What an absolutely beautiful story focusing on devastation of grief, friendship, and love. Miles and Lenny’s slow burn, friends to lovers romance was so beautifully written. The commentary on grief and the loss of a family member was done with such care.

I loved all of the characters, the gentle pacing of the story, the swoony romance. This was my first book by Cara Bastone, but it definitely won’t be the last.

Another Cara Bastone knock out! I read her first book, last year, and knew I would want to read whatever she wrote next. This was such a heartfelt book, with a slew of loveable characters.

Lenny is learning to live again after the death of her lifetime best friend when she takes on the job of babysitting Ainsley for the weekend. She immediately meets Ainsley's uncle Miles, who makes far from a good first impression. As they get to know each other, and unlikely friendship forms as he helps her feel alive again and complete her live again list.

I immediately fell in love with all of the characters in this book. They all felt so deep and real. Lenny was so relatable and real. She felt like someone I would want to be friends. Cara Bastone also writes the best book boyfriends. Like Shep in Ready or Not, Miles is perfectly patient, dependable, and lovable. I love how they both care so much for Ainsley and the two make a really wholesome pair as they are both the nicest people ever.

This is my favorite book I have read in a long time. Lenny's journey with Miles through her grief was so beautiful and felt so real. I feel like any review I write won't do this book justice, but I can't wait for it to come out because I will be recommending it to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book!

Oh, this book was so cute! Lenny is struggling after losing her best friend and finds it hard to move on. But when she meets Miles while helping a single mom and her daughter, Ainsley, he offers to help Lenny complete her "live again" list in exchange for her help connecting with Ainsley. It was a bittersweet journey—sad at times, but also heartwarming and filled with moments that made me smile. And I have to say, I absolutely loved Miles.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: March 4, 2024

<b>— 3.75 stars ★</b>
⤿ <i>arc review ⊹ ࣪ ˖ </i>

this is my first cara bastone book and honestly why haven’t I been reading her books SINCE because her work is really great. she tackles tough subjects that add depth to a typical romance novel. the theme of grief throughout the story helps to develop more complex characters. lenny and miles are portrayed in a way that feels relatable, making it easy for readers to see their own lenny and miles in the story. my main issue was the lack of romance; I wish we had more moments between lenny and miles.

this book took me on a deep emotional journey. it felt genuine and relatable. you find yourself laughing and crying, and by the end, you see that it’s not only a tale of sorrow—it’s also about discovering moments of happiness even in tough times. lenny and miles have their flaws, and that’s what makes their development so touching. i honestly think this book could’ve been a little longer because I really wanted to see more of lenny and miles relationship. i really like this authors work and this definitely won’t be my last book from her

ೃ⁀➷ <b>thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.</b>

OH MY GOD. IS 5 STARS ENOUGH?!?! 🥹⭐️🤍

I am truly blown away. This was a perfect book. Promise Me Sunshine has a heavy emphasis on the various stages of grief and the power someone’s presence can have in your life, both past and present. Bastone meticulously and flawlessly took us through the varying emotions both the FMC and MMC feel as their relationship evolves while dealing with their own respective hardships, but also kept it light at the same time with banter and humor. I got actual butterflies while reading!!

If this book doesn’t turn into a movie at some point I will be so sad. I never understood people that had “book boyfriends,” but Miles Honey is mine. *chefs kiss*

Thank you to Cara Bastone, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!! I will be purchasing when the physical book is released in stores. 🥰 This was my first Cara Bastone novel and won’t be my last!! So excited to read more by her!

4.5 stars ❤️

I was so excited to receive the ARC for this book because Ready or Not was one of my favourite romances I read last year, and for the second book in a row, Cara Bastone did NOT disappoint!!!

Promise Me Sunshine was adorable, emotional, and had me laughing out loud a few times. I loved the depiction of grief in different ways through both Lenny and Miles, and their connection was so sweet. I'm always here for a romance that doesn't feel like it's just racing to the part where they have sex, so I was digging the slow-burn. Plus, it felt like they'd already been dating for months with how they talked to each other and everything they did together.

Also, their new little friend group was fun! I loved watching Lenny grow from someone who had basically stopped existing with other people to someone who could look forward to making plans with new friends and let herself experience joy again.

Knocked off half a star solely because I felt like there could have been a little bit more to the whole Reese and Miles relationship. I would've liked to see more of them actually strengthening that relationship since it was so important to Miles.

