okay i am smitten. this book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD it is so cute. this is by far one of my favorite romance reads, ever.

the dynamic between aiden and lucie is everything. the slow burrrrrrn. the “fuck it” moment. UGH. her wearing his hoodies. THE LIST. please.

the family dynamics made my heart burst. as someone who was raised by a single mom plus family friends, i loves the unconventional family dynamics so much.

the LOTR references sealed the deal honestly. i mean i don’t think this book could be any more perfect.

thank you SO MUCH for this ARC!! this truly warmed my heart and is one of my favorite reads of the year.

First off, this cover is absolutely stunning. B.K. Borison always has beautiful covers but this one is my favorite. This story incorporates the story of sleepless in Seattle and makes it brand new. I fell in love with Lucie and Aiden and their love for each other. I had such a good time reading this.

I loved First-Time Caller, it had me hooked with the connections to one of my favorite movies Sleepless in Seattle. This was such a fun read! Once I started reading, I didn't want to put this book down. It was just so sweet and fun. I highly recommend to adult romance readers.

My goodness this book was adorable. This is touted as "Sleepless in Seattle-inspired" and I am so happy to report that this is spot on. I was smiling and giggling and kicking my feet.

This book starts off a bit slowly and gradually builds up the tension and banter over time. I love that Lucie is vulnerable and decides to put herself out there and take part in the radio station's program to find her a date. Lucie's little family is so loving and supportive and their dynamic is wonderful. Aiden is perfectly adorable and I love how he listens to (and remembers) everything Lucie wants and inevitably gives it to her, even if it takes a little while to get there. The fact that Aiden doesn't judge Lucie or make her feel out of place for having a non-traditional job is the cherry on top.

There is a fair amount of character progression here which I appreciated even if Aiden's blip was a bit annoying to me and I wanted to scratch his eyes out. (Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic.) Aiden taking the step to reach out to his dad shows emotional progress and I commend his willingness to open up and ask for advice.

Despite only having read one of this author's other novels, they are quickly being added to my "must read authors" list. The banter, the chemistry, the steam? This was just delightful.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Aiden Valentine may be the host of Baltimore's romance hotline radio show, Heartstrings - but he's lost his belief in love. The often grumpy cynic needs to turn the show around, and when his call with single mom, Lucie, goes viral, his boss brings her on as co-host. Though he was reluctant to share the booth, Aiden and Lucie have a chemistry the listeners latch onto. "Lucie's Road to Love" takes off, and Lucie goes on a few dates as all of Baltimore takes part in helping her find the magic she's been waiting for. But as sparks fly behind the scenes, Lucie wonders if what she's looking for is actually the man right next to her - even though his heart is closed off.

💭 I loved the simplicity and authenticity of this one. Lucie is a mechanic and a single mom (though co parents with Maya's two dads and their relationship is amazing). She doesn't have time to date, and doesn't want to admit it, but she's lonely. She has amazing friends, a great kid, a life she's not complaining about - but it's missing the magic. Aiden is a cynic (for good reason) when it comes to getting close to people, but Lucie starts to tear his walls down. He wants to know her, be with her, love her - but he struggles. I appreciated their honesty with each other and the way Aiden absolutely fell hard. The little details woven in ("I remember everything you say") are sweet and swoony. Can't wait for more Jackson (Aiden's friend and weatherman) in the next one!

First-Time Caller is an absolute masterpiece that took me on an emotional rollercoaster! I couldn't stop smiling as I cheered for Lucie and Aiden, with their adorable banter and perfect radio chemistry. I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to reach through the pages to give them both a huge hug. I truly felt everything for them!

And Lucie? She's incredible. Her relationship with her daughter was so heartwarming, and their blended family dynamic was simply beautiful. I couldn't get enough of their story—it’s the ultimate single mom book, showing how being a single parent can be overflowing with love, joy, and unbreakable support. Seriously, this book is pure magic!

I’m actually emo that this is over. I fucking loved it.

Probably 4.5 stars rounded up because I don’t think I’ll ever reread it. But I absolutely WILL be rereading all my kindle highlights.

This book is based loosely on Sleepless in Seattle. Apparently it’s got the same vibes. I cannot confirm that cause I’ve never seen that movie 🫣. But honestly this book could convince me to watch it.

While I didn’t want this book to ever end, I did feel like it was a tad long and drawn out. So kind of a plus for me so I could keep reading about Lucie and Aiden, but could be a negative for you if you’re not vibing as hard as I was.

Read if you like:
😤 grumpy/sunshine
🫂 found family
🧑‍🧒 single mom (with the cutest coparenting dads)
💖 the radio
🌶️ open door spice (2.5/5 - THE CLOSET SCENE)
❤️‍🔥 he falls first but he’s afraid of his feelings
😮‍💨 a dominant man
❤️‍🩹 a third act breakup that isn’t a breakup
🥹 he writes down things she loves so he doesn’t forget

This book is about magic and I absolutely felt magical reading it

“Listen up, lizards. There’s a new daddy in town.”

