I loved this book! The dual POVs were amazing, getting to see Aiden pining and falling for Lucie was so fun to read. I loved their banter and chemistry, the author is able to seamlessly make them work and I was grinning ear to ear when reading. It took me all of one day to read this and it has easily become one of my top romance books. I can't wait for Jackson's book!

A hopeless romantic searching for romance finds herself on a dateline radio show.... with a cynical radio host... who just might be the perfect guy for her. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this is a cozy romance about a an unexpected romance happening between two people who meet in an unexpected way. Aiden Valentine is the radio host of Heartstrings, a dating advice radio talk show... his secret? He doesn't believe in love anymore and doesn't want any part of it. Yet despite his show's ratings going down... he randomly gets a call at night from a young girl asking for dating advice for her mom... and this spirals and goes viral. Lucie Stone thought her life was fine: she's got a good job, she has an adorable daughter, and she's still best friends with her ex and his new partner, all happily coparenting and living in peace... the only thing is that she's given up on dating. When Lucie's daughter calls into the show and Lucie explains that she's looking for "magic" and won't settle for anything less than romance, she goes viral and the radio show invites her onto it. Heartstrings offers Lucie a spot on the show with Aiden in which the show will help her find her Mr. Right... yet the more time she spends with her handsome yet cynical cohost... she's starting to think that Mr. Right... might be right next to her if only he would open his heart up. Aiden knows he shouldn't be crushing on Lucie, that he's not the guy she's looking for... but his heart has something else to say about that and every day he's falling harder for her... but is he brave enough to tell her or will he lose her to someone else? This was such a cute and charming rom com. I've been a huge fan of B.K. Borison's books and writing and this Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance was perfection. Lucie and Aiden had so much chemistry and banter, and I would honestly love for this book to be made into a movie because it would be so so cute. This book just had me smiling while reading it and giggling over how sweet it was. I would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a cute heartfelt romance!

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was the perfect antidote to the fear spirals that tried to claim me last week. It was a warm hug in book form and everything I needed! Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, Borison pays homage to Nora Ephron in this delightful romcom about a jaded late-night radio host & a mechanic who still believes in the magic of love.

I. ATE. THIS. UP. Having loved Borison’s Lovelight Farm’s series, I had a feeling this would be a five-star read, and she didn’t disappoint. This book had me laughing & swooning & kicking my feet. The charm and magic that radiates from the community she depicts in the Lovelight series also exists in the Heartstrings universe. The radio crew, the garage crew, Lucie’s found-family…seriously, no one does an ensemble like Borison and that’s what makes her books shine. (Along with vibrant, lovable MCs and witty banter, of course!)

As a hopeless romantic turned cynic turned temperate romantic, I saw myself in both Aiden and Lucie. Aiden, much like Beckett (my favorite Borison Grump™️), is a stealth cinnamon roll. This man thinks he’s “mean” but really he’s just sad, scared, and a little jaded. Trust, he is a secret softie. Truly glad to know he’s getting therapy though because we could all use a little support (trauma is real and we don’t need to run from good things, baby!!)

I loved how Lucie understood her own heart and knew exactly what she was looking for. Yes babe, you deserve someone who keeps a list of your favorite things in their glove compartment, will drop everything to run to when you’re feeling sad, and thinks YOU are magic. 🥲 (Don’t we all??)

Packed with witty banter & sizzling chemistry, Borison delivered another shot to my heart and I look forward to returning to Baltimore for the next Heartstrings novel.

✨FEELS LIKE: the fizzy serotonin boost from that first sip of champagne AND making pancakes at home with your family, dancing in the kitchen & laughing until your side aches. Warm & silly & perfect.
✨READ IF YOU LIKE: Sleepless in Seattle, grumpy x sunshine, lovable characters, found family, the Lovelight Farms series

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) / 🌶️🌶️🌶️(3/5)

Thanks to @prhaudio for my early #gifted copy of this audiobook. I love to #partner up with PRH because they have the best selection! I actually ended up reading the physical copy of this one through @bookofthemonth. I’d totally still do the audio too though. It’s worth another read.

I. Absolutely. Adored. This. Book.

Ok I may be partial because I’m a #BaltimoreGirl #LetsGoOs and it was so cool to have places that I’ve been or other Baltimorey things incorporated into this story.

