My heart!! This was sweet, swoony, and so so tender. Aiden is the epitome of boy obsessed!!

Read this if you like:
-slow burn romance
-90s rom coms
-YEARNING
-incredible chemistry

I swear, B.K. Borison gets better with every book! This is absolutely a contender for one of my favorite romances of 2025.

I thought the plot was unique and the tension between the main characters was done well. I've never read a book with this radio host plot/ romance lover turned skeptic along with trying to find a date for the fmc so of course I was into it. I thought the fmcs relationship with her platonic baby father was lovely to read and I liked how they co-parented. The romance was a slowwww burn, there are like 2 steamy scenes but the MCs have that push-and-pull relationship where they want to but they don't want to cross any boundaries. I thought the book was too slow at times and I got tired of the mmcs shenanigans, especially toward the end. Overall it was good, thanks to Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

B.K Borison does it again!

I adored Lovelight Farms and the entire Lovelight series so I was both nervous and excited for B.K Borison's first release outside that series. First Time Caller captures everything you love about a true romance, there's found family, tension, banter, chemistry, grand gestures. Lucie Stone is a badass single mom mechanic, Aiden Valentine is a charismatic radio host. Both of them have lost a little of their sparkle in life and end up connecting through the radio one night. Together Aiden and Lucie help each other get their spark back, embrace their flaws, and lift up their strengths. Their story will make you laugh, cheer them on, audibly gasp, its a truly enjoyable ride!

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily #berkley #berkleypartner

will i ever stop crying??? i have no words. i ADORED this book. BK just gets better and better. the writing was amazing, the characters are raw and real, and i loved the nod to sleepless in seattle (one of the best romance movies ever). don’t hesitate to add this to your tbr when it comes out february 11th.

thank you so much to berkeley romance and netgalley for the ARC.

“Longtime listener, first time caller.”

“I wish I could talk about my mom without feeling like my chest is caving in…”

“I think if anyone could convince me to believe in it, Lucie, it would be you.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance!

I came into this read very excited because I love this author a lot! Lucie is a single mother and I think if there are readers who are single mothers you could relate a lot to her. The way she feels about dating and relationships is super relatable and honest. I truly enjoyed Lucies character a lot! She is a strong, relatable, and witty FMC. She is someone who is not afraid of what she wants and I admired that a lot! Aiden’s character is grumpy, but really has a soft heart and just a lot of fear that I found myself relating to as well. The side characters are top tier I want a friend like Patty so bad!

The story made me laugh out loud a few times, but overall I just found myself bored. To me the chapters just felt like they dragged on, which overall made the story for me drag. I feel like that can happen in a first book in a series, cause you’re getting a lot of the info and backstory; but I found my brain wondering off A LOT during this book. Which for romance that doesn’t typically happen.

Overall a good book, still a fun time, sweet and cozy. Just lacked a bit for me.

Lucie Stone is a hopeless romantic. She wants her happily ever after but she’s also afraid to put herself out there. So when her 12 year old daughter calls into the local Baltimore radio show and connects with the jaded Aiden Valentine, the last thing she expected to find was love. This Sleepless in Seattle vibe set in Baltimore is the cozy romance you need!

I love all of BK Borison’s books and being a Baltimore girl, I was DYING to read this!

I absolutely LOVED all of the Baltimore Easter eggs. There was even a point in the book that I reached out to her and was like is this place I’m thinking it is…which it was. It honestly just gave me all the feels, and it was so cool to have places that I go regularly in the book.

There were so many parts that made me laugh out loud, plus Lucie and Aiden’s chemistry 🥰and I even loved her best friends. Honestly, as much as I loved the Lovelight universe, I love this new one and I’m excited for the next books in this series.

The first half of this book is the perfect cozy, curl up with a blanket read. The second half of this book is... well, it's still pretty cozy, but it has more tension and it had a well-written third-act conflict. Both halves are perfect. It's low-stakes but you still won't be able to put it down. The characters are sweet and lovable but they still have flaws. The build up and progression of their relationship is delightful to read, and that third-act conflict feels so natural with the rest of the story. It's a wonderfully cozy read, and although I read it in December, it's going to be a great mid-February release. (And, since I've somehow gone my whole life never seeing Sleepless in Seattle, which I will certainly fix soon, I can attest that this book holds up without having seen that movie!)

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Thanks for the e-ARC! I have voted for First-Time Caller for LibraryReads. I'll post my review to social sites the week before publication and to retail sites after publication, and will update here with links.

Aiden Valentine is a disc jockey who hosts a popular romance hotline, Heartstrings. The only problem? He doesn’t really subscribe to happily ever afters after being disappointed in life, as well as dealing with a plethora of jilted call in lovers.

