I've Got You: A Hearts of New York Novel

Hearts of New York #4

by Cara Bastone

A woman who has sworn off children suddenly finds herself taking care of her nephew and living in close quarters with her single-dad landlord in this new moving, hopeful slow-burn romance from bestselling author of Promise Me Sunshine and No Matter What.

Soli is finally free! (Or so she thinks). After breaking up with her clingy boyfriend, Soli is determined to remain single and dependent-less…when who shows up on her doorstep but her runaway teenaged nephew looking to hunker down in New York City while he figures out who he is. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if her apartment didn't flood that night
causing the two of them to suddenly need a new place to live.

Her landlord, Ethan, feels terrible, and is desperate for her not to move out; he has enough to juggle as a single dad and business owner, recovering from an accident that left him scarred, without adding “find a new trustworthy tenant” to the list. He offers her a Soli and her nephew can move in with Ethan and his daughter, Miriam, while he renovates her apartment, as long as she promises she’ll stay.

Soli’s never been one to want to put down roots, preferring to follow her heart and her heart only, free of the expectations of others. But little does she know that despite her domestic antipathies, she is everything Ethan never dared to hope he’d find.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Rom Com, Fiction, Forced Proximity

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 16, 2027

About the author

Cara Bastone is the author of Ready or Not. She lives and writes in Brooklyn with her husband, sons, and an almost-goldendoodle. Her goal with her work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories. She's been a fan of the romance genre since she found a grocery bag filled with her grandmother's old Harlequin Romances when she was in high school. She's a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren't hobbled by their own masculinity.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[ଘRory ( semi-hiatus)]

Ya know it's soul-touching cuz it's written by Cara Bastone ✍️.

[maria]

ETHAN’S BOOK🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

I prayed for moments like this 😭 my whole year is made. Immediately 5 stars!!!!!

[ahmeeka]

I’m a simple woman—if cara bastone writes it, I’m going to read it

[Noi (in & out)]

I can't express how much I need this book in my hands (& ears)

[Marie]

And I've got to have this book 🤭💃✨

[Sabrina]

This being Ethan’s book makes this little universe coming to an end feel so bittersweet 😭😭 I loved meeting and getting to know his character first in ready or not and can already feel all the feels that will be felt with this one

[Mira]

3.25 ⭐

I fell in love with Ethan back when I read Ready or Not two years ago. Then, when he appeared in an episode of Promise Me Sunshine, I couldn’t have been happier, and I started hoping that sooner or later Cara would write a book about him. And now it finally happened!

Here we meet Ethan, who now has a six-year-old daughter and is still dealing with the aftermath of the accident. He has scars on his face that make him feel insecure. In this book, we get to see almost all the main characters from the series, and it felt like watching old friends because, after all this time, they’ve become very dear to me. And Eva, Shep, and Miriam, of course, are absolute sweethearts. I adore them! Every time Shep appeared, an instant smile appeared on my face.

I loved almost everything about this book except the FMC. Don’t get me wrong, Soli is wonderful, creative, and independent, but she’s just not my type of heroine. I have nothing against her views on life, but I don’t share them, and I simply can’t empathize with a character like that. I got the impression that she never really recovered from the trauma. Yes, it was repeatedly emphasized that this was a conscious choice, but it didn’t feel that way to me. I also didn’t really like the way she behaved toward Cody. At that age, young people are still experimenting and figuring themselves out, and it felt like she was pushing him toward a certain worldview. This is just my opinion, though, and I’m not saying that I’m right.

Ethan is an incredible man. He’s very family-oriented, does an amazing job co-parenting his daughter, and I would have loved to see him with a different woman—someone who shared his views and could give him the life he deserves, someone who would put him first rather than putting her work first. To me, he sacrificed a lot to be with Soli. And what did she do for him? If even living in the same apartment is difficult for her, I just don’t see how this can work long-term. They’re already too different, and I don’t believe Ethan will be happy in this relationship in the long run.

