A high three but this romance ultimately was just not it for me. My main issue was that I felt zero chemistry between the two love interests.
The best parts of this book were the mental health talks and the healthy relationships between our fmc and her coparents and also her daughter.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

I love BK Borison's Lovelight Farms series, but I don't like Sleepless in Seattle the film so I was concerned going into this book hearing that it is a Sleepless in Seattle retelling. Thankfully, Ms. Borison delivers on the swoony, tender and sexy moments and doesn't let any of the stuff I don't like about SIS seep through. Lucie and Aiden meet on a radio show call - in much like the set up in SIS but that's where the similarities end. Aiden Valentine is the host for Heartstrings, a radio show in Baltimore (think Loveline but less raunchy) and Lucie's 12 year old daughter calls in trying to find love for her mom. Lucie talks with Aiden for a while when she discovers this call, and actually ends up coming onto the show regularly as she's on the road for love. Listeners quickly begin rooting for Aiden and Lucie and their chemistry, and while there are dates that get set up via the show and dating show competition... after a while Aiden and Lucie can't deny their flirtation and attraction. I loved this because while it is a slower burn, they meet each other so early on (which is not the case in SIS) and so the tension and flirtation builds realistically.

BK Borison continues to create the most interesting characters. Lucie is a mechanic who had her daughter Maya young with her best platonic friend, Grayson - he has his own love with Mateo so Maya gets two dads and they like live next door to each other... it's lovely co-parenting. CW: Lucie's family and Grayson's family cut them off when she got pregnant so - family estrangement.
Aiden is the radio host for a love show but doesn't think he deserves love himself... it is a classic hero issue but also done in a really lovely way. CW: Aiden's mom had cancer throughout his life - she is in remission now but it is his big trauma.
Both Aiden and Lucie have great friends and co-workers, and even the dates and other love interests who are there briefly are interesting. This is a lovely little Baltimore BK Borison-verse and I cannot wait to return here for the next one in this new series.

📻 What’s it about?
Aiden hosts a radio show for love advice. He’s tired and doesn’t believe in love anymore… but when a girl calls in to help her mom, Lucie, find love, it goes viral. Soon Lucie finds herself on the radio show, in pursuit of finding the perfect date. If only she could turn off her attraction to Aiden.

🎙️ My thoughts:
This book was the perfect, sweet, sexy, smart romance. It was relatively low angst, with characters who had a little more life experience. I loved that it was mostly told in dialogue (as one does with a radio program), and the side characters were an absolute delight. From shop mechanics and radio workers, to Lucie’s daughter and the father of her child, the whole crew was a hoot.

🎧 The audiobook was perfectly narrated by E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee (seriously, I want Hathaway to narrate my books with her beautiful rasp).

This was a short and sweet read that I was able to read in just a day. I loved Lucie’s little family and Aiden’s dry humor. The radio show was a new plot line for me and I thought it was SO much fun. There were absolutely cheesy parts throughout this, but whatever it’s a rom com what do you expect? I appreciated that we got to watch them ease into the comfort of each other overtime instead of it being an instant relationship so we got those little moments of juicy tension. Both characters had personal growth and worked through various issues and expectations that had held them back. It was great to see them work through that and be able to find their happy endings. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and B.K. Borison for the eACR!!

Say hello to my new favorite book couple — Lucie and Aiden 🙂‍↕️🫶🏻

I loved everything about the dynamic of Lucie and Aiden’s relationship. The banter between them was so funny and their chemistry was IMMEDIATE. And the love between them!!! If you need a book that will make you believe in love, this is the one.

Lucie’s struggle with dating is something that is so relatable for so many people. Following her on her journey to find love and her finding it when/where she least expected it reminded me so much of my own relationship 🥹

The side characters truly added so much to the story and I enjoyed them just as much as I did Lucie and Aiden. The interactions between characters made for some laugh out loud moments.

I can’t review this book without mentioning the spice because it was incredible. The spice took their chemistry to a WHOLE new level 😮‍💨 I’m not kidding when I say this was some of the hottest spice I’ve ever read in romance books. There isn’t a ton of it, but what’s there is top tier!!

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more from the writing to the romance to the humor to the character development.

This was a great little read. I really enjoyed it and had a chance to read the ebook with the audio as well. I recommend the audio! I loved the radio show aspect and the clear Sleepless in Seattle inspiration was there without making the story feel like a copy.

