“Promise Me Sunshine” wrecked me in all the best ways.  Cathartic and healing.  Laugh out loud funny in places.  Poignant and teary in others.  It’s about learning to live again after losing your best friend/soul mate to cancer and finding connections with others in the aftermath of grief.  It’s a story about friendship and found family, putting one foot in front of the other and finding love - for yourself, for another, and living with the love of those no longer here.

“Promise Me Sunshine” is perfection.

 Cara Bastone is officially an auto buy author for me.

Promise Me Sunshine was an enjoyable read for me. I loved Ready or Not by Cara Bastone so I was excited to be able to receive an early copy and give my review. This book follows Lenny who is struggling and grieving the death of her best friend Lou. She takes a job to be the nanny of a little girl Ainsley while Ainsley’s mom Reese is a single mother. While nannying Ainsley for the first weekend she meets her uncle Miles. At first her and Miles don’t come off on the right foot but after a bit he comes up with a proposal for her. He will help her through her grief while she helps him build a relationship with Ainsley and Reese. Through this book they go on list adventures and meet new friends along the way, and they also grow their own romantic relationship. I really wish Lenny and Miles worked on their romantic relationship early on instead of towards the end of the book, wish there was a bit more flirtation. It definitely felt more friends vibe instead of a blossoming relationship. Other than that I did enjoy this book and rate it a solid 4 stars. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange of my honest review. Publishing date of March 4, 2025.

First, thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Cara Bastone for this eARC.

I absolutely loved Ready or Not and was so excited to be able to read this one early. Again, the setting is NYC and Lenny is dealing with the passing of her ride or die, bestie, Lou. And Miles, the ultimate golden retriever MMC swoops in expectantly and saves Lenny. He guides her through her grief and she in turn helps him connect with his niece and half sister.

There was LOL moments along with some tough grief but Cara did it again...she writes about hard subjects so beautifully and gives us the ultimate MMCs. The FMCs are equally excellent and the love that blossoms from these characters is just perfection. It is a slow, friends to lovers and works so well. I also loved the little nod to Ready or Not that we got!!

This story was written so well and I enjoyed myself the entire time. I found things relatable and just really enjoyed this so much. Would have loved a couple of chapters from Miles' POV but it was still so wonderful.

4.5 stars but rounding up!

This was just such a beautiful story. I absolutely love Cara Bastone’s writing. She is so funny and her characters have such a quick wit and I know that obviously comes from her having a quick wit herself!

She also just tells such beautiful stories. This is very much a study on grief and living life after someone you love has passed, and also the people that help you through it.

The romance in this was so good — Cara Bastone is so good at friends to lovers!!! If you’re wanting a slooooow burn, this is it! Bastone’s books are definitely woman’s fiction with a subplot of romance, but I love the ones I’ve read by her (this and Ready or Not)

I also absolutely love the NYC setting in her books! The descriptions just make me want to go even more!

Overall, I absolutely loved this!!!

This book is an emotional ride. This was my first time reading this author, and wow, I will definitely need to pick up all of her books from now on. This book did a fantastic job of discussing grief, the emotional journey going through a traumatic event and hope. Plus we get a beautiful love story too.

I think the writing here is beautiful. I really loved Bastone's writing style. It sucked me in from the very start and wouldn't let me go, even after I turned the last page. I think she handles the difficult topics here with respect and care. I did like the acknowledgement that everyone grieves differently and the process is not going to look the same for everybody. The pacing worked. The characters are extremely well written. Lenny and Miles felt like real people.

The romance here is sweet and a wonderful slow burn. I really thought Lenny and Miles were cute.

Promise Me Sunshine is a winner in my eyes. Highly recommend!

I just finished reading this book and I'm struggling to find words for how much I loved it. (Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - now I have to go buy a physical copy to live forever on my bookcase). I listened to Ready or Not by Cara Bastone last year and adored it so I had high hopes that Promise Me Sunshine would be just as good. It wasn't. It was better! It was a love letter to friendship and a promise that we can get through the hardest of hard things. It was proof that love can truly save our lives - "he walked into hell and dragged me back out." I could spend all day writing about how much I related to Lenny in having walked through grieving the loss of someone that meant the world to me (everyone should be as luck as she was to have a "grief wingman", or about how Miles may be one of my favorite male characters ever, or how I didn't want this book to ever end, but the author is a much better writer than I am so I'll let a few quotes from the book speak for me.

"Grief is a relationship... 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."

"It must be truly exhausting to live in your brain." "You have no idea."

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

Promise Me Sunshine was a big step past a romance novel. This was a deep exploration of grief, loss, hope, friendship, but most importantly, finding yourself throughout these stages of life. It was sob worthy, but also laugh out loud hilarious. Bastone managed to keep this story light and breezy and romantic, yet with so much depth. Lenny as a main character was so relatable, even in aspects of life one may have never been through. Miles as a love interest was caring and careful, thought-provoking and heart-warming. It's rare for me to read about a love interest and actually have butterflies! Overall, this was by far a 5 star and Cara Bastone is a new favourite author for me. I will auto-buy and auto-read anything she publishes.