This is my least favorite book in the series, but I’m still glad I read it. And regardless, this series remains one of my favorites. I’m so grateful to Cara for bringing all these books together into one series and letting us watch our favorite characters grow and live their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (Dial Press Trade Paperback) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ri ♡]

this definitely is ethan's book omg i can't waitt

[Kristina]

Thank you Random House for the arc! I’m so excited, love Cara so much!

[Anna (annareadit)]

I'm so excited to finally dive into Ethan's story!

[Gretchen Alice]

I loved this so much that I immediately turned around and read it again. The only problem with Cara Bastone books is that the characters aren’t real and I can’t follow them around for the rest of their lives. I’ve Got You is a gorgeous, expansive, and colorful romance.

[lali ✰]

this book is everything I asked for, is finally Ethan's time ♥♥♥

[millena]

Honestly, I feel like this series healed something in me 😭

The second this book was announced and I found out it was about Ethan, I just knew I was going to love it, and thank god I wasn’t wrong. I absolutely adored everything about it. The romance, her relationship with Cody, the found family, the friendships… literally everything. There were so many moments where I was just as desperate as they were, wondering who would have to give something up, but the ending worked out perfectly.

I would genuinely recommend these books to anyone looking for a good romance and a guaranteed cry at some point. In my case, I think I cried in all four books but I’m just very emotional so that probably doesn’t count!!!

[Ria Camden]

The way this masterfully intertwines all four New York Cara Bastone novels: exquisite.

Ever since Ready or Not, I’ve been, for lack of a better word, obsessed with Cara’s writing and character complexity. I absolutely love how she’s not afraid to write about uncomfortable topics.

I’ve Got You isn’t any different for me. It’s simply stunning.

The way Ethan didn’t even click for me as Ready or Not Ethan? That’s how much he’s grown into a unicorn of a man. Be ready (or not).

This is the book for the cool aunties out there, if you know what I mean.


And a HUMONGOUS Thank You to NetGalley and Random House for letting me read one of my most anticipated books of 2027 early.

[adey౨ৎ 🫐🔆]

OH MY GOD, WHY DOES NO ONE EVER TELL ME ANYTHING? ETHAN'S BOOK???! I'M SO EXCITED, I'VE GENUINELY BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOREVER.

[Trianna/Treereads]

There is just something so readable about Cara Bastone's books even though not much happens and they are very slow burns!! But her character work is really great and you just fall into the world.

I really loved all the characters!! Soli was a fun and strong FMC and Ethan was ALMOST too perfect, but not quite which is the best. And Mimi and Cody where lovely side characters.

But there is always something that holds me back from giving her books a full five stars and for this one it was the pacing. It was too much of a slow burn. Which then resulted in a ton of serious convos happening at the end of the book. Which was fine, but I would've liked to spend a bit more time on some of the conversations and let the characters mull things over a bit more because they were discussing some BIG THINGS!! The last 20% of this book was like PLOT PLOT PLOT when the prior 80% was a slow meandering and build of things. Which she mostly pulls off, but for parts of the book I was just like omg can you guys just hook up so we can move to the feelings/emotions after that?!

I did like reading Cara Bastone's author note at the end where she describes how Ethan came to be the through line of this series. Which made me wish he had a POV but he is too healed for a POV in this story.

I think if you like this book you would like LOVE LETTERING by Kate Clayborn because they felt sort of similar to me!!

*thanks to the publisher & netgalley for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*

[jude!]

cara bastone you've done it again. i was so excited to see that ethan got his own story because "ready for it" was one of my favorite reads and this book did not disappoint. soli was so interesting and brought such a nice view of independent life to a romance that books with families don't always get to see. that plus cody's character just made me fall in love. and returning to ethan as such a different character through his circumstances between and during other books was just fantastic to see. i love this little family ugh

i teared up during the author's note at the thought of saying goodbye to this web of characters.

