Oh my goddddd this book was so so romantic! B.K.’s books always feel so atmospheric. I loved the setting and the romance hotline!! I loved that Lucie knew exactly what she wanted in her relationship and didn’t settle or compromise what she wanted. Lucie and Aiden’s chemistry was top notch! This was such a fun and swoony read!

“𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄?”
“𝑵𝒂𝒉, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒆.” 𝑰𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄.”

This book has been living rent-free in my mind for days, even as I sit here writing this review 🫠 As the first book of the Heartstrings series this definitely fits the name of the series because my heart was literally PULLED by its strings with how emotionally invested I became ❤️ The author gave us not only two wonderful characters but also that slow-burn buildup I devoured with every page 🔥

𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆.

Lucien Stone, a single mom and badass mechanic who hasn’t had the best luck in love, finds herself in the spotlight when her daughter calls the Heartstrings Romance Hotline radio show for advice 🎙️ Enters Aiden Valentine, the charming host who listens to her opinion about dating and love itself. Just one phone call and Baltimore couldn't get enough of Lucien's story. Weekly shows turn into heartfelt conversations that slowly chip away at Aiden's walls, while Lucien's perspective about love blossoms into something truly beautiful 🥹🥹🥹

“𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕?”
“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈, 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆.”
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕.”
“𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐.”

The plot is simple and easy to read which helped my experience as a reader. Sometimes a good book is the simplicity of just knowing that HEA will come no matter what. We obviously can't forget about the delicious banter between Lucien and Aiden had me hookeddddd 😍 Watching Aiden realize that no man truly measures up for Lucien while knowing he can't cross that line because of his own issues was so ugh heartbreakingly sweet 😭 He genuinely cares for her, and it shows in every action he takes.

“𝑯𝒐𝒘’𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒆?” “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.”

“𝑨𝒉, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒆.” “𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.”

Also special shoutout to the empowering depiction of Lucien as a woman thriving in a male-dominated field. It’s refreshing and adds depth to her character, just as the message of never settling for less than you deserve is ✨beautifully woven✨ throughout the book.

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄? 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅...”

Reading about two ordinary people navigating their messy love lives but finding something extraordinary together made this slow burn 100% worth it 💖.

𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 °˖➴
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘷
- 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦
- "𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘺?"
- 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘈𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 (𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦)

Tropes
☎️ grumpy x sunshine
☎️ radio show romance
☎️ single mom
☎️ forced proximity
☎️ slow burn

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest review

Crying directly into my pineapple pizza over this one, y’all.

I WEEP. I’m not sure if it’s the Sleepless in Seattle nostalgia, the sheer angsty YEARNING, the beautiful message about wanting your happily ever after but also being scared to let yourself hold onto good things, or the kick-your-feet, swoon ‘everyone knows but them’ vibe as these two beautiful idiots fall in love in real time over Baltimore’s radio waves, or all of the above — but this was LITERALLY a perfect book in every way.

The concept here is sweet, jaded, cynical Aiden — host of a romance radio show in Baltimore — gets a late night call from a concerned 12 year old. That 12 year old wants her mom — a hopeless romantic, dutiful single parent — to find HER soulmate. THUS, ENTER: LUCIE’S ROAD TO LOVE (sponsored by Mr. Tire).

I have no words for how precious this was, and while I often struggle with the reticent, grumpy, ‘i don’t want love’ kind of MMC, Aiden’s department store-sized baggage was both relatable and so honest that I have no CHOICE but to fall head over heels. His journey in this one is just so beautiful, and Lucie is literally designed FOR THE ROMANCE READERS. For the Yearners, for the hyperindependent, won’t-settle, but-still-wants-love folks.

Not to mention, as a Baltimore girl, every aspect of the setting of this story was so, so nostalgic and perfect. Bertha’s Mussels! Berger cookies! Natty Boh! This made me homesick while also actually sick from the sheer amount of butterflies bouncing around my chest cavity.

Perfection from start to finish, with a spicy chapter that was so delicious and so well-earned that it earned its immortalization on my favorite-smut-ever list.

Infinity stars — if you love romance, just read this. You’ll love it. But if you’re from Baltimore, if you’re a Sleepless in Seattle fan, and if you like pineapple pizza and skeeball and the idiots in love trope — WELCOME TO YOUR SOULMATE BOOK.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC and PRH Audio for the free audiobook.

First-Time Caller was like Sleepless in Seattle except there was no weird Meg Ryan stalking Tom Hanks. This one instead had all the sweetness and gave me all the feels.

There were so many things I loved in this story.

💕the closeness between Lucie and her daughter, Maya
💕Lucie’s found family with her baby daddy and his husband
💕the mechanics at her shop
💕Jackson’s awkward weather facts
💕Aiden’s grumpy exterior hiding his sweet center

I just really loved this one. I enjoyed the audio, it made me feel like I was listening to their radio show. The narrators gave life to the characters and I could feel their emotions; the indecision, the want, the yearning, the hesitance.

