B.K. Borison Confirms ‘You’ve Got Mail’-Inspired Heartstrings Book for Early 2027, Plus a Movie Version of ‘First-Time Caller’

Best-selling author B.K. Borison has a double dose of good news for fans of her charming contemporary romances.

Third ‘Heartstrings’ book is inspired by ‘You’ve Got Mail’

First, a third book in Borison’s popular “Heartstrings” series is in the works. In 2025, she released First-Time Caller, a book inspired by Sleepless in Seattle. Next up was And Now, Back to You, a take on the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally. 

Now, she’s writing a book based on another Nora Ephron movie: You’ve Got Mail. The 1998 hit stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as rival booksellers in Manhattan. (That movie was inspired by a 1937 Hungarian play that was previously adapted into the movies The Shop Around the Corner and In the Good Old Summertime.)

The task she’s given herself for her third “Heartstrings” book is a little daunting, Borison admitted. 

“I’ve been very intimidated to start this book because I think You’ve Got Mail is such an iconic film,” she told The Seattle Times ahead of the February 24 release of And Now, Back to You. “The prospect of making your characters fall in love twice is intimidating.”

The next “Heartstrings” book doesn’t yet have a title. But it should be in stores sometime in 2027, according to Parade. 

Movie version of ‘First-Time Caller’ in the works  

In another exciting update, Borison has revealed that a movie version of First-Time Caller is in development. A Cup of Happy Productions has optioned the film rights to the book, Variety reports. 

“This story is so special to me, and I’m thrilled to be partnering with A Cup of Happy Productions to bring these characters to life,” Borison said. “I wrote this book as a love letter to love and I simply can’t wait to see it on the screen.”

“Big day for Heartstrings lovers,” she added in a February 24 Instagram post announcing the news. “Truly didn’t even ever think to dream this big. Thankful to @acupofhappyproductions for believing in this book. Grab your popcorn and your pineapple pizza, babes. We’re going to the movies.”

Fans of First-Time Caller greeted the news that the book could be getting a movie adaptation with enthusiasm. 

“OH MY GOD ITS A NEW ROM CLASSIC IN THE MAKING,” one person wrote on Instagram. 

“WE YELLED BRING BACK ROM COMS AND THE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING!!” another commented. 

‘First-Time Caller’ movie part of a wave of romance novel adaptations 

The proposed First-Time Caller movie is part of a recent wave of romance novel adaptations for the big and small screen. Steamy hockey romance Heated Rivalry became a massive surprise hit for HBO Max late last year. And in early 2026, Netflix released People We Meet on Vacation, an adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller of the same name. It’s just the first of several adaptations of Henry’s books that are in the works. 

A movie of Ali Hazlewood’s The Love Hypothesis is due later this year from Amazon MGM. Penn Badgley and Meghann Fahey will star in an adaptation of Sarah Hogle’s You Deserve Each Other, also from Amazon MGM and expected to be released later this year. A TV series based on Elle Kennedy’s The Deal – the first in her “Off Campus” series –  will premiere on Prime Video in May 2026. The streamer has already renewed the show for season 2. Netflix also released Finding Her Edge, a YA romance series based on a book by Jennifer Iacopelli. And period romances Bridgerton (based on the books by Julia Quinn) and Outlander (adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s book series), which have legions of loyal fans, both have new seasons releasing in 2026. 

The surge in romantic shows and movies taps into audiences’ long-standing desire for swoon-worthy stories. Streamers picked up on that interest and began leaning into it. 

“Audiences have always loved romance,” Kira Goldberg, Netflix’s vice president of film, told NBC News. “It’s just that the theatrical studios stopped making them for a time, and the streamers picked up the opportunity, knowing that those old films that people had made way back when are still classics.”

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