Promise me sunshine
By Cara Bastone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had me feeling all the feelings.

Lenny has just lost her best friend and soulmate to a battle with cancer and has been left with a keep living list that she can’t seem to start until she meets Ainsley, Reese, and Miles one fateful day. This is a love story, but it is also a story about the reality of grief and how overwhelming it can be if you don’t have someone in your life to call when you need help. Miles becomes that person over the course of the book for Lenny and it’s so beautiful to read.

I cried and my heart broke so many times in this story. It’s so beautifully crafted and not a word or page is wasted or misused. Cara Bastone wowed me with « Reqdy or Not » but has become an auto buy author for me with this one.

Thank you so much to Dial publishing and NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for my honest opinion which is that everyone should read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75⭐️
This was a really sweet book that I stayed up till 2am reading just waiting for them to kiss! I love a good slow burn and this was definitely that.
The FMC was a little too quirky for my taste and some of her dialogue made me cringe but I would still recommend.

Thank you for the arc NetGalley

I have been in a romance slump for months and this book brought me out of it. I can’t express how much I loved it!
🫶🏻
The characters experienced so much growth and change throughout the story which was so refreshing. I feel like every romance book I’ve read lately was either basically “same story different setting” or had main characters I absolutely could not relate to. Not so with Promise Me Sunshine.
🙌🏻
This is more than a romance, it’s a love story about best friends who are soulmates. It tackles some tough topics - grief in particular - and the author handled it beautifully. I highly recommend the only 5 star romance I have read on like 4 months!
💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll be honest—the writing threw me off at first. But I think that was the point. And in any case, the book completely pulled me in with its unique premise and the raw, unfiltered way it introduces Lenny’s story.

I’ve never experienced a lifelong friendship as deep as Lenny and Lou’s, nor do I know what it’s like to lose the love of my life. But I do know what it’s like for life to turn upside down in a single moment. Even when you know it’s coming, even when you brace for impact, part of you still hopes it won’t happen—until, suddenly, it does. And in that instant, nothing really tethers you to reality anymore. You’re left floating, unmoored in a suffocating pool of grief. Promise Me Sunshine captures that feeling perfectly—yet somehow, in a way that remains hopeful.

At the start, we meet Lenny at her lowest. She drifts from one short-term nannying gig to another, not because she doesn’t want stability, but because she knows she’s too broken to be a constant part of a child’s life. She’s untethered, refusing to step foot in the apartment she once shared with Lou, avoiding the weight of a home that no longer feels like one. Enter Miles, who has lived with his own loss for years. He’s not drowning in it the way Lenny is, but he’s still lost in his own way, unable to connect with the one person Lenny can handle—his seven-year-old niece.

The writing itself reflects Lenny’s state of mind. Her thoughts at the beginning spill out in a quirky, unfiltered stream of consciousness that might seem jarring at first, but it’s the perfect representation of how grief settles—or refuses to—into everyday life. It does even out as the book progresses, but I still find myself wondering how Cara Bastone came up with half the things Lenny’s mind spits out at times.

Some readers have said they wished Lenny and Miles had more build-up in the beginning. And sure, that might have been nice. But there’s something powerful about the way they connect—not through slow-burn romance but through the spark of wanting to help, of recognizing suffering in someone else and knowing that you can be their guide through it. That is the magic of Miles.

Since the book is entirely in first-person POV—Lenny’s mind, unfiltered—I would have loved to see more of Miles falling in love with her. (Yes, I know that would break the structure, but still.) And while we’re at it—how did he learn that choreography for Ainsley? Not that it matters, but I’m curious.

What does matter is how gently and realistically Bastone shows Lenny’s gradual return to life. Nothing about it is rushed. Her journey is handled with nuance and care, and the small moments of growth feel earned. And—perhaps the most underrated win of all—there’s even an answer to the nagging question of how a part-time nanny could afford an apartment without actually living in it.

If you’re on the fence about picking this one up—do it. If not for the story itself, then for Lenny’s metaphors alone. But really, there’s so much more.

