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Promise Me Sunshine: A Novel (Dial Delights)
How do you find yourself after you lose the one you loved the most?
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.
Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart.
The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of. . . a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse – he seems to be able to see right through her.
Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. 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 void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.
Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart.
The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of. . . a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse – he seems to be able to see right through her.
Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. 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 void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.
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Community Reviews
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
What a beautiful story, I absolutely LOVED this book! 5 glowing stars!!
This is a story about grief, friendship, family, and love. This book made me feel ALL the feels. I laughed, cried, kicked my feet...The love story was so sweet and tender, an absolute slow burn, but so very good!! I love Cara Bastoneâs writing. She navigates heavy topics head on but lessens the heartbreak with humor and deep emotional connections.
"I'm never sleeping when I close my eyes like this with you."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Committing the moment to memory."
What a beautiful story, I absolutely LOVED this book! 5 glowing stars!!
This is a story about grief, friendship, family, and love. This book made me feel ALL the feels. I laughed, cried, kicked my feet...The love story was so sweet and tender, an absolute slow burn, but so very good!! I love Cara Bastoneâs writing. She navigates heavy topics head on but lessens the heartbreak with humor and deep emotional connections.
"I'm never sleeping when I close my eyes like this with you."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Committing the moment to memory."
I think I'm an outlier here, judging by the raving reviews of this book. But I really was not all that impressed.
As someone who lost her best friend at 20 years old, I was looking forward to this. I was expecting something akin to Faithful by Alice Hoffman. This was not that. There was a major lack of depth with Lenny, our FMC. And she was far too ~quriky random weird girl~ for me to even take seriously. The sex scene was BEYOND cringe. And overall I didn't find much poignancy.
This book is why I'm not a huge contemporary romance reader and stick to romantasy. There was just a lot left to be desired. It was an entertaining read though, and I bet those who love contemporary romance would eat this book up and my feelings are mostly subjective.
Editing to add ~ I wouldâve liked this book more if there was more of Lou. We got like what, 10 pages altogether of their relationship? I was hoping for flashbacks all throughout the book so that was another let down.
As someone who lost her best friend at 20 years old, I was looking forward to this. I was expecting something akin to Faithful by Alice Hoffman. This was not that. There was a major lack of depth with Lenny, our FMC. And she was far too ~quriky random weird girl~ for me to even take seriously. The sex scene was BEYOND cringe. And overall I didn't find much poignancy.
This book is why I'm not a huge contemporary romance reader and stick to romantasy. There was just a lot left to be desired. It was an entertaining read though, and I bet those who love contemporary romance would eat this book up and my feelings are mostly subjective.
Editing to add ~ I wouldâve liked this book more if there was more of Lou. We got like what, 10 pages altogether of their relationship? I was hoping for flashbacks all throughout the book so that was another let down.
Oof, what a beautiful and powerful book! The author perfectly tackles the subject of grief after loss, and I am still coming down from everything this book provoked in me and how it so perfectly spoke to my grief. Some moments were hard to read, but also healing at the same time. I just felt everything so deeply with this book! Not just the grief and healing, but the authentic romance, too. Lenny and Miles were charming together, and I marveled at how their relationship progressed as they both processed and healed from their grief together. Just beautiful. 🥹❤️ The relationships between our main characters and Ainsley and Reese just captured my heart all the more. Ainsley was just the cutest! This book also offered all the witty banter and charm, and when you add it all together it makes for an absolutely perfect read. ❤️ This was my first Cara Bastone book and it most definitely will not be my last. It has me at a loss for words in the best way possible. ❤️ Absolutely recommend this book. 💯 Why is it not a 5 star? Only because there were a few minor things throughout that ever so slightly rubbed me the wrong way (mostly language and referring to God as “she, if a God even exists”), and I always try to stay true to my faith and beliefs, even when I absolutely love a book. Call me old-fashioned. 🤷🏼♀️
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