This is a masterpiece. Seriously Cara Bastone js so so talented. This book is the most beautiful romance and layered love story that encompasses not only romantic love, but the love between friends and family and found family as well.

This story builds slowly and surely and so so beautifully. The characters well developed and the main focus is not just on the two main characters but all the other characters within their lives as well and it makes the story that much deeper and rich. This is not a typical romance book, it deals with a heavy topic in a touching way. The romance is slow and barely there to the point where I wondered if maybe this was just a beautiful story about friendship but it just keeps growing and blooming and all of a sudden it’s this stunning thing. And it’s layered and deeper than a typical contemporary romance is these days.

Cara is so talented, writes so so well, and highly recommend the audio, please never let anyone but Alex Finke read your books it’s the perfect combination.

I will read anything Cara writes and I hope we get more layered and deep stories like this that stand out and bring such a unique story in a time when a lot of stories feel the same.

A little late on my review but When this ARC hit my list I Screamed outloud! I Absolutely loved Ready or Not by Cara Bastone so when i saw she had a new release coming out i immediately pre ordered it. The storyline is so unique from the begining to the end. the way cara paints a picture is like no one i have read before. You cannot help but fall in love with her characters and her humor is perfect! This book deals with topics like loss but does it in such a beautiful way that anyone can relate, especially someone who has been through it before. Miles and Lenny are absolutely adorable together and I think everyone needs a miles in their life. One thing i felt so connected to was Lenny and her grief to losing someone she loves so much to cancer. It is a loss not so easily put into words but Cara did it so well. Thank you for sharing this story and helping us all to live another fictional life. Cara will forever be an instant buy for me!

LOVED it! The banter, the emotions, they pulled me at the heartstrings. Losing a friend hits home for me, and reading this has been so cathartic.. I can't recommend this book enough! Will for sure buy a copy for myself and gift others as well

Humor, heartbreak, love & loss ❤️‍🩹

Cara Bastone is a new to my author. I read Ready or Not by Cara Bastone in February this year and I was hooked.

I loved the characters and relationship building. Even though I didn’t connect a lot with the main character, Lenny, I still found her character well-written & her story broke my heart.

Cara Bastone’s writing makes you FEEL & not every author has this ability. Don’t sleep on her books!!

4.5⭐️

I really liked this one but didn't love it as much as her first book. It was a very slow burn which isn't bad but also felt a bit unnecessary after a certain point.

I was already a fan of Cara Bastone before reading this one, and now I say “keep ‘em comin’”!

What a study of grief and its processes this is! Lenny, our heroine, lost her best friend Lou to cancer. She’s just trying to put one foot in front of another. Miles, our hero, is just every girl’s dream guy. He’s gruff, grumpy, wears glasses, is soft-spoken , and he wants to learn how to relate to his niece Ainsley, and Lenny, her babysitter, is trying to teach him. Their journey towards each other is so fun to watch and mind-blowingly slow and drawn out! We know how we want them to end up, but we’re just not fully convinced it will happen by the end of the story.

The book is a love story, but it’s also a saga of grief and the winding road back to a new normal. There’s a really good example of working one’s way back from a significant loss and the healing path.

This one is a five star read!

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

A romance novel that has some deeper themes, like this novel by Cara Bastone is always a welcome read for me and this was no different. I fell right into this book and kept on going until the last page. All the characters felt very realistic and relatable and following Lenny through her chapters of grief felt so real and was heartbreaking. When an author can pull that off it is commendable. Despite the sad premise of greiving the loss of her best friend, I found this to be a cozy, heartwarming read and love that Miles was there for her to help her through the process.

After Ready or Not, I knew Bastone would be a must-read author. Promise Me Sunshine is a beautifully written love story about two people who find themselves at the right time, place to heal from sorrow. It captures the raw, messy reality of grief, and its unsurmountable pain that latches onto your life.

Set in NYC, Lenny and Miles tackle of list of experiences set forth by the deceased. It showcases even in the depths of heartbreak, there is so much yet to live. This story pulled at my heart strings, left me emotionally wrung out and clutching my heart.

Simply another 5-star read from this author.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback

4.5 ⭐️ minimal spice and this at the end of the book.

This book opens with Lenny, our FMC, showing up for a nanny gig with Ainsley and her mother Reese. Lenny has a fabulous way with Ainsley and loves being around her. She doesn’t take kind to the man watching over her every move. Reese is come to him but introduces him to Lenny. He is her half brother Miles and leaves in the apartment above Reese and Ainsley. Lenny is very prone to brief imaginary scenarios of hooking yo with most men she encounters. These are hilarious as they play out in her imagination. These first day with Ainsley goes great except for judgmental Mikes. It is the nighttime that is hard for Lenny. She doesn’t like to go back to her apartment - the one she shared with her best friend, Lou, who has passed away from cancer. As she is packing up for the day, her backpack and her grief book falls out and Miles sees it. Nothing is said but Miles understands. She decides to spend the night on the Stanton Island Ferry instead of heading home. As she is judged by people, they may think she is strung out but “Not strung out, just having a debilitating mental health crisis while navigating the most excruciating chapter of my life.”

