When Lenny loses the love of her life, her soulmate & very best friend, she is absolutely devastated. She meets Miles, who she finds to be a little gruff and rough around the edges, and he vows to help her get through her grief, as he himself has also experienced great loss and knows what she is going through. They end up actually helping each other out along the way. While the book felt a little long at times, I did enjoy the main characters, as well as the supporting cast. I could definitely feel all the mess of emotions that Lenny was going through trying to live her life without her best friend.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the opportunity to read an early eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I wanted to take my time reading this book because I never wanted it to be done but it was hard because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I laughed and I cried. This book was so beautifully written and the way the characters experience grief is so real and raw. I think authors tend to jazz it up, you know the character isn’t doing well or they’re grieving but you don’t truly see the entire ugly part. This book shows it, the not showering, constant crying, not eating, inability to properly function but so beautifully captures the reality of learning how to live with grief. Lenny is a real girl who is living one of my personal worst fears. I loved her character, her growth in the book and how honest and real of a person she felt. I obviously loved absolutely everything about Miles and will be adding him to my ever growing list of perfect book boyfriends.
I highly, highly recommend this book and have no notes. 5 stars, Cara Bastone has done it again.

After reading Ready or Not, I just had to dive into Promise Me Sunshine right away. This is only the 2nd book I’ve read by Cara Bastone, but I’ve fallen madly in love with her writing already & she’s definitely going to be on my favorite new-to-me authors list this year.

Before you read this one, you should know this book is more about grief, friendship, family dynamics, & finding one’s self plus a side of romance, so if you’re looking for a romance, especially a spicy one, this might not be for you. With that said, this is still a beautifully written book with some top tier tropes & witty banter. It will have you laughing, swooning, & emotional for sure. If you love a super slow burn, I highly recommend this.

What to expect:
•grumpy x sunshine
•friends to lovers
•slow burn
•cinnamon roll MMC
•grief journey
•single POV

Thank you, NetGalley & Dial Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars. Oh Cara Bastone, you do know how to write a romance that is so much more than a happily-ever-after. This is my second book by Bastone, and even though I might have like Ready or Not a bit more, this one was still a big win and one of two books that pulled me out of a reading slump this last week. The character development was strong, and I will definitely remember them for a long time to come. The depictions of grief and healing from grief were powerful, and you may have a cold dead heart if you do not cry :). I loved all the different relationships featured (Miles and Lenny, Lenny and Ainsley, Ainsley and Lenny), and there were so many moments that made my heart smile despite the heavy topics. Highly recommend!

This book is primarily a book about grief, friendship, and learning to live when everything feels impossible. There is a LOT of heaviness and this is not a light book at all - I think I was a bit unprepared for the deep seriousness of Lenny’s sadness. I think it was a very honest and real portrayal, especially at the beginning and showing how Lenny could get it together for a work day, but then fall apart immediately after. That felt like such a common experience if you’ve gone through a dark time. Miles was intriguing, but by the end I wish I had gotten to know him better other than his dedication to his niece and sister and to Lenny. Overall a sweet, heartfelt book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Promise Me Sunshine is the second book by Cara Bastone I've read and I have loved both. The main character in lost in the sea of grief after losing her best friend. She is nannying to get through the days when she meets a gruff family member of one of her clients. Through the book, they become close as he helps her work through her "live again" list.

This book was an easy read from the start, and I just wanted to keep reading. Even though the topic was grief, it didn't feel overwhelmingly sad because I was invested in the characters, and their moving forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advance reader copy. #PromiseMeSunshine #NetGalley

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Grief and loss manifest differently for everyone—there’s no set path to healing.

We meet Lenny as she begins a short-term nannying job for Ainsley, a young girl whose single mother has a demanding career. What Lenny doesn’t anticipate is the presence of Ainsley’s hulking, brooding uncle, Miles, who seems to lurk in the background. While Lenny quickly bonds with Ainsley—being a natural caregiver—beneath her warm exterior lies a heart weighed down by sorrow. She is still reeling from the loss of her childhood best friend, Lou, to cancer. Unable to face the emptiness of her apartment each night, Lenny instead rides the ferry until morning, lost in grief.