Big thanks to Random House, Dial Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone ✨
Releases March 4, 2025

I received an ARC of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone courtesy of NetGalley (@netgalley) and Random House (@randomhouse)

Promise Me Sunshine was a beautiful story of healing and grief after loss. Miles and Lenny, lost in their lives, find each other, and heal together in New York City.

Miles fights to help Lenny find her happiness after the loss of her best friend, and through her healing, Miles family, love, and recovery of his own losses.

#promisemesunshine #carabastone #netgalley #randomhouse #bookreview #arcreview #romance #womensfiction

Thank you very much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC!

This book follows Lenny who is grieving the loss of her best friend and Miles, the uncle of the child she is now nannying. Things get off on the wrong foot but when Lenny open up to him, he offers to help her through her grief.

This is a single POV strangers to friends to lovers slowburn romance. Miles starts out very gruff and turns into a complete and total sweetheart. I loved the romance between these two and how they both helped each other heal.

However, my one personal gripe is with Miles and Reese’s dad and the whole dynamic of their births. Otherwise, would have been a five star read for me.

I recently lost my best friend as well. And while this book is beautifully written, and I thought it could help me heal, I just can not get through it right now.

I absolutely loved following Lenny's journey in this heartwarming story! From the very beginning, I felt her pain and could relate to the feeling of being lost after losing someone so important. Her struggle to avoid her concerned parents and the apartment she shared with Lou was so poignant and real.

When Lenny took on the babysitting gig with Reese and Ainsley, I was thrilled to see her find a little bit of purpose again. Ainsley's uncle, Miles, seemed like a huge jerk at first, but I quickly realized there was more to him than met the eye. The way he saw right through Lenny's facade and offered her a proposition to help each other was both surprising and touching.

As Lenny and Miles spent more time together, I couldn't help but root for them. I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing how they both began to heal through their shared grief and support for one another. It was so inspiring to see Lenny start to complete her "live again" list and rediscover herself in the process.

Overall, this book was a beautiful and emotional read that left me feeling hopeful and uplifted. The characters were relatable, the story was engaging, and the message about finding yourself again after loss was truly powerful.

Thanks to Dial Press for this arc in exchange for a review.

Promise Me Sunshine brought me to tears and laughter. This story will break your heart and warm your heart at the same time. It's so beautifully written that I did not want it to end because the emotions are raw and so relatable.

Lenny is messy and struggling with her grief after losing her best friend to cancer. Miles is patient and understanding, willing to help after having battled with grief himself. The relationship between them burns slowly, but explodes when it catches fire.

Dare I say, this is my new favourite romance and Cara Bastone is a new auto-buy author? I think this is one of those books that I wish I could read for the first time again.

All the stars - 5/5 since that is the most I am able to give! I cannot wait to read more from Cara Bastone.

**I would definitely check the content warnings before reading.**

What an incredible story! It masterfully tackles the heavy themes of grief while weaving an emotionally rich narrative. Lenny’s journey is both inspiring and heart-wrenching, capturing the rawness of realistic grief. Having Miles alongside her as a co-pilot adds depth to the narrative; his own experiences with loss make him the perfect companion for Lenny during such a tumultuous time.

But it’s not just a one-way street; Lenny offers her support to Miles as he navigates his place in a new family that isn’t quite sure how to embrace him. I love stories that explore big themes but I wish this one was through dual point of view,. While Miles is definitely expressive and relatable, I found myself wanting to delve deeper into his thoughts and feelings—especially regarding how he could help Lenny.

Plus, I was thrilled to see a connection to her previous story with Ethan making an appearance! It’s a nice callback that adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. I can’t wait for Reese’ to get a story. I have a feeling Ainsley is eager to jump back into the spotlight. If you’re looking for a heartfelt read that beautifully captures the complexity of human emotions, I highly recommend this one!

