📖 Book Review 📖 There were so many times after my mom died that I just wanted to wear a shirt that said, “Grief sucks” because that emotion was all consuming and I did not feel like anyone could really see how much I was hurting and needed some grace. Lenny is in the debilitating, overwhelming phase of grief after losing her best friend. The only smiles in her life come from the adorable little girl she babysits for (this darling relationship gave me Brittany Murphy/Dakota Fanning vibes from Uptown Girls ❤️). Even the dark cloud of young Ainsley’s grumpy uncle, Miles, brings insight and wisdom into the complexities of healing after loss…and their banter is absolutely page turning. I’m not one to pick a favorite trope but I will admit that Promise Me Sunshine had me totally enveloped in blissful hope of seeing Lenny and Miles transition from friends to lovers. Cara Bastone has delivered an absolutely heartfelt story of sorrow and hope, poignantly reminding us that without the rain, we can’t have flowers.

After finishing this book, I took a little time to gather my thoughts before writing this review. Lately, I seemed to be on a streak of grief-centered stories, which is what initially drew me to this one.

Lenny is struggling to find her way back to normalcy after losing her best friend, Lou. The only thing she feels capable of handling is a series of short-term babysitting gigs—one of which brings her to Reese, an overworked single mom, and her daughter, Ainsley. But things don’t go as smoothly as Lenny hoped, thanks to Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, whose constant presence quickly becomes a source of frustration. Yet, after several clashes, a reluctant friendship starts to take shape as Miles helps Lenny navigate her grief and rediscover what it means to truly live.

I think the author portrayed grief in a deeply authentic way—how one moment, you feel like you’re managing, and the next, it’s as if the world is crumbling beneath you. While I haven’t experienced a loss as profound as Lenny’s, I still felt for her.

That said, while I sympathized with Lenny and appreciated how naturally her relationship with Miles developed, I didn’t connect with the book on a deeper level. The writing felt a bit choppy at times, which made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story.

It’s a touching story with a heartfelt message, and while I truly appreciate it, I wouldn’t personally call it a favorite.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub Date: Mar 04 2025

Lenny has just lost her best friend—her person, her everything. How does one even begin to move forward after such a devastating loss? Lenny doesn’t have the answer, but she’s trying to figure it out, one step at a time. It’s not always graceful, and there are plenty of setbacks along the way. Starting a new babysitting job for Reese and Ainsley seems like a fresh start, but there’s a catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, keeps showing up in Lenny’s orbit. The two don’t hit it off at first, clashing in ways that make it clear they don’t quite understand each other. But slowly, a friendship grows, and Miles becomes an unexpected anchor, helping Lenny rediscover how to truly live again.

This book tore me apart in the most beautiful way. The writing is stunning, raw, and full of heart. I loved every moment of it and found myself wishing I could experience it all over again. The portrayal of grief was honest and unflinching, capturing the uncomfortable questions and profound emptiness that come with losing someone you love. At the same time, it offered glimmers of hope and healing, making it deeply relatable for anyone who has ever faced loss.

I can’t wait to purchase a copy of this book when it’s released! Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for the ARC.

I absolutely ADORED this story! I felt the representation of grief and anxiety within the characters was very accurate and I like how it was not handled with kid gloves, but in a realistic adult way. Miles is absolute GOALS and I love him. The side characters were also so loveable, overall this is an absolute banger. 6 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. After enjoying Cara Bastone's Ready or Not last year, I was excited to dive into her latest offering, expecting a similar vibe. However, this book is quite different, and while not what I anticipated, it is by no means a disappointment.

The tone of the story is distinct, with a significant focus on grief and recovery. I’ll admit, I struggled to connect with the grief aspect—it felt incredibly intense. The FMC seems to be in desperate need of more than just emotional support, and the lack of professional intervention left me feeling a bit unsettled.