This book was magic. I truly adored everything about this story. The grumpy sunshine trope, the tension, the beautiful found family and just everything made this book an absolute joy to read. I truly am obsessed with Aiden and Lucie. Aiden dealing with his own fears of vulnerability in this story, and Lucie discovering that she was the magic she needed just made me tear up. I haven’t fallen in love with small moments in a story like I did with this one in a while. I still remember the sweater Aiden let Lucie borrow and the dancing around the bar to Thong Song. The small moments and the big ones in this book just all added up to a warm and cozy feeling.

This book was so sweet. I loved the different family
dynamic representations. The book really
captured a modern day couple and modern day dating experiences. I am excited to continue the series!

I’ve been wanting to read a book by B.K. Borison for a while, and I finally set aside some time to read her latest book, First-Time Caller. The synopsis of the book, along with its intriguing setting, is what attracted me to it. The fact that this book is based in Baltimore, Maryland, my home city, and it mentions some of my favorite things about Baltimore makes me nostalgic, and I can’t wait to visit Baltimore this summer while I’m there visiting for my nephew’s wedding.

This book took me back to my favorite 90s romantic comedy movies that I watched with my mom, evoking so many happy memories. It’s a source of joy for me, filled with moments that had me smiling and laughing alongside the characters as I read. I loved both the storyline and the characters. Although the MMC, Aiden, did something questionable toward the end of the book, rest assured, he will make up for it.

The story of how Lucie ends up working alongside Aiden on his radio show to find love is truly charming. It all starts when her daughter calls in for help in finding love for her mom, Lucie. While Lucie is on the show with Aiden, I found myself rooting for her to discover love and help others in the process. The highlight of the book, however, was the interaction between Aiden and Lucie during the radio show. Their chemistry grew stronger the more they worked on the show, and I loved reading their relationship developed gradually. Yes, this is a slow-burn romance, so it will take a bit for the two characters to admit those feelings or do anything finally, but it’s so worth it. I also loved how Lucie changed Aiden’s outlook on love, transforming him from someone who didn’t believe in it to someone who unexpectedly finds it with her.

I can’t believe it took me this long to pick up a book by B.K. Borison. Now that I’ve read First-Time Caller, I’m eager to find more time to read her other books, especially if they all capture the RomCom movie vibes like this one did.

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Single/Dual POV: Dual POV.

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s the first book in B.K. Borison’s Heartstrings series.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you loved watching 1990s/2000s RomComs, then you’ll enjoy reading First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison.

What to Expect:
🩷Sleepless in Seattle Vibes
🩷Forced Proximity
🩷Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷Single Mother Romance
🩷Slow Burn Romance

Name a sweeter and more endearing romcom about a single mom finally getting the love she deserves?! First Time Caller by B.K Borrison serves up the most delicious slow burn between a hopeless romantic and a grumpy radio host who isn’t convinced love is real. The vibes are truly warm and cozy that full on transports you into a 90’s romcom! Expect to laugh, blush and be on the edge of your seat watching Aiden and Lucie from start to finish and expect all the feels.
I adored every second of this and all the pining/yearning had me sat! A must read for any romance lover out there!

I think this was…fine. BK Borrison has lovely prose and I do enjoy that aspect of her writing. But for me, this was kind of boring? Which is essentially how I’ve felt with all of her books. It’s a me problem!

4.75 ⭐️ rounded up.

ugh, I just love BK. her writing just gets me, I love the humor, the banter, the characters she gives us, I love it all.

also i did audiobook + physical books, the narrators were incredible, they added so much to the book!

this was very swoon worthy, the entire time I was thinking to myself, omg, this would be such a cute movie, I would love to watch it! I know it was inspired by sleepless in Seattle and I hate to admit it, I don’t remember if I watched it before, so I think it’s time to watch 😂

I loved Lucie and Aiden so much. The banter, the flirting, the tension, the kissing!!! guys, we got a „fuck it” moment, my favorite micro trope ever 😌 immediate butterflies.

I cringed a tiny bit at some words Aiden used during the spicy scene but that might be a me problem 😂 I just felt like it was a little out of the character. BUT LOVE HIM SO MUCH OTHERWISE. he’s a smooth talker 😏

and thank goddddd Lucie is an actual adult who uses her brain, because there was one moment I thought she was gonna jump to the conclusions and we’ll get a miscommunication trope but she’s smarter than that! ugh I love an emotionally mature fmc who knows her worth and doesn’t settle for less than she deserves.

amazing side characters, especially Maya 🥹 loved her, the little mastermind behind all of it!

can’t wait for the rest of the series and at this point I just can’t wait for anything that BK writes, she’s now one of my favorite writers 🥰

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This was just the book I needed to read. Lucie's daughter calls in to Aiden's romance radio show. One thing leads to another, and Lucie's Road to Romance is a new feature as she and Aiden work to find love for her.