[Tanis DeMille]

For my birthday this year I decided to gift myself a guaranteed good romance read and WOW what a pick!!
Cara Bastone has outdone herself, I would give this 6 stars if I could... 1,000 stars!!

[Amelia | All in with A]

And then the author’s note made me sob.

[gracie]

I need this in my hands immediately omg

[Jimmel]

I literally can't wait..! I'm so excited for this book!!! 😁

[Hannah]

Every single book Cara Bastone writes finds a way to delve deep into my soul, finding exactly the places that ache before somehow managing to hurt and heal them at the same time. Packing an enormous emotional punch, I'VE GOT YOU had me crying, laughing, and ultimately smiling at the sheer beauty of this story.

What initially feels like a classic rom-com setup quickly reveals itself to be so much more. Soli has finally ended her long-term relationship and is embracing a future where she's happily single and responsible only for herself. That plan is upended when her teenage nephew, Cody, unexpectedly arrives needing a place to stay—right as her apartment floods. Her landlord, Ethan, doesn't want her to leave, so he offers Soli and Cody a temporary home with him and his daughter, Miriam, while the apartment is repaired. Ethan already has more than enough on his plate as he navigates fatherhood, co-parenting, recovery from a life-altering accident, and running his business, yet he never hesitates to help someone in need. As these two very different households collide, Soli and Ethan slowly discover they may be exactly what the other has been missing.

First, I love that we finally got Ethan's story. Cara has been quietly weaving him through this series, and it was incredibly rewarding to see him step into the spotlight after all these years. When we first met Ethan in READY OR NOT, he was uncertain about his role in his soon-to-be daughter's life, and I immediately wanted to know more about him. Catching glimpses of him in PROMISE ME SUNSHINE and NO MATTER WHAT felt like running into an old friend and seeing how much they've grown despite life's challenges.

In I'VE GOT YOU, Ethan is still carrying the physical and emotional aftermath of his accident while doing everything he can to be a good father, co-parent, and business owner. His instinct is always to care for the people around him, often before himself. That's what makes Ethan such a compelling romantic lead: he isn't grand or flashy—he's simply, consistently kind. Once you're in his orbit, he'll quietly take care of you whether you ask him to or not. Acts of service are absolutely his love language, one filled ice cube tray at a time.

Soli quickly became one of my favorite heroines Cara has written. Her inner monologue is hilarious—I laughed out loud more than once—and lines like, "It's raining men. But in an annoying way," perfectly capture her wit. Self-assured, ambitious, and fiercely independent, Soli is also deeply empathetic and nurturing. She sees the world in such a colorful, beautiful way and tries to make it just as beautiful as she sees it. Her past is complicated, yet she remained positive and she lived. She still struggles with her loss, but she doesn’t let it stop her from living the life she wants.

What I loved most, though, was her relationship with Cody. Cody is struggling with his identity, feeling trapped by life in a small town and weighed down by his parents' expectations. Soli becomes the safe place where he can begin to figure out who he is, and I loved how gently and patiently she approached him. Cody isn't an easy teenager to reach, and watching their trust develop felt incredibly authentic. Soli may believe she doesn't want anyone depending on her, but through Cody she discovers she's already capable of being exactly what someone else needs.

One of my favorite romance dynamics is the avoidant woman paired with the hopelessly devoted man, and Soli and Ethan embody that beautifully. Ethan's feelings are evident from the beginning, but this is a wonderfully slow burn as Soli gradually comes to terms with her own. Even then, she's hesitant because their visions for the future don't seem to align.

What I appreciated most was that Ethan never tries to convince Soli to become someone she's not. He doesn't pressure her or ask her to abandon the life she wants. Instead, he gives her the space to wrestle with her feelings while remaining steadfast in his own. Their relationship unfolds naturally through friendship, teasing, quiet tenderness, and simmering tension. And when that tension finally breaks, the payoff is absolutely worth the wait. I especially loved that Soli truly sees Ethan—not despite his scars, but the beauty in them—and helps him begin to heal the way he sees himself.

