Passion Project — Books, Beauty, & Buys

By: London Sperry
Published Year: 2025
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 368

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A compassionate and hopeful romantic comedy, Passion Project is a reminder that love is waiting for us to let it in

If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love.

When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course.

As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness.

First Impressions

I can’t remember how I came across this book, but it definitely made a strong first impression with the cover and title. The cover is so cute! I remember reading the summary and adding it to my to-read list immediately.

What I thought

I listened to this book and I think I’ve found a new favorite narrator!

Bennett is in her 20’s, living in New York City, and battling with depression. When she stands up a first date, she later runs into him multiple times. The second time she runs into Henry, he challenges her to be his friend and try to find her passion with him this summer. As he pushes her out of her comfort zone, she starts to realize just how far she has closed herself off from those around her.

I really enjoyed this story, even though Bennett drove me a little bit nuts at times. Bennett is dealing with the grief of her ex-boyfriend having passed away about 3-5 years ago. Can’t remember if they said specifically how long ago he passed away or if I just can’t remember. My irritation came with the fact that Bennett does absolutely nothing to deal with this grief. Trust me, I know grief personally and I know it’s not easy and that everyone deals with it different. But she makes comments about why she thinks therapy won’t help, yet she has been dealing with anxiety and depression her whole life. On top of that, she is so obviously self aware that she is struggling, yet refuses to do so.

I think this is why it bothered me a little bit at the end of the story because it felt like her healing journey came together so quickly and almost out of nowhere. I did love Henry, but wouldn’t have minded if he has been a little bit fleshed out. There’s a part of the story where Bennett mentions that she has only viewed Henry for his surface level personality and I felt a little bit like the author could’ve shown a little more why he was the way he was.

I id like how the story was more than just the passion project. Bennett’s relationship with her roommate as well as some of her coworkers helped to fill out the story. Although here is one work storyline that I’m realizing I would’ve liked to be handled a little differently, but obviously hasn’t impacted my enjoyment of the story.