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.

There are so many places I could start, but I think the most important is to say thank you to Cara Bastone for writing this story with these characters!! Lenny & Miles are so important to me now, I haven’t quite felt this way since reading one of my favorite books of all time. I have already read through this twice since receiving the digital arc, and I am sure I will revisit this book again and again.

A grief wingman, references to Jeopardy, and an exploration of what it means to live on — Promise Me Sunshine is an intriguingly funny journey that follows two semi-prickly people just trying to find their way. It is so rare to find a character whose relationship with grief sort of mimics your own, but Lenny’s resonates so deeply with mine. Losing the people we love is part of life, but no one ever prepares you for the world to keep spinning while yours stops on a Tuesday in September. And so, sometimes we find ourselves riding the ferry’s route in its entirety and avoiding home because coming to terms with our loved one’s absence is too painful. Lenny describes Lou as her soulmate and Miles understandingly explains to her, “Consider it like you just had a heart transplant. When Lou died, your entire heart went with her. But you have to live, right? So now you've got this new heart. And you're getting used to it. No one would expect you to run up a hill right after a heart transplant. Go slow. Go easy on yourself." And that is when I knew I loved him! Well honestly probably before this point, but still.

This story and the MCs feel so loved, so lived in. I laughed, I cried, and I think a part of me healed reading this book. In addition to their slowburn, we got to hear about Miles’ & Reese’s backstories which I thoroughly enjoyed. There is a bit of found family, reconnecting with loved ones in new ways, and navigating how to care for those who usually care for others as well. It’s not often I feel every single part of a story is flushed out, but Bastone leaves no stone unturned. If you read “Ready or Not” and loved it, definitely give this one a go (there’s a surprise appearance!).

Thank you Random House for this arc, I am so grateful. This book smashed all my expectations out of the park and I am excited for “The Naked Eye”!

And to end off, one of my absolute favorite quotes, pg. 216: “And this journey through grief…it’s what we do for the great loves of our lives.”

Thank you NetGalley for this incredible arc. I think this novel is even better than her first! I’m not a slow burn fan but Cara might have converted me. The love between Lenny and Miles is just the sweetest, and I loved the added element of going through grief together.

This was cute for the most part. There were scenes i loved and smiled at. But i couldn’t get over the fact that Lenny went from one (unhealthy/i cant live without this person) relationship to another. She needed therapy, not a random man she had never met (and was a complete ass. He did get better though). I also did not enjoy the amount of times she would look at a man once and envision their entire future together (once or twice, thats fine) but it happened. So. Many. Times. I just feel like they needed something else besides grief to bring them together and to make me feel like they are in a healthy, stable relationship.

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Cara Bastone: whether it be a short story or her longer works. I was very excited for this book as it was one of my most anticipated reads for the beginning of the year.

This is a story about grief and the loss of a loved one. It did start a little slow for me, but I appreciate being able to get to know more about characters before jumping into a lust filled relationship. The romance is definitely slow burn as well, which I loved.

I felt that this story was a good mix of a little of everything. There were times I wanted to cry and times I was grinning from ear to ear. I love that about this story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

Five star read, no question.

Cara Bastone masters the art of the slooooowwwww burn, but the depth and emotion of the story absolutely stand without the romance. Such a beautiful narrative on the grieving process and finding your person to "walk into hell" and bring you back.

Absolutely recommend for anyone needing a read with feeling and relatable characters. The comic relief is a much needed balm to the reality of mortality that Promise Me Sunshine delivers.

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely adored Ready or Not by Cara Bastone, so when I got the chance to read an ARC of Promise Me Sunshine, I was so excited.

This book was beautifully written, and the way Cara brings New York City to life made me feel like I was right there with the characters. It even made me miss home!

Lenny’s journey through grief really hit me. I saw so much of myself in her—especially the way she second-guessed herself and struggled to figure out what life looked like after losing someone she loved. Cara captured grief in such a raw and real way, and it made Lenny’s growth feel so authentic. Watching her slowly rediscover herself, with Miles as this constant support, was just so special.

Speaking of Miles—he’s the ultimate grumpy-sunshine character, and I won’t lie, I was a little skeptical about him at first. But as we got to see more of his story, I loved how much depth he had. His relationship with Lenny was the best kind of slow burn, and I adored how they helped each other heal in different ways. He always believed in her, and because of her, he finally started living for himself, too.

What really stuck with me, though, was how this book handled grief. I’m still going through my own journey after losing my dad, and reading about Lenny’s made me feel so seen. It was a reminder that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting—it means carrying their love with you while still allowing yourself to live🤍

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Cara Bastone for the chance to read this ARC. I can’t wait for everyone to experience this book!


Favorite quotes:

“I knew she was only about two chess moves away from loving Miles.”

“You are honoring her. You are learning to love her exactly as she is. As someone who isn’t here anymore … That’s who she is now. And this journey through grief … It’s what we do for the great loves of our lives.”

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


“I’m uncontainable. I’ve just cracked the code. How to live a perfect existence: just embrace it all, every lovely/excruciating color.”

“I mean that when people are feeling a thousand things at once, that’s when the wheels come off. They start messing up at work or in their marriages or whatever. Nobody lives skillfully when they’re experiencing this sort of thing.”


“Honestly, Lenny? I think they like me because you like me. Not that I’m not … I just mean that the Miles who engineered this whole camping trip, fed everybody, that guy exists because you’re in my life.”

“It’s hard-won wisdom. A formula I figured out in my dark days. One I still need sometimes. When everything is going dark and you can’t understand why … when the grief catches up to you again … Or when your sister shouts at you and you feel like the world’s biggest tool. Just remember. Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery. That’s the winning formula.”