One evening, Miles follows her, slowly piecing together her story. Having experienced his own devastating losses—his mother and cousin—he recognizes Lenny’s pain. Determined to help her find her way back to a sense of normalcy, he offers to be her “wingman” in healing. Lou left Lenny a sort of bucket list, and Miles vows to push her through each item, guiding her toward rediscovering joy.

As they work through the list together, Lenny begins looking forward to her time with Miles, and before long, feelings emerge—feelings that terrify her even more than her grief. The thought of embracing happiness feels like a betrayal of Lou’s memory. Overwhelmed, she finally reaches out to her mother, whom she had pushed away in her sorrow. At a breaking point after visiting Lou’s grave, she accepts her mother’s invitation to a traditional Italian family dinner—one that also includes Miles. There, Lenny realizes the depth of her family’s love and how much they, too, have been grieving their estrangement.

This visit only amplifies her growing feelings for Miles, leaving her conflicted. When she finally confesses her emotions, Miles tells her to wait—an answer that mystifies and confounds her.

After finally finding her way to Miles, Lenny reaches the last item on Lou’s list. In true Lou fashion, she left behind one final, hidden task—one that leads Lenny to a profound realization about love, loss, and moving forward.

A truly beautiful novel about navigating grief and rediscovering happiness, this story is both heartfelt and deeply resonant. I absolutely loved reading it!

Oh my god? Oh my GOD? This was so amazing. I felt every single emotion I think was possible in the duration of this book. It could have gone on for 1,000 more pages and I would have read every single one with no hesitation. This is absolutely beautiful.

The way grief is handled is beautifully done. It was so realistic and absolutely gut-wrenching at time. Lenny and Miles are such a well put together pair. The way their friendship developed before there was even any hint of actual romance at all?? So good.

I also really liked how as Lenny became more herself again through her grief, her nannying became less and less the center of her world. She wasn’t doing things to pass the time until she had to go back, she was actively living her life in the time she wasn’t there, which was a beautiful transformation to watch.

In summary, I will happily read anything Cara Bastone writes because this is easily one of my favorites reads so far this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dial Press for the advanced copy!

God this book was so beautiful and I should’ve known after reading her book ready or not. I feel like this is going to be an auto by author for me now. This was beautiful as much as it was sad and heartfelt. And I absolutely loved it.

Heartfelt, Hopeful, and Deeply Moving

Cara Bastone’s Promise Me Sunshine is a tender, emotional journey through grief, love, and rediscovering joy after loss. This book explores what it means to keep living when the person you loved most is gone.

Lenny, a nanny still reeling from the loss of her best friend and soulmate, finds herself unexpectedly befriending the uncle, Miles, of the child she’s caring for. He’s determined to help her complete the list her best friend left behind and push her to step outside her grief and embrace life again. In exchange, Lenny helps Miles connect and become closer to his niece and sister.

Bastone beautifully captures the complexities of loss and love, blending sorrow with warmth, hope, and laughter. The chemistry between the characters feels authentic, and their journey together is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Promise Me Sunshine reminds us that while grief may never fully disappear, friendship, love, and connection have the power to pull us back into the light.

I loved this so much. It was *heavy* but also so heartwarming and sweet and hopeful. Fighting your way back from the depths of grief is hard but when you lose your person, your greatest love… I can only imagine how impossible the idea living again can seem. Lenny, although she pushed everyone away, she was doing everything she could to survive. Little did she know, this broody and blunt man would take her hand and pull her to the surface again. The evolution of their relationship was so warm and hopeful when everything in Lenny’s life felt like she was just in the pits of despair.

The romance and the falling for each other felt so natural and not rushed and not forced. Of course, it’s a romance, you figure it’s gonna end up that way. But when we finally got there, whew, I felt it all. I felt her realization and her panic. And then her acceptance and her resolve. This was so beautifully written.

I was curious how it would feel physically reading one of Cara’s books since I’ve only ever listened to the ones on Audible Plus (and loved majority of them). It didn’t disappoint in the least. It felt very different from those books. Way more depth and meaning. I was very happy with how this book ended up.