This book made me feel all the feelings. The grief, the sadness, the slow creep of joy when I wasn’t looking. I loved falling in love as Lenny and Miles fell in love with each other, laughing hilariously as Ainsley and Miles danced on stage, crying near the end at the tender triumph. I wish I could read this again for the first time.

Lenny is nanny who is grieving the loss of her best friend when she meets a grumpy stranger who offers to help her live again.

I loved this story so much. Bastone perfectly balances the emotions in this heartfelt story of loss and living through grief. I loved the unexpected friendship with Miles and the genuine connection formed as he tries to help Lenny live with her loss.

I enjoyed Lenny’s quirky moments and the slow shift from friends to lovers as she and Miles bring the best out in one another. Highly recommend picking this up for a beautifully written story.

Thanks Dial Press and NetGalley for my advance copy.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this arc.

I loved this book hard. I have no doubt it will feature in my top books of 2025. It’s just gorgeous. It’s funny, sad, beautiful, incisive, quirky and deeply romantic. It does have a very strong through-line about grief. Those who’ve had a recent loss may want to avoid it for a while.

Promise Me Sunshine perhaps edges right up to the line of too much grief. Lenny cries often and struggles with her grief for much of the book. There’s no quick fix. It’s a book which gives space and time to grief. In some ways, it reminded me of Kate Clayborn’s The Other Side of Disappearing. It had the same kind of beauty to it and a similar tone, even though they’re different stories altogether.

Lenny is loyal and loving, generous and funny, kind and quirky. Miles is less quirky and perhaps slightly less funny but he’s all the other things Lenny is in addition to being rock solid. They are so good together. The writing is stellar, the characters complete, complex and relatable. It’s a story that will stay with me and one I expect to revisit. Recommended.

This book pulled me out of a reading slump.
Wow. I genuinely loved everything about it.
It had laugh out loud banter, heartwarming moments, and so much emotional depth.
The characters felt incredibly real, each one well-developed and full of depth.
The story explored grief and moving forward after loss in such a raw and authentic way, capturing the different ways people cope with heartbreak.
The romance felt natural, and the chemistry between the main characters was undeniable. Both were incredibly relatable, making their connection even more captivating.
This was a stunning story about love, loss, and healing, and I can’t recommend it enough.

🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶 5

🄵🄾🅁 🅁🄴🄰🄳🄴🅁🅂 🅆🄷🄾 🄻🄸🄺🄴

☆ Romance
☆ Grief and Healing
☆ Friends to Lovers
☆ Slow Burn Romance
☆ Grumpy Sunshine

🄵🄰🅅🄾🅁🄸🅃🄴 🅂🄲🄴🄽🄴

After finding out that Lenny has been sleeping on the ferry because she can't return to her apartment, Miles offers her a place to stay in his empty apartment. Knowing Lenny wouldn’t willingly go back to his apartment night after night, he comes up with a crafty way to encourage her. He pulls a set of batteries from his pocket and asks her to do him a favor. He asks Lenny to check the smoke detector batteries when she returns to the apartment the next night.

🄵🄰🅅🄾🅁🄸🅃🄴 🅀🅄🄾🅃🄴

-The quotes referenced are from an advanced reader's copy and may not reflect the final version. Please refer to the finished copy for accuracy.-

"When a wolf is howling at the moon, it's not actually because it's lonely."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's sort of a location technique, for when members of the pack get separated and they need to find one another. So when you hear a wolf call, and then in the distance you hear another wolf call back, do you know what it could roughly be translated as?"
"Whats that?"
"The first one saying, I'm here! I'm here! And then the other says, Me too! Me too!"

✨️ Thank you so much, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for the advanced copy of this heartfelt book in exchange for an honest review.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5

🖼️single POV
🖼️friends to lovers
🖼️exploration of grief
🖼️hurt/comfort
🖼️SLOOOOWW burn

Cara ripped my heart from my chest and I’m still putting the pieces back together now that it’s over. For me, this was such a wildly realistic depiction of grief that I’m shocked I made it through. I’ll admit it took me a bit longer to read than normal because I had to take a breather for some tears I shed. And it’s not that it’s overly emotional it’s just so dang realistic. Grief can be crippling. For me personally it has been. It’s hard to do the simplest of things and so many things can be a trigger.