First-Time Caller is an ode to Sleepless in Seattle. When Lucie’s 12 year old daughter calls into a romance hot line on her behalf, Lucie’s conversation with the host goes viral and she is invited as a regular on the show to help her find love. But sparks are flying between herself and the host, and the entire city of Baltimore knows before they do.

I enjoyed this one a lot. There was great chemistry between the characters, the dialogue was funny, and I fell in love with the side characters (can we have a book about Jackson please? I loved him)

I will say, the original call that set the whole plot in motion did not feel like as big a moment as it should have—I think where this was borrowing so heavily from the movie it needed more to set it apart. In the movie, Tom Hanks is a widower and a single dad (in the 90s) and so it made more sense that it tugged on so many heartstrings (boom, name of the series) with female listeners to hear a man be so in touch with his emotions. I didn’t quite ever buy the initial virality of that first call in the book, because I just don't think people would think that it was that special or different for a woman to be talking about her feelings about love.

That said, this book had a lot of great moments and I really liked it overall.

Thank you to Berkley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a delight! The main characters were relatable and charming. Their banter was top notch. I also felt like the supporting characters added a lot to the story. I loved the relationship between Lucie and Grayson, Maya’s dad. Found family and community are two of my favorite themes and they were very well done. The radio transcripts interspersed between the chapters were very fun. It’s the kind of book that I wish I could read for the first time again.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free book #berkleypartner

In the newest series from B.K. Borison, a single mom named Lucie stumbles in on her daughter making a phone call to a radio show about romance seeking help for her unlucky-in-love mom. Aiden, the host of the romance show, is a skeptic when it comes to romance, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to Lucie. Their conversation goes viral and he ends up inviting her on his show to find love.

This book, especially the beginning, is so reminiscent of Sleepless in Seattle. It’s a beautiful tribute to unconventional families, the magic of finding the right person for you, and refusing to settle for less than you deserve. I absolutely adored Lucie and several other characters (I can’t wait for Jackson’s book)! I think fans of 90s rom coms will adore this fun spin on a classic, and Lovelight fans will enjoy B.K. Borison’s talent of bringing relatable characters to life and making us all fall for them. The one thing keeping this book from being a perfect five star read for me was a bit of a slower burn and the conflict at the end- Aiden was not always a character who made choices I agreed with. However, this did allow for excellent grand gestures and groveling to make up for it. Overall, I highly recommend this one!

I'm glad the marketing includes "Sleepless in Seattle"-inspired because I got epic deja vu! I really enjoyed the build of relationship between Aidan and Lucie, but did have to side-eye a little on the convenience of the kiddo - a single mom who works full time with a young teen has the energy to add radio host to their resume? Yay for the chosen and inclusive family, though!

I was so excited because I adore the Lovelight Farms series but I felt just in the middle of the road with this one because I wasn't very invested in the romance part of it.. I love the nods to Sleepless in Seattle. I really loved that Maya, a child, called into a romance radio show for her mom, Lucie. My favorite parts involved Maya and her two dads and the relationship they all have with Lucie.

I guess I just didn't understand why Aiden hated love and that it all seemed to stem from his mom's 4 cancer diagnoses and why in the world he would work for a romance radio show. I think this may have led to my indifference to the slow building romance. But I am curious to check out the next book because I enjoyed Jackson and one particular scene and really hope that the love interest will be that girl (though we never got to know her).

Thank you Berkley Romance for the gifted ARC.

As a huge fan of classic 90s rom-coms like Sleepless in Seattle, I was super excited to read this modern take, but didn't find myself connecting to the main characters as much as I thought I would. Lucie is a 28 year old single mom, who has never really dated after having her daughter at just 16 years old. When 12 year old Maya takes it upon herself to call into the local radio station's romance hotline, Heartstrings, to try to find her mom a date, she thrusts Lucie into the path of grumpy host, Aiden Valentine. Her raw and honest phone call has ratings soaring, prompting the station to have her on as a series regular. Working in close quarters in the booth has sparks flying between the two, and Aiden conflicted about helping her find love when he wants her to himself. The banter between the two was quick, but the burn was slow, and I couldn't help but feel like Lucie wasn't as into it as Aiden was. I don't really love a gushy, he falls first MMC, and was frustrated in Aiden's case that he had these strong feelings in his head but was so poor at communicating them and showing them. I enjoyed the comic relief from the side characters and the scene that was set for future installments in the series, which will be takes on When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail, so while this one was an "I liked it but didn't love it", I'm still invested in seeing where this series goes.

Oh how I love books by B.K. Borison.

First-Time Caller is a work of art that made me feel everything. I was giddy while rooting for Lucie and Aiden, with their perfect banter and radio dynamic. I cried for them, wished I could hug them. I felt EVERYTHING for them.

I loveddd Lucie and her daughter. Their blended family was so lovely & healthy and I loved reading about their lives. This was such a perfect single mom book that shows being a single parent can be full of joy and support <3

I also adored the mixed format (with the radio clips between chapters), the sheer amount of coffee the characters consumed, and Lucie's career as a mechanic. I also thought Aiden was such a cutie. Learning to love pineapple on pizza because SHE does. Keeping a list of everything that makes her happy. We love a supportive man!!!