Cara Bastone’s storytelling is a rich, emotional gut punch with moments of hilarity, sincerity, and joy. Every member of this cast adds something meaningful to the story. Renee was a particular favorite, and I'll happily continue wondering about her and Marcel long after finishing the book. It was also such a joy to revisit familiar faces from across the series.

Overall, I absolutely adored I'VE GOT YOU. It's heartfelt, deeply emotional, and full of the compassion and humanity that have become hallmarks of Cara Bastone's writing. It serves as a beautiful—and yes, bittersweet—conclusion to this series, and I couldn't imagine a more fitting farewell.

I received an advanced version of this manuscript complimentary of PRH and Dial Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amy Dickinson]

I can’t even begin to explain what an absolute joy and surprise it was to receive this manuscript and to finally get to read Ethan’s HEA.

This was so excellent and is absolutely Cara Bastone’s best work yet. It’s a new all time favorite book for me and represents exactly why I love the romance genre. For best enjoyment you definitely want to have read the first three books in this universe, but if you jumped in with no background you would still get to know and love the characters just as deeply.

The banter! The biting flirtations! I can’t stand it. The unique back stories of each main character and the way their stories unfold with one another and to the reader are done so well. And OMG praise Cara Bastone and her relentlessly competent and emotionally evolved MMCs. If we’re talking favorites, somehow Ethan (an acts of service king) has managed to surpass even the ultimate and most devoted golden retriever Shep (Shep-dad 😭). Even where he fails to fully understand himself and others around him, he is so instantly open to feedback and perspective shifting when something is pointed out to him. His care and love and understanding is so beautiful and honestly so healing to read and witness through this story. 

The portrayal of the distinct personalities of each character jumps off of the page. The six year old, the eighteen year old, even the side characters come to life so viscerally. Bones is the best, Miriam is the best, Cody is so amazing and such a perfect foil to Soli. He allows her to witness and relive and take care of him, and through that heal her own inner child in such a beautiful way. 

I stayed up way too late crying at the beautiful dialogue and swooning at the unbelievable chemistry. I loved the emphasis on colors and visualizations and how it ties everything together and offers so much in the details. I can’t wait to reread and seek out every mention of colors and specific visuals.

This might be advertised as the end of the literary universe but I’m pitching a Renee and Marcel short story or a Cody coming of age novel someday! This book did wrap up everyone’s stories so beautifully, but I will forever be desperate for even more.

I am so thrilled with this cover and can’t wait to hold this book in my hands next year. Get ready for your next favorite read 🩵

A million thanks to PRH/Dial Press for the ARC! I will never come down from the high of reading this one early 🥹💁🏼‍♀️😜

[Annie K]

First, I want to say that I’m a **huge Cara Bastone stan**, so getting her ARC after being repeatedly rejected was a true honor. 😂 And this book? Omg. It was everything I didn’t know I needed.

At first I was like, *ew, not Ethan*, because I didn’t quite love him in Eve’s story. But damn, he made SO much sense in Soli’s story.

The way they both taught each other how they deserved to be loved? Absolutely destroyed me. Cara Bastone is the master of breaking my heart and then putting it back together over and over again in the same story. I just thought it was beautiful that Soli was able to find a family that worked for her.

And honestly, the misunderstanding in this book was **actually a misunderstanding**! It wasn’t one of those obvious, frustrating situations where you’re sitting there thinking, *omg, how could she possibly interpret it that way?* It was genuinely easy to see how she got there. Even I was like, *oh… yea, you’re right.* 😂

Damn, I just loved everything about this. From the romance to the found-family vibes to Ethan and Soli as the main characters. I think that’s what I love so much about Cara Bastone’s stories: all of her characters feel incredibly well-developed, even the ones who have smaller roles. They feel real and flawed and like actual people.