Miles follows her out the next night only to help her during a scuffle between a driver and a pedestrian with a bicycle. She pulls him away from the curb right as the car takes the corner too fast. She literally saves him but the driver becomes quite the jerk to her and the bike owner. Lenny is ready for a fight when Miles appears out of nowhere and pulls her away. This is when he spends the rest of the evening with her and learns about her past & the grief she is trying to wade through.

As their time together is more frequent and they start to open up, Lenny learns that Miles has lost his mother and younger cousin in a car accident & Miles learns of the Live Again list that Lenny and Lou created. Miles has made it his mission to help Lenny accomplish things on that list.

This is a great book but it tackles the tough topic of grief and dealing with the tough process of moving through life without your best friend or loved one.

There are so many heartfelt scenarios in this book but also some great humor. The way Miles comes to really crack his exterior shell and be tender to Lenny, the way Lenny starts to really live, not just exists, and the way Miles and Reese make amends are so important to this story.

What makes this book even better is the narrator - she floats back and forth between all the characters effortlessly and narrates with such great emotion and inflection.

Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
#PromiseMeSunshine

Everyone needs a Miles in their life, whether it’s in a platonic or romantic context. Wow, what a PILLAR he was for Lenny. I aspire to be the kind of friend he was, to the people I love who are going through something difficult or painful. At the same time, this book made me sit with the concept and feeling of grief in a way I hadn’t needed to before.

I have the privilege of having never lost someone as close to me as Lenny did, but I know that day will inevitably come, and it made me think about how I’d deal with losing my parents, or my best friends and GOSH that was not a comfortable feeling to have. I think that sitting on the Staten Island Ferry as it makes its rounds till dawn is something I’d do as well. Shut down and avoid feeling at all costs. But Miles fought against that numbness Lenny drowned in and pulled her out of the dark in such an understanding and empathetic way, that it made me feel like I could one day handle those feelings too when its my turn to feel them.

Oh and Ainsley was such a delightful bonus to this book, some of my favorite scenes are the ones she’s in. The cutest girl!!

Favorite quote:
“He treats you well?” “Mom, he walked into hell and dragged me back out.”

Thank you Cara Bastone, for yet another book that made me laugh and cry all at once. These are characters that will remain with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

This was the best grumpy vs sunshine romance!!!

My first book by Cara Bastone and definitely won't be my last!! Ainsley I absolutely loved her! She was such a bright light in a lot of tough moments in this romance.

I loved Lenny and Miles so much and that slow burn was definitely burning haha. I really wanted more spice in this one but it definitely had more of the sweet romance side.

Overall, def wonderful read!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy!!

Thank you SO much NetGalley and Dial Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💛

This book was absolutely perfect. I could read about Lenny, Miles, and Lou forever. The grief in this story was so raw and I cried several times throughout this book. Despite that, there was so much hope in this story and I was rooting for Lenny every step of the way. Watching her grow and adjust to the “after” was so inspiring and beautiful! Seeing Miles show up for Lenny in every way that he could was so heartwarming and I love these two so, so much. I see so much of myself in Lenny, both in our grief, silly sense of humor, lowest lows, and silly highs. Miles is so perfect and I love how much of his story and hardships we got to experience in this. I also loved how Lou was included in every page. It was so special and such a beautiful reminder that the ones that we lose are never truly lost.

This is so much more than a romance book for me. I am so excited for come out into the world soon so that I can make anyone who will listen read it. This book will stick with me forever ✨

I love Cara Bastone so much, and Promise Me Sunshine just confirmed it all over again. This was such a beautiful story that had me tearing up toward the end, and I’m still thinking about it. I loved all the relationship dynamics she explored, and Miles… ugh, I adored him. The way he understood and stood by Lenny was everything. Also, I absolutely squealed at the Ethan cameo from Ready or Not - such a perfect surprise! This one was so close to being a five-star read for me, and I seriously can’t wait to see what Cara writes next.

2.75 ⭐️

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book like I thought I would. 😔

The dialogue, specifically from Lenny, was way too cheesy and cringy. She’s nearing her 30s and talking like a teenager. I honestly thought Lenny and Miles were better as friends. He seemed like he was still hung up on his ex and she fantasized about every guy she saw.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for an honest review!

If I could rate a book more than five stars, I would. I loved this story. I cried so many times. As someone who has experienced her fair share of loss and grief, this book captured those feelings so well. Coupled with the reality that this is a romance about two people falling in love, but even more so, it is a love letter to best friends who are your soulmates. I am so blessed to have a soulmate best friend in my life, and I am so thankful I still have her. This book made me appreciate her even more.

