Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!

This book is pretty far from the genre I typically read so I did not expect to enjoy it as thoroughly as I did. When Lucie catches her preteen daughter, Maya, talking to an older man on the phone late at night, her worst fears are brought to light. She doesn't expect to be whisked into the world of late-night radio shows and dating random men, hoping to find her true love. Over time, she begins to realize that the man working alongside her, Aiden, is the one she wants to be with, but he has been struggling to trust in love.

In my mind, this is what romance is meant to be. It was the right amount of tension and angst that slowly built up throughout the story. There was never a moment I felt Lucie's and Aiden's relationship was rushed or unbelievable. And I loved how seamlessly Aiden fit into Lucie's life with her daughter, Maya. Their banter was so adorable and I felt like every other person listening into Heartstrings just so they could hear Aiden flirt with Lucie. The ending was magical and I needed to take the night to cry because I was sad that it was over.

I have been hooked on BK Borison and I must read every other book that she has written. Easy 5/5 stars.

Cute, romantic, entertaining
Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

I started off liking this book a lot, but over time, that dwindled as it felt like the will they/won't they dragged on. I adored Lucy's family dynamic though; having a child at a young age and living next door to your best friend who is also the baby's father and his husband. Okay, the baby is now like 12, but still. I liked that. I also did enjoy Lucy and Aidan's interactions, but again it just dragged at a point. I kept a smile on my face for the most part.
Will I read other books in the series? Probably lol

I confess I did not get the "Sleepless in Seattle" vibes that I expected from First-Time Caller. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this romance featuring single mom Lucie, daughter Maya, and Aiden Valentine, the radio host of Heartstrings.

The premise is fun and engaging. A radio host for a late-night romance talk show who doesn't believe in love meets a single mom thrust into the spotlight when her daughter calls the show trying to help her mom find happiness and maybe even love.

I loved Lucie, her family and her coworkers, and how they looked out for one another. Lucie's coparenting with her ex and his husband was so lovely to see. She and Aiden had good chemistry and sometimes poignant, sometimes witty banter.

But I wasn’t completely enamored of Aiden. He was emotionally unavailable and closed off for so long it became a bit annoying. This was also a bit spicier than my normal read to the point it made me question if the relationship would last or if it was more just physical attraction.

This was (surprisingly) my first B.K. Borison book. There's a lot to love here even if not everything worked for me. Round up to 3.5 stars.

3.5 ⭐️ I really liked the premise and thought this would be a cute read and it was. About halfway through though I just got ick vibes from Aiden. He was emotionally unavailable while being insecure and possessive. To me it made their chemistry from there not seem genuine or like Lucy was settling. I enjoyed the minor characters and the fact that Lucy worked in a male dominated field. She was a great FMC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of First Time Caller by B.K. Borison!

I know BK Borrison did not just swoop in here with a 5⭐️ rom com?! I am SWOONING 🥰

*thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc In exchange for an honest review*

I think this book would make an excellent movie.

⭐️ Rating: 3/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5

❤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
📞Hopeless Romantic
❤️ Sleepless in Seattle inspired

This book would make a wonderful movie but unfortunately this book didn’t do it for me. I loved the premise, and it had so much promise but
1. It was so long. Like I thought it was wrapping up and we were at 70%.
2. So many grammatical errors. I stopped highlighting them after 5, what am I going to do, knock on the publisher's door and be like “did you see on page ___ that it said ‘check’ and not ‘cheek’”? Nope.
3. There were literal plot holes. Like it was said that the characters hadn’t spoke since their night together but there was a complete scene where they were face to face.

Cute! I definitely caught the Sleepless in Seattle connection. I thought the FMC was relatable, a bit stunted in her relationships. The dynamic with the co-parents was excellent, a positive twist on the young parents narrative. Looking forward to the other books!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Everything about this story was so amazing to read! The pacing was great, and the development between all the characters felt believable and realistic, while also making me giggle and kick my feet.

I think setting these two characters up in the way B.K. Borison did, was so smart because it allowed both of them to really explore themselves as individuals and as a couple. I also adored that Lucie didn't have a stereotypical job, and that it was such a big part of the book. I loved reading about her personal life, outside of Aiden.

I have very little to complain about in this book and I think it was written beautifully. I will absolutely be diving deeper into B.K. Borison's writing!

such a cute premise - the only highlight

why are both MCs so dense?!
the entire book was slow, repetitive, and incredibly obtuse
It was like a hallmark movie I didn’t want to watch.

Aidan has unhealthy expressions - icing out Lucie after the song plays, dismissing his boss bc Lucie cries after a date, how is he supposed to be likeable?someone bumps into Lucie and he says “watch it”LMAO in an effort to be protective or macho he sounds so lame. he avoids talking to his mother who beat cancer multiple times!?! His possessiveness is so off-putting. never has he actually felt believable as a radio host.

This often plays between the lines of adorable and cringe.

I get why he falls for her but when and why does she fall for him????

Their chemistry is non-existent that the spice was unbearable

Miss Lucie girl I judge you for being with this guy

The premise was my favorite, Aiden was my least favorite thing about this book. I just don’t think this author is for me.

I cannot believe how much I loved this freaking book!!!!! When it was marketed as a book for the romantics, they weren’t lying 😭

Lucie was such a great FMC. She just wanted something good for herself but of course, had convinced herself that she didn’t want it. She was such a good mom to Maya and I loved their relationship! I also really loved how she described her time with Maya, her ex, and her friends; talking about how they fill her up with love and she treasures her time with them. I feel that way about my own life often 🥹

Umm, next up is Aiden and what can I say about this man?? 🥵 his instant sense of protectiveness over Lucie was everything. He was always looking out for her and wanted her happy, even if he didn’t think he could give it to her. I was so happy to see his heart thaw by the end.