Lenny takes on a temporary nanny job and meets Miles, the overbearing uncle. Everything Lenny does seems to be wrong in the eyes of Miles. It doesn’t take long for Miles to tell something is off with this woman and he doesn’t want her around his niece. He confronts her and states that he thinks she’s on drugs.
Did he really think that?!
I mean sure she’s a mess, but the loss of the love of your life will do that to a person.
When Miles discovers Lenny isn’t handling her grief well, he takes it upon himself to help guide her way.
Slowly Lenny finds herself needing Miles in more ways than she planned. But she can't fall for him, she just can't.
This is a story of finding yourself through grief, finding your chosen family and living life again after tragedy.
For fans of PS: I Hate You or anyone looking for a heartfelt read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Wow. Cara never lets me down, i swear. This may be my favorite so far. The way that she writes, especially in this, is so relatable and real. You feel like you know these people and that you are there with them in these moments of their lives.

This book shines a very real light on grief, and really stays with you even after you finish. This is a book that makes you think and it's so much more than a romance story, while also being exactly what you want/need from a romance story.

Miles and Lenny are so likable. Even though Miles can be a little abrupt at times, the typical grump fashion, i found myself rooting for them pretty much from the start. Lenny understood him and they really fit together so well. The patience and care that he shows her is top tier.

I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you met Halley and Cara Brastone for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! This book was very unexpected in the best way possible. I gave it 4 stars

Cara Bastone is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. While I wouldn't categorize her books as traditional romances, her books delve deeply into their female main characters lives and show their growth as humans. This book that followed Lenny introduced to her as she is quite literally overcome with grief after her best friend has died from cancer. As she is trying to put her life back together, she begins babysitting for a young girl named Ainsley and meets her surly uncle Miles.

As Miles and Lenny get to know each other better, Miles shepherds Lenny through her grief and their relationship shifts from reluctant grief partners to friends to something more. This book is beautiful, tragic, and hopeful all at the same time. I hope that Cara Bastone continues to write books that show these beautiful, flawed characters as they grow as people and find themselves and find love at the same time.

🌞 Book Review: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone 🌞

If you’re looking for a love story that digs deep and leaves your heart full, Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is the perfect pick. 🌸

Lenny might seem like she’s got it all together on the outside, but behind her composed exterior, she’s navigating the tough terrain of grief. And just when she thinks she has to carry it all alone, Miles comes into her life, not as a knight in shining armor, but as someone who’s there to help her heal—slowly, steadily, and with so much patience. Their journey from friends to lovers is so raw, real, and beautiful. 💫

What I love most about this story? It’s packed with depth, yet there are so many moments that will have you smiling, laughing, and sighing with joy. The balance between grief and healing is masterfully done. The characters are multi-layered—complex, but so strong. Watching them evolve and find strength in each other is nothing short of captivating. 🦋

If you're looking for a read that is sweet, compelling, and has you rooting for the characters from the very first page, Promise Me Sunshine will keep you hooked. Grab a cozy blanket and get ready to join Lenny and Miles on a journey that’ll tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a warm, hopeful feeling. 🌷

Highly recommend for fans of uplifting love stories with emotional depth!

Loved this book! When I saw the author, Cara Bastone, had another book after Ready or Not? (one of my all-time favorites) - I had to get my hands on this one. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. Excellent excellent excellent!

I liked the writing style of the banter and there were a lot of cute moments that I enjoyed. Miles started out fishy but ended up being a saint.
However, I’m not really into this new genre of romance that is 80% trauma dumping/grief counseling. I read romance books for a fun light fluffy hot time, not for a therapy session.
But if that’s your thing, I definitely see why people will love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC <3

This book was a refreshing discovery amidst so many predictable romance stories rich in tropes. Promise Me Sunshine dealt with grief, hope, and the redemption of family in a beautiful way. The love story that grew from it was delightful and inspiring, and this book is a great treat for fans of Ready Or Not, proving that Cara Bastone is quickly becoming a favorite author in this genre.

* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫🌶️🌶️
* Lenny and Miles. Wow. The dedication page really sets the tone for this book.
* This story is so powerful. The writing is so relatable - funny without being crass. Funny with being extremely mindful of the pain Lenny is feeling with loosing someone who was her second half.
* The patience, tender loving, effervescent Miles is a godsend to readers everywhere. Seeing them both overcome things together with so much love makes me always swoon.
* I wish there was more to the ending. So much more. If there was just a couple more chapters really wrapping everything up I would have rated this five stars.

When I started reading this book back in December (thank you @thedialpress for the early copy!), I was ready to like it a lot. But I was not prepared for how deep this would cut, how much it would mean to me, how heartbreakingly sad it would be, and then how hopeful and happy and grateful it would make me feel. I have not spent a day not thinking about Lenny and Miles - @carabastone , you have burrowed deeply into my soul with this.

Lenny and Miles are sardonic, sad people who are both just trudging through their day to day. In their own way, they are trying to rediscover who they are amid life-altering events. It struck me just how darkly humorous this book was, how sweet and gentle Miles was with Lenny, and how deep it cut.