Overall, I really loved this book and I'm already excited for whatever Cara Bastone writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a beautiful examination of grief and how to continue living (and loving) after loss. Simultaneously soft, sharp, and sardonic. Sometimes incredibly prolific, sometimes incredibly unserious. I loved the journey Lenny went through as well as how her relationships develop.

After reading Read Or Not, I had high expectations of Promise Me Sunshine (maybe just slightly too high unfortunately). Cara Bastone doesn’t shy away from hard hitting topics that create more depth to your average romance book. The idea of grief that weaves its way through the book helps to create more three dimensional characters. The way that Lenny and Miles are written felt familiar, like anyone can read this book and identify their Lenny and Miles. My biggest complaint was not enough romance! I wanted more of Lenny and Miles together. My other minor complaint is that Lenny seemed somewhat immature. I’m the same age she’s supposed to be, but I kept imagining her as a 20 year old.

Overall, Cara Bastone deserves to be in the same conversation as authors like Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, who create deeper romance novels with characters that are memorable and pull on the heart strings.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review

One of the best depictions of what life is like with grief. I absolutely loved everything about this book. This is definitely not a traditional love story, instead it’s about finding the good in the hardest times, learning how to accept help, and moving forward.

Love and grief cannot exist without each other. We meet Lenny when she’s deep in the trenches of grief and is struggling to even consider pulling out of it. The story being from her POV puts you in the trenches too. You will love Lenny and root for her along the way. I laughed, I cried and deeply felt throughout this entire book. I can already tell it’ll be one of my favorite reads this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a book that feels like a warm hug and a reminder that life goes on, you've got to pick up *Promise Me Sunshine* by Cara Bastone. This story swept me away, and I have to say, I absolutely loved it. It's about grief, healing, and those unexpected moments when life gives you a second chance, even when you least expect it.

The main character, Lenny, is going through a really tough time. Her best friend, Lou, died of cancer, and Lenny is completely lost without her. She's disconnected from everything—her caring parents, the apartment she used to share with Lou, and even life in general. She’s got a list of things she needs to do to get herself moving again, but honestly, it’s all just too much. The one thing she *can* manage is babysitting, which leads her to an awesome gig helping out Reese, a single mom who's juggling way too much. Reese's daughter, Ainsley, is a bright little spark—super smart and full of energy—but there’s one issue: her uncle Miles.

At first, Miles seems like a total nightmare. He’s curt, guarded, and comes across as pretty rude. Let’s just say, Lenny is definitely not a fan. But as Lenny continues to show up for Ainsley, she realizes that Miles is around all the time, and slowly, the two of them start to see more than just the surface of each other.

It turns out, Miles knows a lot about heartache too. He offers Lenny a deal that changes everything: if she helps him improve his bond with his niece and mends some fences with Reese, he’ll help her tackle that “live again” list she’s been avoiding. At first, Lenny isn’t so sure—how can ticking off items on a list or helping Miles fix his family really fill the hole Lou left in her life? But as they spend more time together, Lenny and Miles both find pieces of themselves they'd thought they’d lost forever.
This book was such a heartfelt journey. It felt so real, so human. You laugh, you tear up, and by the end, you realize that it’s not just a story of grief—it’s about finding bits of joy even when everything feels heavy. Lenny and Miles are both so flawed, and that's what makes their growth feel so moving.

This is my second Cara Bastone book, and let me tell you—it won’t be my last. Her way of writing feels so natural and relatable like she’s sitting with you and telling a story over coffee. If you’re in the mood for a book that feels like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, give *Promise Me Sunshine* a try. It’s a story of healing and love, but mostly, it’s a gentle reminder that even when life feels broken, there’s always a way to find light again.
4.75 Stars!
#PromiseMeSunshine, #CaraBastone, #RandomHouse, #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book. I love the way Cara Bastone writes because it’s so raw, but beautifully poetic at the same time. This book wasn’t just a good love story with swoony and romantic moments, but it made me feel like I was healing alongside her characters. This story was emotionally heavy, but in a way that felt like taking vitamins because it was good for me. Dealing with grief is a really tough subject to write on, but I thought Bastone captured what it can look like to go through that process while writing a captivating love story alongside it. I really love the characters, and they reminded me a lot of the main characters in the movie Garden State. I really liked that they both had character arcs and grew in ways that made sense and felt complimentary to each other instead of reliant on each other.

