It's so refreshing to read romances with a mom looking for love! This was a cool premise and an enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

What a cutie read! At the beginning, like the very beginning, I wasn’t sure if this romance was going to be for me. I read only one BK Borison book prior to this one (Lovelight Farms) & loved it, but wasn’t sure if the radio broadcasting romance was going to keep me interested. You’ll fall in love with Lucie’s fun light hearted personality while dealing with stubborn, negative nelly Aiden. Really enjoyed this grumpy x sunshine romance and the supportive characters were also great! I see it’s #1 in the Heartstrings series… so I’m eager to see what (and who’s) storyline comes next!

Thank you Berkley Romance Publishing for my Digital ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Did I read this book because it was compared to Sleepless in Seattle? You bet I did. That movie is one of my all time favorite romantic movies and I had to see if the comparison was right. And boy, did this author get it right! This was my first book by Borison, so I was unsure of what I was walking into. Let me just say, this will more than likely come out as one of my top reads for 2025!
Aiden Valentine, despite being the host of a romance radio show, has fallen out of love. Though it's much deeper than him thinking there is no such thing as true love. Borison builds his character on past experiences of grief and the threat of losing someone so that Aiden has not only deemed himself unworthy of a true love but has walled himself off to the possibility because he's too afraid to potentially lose it once he has it. My heart truly hurt for Aiden. His experiences with grief and how he processed them in this book were very relatable. Shielding your heart from hurt is a human defense and Borison really delves into it with Aiden's character development. Despite his walls he's built, he can't seem to keep them intact when he's around Lucie Stone. Somehow, she has broken through his defenses. The small things he remembers and does for her are indicative of the love he is capable of, despite him saying he's not good for her or anyone when it comes down to it. I wanted to grab him and put him in a big squishy hug and make him feel seen and wanted and understood. Grief is such a powerful emotion and Borison does a fabulous job with it through Aiden's character
Lucie Stone has everything she needs: her daughter, a good job, and friends who love her more than anything. She's established herself as a capable and independent woman, despite making choices her family did not agree with. Despite keeping herself at a distance from romance, it comes to find her in the form of her daughter, who calls into Aiden's show to hopefully find something more for her mother. Before Lucie knows it, she's sitting in the booth with Aiden, fielding calls from people who understand her, and trying to find her own romance. Borison built this character with no self doubt. She knows exactly what she wants, even if she's hesitant to go after it because she believes she already has everything she needs. Her connection with Aiden is fairly immediate, though she also has walls up to keep herself from getting hurt. She makes decisions for herself because she wants to create a life she loves and she wants people in it who give her what she needs.
The slow build romance in this book had my heart in a chokehold the entire time. I think one of my favorite things about this book was how Lucie's character didn't depend on her romance with Aiden to give her what she needed. I also love the vulnerability of Aiden's character and how he learns that he needs to communicate his feelings. A book that can keep me so invested and pull on my heartstrings from start to finish is rare but this one did just that. The way she builds the story with the banter between the characters and their friends plus the on air snippets we get at the beginning of each chapter are just phenomenal. I would love to listen to an audio version of this because I think it would heighten the connection between the characters.
The one thing I would have liked to see was the background between Grayson, Lucie's ex and her daughter's father, and Lucie. We get some of it but I feel like there was a piece missing. How is it Lucie and Grayson realized they were not for each other? Was it right away? Did they try a bit first? This part was missing for me. It doesn't change my rating, though. I still loved every single bit of this story.
Giving this book 5 stars was the easiest thing I've ever done. And it makes me want to go read the other books from this author to see if they are just as good. Borison creates real and relatable characters who made me 100% invested in knowing their outcome. I cannot wait to see what the next installment of this series entails!

My first B.K. Borrison book and WOW I FELL SO IN LOVE!!! Aiden and Lucie are EVERYTHING!!!🩵
They were both perfection from beginning to end!!
Lucie has the most beautiful soul and I felt so connected to her from the start (single mom dating always hits for me cause I’ve been there) and she was absolutely perfect!! I adored how much rawness and beauty I found within both of these characters.

