⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 Stars! Promise Me Sunshine had me laughing, crying, and swooning. This is NOT just another romance book—it’s a love letter to resilience, connection, and navigating through life’s messiness. These characters and themes will linger long after you’ve turned the final page.

The book opens with our girl, Lenny, navigating the devastating loss of her best friend, Lou. When Lenny takes on a nanny gig to pass the time, she crosses paths with Miles, the kid's socially awkward but very endearing uncle. Soon, they realize they can help the other, so they develop an authentic friendship.

🛟 Authenticity. This isn’t a story about insta-love or lust; the connection between Lenny and Miles grows slowly and organically, rooted in shared experiences, mutual support, and a deepening friendship. This is friends to lovers in the best way possible.

🏸 A Thousand Small Gestures. I loved how REAL this story felt — the love of found family, building trust with a child, and the quiet, unspoken gestures that show someone you care. It’s also about navigating grief and loss in ways that feel achingly real.

❤️‍🩹 Memorable and Earnest. If you enjoy books about realistic, mature characters who grow together and face life’s challenges head-on, Promise Me Sunshine is for you. Warning: This book will make you want to call your BFF to blurt out your undying love for them. For real – don't say I didn't warn you!

P.S. Lenny’s wildly imaginative fantasies with every attractive male that crosses her path were SO entertaining 🤣 and felt like a hundred tiny happily-ever-afters wrapped into a single story. This would have been a solid 5 stars for me if Lenny had been a little more mature when she and Miles shifted from friends to lovers... it passes quickly, but that hiccup felt unnecessary.

This book debuts on March 4th – don't miss it! Consider it a must-read if you enjoyed The Notebook, PS I Love You, or believe in love, period. 🥹

Thank you to NetGalley, Cara Bastone, and Random House Publishing Group | Dial Press Trade for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone introduces us to Lenny who is reeling from the death of her best friend. Lenny takes a temporary babysitting job where she meets Miles. Miles has also experienced grief and he helps Lenny not only survive but also to start living again. A nice rom-com with serious themes weaved in. I give it a 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGallery for the advanced read.

I was lucky enough to ARC read Ready or Not last year and I absolutely fell in love with that book and the writing style. That said, I had a bit of a harder time getting into this one. I almost quit about 25% in, but decided to power through. I’m glad I did as the second half of the book was a much quicker and easier read. Maybe that’s on purpose.

Our FMC Lenny is struggling through the loss of her best friend. She is figuring out how to live again after this incredible loss. And I suppose, for the entirety of the book, we are learning how to live again alongside her. Lenny meets our MMC, Miles, whilst arriving at a new job. He is quiet, broody and a little judge-y. We uncover, over time, why that is and we watch as these two slowly build a trust and friendship with each other in their own quirky, imperfect, and steady way. We then watch them stumble headfirst into love, softly, slowly, and then allatonce.

There were some parts of the book I struggled with (spoilers ahead): Lenny’s fantasies of every male she meets. I just had a hard time connecting with this trait of hers. Also, there were some sporadically placed flashbacks of Lenny and her best friend, Lou. They felt like they had no rhyme or reason some times. I understand they were to give us a glimpse of the past and how it related to the moment Lenny was living, but I didn’t fully feel like they added to the story.

One thing I did enjoy was that little cameo from a certain character from Ready or Not! Was a fun little Easter egg to find!

Also, a warning - parts of this will make you pull a full Lenny and cry in public. Because I totally did at my car dealership!

All in all, I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read Lenny and Miles (and Lou’s) love story. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Loved this grumpy/sunshine romance that was anything but a rom com. For those who like a sometimes-angsty and always heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and grief, this may be just the ticket. So much sadness here but also so much hope and even joy.

5 stars!!

" Every time i fall in love with you there’s lightning"
"There’s only you. Lenny. Every time.. it’s just you" he says, muffled as he kisses me. "And you." He kisses me again. "And you."

Where do I even start 🧍🏻

I just know Cara Bastone cannot write a book better than this.
Have I read her other books? No.
Do I still believe that this her at her peak? Yes.