Lenny is barely keeping herself from drowning in her grief over the loss of her best friend and hops between short-term nannying gig to. When the grumpy uncle of her latest charge gives her a lifeline in exchange for Lenny helping him connect with his niece, a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance begins. I loved this book. I stayed up late to finish. Sweet, hopeful, and just precious, I will read anything Cara Bastone writes. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC!

Oh Cara Bastone you never fail to write a top tier book.

God this was so fantastic. Not only is it an incredible representation of grief in life but also the sweetest example of community and found family. We go through a range of emotions depicted through Lenny's grief of her best friend, essentially her other half, Lou.

As she is working at her new job, she meets the grumpy Miles who agrees to help her get through every single day and work through the constant reminders that Lou is gone. In exchange, Lenny helps Miles bond with his sister and niece. This book is filled with raw emotion and so so so much heart.

Miles is freaking HOT. I LOVED his and Lenny's relationship!!! I am not a friends to lovers gal; however, I forever love the way Cara writes the trope!!! It's relatable to the time period today and truly a joy to watch the pair slowly fall in love from strangers to acquaintances to friends to lovers. I love how he constantly shows up for the people in his life. He's incredibly loyal and understands the deep depression that Lenny is currently experiencing.

Besides the incredibly realistic depiction of grief, my favorite aspect of this book was the found family. Cara perfectly depicts the community of New York City through the constant people that Lenny and Miles interact with on a daily basis. The whole cast of characters bring so much love to this and I personally need to know where they are in the future.

God I loved this and I can't wait to read it again.

Thank you PRH Audio, Dial Press, Cara Bastone, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Promise Me Sunshine is so much more than a romance. It addresses finding oneself after experiencing loss and during the grieving process. I loved all the characters and thought the family dynamic was heartwarming and touching. The growth each had was satisfying. The relationship between Lenny and Ainsley is charming. The chemistry between Lenny and Miles is palpable and unfolded in a realistic and organic way. This is my second book by this author and Bastone is now an auto-read author for me. I enjoy romances that have depth and substance and she hits the mark!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Good god I loved this book. Like BIG loved it. I am a romance girly, through and through… just recently coming to terms with this actually. Promise Me Sunshine has heart, depth, connection, vibrancy, authenticity, and love. Our mains, Miles and Lenny, are flawed messes, each processing trauma and grief differently, but rising up to meet each other where they are and to accept each other completely. Lenny is trying to get through every day after she looses her best friend / soulmate tragically to cancer, and she is failing at it, miserably. In comes Miles, stepping in to help and seeing a bit of himself in her. Bonus points for Miles being a totally misunderstood grump (a personal fav book-kink of mine).

The grief in this feels visceral and so honest. It is a messy, overwhelming thing that turns everything upside down and going through it, as one can only travel through, is the most challenging endeavor of all of our lives. Learning to live without someone is like learning to live again. And, it feels so singular, but an experience that none of us can get away from.

Miles is strong, unwavering, and dependable. He picks Lenny up, he feeds her, he keeps her safe, and he gives her space to process her grief. He reminds her what it means to live. Lenny is fun, chaotic, social, confident, and open. She sees Miles for who is really is, a hurting, capable, man stuck in fear and grief. They save each other really. This book wonderfully demonstrates that real, deep love and yearning is built from a safe, comfortable space. It isn't built on quick passion that fizzles out.

It is a slow burn friends to lovers romance with a heart of absolute gold. I LOVED IT FROM FRONT TO BACK.

5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed Ready or Not but I couldn't finish this book because it was too devastating. Cara Bastone is such a talented writer and so good at creating lovable characters with real emotions.

This book broke me beyond repair. I cried so many tears and I'm at a loss for words to describe this beautiful and deeply moving story. This story isn't just about romance. Its about friendship, and grief and how to navigate life after loosing your soul mate. It's about how to keep living when you feel like you have nothing to live for.

Okie this was a good read, for sure, but I am not sure if I would call this a romance. We got platonic love a lot which was lovely to see (both between Miles and Lenny and also between Lou and Lenny). We didn't really get a romantic relationship blossoming between Miles and Lenny until about 85% into the book. Which I can understand the reasoning for, this book is about grieving and learning to live post loss. That element is so beautifully done and I would recommend this book to anyone that is going though a loss maybe even before I recommend a nonfiction book on grieving.

Overall a great read, but I did knock it down a star just for my personal preference of it being too much of a slow burn...I can do that since this is my opinion.