Lenny is drowning in grief. She can function just enough to take short term babysitting gigs, but not more. Miles is trying to connect with his sister and niece and failing. The two make a deal, Miles will keep Lenny from drowning and Lenny will teach Miles how to befriend his niece, Ainsley. The result is a tender, slow burn romance, that explores so many facets of love. When Lenny and Miles have their first kiss, it feels epic, and earned. And then, in true Cara Bastone fashion, the mundane interrupts. This is a book in which the Earth keeps spinning whether your life has fallen apart, or the man you’re going to love forever kisses you for the first time.
It would be easy to say that Lenny is a mess in need of rescuing and that Miles comes along to save her. But that would be inaccurate. Lenny and Miles are equals exchanging knowledge in their areas of expertise. Miles’ expertise is getting through life altering grief and Lenny’s is getting along with people, specially child people. They make it possible for the other to get through the rough patch.
Having gotten through some rough stuff myself, I was nodding along with the choices being made. Sometimes the thing we need when we can’t take care of ourselves is to take care of someone else. I was very familiar with Lenny’s feeling that she couldn’t feed and water herself, but she could keep it together enough to make Ainsley feel safe and cared for. If there is a thesis to this story, it’s that we cannot get through hard stuff alone.
I love Promise Me Sunshine for many reasons. Probably the biggest reason is that Lenny’s grief is for her friend, not a parent or a partner, a friend. What gets her through the very worst of the grief is more friendship. Friendship doesn’t often get its due, and Cara Bastone is serving up a romance in which all kinds of friendships are centered. It’s a gorgeously human book, and the kind of softness I need right now. Go forth and make friends, love people and let them love you. Eat something delicious. Be willing to be silly.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Random House and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.