From the publisher:
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.
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Library Journal, New York Public Library, Seattle Times
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.
“A stunning book by Bastone, who delivers another slow-burn and emotional romance that doesn’t shy away from also exploring life’s hardest moments . . . Recommended for readers who also enjoy Abby Jimenez.”—Library Journal, starred review
This book isn’t just a love story—it’s a powerful exploration of grief, healing, and the unexpected ways love can find us even in the darkest moments. It’s a journey through loss, the struggle to rebuild when grief has turned your world upside down, and the realization that sometimes losing everything is the beginning of finding yourself again. It’s so much more than a romance; it’s about resilience and discovering hope when it feels completely out of reach.
Lenny is devastated after losing her best friend, Lou, to cancer. Even if you haven’t experienced her kind of loss, anyone who has loved someone deeply can imagine the heartbreak of losing them. Every part of her life feels broken, and she has no idea how to start putting the pieces back together. When she takes a babysitting job for a single mom, Reese, and her daughter, Ainsley, she meets Reese’s brother, Miles.
Miles carries his own heavy grief, though it looks different from Lenny’s. He’s lost his mother, his father, and his cousin—an overwhelming amount of pain for one person to bear. Hoping to hold on to what little family he has left, he moves closer to them, searching for connection. But watching how misunderstood he is by his sister and niece is heartbreaking. He tries so hard, yet they never seem to see the depth of who he is, leaving him feeling isolated.
Miles is the kind of person who would do anything for the people he loves. His heart is huge, and his loyalty runs deep. He’s emotionally perceptive in a rare way—he notices the unspoken, understands feelings others might overlook, and cares deeply without expecting anything in return.
He sees Lenny in a way no one else does. He offers to help her work through her grief and complete her “live again” list if she helps him navigate his complicated relationship with his niece. As they spend more time together, Lenny begins to realize that healing doesn’t always come from big, dramatic moments. Sometimes it’s found in the quiet, gentle connections that slowly stitch you back together.
Lenny’s grief feels painfully real—so raw it almost becomes your own. Lou had been there for everything, and now she’s gone. Watching Lenny struggle to let go, to allow herself to live again, is devastating. There’s a quiet, lingering ache that comes with losing someone you love so deeply, and the book captures that ache beautifully. Grief isn’t something you “get over.” It’s something you learn to carry, day by day, and Lenny’s journey reflects that truth with honesty and tenderness. What struck me most was how the book portrays grief as unpredictable, messy, and deeply human.
Lenny and Miles don’t find each other by searching for love—they find each other by surviving the hardest parts of life side by side. Their love grows from friendship, shared pain, and seeing each other at their most vulnerable. The slow burn between them feels natural and unforced. It’s simply two people healing, slowly and quietly, until they realize they’ve found something meaningful in the middle of their grief.
While this isn’t a typical love story, it is so much more. It has a happy ending, which is poignant and so meaningful. These characters will be staying with me for a long time. Don’t miss it.
Note: This is my final review of the year, covering a book released earlier in the year. Publishing used to be very light in December, so it was always my month to catch up on whatever I missed earlier in the year, like this. But these days publishing doesn’t take that holiday break anymore, and frankly, I miss it.
12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
PROMISE ME SUNSHINE by Cara Bastone. Dial Press Trade Paperback. (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593595732. 416p.
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