I loved this book so much! I love the Sleepless in Seattle type story, I really enjoyed Lucie and Grayson's family dynamic. I think it was really powerful how neither of them had a relationship with their family of origin but it wasn't this painful thing that needed to be fixed, they had their own found family which was really beautiful. I enjoyed Aiden's closed off-ness and watching him grow. The dialogue in the book was fun and quick and funny. I never wanted this book to end. I'd read a million books in this world. I also love the radio show aspect of it. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC!

First Time Caller
Rating: 👍🏼 liked it
Spice: 🌶️

Lucie has everything in her life that she needs; a job as a boss lady mechanic, a baby daddy who she adores, his husband who she also adores (and who happens to live next door, making split custody so much easier) her 12 year old daughter and her best friend who owns the bakery down the street. The one thing she doesn’t have is love. And it turns out she’s not looking because dating sucks. men suck. romance is a fairytale and you shouldn’t have to “try” to be in love, it should just happen. Right? Lucies daughter Ava, doesn’t agree. After calling into a late night radio romance show and exposing her mom’s lack of love, to all of Baltimore, Lucie gets talked into being on the radio show. Lucies Road to Love with Aiden Valentine. Baltimores grumpiest romance radio host. On her road to romance, Aiden realizes that Lucie is way better than the losers calling in to have a chance with her. This show will either end with Lucies Heartstrings being held together with a new beau, or radio silence.

I wanted to love this so badly. But for me it fell flat in so many areas. This was a slow burn… the slowest of burns. The beginning was fun and quirky getting to know the characters and their roles in each others lives, then lost me with the same situations over and over until Lucie and Aiden realize that they’ve been flirting on air for all of Baltimore since night one. I love Aiden and Lucie together, their banter is fun and light but it took forever for them to realize it. Then the show just ended and it felt like it took the story with it.

This book had me hooked immediately. Although I do not normally read romance, I love myself a good 80s and 90s RomCom and this book made me feel all of those feelings and more. Not only are the two characters we follow so charming, but the supporting character are positively delightful.

The dynamics in this story seem to flow so naturally that all of the relationships seemed so simple and easy and believable in the best way. I absolutely adored all of the personalities mixed in and coming together to make us love these two characters in Aiden and Lucie.

A Sleepless in Seattle inspired romcom?! Say no more. I’m there.
This was everything I wanted in a romance novel. I loved it. 5 stars!!!!

Arc review: 5 ⭐️
I just feel so warm and fuzzy. I read this on a sleepless red eye to Rome. It felt like falling in love. It was warm and rich and while I may be starting this vacation sleep deprived, I feel zero ounce of regret. This book is a pizza shared in a blanket fort. My favorite BK book to date!

Thank you Berkley for the arc!

This book was laugh-out-loud adorable!

Maya is the sweetest preteen you could have ever imagined and Lucie is the perfect parent for her. Her and Grayon's co-parenting relationship is literally goals. I mean, who wants to be next door neighbors with their ex and his husband?!

I love how Maya was the one that got the ball rolling on Lucie finding love. I love how she had the guts and the no care attitude to call the radio station. It was really a down to earth moment that was my favorite part of my whole book.

This book was a must read for anyone who loves romance, Sleepless in Seattle, and all kinds of love.

I *adored* this book! I loved the SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE inspiration; it's easy to recognize the genesis of this story, but the characters and plot are entirely original and unlike any romance I've read before. Aiden and Lucie are two of my new favorite romance characters, and I hope we meet this cast of characters again in a future book!

I wanted to love this one more than I did because I so thoroughly enjoyed her previous series. This one just did not work as well as I thought it was going to because of the inspiration. The lack of her kid being in it once the romance picked up seemed so unrealistic to me. Looking forward to the rest of the series though.

I was incredibly lucky to be approved for an ARC of First-Time Caller on NetGalley! I finished it a couple days ago and I am still swooning!

