With a little over 5000 hours in various single engine Cessnas I would also recommend the C42, unless your ultimate aim is a commercial pilot’s licence.
The C42 is roomier than a Cessna 152, the cabin heater works better, and a microlight licence is simpler and more attainable, at least in the UK. And with the rising cost of fuel and undoubted “Green issues” for private flying in the future 15 litres an hour of Mogas against 22 litres an hour of leaded avgas has to be better.