The Bookish Ashley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5 stars)

Blog Post Title: “Rediscovering Joy, One Saturday at a Time”

If you’ve ever felt like you were sleepwalking through your twenties—trudging through day jobs, dodging awkward dates, and wondering when your life will actually start—then Passion Project by London Sperry might feel a little too real… in the best way possible.

At the heart of this story is Bennet Taylor, a temp worker in New York City whose life feels stuck in grayscale. She’s drifting—emotionally closed off, still aching from the loss of her first love, and increasingly convinced that passion, romance, and joy are concepts that apply to everyone else. That is, until she has a tipsy, unexpectedly vulnerable run-in with Henry Adams, a charming would-be date she bailed on mere hours before. Instead of taking the hint and walking away, Henry proposes a challenge: every Saturday, they’ll try something new together. Not as romantic partners, but as friends on a mission to rediscover what makes Bennet feel again.

What unfolds is part slow-burn romance, part emotional awakening, and part love letter to New York’s wild array of experiences—from rooftop rappelling to clay-covered pottery dates to laugh-out-loud attempts at rapping. Bennet’s internal evolution is slow but satisfying, and her growing bond with Henry sparkles with witty banter, warmth, and real emotional stakes.

Sperry’s writing is funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest about grief, stagnation, and the quiet, everyday courage it takes to keep showing up for your own life. The chemistry between Bennet and Henry is undeniable, but it never overshadows Bennet’s personal journey. In fact, one of the book’s strengths is how it balances romantic tension with self-discovery—reminding us that falling for someone new doesn’t mean forgetting your past, but learning to live with it.

If there’s one reason this isn’t a full five-star read, it’s that some of the “secret reveal” moments feel a bit rushed or overly tidy. Certain emotional conflicts are resolved more quickly than expected, and I found myself wanting just a bit more depth or complexity in the final third.

Still, Passion Project is a vibrant, modern tale that captures the disorientation of your twenties and the thrilling possibility that the life you want might still be out there—waiting for you to chase it, one messy, brave Saturday at a time.

Read if you love:

✨ Slow-burn, friends-to-more romance

✨ Stories about healing and self-discovery

✨ Big city charm and quirky adventures

✨ Characters who feel like real people making real mistakes

Final Thought:

Passion Project is the kind of book that makes you want to get off the couch, sign up for that dance class, or text the person you’ve been avoiding. It’s a heartwarming reminder that even when you feel lost, your next great adventure could be one bold “yes” away.