That said, the connection between the two main characters is heartwarming. Their journey of helping each other is touching, and their love story is undoubtedly the highlight of the book. The ending offers a sense of resolution, though the FMC’s path to healing is fraught with challenges and discomfort, making it a difficult but ultimately rewarding read.

One thing I would’ve liked to see more of is the MMC's relationship with his family. It felt like there was an opportunity to dive deeper into that aspect of his character, which could have added another layer to his connection with the FMC. Instead, some of the storylines—like the camping trip and the disco scene—felt a bit unnecessary and detracted from the emotional depth of the story.

Overall, while I couldn’t fully relate to the grief-driven aspects of the story, I appreciated the depth of the characters’ bond.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this incredible ARC in exchange for my very honest thoughts!

I absolutely adored this book. I didn't know I could love a Cara Bastone book more than I loved Ready or Not (the first I've read by her), but I love this one more and it makes me want to devour anything she's ever written.

Lenny broke my heart, and Miles was there to pick up the pieces.

I listened to a podcast called Happy to Meet Cute interviewing Cara Bastone, and she talked about how this was probably the funniest book she's written so far and I believe it. Almost everything she wrote was a decadent dessert that you held on your tongue and relished as long as you had it. It was a cup of the best homemade hot chocolate. But in all of it there was also heartbreak and grief. Grief that was stronger than I've ever experienced and it breaks my heart that anyone would have to. She handled it in a way that made me believe it, understand it, and gave me hope for Lenny.

I just loved it. I hope ya'll read it and love it too.

Life seems rather hopeless for Lenny, you see she recently lost her best friend Lou after a long battle with 0varian cancer. She is loss in grief and avoidance .. she has been evading her parents by ignoring all contact with them; she refuses to return to the apartment she shared with Lou instead spends her time riding the Staten Island ferry and she has yet to complete anything on her ‘list’ to live again. She has managed to survive by securing short-term nanny jobs and has just land the perfect nanny job, working for a single overworked mom Reese and her precocious little girl, Ainsley. It is here Lenny is about to meet her match, a cantankerous stranger by the name of Miles, someone that know about this type of grief. We all need a Miles in our lives. Someone that is a total stranger that is willing to come to our rescue 🛟 when life becomes so heavy and hard for us bear … to save us from despair. Miles becomes Lenny’s ‘grief wingman’ and promises to help Lenny to complete her ‘list’ to live again in exchange to for help to get to know his niece, Ainsley and become a better Uncle.

Yes, Promise Me Sunshine is a contemporary romance, enemies-to-lovers story. But it is so much more, it is not just a lighthearted story about finding romance, it is a rather heavy story about losing your best friend in life, it is about grieving and feeling lost that some days are so dark you can’t bear to be in your home .. you don’t eat or “water” yourself. It is a journey about coming out of that cloud to find joy and love again with someone you least expect that to happen with. It is about accepting that you are kind, wise and understanding. It is about found family and three people that need and help each through life’s bumpy road.

This is my second novel by Cara Bastone, I adored this novel and a new favorite go to author.

Thank you, Cara Bastone, Random House Publishing/The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own..

This story follows Lenny, who is grieving from the death of her best friend, and Miles, who himself has plenty of experience coping with death. Lenny agrees to help Miles get closer to his niece, and Miles agrees to help Lenny heal from her best friend's passing, and unsurprisingly, romance begins to blossom as the two grow closer.

I feel a bit conflicted on this one, which is also how I felt about Bastone's book Ready or Not. On one hand, there are moments of tenderness and connection that I really enjoyed. On the other hand, I do think the pacing of this book didn't quite work. We have a few flashbacks to Lou, Lenny's best friend, but none of those moments actually made me see how deep their relationship was. And, really, I know next to nothing about Lou, despite her being such an important catalyst for this story. There were also times where the book was just jumping around from moment to moment, and it started to feel a little bit like vignettes of Lenny and Miles versus a smooth flowing story. I liked all the side characters we were introduced to, like Lenny's new friends, but they also kind of just fell to the wayside and weren't given all that much to do or to share.