Anyways, you should read this one if you want to cry, because damn, it was good in all the best ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[jordan]

i love love love cara bastone’s writing (yes, i did in fact cry reading the author’s note). her stories are so beautiful and raw and moving; they make me feel alive. her characters always feel three-dimensional and the dialogue flows so naturally, and this was no exception!

ethan has been a recurring character throughout this series, and i was so excited for him to finally get his own story (the man has been thru it™️ 😫). i found his (& soli’s) character development to be very satisfying. i also loved how color was woven into the storytelling. since soli is a textile designer, having each of the three parts named after a color was not only fitting, but creative and immersive. the pacing was steady and i was kept engaged throughout. i really liked the side characters and, of course, loved the appearances by the main characters from the other books in this series (miles, ily <3). as always, i appreciate the thought and care with which bastone approaches and addresses heavier themes. i would also share my love for the setting, but NYC is more than a setting — she’s THE main character.

BUT, i unfortunately struggled at times to fully connect with the romance between soli & ethan. the slow burn (which bastone truly excels at) was executed so well (no surprise here), and in the moment, everything felt right and clicked into place. however, upon reflection, i’m not totally convinced of their long-term compatibility. they have such fundamentally different ideas of what they want their lives to look like (neither wrong!!), and while they do work through those differences, i didn’t completely buy the resolution (i also really didn’t want either of them to have to sacrifice what they wanted). i understand that love can sometimes change what you think you want, but i guess i just had a hard time envisioning a future where those differences wouldn’t eventually become an issue for them (maybe,, hopefully ? i’m wrong and just overthinking this lol.. tbh not unlikely 😭). which, i mean, fine!! not every love needs to be a forever one (IF that’s even the case here), but even so, it was a bit disappointing for me personally.

overall, i’ve got you is full of so much heart and warmth and humor, as is to be expected from bastone. even when the romance didn’t entirely resonate with me, i still found so much to love here. i continue to look forward to reading everything she writes!!

thank you so much to netgalley and random house | the dial press for providing me with this arc!

[brooke ୨୧]

i left this crying and it’s her best book to date. 6 stars if we’re being real and i’m thankful to the publisher for sending me the arc <3 can’t wait for my romance friends to read this as well soon, i’m going to be very annoying about it!!!!

[alicebme]

Read on my day off, and what a good choice that was. It can feel so incredibly vulnerable and sometimes isolating to keep saying the things and keep letting yourself be just yourself. It’s not political to want to be free. It’s human. This is a great one. You could read it as a standalone, because I totally forgot the other books in the series.

eArc from NetGalley

[inmyreadingera321]

Full review to come closer to publication day!

————————————————————————

Thank you to Netgalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

[Kristina Nichole]

Cara Bastone's one of my favorite romance authors.....

Spring is going to be an EPIC year!!!!

[Caitlyn Davis]

Cara Bastone, how I love you!

This book, once again, creates and brings back characters that I feel like I could run into on the streets of New York. Bastone is a master of creating such specific and nuanced characters that they just jump off the pages. The setup of this none was expert, and we're introduced quickly to a character that readers may already know from Ready or Not, Ethan. It's satisfying in the sense that three books ago I wanted to see him get his happy ending, and here we do. Cameos from the last three books brought warmth to my heart, like turning on a lamp in a warmly lit comfy living room. I felt like I was wrapped in the fluffiest blanket, surrounded by my favorite people. It's gratifying to see the payoff of three other stories, people so perfect for each other and so happy in their relationships.

This one is a slooooooow burn, but in the best way possible. I always feel like a slow burn allows the author to really convince the reader that these two people belong together, and here I think Bastone used the trope like an expert, to the point where you question why these two people weren't together before (but we also understand why this is the right moment). Get ready for a genuine wooing in the best way, and be prepared to laugh and cry. How Bastone is able to make me crack up on one page and tear up on the next will never cease to amaze me. God, I loved this book and I love her writing. I already want to read this again!