Let’s talk about Aiden though…first, THE GOLD CHAIN?!! I was DEAD!!😩🩷 these fictional men with their gold chains literally have me on my knees!!! Second, the small things he remembered about Lucie (he literally had it all down on a notepad) was the sweetest gesture and it made me MELT! 😭🩷 lastly, the flirting on air and the banter between them was just so so soooo good!!!😍

And the audiobook was just as delicious!!!!! The narrators were amazing and I loved the little on air chapter snippets on the audio (it sounded like an actual phone call) and it made the book so much more enjoyable for me!!🩷🩷

Seriously will be on my top reads for this year! 🩷 I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out and possibly get to know Jackson more?! 👀👀

Thank you endlessly Berkley for the ARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!!🩷🩷

the easiest five stars i’ve ever given a romance book wow! stories like this remind me why i love to read romance and this one was woven with pure magic!

writing that accomplishes this level of intentionality in characterization makes it so easy to find that relatable connection & root for that long fought for HEA… i can say with absolute confidence that this book deserves every gold star for hitting those marks!

something i especially enjoy in romance books is when an fmc is clearly established in her capability & independence but can also seamlessly fall into those soft moments of being romanced by her counterpart without any compromise on her character. lucie is a shining example of a woman who is more than capable of making magic on her own but is so willing to be swept off her feet. i adored everything about her <3

the mmc in this is an absolute dream boat! an oversized sweatshirt, gold chain wearing king & i am just head over heels for his character development journey! men learning to communicate their emotions through vulnerability is something i will never get tired of reading in romance and ohhhhhh how i love a yearning man! HEY MEN WE LOVE WHEN YALL YEARN OK!? refer to aidan valen for guidance, i beg 😩👌🏼

read if you like:
- sleepless in seattle
- grumpy/sunshine
- single mom
- forced proximity
- slow burn

"Long time listener, first-time caller."

Lucie Stone is mortified to find out her 12-year-old daughter has called into a romance hotline radio station called Heartstrings to ask about dating advice for her mom. Lucie takes over the call and charms the whole nation with her outlook on love and magic. Cynical radio host, Aiden Valentine, has Lucie on his show to help her find her "magic". With the whole country rooting for Lucie to find the one, Aiden's jaded outlook is challenged by Lucie and sparks may be flying off radio.

Lucie's support system and the family she made for herself are my favorite part of this book. I loved how everyone in Lucie's life just wanted her to be happy and knew she deserved the best. The supporting characters-her daughter, her best friend, her coworkers, her ex, and the radio station workers are pure magic and I cannot wait for the rest of this series.

I think this is going to be one of my favorite rom-coms of 2025! I loved everything about this book! This one is truly for the romance girlies and is the perfect read for Valentine's Day. This is a love letter to Sleepless in Seattle, but it's also a love letter to love and for everyone looking for their magic. B.K. Borison never misses!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for the ARC!

A really solid romcom. It probably didn’t give me “five star” feels because the call-in dating show story is one I’ve read a lot, but it is one of the top books I’ve read with that conceit. Each chapter ends with a short transcript from the show or character text exchanges, and those were really entertaining and elevated the novel among similar stories. While her neighbor and baby daddy felt a little too much like rom com characters than real people, they were entertaining and I loved the character of Maya, her daughter. The opening scene with Maya on the radio show was *chef’s kiss.* Funny but also I could feel the cringey realism of it all. 10/10, no notes.

✨First Time Caller by B.K. Borison✨

Lucie Stone is absolutely mortified to discover her 12-year-old Maya has called in to Baltimore’s romance hotline, Heartstrings, to help her find love. On the other end of the line is Heartstrings’ host, Aiden Valentine, whose jaded outlook on life and love is challenged by Lucie as he helps her find that once in a lifetime magical romance on Lucie’s Road to Love (sponsored by Mr. Tire).

