistic persepctive of how no person or love story is perfect.

This is going to be one of my favourite books I've read this year. I can't even describe in words the profound impact this book had on me.

Lenny is grieving the death of her best friend Lou and is really struggling in life. She avoids going home to the apartment they used to share and instead spends her nights wandering the city or falling asleep on the ferry. When she gets a job as a nanny, she meets the child's uncle Miles. At first Miles is distrustful of her but he recognizes that Lenny is struggling. Miles has had to deal with grief himself, so he offers to help Lenny.

Through Lenny, we see the emotional journey of someone experiencing grief. She's learned to mask her grief to get through her daily life and it takes a toll on her mental health and her relationship with her parents . Her journey is realistic and the author doesn't offer up an easy fix, which I appreciated. Lenny and her best friend Lou were childhood friends, whom she referred to as her "soulmate" and "other half" and the depth of their friendship we saw through flashbacks. While Miles is stoic and stubborn at times but the ways he helps Lenny are so unassuming and unexpected. Miles has a complicated relationship with his sister and niece. The friendship that forms between them that started out with Miles helping Lenny but with time Lenny is there for Miles to help him mend his relationship with his sister and niece. This book really explores that despite a tragedy, how one must choose to go on living.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press Trade and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

“The next day is here but I haven’t done anything to say farewell to the last one. Time dogpiles me and I marvel at the fact that anyone, ever, has the strength to get up off the floor.”

Happy release day to this masterpiece, that is equal parts beauty and pain!

After losing her best friend to cancer, Lenny’s a bit shattered (reasonably so) and not really living herself anymore. However, seeing as she promised her friend she would live again, this is a problem. Enter Miles, the broody, overstepping uncle of the adorable girl Lenny is currently nannying. He proposes they help each other - if she teaches him how to connect with his niece, he’ll work through her grief with her and help her start living again. And when the two continue to show up for each other, they discover a new beginning.

“And I’m telling you, this smile is a heart starter. If I ever go into cardiac arrest, Facetime Miles and tell him to hit me with that smile.”

This book was incredible. Incredibly real. Incredibly raw. Incredibly honest.Incredibly beautiful. Just incredible. And not just for the love story that unfolds between Lenny and Miles, but for the friendship between Lenny and Lou.

While we never officially meet Lou, I feel like I know her as well as Lenny because of how Lenny loved her. You can tell theirs was a once in a lifetime friendship. This does mean, however, that this book is filled with tons of pain. But the most beautiful kind of pain. The kind of pain you feel because there was so much love.

And to balance out that pain? Lenny has Miles. At first, just a constant presence for show of support. But slowly, so slowly (the tension killed me) it builds to more. A shoulder to lean on. A friendly face in the crowd. Someone to push you out of your comfort zone. And that becomes everything. In the best way possible.

“He’s not supposed to be hot. That’s not part of our deal.”

I cheered them on the whole way through, crying and laughing with them. Loving their antics and sighing at all the adorable moments. This is worth the pain. They are worth the pain. Highly recommend adding it to your TBR.

♾️⭐️
.5 🌶️
This is hauntingly beautiful, meaning it will stay with me, living rent free in my brain, possibly forever. It’s an absolute must read.
This story about grief and healing (or just barely surviving), friendship, family, and human connection. My meager words will never do this book justice so please stop reading reviews and just read the book already!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for the advanced copy of this book. All options are my own.

Though I’ve had “Ready or Not” sitting on my bookshelf for some time, “Promise Me Sunshine” is my first Cara Bastone novel and I know now it will not be my last. Cara Bastone’s author blurb states that her goal in writing is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories and she’s more than delivered here.

There was so much I loved about this and little to nothing that I did not. I felt this story and these characters deep in my bones. I cried with them and I laughed with them, sometimes both at the same time. I love the way it explores love in all its forms and doesn’t view romantic love as the end all, be all, but rather celebrates all forms of love: familial, romantic, platonic. I love, too, the exploration of grief and the way one must choose to go on living in the wake of unmistakable tragedy. I think this is a story that has a little something for everyone and I would not hesitate to recommend it as anyone’s next read.

