This is a slow-burn, enemies(ish, more like mildly annoyed by each other) to friends to lovers. I love how much time the author spent building the friendship between the two characters before they cross the line to lovers and I also loved getting to learn about each of them as individuals. There is so much depth to this story surrounding grief and navigating life after loss and the way Lenny and Miles show up for each other during hard times made their connection feel so genuine. Lenny especially is so charming and might be one of my favorite protagonists of all time!

I laughed out loud, I got teary eyed, and I loved every second of this heartfelt story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy!

3.75 stars

This was a beautiful story of two people helping each other heal from life-altering losses. i really liked the portrayal of grief in this book and the way miles helped lenny cope with it was the most wholesome thing!
i thought there was a great message about what it means to live again after you feel like a part of you died along with the person. there won’t always be sunshine, but the beauty of life is to learn to embrace every part of it and find happiness in the midst of tough times.

i enjoyed our characters too. eventually, lenny and her quirky and outgoing personality grew on me! she was so relatable, raw, funny, and honestly such a mood. miles was the most sweet, introverted, and caring man once you get to know him more and his intentions are always good ones. the way he was constantly there for lenny because he knew what it’s like to grieve was everything. he would be wherever she needed him within a heartbeat! and omg the way he waited to start anything more with lenny until he thought she was ready>> also, him wanting to and making an effort to get to know his niece, ainsley, more was so heartwarming!

i think our two mcs complimented each other well and they helped better each other which was sweet. and along with helping her complete her ‘live again’ list, he created another one that had things that would take care of her <3

overall, i enjoyed this one and thought the topic of grief was handled well. i would definitely recommend!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

*Thank you NetGalley, Random Publishing House and Cara for the e-ARC! Per usual, my review and opinions are 100% my own*

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️

I honestly thought I would love this more! The storyline itself was beautiful, following the FMC Lenny, through her path of grieving the death of her best friend. This is a friends to lovers and the ultimate SLOW burn. I really loved Miles, the MMC. He’s gruff on the outside, only because he’s kind of socially awkward and says the wrong things even know he means well, but is actually the most kind patient man who would do anything for those that he cares for.

This had the setup of a beautiful story, but something about it just didn’t hit for me. I think most of us have been through grief, more than once, with varying levels of struggle so Lenny’s struggle with grief should have been very relatable. What I personally found though, was a lack of connection to Lenny that made it pretty difficult to really get sucked in to her story. Cara’s writing is beautiful though and I will definitely be picking up one of her other books 🤎.

Promise Me Sunshine!
I’m definitely a sappy romance book girl at my core, but this book has a piece of my heart. There is something so healing and cathartic about reading stories that explore grief. I wholeheartedly identify with where Lenny, the main character, has been. This book beautifully portrays the journey of mourning someone you loved so deeply, and it highlights how special it is to have the people in your life lift you up during the toughest times. Grief is messy, complicated, and it changes the very fabric of your heart. I love how this book doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, yet also emphasizes the importance of having your community around you.

This book was lovely and completely precious. I cried... a lot. My heart is happy to have read it!

This was my second book by Cara Bastone, and yet again I was smiling like a fool, tearing up, and kicking my feet while reading.

This book was interesting in that it was a romance, but it was also about grief - heavy, messy, painful, confusing, and consuming grief. I think the balance between these two themes was done tremendously well, and felt very realistic and raw without being over dramatic.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Lenny and Miles. Seeing their friendship bloom and how Miles helped Lenny out of the grief pit she found herself in, to them growing closer and learning to be there for one another equally - no notes, I couldn’t get enough of it. Their banter had me laughing out loud and swooning one minute, to thoughtfully rereading a moving moment the next. There being no third act breakup was just the cherry on top.

All of the side characters felt special and important to the story in their own ways. Lenny and Ainsley’s bond was so sweet and funny, and I also loved seeing Lenny branch out to new friends. The inclusion of her parents and their role in her grief was great to see as well.

Overall, there was not a single thing I’d change about this story. I loved every second of reading it.

I loved this book from the beginning. Both main characters are so endearing. The real look into grief was so refreshing and raw. This was my favorite from Cara yet!

My gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to review this digital ARC. This novel immediately pulls you into a world of raw emotion, introducing us to Lenny, a character grappling with devastating loss. The author paints a vivid picture of her isolation, her inability to anchor herself to anything permanent. Miles, equally burdened by grief, offers a counterpoint, a quieter, more subdued sorrow.

The strength of this book lies in its delicate portrayal of human connection. The gradual evolution of Lenny and Miles' relationship felt authentic and deeply moving. Their shared vulnerability created a space for genuine healing, and I found myself cheering for them every step of the way. The author's prose is both sensitive and evocative, capturing the subtle shifts in emotion with remarkable clarity. This isn't just a story about grief; it's about the power of human connection to mend fractured souls and the courage it takes to rebuild a life after loss. A truly touching and uplifting read.