SPECTACULAR GIMME 14 OF ‘EM RIGHT NOW. Hopeless romantic girlies rise because this is THE book for US!!! Aiden and Lucie are magical in a way that also feels real and with their undeniable chemistry will make you feel seen no matter your stance on that “Sparks. Soul mates. Happily ever after. A shiny gold thread tied between two hearts.” kind of love

This book feels CINEMATIC in a way I have a really hard time describing. I could see it playing out in my head and knowing they’re based on Nora Ephron movies makes perfect sense. The vibes are vibing and you will be grinning and giggling throughout, with that classic watery eye feeling towards the end too!

The absolutely chaotic side characters in this book made me giggle nonstop too. I cannot wait for the rest of this series.

If you love love and books that feel like movies, preorder/grab First Time Caller ASAP!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC! First Time Caller is out on February 11th!

✨Read if you love
❣️ Single Mom
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💬 Flirting and Banter
🎙️ Radio Show Meet Cute
🫦 He wears a Gold Chain
🥰 He keeps a list of her favorite things
❤️‍🔥 Hopeless Romantic Vibes
🔥 Slow Burn
☺️ F*** It Moment
🫶 Found Family
🛏️ Forced Proximity
🎬 Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle

oh my goddd this book like changed my life. i was NOT expecting to have cried during this book but the ENDING was soo romantic. it's the perfect rom com you could ever want. excellent balance of a story with cheesiness with emotional depth. i also found the smut more realistic and engaging than most books. truly felt the magic lucie was looking for and it definitely made me believe in love.

I adored the old-school romcom feel of this gem! The banter and chemistry between Aiden and Lucie were off the charts, and their dynamic was so tender and heartfelt, too! BK also gave us charming side characters and somehow created a cozy small-town feel even within the larger city (Baltimore) setting. The only piece I’m not sure I fully understood or “bought into” was the reasoning behind their 3rd act breakup. Aiden needed to just get out of his own way! I didn’t see what the real barrier was for him. In any case, I deeply enjoyed this story, and I’m so excited to read the other books in this series!!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC!

When I received an email with this arc last year I gasped in shock. The book community has hyped this book up a lot that I was nervous when I started reading. I’m a chronically cautious reader when the book community overly hypes up a book.

I’m so happy to share that the hype is REAL and everyone losing their minds has rightly done so. BK has delivered a revamped ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ with wonderful callbacks to the romcoms we all love (but sadly have disappeared from our screens).

Aiden and Lucie are smooth, pineapple on pizza and cookie loving characters supported by pining and hilarious moments. I’ve said that 2025 is the year of yearning and it’s alive and well in ‘First Time Caller’. ☎️

I know everyone is talking about the glove compartment scene, nah for me? It’s comparing green eyes to ivy, voice like honey in a mug of hot tea, and a heroine embracing the magic of romance. ✨

What a banger. Berkley never misses.

4.5 ⭐️

I’m a bit superstitious about my first read of the year-(hoping to start the year out strong) so I went with this “Sleepless in Seattle” inspired love story- the first in B.K. Borison’s newest “Heartstrings” series, and it proved to be a wise choice! ❤️

Aiden Valentine is the host of Baltimore's late night romance hotline, “Heartstrings”but he is not sure if he still believes in love. It seems to bring more heartache, than joy-if you were to judge love by the majority of the calls he takes.

But then 12 year old, Maya calls in asking for dating advice for her mom. When Lucie Stone hears her daughter on the phone when she is supposed to be asleep, she enters the bedroom interrupting the call-and her conversation with Aiden goes viral.

Lucie considers herself happy!

She has a fulfilling job as an auto mechanic, and a great relationship with Maya and both of her daughter’s TWO Dads-who live right next door and are helping to raise her. Maya’s father, Grayson would end up being the platonic love of Lucie’s life-but the romantic love of Grayson’s life would end up being Mateo. Fortunately, all three are mature people doing right by Maya, and each other and the three are now the BEST of friends.

