Ready or Not (A Hearts of New York Novel #1) by Cara Bastone

A heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romance about how one unexpected night can crack open an entire life—and reveal what (and who) you’ve been quietly wanting all along. Ready or Not is tender and grounded, with big feelings, messy relationships, and a slow-burn love story that builds through everyday care and showing up.

Eve Hatch likes predictability. She’s happy in her cozy Brooklyn apartment near her childhood best friend Willa, and comfortably distant from her traditional Midwestern family who never quite “get” her. Her job isn’t exactly the dream, but it’s steady—and Eve’s been content to coast.

Then she has an uncharacteristic one-night stand… and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.

The pregnancy shifts everything. Eve and Willa’s once-easy friendship turns tense at the exact moment Eve needs support most. And it’s Willa’s dependable older brother, Shep, who steps in—checking on her, ordering surprise lunches, listening to her spiral, and generally being so kind it’s inconvenient. (Also: when did he get so hot?) Meanwhile, the baby’s father is technically supportive but deeply conflicted, adding another layer of complication to Eve’s already expanding reality.

Over nine months, Eve has to figure out the next right step—about family, love, and the possibility that she’s wanted more from her life for a long time… even before she knew how to ask for it.