Promise Me Sunshine hit me right in the heart and didn’t let go. Lenny and Miles’ love story is so deep and real, pulling me in from the very first page. Cara Bastone’s writing is emotional and raw, especially in the way she explores grief—it just feels so genuine. Even when I wasn’t in the mood to read, this book completely drew me in and made me feel everything. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

Everything about the organic nature of Miles and Lenny’s relationship is genuinely beautiful. From acquaintances to friends to lovers, these two go on a deeply touching journey through grief together. There are a few things that keep this from being perfect, but it still such a sweet story of finding yourself again after grief, and in the case of Lenny, finding love as well. I would have loved to see more of the romance develop between Lenny and Miles - she could have made a comment to his ex about what he actually needs; he could have told her about the “yes” comment while camping etc. Her freak out at the end really crushed a lot for me, and I really hated how it was done. But all in all, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

3.5⭐️ - thank you netgalley for this ARC! I finished it just in time for release day tomorrow. Promise me Sunshine is about loss and grief and finding yourself again. Lenny lost her best friend Lou to cancer while Miles has recently experienced grief himself. I really enjoyed following Lenny and Miles as he helped her check off boxes on her “how to live again” list. This was a quick read and I really enjoyed the premise. Cara Bastone is an auto read for me now. But… I might love Ready or not a little more! Regardless, go get this book tomorrow when it releases!!

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 Can these emojis count as my review?
No?
Okay, give me a second to get my emotions in check and I'll be right with you....

*wipes happy tears from eyes*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cara Bastone does the miraculous. She create characters who are going THROUGH IT, and doesn't shy away from their suffering, but creates something that will make readers feel hope and joy. Bastone introduces characters who can help, teaching us that opening your heart, letting love in, and allowing people to take care of you is a path to actual healing. This book, as well as her last novel, Ready or Not, remind me of the Mr. Rogers quote, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look to the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" The helper in this book is Miles. We tend to call the MMC "the hero" of the story, and in this case, it's LITERALLY true. He turns himself inside out to help Lenny, our heroine, come out on the other side of her grief after losing her best friend to cancer.

Would I normally read a book with this type of summary? No way! But I knew I would be in good hands with this author. She did exactly what I'd hoped: made a book about overcoming grief something beautiful, humorous, and heartfelt. I laughed, I cried, I bought the T-shirt. (Garfield eating a lasagna, if you must know...okay I bought no shirt.) I loved the evolution of our MCs relationship. It felt so REAL. The love scenes were the perfect. I've read soooo many contemporary romances recently in which the characters don't even feel like the same people once we hit the love scene(s), but this felt like the same two people we'd come to know and love experiencing real intimacy in the most beautiful and endearing way. Bravo!

I feel like I walked away from this book appreciating life more, and what more can you ask from a novel? I adore this writer, who is an auto-buy author for me, and eagerly await her next release!

I'd like to thank Random House and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a beautiful story about grief and finding yourself without your other half. I loved how Miles helped her out of her grief and let her make herself better before things moved forward.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

this book made me SOB.
brief synopsis: lenny loses her best friend & kind of just goes through life, not living. just existing. she gets a job as a nanny & ends up meeting miles. my sweet baby miles 🥹 miles notices something off about len & decides to help her get back to the land of the living.

this is more than a romance. it’s a story about love, grief, & trying to pick yourself back up when you feel like part of you is missing, a part that you can’t live without. both the main characters in this book are sweet babies that deserve the world. i adore the start of their friendship, i LOVE that this is such a slow burn. lenny truly needed to (try) to heal & i am so glad miles recognized that & took his time!! i love their friendship dynamic and how their love grows. MILES IS AN ACTS OF SERVICE KING. he LOVES to take care of lenny but also helps her realize that she can take care of herself. my man miles is so dependable & thoughtful & selfless (i have heart eyes). lenny is sunshine in human form but got lost in the clouds for a little bit (understandable af tho) i love seeing her growth & healing journey. such a beautiful story i loved it

thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: ❤️Romance
Recommend:✅

I absolutely devoured “Promise Me Sunshine”, and I know that Lenny and Miles, our romance protagonists will stick with me for a long time. This one wasn’t your typical romance, it was much more a story about grief and learning to live, and love, again.