I loved all of the characters, the building of the relationship between Lucie and Aiden, as well as their friendships/co-workers/family. I especially loved that while the MCs haven’t known each other long…the build up to catching feelings really felt like a natural progression to me. I hate Instalove and this wasn’t that…is was quick but not cheesy. It just felt right.

I loved that even though Lucie wasn’t where she wanted to be with her love life, she was still willing to be so open and honest even if at first it’s begrudgingly. The people she meets on her Mr. Tire endorsed “road to love” really added to the story with perfect secondary characters that kept the story flowing.

The chemistry flowed so well and I loved the character building especially with Aiden which really comes full circle (ahh puns) at the end when he finally opens up and gives you more insight in the man he is and the walls he’s built.

While as romance lovers we know the general plot of a romance novel…this gives so much more than that. A true delight. Highly recommend.

Excited to meet BK again later this month. ❤️

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Romance, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of First-Time Caller!

This book had such a sweet concept, and I loved the way it explored connection, vulnerability, and found family. Aiden’s late-night radio show created the perfect cozy backdrop for his and Lucie’s romance, and when the story hit its stride, I really enjoyed it! The last 20% especially made me giddy—the spice was fun, and the ending left me smiling.

That said, the beginning felt slow, and I found myself wanting more tension or banter between Lucie and Aiden to keep things engaging. For characters pushing 30, they often felt immature, and their lack of communication was frustrating at times. Still, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop and seeing them find their way to each other.

Overall, First-Time Caller is a heartfelt, slow-burn romance with a charming premise and a wonderful found family element. If you’re in the mood for something soft and sweet, this could be the cozy read you’re looking for!

How cute! I really was caught off guard by how much I liked this romance. It takes a minute to get off the ground, but this book took off after the first 20% and I was super on board. A very cute romance that builds slowly and features a lot of proximity and flirting. Fun! Clearly draws a bit from Sleepless in Seattle, but I like the way it changes up the story. Would recommend!

4.75 out of 5 stars | Wow, just wow. What a unique and amazing romance book with some of the most beautiful quotes I’ve ever read. I don’t know if I have ever highlighted a book more!

I may be biased because I have both lived in Baltimore before and worked at radio stations in Baltimore - but the setting of this story added to the magic. It was so easy to envision the characters’ journey every step of the way.

Their individual personalities were shining through from the first page where you are immediately hooked not only on Lucie and Aiden but also on the side characters that support them throughout the book.

Speaking of, I would absolutely love a prequel to this book that follows Lucie’s accidental pregnancy and Grayson’s love story.

All around, this is an amazing book that I highly recommend to all readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

OMG, where do I even start! I absolutely adored this book, it had me melting throughout. Aiden and Lucie’s banter and chemistry from the beginning was so good. And can I just say that I loved Lucie’s relationship with her daughter and co-parents.

This book has me very excited for what’s to come in the series!

I love Sleepless in Seattle, so when I saw the comparison in the blurb, I had to jump on this book! I really loved the Lovelight Farms series, and I love seeing what else BK Borison can come up with. Aiden and Lucie are fated mates for sure, and I really loved their dramatic, high stakes story. The end was absolutely perfect - can't wait for more like this from Borison!

This Sleepless in Seattle inspired book was a fun, easy read that was perfect to get me in the Valentine's Day season! Aiden Valentine (cute name!) hosts a romance hotline on the radio and Lucie Stone's daughter calls in and away we go. At times it felt a bit long, I think it could have been edited down about 100 pages but it was a fast read so it didn't feel like it dragged too much. You know I don't enjoy miscommunication and this had some of that but it didn't make me as irritated as it usually does, maybe because the cast of characters was fun, especially Lucie's family! This was great on audio, recommend in that format!

Such a good love story. A sweet and updated homage to Sleepless in Seattle. Lucie and Aiden. Aiden and Lucie. Grown-ups that fall for each other like teenagers. They try to fight it but banter never lies. Gosh, I just loved the whole cast of characters in this book and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

4.5

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRG Audio for the free copies!
R E V I E W | First-Time Caller - B.K. Borrison

Okay this book was SO DARN GOOD. I did it mostly on audio, and I highly recommend for audiophiles! E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee were phenomenal as narrators and in between each chapter where there are transcripts for the radio show in the book, they made it sound like an actual radio show. I really thought they brought these characters to life and truly embraced the emotions of the characters! Audio is the way to go for this one!

