I grew up in and around Baltimore, and first and foremost, this is a love letter to the city of Baltimore, and to love itself. I have heard it described as a modern Sleepless in Seattle in Baltimore, and it fits that description so perfectly, from the lonely yearning all the way through the beautiful, hard earned love story. To be honest, Aiden and Lucie had my heart from the very first page with the depths of their wounds, and I really loved that we saw on page resolution of emotional issues that included healthy and happy characters who created their own families when their families of birth failed to love them properly. I also honestly felt like I was back in a Baltimore row house, and stepping through a sticky but familiar bar, and I love that so much. What a cozy, romantic hug this book is. I cannot wait for the next one in this universe.

Thank you to B.K. Borison, Berkley Books, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so sweet and hopeful I loved it! I must say it’s one of the most perfectly written romance out there in the build up. Everything was so smooth, not rushed but it also didn’t feel super slow. The scenes between Lucie and Aiden were the sweetest thing ever. I also loved the fact that you get qualitative smut instead of quantitative. Everything was so well balanced. Near the end I teared up so it’s also emotional. I’m so excited to read the next books!

How does one move on from this? First-Time Caller has become an all time favorite of mine.

It made me squeal, laugh, and swoon off of every interaction Aiden and Lucie had with one another. This made me feel like I was watching one of my favorite romance movies. Beyond classic, heartwarming, and filled with all of the delicious perfection B.K. spills into the pages. I cannot wait to reread this one over and over again.

i really enjoyed this! i think it was a little repetitive but enjoyed the overall plot and characters! writing was easy to follow and would recommend for any romance lovers

I'm currently struggling to find my words for this review because I fear no amount of language could possibly put into words just how much I loved this book. Everything about this story pulled on my Heartstrings (see what I did there?) and made me even more appreciative of Borison as an author. She knows how to create compelling characters that resonate and make a lasting impact. I will hold Aiden and Lucie close to my heart for a very long time, if not forever. Before I end up gushing all over this review, Let me tell you a little bit about "First Time Caller."

Lucie Stone never expected that the city of Baltimore would be as invested in her love life as they turned out to be after her mischievous daughter spills her beans all over a radio show hosted by Aiden Valentine. So with the encouragement of her family and friends, she ends up taking the show up on their offer to assist her in finding the love she has been wishing for.

Aiden Valentine has long since given up on the idea of love which is a bit ironic considering his job is to dish out romantic advice on his show "Heartstrings." That is until he gets a call from a little girl looking to get romance advice for her mother Lucie. Her story and what she wants sounds impossible... that is until they meet.

Aiden and Lucie have chemistry out the wazoo. I don't want to give too much away so I'll just say this, Aiden is absolutely pathetic for Lucie. That man is down BAD. I have never read such delicious yearning in all my life. Lucie turns this pessimistic man into a bumbling fool and I could not get enough of it.

Something that is also great about this story is that Lucie is a mechanic. I'm so used to reading about FMC's with jobs like librarian, florist, bookstore owner, etc. which are great but it was so refreshing to read about a woman working in a field dominated by men. She is also good at what she does. She's not hopeless and is in no need of saving. She is confident in what she does and it makes her so much more badass. No, she is not perfect but she is well rounded and it shows in her character. Another thing that makes her a powerhouse of a woman is that she is a wonderful mother with a full time career. She and her co parent Grayson are an incredible team and I love their friendship so much. Their family dynamic is not typical in the least but it works so well and there is so much love given and shared between everyone in it. There are so many reasons to love Lucie and I cannot wait to talk about her more once the book comes out.

Aiden is the most charming MMC I have read about in a while. Despite having a porcupine exterior, he is truly so sweet and a romantic at heart. He has a way of lighting Lucie up from the inside out which makes him the absolute perfect match for her. It takes him a while to let go and accept the love that he deserves but wow... the way he is so soft. Here are some things that he does that literally make me want to cry they are so damn sweet:

* He keeps a list of her favorite things so he won't forget.
* Says things like "I think you're the magic."
* Eats pizza with pineapple on it because it's her favorite and he wants her favorite things to be his too.
* Remembers what her perfect date would be and gives it to her.

Those are just a few things but you get the picture. I hope you can see why Aiden is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends now.

To make this long review short, this book is nothing if not perfect. There was not a single moment where I skimmed a paragraph or wished for fewer pages. In fact, my only complaint is that the book isn't 500 pages longer. I am going to miss these characters dearly (I already do). To everyone who has not yet read "First Time Caller," please cherish every moment you spend with it. Let their story embrace you and hold on tight. Some stories are read and forgotten with time but this one is worth holding space for.

Aiden and Lucie, I will love you forever.

Thank you B.K. Borison for giving us this gift of a book. I can't wait to give you a hug in February.

It started out strong with the Sleepless in Seattle vibe, then it just went downhill. The dialogue wasn't punchy enough and didn't seem consistent with the character's ages. I still don't understand Grayson and his over the top pseudo-violent antics. The dialogue during the sex scene was just cringey. 2.5 stars.

