Ready or Not, Cara Bastone’s incredible 2024 novel, was one of my absolute favourite books of last year so to say I was looking forward to reading Promise Me Sunshine is an understatement. I can say now, without a doubt, that Promise Me Sunshine will remain one of my top books of this year, and yes I know it’s only February.

Promise Me Sunshine contains one of the most powerful, beautiful, utterly devastating and yet hopeful portrayals of grief that I’ve ever read. Bastone creates these perfectly human characters that are messy, vulnerable, relatable and my gosh do they feel all the feelings, and so too do we for them. Understanding and dealing with grief is the central tenant of his novel, and woven in with this is a thoroughly gorgeous slow burn, friends to lovers romance. This really is a stunning novel.

Promise Me Sunshine begins with our FMC Lenny desperately struggling since the loss of her best friend Lou. She’s avoiding the apartment that she shared with Lou, dodging her concerned parents and ignoring the list of things designed to help her live again. All she can manage is babysitting a 7 year old named Ainsley. Lenny hopes that if she acts fine no one will notice she’s falling apart, and yet it’s only Ainsley’s seemingly overbearing Uncle Miles that can seem to see the depth of grief which she’s trying so hard to hide. He makes her a deal, he’ll help her complete her list if she helps him reconnect with Ainsley and her mum. As she begins to spend more time with Miles, Lenny begins to see that, sometimes, losing everything can be the first step to finding yourself again.

I felt so deeply for Lenny throughout the novel, and my goodness did she have me in tears. Her grief is palpable and was exquisitely written by Bastone, and the way Miles helps her to understand that the only way is through, my goodness he’s surely got to be the blueprint by which he judge any other supportive MMCs no? The relationship that they built and the ways that they helped one another, honestly I was genuinely moved.

It goes without saying that this novel deals with a lot of heaviness, but amongst that is so much light and joy. This often comes in the shape of Ainsley and the new friends that Lenny makes, but also in those beautiful small moments that occur between Lenny and Miles.

This really is a very special book indeed.

Promise Me Sunshine was my most anticipated book of the year and it absolutely delivered. It's an absolutely devastating portrayal of grief with the warmth of family and friendship. Miles and Lenny are a relationship that you can see lasting forever because of how slowly but surely they developed their love and trust for each other. This book reached right into my heart, tore it to pieces then gently and lovingly put it back together even better.

Lenny's dedication to Lou was incredibly realistic and I loved that Cara Bastone acknowledges repeatedly that friends can be the true loves of our lives. The sweetness between Miles and his niece Ainsley was hilarious and genuine, and I loved seeing Reese, Ainsley and Miles develop together. Jeffy, Rica and Jericho will stay with me forever - what a cracking band of humans! The skill with which Bastone writes such beautiful, genuine words is astounding and I would read her grocery lists, honestly. The easiest 5 stars in the world!

i loved this book so so much. i knew i would after i finished ready or not last year, and i almost waited to get my hands on the audiobook but one afternoon i was just pulled to this one and I’m so glad i gave in because my emotional state made for an absolutely devastating (complimentary) read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read all 419 pages in one day - it was that good!

Promise Me Sunshine is such a tender exploration of grief, friendship, and love in all its forms. It follows Lenny, a 30-something woman who works as a nanny and has just lost the love of her life, her best friend Lou. She is going through the worst of it, nannying throughout the day, but wandering around Manhattan at night because she feels that she cannot go back to her Brooklyn apartment, where she had lived with Lou. In one of these short-term jobs, which she admits is all she can handle at the moment, she meets Miles, the uncle of the little girl she's taking care of. Miles sees himself in Lenny because he also lost the most important people in his life over ten years prior. They strike up a friendship, helping each other and, in the process, developing a love that could perhaps go beyond what they had initially anticipated.

I'd heard so many incredible things about this book and I was not disappointed at all. Promise Me Sunshine deals with its topics in such a delicate way; these characters felt so real and their love was beautiful. The book managed to be at the same time sad and joyful, a celebration of life, but also a meditation on death.

Thank you so much to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Thanks to Headline Eternal and to Netgalley for this advance copy of Promise Me Sunshine.