This story won't be for everyone, and Lenny may be a bit much for some people. Miles may be a bit too perfect. But I wouldn't change a thing about this story. It will make you smile, it will make you sob, and it will make you call your best friend and tell them you love them.

Cara Bastone is an exceptional talent, and I desperately want more people to read her books. *Ready or Not* was shockingly good, but *Promise Me Sunshine* will blow you away with an honest view on grief and loss and learning to live again. It will shatter you and remake you and remind you what it means to love and lose someone. It's full of hope and heart and is written for all the romantics. I cannot recommend it enough.

Words will not do it justice. Just go read it right now. But have snacks and tissues handy when you do.

Beautiful story combing grief, loss, and finding love in the midst of it all. The pacing of the story was great and the writing was exactly what it needed to be to tell this exact story.

I adore Cara Bastone's writing! She has this incredible ability to write in a way that feels effortless and easy to read, but with so much depth, humor, and emotional complexity. She doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, and I trust her immensely to explore them with respect and thoughtfulness. Promise Me Sunshine is Bastone at her best. It follows Lenny, our heroine, as she navigates the aftermath of losing her greatest love and best friend to cancer. The novel explores her journey through grief and her path toward finding a new, livable existence in the wake of such devastating loss.

This was a heartbreaking book from start to finish, yet there are so many beautiful moments of levity and joy scattered throughout. Lenny's resilience, despite her grief, was inspiring—she somehow still found humor in life, and was a bright, warm presence for those around her, particularly Ainsley, her young charge. While caring for Ainsley, Lenny is introduced to Miles, Ainsley’s uncle, who is also struggling with his own scars of grief. His desire to connect with his niece and sister, while deeply important to him, doesn't come easily. He and Lenny strike a bargain—she’ll help him forge a relationship with his family while he helps her work through her grief. Their friendship is the heart of this story, and I loved how it slowly and naturally blossomed. They both trusted each other with their darkest, rawest parts and accepted each other exactly as they were in that moment, not for some idealized version of who they could be.

Yes, eventually this friendship leads to romance, but what was so special about their journey was how it wasn’t driven by initial attraction. Instead, it was about finding healing and growth together. That slow, organic build-up of connection was so beautifully written—it made the eventual romance feel real, earned, and deeply moving.

This is a breathtaking story that enveloped me in ways I never anticipated. I approached it knowing it was a romance & that the leading lady was navigating the loss of her best friend. What I discovered was far more profound…a poignant journey from grief to love. This is not merely a romance; it is a beautifully crafted narrative about loss, healing, & the power of showing up for one another.

The writing is phenomenal, weaving raw emotion with moments of levity that prompted me to laugh aloud throughout this story. The author possesses a remarkable talent for creating characters who feel like cherished friends. I fell deeply in love with the main characters, captivated by their chemistry, & treasured every meticulously crafted supporting character.

Grief, the story’s silent protagonist, is portrayed with striking authenticity…painful yet exquisitely beautiful. The emotional arc from heartache to hope left me in awe, & this story will remain with me for a long time.

I immersed myself in the ebook & savored every page, but I have heard the audiobook is a masterpiece. With glowing reviews for the narrator, I am eager to revisit this gem in audio form. This was my first encounter with Bastone’s work, but it will not be my last. After sharing my enthusiasm with my book bestie, she is now halfway through the audiobook & loving every second of its stellar narration. She also raved about “Love Lines Trilogy”, which I am now halfway through the first audiobook, “Call Me Maybe” & at 5 hours, it is a delightful weekend listen with exceptional narration!

Make sure you check out the author’s “Mad Libs” for Life at the end of the book. This small but powerful touch reinforces the book’s themes of perseverance.

“Life has a way of KO’ing us sometimes. Here are some ideas for getting back up.”

Whether you are navigating grief or not, this story offers a rich & rewarding experience. For those in the midst of loss, this may serve as a comforting companion. Many Audible listeners have shared how deeply the story resonated during their own grieving journeys. With its lush imagery, emotional depth, & themes of healing, independence, & transformation, this is a must-read—whether you choose the ebook or the audiobook.

This one gets 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A special thanks to the author, the publisher, & NetGalley for providing a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

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This one was SO GOOD! I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. The author's writing captured me and this story dealt with grief in a very realistic way but also added so many lighthearted moments to keep you smiling. Miles was 10/10 the best book boyfriend and I loved his constant support of Lenny. While a slow burn and with romance not really being the main plot, their relationship felt so authentic and I found myself rooting so hard for both of them.

Promise Me Sunshine is everything I love in a romance—funny, tender, and full of heart. Cara Bastone creates characters you can’t help but root for, and the emotional depth behind the humor makes this story really stand out. It’s a beautifully written reminder that love—and a little sunshine—can show up when you least expect it. Absolutely loved it!