As a romance reader, there is no shortage of books out there, focusing on different types of relationships, including marriage. That’s why I was incredibly excited about No Matter What by Cara Bastone. 

While Bastone has been publishing for years, her recent releases with Dial Press have been some of my favorites. In 2024, we got Ready or Not, which featured a pregnant FMC, which feels like such a rarity. In 2025, there was Promise Me Sunshine that focused heavily on grief and falling in love while also grieving the loss of someone. 

Seeing the premise for No Matter What, I was already sold because of Cara Bastone, firstly, and the care she puts into her stories. She doesn’t shy away from heavy topics but instead writes them sensitively and shows them the respect they deserve. While that might be odd to say, readers of Cara Bastone will understand. 

I’d like to thank Dial Press for providing me with a digital ARC, so I was able to read and review this one in time to have it go up on release day. 

No Matter What is another unmatched romance from Cara Bastone. 

No Matter What follows Roz and Vin, a married couple who are going through a rough patch. It truly started after an accident, and since then, things haven’t been the same. Of course, things only ramp up once Roz finds a lease set to be signed on August 15th. From there, we truly start to see the story take shape. 

Not only are we watching as Roz and Vin find their way back to each other, but we’re learning more about them as people. Roz is diving headfirst into drawing, which results in Vin deciding to pose for her. While it seems a little awkward for them at first, it’s the exact right move as they’re able to be more open and honest with each other. Additionally, we’re finding out more about Vin’s hobby, which does get revealed in the end, so I won’t spoil anything. 

One thing worth noting is that this book does talk about recovery and the injuries, including scarring, that Roz and Vin have from their accident. These two also talk about post-traumatic stress disorder and triggers. It is a hard read at times, but as previously mentioned, Cara Bastone handles these topics with care. There is truly no other author I could imagine to give us this story than her. 

Given that this is one of my favorite tropes, there was no way I wasn’t going to love No Matter What. It is such an incredibly impactful and emotional story with that perfect blend of romance and character development. Plus, Bastone adds some great comic relief with Vin’s family and the other people in Roz’s art class. 

No Matter What is easily going to be one of my favorite reads of 2025 and is a story I know I’ll be returning to. If you love Cara Bastone or don’t mind an emotional romance, then you’ll adore No Matter What.