"But with you, Len, when I met you ..... I sort of feel like I met myself"

This was soo good like I actually savored this book so much and the moments that these characters shared, the grief that was dealt with was so beautifully written and the writing itself was masterclass. I was hooked and engaged and in love. Even during my slump when I had no desire to read or when I picked up a book and was disliking it, this book was the only one that stood out and gave me actual feels. I can't comment on the pacing because I was in a slump and travelling so it was slow for me but I didn't mind it because I was enjoyig it so much. Like the effor and the thought process that went through this book was so pure and raw, the complex emotional turmoil was dealt with so swiftly and it showcased the realities of loosing someone and oh my god it was done so well, it was so damn relatable and it made me feel so much.

This was my first Cara book and you bet your ass that I'll binge all her other books because it's so hard for me to find an author who's like five stars on the first read and tbh I just got this arc because the name and the cover were so enticing and honestly looking at it and at the actual story of the book it's so different, I was actually fooled but believe me that the story inside the book was as pretty as the outside of this book and you would be missing out big time if you skip this book over because oh my god it has everything.

"He treats you well?"
"Mom, he walked into hell and dragged me back out"

Lenny was such a well written character, over the span of this book, I related to her so many times and I wanted to give her a hug so bad, the way she would start crying whenever she would remember her best friend was so real and well captured because the bond that we got to experience between lenny and her bestie was so strong that I actually confused her for Lenny's sister and I honestly cant even fathom loosing a friend because I feel like it would be so so bad especially since we spend so much time together, share so many beautiful memories together that I just feel like as long as I am there, My friends are going to be there as well, thinking that they one day might not be there but I would seems so impossible for me and honestly this book made me realize how that could happen. Friends are family, they are like your second home, their presence creates a sense of comfort and sometimes the grief of loosing a friend is so easily overlooked by people and I am so glad Cara showcased it in such a perfect manner. My heart was crying for Lenny.

Lenny was in such a dark place, the place that she found herself in was described as hell, isolated from everyone, feeling guilty for living and feeling like such a heavy presence from her life just disappeared. A feeling of coping up with loss, finding patience and failing and not giving up by standing up again and it was just so emotional and powerful to read. It was so well done. Seeing how she coped with everything and seeing myself be there during those times feeling the same thing, when all hope is removed from your life and for this period of time you dont feel like living or don't have the will to live and then to think that the person you love so much is not even in this world seems so insane unreal that you go into denial. I feel like everything about Lenny's arc was done beautifully.

"Grief is a relationship. 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. You’re not betraying her by healing, 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 great loves of our lives"

Miles, our male main character has such a strong place in this book. He was so cute, wore glasses, introvert and so kind. He was so loyal and he was a person who you WANT in real life because he is so dependable. He is like that one person in your life who you know you can count on in any situation, in any circumstance and he'll be there. I loved that about Mile's so much. His grief was also not overlooked, He did so much while being in grief. I love how it also showed how everyone deals with loss in a different manner and I loved th effort Miles put for his niece and the way he went and tried and did so much for Lenny, to try and help her heal and stand on her own so she could feel free. It was so beautiful to read like my words will never be enough for a character likes Miles. He was written with such unadulterated love that everyone is just bound to fall in love with him.

“Home is where the heart is. My heart died in a cancer ward six months ago."

The romance itself was so beautiful to read, like you don't know how this book consumed me and made me obsessed because as I'm writing this reviews there are scenes roaming around in my brain and I am loving that so much, it's so hard to find a book this good and it feels so good to read something that deliver the way Lenny and Miles did. The banter that they shared gave this book a much light hearted presence that shaped this story into a new level, the slow burn was so well done, the way the romance weaved itself through the grief and the moments share and then the realizations that took place to finally reaching a place of understanding was next level because you're telling me all that happened and it left me breathless so easily?? I loved the romance especially the last few chapters. It felt so satisfying to read. It was such a good story and I honestly will tell you when I say this Cara can write amazing romance alongside any topic because this book is major proof of that. I love how they were each other saviors, it was perfect.

Overall, I feel like everyone should experience this at least once because if you're not reading this then what are you doing with your life!!

This was such a sweet and romantic novel.I truly felt connected to these characters. I'd love to see more from this author.

I loved this very soft and tender book about finding ways to live again after loss. I'd say this, like READY OR NOT, lives on the cusp of romance and general or women's fiction--it's really more about Lenny than it is about Miles. That said, I tore through this and will continue to read anything Bastone writes.