⭐ Rating - 4.5/5

This is my first B.K. Borison book, and I'm absolutely in aweeee 🥹. When I saw it was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, one of my all-time favorite movies, I knew I had to apply for the ARC 🤭😌

This book feels like a warm hug. cute, heartwarming, and filled with those nostalgic 90s-2000s romcom vibes. I was hooked from the start, totally consumed, and giggling all along the way.

It all begins with a late night radio call. 12yrs old Maya reaches out to Aiden Valentine's romance show Heartstrings for advice on how to get her mom a boyfriend. Lucie, her mom, ends up speaking on air, revealing her desire for a magical and effortless love.

I adored everything about this book. Lucie is smart, generous, and an amazing mother. As a hopeless romantic, I loved her willingness to take a chance on new possibilities

Ohhh Aiden, a grumpy handsome radio host who lost faith in love, is dealing with his own trauma and has built walls around his heart to protect himself.

Their chemistry is soft and tender, like a slow burn candle. It's not about grand gestures, but those quiet, intimate moments where they truly see and understand each other was amazing.
My favorite part was him keeping a list of her favorite things in the glove compartment 🥹🥹🫠 How cute is that!! The only thing I missed was a bit more banter, but it was still sweet and fun.

I literally loved every character in this book - Maya, Greyson, and Meteo (the dads), Matty and Jackson 💗
Greyson was literally so funny and DRAMAAA!! 😂😂

This book reminds us that love can be messy, magical, and always worth the leap. If you're in the mood for a heartfelt romance that feels like a warm hug, this is the perfect pick.

𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀:

✨️ "𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐."

✨️ "𝑰'𝒎 𝒅𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆"

✨️ "𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄?
𝑵𝒂𝒉, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒆
𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄"

Lovelight farm series, here I come next 🫵🤭❤️

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the ARC 💗

As a huge fan of B.K. Borison, I was over the moon when I discovered she had written a romance novel inspired by the beloved classic "Sleepless in Seattle." I was so excited and I couldn't wait to dive into her latest work! From the very first chapter of “First-Time Caller,” it became abundantly clear that this book was going to be a major hit for me.

The characters are wonderfully developed, each with their own unique quirks and relatable backstories that made them feel like cherished friends. The dynamic between the protagonists is electric, filled with witty banter and heartfelt moments that tugged at my heartstrings. The storyline is emotionally charged, weaving together themes of love, longing, and serendipity in a way that kept me completely engrossed. I found myself completely immersed in their world, unable to tear my eyes away from the pages.

The pacing was just right, allowing emotional moments to resonate while maintaining a delightful sense of momentum throughout the novel. I truly hope that B.K. Borison considers expanding this story into a long-running series because I really don’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

“First-Time Caller” is a true must read; I would give it a resounding 5+++ stars. It epitomizes rom-com perfection, combining humor, romance, and a touch of nostalgia in a delightful package. This is a novel that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted love story!

this was fun, everything happened the way i expected it to but omg did this book feel like it just went on forever and ever

Have you ever had the anxiety of being the first to have a traveling ARC? Being the first to mark up a perfect new book stressed me out at first, but luckily, this book had so much to react to that I quickly got over it.
First-Time Caller is the story of the jaded host of Baltimore’s romance hotline/radio show. He is suddenly thrust into the spotlight after his interview with a young girl calling about her mom goes viral. Suddenly, he and the mom, Lucie, are thrown together, doing a series on her dating life, almost like a radio version of The Bachelor. But as Lucie and Aiden spend more time together, the chemistry between them becomes undeniable.
I LOVED this book. From the first few pages, I was laughing out loud. BK Borison writes such fun characters with incredible banter, and this book was full of chemistry and fun. This slow burn gives strong Sleepless in Seattle vibes, and Aiden is the ultimate example of "if he wanted to, he would." Truly one of the best book boyfriends ever. I loved the side characters, including Lucie’s daughter and Aiden’s radio colleagues. I’m excited this is the start of a series, and hopefully, we will get more of them!
This book is expected to be published on February 25th. Add this book to your TBR; you won’t want to miss this one!

First Time Caller is such a beautiful story. Following Aiden and Lucy on their journey of self discovery and self love was a truly magical experience. I was captivated by these two from beginning to end. This GrumpyxSunshine love story comes out Feb 11 2025 and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! Best believe I will be picking First Time Caller as my Fable book club pick In February. I can’t wait to chat with anyone and everyone about this book!! Aiden and Lucy definitely left a mark on my heart.💓📖✨

I ADORED this book!!! This was fun and the banter was top tier! Aiden and Lucie have my heart! I work in radio and this was mot only believable but well executed from beginning to end! Now can we get a book for Jackson? 🤗

"𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻."

We'd like to preface this review by saying we've never actually seen Sleepless in Seattle (Katie has some strange aversion to Tom Hanks), but if it's anything like this book we will be watching immediately. We want to bottle the feelings we felt while reading because, just like Aiden, we were lighting up! This may be our favorite BK Borison book to date.

This was the perfect grumpy/sunshine, Aiden was a cynic, and he refused to believe in love. All Lucie wanted was to find that magic love. Spending time with them on the radio show and watching them fall in love was literally the best. Aiden got to overcome his fear of caring too much and Lucie found that magic! Also five stars to the supporting characters of Maya and Greyson and Patty, they had us cackling. We were giggling and kicking our feet the whole time!