Love love love love loved. I can’t even say enough good things. I’ve been desperate to get my hands on this one ever since it was announced because I read Ready or Not while I was pregnant and it resonated so much with me. Reading about the profound experience with grief Lenny dealt with in this book hit my heart in the best way. Miles was so sweet and tender and thoughtful with her that I just could not have felt warmer towards him and anyone who loves someone experiencing such a bone deep grief. I will CONSUME anything Cara reads. She writes characters and relationships in such a fresh, real way where I just feel the care these characters have for each other bleeding out of the pages. I just loved this one and everything about it.

I have been a fan of Cara Bastone since reading ‘Ready or Not’ earlier this year. Her writing and storytelling portray romance in a very down-to-earth way. ‘Promise Me Sunshine’ was everything that I expected it to be.

The yearning in this book from both sides was absolutely amazing. Not only do you see the characters fall in love but you also see them navigate real world issues. Grief is a hard topic to write about in a wholesome way but this book really hits the nail on the head.

One of my favorite things about Bastone’s writing is that the romance is not the main plot line. She effortlessly integrates romance into the real world with characters who have real problems other than falling in love.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance books but also loves emotional fiction with a dash of humor. This was a 5/5 for me!

Wow!!! I had high expectations, and this still blew me away. I loved it! The characters all felt so real, which is truly a gift Cara Bastone has. I adored Lenny. Her story broke my heart and then slowly mended it over the course of the book. I loved the platonic love showcased between Lenny and Lou. Seeing Lenny rebuild herself, with Miles’ help, was just so special and heartwarming. And Miles, ugh I loved him! Using his pain and traumatic past to help Lenny, just so many emotions. I really liked that they didn’t jump into a romantic relationship and that he focused on helping her before their relationship went anywhere more than close friends. I loved how Lenny embraced her awkwardness and just spread so much love without even realizing it. The side characters made the story a million times better, and I adored all of them. I can’t say enough amazing things about this book, and I highly encourage everyone to read it. This one will definitely forever hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be a little tedious and long. It had good character development, but I wasn't that invested in the plot that much.

Promise Me Sunshine is a stunningly beautiful portrayal of coming back to life after grieving a lost loved one. Cara Bastone took such care to write grief in a way that accesses empathy and avoids triggering your own experiences with grief.

Lenny is moving through New York adrift, not letting anyone in after losing her best friend. Meanwhile, she reports for a babysitting gig and instantly reveals that she is the world’s best babysitter. I wish I could pull her out of this book and hire her myself! If only the kid’s gorgeous, grumpy uncle would give Lenny some space. Uncle Miles and Lenny end up making a pact to help each other with their struggles and manage to help bring each other back to life. This is the perfect book for anyone who chooses books to correlate to the season. While the story takes place in the fall, the journey is reminiscent of spring blooms!

Thank you to Random House publishing & NetGalley for the ARC. I cannot wait to see more & more people fall in love with this book!

3.75 ⭐️. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review 😊
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Overall, this book was good and was pretty sweet. It felt like the major focus of this book was on Lenny and her journey grieving her best friend, much more than the romance that was growing between Lenny and Miles. I would have liked to see more tension and build-up in a romantic sense between them, but I also understand that Lenny wasn't in the right headspace to have those feelings yet.
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I did really like how Lenny and Miles went from strangers, to friends, and then to lovers. Their friendship felt really natural, and I really loved how patient, supportive, and understanding Miles was with her 🥺. But, I still think I would've liked to see their romance start a bit earlier (and again- more tension, because honestly they felt more like best friends to me). I wanted to know more about Miles too, and I think the story could've been better if we had his POV too.
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I think Cara Bastone did a good job capturing the waves of grief as well. The flashbacks with Lou and Lenny were really helpful in showing us who Lou was to Lenny, and how much Lenny loved her.
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I can see why some people really liked this, but I think the lack of tension/romance between the mmc & fmc and REALLY slow burn made it a bit more boring. BUT if you're looking for a story with grief and low stakes, this could be a good option!

I adored this book! Such a heartfelt and emotional experience. At first it started off a little slow and I didnt know how I felt about Miles. But then he get on me and by the end I absolutely loved him. The way he took care of Lenny and helped her through her grief and was there for her was amazing. The FMC was so strong and didn’t hold anything back. Only thing they gave me the ick was she called his you know what “his pal”😩 otherwise really enjoyed this one! 4⭐️

I absolutely loved Ready or Not by Cara Bastone, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this book, and it did not disappoint! This is a beautifully crafted strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow burn romance, and I adored watching Lenny and Miles’ friendship deepen over time.

Miles helps Lenny navigate the overwhelming grief of losing her best friend soulmate, while Lenny, in turn, helps Miles connect with his niece. They just get each other in a way that feels effortless and deeply meaningful. The slow burn pacing was perfect, allowing their friendship to blossom before anything romantic developed. I especially appreciated how Miles respected Lenny’s need for time to grieve. His patience and thoughtfulness were so moving that they often brought me to tears.

This book made me laugh, cry, giggle, and kick my feet in delight. I loved every moment of it and cannot wait for Cara Bastone’s next book!

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