This was everything I wanted in a romance novel. Characters I could cheer for, great banter, and a story that had just enough Sleepless in Seattle nostalgia to feel charming. Lucy and Aiden played beautifully amidst the romance hot line radio show backdrop, and it was such a fun and engaging premise that I was totally invested. A great recommendation for readers dipping their toe in the Romance genre and seasoned fans who like it fun and just spicy enough. A fabulous, fun read! I will certainly read more by this author and stocking my bookstore shelves with them.

This was my first book by B.K. Borison, and I can totally see why she’s so beloved. I really, really enjoyed the classic romcom feel of this story. The setup was so much fun! When Lucie’s daughter calls into Baltimore’s romance hotline looking for help for her mom, Lucie ends up connecting with host Aiden Valentine. What follows is a radio-sponsored dating mission!

I absolutely adored Lucie and the relationships she’s built around her—the bond with her daughter, her coworkers (she's a mechanic!), and the unique dynamic with her ex and his husband. It was all so wonderful. But beneath it all, Lucie is lonely. She’s spent so long burying her own wants and needs, and seeing her navigate the uncertainty of putting herself first made her so easy to root for.

And then there’s Aiden! He’s smitten with Lucie from the start, adorably gatekeeping every caller who comes her way. I loved how attuned he was to her. What made her nervous. What made her blush. It was precious! I do wish there had been more relationship development outside of the actual radio show, but my biggest issue was the conflict ...

Aiden is terrified of love and commitment, and while I sympathized with his heartbreaking reasoning, it didn’t entirely make sense to me. For a 400+ page romance, this being the only obstacle keeping them apart started to wear thin. By the end, I was just over his nonsense and ready for him to get it together.

Despite being the host of a romance advice radio show called Heartstrings, Aiden Valentine doesn’t believe in love and his grumpy attitude on the subject is causing the show’s ratings to drop. That is, until Aiden receives an unexpected call on-air from Maya, who is secretly seeking dating advice for her single mom Lucie. When Lucie discovers what Maya has done on her behalf, Lucie begrudgingly spills her romantic hopes to Aiden. Lucie’s story ends up resonating with a lot of listeners and the show goes viral. As such, Aiden’s boss insists that Lucie become Aiden’s cohost so that she can search for love live on-air.

First-Time Caller is the first book in B.K. Borison’s new Heartstrings series. The book features the grumpy with sunshine, workplace romance or forced proximity, and single parent tropes. First-Time Caller deals with themes and topics like love and heartbreak, romance, single parenting and coparenting, parental abandonment, cancer and ill parents, self worth, loneliness and isolation, match making, and mental health. First-Time Caller is perfect for fans of books like The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young, Change of Plans by Dylan Newton, Happily Never After by Lynn Painter, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams. First-Time Caller also has some Bachelorette and matchmaking vibes, so if you’re a fan of dating shows, this would be an ideal read!

Even though I thought that First-Time Caller was good, I didn’t think it was as good as B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series, which are some of my all-time favourite books, particularly as I enjoyed the cosy smalltown setting in the Lovelight series more than the bigger city and radio station settings in First-Time Caller. Whilst reading, I had trouble getting into the plot and thought that it was a little slow to start. I definitely got the Sleepless in Seattle vibe (the story in which First-Time Caller is inspired) at the beginning of the book but since I’m not super familiar with the movie, I probably missed some of the Sleepless in Seattle references (which I’m sure would have enhanced my reading experience).

First-Time Caller definitely has a strong Valentines and match-making vibe, especially since the male main character’s name is even Valentine, so I think that this book would be absolutely perfect to read or gift around Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day! I really enjoyed the chapters where Lucie and Aiden were just chatting with callers on-air, as I thought that these were really entertaining and fast-paced. The comic relief that Lucie’s meddling and spunky daughter Maya provided was very enjoyable. Even though Aiden starts out grumpy, we find out that he is actually super sweet and creates some real swoon-worthy moments for Lucie, which I adored. Lastly, without spoiling anything, I thought that the ending of the book was perfection.

Even though I had trouble getting into this book, I think fellow romance readers will love this swoony (and spicy) rom-com, especially since it comes out just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Thank you to the publisher for the arc of First-Time Caller! This book had a different approach to romance that I found refreshing to read. The radio show dating segment was very entertaining and overall I enjoyed the plot in this book. I felt the characters came across a little two-dimensional and could have been developed a little more. We got more of the author telling us what we were supposed to think the characters felt for each other rather than us feeling it through their actions.

Still enjoyed this romance perfect for a fun read!

INCREDIBLE. This is one of my new favorite books. I haven’t felt this way since I read Beach Read in 2020.

Something about Aiden and Lucy really struck a chord with me, and honestly don’t know how to express it, but I’ll try.

I’m not a therapist. BUT. There was something so raw and vulnerable about Lucy’s character, who I can only imagine is a secure attachment style, that balanced Aiden’s avoidant attachment style, and watching him reluctantly (but fondly) develop feelings for her, was so genuine. And he tries his hardest not to. He is so adept at pushing his feelings down and isolating himself, but Lucy sees right through all of it. Even when shes unsure, feeling vulnerable and scared, she doesn’t let him get away with it. Even in his self sabotaging moments, Lucy never lets him get away with it.