Thank you so much to Berkey for an advance copy of this book!

🚨 WARNING: This book will permanently alter your brain chemistry! 🚨 I’m serious—every romance I read after this will be judged against the pure magic of this novel. 🫠 It’s raw, real, messy (in the best way), and so beautifully unique that it’s hard to believe these characters aren’t walking around in real life.

So, let’s talk about self-control. I told myself I’d wait to read this closer to the release date, but who was I kidding? One chapter in, and I was GONE. 🫣 Completely immersed. My Kindle might as well have been glued to my hands because there was no stopping me. This was one of those rare romances that made me forget I was even reading. 🥹 I was hooked from the very first page.

Now let’s talk about Aiden and Lucie. OMG. Their romance? Absolutely unforgettable. 💕 THE FLIRTING. I’m talking top-tier, hair-twirling, squeal-out-loud levels of flirting. (“Stop braiding your hair in the booth and I’ll stop flirting with you.” 😭💀) Aiden, you grumpy, clueless, perfect man—you own my whole heart. 🫠❤️

What blew me away was how deeply I connected with both Aiden and Lucie. They made me feel so seen and held. Their moments together? Tender, precious, and yes… HOT. 🔥 Like, SCORCHING. But honestly, some of my favorite parts weren’t even in the dialogue—it was the eye contact, the subtle touches, the quiet ways they noticed each other. My heart melted every. single. time. 🥹

I already miss them so much, and I know I’ll be rereading this one over and over again. Becs absolutely slayed with this story. 🏆 It’s perfection, and I just know you’re all going to be OBSESSED too. 😍✨

I haven't enjoyed a contemporary romance this much in awhile. This updated concept of Sleepless in Seattle was the perfect mix of modern ideals and nostalgia that had me kicking my feet at how cute it was.

The story follows Aiden Valentine, the host of a love advice radio show who gets an unexpected call from a young girl trying to find her mom love. When the segment goes viral, the mom, Lucie, finds herself drawn into the station to try and find love over the airways but maybe love is sitting right across the booth.

The characters were so lovable and their issues felt like real life issues, the discussions and problems felt like adult problems, and the flirting was top notch. This may be an early contender for my favorite romance of 2025. I have felt that third act break ups haven't been doing it right, its not supposed to be some basically unforgiveable sin where he can just make a grand gesture and that's fine. NO! Its supposed to about internal growth and learning and a grand gesture that is adorable and this book hit it SPOT ON.

I'll be recommending this to all the romance girlies I know.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! B.K. Borison has become one of my favorite authors and though this book isn’t in her original universe of Lovelight Farms, it does not disappoint. This book is modeled after Sleepless in Seattle, but really showcases Baltimore nicely and does a gender switch - the FMC is the one whose daughter calls into a radio station and the MMC is the radio host. This book was very very cute and great, with great main and side characters, very sweet build up, and great banter and falling for each other. The only reason this book does not get 5 stars from me is that it’s 448 pages - that’s insane for a cute book like this. It does pace okay, but I truly believe it could have been shorter. Overall, I still highly recommend and love this book - great for fans of Borison, Nora Ephron fan fiction, and sweet steamy contemporary romance.

It's hard for me to rate or review this book because the parts of this book that worked REALLY worked, but the parts that didn't kind of annoy me.

I loved Lucie and liked Aiden, their chemistry was great and the banter was cute and I loved watching them fall for eachother. However, I also felt like Aiden's whole "I'm not the one for you" schtick got old fast and I wish he grew more (someone get this man a lot therapy, stat!).

ALSO, the singular steamy scene had no right to be as hot as it was but omg.

Thank you Berkley Romance for this ARC!

I was almost nervous to start this book. I had such high - probably bordering on unrealistic - expectations and I was worried I'd be unintentionally let down. I should have known to trust B.K. Borison because she is clearly a wizard and puts magic into each and every one of her books. I LOVED THIS. Aiden and Lucie are absolutely everything. I adored their banter and chemistry. Every step of their friendship and relationship felt realistic and I just could not get enough of them. The growth each of these characters have throughout the story is really beautiful and heart-wrenching. I simply could not get enough.

Thank you SO much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

This was 4.5 stars for me!

From the start of this story, I was hooked. The chemistry between our FMC and MMC is giddy from the getgo. I didn't know what to expect when I got into this but it wasn't that I'd be swooning over the banter and characters. I really enjoyed Lucie and Aiden and the fact that Lucie's daughter is the one who set the entire love plot in motion.

Aiden and Lucie's chemistry is clear as they fight their positive charge, but the best part of this read was how I had to make myself slow down while reading. There's something about a book that keeps you engaged but also makes you want to slow down.

Absolutely read this book and enjoy the ride !

Sigh. This is the book that is in love with love. I could feel my heart swell full to bursting as I finished reading. I wish I had more thoughtful words to describe my feelings, but I don’t. I feel so warm and content and full of joy, that I need to just sit with my feelings and enjoy it. Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.