There are special moments here, and I did enjoy most of the writing, but I don't think this will stick with me for too long after reading. I would recommend for folks who are fans of Ready or Not, grumpy sunshine romances, and romances that balance humor with more serious topics.

✨ Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! ✨

this book was really sweet. i really enjoyed the discussions of grief and how well our two main characters clicked. the use of the get-your-life-back-after-loss list was also a really fun plot point to follow! i would have liked to see a tad more buildup between our main character and the love interest at the start of the book - towards the end i really did love them together, but it felt a tad bit stunted at the start. as always, cara bastone's writing makes for super easy reading, and i always love her humour and the way she funnels this into her characters. overall a really sweet read with some important topics sprinkled in

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | 🌶🌶
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is heartbreakingly beautiful in every sense. This book wrecked me from beginning to end—I cried both sad and happy tears throughout. Its exploration of grief and life-altering experiences is written with immense depth and emotional intelligence, making it impossible not to reflect on your own experiences. It was both difficult and healing at the same time, which speaks to how powerfully this story is told.

The friendship and extremely slow-burn romance between Miles and Lenny is truly one for the books. While the pace might test your patience, it makes perfect sense for these characters and their journey. Lenny’s character had me thinking about my own relationships and how deeply grateful I am for my closest friends. And Miles? Top-tier book boyfriend material. The way he cares for others had me wishing for someone like him in both a friend and a partner.

Beyond their connection, the glimpses into their individual lives made this story even more layered and compelling. Promise Me Sunshine isn’t just a love story—it’s about healing, finding joy after loss, and the people who help us along the way. A beautifully emotional read that will stay with me for a long time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I read 20% of this book and really loved most of it. The writing, the characters and the story are all top tier. I wanted to keep going and see everything play out but I can’t handle reading books with such detail about cancer in it and this one was just a bit too much. I didn’t realize before requesting this book that, that was a big topic in the story. I think anyone who doesn’t struggle reading about that topic will be able to enjoy this beautiful story on grief and healing really well.

First, thank you to Net Galley and Dial Press for the ARC. I wanted to like this more than did. It starts off okay, and has a lot of cute and funny moments between Lenny and Miles. However, the slow burn trope strangles the life out of what could have been a better book. Lenny is also so hung up over her best friend’s death that it takes away from what potential there may have been for her and Miles. I understand it was a centerpiece for why Lenny was so devastated to her soul. Still, the most loving relationship throughout the entire story was the one between Lenny and Lou. It took center stage. That, along with the super slow burn romance, made this book a chore to get through. It definitely has a lot of laugh out loud moments, but it’s just way too slow for me. I understand some love that, but it’s just not my cup of tea.

Promise Me Sunshine was a sweet little read, kind of like a cup of warm tea on a rainy day. I really liked the main character’s journey through grief—it felt genuine and moving. But… some of the dialogue? Cringe city. I was secondhand embarrassed for them at times. I also wanted a stronger connection with the characters, but it just didn’t hit that deep. I think I went in with too high expectations after loving Ready or Not. It’s definitely a book a lot of people will enjoy, but for me? Meh, not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the early access to this new novel from Cara Bastone. This is my first book I’ve read from Bastone and I am obsessed. The audiobook was so fun to listen to. Lenny voice—written and spoken—is just so perfect. She’s raw and real and authentic. I was smiling and laughing so often at her. But I also was crying ugly tears and sobbing many times. Bastone writes as someone who knows grief and loss and it is truly beautifully written. Miles is perfection. Honestly maybe a little too perfect but I didn’t even care because I loved him so much. It is the slowest of burns and slowest journey of friends to “lahvahrs” (iykyk) but it’s 1000% worth it. I loved this book so much. Highly highly recommend.

Cara Bastone has a way of pulling on your heartstrings in a way that feels so hard and sad, while giving you hope and forcing you to smile until your cheeks hurt.

This was truly a lovely story filled with so much depth and raw emotion!