This felt like a true love story. Accepting someone for who they are and where they are at, but giving them the chance to grow.

Will read any book this author writes.

• you will want first-time caller, and arc review •
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First-Time Caller is a gift for romance reading lovers out there and I recommend this book to everyone who has been thinking about it. BK Borison has a gift for writing stories that the hopeless romantic cannot put down, and this book proved no different. 
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Aiden Valentine is the host on Baltimore’s romance hotline Heartstrings that’s in trouble, and so is Valentine… he’s having a hard time believing in love. This is until receives a late night call from a daughter that wants to help her mom, Lucie Stone, find love. Lucie’s words go viral and she’s invited on Heartstrings to help her reach her soulmate. BUT like us all, she will have a hard time not falling for Valentine, as Valentine’s cold cold heart starts to flutter again.  
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Why read this book:
✨️Aiden Valentine, oh Aiden Valentine - you are welcome.
🥰 Dual POV (my fav)
🔥Something in Chapter 31 will light your romantic heart on fire. 
🫶🏻I also enjoyed that this book balances hard topics with the romance making it all the more real. 
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I read a lot of romance last year and this book ranked #2 for romance for 2025. Don’t walk, run to the store on February 11, 2025 to pick up your copy. 
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Thank you so much to Berkeley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to share my thoughts on this incredible book. And most of all to @authorbkborison
for writing this work of art.
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#firsttimecaller #bkborison #romance #netgalley #berkleypublishinggroup
#5starreview #booksbooksbooks #greatbook
#readthis #mustread

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free book! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #berkleyromance #FirstTimeCaller #BKBorison

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐁.𝐊. 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

This book was EVERYTHING! As soon as I saw that B.K. Borison was writing a Sleepless in Seattle inspired love story, I knew this one was going to be good! This book exceeded my expectations. Everything about this book was just perfect. The entire premise of this book just felt so right. I laughed. I stayed up way too late reading. I read this book so fast because I just had to know how it was all going to end. I’ve never loved two characters more than I’ve loved Aiden and Lucie. I don’t listen to the radio anymore, but this book just reminded me of when I was younger and would listen to people call into the radio, and I loved it. I loved the side characters too, and felt like they added so much to the plot and to Lucie and Aiden’s story. I literally cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out! I could not have loved this book more! I’ll be recommending this one for a long time!

📞Sleepless In Seattle Vibes
📞Single Mom
📞Found Family
📞Dual POV
📞Grumpy x Sunshine
📞Slow Burn
📞Set In Baltimore (Berger Cookie References IYKYK)
📞Book 1 in the Heartstring Series

Posted on Goodreads on February 6, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 6, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 11, 2025
**-will post on designated date

First Time Caller by B.K. Borison is my very first arc review goes and oh my goodness was it a great one!!! I am truly still thinking about it. Aiden being the radio show host of a romance hotline who is ironically becoming more and more cynical by the day. Maya, Lucie’s daughter, calls into the hotline to help out her mom’s love life. Lucie and Aiden end up having a conversation and everything else ensues. WOW this was incredible. There was so much chemistry between Aiden and Lucie, you could really tell how much they liked each other. I also loved to see Aiden’s character growth because I related to him a lot. This story was filled with everything a romance lover would want. It was full of banter, love, funny moments, swoon worthy moments, and hard moments that are hard to overcome but so good to read when done right and it was done RIGHT!
I am so thankful this is my first arc, I ended up enjoying it SO much!

This book is like a love letter or voicemail to all romantics. I adore all the characters, especially Lucie and Aiden.
This is one of the best romance books I've ever read!
You will fall in love with Lucie or maybe even relate to her, like how I did. This book will tug at your heartstrings..

This was my first book of the year and honestly, will be really hard to beat. It was funny, romantic, and hopeful, with a little heartbreak in there and LOADS OF YEARNING. I wanted yearning and I got it.

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

Here’s another one that I need you guys to preorder and read!! Because have you seen the news lately?? It’s been so stressful and we need more books like this that will only make us laugh and smile and believe in love again!!!

This is very much inspired by Sleepless in Seattle - single mom version and both people are actually single unlike in the movie 😅

Two chapters in and I already know that I would love this book. The banter and dialogues are topnotch! I also love that our female lead has a job that is considered a “boy job” and all her coworkers are just the sweetest!

He’s a host of a romance hotline but doesn’t believe in love while she’s a hopeless romantic and the opposites attract trope was played so well in this book!!

I love that this is also a radio show where people can call in, it feels like youre reading a small town story with nosy neighbors 😂 The radio show trope is also what made me listen to the audiobook at times because I loved listening to the clips! I’ve also been really loving the single parent trope lately and Lucie was such a lovely character to root for!

ALL the characters blended in so well to the story and I’m so glad you to know that this is part of a series because I cant get enough of the characters from this book!

It does get a little spicy towards the end but really, not that crazy.

I loved this book so much and I’m so excited for you guys to read it!!!

BK Borrison's best yet in my humble opinion...

