Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 3/4/2025

Thank you Dial Press and PRH Audio for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lenny, reeling from the loss of her best friend Lou, takes a babysitting job for single mom Reese and her daughter, Ainsley, only to clash with the brusque yet grief-savvy uncle, Miles. As they navigate their respective struggles, an unlikely partnership helps Lenny rediscover herself and find love amidst the healing process.

Promise Me Sunshine is the first book I’ve read by Cara Bastone. I have mixed feelings about it. The premise was unique and intriguing. The themes of grief and moving on were portrayed well. Lenny and Miles’s relationship seemed promising. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and evolve into something more, but it didn’t seem strong enough. The second half of the book took an odd turn. The pacing felt uneven, with some scenes dragging unnecessarily, and some of the dialogue came off as cringey. While I appreciate a slow-burn romance, the way Lenny and Miles eventually came together felt disjointed. Lenny’s grief over her best friend was understandable, but at times her behavior seemed overly immature and frustrating. Her character development didn’t align well with the overall story. As for Miles, I found myself wanting more insight into his perspective as his character didn’t seem like  fully fleshed out. In fact, many of the characters felt underdeveloped which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, I found it to be a decent read. People who are fans of friends-to-lovers might enjoy this.