First-Time Caller was my first read from BK Borison but definitely won’t be the last.

aiden valentine the man you are!! the definition of “if he wanted to he would”. he kept a note of all of her favourite things in his glove compartment. i am not okay i am obsessed with them

“I don’t think I realized that because I was choosing to be brave, other people might decide to be brave too.”

Thank you for the free book Berkley Romance #berkley #berkleypartner All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It is sweet and funny with amazing banter. It has spice and heart and all of the things that a perfect rom-com requires. If you are looking for a romance book to read this Valentine's season then look no further because this is it!

Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, First Time Caller begins with Aiden Valentine, a romance-line radio host from Baltimore who believes that love is a lie. Content to give advice that he would never actually take himself, Aiden has stopped feeling his feelings but all of that changes when twelve year old Maya calls Heartstrings looking for dating advice for her mom, Lucie.

One of the best parts of this book is that the chemistry between Lucie and Aiden is off the charts but their relationship still very much builds over time. I love Aiden’s grumpiness and I cheered when he finally gave in and stopped trying to control all of his feelings. I love Lucie’s bravery and her unwillingness to settle for less than she deserves. Together they learn to trust one another and open themselves up to the possibility of more.

I should also note that Lucie’s relationship with Maya, the co-parenting and all of the scenes with Jackson added so much to the story. I can’t wait to see these characters find themselves in future books.

And finally, I just have to share that my absolute favorite scene of the book comes at the end when Lucie opens Aiden’s glove box and finds the worn piece of paper -- I won’t give it away but OMG, swoon!!

If you can’t already tell, I am head over heels for this one and I think that it deserves all the stars!!

Read if you like:

Grumpy Sunshine
Single Mom
Found Family
Opposites Attract
Open Door Spice
Dual POV
Amazing Banter

This was so FREAKING cute and fun and it’s the perfect February romcom for any romance lovers out there. Aiden & Lucie had undeniable chemistry from the get-go and I loved seeing him slowly shed his grumpy exterior and melt a little as they got to know each other. I love love!

i cannot put into words how much i adored this book. the way i laughed out loud at all of the sweet and playful banter between lucie and aiden. i loved how strong lucie was throughout the book, she never faltered for what she wanted and i related to her so much. and sweet aiden. the man is a teddy bear beneath all the grump, i loved how sweet he was when he was around lucie. the family aspect in this book was also so special and tugged at my heart, with aiden’s story and the way lucie has such a strong support system. there were so many touching moments that also made me tear up.

i loved the slower burn of their romance, how they started as friends and the tension and chemistry built up so naturally between them. it had me blushing and smiling to myself because i could literally feel it through the pages. first-time caller really was the perfect sweet & swoon worthy rom-com.

thank you netgalley and berkley romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, fun, and unique romance novel that overall I really enjoyed! I loved the radio aspect of the show and the addition of some radio segments at the end of every chapter was a great touch. The characters were very likable and it was very easy to root for them throughout the story.

However, I felt like it was unnecessarily long. Sometimes it just seemed to drag on and I found myself not eager to pick it up again. It definitely could have been shorter and still been able to tell the same story. As with a lot of romance novels, it was a bit predictable but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story. It was enjoyable and a romance I would recommend for anyone looking for a cute, refreshing story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Berkely Publishing Group and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into the book (at a reading slump of my fault), but once I got reading, it was such a cute and fun read. I've never seen the movie Sleepless in Seatle, but after reading this book, I feel I need to watch it. Aiden was such a good MMC. He was sweet, caring, and broody. Lucie was real-life, single mom vibes and I loved it. I feel like the book had many deeper lessons that came from it besides just a romance. All the side characters were perfect and had me laughing out loud at points. It looks like this is going to be a series and cannot wait to stay in this world. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.

First-time reader of B.K. Borison and certainly won’t be my last one— I loved this from the start! Lucie is a mechanic and single mom to Maya, and lives next door to her wonderful protective ex and his adoring husband. (Which side note— would have loved even more appearances from those two!) Lucie feels content with her life and her people, but Maya isn’t convinced. Enter Aiden Valentine, host of a late night romance radio hotline, and who has fallen out of love with the idea of love, but still wants to believe in love... When Lucie discovers her daughter on the phone to the radio show (her initial reaction had me cackling🤣), Lucie’s open and heartfelt conversation with Aiden goes viral, and she becomes a guest on the show to help her find love. The banter!! The tension!! Both felt so well paced and built-up. And the restaurant scene?!! (Also, because my favorite show of all time is New Girl, I simply MUST point out the similarity to the guys running to Jess after she’s been stood up😭🫶🏻) Favorite scene. Honorable mention to the list he keeps in his car of her favorite things!

Definitely gave me the “Sleepless in Seattle” vibes! Great banter and heartwarming family dynamics.