This story follows Lucie, a single mother and mechanic (YAY women in male dominated fields) and Aiden, a radio host for Baltimore’s romance hotline. When Lucie’s daughter calls in to Aiden’s show in hopes of getting advice for her mom, the two MCs connect and their heartfelt discussion ends up going viral. In order to boost ratings and build off the viral interview, Lucie is invited to join Aiden’s show for a segment that tries to find her a happy ending. The more time they spend together in the booth, the more they realize Lucie’s match might not be on the other end of the line, but instead in headphones right next to her.

I adored this book so much. Lucie is such a fantastic FMC - she works hard, has supportive, if unconventional co-parents, has a spunky kid who she adores. She is doing totally fine without a partner, even if she is a little lonely. I loved watching her growth in what she wants in a partner and realizing what she was afraid of. And I absolutely love her family dynamic! It was such a perfect actual family/found family addition that made me so happy. Aiden is so delicious, with his jaded apprehension and reasons for not wanting love, he was such a perfect opposite for Lucie. He also goes through a journey in this book and I loved watching them help each other find what love means. These two were so delicious together. Their banter is TOP TIER (again, the audio did a really good job showing this!) and it was such a lovely friends to lovers style pairing. Oh also? There's a "F*ck It" moment.

I’m really excited to see what comes next in the series and am hoping for a certain weatherman to get his own book!

If you’re looking for a romantic yet hilarious contemporary romance, I highly recommend this book!

This is the only book I read in January and oh my freaking GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD! Becca what did you put in this?!?!?! Love is real and Lucie and Aiden are soulmates. This book was the breath of fresh air I so desperately needed this month. Highly highly highly recommend!

Wow, this was an amazing book! First, I love that it's set in Baltimore-- I appreciate new places to explore through books, so it was fun. Second, what a unique and wonderful situation for Lucie and her "platonic first-love of her life". I love her relationship with her daughter, baby-daddy and his husband. Second, the build-up to the steam was *chefs kiss*. I rarely cry during books, but this one almost got me! I'll be looking out for more from this author!

“𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿”

It’s finally the month of Aiden and Lucie (out 2/11/25)! I will be referring to this book as Sleepless in Baltimore moving forward because it gave us everything that our favorite rom-com delivered and more!

First-Time Caller is all about finding the magic in love, and for Lucie, this was through joining Baltimore’s romance hotline with the one and only Aiden Valentine. After her daughter called in to Aiden begging for help with her mom’s love life (or lack there of), Lucie gets pulled onto the show in the new segment titled “Lucie’s Road to Love”. But what happens when that road leads her right back to her co-host?

The way that I was kicking my feet for the entirety of this book!! I love the hopeless romantic + jaded MMC trope so much! I also love that Lucie is a mechanic?! It fits her persona so well and I love her body shop family and the roles that they play in the story. The co-parenting life that Lucie and Grayson/Mateo live is absolute goals and makes for amazing side plot / characters!

First-Time Caller is my little love letter to Baltimore 💌 Living in Baltimore, specifically the Fells Point / Harbor East area, this book gave me that nostalgia of the place I called home. The reference to Bertha’s, Berger cookies, and the purple dragon paddle boats in the harbor made my heart tingle the whole way through 💕

𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻… 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲? 💖

⭐️: 4.5/5

☎️ sleepless in seattle vibes
☎️ grumpy/sunshine
☎️ single mom
☎️ forced proximity
☎️ hopeless romantic
☎️ radio talk show
☎️ dual POV

Thank you x1000 @berkleyromance for gifted eARC + finished copy!

OMG, I absolutely loved this! Lucie and Aiden stole my heart!

Borison has done it again with this feel good romance. It's being marketed as a Sleepless in Seattle inspired story, and while I can definitely see the nods to the movie, this book is a masterpiece on its own. Lucie and Aiden have the cutest of meet-cutes. I fell in love with them both immediately. I love grumpy x sunshine or in this case cynic x believer. This dynamic between characters is always entertaining and fun. I highlighted so much here too. So many good quotes!

Pick this one up, you won't regret it!

Thank you @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the free e-book and ALC!

3.5⭐️

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|•˚₊˚⊹♡ Sparks fly in this cute, predictable romance between single mom Lucie Stone and jaded radio talk show host Aiden Valentine.

Loved the premise of this one: Lucie’s 10 year old daughter calls into a late night romance hotline to get some love advice and dating tips for her unlucky-in-love single mom.