Lenny is a mess. Reeling after the death of her best friend, Lou, avoiding her concerned parents, and staying well away from the apartment her and Lou shared. She takes some temp babysitting gigs - most suck - but her current one is good: helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. It’s not perfect: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of... a huge jerk. But if Lenny acts like she has it all together, maybe no one will notice she’s falling apart. Wrong. Miles notices. Miles is familiar with grief, and offers Lenny a preposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the Lou has left behind, but she begins to spend more time with Miles, Lenny is surprised to discover that, sometimes, losing everything is only the first step to finding yourself, and love, again.

I have to admit - I wasn't that big of a fan of Bastone's last book: but Promise Me Sunshine surpassed all my expectations and made it stand alone as a glorious romance. Miles and Lenny go from acquaintances, to reluctant friends, to lovers, in a way that was so slow and gorgeous. The yearning!!! Plus, dealing with heavy topics in addition to the romance made this book feel deep in a way that will pull on your heartstrings.

Okay, I’ll be honest, when I first read the synopsis, I wasn’t totally sold. But the cover was so cute, and I thought, Why not? And wow, am I glad I gave it a chance! Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t sure this would be my kind of book, especially since I didn’t finish the author’s last one, but this one? It hit all the right notes for me. It was charming, sweet, adorable, and full of heart, but it also had those moments that just wrecked me in the best way. Honestly, it was perfect.

I fell in love with both Lenny and Miles (seriously, Miles’ growth and his apologies for being judgmental? So good). And Miles’ relationship with his niece and sister? Absolutely heartwarming, though I’ll admit, his sister could be a little harsh at times, but I get where she was coming from.

If you’re looking for a story that’s equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is it. I’d totally recommend it to anyone who loves a good emotional rollercoaster. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

*Promise Me Sunshine* by Cara Bastone is a heartfelt and truly enjoyable love story set in New York. Lenny, struggling with the recent loss of a loved one, is barely holding it together, even finding it hard to sleep. She takes on a short-term job caring for Ainsley, a young child, but her peace is constantly disrupted by Ainsley’s Uncle, Miles. The story unfolds as Lenny and Miles, both grappling with grief, begin to slowly connect, supporting each other through their emotional struggles. The tension between them is palpable, and the gradual development of their relationship is both touching and gripping.

The book is well-written, with an excellent balance of heartache and humor that adds a refreshing layer to the emotional depth of the characters. It’s a beautiful exploration of love, healing, and human connection. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a story that blends emotion and humor in the best way possible.

What a gorgeous, gorgeous book. This was such a stunning portrayal of navigating grief and how it can be messy but also sometimes beautiful. Lenny was such a great character and her character arc was portrayed so beautifully, I was really rooting for her to find her way and find some kind of peace, however that would look for her in this new landscape. And Miles was such a perfect counterpart to her. I was also rooting for him in a different kind of way and was so happy with the way everything turned out. It was a perfect slow burn of a friends to lovers with some truly incredible dialogue and just the right amount of humour.

3.75/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for a honest review.

My thoughts about this book are all over the place, so bear with me.

First off, it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine whenever a character is introduced as "quirky" or "edgy", because most of the times it just means that said character is immature and the jokes are not going to land like the author intended to...and this happened to me in Promise Me Sunshine.

Don't get me wrong, Lenny had many qualities (I loved every scene she had with Ainsley and Miles) and you're able to understand her coping mechanisms by the end of the book but still there's certain situations that, in my opinion, she's immature.

What can I say about Miles? He was the best part of this story, the man was just there ready to support her and hear her out everytime she crumbled down.
Lenny and Miles had so many fulfilling and beautiful moments together. They just complete eachothers souls.

The last half of the book was perfect, I really liked the serious tone that the author took while talking about the process of grieving. I wish the whole book had this tone from the beginning, I don't think "mocking" is the right word to characterize what I'm trying to say, but there were scenes in the first pages that didn't feel right to read?!