Our story starts when Maya calls into a local radioshow to get romance advice for her mom. Caught off guard and excited by her viral moment, Lucie joins the show with host Aiden to find her perfect match. But it turns out Lucie and Aiden have a lot of chemistry that they both don't want to ackowledge.

This book was the definition of the perfect rom-com. I NEED THIS IN A MOVIE NOW. I love that the story was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, and I fell IN LOVE with these characters. Though super lovable and enjoyable to read about, they both had flaws that made them feel very real and human. It was also refreshing to read a single-mom romance where the mom is also allowed to have a life, and has supportive co-parents that want her to go live it. Chef's kiss. No notes. (ALSO, Aiden's mouth had me blushing... HARD.)

thanks to netgalley and berkleyromance for the digital arc!!!

i’ve never read b.k. borison before this, but that is going to change immediately.

the love and tenderness and hope that this story had made my heart clench. i loved the way these characters loved each other—not just lucie and aiden, but every character. everyone deserves magic. everyone deserves love. and it may not be perfect, but it’ll be right.

i adored this book. it may only be february, but i’m already confident this is going to be one of the best romances this year <3

Thank you to Berkley Romance & NetGalley for the e-ARC & free final copy 💘

This was such a cute romance overall! It did feel a little long at times and it took me a bit to get into it, but other than that I really enjoyed it. This is a fun take on Sleepless In Seattle - this dynamic played out on paper was so cool to see and I loved Lucie & Maya’s relationship! Additionally, Aiden & Lucie’s relationship and how they grew and worked through emotional baggage together and separately.
This one is definitely for the romance book lovers and is such a fun read for the Valentine’s Day season🫶🏻

I want to inject this book into my veins so that part of my DNA is Lucie and Aiden (idk if it works like that but you get the picture). Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. From their unexpected meet cute when Lucie's daughter calls into the radio romance hotline that Aiden runs, to them meeting in person with Aiden being the opposite of smooth. Every time Lucie and Aiden were in the same proximity, you could feel their tension through the pages and it made this book down right addictive.

First Time Caller

A magical Sleepless in Seattle retelling. I was hooked from page 1. An ode to love, a reminder that it can find us anywhere.

Lucie is a single mom who’s never been in love. Her preteen daughter calls into a radio show to get some dating advice and meets Aiden. Aiden is the host and invites Lucie on to find love. Except the more time they spend together, the more obsessed they become with each other.

So so so many swoon worthy moments in this story. The MC’s find love but more importantly it depicts love after grief, motherly love, and friendship love.

Read if you like:
📺Nora Ephron
📻Radio shows
👧🏻Single parent
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
🏢Forced proximity
🎙️Witty dialogue
🥐Cruffins
🫂Found family
🍍Pineapple pizza
alexisrosechabot_KK29Bk@kindle.com

Synopsis: Aiden Valentine, the host of Baltimore’s radio romance hotline, doesn’t believe in love anymore. When he gets a call from a young listener requesting dating advice for her mom, Lucie, the call goes viral. Aiden and Lucie begin working together to help her find her happily ever after - live on air.

Thoughts: This is such a sweet, feel-good romance! Lucie and Aiden are perfection with top notch banter and chemistry. If you like grumpy/sunshine, you will adore them. The found family vibes are so well done, and I actually cannot wait to see whose story we get next in this series! If you need more convincing, what if I told you he keeps a list of her favorite things in his glove compartment so he doesn’t forget? SWOON 😍

Read this if you like:
☎️ Baltimore
☎️ Sleepless in Seattle
☎️ single mom
☎️ found family
☎️ grumpy sunshine

After her young daughter Maya calls in to a Baltimore romance hotline on her behalf, Lucie realizes that her life, while fulfilling, is missing something. Attempting to put herself out there, Lucie agrees to take part in an on-air dating show with the host of the Heartstrings hotline, Aiden Valentine. Heartfelt and vulnerable, Lucie and Aiden’s struggles with loneliness and relationships are touching and relatable. First Time Caller is probably my favorite romance I’ve requested in quite a while.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgallery for the ARC of First-Time Caller in exchange for an honest review.

NOSTALGIA, ROMANCE AND A UNIQUE PREMISE, those were my initial thoughts after finishing this book. B.K. Borison has an incredible ability to write lovable characters in a very cozy and feel good setting. While I enjoyed this book for the most part, the length of it, and the slow burn dragged for me in the middle. That is not to say I don't enjoy when relationship develop slowly throughout a story, but there were moments where I found the characters pondering too much over the same conflicts or thoughts. All and all, a very solid 3.75-4 book.


Thanks again to Berkley, all the opinions are my own.

.25⭐️
2/5🌶️

When I think of the perfect romance book, this will now be my prime example of that!! Everything about this was so sweet and I couldn’t get enough 🥺 This really captured the early 2000s rom-com vibes I’ve been missing so much♥️ Aiden is someone who has given up on love and Lucie is a hopeless romantic. I loved this dynamic between them so much. ALSO THE WAY THEY MET WAS SO CUTE I CANNOT 😭

Tropes/Themes:
-single mom romance
-workplace romance
-slow-burn