Thank you so much to Berkley and Net Galley for this ARC! I absolutely loved it, I couldn’t put it down. Aiden is such a sweet sad boy and I love him and Lucie. It felt like a 90s style rom com (the magic of Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail vibes in the best way). I loved the forced proximity and how we see each of the characters yearn and want for each other. The way Aiden shows up for Lucie when she is stood up 😭 HE KEEPS A LIST OF HER FAVORITE THINGS IN HIS GLOVEBOX, I WAS EMOTIONAL. Absolutely such a perfect contemporary romance book. Everyone read this now.

Thank you netgalley and berkley for the arc of First-time caller. I am not typically a romance reader, but every now and again we need a break from our typical genres. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. It was pretty predictable but it was also relatively light and easy to read. I did think the pacing was off once I got half way through the book it slowed down a little for me, but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people.

I was so invested in Lucie and Aiden's story from chapter one. Borison captured all the magic of Sleepless in Seattle with this one, plus added more of their own. A love letter to Baltimore and to trying again.

First-Time Caller is by an author I've enjoyed a lot in the last few years because of her excellent Lovelight Farms series! B. K. Borison certainly excels at writing contemporary romance and I love a few things about her books that were present in this new one too even though it is the start of a new (Heartstrings!) series:

💓 Absolutely fabulous side characters
❤️Great descriptions of settings including food and activities
🥰Fun banter and flirting
🩷Great grand gestures

I really loved that this book was set in the world of radio and I found out two main characters completely delightful, especially Lucie. A little known fact about me is that my friend and I hosted a radio show in university and it was a great time so this setting is always fun for me (I loved Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon too). This is very loosely based on Sleepless in Seattle and I loved that about it too!

I found so many moments with Lucie relatable and genuine and her quest for love was a great cornerstone of the story overall. Her daughter Maya and other family cracked me up.

This one would make a great Valentine's day read even though it is not set anytime around then - it's just a cute romance sure to hit the spot!

I got the chance to listen and read First Time Caller this past week, and let me tell y'all....talk about a swoony charmer! The chemistry and banter was hysterical and adorable. Did you know skee-ball can be sexy? Yeah, me neither. The odes to Sleepless in Seattle were fantastic and nostalgic. This was a slow burn, but lemme tell you....worth the wait.

Even if you are not sure you believe in love like Aiden, this will win you over! I was THRILLED to see this will be the beginning of a new series, and I'm 🤞 that Jackson is next. I really need to see him ramble on about the weather when he's nervous. 😂

This is definitely my favorite B.K. Borison to date!

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a slow burn story of a relation advice radio host and an unlucky in love single mother auto mechanic whose 12 year old daughter calls in for advice on her behalf without her knowledge. Heartwarming hilarity ensues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

First Time Caller is the modern spin on Sleepless in Seattle I didn’t realize I needed! Radio is not declining in this story, it’s the catalyst for the sweetest love story. Aiden is the host of Heartstrings, serving the Baltimore area (and beyond with the podcast) love advice to callers. Unfortunately Aiden has lost the magic recently, feeling burnt out on callers who aren’t exactly titillating until Maya, a 12 year old, calls about finding her mother Lucie love. Lucie isn’t burnt out like Aiden but finds the idea of having to try to find love - you know, figure out dates and how to make them work well, not worth the effort. When Maya’s call and Lucie’s late night radio conversation go viral, she becomes the new guest on Heartstrings and she and Aiden find themselves in the unique position of finding her lover (while Aiden tries desperately to shield himself from falling into it). Absolutely the sweetest story, B.K. Borison has a gift with bringing characters to life and Aiden and Lucie, as well as their friends and families, are the most enjoyable part of this read, positively calling out to not be ignored. I can understand all the buzz around First Time Caller - much like the movie it’s inspired by, it’s bound to become a comfort read for romantics (and to quote the others dedication, “for the reluctant ones too”).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it was all that and more. I absolutely loved Aiden and Lucie, their banter, the way they just got each other immediately and it grew into something magical. The cast of characters is funny and endearing, especially Lucie's precocious daughter, Maya. I loved all of their interactions and you can really tell how much they love and care for each other, and that Lucie has this amazing support system surrounding her.

Aiden is amazing. He comes off as grumpy, but he's just trying to protect his soft gooey center. Lucie completely and effortlessly bulldozes past his guard, so efficiently that he doesn't even realize what has happened until she's burrowed her way into his heart. He is so completely enamored with her and he does everything he can to give her what she wants, even when he doesn't realize why.

This book is utter perfection. I can't wait to reread it.

The way I fell in love with this book!!
The banter, pining, and found family of this book is perfect!! Lucie is so lovable and relatable as a single mom realizing that she wants the “real deal” kind of love. Aiden is grumpy and a secret softy. My favorite combo in a man! The book just got better and better. And the heart to heart between one of the MC’s and their parent was so heartwarming. I had literally tears in my eyes!!