Both characters are fantastic. And B. K. Borison shines in her ability to write many characters. I loved Lucie's coworkers at the autoshop, her daughter, and the radio workers just as much as I loved the main characters. All were detailed and shared funny and heartfelt interactions.

Just like all the radio listeners rooted for Lucie to find love, I think this book can make any reader root for love and demand more of what love really looks like.

4.5 stars rounded up

4.75⭐️

OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! I literally felt giddy reading this book. the yearning & the tension was off the charts, also the banter and the communication between them?? SOOOO GOOD! I adored Lucie & Aiden, and all the side characters too. Becs’ writing has never done me wrong 🤍

This was a cute romance! it's pretty easy to see where it's going from the start, but I was always rooting for them and liked the radio show aspect

This was such an adorable, cozy, and unique romcom!! I loved the writing style and this felt so nostalgic and wholesome to read. 2000’s romcom movie vibes for sure, I could see this one playing out in my mind!

What to expect:

✨witty banter
✨grumpy x sunshine
✨sleepless in Seattle inspired
✨slow burn
✨single mom

I loved Lucie and felt like she was such a strong character with many traits I loved/respected. I wish we had a little more depth/exploration with Aiden’s character but the ending wrapped everything up really nicely for me personally.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkely Romance for this ARC

Aiden is the host of a late night radio show. Lucie's twelve-year old daughter calls in for dating advice for her mom. When Lucie gets on the phone and is interviewed by Aiden, it goes viral. To help boost the struggling show, the station manager brings Lucie in to host Baltimore's romance hotline with Aiden.

There was a lovely warmth to this book. The perfect cozy read while being cuddled under a blanket while burning my favorite candle with notes of vanilla, honey and cinnamon. I remember feeling this way before, when I first read Lovelight Farms. Any fans of that book will I'm sure love this one as well.

Lucie and Aiden shared this constant crackling chemistry. The most simple moments whether it be a lingering look or light touch felt intimate. Don't even get me started on the butterflies I felt during the Skee-Ball scene. They were flirty, fun and the yearning between them was so strong. I love how protective Aiden was over Lucie's heart.

The memorable cast of side characters, each with their own unique personality, made this book even more special. I especially loved the family formed by Lucie, her daughter and her dads.

At times the writing felt magical. This was a truly unforgettable and wonderful read.

This book is officially in my top 5 romances of all time. It's only February, but I firmly believe that First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is going to be my top romance novel of the YEAR.

From the very beginning, you are sucked into this story when Lucie's daughter takes matters into her own hands and calls a romance hotline for her mother. The chemistry between Aiden and Lucie is immediate, but more than that, just like the entire city that heard this call after it went viral, it's impossible to not relate to Lucie's words in some way. This story is about more than love; it is about choosing yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone. It's about friendship and family. I have suggested this book to every one of my friends (and was beyond delighted by the number of them who picked this beauty up on release day). I can't begin to explain how amazing this story is. You'll simply have to see for yourself.

He keeps a list of her favorite things in his glove compartment so he never forgets! How adorable is that? This was the cutest and most heartwarming book I’ve read in a while, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it early. From how they started to how they ended—and everything in between—it was everything I wanted. The concept was so unique, and I enjoyed every single moment of it. If a radio show like this actually existed, I would definitely tune in every day!

I loved this one! This was my first B.K. Borison book and it's definitely convinced me to read more. I genuinely think Aiden is one of the best romantic interests I've read in a long time. Aiden and Lucie's relationship felt more realistic to me than other romance novels I've read recently. Also, I had the opportunity to listen to the audio arc through LibroFM, and would highly recommend that version as well. The only thing that didn't land for me was the relationship between Lucie and Maya's father. I think he was supposed to come off as protective because he cares about Lucie and they have a good, no-hard-feelings relationship, but it came off as overbearing to me and I couldn't really shake the discomfort. I actually might have liked it if there had been a scene of Lucie convincing him to back off a little, but I also know this kind of relationship wouldn't bother other people. Overall, I would definitely recommend this one.