Based off of the timeless classic, Sleepless in Seattle, First-Time Caller is a romance novel that will have you kicking your feet giddy the entire time! Set in Baltimore, we meet our FMC Lucie when she walks in on her daughter calling a radio station, talking to the host of the romance segment, Aiden Valentine, trying to get help for her mom’s love life… or lack of a love life.

If you love
•grumpy x sunshine
•slow burn
•incredible banter
•single mom (finalllly)
•forced proximity

Then this one is going to be for you!! I am beyond excited for the Heartstrings series that BK Borison is releasing over the next couple of years! You’re in for a treat with this one everybody!

A huge thank you to netgalley, berkley and bk borison for the ARC!

I haven’t smiled this much while reading a book in a very, very long time.
B.K. Borison is becoming one of my favorite authors, fast. The depth of characters is one thing, but the chemistry she molds out of words is actually insane. I loved following Lucie and Aidan as they traveled through this story. They were oh so relatable and I loved that everyone around them (reader included) could see what they couldn’t. I’ve always been a sucker for radio, behind the curtain, romances, and this one did not disappoint.

First-Time Caller is the first book in B.K. Borison’s new Heartstrings series. This was very much inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, and while I haven’t seen the movie, this is definitely motivating me to have a movie night! This story follows Aiden, a romance radio host who has fallen out of love with love, and Lucie, who happened to be one of his late-night callers (All thanks to her daughter for calling in to get some dating advice for her mom). Their conversation ended up going viral, and with the whole town rooting for her, she ends up as a co-host on the show as she searches for her “magic.”

I really loved how this book encompasses the reality of what dating is like in this day and age. I know myself included, struggled in the dating scene for a while because I was also looking for that same magic as Lucie, so it was really nice being able to relate to this story so well. This book was so fun, cute, and cozy, it had all of the things I wanted out of a new BK book/series! It felt like I was in a hallmark movie the entire time, and I never wanted it to end.

I LOVED Lucie and Aiden together the moment they went on air. Their banter was so fun and lighthearted that I caught myself cheesing and giggling almost the entire time. It was really heartwarming watching Aiden let Lucie discover the things she wanted out of a relationship and the way they were able to communicate and openly discuss their feelings was so refreshing to see. This was definitely a slower burn book for me, but it made it all the more worth it!

I can’t wait for this book to make it into readers hands!

Favorites Quotes:

“You don’t have to be alone to be lonely.”

“What if it’s all a string of choices and moments and events and decisions that have led you to exactly right here? And what if what happens next…What if what happens next is the good part? The part you’ve been waiting for.”

“Filling the air between us until it feels like I’m underwater. Sand in my bones. Lightning under my skin”

Tropes:
💗Forced Proximity
💗Single Parent
💗Slow Burn

Sleepless in Seattle meets the 21st Century! Watching Aiden & Lucie fall for each other and banter on the Heartstrings radio show gave me butterflies. A swoony romance about two people trying to find the magic in their lives. BK Borison continues to write some of the best contemporary romances out there!

Holy freaking masterpiece.

I’m contemplating trying pineapple on pizza (again), I want a Heartstrings sweatshirt with Lucie & Aiden written in a heart, I am about ready to reread this book because it made me giggle, laugh out loud, smiled to the point my cheeks were sore and cried. Because yes, there are a few scenes that pull on your Heartstrings.

if there is a book to put on your TBR this is it.

I am hungover, so thankful for having the opportunity to read an advanced copy, but I am unwell and may need to sit in a corner and review all my highlights and think about Lucie and Aiden.

SIX STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I seriously don't know what to do with myself. This has to be the best romance book I have ever read. The way I fell head over heels for Aiden Valen... I was physically giggling and kicking my feet at this book. 💖 The CHEMISTRY between him and Lucie is unmatched. If you want a story with great vibes and banter/interactions that'll make you swoon, add First-Time Caller to your TBR right now!
This story also had so much DEPTH!
Omg, I cried the last 10% straight of this book.
The interaction with his dad... omg. SOBBING. IYKYK

I can not believe I was privileged to read this as an ARC. I will 10000000% be buying a physical copy as soon as this comes out! 👏🏼
Side note: I have never seen Sleepless in Seattle *I KNOW* and now plan on making it a top priority after reading this story which was a retelling.
I can not wait for the other books in this series.