Even though I was expecting more from Promise Me Sunshine, this is still a book I recommend.

honestly, this book kinda feels like a letdown. the cool idea behind it was wasted because the characters just didn’t have enough depth, and the heavy themes it tried to cover weren’t explored well. sure, it might be a chill read for some, but if you’re after a real, emotional take on grief and healing, you might end up feeling let down. i wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone wanting a story that really hits you in the feels.

Possibly my new favourite read ever?!

Miles was everything and this story brought out all the emotions. It is heavy on grief and healing after loss, however the comedic relief, the raw emotions and the beautiful green flag relationship with open communication made this an absolutely perfect read. Plus a super cute kid!! Need I say more.

This book felt so personal, and I really felt connected to these characters. Lenny is such a relatable character in so many ways, and regardless of if you have experienced loss of a loved one, this book will have you stepping into Lenny’s shoes and laughing and crying along with her. Please be mindful of triggers and if you are in a place in your life where you can read this story as a beautiful work of fiction 🩵

Cara Bastone’s writing is incredible!! I feel like this story is going to stick with me for a long time.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this ARC copy.

“But the thing about losing the person you love the most on earth is— somehow— you still have to do mundane things like tie your shoes and make enough money to continue to exist in this punishing world.”

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

I absolutely adored this book - it follows Lenny, who is struggling to cope with life and grief following the death of her best friend. When she meets Miles he vows to help her - he’ll help her through her grief if she helps him bond with his niece (she’s her babysitter and good with her). And whilst this is a slow burn love story, it is also a beautifully moving journey of Lenny trying to live with her grief. How she learns to let people in again and live in this ‘new’ world.

I’m obsessed with Lenny and Miles - how they became friends, he recognised she was struggling and wanted to be there for her. How he learned what things she liked and who she was, helped her navigate her grief and provided her support. The friendship their relationship was built upon was such solid foundations and so perfect!

This book is honestly one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. The way it deals with grief, how that feels and what it’s like to live with it, is just perfectly done. It’s so heartbreakingly beautiful - the perfect encapsulation of the struggle to keep living when your ‘heart’ is no longer there.

This is going to be a read that stays with me for a long time, and will definitely be one of my top reads of the year - if not one of my top reads of all time. One I’ll definitely be recommending to everyone and now I need to read the authors entire backlist!

ARC copy provided by Headline & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know how you can read a blurb and add it to your tbr, then a while later you forget what it's about, but it's on your list, so it's gotta be good, so you read it. Yeah thats what happened to me. I went in blind. And it was good, like really good. But man did I cry a lot.

This was a really poignant story about grief and moving on from the loss of a loved one, and how you can't really do it by yourself. And finding love after tragedy.
I'd cry and finally stop and focus on the good and the funny bits, then out of nowhere it got sad again and I started bawling all over. It really was like grief in a bottle. If you need a good cry, in a controlled environment, this is for you.

Her writing is wonderful and evocative. Truly such an enjoyable ride. Miles, the MMC, does seem to suffer from the case of being too perfect, but tbh the romance is not the main draw here for me, their friendship and her journey is.

As bitter as it may sound, I wish I was as optimistic as Lenny. Even in her darkest times, she still found ways to laugh and come up with crazy, hopeful, stories.

I am convinced that Cara Bastone doesn’t know how to write a bad book, because one again, she has blown me away with her writing.

Promise me Sunshine is a work of love. This woman has brought these characters from words on a page to flesh and blood life. Lenny and Miles are such beautiful people. Flawed, wonderful, fragile and perfect. It was a joy to read about the adventure they take together. Don’t get me wrong it was also heart breaking, but where this book pulls you apart, it then lovingly and gently mends you back together.

5 starts! FIVE STARS!

5 ⭐️
This. Book.
It’s so well done. It’s quite a skill to write a book that centres around grief and loss which is also funny, but Cara has managed it with flair. Lenny’s journey was relatable and realistic, the progression she makes in understanding, feeling and managing her grief is well well written. Cara does a really good job of showing the heart-wrenching reality of the depths of grief and I especially likes her exploring the guilt which comes when joy breaks through grief, even for a brief moment. The relationship between Miles and Lenny was really well paced, you could feel the tension build through acts of care taking and small touches and looks. The romance felt genuine and I really enjoyed that the story didn’t end with either Miles or Lenny having everything figured out.
Genuinely don’t have any notes on what could be improved, this book both broke my heart and put it back together again.

