I am such a huge fan of B.K. Borison so I was so excited to get an ARC of First Time Caller. I was so intrigued by the plot of this book and it definetly did not dissappoint. The hype that this book got was so real and I am literally sprinting to tell everyone about it. Lucie and Aiden are the funniest a\d most loving couple that I've read abotu in a long time and I truly cannot stop thinking about them.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to receive this arc in exchange for my honest opinion .

I own several BK Borison books but this is the first one I've read and it certainly won't be my last , I'm now addicted . This book was amazing . A true romcom that has me cackling and such a beautiful story .

Aiden - MMC , radioshow host of Baltimore Romance Hotline received a call from a young girl inquiring about dating advice for her mom . Little did they know the interview was going to go viral .

Lucie - FMC , single mom with a great job .. feels happy with the way her life was going .. until she starts thinking about her lack of romance and perhaps , maybe shes not as happy as she initially thought .

I loved the depth of the characters , the side characters , the banter .. and who don't love a good MMC with a sense of humor . It was such a different romance to read and I loved how their love came to be .

If you like single mom , meet cute , radio show romcom with slow burn ? Give this a go !!

I can't believe this but I DNFed this book. I saw it everywhere online and was excited to read it, even though I have DNFed other books by BK Borison before. It felt like an absolutely slodge to read this book and I felt like I'd read hundreds of pages yet I was only 16% in when I decided to DNF. I just didn't connect to any of the characters and thought the story was way too muddled with other random details and character interactions that took away from the romance at hand. The characters had only interacted once by 1/5 of the way through the book, which was so disappointing! I know lots of others loved this but it definitely was not for me. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

I really loved this book!!! Where to even begin...

Lucy and Aiden had CHEMISTRY! I really felt their connection and was rooting for them both as individuals and together as a couple.

I love that Lucy had a "non-traditional" job as a mechanic. I thought it added a really nice layer to her character and the scenes in the auto shop were both funny and sweet. I am so here for FMCs to have careers outside of the book industry, it makes for a more interesting story.

I also appreciated that Lucy was close to her child's father and his husband. It really was a cozy, modern family full of love and I appreciated that it was told that way. I loved how they all wanted Lucy to find her happily-ever-after.

If you're a fan of Sleepless in Seattle, and the Red String Theory, this one is for you!

First-Time Caller was adorable! I was a little worried starting only because I've read B.K. Borison's Love Light series and I know I'm in the minority to say it wasn't one of my favorite series. Now First-Time Caller # 1 of the Heartstring series, loved it. This was everything and more of what I look for in a Rom Com. Ms. Borison took me back to the early Rom Com movies that I remember. I look forward to reading more from this series. I see she has released another series, Ghosted. I can't wait to dive into that series. I love me some paranormal romance. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

📞Book Review📞
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Thank you @prhaudio and @bkborison for the advanced copy of First Time Caller, which came out earlier this month! In honor of Valentine’s Day I’m going to highlight my favorite romance read of 2025. I loved this book SO much, it had so much heart and was my first book by this author! I can’t wait to read anything they’ve ever written because my god this was a gem 😍. This is the perfect read for Valentine’s Day weekend and I can’t recommend it enough!
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Summary- Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. 

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing. 

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.
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QOTD- any fun Valentine’s Day plans ? Hubby and I are going out to dinner at a Thai restaurant and snuggling up with wine, a movie, and homemade tiramisu brownies! Hope you all have a wonderful valentines whether you’re celebrating with a SO or not !

This was cute, but I wish it had been shorter. I do appreciate the slow burn, but I think there were other things that could have been condensed in the story. I really liked the characters. I enjoyed the audiobook narration of this also. I liked the radio show breaks in between the chapters. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’ll admit I’ve been in a bit of a romance slump lately. Nothing wrong with the books I’ve read recently but I just felt like I needed something different (Looking for some romance novel magic, maybe?).

Enters 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, a 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 inspired love story aka the book everyone should pick up right in time for Valentine’s Day (ᴘᴜʙs Fᴇʙ. 11) or basically any other day you want to read a feel-good romance, with loveable and relatable characters. It all starts when Lucie’s twelve-year-old daughter calls a late-night romance hotline, seeking dating advice for her single mom. The grumpy radio host, Aiden Valentine, might not believe in love anymore, but he can definitely give solid love advice to his audience. As Lucie and Aiden start talking instead of hanging up, Lucie realizes she is definitely guilty of letting some of the magic in her life get away from her and ultimately agrees to embarking on a “Rᴏᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ Lᴏᴠᴇ” with Aiden, the radio station, and basically everyone in Baltimore rooting for her as she seeks her happily ever after.