The story removes around Lenny, who lost her best friend Lou after an extended illness. After she loses Lou, Lenny finds herself completely adrift until she meets Miles, the estranged brother of the woman she nannies for. Lenny and Miles form a strange connection and find themselves agreeing to help each other. Obviously, sparks fly.

“Promise Me Sunshine” was so sad at parts but also joyful and deep. And, thankfully, the romance bits were *really* good. Butterfly inducing. Loved this one and I think you will too!

You’ll love this book if you love:
✅Stories about Grief
✅Enimies to Lovers
✅Complicated Families

Rating: 5.0⭐️

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is a beautifully written, deeply heartfelt story about love, loss, and learning to live again. This was my first book by Bastone, and it absolutely won’t be my last.

Lenny is navigating the grief of losing her best friend while adjusting to her new job as a nanny. Enter Miles—the grumpy, emotionally guarded uncle of her nanny family—who has experienced his own share of heartbreak. As they cross paths, Miles helps Lenny rediscover joy, reminding her that grief isn’t linear; it’s messy, painful, and sometimes unexpectedly beautiful.

This book made me laugh, made me cry, and most of all, made me feel. Bastone perfectly captures the complexities of grief and healing with raw emotion and warmth. If you love stories that balance humor and heartache, this one is a must-read.

Promise me Sunshine is officially a new favorite for me. Absolute perfection. No notes! I devoured every page and didn’t want it to end. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the early access to this gem!

This book is just so beautiful. It made me laugh and cry and fall in love with life all over again.

Grief is such a difficult subject, but Cara manages to do it so lovingly.

I adore Miles and how kind and patient he is with Lenny, pushing her without coming across as disregarding her feelings. And Lenny is the most real and relatable character I've read in a while.

This is such a beautiful love story. Filled with charming characters. I highly recommend it. And I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

I am blown away by how beautiful this story was. Guys it is a romance, but more important, it’s a book about friendship and grieving. It deals with how devastating the loss of your true best friend can be and also about how friendship can pull us out of such devastating loss. Do not go into this thinking you’re gonna get a happy romance because that’s not what it’s about. This is a story about grief and living. But it’s so beautifully done. I’m still sitting with this book and emotionally reveling in it.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, where to i even start?
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. From beginning to end just beautiful. Loved every single moment with this book.
The amount of emotion I went through reading this book, from feeling giddy to full on laughter to sobbing. This is so heart warming, I loved it so much. Beautifully written, the pacing is great! The story itself is chef's kiss.
It's that kind of book that you would re-read for comfort when you just want to be comforted.
I don't usually reread books but this is definitely one of the top books I'll revisit again! Will definitely buying a physical copy!

Please give me a Miles of my own, I need that, I need him in my life, my comfort. <33



thank you netgalley for the arc!

Cara Bastone has done it again. Another story that is beautiful and quirky and heartbreaking and joyful and such a journey.

I immediately connected with Lenny and how she was functioning day to day and contributing to society during the day while falling apart each night. And I immediately fell for Miles and his ability to see Lenny and be what she needed. When he told her he wouldn't let her drown? What an important moment. The way these two move through their struggles and grief together was so beautiful to read. Add in an adorable, quirky child and you have won me over for life.

This was absolutely beautiful. It captured what it feels like to grieve and live so perfectly but was also so funny. I cried and laughed. This was my second book by Cara Bastone and it did not let me down. I loved this so much. I think this book healed something in me. 10 out of 10 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.