"My mom asked me if you treat me well, Miles. You know I said to her?"
"What's that," he says in a low, husky voice.
"I said that you walked into hell and dragged me back out."

It is so rare these days for me to spend some time with a book and truly savor it, but I know I've found a gem when I make purposeful efforts to spend as many days reading a book as I can. Promise Me Sunshine was without a doubt one of those books. I know it's only January, but this book will be a top read for me for 2025 - I am already calling it.

Promise Me Sunshine touches <i>heavily</i> on the topic of grief - our fmc, Lenny, is struggling tremendously after the passing of her best friend Lou and this book deals with her journey with it and how Miles, our mmc, helps her through it. I've never experienced the kind of grief that both Lenny and Miles are familiar with, but Cara Bastone's writing put me right there in it along with Lenny. Her pain was palpable and I felt it deep in my bones. It was one of the most raw and poignant portrayals of grief that I have ever read. Heartbreakingly beautiful - there are no other words for it.

This book also had an uplifting, hopeful tone to it the more that I read. The way Miles showed up for Lenny and essentially brought her back to life was one of the most beautiful acts of love that I've read to date. I loved the way in which he went about helping her through her grief and making sure she prioritized taking care of herself. I'm tearing up just thinking about everything he did for her (and everything he didn't) to ensure that she would learn to live with her grief and do more than just survive. To be loved is to be known and Miles <i>knew</i> her and what she needed.

Lenny and Miles are my favorite main characters that I have read in such a long time. I love how different they were from each other, but how well they complemented one another. Their humor and banter was elite - they had me laughing out loud while I was also crying from how emotional it all was lmao. The side characters were also great and I really loved the other overarching plotline we got with Miles and his family. Another thing that brought me to tears several times.

Lenny's friendship with Lou was painful to read about and had me completely sobbing, but it was also incredibly special. Their friendship was clearly one of a kind and it's no wonder Lenny struggled as much as she did. It was heartfelt and sad, but I loved it all the same.

I could gush all day about this book. It comes out on March 4 and I will 100% be rereading on release day. I think the audiobook will be great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy.

Idk what Cara puts into her books, but they are addicting!

This book was a perfect blend of funny, sad, romantic and moving! I ate it up.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Lenny and Miles. He was always there for her and cared for her so much, it melted my heart.

Cara is one of my favorite authors now and I'm so excited for her future works.

Please add this to your tbr if you haven't already!!

This book was such a beautiful representation of grief and how we are all dealing with life differently. The relationship between Miles and Lenny is so raw and emotional, I just loved them. And how rare is it to find a romance that is both comedic and heartwarming at the same time.

uhm... it's okay. love the babysitting moments between lenny and ainsley (+ reese and miles). the found family got me weeping. and yep, it's the slowest of burn i've read in only 400+ pages.

also, i appreciate the friendship between lenny and miles, but i didn't enjoy their chemistry sad to say. i just hope that they will stay as friends ☹️

Cara Bastone does it again with a deep and emotional romantic comedy. She really knows how to create chemistry and banter between her friends to lovers. This story seemed a little bit longer than maybe necessary but I did enjoy the character development and quirky love that you don’t often see.

This was my second Cara Bastone book, and I am so happy that I finally got around to reading it. Ready or Not was one of my favorite reads of 2024.

Promise Me Sunshine was such a good book on dealing with grief and the waves that come with it. Lenny just lost her best friend and her world came crashing down. But Miles showed up for Lenny at the perfect time, becoming a constant in her life that she didn't even know she needed. Miles was so good to her and helped her in the ways she needed, never pushing her for more. I loved Miles so much for what he did for Lenny, but also because he's a total grumpy softie.

Truly, this was such a beautiful story, with characters you'll root for. While grief is the main theme of this story, it also shares the reminder that life goes on and that it's meant to be lived. I think that's why I rooted so hard for these characters. Grief is a crazy thing!

Thank you NetGalley & Cara Bastone for this ARC copy.

Wow. This was raw and real and emotional and beautiful. I was so invested in Lenny and Miles, both as a couple and as individuals each grappling with life-altering grief. I love how Bastone approach such serious topics with a lightness that is welcoming yet healing.