I loved this one so so much and definitely plan on grabbing the audiobook for a future re-read! Aiden was the perfect ratio of grumpy, flirty and protectiveness, while Lucie’s character was lively, independent and hopeful, while also breaking stereotypes with her job as a mechanic! The side characters also shined big in this one. Especially Grayson, Lucie’s ex/baby daddy/best friend ,and his husband Mateo. The trio really had my heart the entire read. Anyways. I could go on and on about 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, but the point is: this novel is sparkled with all the romance goodness and I can’t wait to see it be a loved book!

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison had me feeling so many things at once!! My heart literally felt too big for my chest. I had butterflies in my stomach. I swooned, I laughed, and I fell head over heels in love with Aiden and Lucie!!

Lucie is set up by her daughter Maya one night in hopes of finding her a date with the help of the romance hotline/radio show, Heartstrings. She reaches Aiden Valentine, who happens to have lost his belief in love. He's a bit of a cynic this one.

Once the segment goes viral, it's impossible for the producers not to ask Lucie to join the show! When Aiden meets Lucie, it's the cutest moment ever! I loved their connection and banter.

As the book progresses, Aiden continues to help Lucie and gets attached. Soon, they can't deny their feelings for each other. It was such a sweet, slow burn. Aiden had this grumpy nature to him, and Lucie was pure sunshine. They contemplated each other so well.

Inspired by the movie Sleepless in Seattle, this was a fantastic romance. I couldn't get enough of these two. Although this was my first book by B.K. Borison, I have deemed myself an addict to her writing!

Aiden and Lucie… *sighs dreamily*.

This was so wonderful 🥹🫶🏻. Honestly, it took me a minute to fully get into it since I wasn’t sure what to expect—especially after not exactly loving Lovelight Farms (I know, the horror!).

But this book? It’s truly a love letter to romcoms (Nora Ephron specifically) and to anyone who’s ever felt like they had to settle because real love and magic only exist in the movies. As someone who found the love of their life serendipitously and feels eternally lucky and blessed every day, this book was a balm to my soul. It reminded me why I fell in love with romance books in the first place and how funny and beautiful life can be.

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Romance for this ARC. ♥️

Aiden Valentine is the burned out host of Baltimore’s romance radio show, Heartstrings. One night he gets a different type of call, from a 12 year old named Maya, who wants to help her mom Lucie find love. The listeners are instantly enamored with Lucie and everyone rallies behind the efforts to find her a magical romance. As she joins the radio show each week and explores this new world of dating, she finds herself torn between the men she’s meeting and to her surprise- the grumpy, cynical host himself.

The dedication at the beginning of the book says that this story is for the hopeless romantics and the reluctant ones too. I do agree that it’s something that will resonate with all types of people- even the ones who feel a little dead inside like me 😂. It was definitely cheesy at times and the slowest of slow burns- dragging quite a bit in the middle. But it was a sweet, enjoyable, and very Sleepless in Seattle-esque story. I liked how it wasn’t only focused on romantic love but also the love between parents and children, friends, family, and ultimately loving yourself. The spicy scenes toward the end were some of the best I’ve read in a while, and they definitely took me by surprise compared to the sweet and predictable tone of the rest of the book.

I know B. K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series has been popular and I’d be willing to give them a try after reading this one. 3.5 stars ⭐️

Oh my, more romance like First-Time Caller! What an absolute treat this read was for me and I can't wait for everyone to start reading it.

This was a first time read from this author and a friend lightly encouraged me to request this one. I've actually never see Sleepless in Seattle, so I had zero expectations going, which worked fantastic for me. The romance hotline was an absolute win and having someone like Aiden that his thoughts about love, what an interesting concept that turned out to be. But my goodness, when he truly lets himself love, it's a glorious sight!

I loved that Lucie's openness and just willingness to share everything with everyone. She made her some vulnerable and I really enjoyed seeing her work through all of that.

Lucie and Aiden, the cutest! Soooo many moments to love.
Definitely recommend this one!

First Time Caller was such a fun and cute read! For it being my first BK Borison book, I am thoroughly impressed with her storytelling skills and writing style!

One of the things that I loved most about this book is that it felt like a true modern day love story. Often times I find myself reading books with themes that feel out of touch to the average human, but the realism in this story is what kept me hooked!

With a lot of books that I read I find myself thinking “I know they are endgame, but I don’t know what its gonna take for them to actually get to that point”. That was not the case with Lucy and Aiden. I think that because their story felt so real it made it easier for me as a reader to be like “ohhh ok! They will get there no problem, it’s just gonna take time”. The patience that they displayed with one another, while giving each other the space to figure out what they both needed was refreshing.

Found Family is quickly becoming one of my favorite tropes to read about! I do have to say that my favorite part of this book was the relationships that Lucy had not only with Maya but with found family as well. As someone who is the eldest daughter of a single mother and who has found a small village of found family throughout her life, that part of the book was so special to me. It also helped that you could always rely on Maya for some comic relief too.