This book was very very sweet. It portrayed grief in a really heart wrenching and realistic way. I think a lot of people might really love this story, but the writing was just not doing it for me personally. It felt a little too casual, maybe a little too train-of-thought, and it was hard to follow sometimes. I struggled to connect with the characters until about 70ish% in and then I really enjoyed the story, it just took me a long time to get to that point. But again, I just wasn’t vibing with the writing! The romance was cute and fun & the kid she was nannying was adorable. Thank you netgalley for the early copy:)

My words cannot convey enough how truly beautiful this novel was. There are very few books that captivate me from the very first page, immediately feel like a five-star read, and also become something I know I will re-read again and again in my life… And Promise Me Sunshine is now, without a doubt, a new classic-favorite of mine.

This was a heartwarming story about navigating the complexities of grief (old and new) and learning how to gradually cope/ heal. Lenny and Miles’ approach to confront every raw emotion they try to repress to show any semblance that they are okay was a very realistic and human depiction that will deeply resonate with anyone. I found it very easy to connect to their journey.

Although the undertones of the book feel heavy, it was very well balanced through little moments of joy and kindness. The side characters brought warmth and connection that helped uplift our main characters. Lenny, too, who ironically was the one who was emotionally adrift after losing her best friend and soulmate provided comedic reprieve through her constant witty banter.

The romance itself was very endearing and honest. Miles was a gem of a man— so patient and gentle. He was my actual partner fictionalized so I was naturally obsessed with him. The grumpy-sunshine pair clicked so naturally together and this is an instance where a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers scenario worked perfectly well.

Overall, this was a painfully, emotional yet uplifting story. I would not change a single detail about it. You will be touched, cry, and laugh through every turn of the page.

DNF. Got to about 41% but this book is not for me. 3 stars for the part I read. I appreciate being given this ARC. But I am not the ideal reader for this book.

Unfortunately I couldn’t relate to these characters. I am usually someone who loves a good story with themes of grief and loss and healing. Which is why I requested the book, and the topic of cancer. I’ve had cancer myself and most people to cancer. But I wasn’t a fan of the way the grief was portrayed in this book. Lenny is barely hanging on by a thread and I just kept thinking that what she needs was actual therapy. And I was hoping for so much more romance. I didn’t feel any connection between Lenny and Miles either. At nearly half way through the book I was hoping for more by then. I also got the ick within the first few pages of the book when Lenny describes, upon first meeting miles, what her fantasy is about them becoming something and fully describes how their relationship would go. She says “It's probably apropos to mention that I instantaneously spin elaborate fantasies about almost every man I ever meet.” … and yes it is concerning ha. This completely weirded me out and instantly made me think this character has some things to work out with a therapist. And slow burn is an understatement. nothing was happening romance wise.

There are some sweet moments with the kid Ainsley, however I am the least maternal person ever and don’t ever want kids and have no interest in parenting. So I REALLY couldn’t relate to any of that part. I definitely can see some other people enjoying this book, but I am simply not the audience for it.

4.5 stars rounding up.

This is my second book by Cara Bastone and she’s becoming a go-to author for me! This story is more about grief, the human experience, healing, companionship and family dynamics — all slowly building into a deep romantic connection.

I love and appreciate the “love of my life” relationship of Lenny and her bestie Lou who she lost to cancer. I have my own Lou who went through some traumatic health experiences so I found myself deeply affected by this story.

Miles was a dream, loved his grumpy butt, loved his earnest desire to connect with his sister and niece after a super heartbreaking family history.

Lenny’s and Miles’s development individually and as a pair was done so well. So many raw, tender, and sweet moments. True loyalty and care. And lots of funny moments, too. The humor helped lighten up the heaviness of healing through grief.

What holds me back from giving this 5 stars are the convenience elements. Specifically that Miles had come into family money which gave these characters SO MUCH privilege to work through this stuff. Extra homes in NYC? No need to have a full time job? That reality simply doesn’t exist for most of us.