Promise Me Sunshine is such a sweet romance, but it’s also a story about grief and learning to live again after loss. Grief is a long and arduous process—everyone processes it differently and at their own pace—and Lenny’s journey through healing felt incredibly honest and real. I loved following her as she rediscovered the joys of life and love and embraced new relationships. I especially appreciated the realistic way that things concluded<spoiler>—not with Lenny’s grief magically disappearing, but with the understanding that healing is ongoing and Lenny will continue to work through her grief with the support of her loved ones to bolster her.</spoiler>

The one thing that didn’t 100% work for me (and truly it’s more of a me thing) was the silliness of the setup—having a stranger help you process your grief. However, looking at the story as a whole, it doesn’t seem that far fetched after getting to know the characters. Also the quirkiness of the FMC Lenny could be a bit much for me at times—but again, as the story went on, it felt authentic to her character rather than a forced personality trait.

As for the romance, the slow burn between Lenny and Miles’ was perfect. Their dynamic was heartfelt and genuine, and the two of them had great banter together. Cara Bastone did a great job developing their relationship from strangers to friends to lovers. Rather than simply being told that they’re friends, we’re shown a realistic evolution of their relationship that never feels rushed nor forced into romance in a way that would undercut the story’s deeper themes of grief and healing.

Overall a really lovely read, and I look forward to whatever Cara Bastone writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending this book for review consideration.

Going into this book, I knew Cara Bastone was capable of writing about the beauty in raw and real hard life situations (Ready or Not) but Promise Me Sunshine just completely blew me away. Our story gives us Lenny, who is struggling with the loss of her best friend, Lou, to cancer. She crosses paths with Miles, who becomes her “grief wingman” in exchange for help building a better relationship with his niece.

This is one of those books that I will forever wish I could read again for the first time. It was the perfect portrayal of the big and little steps forward when trying to process grief - which is such a unique pain yet somehow a shared experience to all those who have experienced it in one way or another. After a difficult few months personally, I found myself highlighting specific quotes and resonating with the words as if I was reading a self help book and not a fictional novel, and I want to include the one that really hit home for me in this review “Grief is a relationship, he continues. 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.” I’ll definitely be taking the time to thank the people who have been like Miles in my life, and doing my best to be there for anyone who needs that person themselves.

Thank you so much Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. Eagerly looking forward to The Naked Eye!

I absolutely loved this book; it was so good! It felt very realistic, and it wasn't overdramatic. I loved the growth that all the characters went through and the way that Lenny's grief was written was wonderful. It did get emotional, but it was also hopeful and romantic. I just loved how caring and thoughtful Miles was. Just all around, a wonderful read.

Being a part of Lenny’s grief journey was hard, real, raw and beautiful. This book was nothing short of wonderful.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

<I>'"Grief is a relationship," he continues. "It's the way we figure out how to keep loving them even though they're gone."'</I>

Lenny is drowning. After losing her best friend, Lou, to cancer she moves through life barely surviving; she can't return to their shared apartment, she can't commit to a long-term nanny job, she can't properly feed herself, she just <I>can't</I> anymore. Her theory is if she doesn't let anyone close again, nobody will know she's pulling apart at the seams.

However, someone does see her struggle. And, surprisingly, it's the surly uncle of the little girl she's just started babysitting. Familiar with grief, and desperate to help <I>someone</I>, Miles offers to help Lenny get through her "Live Again" list in exchange for helping him build a relationship with his niece.

PROMISE ME SUNSHINE delivers on a beautiful slow-burn romance and a heartbreaking portrayal of all-encompassing grief. But I think what Bastone really nailed was Lenny's grief over Lou; grief's journey is very rarely a linear path, and Lenny's story was full of ups and downs. Learning to live after loss is never easy, and the guilt that can come with finding happiness afterwards can be almost as debilitating, and Bastone did not shy away from Lenny's continuous struggle. However, in my opinion, it made the ending that much sweeter.