The episode ends up going viral and before she knows it, Lucie’s signed on for the radio version of “The Bachelorette” where she will go out on blind dates with different men who call into the show. Of course, sparks start flying between her and her emotionally unavailable talk show host, instead.

I came around to Aiden in the final scenes, when his last act hit me in the feels, although leading up to that point I didn’t connect completely with him (Lucie was too good for him!). I did enjoy their playful on-air banter/chemistry, and the co-parenting dynamic Lucie has with her baby’s daddy.

My favorite part of this book was the nostalgia of the radio show call-in setting which reminded me of my childhood and Sleepless in Seattle!

‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🎧⊹♡ Read this one when in the mood for a light, sweet romance with just a couple of spicy scenes.

The audiobook dual narration by E.J. Bingham & Hathaway Lee was well done in particular the interlude segments between chapters which were sound bites recorded from the radio shows. ‧₊˚🎧⊹

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This book releases on Feb 11th! · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀

(4.5/5 stars)

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is a contemporary romance inspired by Sleepless in Seattle and the first in her new Heartstrings series.

Lucie is a single mother to a tween daughter who works as a mechanic. She and her childhood best friend, Grayson, had Maya while they were still pretty young. Today, they have a wonderful co-parenting relationship and Grayson and his husband Mateo live next-door. One night, Maya calls into Heartstrings, Baltimore's romance hotline and radio program, to ask for advice for her mom. Maya's conversation with the host, Aidan, ends up going viral, and Lucie is invited to join the program to help her find love.

There were several things in this book that I loved: the casual queerness is phenomenal, the romance had me kicking my little feeties, and it's set in a real place that I am familiar with. Baltimore is less than an hour from my house on a good travel day, and I tend to visit several times per year. In fact, I used to work as a pirate out of Fells Point, an area name-dropped in the book!

Another thing that I love to see in contemporary romance is the importance of enthusiastic consent and regular check-ins to make sure everyone is comfortable with any scenario. For the most part, I really loved how communicative both of our leads were. In many ways I saw a lot of myself in both Lucie and Aidan, especially how the latter compartmentalizes.

This would have probably gotten a full five stars from me if it was a little less long (it's almost 450 pages) and there wasn't a contrived third-act breakup. I say contrived because up until this point, our main characters were communicating pretty well. Unfortunately, miscommunication (my least favorite romance trope) rears its ugly head there.

That being said, there was a ton of banter throughout the book that I truly enjoyed, and not just between romantic partners. This exchange literally made me snarf:

“Do you find anyone sexy yet, or is that a thirteen-year-old thing?”
“Patty,” I say again, a warning in my voice. Maya shrugs, scooping the avocado off her sweater.
“I think books are sexy,” she says, very seriously. “No one at school has quite lived up to Aragorn yet.”
God, I love this kid. I lean over and press a smacking kiss to her temple. “I hate to break it to you, kid, but no one ever will.”

I'm so excited to read further books in this series. Jackson, Aidan's best friend and weather reporter, was so bumbling and fun and I am so hype to see where he finds love. There's also Maggie, their boss, who seems very put together so I'm very interested in seeing her let her hair down (hopefully with the actually nice guy that Lucie has a date with but didn't have sparks).

"I think I got too used to you in the spot next to me. I'll be fine. Promise." I squeeze. "I like the spot next to you." He gives me a half-smile. "Yeah. Me too."

Gah!!! New book CRUSH!! I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this story. It’s been on my mind nonstop. I adore this couple and story!

Tropes :
-dual pov
-heartstrings, baltimore's romance hotline
-single mom
-she wants magic » & he doesn't do love or romance
-he's sweet even though he’s grumpy
-radio transcripts

For lovers of Sleepless in Seattle and a cozy rom con? This is for you. Aiden Valentine is the host of a popular Baltimore radio talk show of the romantic variety. His passion for the job has been dwindling as it seems that most callers are going over such asinine things. That is until a 12 year old girl calls on behalf of her loveless mother, Lucie. Lucie has an honest conversation with Aiden that soon goes viral, so viral that in order to save the radio station and the show they invite Lucie on to "find love". And unbeknownst to Aiden and Lucie, every magical moment that comes between them may end up being everything Lucie's been looking for. But can Aiden get over his own demons of keeping himself at arms length? I loved this read so much, you can tell how much stronger Borison has gotten as a writer and I was so deeply immersed, I didn't want it to end!