Cara Bastone

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. Her best friend, Lou, recently passed away after a battle with cancer, and her death has left Lenny feeling completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with Lou, and the list of things she’s supposed to do to help her live again. The only thing she can do is temporary babysitting gigs, and luckily, she just landed a great one, 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.

Miles sees right through her though. Turns out, he knows a lot about grief and, surprisingly, he offers her 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 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.

Promise Me Sunshine 

“grief is is the last and final act of love.” i read somewhere that we never truly heal, we just learn how to live around our wounds. the size of grief stays the same but we grow, we get bigger and that is what makes the difference. we carry our grief wherever we go. sometimes, it burns a hole through our hearts. others, it helps us get through our life. grief is such a difficult emotion to hold, to carry and i’m deeply touched by how gentle the book is—towards its readers, towards the topics it talks about. it’s a kind and caring book. to carry grief is, perhaps, a proof that we have loved and will continue to. miles didn’t promise lenny sunshine but he tried to give it to her and that’s what matters—to be seen trying and to have someone try for you. 

開花

Annabella

So there is no denying I was nervous to read this one. I didn’t love Cara Bastone’s previously released book, and I didn’t originally plan to read this one. But my friends convinced me to read it so I went into it with as open of a mind as I can. Now I did like the plot line for this book than the other one which made me very hopeful. I also have to give it to Alex Finke, the narrator of the book, Alex put her absolute all into this book. Now I can see how people would absolutely love it, I’m on the fence. That leads to my biggest drawback was the quirkiness of the FMC. I know that a lot of it was a shield but I can’t lie that as I was listen it took me back and the amount of times my eyes widened from how exuberant parts of the book was and how I don’t think I liked it. But the overall storyline and the message was good and I think had I physically read it I think I would have loved it more. So I can say I’ll be interested in what Cara releases next especially if the storyline and emotional impact are like this. 

Priscilla Stanfield

3.5/5⭐️ • 1/5🌶️

So there is no denying I was nervous to read this one. I didn’t love Cara Bastone’s previously released book, and I didn’t originally plan to read this one. But my friends convinced me to read it so I went into it with as open of a mind as I can. Now I did like the plot line for this book than the other one which made me very hopeful. I also have to give it to Alex Finke, the narrator of the book, Alex put her absolute all into this book. Now I can see how people would absolutely love it, I’m on the fence. That leads to my biggest drawback was the quirkiness of the FMC. I know that a lot of it was a shield but I can’t lie that as I was listen it took me back and the amount of times my eyes widened from how exuberant parts of the book was and how I don’t think I liked it. But the overall storyline and the message was good and I think had I physically read it I think I would have loved it more. So I can say I’ll be interested in what Cara releases next especially if the storyline and emotional impact are like this. 

✨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.

✨“If we do this, I will not let you drown.” I gasp for air. He’s winded me. The water rushes in. Is it silly that I didn’t realize I was drowning until he told me he won’t let it happen?

✨“It’s not pronounced like honey. It’s Ho-nee. Rhymes with—” “Baloney.” “I usually say pony, but sure. Whatever.”

✨“Something good for you.” He points at the oatmeal. “Something bad for you.” He points at the croissant. “And a change of scenery.” He points at the bakery. “Huh?” “It’s hard-won wisdom. A formula I figured out in my dark days. One I still need sometimes. When everything is going dark and you can’t understand why… when the grief catches up to you again… Or when your sister shouts at you and you feel like the world’s biggest tool. Just remember. Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery. That’s the winning formula.”

✨“If I run up this hill… I want… an afternoon beer. And… sunshine. And… a basket of fried shrimp. And… a view of the ocean.” He blinks at me. And then at the cloudy sky. It’s been a full day since my trip to the Met and the clouds haven’t let up yet. “Well, I can’t promise the sunshine. But I can do everything else.”

✨I want something that feels… natural, even if it’s not always sexy. Because relationships change so much while you’re in them. And so do the people. Even if you start out wanting one thing, a few years down the road you might want something completely different.” “That’s… the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard.” He laughs. “No, it’s not. Think of it this way: relationships have phases and they’re supposed to. If you’re gonna be in a relationship with someone for life, it’s like driving from one end of the country to the other. If you do the whole thing in first gear, you’re gonna overheat and cook your engine.”