Then one night he gets an unusual call from a young fan. The girl isn’t looking for love for herself, but rather for her single mom. Listeners immediately fall for the sweet story, and fall in love with the soon to be singled out single mom, Lucie.

When fans start clamoring for more, the radio station invites Lucie on air, a reluctant participant in her daughter’s quest for love. But the more Lucie goes on lackluster dates, the more she finds herself comparing them to her cantankerous cohost. Soon Lucie and Aiden find their hotline experience turning into red hot feelings. Can these two lost souls answer love’s call before it’s too late?

First Time Caller is the first book in a new series from popular romance author, B.K. Borison. Having read some of her popular Lovelight Farms series, I was eager to see how this measured up. Initially I was drawn into the premise, its Sleepless in Seattle influence causing my inner teenage self to squeal. I also loved the quick banter and the early character development.

Unfortunately, the second half of the book played out rather predictably, resorting to some cheesy romance scenes and unnecessary third act miscommunication. It wasn’t a bad book, I just couldn’t help but being a tad disappointed after the first half promise of much more. I’d still recommend this to swoony romance readers, and B.K. Borison fans specifically. I just wish First Time Caller didn’t feel like it was phoning in this romance.

This book has entered my top 10 romance novels list. I absolutely adored it. It gave off such 90s rom com vibes. I loved Lucie and Aiden so much, the side characters were fun but not distracting from their story. I swooned over the declarations of love and what love should feel like. Everything about this book was perfect.

This was really slow for me and not my favorite but I will definitely still stock. It took too long for anything to happen and the lack of relationship between Aiden and the child was odd.

I am Aiden and Aiden is me.
He is so babygirl and I just want to hug him forever.

When I die you’ll have to pry this book from my cold, dead hands!!!!!

This book was everything. Perfect. Stunning. Everything I needed. I love it so much it makes my chest hurt. Aiden and Lucie were perfect in the tenderest, sweetest, messiest way and YOUR HONOR, I LOVE THEM😭

It’s been a long time since I related to a character this hard, and I saw so much of myself in Aiden that his character just felt like a big, warm hug that I didn’t know I needed until I read this book 🥹

the pineapple pizza, the LIST, the call at the end. I SIMPLY CANNOT.

“Long time listener, first time caller” GAH

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book!!!!!

B. K. Borison is a master of character development. I feel as if I know her characters and live in their little world. I devoured the Lovelight Farms series for this very reason. I cannot wait to lose myself in the Baltimore neighborhood of the Heartstrings series, getting to know more about the cast of characters we meet in First Time Caller. I fell in love with Aiden, Lucie, Maya, Grayson and Mateo. I enjoyed having a front-row seat to Aiden and Lucile’s relationship as it grew and changed. The build-up and pacing were on point. Loved it!

This book takes a familiar premise and makes it shine with heart, humor, and originality. It starts with Maya, a clever 12-year-old, calling into Aiden Valentine’s struggling radio show to find a match for her mom, Lucie Stone. What begins as a simple call turns into a viral sensation, pulling Aiden and Lucie together in ways neither expected.

Lucie is resilient and kind, while Aiden’s brooding exterior hides a tender heart. Their chemistry is electric, and their journey from collaborators to something more had me hooked. The side characters, especially Grayson and Maya, add warmth and humor, creating a world that’s as rich as the romance itself.

This story is equal parts swoon-worthy and heartfelt, with laugh-out-loud moments and emotional depth. Fans of Borison’s Lovelight Farms series will adore this fresh start, and I can’t wait for Jackson and Delilah’s story next. A perfect read for anyone who believes in love in all its forms!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC—I’ll be rereading this one for sure!

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore the Lovelight Farms series and was excited to see what was next for Borison. If books like First Time Caller are what we have to look forward to, we are in for a delightful ride.

Lucie and Aiden meet after her daughter calls into his romance related radio show hoping to help her mom find a date. Lucid ends up captivating the struggling show’s auditions host, so they end up inviting her to be a guest and let the show, Heartstrings, be a method to set her up. Aiden and Lucie also have instant chemistry and although her dates rarely go well she begins spending more and more time with Aiden as they both develop crushes.

Maybe it’s something about being a mom, but seeing Lucie put her self first was extra special. Although he doesn’t believe he can handle love or a relationship it’s hard not to fall for Aiden right along Lucie. I loved Lucie’s little family including her daughter’s dad Greyson and his partner Mateo loved Lucie fiercely but also pushed her to go after what she wanted. I loved the addition of the show’s mini excerpt/transcript with each chapter. I read this with friends and highlighted so many sweet passages.


I’m so happy I have this preordered because it will definitely be a book I return to and reread.