This was my first ever read by B.K. Borison and I will add everything she has ever written to my tbr. OMG. I have never seen someone create a more magical connection.

Thank you so much, NetGalley for this advanced readers copy of First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison!

Imagine being the host of a romance hotline while you no longer believe in true love. That’s a bit of a problem. But when a call from a young girl asking for dating advice for her mom goes viral everything changes. Lucie thought she was happy and fine without romance but when everyone starts scrutinizing her relationship she’s forced to reconsider. Everyone is rooting for Lucie to find her happy ending. As sparks begin to fly behind the scenes Lucy makes one final call.

I’m speechless. BK Borison continues to write incredible books and my heart can’t handle it. The tension and chemistry between Aiden and Lucy is unmatched. I live for the slow burn office romance.

I adore the relationship Lucy has with her daughter who’s just too cute as well as her co-parents. They all get along really well and that they’re pushing Lucy to finally do something for herself. Her child will always come first but her own happiness matters too.

Just like Borisons other books this one features a dual pov, HOT spicy scenes and plenty of banter. This one’s a big yes for me, definitely one to look forward too. It’ll be released on February 11 2025!

Read this if you like
🩷Single mother trope
💫Forced proximity
🫶🏼Opposites attract
🔥Slow burn

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 /5 stars

First Time Caller is the perfect start to a new series by B.K. Borison. The series is an ode to Nora Ephron films (genius) and this one is a spin on Sleepless in Seattle. Aiden, host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, has fallen out of love with love. However, when a young girl calls in about finding love for her mom, the interview goes viral and Aiden meets his match - Lucie. Everyone wants Lucie to find love, but could Aiden be the answer to her problems?

I adored this book. Nora Ephron films are about 90% of my personality, so this series is basically the best thing to ever happen. I need all of the books NOW. An excellent start to an exciting new series.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love BK Borrison ALMOST as much as sleepless in Seattle. So I was super excited about this book, and overall I enjoyed it. I wish that I found the main male character a little more likable. The female main character was extremely likable, and there were points in the story where I wanted better for her than her love interest. I loved her daughter and her unconventional family. I loved that she had a job as a mechanic, because I think that women working in trades are underrepresented overall. I came around on the male main character, but she was definitely the stronger of the two for me. The author is definitely setting up another series, and while I was a teensy bit underwhelmed by this one, I am still very much here for it.

I was so excited to see how this story was going to go, and did not disappoint! Definitely took me longer than it usually does to read, but I enjoyed it when I did end up picking it back up. Love how the dynamic was different between Lucie and her ex, and the relationship they all had with her daughter, Maya rather than the usual trope we see. It felt fresh and I loved to see Lucie have her own career and life figured out—except for her love life. Aiden’s character was so perfectly flawed that I couldn’t help but love him. His quirks and moments of understanding, the monologues about how he felt about Lucie—so freaking cute!! The only thing that felt a little confusing was why he wanted to stay away and couldn’t be with her. I get that he had trauma from his past, but it just didn’t feel like the stakes were high enough for it to be so drawn out. My favourite is definitely Maya, and that epilogue was the cutest. Overall, a fun read!

This was the first book I have read by this author, and I have officially added B.K. Borison into my author rotation! This book is giving "early 2000's rom-com movie" vibes with these lead characters. This book gives realistic portrayals of how people can meet and fall in love. Not that I don't love a good Billionaire MMC, but this book gives its readers a healthy dose of reality when it comes to finding love - relatable jobs, relatable family structures, and a relatable relationship. I would defiantly recommend this book!

thank you net galley for the arc!
my rating is 3.75
this is such a february coded book!!! the main characters “meet cute” was very unique and quite funny. the book was cute, a little predictable at times, but overall a fun read. I absolutely loved the main characters dynamic with her family (ex hubby and his partner) those scenes felt so cozy. typically i don’t like kids in books but her kid was cute. I found the love interests chemistry came randomly. idk how else to explain it.