But with all of Baltimore now scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—Lucie begins to wonder if Maya is right, so when the radio station invites her to co-host “Heartstrings” and look for love over the air waves-she steps out of her comfort zone to give it a try.

ALL of Baltimore begins to fall in love with Lucie, rooting for her to find love-but Aiden starts to realize that he ISN'T rooting for her along with the rest of the city-as he as fallen for her right along with all of their listeners.

But, will he find the courage to tell her so—before it’s too late? ⏰

The book- dedicated by the author to “hopeless romantics and the reluctant ones too”- unfolds from the alternating POV’s of both Lucie and Aiden-with snippets of their radio show interspersed throughout.

This unique, captivating story stole my heart IMMEDIATELY!

The characters are likable and the witty banter develops the red hot chemistry between Lucie and Aiden long before their physical relationship begins. It was definitely a book that I couldn’t wait to get back to-whenever I could-and a series that I actually look forward to continuing! (Hurry please!)

Because of personal preference, I wavered between a 4 and 5 star rating. I prefer a more “closed door” 🚪 romance, as opposed to a “play by play” of the SPICY 🌶️ scenes that uses the three “C” words-as those words aren’t romantic or sexy to me, AND there is a LOT of frustrating miscommunication!

But, despite those two very minor issues, I really enjoyed the time I spent with these characters so I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one!

Pick it up on February 11, 2025 and make it your Valentine’s Day read for 2025! ❤️

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! As always, I have offered my candid thoughts!

When I found out that this was Sleepless in Seattle inspired, I knew I needed to read it. The set up was such a fun one and I loved how the slow burn romance developed.

Things to expect in First-Time Caller:
- single parent romance
- hilarious found family
- forced proximity
- grumpy + sunshine
- “who hurt you?” vibes
- epistolary (text messages)
- friends to lovers
- slow burn
- dirty talk
- caretaker
- piggy back rides
- a handwritten list of favorite things 💗
- pineapple on pizza

Lucie was such a wonderful heroine. Her fears, hopes, and struggles were so relatable. The found family that she created and surrounded herself with, both at home and at work, was so beautiful. I actually would have loved more backstory about Grayson!

Lucie’s chemistry with Aiden was scorching hot, and I loved seeing their relationship shift and change. Their banter had me smiling ear to ear. There were lots of swoony moments between these two, but there were also some very spicy times as well *fans self*

As much as I enjoyed this one, I didn’t love all the push and pull. I felt like the main conflict regarding Aiden’s aversion to love and connection didn’t make the most sense. I needed a lot more groveling and I was hoping for more vulnerability from Aiden in the end. The epilogue was very cute though and I liked how things came full circle. I also really enjoyed the idea that fate had a hand in all of this. I can’t wait for Jackson’s book next!

I both read and listened to the audiobook of First-Time Caller and the narration by EJ Bingham and Hathaway Lee was wonderful. The casting was well done and both conveyed so much emotion in their performances. It was also fun to have duet style exchanges every now and then (like some of the radio show interludes between chapters and text messages). I look forward to listening to more titles by these narrators in the future.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

CW: parent with cancer (past, currently in remission), grief, parental abandonment and estrangement

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkeley Romance for an advanced copy of this book!

"First-Time Caller" was an absolute delight from start to finish. The witty banter between the characters had me constantly kicking my feet. The slow burn romance between the grumpy sunshine MMC and the independent FMC was simply perfect.

The author masterfully captures the essence of a classic rom-com while offering a fresh and modern perspective. I especially appreciated the representation of Lucie, a woman thriving in a typically male-dominated field, and the portrayal of an unorthodox yet incredibly positive and healthy family structure.

The unique storytelling device of incorporating snippets of the radio show between chapters was incredible to go from one moment to the next. It seamlessly integrated the show's events into the narrative, making the entire premise incredibly believable and engaging.