I cannot wait to see where the next book in this series goes :)

4.5 ⭐️

immediately hooked!!! i loved sooo much about this book! the premise is so unique and piqued my interest right from the start!
i found the themes in this book to be sooo real and relatable! the way both lucie and aiden feel about love and where they’re each at in their romantic life deeply resonated with me! i think so many readers will be able to see themselves in this story!
all of lucie and aiden’s interactions had me giggling and kicking my feet in the air! their banter was top tier!!! the flirting had me in a chokehold!!! the tension was so juicy!!! the slow burn was delicious!! ugh, i couldn’t get enough!
i also loooved all the side characters so much! they all added so much heart and comedy to this story! (i would have loved to see more interactions between people from aiden’s world and people in lucie’s life!)

overall, this romcom is an absolute treat and i will without a doubt be recommending it to everyone!

thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy!!! <3

I stayed up late last night to finish First Time Caller and I have absolutely no regrets - even when my littlest woke me up before 6am.

If you want a kick your feet in glee, slow burn, sweet and spicy romance - add this to your TBR. I love BK Borison’s Lovelight Farms series, and this start to a brand new series absolutely did not disappoint. Aiden and Lucie are one of my favorite couples of all time, their chemistry is off the charts, and all of the supporting characters are beyond charming.

Their emotional journeys - Aiden’s working through grief and fear, and Lucie’s realization that she deserves to be loved fully - never felt formulaic, or simplistic, but absolutely genuine. This is definitely going on my list of absolute favorite romances ever! All the stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved, loved, loved this book. Given that it was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, it should come as no surprise that it had an old-school rom-com feel. I loved the premise of a jaded, burnt out romance radio host helping a single mom find love.

But where the book really shined was the chemistry between Aiden and Lucie. Even before they met in person, there was something between them and it only grew from there. The mix of pining, jealousy and protectiveness we got from Aiden was top-notch!

The full cast of characters deserves a shoutout! If you’ve read Lovelight Farms, you know BK Borison always does an excellent job with supporting characters and it was no different here. From Lucie’s community (her daughter was adorable! Her co-parenting relationship/friendship with Grayson and Mateo! Patty!) to the radio station crew, she’s created a world that feels fleshed out and three dimensional.

I loved how between each chapter you get a little snippet of the “show” transcript- since it’s a dual pov, it was such a clever way to give an “unfiltered” look at their dynamic without skewing towards one of their perspectives.

Read if you like:
- He Falls First
- Single Mom
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- 90s Rom Coms/Nora Ephron movies

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book!

Sigh. Aiden just set the book boyfriend bar pretty high, and I was not ready to turn the final page and say goodbye to these characters!

Lucie is a single mother, and her preteen daughter decides to meddle in her love life by calling a late night radio show about love. From the first time Lucie and Aiden, the host, speak, their banter, chemistry, and connection are off the charts. Their talk goes viral, leading to Lucie joining the show for awhile, looking to find love.

I loved everything about these characters, but I especially loved how brave they were to actually talk about how they were feeling about one another. They had a discussion about flirting with each other that had me smiling and kicking my feet, just completely delighted by the charm and cuteness of it all. That’s not to say that everything comes easily for the pair- Aiden has some pain in his past that he has to learn to face, and man did I love when he finally decided he needed to do something about it.

The dialogue is authentic, the setting and premise so much fun, and the side characters incredible. I can’t wait for book two featuring this group, partly to check back in with Aiden and Lucie and partly to get even closer to their friends and family!

Thank you to Berkley romance for the gifted ARC; all opinions are my own.

It's no secret that I'm a B.K. Borison fan (Lovelight Farms forever!), and this one didn't disappoint. Borison always manages to strike the right note for an easy-reading romance. They are heartwarming and a only a bit smutty, without any of the "cringe" I encounter in so many of the popular romance novels I try out lately. This will be my romance recommendation to friends and library patrons next year, especially for those who are new to the genre or have historically avoided this type of novel.

You won't regret reading this book. Favorite New Couple Alert.

B.K. Borison has become a "must read" author for me. She has a way of righting characters who are relatable and real.

With the first entry in her new series, Heartstrings, First-Time Caller (FTC) gives us characters who are perfectly flawed and so much fun to follow. There is Aiden, a radio host who is closed off to the idea of love. His journey was beautiful to follow and the chemistry is some of the best that I have read in a very long time. Lucie, is a single mother of probably the most amazing and fun 12 year old, Maya. Lucie was a breath of fresh air and probably my new top FMC that I have read in a long time. She has an amazing support system and that is one of the highlights of this book.

The premise will remind many of Sleepless in Seattle, but I think this is a much more relatable and realistic. The last few chapters had me all in my feels and I was crying at the beautiful story unfolding before me.

I will read this book again and again. I can hardly wait for the next book, which I'm sure I know who the main characters will be. I'm excited for what B.K. has in store for all of us.

THIS IS A MUST READ.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC, all opinions are my own.