Getting to see grief from multiple perspectives was an interesting choice. Although I wish we got a bit more of a look into Miles’ grief. We get a few mentions but we spent a good portion of the book with him helping Lenny through hers that a better look into his would have added so much.

As much as slow burn kills me I think it was done really well here for the purpose of the story. Having them go from strangers to friends to lovers was a smart move. The friendship let them both be more of their authentic selves and have honest conversations. Also the metaphors that Miles was consistently spitting out just melted my heart. The daisy one, so good. And when he explains the reason wolves howl, ughh.

Promise Me Sunshine is so much more than a story about grief. It’s about healing, doing the scary thing, making friendships, maintaining a relationship with family, falling in love, LIVING!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC

4.25⭐️

Promise Me Sunshine is a must read. It explores the different ways one responds to grief and how some days are going to be harder than others.

Miles, a little further on his grief journey than Lenny, proposed to help Lenny figure out her grief if she would help him get closer to his remaining family. Lenny had a way about her that immediately made people feel comfortable. Sure she was quirky (and sometimes immature), but I think she was putting out into the world what she so desperately needed herself. And Miles, who also approaches things in his own way, was able to pick up on that and be there for her. These two characters were everything. The way they helped each other live fuller lives with the pulling along instead of pushing - it was just beautiful.

The way this book was set up was wonderful. There were so many humorous moments that broke up the heavier feelings. The pacing kept you moving along but also allowed you to feel their growth (and setbacks). It was realistic, it was emotional, and I couldn’t put the book down!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC.

This book was so unexpectedly raw, unflinchingly honest and emotional, but also funny and sweet, poignant and redeeming. These characters will stay with me for a long time and the lessons they taught me will, too. Grief is a tricky thing so check trigger warnings before reading, but pick this book up when you want to really feel something as you read.

I honestly forgot I had this book in my NetGalley library and was jealous when I kept seeing reviews from others, but I think I read this book when I needed it the most. For me, this book was an emotional roller coaster in the best way possible. I think this book is going to hit readers differently based on where they are in life and what they have dealt with in the past/currently facing. I think Miles set the standards high for all future book boyfriends as he helped Lenny learn how to live again. I was not sure how the book was going to end but feel like it had almost the perfect ending.

Wow, the way this book hit me like a truck as I literally finished it in one sitting! THIS is strangers to friends to lovers done well. I take back anything bad I ever said about the trope because Lenny and Miles changed my mind.

I loved Lenny so much. Her grief process was so realistic and she was such a lovable and raw character. It hit hard at some points and I just wanted to wrap her up into a hug. She’s so precious and seeing her heal throughout the book was beautiful for her character development. And Miles was such a green flag! This man was everything and was so patient, gentle, and insanely selfless for Lenny. Their relationship was so natural, realistic, funny, and all no-nonsense. I loved the absence of an annoying third act conflict because these two communicated with each other so well. This man was in LOVE. The romance was so well paced. The slow burn was truly burning through the tension and banter. I loved every single moment they had together because it all made up the basis of their trust and understanding of each other.

I also loved their relationship with Ainsley and all the adorable moments they had together!

The first spice scene was kind of cringey for me but I eventually got over it. And I know that the main focus of the story was Lenny’s grief process and seeing her heal, but I also would have love to read more about Miles’s past and his own healing process for people he lost. He also deserved his own POVs for more character development because it didn’t feel fully resolved to me by the end.

Other than that, this was such a refreshing read and I really loved it!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so sweet. I did not know what I expected going into it, but it was really good. As someone who’s lost someone very important in their life, it’s incredible to have a Miles to go to hell and drag you out. I think she captures grief so well and honestly it was refreshing to get to be on the journey from stranger to friend to lover. Highly recommend.