Promise Me Sunshine

Lenny’s “Live Again” list is one of the most important symbols in Promise Me Sunshine, as it represents Lenny’s efforts to restart her life in the aftermath of her best friend’s death. Bastone employs misdirection in the novel’s opening, suggesting that Lou wrote the list for Lenny to help her cope with her death. Though only a few of the items on the list are ever mentioned in the novel, they all hint at Lenny trying new things that will make her happy and help her forget about Lou’s death. Yet as Lenny completes the list, she is continually reminded of Lou and their relationship. At first, this is bad for Lenny, who is trying to avoid all thoughts of Lou’s death, yet the list ultimately helps her keep in touch with Lou even after she is gone. In a final twist, Lenny reveals that she is the author of the list. She wrote it for Lou when she was afraid of living her life normally again after a hysterectomy. Lou carried the list with her until she died, and she laminated it and gave it to Lenny shortly before her death. However, as the list brings her closer to Lou, Lenny discovers the truth about her grief: A list isn’t going to help her move on from it.