Ah this book was so much fun! I loved it so much. Lucie was such a great character. I enjoyed that she was a mechanic and just an overall tough character. She’d given up on love but is willing to give it another shot for her daughter. The relationship between her and her daughter’s dad was also very heartwarming and touching. I loved that they still had family dinner together even though they weren’t together anymore. I loved how Lucie developed as a character over the course of the book. She was so relatable, and I loved her so much. I also really enjoyed Aiden as a character. His character development was also top notch, and I liked how much he grew over the course of the book. Together they were just amazing. Their relationship felt realistic and was very enjoyable. Everything was just so great and top notch.

If you’re looking for a beautifully crafted romance, then check this one out.

Absolutely ate this book up, devoured it completely. I loved the dynamic between our main characters. It was grumpy sunshine but the grump isn’t mean, and I love when that trope is perfected!! I loved the Lovelight series and BK’s writing is addicting

I’m actually obsessed with this book! First time I’ve read this author and I will be going back and reading all the others now because I am obsessed!!!

5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the eARC!!!

One of the sweetest, most romantic books I have read in a while. I was kicking my feet, giggling the whole time!

I felt so connected to this book & all of the characters, Lucie especially. I loved how she truly never gave up on finding her chance at true love. I also really admired how she carried herself; how she made it known that while she is an completely independent & strong individual, she still wants to experience the magic of true love, and that wanting love should not be viewed as a weakness or silliness.

I also loved our mmc, Mr. Aiden Valentine! Another beautifully written, complex character. I loved reading about him falling in love with Lucie, and how he was pretty down bad for her from the jump, which, who can blame him?! the chemistry between the 2 of them was undeniable from the first call. Their relationship was PERFECT, just swoon worthy & magical to read about. The slow burn, tension and banter between Aiden and Lucie was amazing!

The author did a phenomenal job at creating the most beautiful, relatable characters & love story. This book is going to stay on my mind for a very long time, definitely recommend!

“Stop flirting with me” 🫠

First Time Caller follows Lucie Stone, a mom mechanic who has been chronically single for most of her life until her kid Maya calls a romance hotline and finds herself in an interview with the host Aiden Valentine which goes viral. She finds herself being sucked into being part of the radio show with Aiden on a journey to find love… while slowly falling for the one she’s been next to.

This book is for the girlies who just love, love & witnessing two people who are perfect for each other fall. This was the coziest comfort romance read and felt like those unreplicable romance movies from the early 2000s. First Time Caller is a book you’d be in the mood for when you’re snuggled up in your blanket by the fireplace needing something easy and soft.

✨Slow burn
✨Dual POV
✨2000s romance movie feel
✨Sleepless in Seattle inspired
✨Cynic x Optimist
✨Protective MMC
✨If he wanted to, he would!!!

"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄." ⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Thank you so much to NetGalley, B.K. Borison and Penguin Randomhouse, and Berkley Romance! Thank you for gifting me an ARC of what is now my favorite romance novel! B.K. Borison, I hope you realize you have written one of the best contemporary romance novels I have ever read. I have so many quotes highlighted on my Kindle because this book dug into my soul and made me say "Wow" chapter after chapter. The fact that this romance covers not only romantic love but also platonic and familial love in such a profound and touching way is perfect. I wish there were a word stronger than perfect that I could use in this review; maybe the word "nice" would do? I loved the inspiration from Sleepless in Seattle, but this book was its own kind of art. This book was funny, sexy, raw, and unforgettable. ⋆˚✿˖°

Aiden and Luci are both so beautifully complex: their characters were interwoven with such humanistic traits and struggles that I could see both of them walking around Baltimore, simply existing in the flesh. I saw so much of myself in Luci and understood why Baltimore was simply in love with her. Luci just gets it and gets how hard it is to find the love you have always wanted, a love one never has to settle for. Their personalities, Luci's rawness and Aiden's trauma-induced cynicism (send him to therapy), should oppose each other yet complement each other so well. Their chemistry was simply off the charts for me. A slow burn was needed between them, and B.K.'s writing in that WITTY SEXY BANTER had me blushing and gasping. I do not know how many times I wrote "GUYS JUST KISS," but the buildup was indeed chefs-kiss perfection. The intimacy that oozed out of their relationship, the fact that it was not all rainbows and butterflies but had raw and even painful moments within, was so well done (again, kudos to B.K. for making them so human). Every character had a purpose, a story that I was attached to, and felt so perfect for the novel they were written in. Maya is the funniest character in this book, and no, it is not because we share the same name! The little radio snippets between chapters were so unbelievably hilarious; I wanted to listen to Luci's honey voice and Aiden's sarcasm so badly when encountering those transcripts. I have not a single complaint about this book; quite frankly, it will be extremely hard for me to find a book to top this one. I cannot wait to sit down and rave about this on BookTok and Booksta because, B.K., you're the magic! ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