Fabulous!

I can smell New York. I can see the water over the side of the Staten Island ferry. I can hear the city, and taste the turkey sandwiches in this terrific romance.

Lenny is grieving the loss of her best friend Lou, only six months before. She's stuck in her grief and has effectively stopped functioning. She gets a short-term gig as a babysitter as she can't manage a permanent job. There she meets seven-year-old Ainslie, her mother Reese, and uncle Miles. These three have a hostile and complicated family dynamic. Once Miles realises the extent of Lenny's grief, he offers to help her, if she can help him navigate his family.

Cara's writing is beautiful - and delicious. It’s just so vivid. The characters are so knowable. I can feel Lenny’s desperation, her sleeplessness, but also her humour. Even at her lowest, Lenny is hilarious, and it doesn't take long for Miles to be enchanted. He takes care of her in the most heartwarming ways, but also teaches her to take care of herself.

The depiction of grief is visceral: "Time dogpiles me and I marvel at the fact that anyone, ever, has the strength to get up off the floor. " Lenny’s journey back to living from her darkest time unfolds in the small stuff. It’s tender and gentle and wonderful.

I was hooked from the first page. I adored all the characters, cried for Lenny, laughed at Miles, and couldn't wait for them to get together. I had to though, as it's a super slow burn. Between all the little things - sandwiches and sweatshirts, thrift shop outfits, new friends, Live Again Lists and all the possible permutations of family, this is glorious! It all threads together as an elegy to Lou, a serenade to New York and an almost-perfect celebration of romance 💕💕

Thank you Cara Bastone, Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I write this review while on my way to add every single book from Cara to my TBR. This is my second book from her (after Ready or Not) and my second 5 stars.

This was such a strong story. Lenny is drowning in her grief from loosing her best friend, and Miles recognises it and understands it because he’s been there before. He offers her support, a shoulder to cry on, someone to call in the middle of the night, he makes her eat and sleep, and helps her take it one day at a time until there is more to life than her grief. In return, she can help him connect with his sister and niece, and find how he fits in their family. This is much more than a romance but a story of finding strength and living life again, and Cara’s writing was outstanding.

If it's one thing I'm going to love it's a romance where the main character is also on a grief journey. Don't ask me why, but I fall for it every time.
This was a beautifully raw portrayal of grief, balanced with romance and humour. It was well paced, the yearning and growth of relationship between Miles and Lenny.
5 stars.

MILES, the man you are! 💜🫠

<i>”Well, I can’t promise the sunshine. But I can do every thing else.”</i>

Miles can actually promise sunshine as he brings light to everywhere he goes.

This book was such a surprise! It just crashes your feelings to fix them up after. A devastatingly beautiful love story about how to learn to live again. I have nothing but praise for it.

Nothing beats friends to lovers when it’s well written, and this is it!

<i>I would like to thank Headline | Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was such a pleasure to read from start to finish.

📚 friends to lovers
📚 slow burn
📚 nanny x uncle
📚 washes her hair
📚 grief
📚 “grief wingman”
📚 single POV

🌶️

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

|Thoughts|
This story made me fall in love with the friends to lovers trope. And whilst it is a true slow burn, it’s actually for a really sweet reason that fits with the characters and story.

So glad I picked this one up. I’ve listened to the authors duet narrations and loved them and this was no exception.

“She’s not a mess,” he says in a low voice. “She’s perfect”

Whilst this is a love story a strong theme is grief, which I think is handled well and had me teary at times.

“I feel like I’m down two daughters”

As difficult as Miles finds it to connect to his family, he is truly such a walking green flag. And he is just so swoony in how he continues to care for Lenny, even in the small ways. The way he goes out of his comfort zone to help her finish her list was so enjoyable to read.

“Say If your a bird, I’m a bird”
“That’s not even from the right movie!”
“Just say it”

So glad I picked this one up. I’ve listened to the authors duet narrations and loved them and this was no exception. Reminds me of Jimenez.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!

Today is finally the publishing day and I'm excited for everyone else to read this! It was so fun to read this slow burning journey between Lenny and Miles. Their friendship was sweet and the author captured Lenny's grief perfectly. Reminds me of that quote from WandaVision - "What is grief if not love persevering?" Looking forward to more releases from this author!

This book was a breath of fresh air wrapped up in a warm hug. I simply adored it and everyone who has known someone who is grieving should read this. Both main characters were simply incredible but for very different reasons. Normally I will like one more than the other but in this one I just couldn't choose. As the author says in her dedication, everyone needs a Miles in their life. Someone who loves you unconditionally and lets you be your own self no matter who that is. The romance was a real slow burn but in the absolute best way that when it got there it really got there. This one will stay with me for a while. I will read and buy anything this author puts out just based on the strength of this book. Not to be missed, you won't regret it.

Where do I start… I LOVED this book 😭🫶🏼 It will definitely be a favourite of 2025!

𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧…
🗽 friends to lovers
❤️‍🩹 grief, loss & healing
🗽 slow burn
❤️‍🩹 found family
🗽he takes care of her

𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨…
Lenny is trying to navigate life after losing her lifelong best friend/soulmate… when Miles (the little girl she is babysitting’s grumpy uncle) makes her an offer to help guide her through the following few months that she can’t refuse.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗜 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
This book is everything I had hoped it would be and more 😭 It is a raw & emotional look at grief, but also rediscovering yourself when you really don’t think you can get out of bed in the mornings and face the world. There will be tears - but my goodness it’s still so uplifting 🥹

“𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮.”

Miles is one of the best characters I’ve read in a long time - his unwavering support, little bits of wisdom, and how much he cares make my heart squeeze so hard it hurts 💔 I love him so much 😭

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

Lenny is a little qUirKy, but honestly I loved her and found her really endearing 🫶🏼 Her journey to living again felt so heartbreaking yet so real ❤️‍🩹

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁.”

This book is definitely a slow burn..! But it’s so clear how deeply Lenny & Miles have fallen in love, and I love that so much 🥲 If there ever was a couple to survive past the (non-existent) epilogue it’s these two 🫶🏼

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴… 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿.
“𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳… 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀.”

I’ll be thinking of this book for a long time - I already can’t wait to reread 🫶🏼

What a delightfully sad/funny/tender/warm/romantic/charming book this is! I completely devoured it and was so sad to reach the end. I need more from Lenny and Miles! Cara Bastone has created such a beautiful story here, with characters that feel wildly real and the whole gamut of emotions. This was by no means an easy read as we very much experience Lenny's grief alongside her, with all the ups and downs - and there are some real lows for her - but it's so moving and special. I adored the way Miles and Lenny's relationship transitioned through the story as well - and to think it all started with some really bad first impressions! Lenny is incredibly quirky and even in the pits of her grief, her character has a spark that drew me into the story and had me utterly charmed by her. My heart ached for Miles too, a man who's been through his own awful experiences but continues to show up. Getting to know him, and seeing Lenny get to know him, gave me all the fuzzy feelings. Who doesn't need a Miles and a Lenny in their life?

Alongside all this, there were some really great characters and though they didn't have the biggest parts, each one left an impression and had their own striking personalities, whether Emil, or George, or Jericho. And of course, we can't forget Lou. The flashbacks of their friendship were a lovely addition. There's a lot to love in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through Lenny's eyes, the good, the bad, and the (f)ugly. Grab a copy and fall in love (while crying a little)!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Heartfelt, Emotional and Messy. Promise Me Sunshine is a story that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Cara Bastone's writing is fantastic: carefully crafted, but accessible, very easy to read and to get lost into. Her characters feel real and you grow fond of them all, even the more marginal ones, in a matter of pages.
The author handled the topics of grief and depression truly masterfully. With care, but at the same time, without shying away from the ugly, visceral and painful reality that they often bring along. She perfectly balanced the emotional / heavy scenes with funny and lighter moments.

I loved Lenny and Miles' friendship. How he was there to help Lenny really go through it - not around it - and process her grief, with respect and without judgement. Their witty banter and their clashing personalities had me snort and kick my feet so many times I lost count. One of the most tender and vulnerable romances I've ever read and the one that felt the most real.

If you are in the right frame of mind (check trigger warnings, please), this book is a gem. But don't jump into it expecting romance to be the main topic.

4 / 5 ☀️

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy!

I really loved the story and the message, I think it was so sweet watching them completing the list. And watching Lenny slowly come to terms with everything after her best-friend passed away and honestly I think that's why I've rated it so highly. I loved that aspect of it, I loved Ainsley. I did love Miles but as her companion and Ace throughout this story not as her love interest. It's not like it felt forced or anything it's more that it just didn't feel necessary. I loved their story as a friendship and even in the end I didn't even need or really want them to end up together.

I loved their story for what it was. The story about overcoming grief. Of waking up each day and trying. Of putting one foot in front of the other when everything just feels insurmountable.

4.5 ⭐️

I loved this so much! This story centres around grief following the death of the fmc’s best friend. Although overall, the book definitely had a serious (and sad) tone, it was equally full of sweet moments and banter that had me giggling kicking my feet.

I loved the NYC setting, the romance was slow burn perfection and the mmc was an acts of service king and I loved him.

*thank you netgalley for providing this arc*

3.75🌟

this is the second book i read from cara!
my first thoughts about it is that the beginning of the book was very fast paced - if you like that then this is right up your alley! for me, i got a little bit confused and the first half was also a bit slow plot wise… the second half of the book though! loved!!
you really got to know the characters more and i was actually invested in their story and relationship!

overall: a heartwarming, easygoing and funny book about the journey of going through the loss of a loved one💓

This book had a huge potential to be a five star read, but I was not hooked from the beginning. It took me a couple of days to read this book. This book was cute, the setting was okay and i did like reading about grief, loss and her process of healing. The most unique thing was how she discovered love in a sensitive moment like this one. Lenny was such a cute baby sitter and i had my hopes up that she would bring these feelings back to me and feel way more connected to her than i actually was, the idea was really great but the execution not so much. We also meet Miles, i honestly thought he was so untrustworthy of Lenny and so grumpy, but I really liked how he tried to help her fulfill her wish list. I’d definitely recommend this book!!