But overall I loved this and can’t wait to read more from Cara!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House (Dial Press) for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The queen of the slow burn is back with another heart wrenching and gorgeous romance. I was obsessed with the authors last book and had super high expectations for this one and my expectations were exceeded. I knew going into this there were heavy themes and it would be sad, so I was prepared but this did break my heart. It was slowly and surely put back together though and so worth it but man does the author write about grief in a poignant and absolutely gutting manner. Lenny was an absolute disaster at the beginning of the book, such an accurate portrayal of grief and Miles was the most patient man on the planet with her. Their relationship was the softest and most tender slow burn but it was also so funny, they had amazing banter and their friendship was beautiful as well. When you are in the mood for an emotional, character driven, swoony, beautiful romance this is a must!

thank you netgalley for the arc <3 !!

tw: death / loss of a loved one / grief

this is my first cara bastone book and i can say w certainty it won’t be my last

it was a very beautiful story surrounding grief, and reconnecting w family and trying to live again after grief

while i can’t say i’ve had direct experience w the topics this book surrounds, i am aware that grief is not a linear process as w most things in life and reading lennys pov it’s almost all consuming how loss can be, where in the beginning of the book lenny is spending her time anywhere but her apartment

and her love story w miles, while it’s not the forefront of the story, it was almost refreshing seeing these two people and how they saved each other from dark times

the way that miles was unconditionally there to support her and never pushed that romantic connection until he knew she was at a place where she could handle it like that’s love

overall it was a very beautiful slow burn love story, surrounding grief and finding yourself again

- bigger than the whole sky
- love is embarrassing
- begin again
- everything has changed
- skinny love
- soon you’ll get better

PROMISE ME SUNSHINE by Cara Bastone (out March 4)

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this free e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Cara Bastone has done it again! READY OR NOT was one of my favorite reads of 2024, and this subsequent book does not disappoint.

Lenny is devastated by the loss of her best friend and soul sister, wandering the streets (and waterways) of NYC in between short term nanny gigs. When she starts nannying for Ainsley, Ainsley’s grumpy uncle sees through Lenny’s cheery nanny facade and offers a trade — he’ll ferry (this will be funny once you read the book) her through this stage of grief (after all, he’s been there himself) if she’ll teach him how to connect to his niece.

This is a tender, sad, SLOOOOOOW BURN with rich characters and unflinching portrayals of grief. I finished it in 12 hours and I’m so sad it’s over! I loved the way Miles cares for Lenny and how Lenny comes into her own as she begins to heal.

CW: lots of death of loved ones (dad, mom, sibling-avatars, cancer, car accident, stroke, in the past)

A novel that will take your emotions on a roller-coaster ride (but in a good way). Sometimes it was laugh-out loud hilarious (a certain talent-show dance!), and other times the Kleenexes couldn’t be used quickly enough (when the author details just how gut-wrenching it is missing a loved one)…

I downloaded and read this two weeks and three days after the loss of my toy poodle Audrey, so I could definitely relate to Lenny’s pain. Her Miles was the balm she needed for her grief. My husband Cary, who also loved our Audrey-girl, has been the perfect balm for mine…even when wiping his own tears away…

Memorable Quotes:
“There’s never anything we can do to keep someone alive, Lenny. There’s no bargain you can make. It’s an illusion. A terrible illusion. The only thing you could ever have done is what you’re doing right now. Sending her off.”

Thanks for this book that speaks volumes about loving and grieving, Cara.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

First off thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House publishing for providing me with this ARC!!

Now I knew this book was going to deeply effect me, because I am very personally effected and connected to this story. I lost my best friend in 2021 to bone cancer. She also grew up in Manhattan, and was an artist. And all those things are what Lou’s character is about. Lenny loses Lou to a battle with cancer, and this story is all about how Lenny lives again. Lenny gets a babysitting job from a woman named Reese to babysit her child Ainsley. Lenny then meets Miles because he is Reese’s brother. They end up befriending each other because he wants to help Lenny live again, and he has also lost people very close to him. And basically there romance grows from there. The way that Cara Bastone writes is so beautiful, but also freaking hysterical!! I found myself highlighting almost every page, because I absolutely adore her writing. This was an absolutely beautiful book, and shows how Lenny opens herself up to love again. I cried multiple times reading this, because the way she describes the grief Lenny goes through is what I experienced myself. Both this book and Ready or Not were 5 stars reads for me, so Cara Bastone is becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I absolutely loved this, so 5 stars and I think anyone who has lost someone close to them should read this. I think it might help you heal just a little. ❤️❤️