In NYC Lenny starts a new babysitting gig not too long after her best friend passes. The child’s uncle and Lenny set out to teach Lenny how to get back to living after grief and trauma.

I read this in ONE sitting. I did not move for hours. It was fantastic. Such an excellent portrayal of grief, friendship, and adjusting to life’s changes. The romance was really a sub-plot and I think that was for the best. This is a must read.

Thank you thank you to Random House for the ARC! I cannot recommend this enough.

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

Wow, wow, wow what a book and a story. So heart wrenching and an emotional but so so beautiful. This book is about grief and friendship and healing. Lenny and Miles is now my favorite friends to lovers I’ve ever read. The way their friendship formed and they had this connection with all the tension and bond to each other. They just understood each other. Both Miles and Lenny were dealing with their own grief but they went through this healing journey together and helped each other get through it all. I loved Miles and how he was always there to support Lenny no matter, he always showed up. I couldn’t put this book down, I was so invested in their story while also trying to savor it. I didn’t want to let them go. It’s such intimate look at grief and dealing with the loss of someone you loved. Both Miles and Lenny learned from each other and healed different aspects of their lives. I absolutely loved this and this is a story that will stick with me. I highly recommend this one. I cannot wait to see what Cara Bastone does next,

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

This book found me at the exact time I needed it and I don't think I will ever forget reading this for the first time (and believe me--there will be more times).

When I was looking at the description and details of this book, I was a bit worried, primarily because this book is over 400 pages. I don't mind a 400+ page book, but with romance books specifically, that's a bit of a hard sell to me. HOWEVER, I could've read 400 more pages of Lenny and Miles tackling life together and it still wouldn't have been enough.

I don't think Lenny is going to be an FMC everyone loves, I have to be honest. She's a bit odd and unhinged, and at first she did get on my nerves, but she really grew on me and I relate to her more than I care to admit. She's hilarious, clearly going through it and doesn't know how to cope, and while she doesn't cope perfectly, it's a very realistic depiction of how grief can affect someone.

Don't even get me started on Miles. I also have to say, I really didn't like him at first. In fact, I almost DNF'd at around 10% because he was getting on my nerves so bad and I was like there's no way in hell I'm going to be able to root for a romance with this man in it. But then I decided that 10% was too early to give up and I'll keep trying, and I am so glad I did because my first impression was so wrong. I love this character with my whole heart. One of my favorite book boyfriends I've ever read. If you liked Jacob from Yours Truly and Justin from Just for the Summer-- get excited, because this man is the perfect mashup of the two (with a unique spin--he's not copy paste by any means). And if you've read those books, you know that is the highest of compliments.

The mental health representation in this book was so beautifully done. There are so many quotes in here that I will return back to a million times over.

And most importantly to me: their friendship??? THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE. I am so tired of seeing nothing but hate to love, enemies to lovers, etc. in every book ever. There's a time and a place for it don't get me wrong, and I know we all love the tension. But there is something to be said for a romantic pairing founded on the basis of a true friendship and platonic partnership. I loved it more than I can put into words.

If I haven't made it obvious enough with my babbling: 5 stars 🌟

Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a beautifully written and emotionally rich love story between Lenny and Miles, a tale that blends grief, healing, and the gradual transition from friends to lovers. The novel explores Lenny’s struggle to move on after the death of her friend, and the way her relationship with Miles evolves from mutual dislike to deep, meaningful friendship and eventually to a tender, slow-burn romance. The author does an impressive job of weaving the raw emotions of grief with the uplifting moments of their growing connection, balancing both themes seamlessly.

Lenny and Miles are well-developed, complex characters whose relationship feels genuine and realistic, with the slow progression of their feelings being both believable and touching. The friendship that develops first adds authenticity to their romance, and the author takes the time to show their growth as individuals and as a couple. Although the book is long and has a slow pace, it works because it allows the characters to truly develop, which makes their relationship feel earned.

The portrayal of the characters' first sexual experience is also noteworthy, as it's depicted realistically—far from perfect, which is a refreshing and honest take compared to many romances where everything seems flawless from the start.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and thoughtful story about love, loss, and personal growth, with well-crafted characters and a slow, beautiful romance. It’s a romance that feels genuine and deeply satisfying, with an emotional depth that stays with you.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get an ARC of this book. I LOVED "Ready or Not" and had high hopes for this one. I wasn't sure what to expect given some of topics in the description (grieving the loss of a friend, losing a battle to cancer, etc.). I've lost a few relatives to cancer (dad, mother-in-law) so I wasn't sure how that would affect me. I found the way Lenny and Miles helped each other very heartwarming and I liked the relationship among the other characters as well. I loved how Lenny played a part in the relationship between Miles and his sister and niece. I chuckled throughout parts and had many "awwww" moments. I knew going in that this was a slow-burn romance and I'm not against slow-burns. This one however just seemed to move slower than I preferred. I felt the entire plot moved very slowly. I will say though that I appreciated they way Cara Bastone showed the struggles people deal with then grieving someone they love.....that life doesn't just go back to normal quickly when you lose someone you love. Sometimes it takes someone else to help you live again.

4.75⭐️! This book really threw me in for a pleasant surprise. The best way I can describe it is… weirdly nostalgic. As a New Yorker, this literally did hit home. The portrayal of grief here was so authentic. Our FMC, Lenny, is such a vivid and quirky character, and at times it was hard to relate to her since the things she says is so out of left field (although SO funny at times), but I think seeing her navigating the biggest loss of her life is what makes her so real and relatable.

The same goes for our MMC, Miles, and boy … he is EVERYTHING. He is the type of person that everyone should have in their lives. Seeing him helping Lenny and vice versa was so heartwarming, and the progression of their relationship was worth the slowest of burns (in the best way)!

I truly enjoyed everything from the story pacing to the side characters. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time. A big thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts are my own. 🫶🏼

I could write a novel about how much I loved this book!!! I don't even know where to begin!! This is one of my favorite love stories I have ever read. Miles and Lenny's relationship unfolded in such a slow burn, romantic way, I truly could not read it fast enough, but I also never wanted it to end. Miles showing up for Lenny CONSTANTLY just broke me. I loved Ainsley and Reese; every glimpse into their lives felt like such a little treat.

I love the way Cara was able to balance romance and grief as major themes. It was heavy, but not too heavy that it made the romance impossible and when the romance was romancing, we never really lost sight of the anchor: grief.

This one is going to stick with me for REAL for real <33 I actually would prefer to back in time and read it again and again for the very first time!! My heart aches writing this bc I LOVE U MILES and Cara Bastone hehe this is a work of art.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for an early copy of this book! <333

📖 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.