Lenny & Miles 💕

💕Lenny’s in the throws of grief. Her best friend of so many years and roommate Lou has passed away from cancer and she’s struggling to function, to sleep or care for herself.

💕When she’s asked to be a temp any for a former employer’s friend Reece, she works wonders with 7 year old Ainsley. But Ainsley’s uncle Miles is constantly hanging around, looking particularly growly.

💕Miles has had his own life and loss crosses to bear, and he takes watching out of Lenny seriously. He holds her up through the sadness and foreignness she’s feeling, until at some point, she’s able to actually care for herself.

✏️Reading this story days after tackling Kristin Higgins’ Pack Up The Moon felt like a deep dive into the dark place of grief. But whereas the one story was focussed on losing a spouse, this beautiful story tackles the loss of a best friend. No less worthy of grief, but not always socially “acceptable”. I love how the “living list” in this story isn’t really set out in black and white, and often is spontaneously crossed off. The hero of this story is not only Miles, who holds Lenny up throughout, but Lenny herself, who figures out how to take one moment at a time, one hour at a time and one day at a time to heal. Having been in this dark place before, I truly believe that’s all that can be done to get through it ❤️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher
My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Pub Date 4 Mar 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

Promise Me Sunshine is a love letter to every grieving person!It is a book about loss and grief with a dash of love interest added at the side.Personally, I didn't care about the love interest. No, let me rephrase. I was more interested in what was going on with our two MCs: how they navigated their loss, how they lived on even after the great loves of their lives left. 😓

I didn't want to read about their grief with the idea that they would have a happy ever after; I read the synopsis, and I knew what I was getting into. I wanted to read grief in its purest form, and I got it. This story was a beautiful story about grief and what it can do to a person.

However, I desperately wanted to know Lou more; I wanted Lenny to talk about who she is more because, personally, it looked as if Lenny kind of idolized Lou. I wanted to know more about Miles and his newfound family and the ones he lost. The book skirted around the side characters lives like they were not a part of the story.

Overall, this was a good read. Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the ARC

God my aching heart. This was such a beautiful wonderful romance. I loved every part of it and damn did it bring out all the feels. So heartfelt and real. And what is it with love interests named Miles that are just so perfect? First Funny Story and now Promise Me Sunshine? I gotta find myself a Miles

I loved this one so much🥹 The heavy topic of grief combined with the humour and lightheartedness of the side characters and plot was just wonderful together. My feelings were all over the place as I felt them together with Lenny and Miles was just the perfect character to help her through it. I do love that he wasn’t shown as perfect, but he was perfect for her.

I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who’s looking for a heavier romance read. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for new releases from Cara Bastone!

This book talked about the stages of grief in a real and raw way, how important it is to have others to lean on.
Miles and Lenny had such a special connection. I liked how they helped each other, and also found themselves during their healing journey. The friendship between these two progressed beautifully and naturally. Cara Bastone writes the sweetest and warmest stories!
The balance between the emotional story and the quirky humor was perfectly done as well. My only issue was the pacing, the book felt a bit too long at times.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺

I WILL NEVER RECOVER. I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. A MODERN-DAY CLASSIC 🗣️Promise me sunshine! Cara, promise me you’ll never stop writing.

Grief is destructive, ugly and despite our best attempts, not something you can outrun. Cara takes us on a journey of healing with Lenny as she has recently lost her person, partner in crime and best friend, Lou. I find stories about grief hard because I have an avoidant attachment style (LET ME LIVE ✋🏻)
Lou leaves Lenny with a ‘live again list’ but our girl is a hot mess. ENTER Miles who is shy, rough around the edges but the perfect soft boy inside. He signs up to complete the list with her in exchange for tips on how to interact successfully with his niece. (I was picturing drew starkey, buzz cut edition)
MILES IS EVERYTHING. I love him with my whole body. He shows up for his people and has been through so much, but he just wants to HELP 😭

The chemistry between miles and Lenny…the banter!!Cara’s characters are unique, witty and I adore being in their heads. I want to prepare you; you will be moved so deeply by this story. Grief is a universal experience that Cara beautifully captures making this such a vulnerable masterpiece. As Lenny shatters under the weight of her grief, you will see reflections of yourself in the shards. HOW TALENTED IS CARA! TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT!! The vulnerability that pours of out this book reminds you that you will dance in the kitchen again and feel love and joy again 👏🏻✨

Promise me sunshine is out 4/3/2025. Prepare to be sick of me because this will be appearing all over my feed 🥰
*Thank you @headlineeternal for the e-Arc. All my opinions are honest and my own!