Bookish Buys: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Bookish Buys
Inspired by Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Throw on that casual teal button-down, slip into your favorite skinny jeans, and lace up those yellow Chuck Taylors—you’re about to step into your own main character moment, just like Lenny in Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone.
This outfit is effortlessly cool, a little quirky, and packed with personality—perfect for someone navigating life’s ups and downs while trying to rediscover joy. The teal and yellow color combo is pure sunshine, a reminder that even in the midst of grief and uncertainty, there are bright spots waiting to be found. A matching yellow and teal bag ties everything together, making sure you’re ready for whatever spontaneous adventure (or emotional breakthrough) comes your way.
And let’s talk about those cheeky life preserver earrings. A subtle nod to staying afloat when life feels like rough waters, they’re the perfect playful detail that Lenny herself would totally appreciate. Because sometimes, when you're learning to live again, you need little reminders that rescue can come in unexpected forms—like a grumpy yet endearing stranger who just won’t stop showing up.
Just like Lenny’s journey with Miles—full of late-night ferry rides, shared ramen, and hesitant hope—this outfit is about embracing what comes next, even when you don’t have all the answers. So wear it boldly, take a deep breath, and remember: you’re the main character in your own story, and the best chapters are still ahead.
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Bookish Buys: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
About Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone:
How do you find yourself after you lose the one you loved the most?
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.