This is the first ARC I got from NetGalley, and I was so happy! Now, I’m even happier because I absolutely loved this book.

I could try saying a lot about it, but the phrase “to be loved is to be known” keeps coming back to me as the perfect way to describe it. That’s exactly how it feels while reading the dynamic unfold. This is my favorite type of book: when you have two people who understand each other on such a deep level. It’s beautiful.

If I had to pick a song that reminds me of this book, it would be “You Are in Love” by Taylor Swift because:

“You can hear it in the silence, silence, you
You can feel it on the way home, way home.”

Now, about the book: Lenny has just lost her best friend, her soulmate, and she’s struggling to simply exist. She’s not committing to jobs or anything at all, so she starts babysitting. Through this job, she meets Miles—the grumpy uncle. He wants to make sure she’s a good person to have around his niece, but as he gets to know her, they embark on a journey of grief and healing together. And all the romance book stuff that is 😘🤌🏻 (chefs kiss).

And trust me, they will make you fall in love. You’ll get teary-eyed. It’s beautiful, it’s sad, and it will leave you feeling hopeful.

A quick PSA: At first, I thought it was going to be an insta-love trope, but I was wrong. So, if you feel like giving up, just stick with it.

Lastly, thank you so much, NetGalley and Random House, for giving me the absolute honor of reading this one. I adored it.

As the author says at the end of the book, reading is intensely personal but I would say that romance is entirely personal.

At least it is for me.

And maybe it’s why I’m so picky with my romance reads… I’ve got my favourites for sure but most of them end up being “likes” . Nothing wrong with likes, just not the ones I’ll love or keep on my self.

Until I open up one like this.
A subgenre I like to describe as ‘emotional romance’, they’re the books that hold my heart. And it’s not the thumping or insta love story that only happens in dreams, but the forever love that comes with a rawness of life.

It’s the best friend to lovers sub genre which mimics my own.
The tension and spice that don’t need the door open to keep it hot.
The grief that cripples and a friendship love that heals.

A lot of sophomore books seem to be flat, esp after one as highly loved as ‘Ready or Not’. But @cara nailed this one in a way that it crushed her debut for me.

It was raw romance mixed with witty commentary. The fictional fantasy stories of HEA Lenny creates in her head with every man she meets that don’t hold a candle to the guy standing right beside her.

“Home” is my life story. My love story.
And this one feels like perfection.

5 ⭐️

I don't think I've ever felt quite so in love with every page, every line of a book. It manages to deal with grief in such a real and raw, yet beautiful way. All of the relationships in the novel start and grow organically, navigating such complex feelings in such natural ways. You can't help but to root for every single character you encounter.

I devoured this story while still never wanting it to end. "Promise Me Sunshine" definitely altered the way I see previous 5 star reads, and changed how I will review books in the future. This quite possibly may be the best book I've ever read and one that I'll return to time and again.

What a beautiful book, Cara Bastone has become an auto buy author for me. Some of the scenes are a bit cheesy but I loved them so sue me. Grief looks different to everyone and this book was a sweet and tender take on navigating life after loss.

This was such a good book on dealing with grief and the waves that come with it. Lenny was lucky to have Miles show up in her life right when she needed him. He was a constant for her and just let the grief of losing her best friend flow how she needed it without pushing her. We all definitely need someone like Miles to help us through this life.

Is "achingly steady" a thing? If it's not, Promise Me Sunshine will be your introduction to that. A truly beautiful story, with characters you'll root for.
Miles is the backbone of this story, a constant force, a grumpy softie. Lenny, on the other hand, on surface-level, has some quirkiness to her, but is so much more - she's stronger than she thinks, even when grief takes her apart. She contains multitudes.
Everyone deals with grief differently, and it's always eye-opening to get insights about how others deal with it. Sometimes it's a life-long hum in the background, sometimes it comes out of nowhere and bashes you in the face, and sometimes it's a mix of the two. And while grief is the main theme of this story, it also has representations of different relationship dynamics, a reminder that life goes on, and that it's meant to be lived.
Promise Me Sunshine is equally devastating, healing, and swoony. From the very first page, this story grabbed my attention, and took me on a journey. Whatever I say will not do it justice, and is meant to be experienced by all of you.

Thank you Dial Press for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.