3.5, rounded up. I've heard great things about B.K. Borison, so I was excited to read this. I appreciated the sense of place Borison creates--made me want to visit Baltimore--and enjoyed Lucie's family unit and their interactions. Aiden was reasonably fleshed out, though I definitely rolled my eyes at his sense of commitment and a few of the communication issues. Overall, though, this is very cute and feels like a realistic romance with solid chemistry.

This sweet story gave me "Sleepless in Seattle" vibes for those of you who remember that classic love story. This one was super sweet and had me hooked from the start.

I’ll preface this by saying I am extremely picky and critical when it comes to romance novels, so the fact that I’m giving this five stars really says something. I LOVE Sleepless in Seattle so obviously the premise got me, but the way the author tweaks the plot feels original enough that I wasn’t basically reading the movie. Loved the characters, even the friends and side characters really made the book for me. That final scheme was everything! Loved this book because it made me feel all the butterflies without also feeling cheesy, which is sometimes hard to do. Definitely recommend this to all romance lovers!

beautiful. stunning. a fun and funny read, but also very emotional and at times sad (in a good way). the characters are complex and realistic, and I LOVED the banter between Aiden and Lucie.
I listened to the audio book and it was so wonderfully narrated!

Add this to your TBR right now! This was such a sweet and lovely romance. Perfectly written and a wonderful romp to read.

This was soooooo cute, a nice little take on a classic rom com. I can't wait to see what else this author comes up wiht!

Aiden was rather a jerk for part of the book.
Maya was annoying a great deal.
I had empathy for Lucie but I wasn’t convinced of the chemistry between she and Aiden.
Predictable ending.

I’m so impressed by B.K. Borison, First-Time Caller was utter mushy romance magic. To quote the great 1995 film It Takes Two…”It’s that can’t eat, can’t sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kind of love.” 💖

If you heard me absolutely spiraling about this on my podcast "Fifty Percent"… no you didn’t. Just kidding. You absolutely did because this book had me kicking my little feet. First Time Caller is swoony, soft, and quietly devastating in the best way. Aiden and Lucy have the kind of slow-burn chemistry that makes you want to scream into a pillow. The pining! The emotional repression! The radio show! I loved how grounded Lucy’s character was, but also deeply yearning for something more. And Aiden? A walking emotional wall. I was yelling at him and rooting for him. His vulnerability felt earned, and when he lets go, the payoff is so satisfying.

This was my first B.K. Borison book, but it won’t be my last!

There is so much to love about this book! I absolutely loved the radio show element and the lovely relationship between Lucie and her daughter. It had great chemistry, a story that was easy to get invested in, and the charm of a 2000s rom-com.

If you, like me, left this book on your TBR for too long, let this be your sign to pick it up ASAP!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a fun read. I loved both characters, and loved the side characters as well. The immersive read with the audiobook made this book a dive star for me

B.K. Borison never fails to write love stories that feel like a giant hug! I fell in love with this Sleepless in Seattle inspired story from page one! This was my second time giving this author a chance and I'm so glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this!

I loved how realistic both characters felt with their own personal problems, yet were able to help each other through them at the end of the day. The talk show added a unique element to the characters communication. I only wish we got to see more of Lucie's daughter!

I'm already look forward to the second installment in this romance series!

This is the truest depiction of love in modern times. The loneliness we all feel while being more connected than ever, feeling guilty or indulgent for craving romantic love when there is so much other love in your life, not even really sure that you need anything more than you have. Lucie is all of us. And on the flip side Aiden is all of us; afraid to put his heart on the line because you can’t lose if you don’t play. And d yet they build something so magical by opening themselves up to the scariness of hope and intimacy. It’s perfect. This book is perfect.

B.K. Borison had me in an absolute chokehold from the first page to the very last. This book is one of the many reasons why I am so happy I joined the booksta community since it got me into reading romance.

Aiden and Lucie are such a power couple. Even as a standalone, they are just two amazing people. Lucie is a single mom with a great job, an amazing support system, and a pretty cool kid. She believes she is happy until she is thrown onto a radio show where Baltimore is judging her love life, so now she isn't so sure if she is as happy as she thought.

Aiden is the radio host of Baltimore's romance hotline. He has fallen out of love with love and keeps his feelings closeted. He doesn't want to let himself get hurt again, but once he gets thrown into a conversation with Lucie, he and the hotline get thrown into the limelight. Maybe talking to Lucie isn't so bad at all?

Together, they are perfect. For me, this is the way an actual couple should be. They bicker, they flirt, they end up just existing together in a radio booth where they realize that maybe they are perfect for each other. Aiden cares for Lucie so much, in a "Who hurt you and made you cry?" type of way that made me kick my feet while reading the book.

I also LOVE the family aspect of this book. Yeah, Lucie is a single mom, but she and Grayson are one of the most perfect co-parenting relationships I have ever seen. Grayson and Lucie have an amazing friendship, and they're raising such a cool kid. Aiden and Grayson together would do anything to make sure Lucie is happy and cared for, and even in real life, you don't see that happen often.

Overall, this is one of my favorite romance books to date. I'm so excited for the second Heartstrings book!

This was my first BK Borison novel, but it won't be my last. I loved the 90s romcom feel of this and picked up on the Sleepless in Seattle vibes easily, but I didn't have to know that story to enjoy this one. Aiden and Lucie have great chemistry, and I giggled and couldn't sit still reading it. It captured that essence of falling in love so well.

This was a fun read!

I enjoyed watching these characters get to know each other and form a real connection. I expected Lucie's daughter to be a larger part of the story, but she kind of conveniently was always gone or with her dads.

I don't think I fully understood why the main male character kept saying that he couldn't be with Lucie aside from being scared because his mom had cancer? That felt a bit less flushed out, but I did still finish this book in 2 days so clearly I still enjoyed it!

3.5 stars rounded up

I swear, no one does a slow burn quite like BK Borison. The yearning? The banter? The chemistry? Just, wow. The way I wanted our two main characters to juST KISS ALREADY within the first chapter was alarming, but in the most delicious way. I have to admit, I might be a little bit biased considering I am a HUGE fan of this author, however, I would have devoured every morsel of this book regardless of who wrote it -- it is THAT. GOOD. If you're a romance reader who hasn't picked this one up yet, what are you waiting for??

I want to live in B.K. Borison's brain. She just gets me.

Aiden and Lucie's story was filled with the kind of angst and pining that everyone needs in a good contemporary romance. I devoured this book and can't wait for the next.

ARC REVIEW: Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Romance, and B.K. Borison my e-arc copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From start to finish I absolutely loved this book. The meet cute? Obsessed. All their little moments? Top tier. This book gives you everything you could want and more. Likable characters with interesting dynamics. Slow burn tension where you’re begging them to just open their eyes already! The fun and playfulness of inside jokes while being on the radio. I’m already daydreaming about reading this one again and annotating all my favorite parts! I need book two like I need oxygen!

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Marketed as Sleeping in Seattle inspired. As a 90s baby who loves a good romance, I had to read this one. I found the pace a little slower than what I expected. However, I know the movie that inspired this book was also a slower paced movie so maybe that played a factor. The spice was a little unexpected as I thought this was going to be a slow burn with closed door scenes. I don’t particularly like open door scenes in these lighter romcoms. It was an okay read, but not one I’ll reread.