B.K. Borison wrote this book BEAUTIFULLY. I had so many tabbed quotes and situations that made my heart squeeze. She described the love so many of us want with words I’ve FELT but have never been able to. I’m so excited for the rest of this series!!

Aiden is host of a romance call in radio show in Baltimore, however, he doesn't feel very romantic. He guards his heart, after witnessing the heartache his father showed when his mom was diagnosed with cancer.
Maya believes her mom, Lucie, is lonely, so she calls into the station asking if Aiden could find a date for her mother. When Lucie overhears the call, she grabs the phone and speaks to Aiden. The conversation is so moving, the station manager asks Lucie to come on the show. Naturally, Aiden and Lucie slowly fall for each other, but Aiden still can't open his heart completely.
It is a sweet romcom, with some spicy scenes. I enjoyed it.

4.5 stars

Charming, witty, and a perfect homage to a certain movie set in Seattle, First Time Caller is a triumph.

From beginning to end I was swept up in the characters and the relationships that frame the novel. This is a love story, yes, but it is also a story about community and family—both biological and found. I also appreciated the slight sprinkling of fate in it all. That sometimes the stars really do align and you find the person who is right for you at exactly the right moment in time.

There were moments when I laughed out loud, and moments when I cried. And I think author BK Borison did Nora Ephron so, so proud.

Such cute and cozy vibes with this one. I loved it so much. This is my first B.K. Borison book and I had a really good time with it. I loved the family aspect with the FMCs daughter and her baby daddy. The MMC was so real and felt so relatable. I just really had a good time with this one. I loved them and was rooting for them the whole time. I also really loved that the FMC was a mechanic and a single mom (with dad still in the picture) so it was a fun take on a usual idea. I definitely am curious about a book two because I believe there will be! If the premise sounds good to you at all I definitely recommend reading it! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for this free copy so I could read and review!!

What a delightful novel! B.K. Borison knows how to write likeable characters who you really want to see succeed. The dynamic between Lucie and Grayson was fantastic and showed how well co-parenting can be. The emotions in this were so pure and real I felt like I was reading about my friends. You will definitely see parallels to Sleepless in Seattle so if that is your vibe then check this one out!

Holy hell was this ever charming.

When Lucie’s daughter calls into a radio show that focuses on romance, she goes viral for the vulnerability she shares with the shows (jaded, if not grumpy) host, Aiden.

She’s invited for a stint on the show to look for love, but finds it a lot closer than she expected.

This was ELECTRIC. From the chemistry, to the comedy, to the tender moments.

Lucie is so easy to fall in love with, and so are the people she keeps closest to her which includes lovely coparents, an adorable daughter, hilarious bff, and a group of her fellow mechanics who look out for her. Lucie is charming, witty, and the vulnerability of character felt so damn real.

Aiden has a bit of stick up his ass, but quickly realizes that his new cohost is making life suck less and less. He’s smitten so quickly, but has a hard time getting it together. But when he does, or I should say, when THEY DO, just wow.

Also, I so appreciated Borison writing an MMC who also is able to be vulnerable with a character they usually aren’t able to so with, their father. There is a particular discussion that had me on the verge of tears.

In this book, there’s talk of perfection, of what’s right, what feels like magic. In my opinion, this book is all three.

Bravo!

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun and creative spin with a little bit of Sleepless in Seattle nostalgia. The two MCs ended up working perfectly together - they were a great pair and the banter and angst was at a really good level throughout the book.

I adored Lucie's daughter and the relationship that Lucie had with her ex and their modern family vibe. I did end up listening to this one on audio (thank you PRHAudio!) and it was a really well done narration.

I enjoy this author's style of writing and character development - the uniqueness of their backgrounds and surrounding details as well as the broader community of side characters that are part of their lives.

Wow. Just wow! I have been a BK Borison fan for a while now, having read Lovelight Farms a few years ago now. I was excited for her first foray out of that series and I was not disappointed!

Aiden and Lucie were such real and honest characters. I loved reading them as they broke down their own, and each other’s, walls. The setting of the call in radio show was cute, trope-y, and so romantic. I loved getting to know Lucie’s family, Aiden’s coworkers, and the city of Baltimore.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was the perfect winter read to keep me warm (read: hot) and a truly memorable story of two people learning how to be brave enough to fall in love.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is a heartwarming, slow-burn romance that beautifully channels the cozy charm of Sleepless in Seattle. The story follows Lucie Stone, a talented mechanic and single mother, whose love life is thrust into the spotlight after her daughter’s viral call to Aiden Valentine’s late-night romance hotline. Aiden, a cynical radio host, has long lost his belief in love, but as he and Lucie work together on air, undeniable sparks fly.

What makes this book shine is the dynamic between Lucie and Aiden. Their witty banter and constant push-and-pull create a tension that will have readers hooked. Lucie is a relatable and strong character, struggling to open her heart while navigating the scrutiny of a very public search for romance. Aiden, on the other hand, is a grumpy, love-weary man whose interactions with Lucie reveal just how deeply he’s been affected by his past. Their journey of self-discovery and rediscovery of love feels fresh and sincere.

The supporting cast—Lucie’s quirky daughter Maya, the radio crew, and Lucie’s unconventional family—adds to the warmth of the story. The community atmosphere and tight-knit relationships make this romance feel even more special. Lucie’s growth, from being closed off to embracing the possibility of love again, is beautifully portrayed, and Aiden’s quiet, supportive gestures will melt your heart.

B.K. Borison’s writing is sharp, engaging, and full of heart. The romance is sweet, but there’s just enough tension to keep things exciting. The perfect blend of cozy vibes, heartfelt moments, and a touch of spice, First-Time Caller is a must-read for anyone craving a modern, feel-good romance with unforgettable chemistry.