Thanks to Netgalley, Headline publishers and Cara Bastone for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this may have just become one of my all-time favorite romances! The slow burn, the depth of grief, and the process of moving on after the loss of a loved one—it's such a beautiful love story that only a truly talented author could pull off, and Cara does it effortlessly. I need more of her writing, like, right now!

Promise Me Sunshine was both an emotional and romantic read, it was also one I couldn’t put down and I ended up reading it in just over a day. Thoughts 💭
• In this book we follow Lenny, a babysitter who is struggling under the weight of her grief from the loss of her best friend. As you would then expect this is a book that explores grief (and its mental / emotional health) for both main characters; Lenny but also Miles (our MMC). I thought it approached this topic with sensitivity and compassion. It had me crying in first chapter and multiple points throughout.
• Miles helps Lenny learn to live with her grief, but Bastone doesn’t neatly conclude Lenny’s journey with this (which I really liked). There are still things she hasn’t yet done, but I as reader know Lenny will get there eventually.
• The romance was a delightful slow-burn, I loved Miles and how he is eager to learn, supportive, loyal; he is grump with the softest centre.
• I think Bastone is becoming a favourite author of mine. In Promise Me Sunshine she does an excellent job of showing not telling in her writing (I won’t share how in this review because I think it will spoil some of the story). She also writes engaging romances that also discuss the difficulties of everyday life, such as bereavement here or unexpected pregnancy and friendships in Ready or Not.

I suspect Promise Me Sunshine won’t be for everyone, some moments felt heartbreakingly raw, but I’d highly recommend this tender romance.

This book deserves all the stars!!
What a beautiful book with an absolutely heartbreaking but heartwarming story! This deals with Lenny and her grief after losing her best friend aka her soulmate to cancer. When she’s at her absolute worst she meets Miles, who slowly helps her bring herself back to life and they fall in love somewhere along that journey. This book was sad, but also really cute and funny - I adored Lenny and her personality and I was so proud how far she came. I can’t even find words to describe Miles, he was the best!! <3 even though he had been through the worst as well.
I loved all the other side characters as well - Ainsley, Emil, Jericho and the gang - they were the best :)

I know I’ll think about this book for a long time, because it was just soo good and it touch me in so many ways.

Cara Bastone is becoming one of my favorite romance authors. Every book is better than the last.

Lenny lost her best friend to cancer and is in a very dark place. Miles knows grief and offers to help her get back to living if she helps him to improve his relationship with his sister and niece.

This is a book about grief and let’s be honest, it will probably make you cry at some point. However, it’s also a beautiful romance, with wonderful characters, and witty banter, that will make you laugh a lot.

I loved both Lenny and Miles so much. My heart was breaking for Lenny, but she was also hilarious, and her shenanigans added a lot of light and charm to this book. Miles was so sweet and caring! He told her to make friends, to call him in the middle of the night if she needed anything, he made sure she was fed, and even gave her a place to stay so she wouldn’t have to sleep in her empty apartment. In short, a man written by a woman.

I could keep going about how amazing this book is, because believe me, there’s more, but I’ll just say that you have to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5
“Promise Me Sunshine” is about grief and love. But mainly grief.
It's equally sad as it is funny.

Lenny is grieving her best friend and is, at least emotionally, hanging on for dear life.
Then she finds Miles and he, as Lenny later states, “went to hell and dragged her back out”.

The writing is absolutely exquisite and portrayed the emotions and the sudden change in mood very well.
While this book is about grief, the tone is very much not necessarily sad. It is actually more casual and fits the characters & story really well.

The characters were great too. Loooooooooved Ainsley!!
I love me a good grumpy character and when Miles was first introduced, I was sure he’s THE grumpiest of them all. The fact that he’s not made him only so much better.

Cara Bastone managed to find that sweet, sweet spot between a sad book and romcom, where one is crying in one moment and then laughing the next.

I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Very much recommend this book!