✨“Hey, Lou. Miles says when you left, you took my heart with you. He says it was like a heart transplant. Only…” I lean forward and thump my chest. My hair falls in a tent around me, blocking out the light. “I don’t know what this new heart is supposed to be living for.”

✨Miles: Just double checking here: have any of you ever actually been camping? Lenny: Nope. Jericho: Nah. Jeffy: No. Rica: What part of this conversation makes you think I have?

✨“Lenny, the stakes are low with you because you’re the most loyal person I’ve ever met. You’re fully on my team. Now that you’re here, I think there’s very little I could do to kick you out… I don’t have to worry about losing you. I can just… relax.”

✨“I think I might be falling in love with someone, Mom. With someone who has saved me these last few months.” I cover my face with my hands. “I don’t know where I’d be without him. And I mean that literally. He’s kept me earthbound, Mom. The only reason I’m standing here right now is him.

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

✨I slide my fingernail between the curling lamination and peel it slowly open, careful not to tear the paper. And there, written in her artsy handwriting, with a pencil she’d surely just been sketching with, are Lou’s last words to me. 

Mariaaa

✨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.

✨“If we do this, I will not let you drown.” I gasp for air. He’s winded me. The water rushes in. Is it silly that I didn’t realize I was drowning until he told me he won’t let it happen?

✨“It’s not pronounced like honey. It’s Ho-nee. Rhymes with—” “Baloney.” “I usually say pony, but sure. Whatever.”

✨“Something good for you.” He points at the oatmeal. “Something bad for you.” He points at the croissant. “And a change of scenery.” He points at the bakery. “Huh?” “It’s hard-won wisdom. A formula I figured out in my dark days. One I still need sometimes. When everything is going dark and you can’t understand why… when the grief catches up to you again… Or when your sister shouts at you and you feel like the world’s biggest tool. Just remember. Something good for you, something bad for you, and a change of scenery. That’s the winning formula.”

✨“If I run up this hill… I want… an afternoon beer. And… sunshine. And… a basket of fried shrimp. And… a view of the ocean.” He blinks at me. And then at the cloudy sky. It’s been a full day since my trip to the Met and the clouds haven’t let up yet. “Well, I can’t promise the sunshine. But I can do everything else.”

✨I want something that feels… natural, even if it’s not always sexy. Because relationships change so much while you’re in them. And so do the people. Even if you start out wanting one thing, a few years down the road you might want something completely different.” “That’s… the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard.” He laughs. “No, it’s not. Think of it this way: relationships have phases and they’re supposed to. If you’re gonna be in a relationship with someone for life, it’s like driving from one end of the country to the other. If you do the whole thing in first gear, you’re gonna overheat and cook your engine.”

✨“Hey, Lou. Miles says when you left, you took my heart with you. He says it was like a heart transplant. Only…” I lean forward and thump my chest. My hair falls in a tent around me, blocking out the light. “I don’t know what this new heart is supposed to be living for.”

✨Miles: Just double checking here: have any of you ever actually been camping? Lenny: Nope. Jericho: Nah. Jeffy: No. Rica: What part of this conversation makes you think I have?

✨“Lenny, the stakes are low with you because you’re the most loyal person I’ve ever met. You’re fully on my team. Now that you’re here, I think there’s very little I could do to kick you out… I don’t have to worry about losing you. I can just… relax.”

✨“I think I might be falling in love with someone, Mom. With someone who has saved me these last few months.” I cover my face with my hands. “I don’t know where I’d be without him. And I mean that literally. He’s kept me earthbound, Mom. The only reason I’m standing here right now is him.

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

✨I slide my fingernail between the curling lamination and peel it slowly open, careful not to tear the paper. And there, written in her artsy handwriting, with a pencil she’d surely just been sketching with, are Lou’s last words to me. 

Get over it already, loser.

Utterly wonderful and poignantly memorable. I loved these two characters and the exploration of grief was just spot on. Also he CRAWLED TO HER need I say more? 

Promise Me Sunshine

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