Lenny is grieving the death of her best friend. And truly, THAT relationship is the real romance of this book. It’s a lifelong bond with a soulmate that becomes indelibly part of your DNA. When Lou passes, Lenny falls into a deep depression and struggles to find meaning. I spent so much of this absolutely sobbing at how much this hurt - it made me constantly think of my own original soulmate. I don’t know I would survive if anything happened to her.

Miles was the absolute prototype for someone who gave Lenny space to grieve and heal and become whole again. He was patient and kind, while also dealing with his own feelings of sadness over his past and not feeling needed. He helped Lenny find her purpose and, in turn, she helped him see his. They have a truly beautiful romance built on love and respect and seeing each other at their worst but wanting to be there for it.

This is a book full of grief and what it means to live through it. It’s about depression and how much it can completely gut you in surprising ways. It’s funny and has some of the best dialogue I’ve read in a very long time. It about healing and how powerful connections can be. And it’s about joy and the fact that it’s ok to laugh and live even when it feels like you don’t deserve it.

There are not enough words to really describe how much this story means to me. It hit me at the right time and let me feel my feelings and, for that, I’m so thankful.

Cara Bastone never fails me. This one had me a sobbing mess at points, which I really should have expected. Lenny was the perfect FMC. She's a little flighty, extroverted, and a mess of emotions, but she also was real and raw. She was never over the top annoying, in my opinion. Miles was the perfect grumpy foil to Lenny's exuberance. He grounded her and never looked down on her for her silliness.

I love friends to lovers (and find it far superior to many tropes) and Cara does it so well. The evolution of Miles and Lenny was beautiful because the way they respected one another as they learned how to push and pull back when needed was beautiful.

Honestly? Inject this one into my veins.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness the way I ugly cries or this book!!!! This book shows just how raw grief can be on a person and captures the moments when Lenny starts to live again. Miles character in my opinion has been one of the best male MMC I’ve read in a while. So much emotion in this book. Beautifully written. I highly recommend!

3.5 stars, spoiler-free review 💫
release date: 4th March, 2025

*sighs* I think I only jinxed myself by saying this would be a 5-star read before I even started reading the book. 🥲 I should have never done that, or at least should have kept my expectations low (but I never listen to myself). I liked reading it, but I didn't love it sadly. Anyone who loved this book and rated it 5 stars—just know I feel betrayed.😭✋🏻 Before going into my rant review, let's get into what tropes this book has 😌🙌🏻

what to expect 💌:
🧡 Dealing with loss & grief
🧡 Strangers-to-Friends-to-Lovers
🧡 Slow Burn
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡 Healing Journey
🧡 Cinnamon-roll MMC
🧡 Loss of a best friend

Now that we saw the tropes, let's get back to my rant. Before starting this book I knew damn well that this book was going to hit hard because of all the grief. But somehow, I didn't feel that moved? I was expecting you know, to connect with the characters, but I couldn't.

“Home is where the heart is. My heart died in a cancer ward six months ago.”

Lenny Bellamy babysits children for small gigs. We meet her in the present after she lost her childhood best friend Lou to Cancer six months ago. She's lonely and she's barely living herself consumed by all the grief she is experiencing. She cannot bring herself to go to the apartment that once she shared with Lou.

“If you need to cross things off your list to survive, I'll do that. I can carry someone on my back if I have to.”

Miles is the misunderstood MMC. Everyone thinks he is broody (well he kinda is) and is unsociable or unapproachable because of his past. But he is entirely the opposite, he might look tough on the outside, but inside he is a soft-hearted and the sweetest person ever. He wants to get closer to his only family, his nice Ainsley and his sister Reese. So he strikes a deal with Lenny who happens to babysits Ains, to teach him how to get closer to them, and instead he will help her live again.

Although the author portrays the grief that Lenny had to deal with, I felt it a bit shallow. It made me sad to see Miles's grief brushed aside.😒 Yes, he is there, a stranger suddenly up-ending Lenny's life, taking care of her, making sure she stays safe, and helping her come out of the depression stage. We see his sweet side. But what about his grief? what about his past? what about him losing his mom & cousin in an accident? We don't even get to explore his side, his grief, his sadness.🥺 I didn't feel this book was as GREAT as everyone claimed it, because I was actually expecting that we would get some background on Miles, him opening up to her about his past in detail you know, open the dams and let me feel his pain too. But I couldn't connect with him. 💁🏻‍♀️

Overall, I would say it was a good book. I wish we had so much more character depth on Miles, and not brush his grief aside and only mention it on fewer pages. I really wanted to love this book, but I simply couldn't 😔 If you loved this book, I'm happy for you. But don't come at me. The reason why I'm saying the grief showcased here felt a bit shallow is because I have felt the grief indirectly through my dad, who lost his childhood best friend in an accident years ago in front of his eyes when he was in his early 20s, that is before I was even born. So I somehow know how deep the grief can be. So on a personal level, this book fell short for me.

thank you to the Author, the Publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!💕