I really had a fun time with this book and would highly recommend it if you are looking for a cute and sentimental read!

5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Sleepless in Seattle Inspired
Single Mom
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Hopeless Romantic x Jaded Non Believer
Dual POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate

Thank you with all my heart to @berkleyromance for the eARC & finished copy & @prhaudio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion #berkleypartner

Meet First Time Caller - the first book in BK Borison’s new series & 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, FTC features Aiden & Lucie who first “meet” when Lucie’s daughter calls into a romance themed radio show in search of dating advice for her mom.

Prepare yourself for the word salad, friends. I’m obsessed with this book. So much so, I’ve already read it twice. Twice! Lucie & Aiden completely stole my heart. I loved the slow burn of strangers to friends to lovers which was perfect for the jaded Aiden not sure he wanted to fall. While there still is bumbling, there’s lots of open communication about what each other wants until he is forced to face his emotions. And the final grand gesture.. SWOON 🫠

God, there was so much to fall in love with. All the secondary characters, for one. The perfectly imperfect blended family tribe of Lucie, Grayson, Mateo & Maya. And Aiden’s best friend, Jackson. Ahhh, I’m already geeking out over his HEA. All the bits of serendipity and overlapping similarities scattered throughout. Lucie’s job as a mechanic. The show transcripts snippets. It’s no surprise I fell as hard as I did.

If you are an audio lover, jump on this one please. Hathaway Lee was the perfect Lucie & parts are performed in duet only adding to the pure magic that is this romance.

This book was unlike any other new adult/romance book I've read! Both characters were so well written and the struggles they had felt thought out and realistic. I can't say enough good things about this book!!

This was so adorable! Lucie’s 12 year old daughter is the best wing woman of all time. The co-parenting relationship between Lucie, Grayson, and Mateo is incredible. And Aiden keeping a list of all her favorite things in his glovebox? Swoon!

If you like audiobooks, highly recommend listening to this one for to get the full experience of them being on a radio show.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so cute and fluffy it's sick!
I love it!

I enjoyed this romance novel between Aiden and Lucie. Aiden is a radio show host who is a cynic when it comes to love. Ironically, he's also the host of the Baltimore romance hotline and I found that hilarious. One night Lucie's daughter calls into his radio show asking for his help in finding a partner for her mom. Lucie catches her on the phone, and takes it from her and starts chatting with Aiden. They end up having a conversation that flows nicely with chemistry. Weeks later, Aiden's boss tells him that the ratings for their show went up after that night and she's invited Lucie to come on the show as a temporary co-host for their romance hotline radio show.
Sparks fly, chemistry ignites and we get to witness the cynic and hopeless romantic fall in love <3

I loved Aiden and Lucie and I enjoyed watching them fall in love. My only critique is that this book was a little too long (400+ pages) and a lot less pages could have been used to provide the same fluffy romance.

I haven't giggled and kicked my feet like this over a book in so long! This was the perfect mix of Becca's witty humor and Nora Ephron's nostalgic movies. This felt like something brand new and like coming home at the same time.

The romance was magical. I found myself blushing from their very first interaction, and every little touch and flirtatious look that came after. If someone asked me for the perfect rom-com, I'd recommend this one without a second thought. This is everything that a romance can be; this is the new standard to which every romance must be compared.

There is something both mature about the characters and also the feeling that everyone is living life for the first time. There are so many types of love, and here we can see every kind. Lucie is looking for her epic love story, while Aiden doesn't believe it will ever happen, but something about Lucie makes him want to try and find it for her. There is love and caring between the characters from the very start, but the realization of those feelings will have you blushing and giggling the whole time.

Aiden's story is one that I think many will relate to, especially when it comes to putting distance between yourself and everyone around you. His story is one of taking down those walls and allowing those that love you in. This book is about the magic of love, letting love in, and what love can look like.

"'I think you're the magic.'"

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is so dang delightful, I almost couldn't believe it. First-Time Caller is both a tribute to Sleepless in Seattle and the city of Baltimore. Lucie is such a deeply relatable female protagonist and the supporting characters are truly wonderful: her dramatic co-parent and his husband, her best friend at the cafe across the street, and her daughter...who makes the fateful call to the radio station romance hotline. I've read Borison before and enjoyed her Lovelight Farms series, but this one has a special kind of magic all its own. It made me homesick for Baltimore (a city I only lived near but not in) and somehow managed to bring tears and giggly smiles.

This was a beautifully written book. BK Borison is able to write with the softest of magic. You feel for both of these characters so much and I couldn't put it down. With this soft magic though, there isn't much a story of line if I am honest. Just some beautiful characterizations and two people trying not to fall in love with one another. A take on Sleepless in Seattle, this one is perfect for this time of year. But again, a very mild plot where the romance IS the plot.