"First-Time Caller" is a must-read for any rom-com lover. I will be enthusiastically recommending once it's released.

i enjoyed this one. i liked the concept of the radio show being incorporated into the writing and getting to read it. the banter was good and i was rooting for lucie to get her magical romance.

So, this one wasn’t quite what I expected! I loved the radio show aspect and loved the little conversations with the callers. So cute!!
Maya was the sweetest daughter. She just wanted her mom to be happy and wasn’t shy about trying to make it happen. Aiden was so grumpy and standoffish that it drove me nuts. He was so drawn to Lucie but was determined to keep that wall up at all costs. Even against his parents and friends.

Lucie was so kind and deserved all the good things,and honestly, I wish Aiden had stepped up more for her throughout the story. Even though I get he was going through his own stuff.

This is a cute, feel good story with loveable characters. I loved the found family vibes. Between the news crew, Grayson and Mateo, Lucie’s family at the shop and Pattie’s coffee/bookstore, this book made the coziest and sweetest read.

It was a slow burn which made it feel a little longer than it needed to be. Could have been a little shorter and still been just as great.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for my advanced copy!

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, heartwarming romance with plenty of swoon-worthy moments, First Time Caller by B.K. Borison is a must-read.
The story kicks off when Maya, a clever 12-year-old, calls into Baltimore’s struggling romance hotline looking for dating advice for her single mom, Lucie. The host, Aiden Valentine, is charming but secretly over the whole love thing. Their conversation goes viral, setting off a series of events that turn both Aiden and Lucie’s lives upside down.

Lucie is such a relatable character. She’s a hardworking mechanic with a big heart and a bit of a stubborn streak. Aiden, on the other hand, is sarcastic, guarded, and totally swoon-worthy once you crack through his tough exterior. Their banter is pure gold—especially during their radio show scenes where they’re sharing a closet-sized booth.

The supporting cast really adds to the fun. Grayson, Lucie’s protective ex and neighbor, and his husband are a riot, and Maya is just the sweetest.

This book is funny, heartwarming, and full of characters you can’t help but root for. If you’re into love stories that leave you smiling, give this one a try—and get ready to fall hard for Aiden and Lucie!

This sweet and spicy romance was a great read. Aiden hosts a romance hotline on the local radio station, which is funny since he is a total cynic. Family illness has made him a guarded, unwilling to risk man who keeps the brakes on any emotional investment. But into the radio station and his life comes Lucie. Lucie is a single mom, although her ex lives next door with his boyfriend and is an active dad and they have an unusual but happy extended family. Lucie's pre-teen daughter and family and friends are worried about her. She doesn't have much of a life outside her daughter and work -- Lucie is a mechanic -- and all her male co-workers are also concerned about her.

So her daughter Maya calls up the radio station and asks Aiden to help find her mother some dates. Lucie is mortified, of course, when she finds out, but recognizes that they have a point. Lucie is honest, but admittedly a romantic. She tells Aiden she is looking for a little magic in her life.

The dating scenarios don't work out too well, but Aiden and Lucie, sitting side by side in the radio station, soon discover some chemistry of their own. They both avoid it, but eventually can't deny their attraction. Their banter in getting to know each other is great fun. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

✨ARC REVIEW ✨

This book was phenomenal. I love B.K.’s writing style. I love this nod to Sleepless in Seattle. I love Aiden and Lucie.

I have tons of highlights of Aiden being so down bad for Lucie. The man is so grumpy but here he is OBSESSED with Lucie.

This book will make you feel warm and fuzzy. It’s a celebration of all different kinds of love and it’ll have you smiling and kicking your feet the whole time.

I’m giving this book 3.5 ⭐️ (round up to 4 on GR). I really liked Lucies character and that she was not all “woe is me” and was brave enough to give the show a chance and to give into her feelings for Aiden. What brought the rating down for me was how emotionally immature Aiden was. I have empathy for his situation with his mother to an extent, but I hated when he would get cold and pouty towards Lucie. It gave me the ick and felt very immature.