[ARC review]
FIRST-TIME CALLER by BK Borison is a forthcoming (wait for it) Berkley book inspired by Sleepless in Seattle.

In 1968, James Taylor released the song "Something in the Way She Moves" and George Harrison liked it so much that he borrowed the first line for his own "Something" on Abbey Road. Similar openings, but very different songs. This comes to mind because FIRST-TIME CALLER also starts with a child calling in to a radio show, talking about a single parent's love life. But things diverge from there. It's been a looooong time since I've seen Sleepless in Seattle, but I remember enough of the plot to know that this is a completely different story, matching opening lines notwithstanding.

Lucie's daughter calls into Aiden's late night romance advice show to talk about how she's worried about her mom not dating. Then Lucie takes the phone and ends up talking to him. The segment goes viral, and for a ratings boost, they have Lucie join the show while she looks for love.

The banter is fun, and between Lucie's longing to be noticed, to feel important, to go after what she wants for once and Aiden's compartmentalizing his emotions to avoid getting hurt, it definitely resonates.

Oh my god. This book made me feel so much.

First of all, it made me aware that I’m so painfully single it’s almost laughable. But it also told me that maybe that’s okay. Maybe I don’t need to have a swoon-worthy romance to feel like a normal adult. Maybe the magic isn’t meant to happen to me now, or even in the next ten years, and perhaps that’s just the universe’s way of looking after me.

Maybe it’s the universe’s way of guiding me to find my own Aiden without settling for less, because if my future partner isn’t at the same level as Aiden I-keep-a-list-of-your-favorite-things-in-my-gloves-compartment Valen then what even is the point.

4 stars! Many, many, many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and B.K.Borison for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am here to remind you that everyone needs an Aiden Valentine and Lucie Stone in your life. First the entire concept of this book was PERFECTION. Nighttime radio host who hosts a segment on romance/love problems? Please SIGN ME THE F UP.

Then enter Lucie, literally one of the sweets FMCs to ever exist on this planet. She has a solid, platonic friendship with the baby daddy and if that doesn't prove how amazing she is as a person, I don't know what else can. There is a very healthy single mother-daughter relationship in this book and well I loved EVERY BIT OF IT. Lucie's growth was so heartwarming and sweet. The relationships in this book was so adorable.

I honestly could not put this book down towards the 40% mark because everything after that point had me screaming into my pillow. Everything about it was SO CUTE. B. K Borison's writing was phenomenal in this as well. The word choice that blended seamlessly into the Baltimore and radio/audio scene had me gushing from the immersion. And Aiden Valentine??? UGH. He is so romance girlie coded and the way I saw myself in him was unreal. I felt for the things Aiden was going through and I wanted me a friend like Lucie.

Huge thank you to Berkley for the eARC of this book! I am SO EXCITED to see what more the author has in store for this series (right? It's a series right? It says Heartstrings, #1!!!)

This book? A warm, witty, and slow-burn romance that sneaks up on you in the best way. The late-night radio show setting gave me all the cozy, nostalgic vibes, and the banter between the main characters is top-tier. It’s soft, tender, and swoon-worthy without trying too hard.

Confession: I’ve never seen Sleepless in Seattle (yes, I’m behind on my rom-com homework), but First-Time Caller delivered that same heartfelt, serendipitous magic. B.K. Borison does a stellar job blending humor and heart, giving us characters you can't help but root for. The dialogue feels real, and the chemistry? Chef’s kiss.

While a few parts felt a little predictable, it honestly didn’t matter because the execution was so good. If you’re a fan of small moments that make you melt and characters who feel like friends, this one’s for you.

Yesterday was one of those days where I just couldn’t settle on what to read. We finally got our first real blanket of snow and were able to stay home and enjoy the cozy day. After reading a chapter here and a chapter there of a few different books I decided to pick up First-Time caller and I was hooked within a few pages.

When Lucie’s daughter decides to take her mom’s love life into her own hands by calling into a radio show ( a la Sleepless in Seattle), talk show host Aiden has no idea how much things are about to change.

Aiden and Lucie are adorable as their rapport on air grows and the banter starts flowing. I enjoyed Borrison’s Lovelight farms series a lot, but this novel is now my top favorite from her. It delivers all the cozy feels while remaining earnest about each character’s fears.

I loved every little bit of this book. I’ll now consider @authorbkborison as one of my top tier romance writers alongside Henry and Jimenez. What a perfect way to spend the day!

I absolutely loved this book and it was EXACTLY what I was hoping for.
will this hold the number one spot as my favorite book of the year? Most definitely (and I say that with extreme confidence)

Thank you thank you thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for this early review copy.

If you know me, you know my favorite movies of all time are Nora Ephron movies. And if you know me even more, you know that I am a very dedicated B.K Borison fan and I will be until I’m in the grave. And so you can imagine that reading a book based on a Nora Ephron films is quite possible the most perfect thing I’ve ever experienced 😌

First Time Caller is inspired by the iconic Sleeping in Seattle and while it emulates the wonderful romantic magic of the film, it comes with a plot that can hold its own, a brilliant cast of characters and romance that made me giggle, cry and cry some more. One of my biggest gripes with the movie is not being able to see Annie and Sam actually BE together and this novel gave me the flirting, banter and chemistry I’ve always wanted. The pacing was incredible, it genuinely made me laugh and I found Lucie and Aiden to be perfectly honest characters. And no, you do not have to have seen this movie at all to read this book, but I, of course, recommend watching Sleeping in Seattle fiercely.

It’s been a while since I’ve related so much to both the female and male leads. I found Lucie’s search for romance and magic extremely relatable, but I was also pulled by Aiden’s fear of vulnerability and permanence. They were magical together.

I truly don’t know how else to put into words how much I loved this.

First time caller is the first book in the Heartstrings series 🥹 (AND I WILL BE SAT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE COMES OUT)

I really loved this one, right up until I didn't. The beginning was fun and cheesy and just the right amount of everything a good romance should be. But the slow burn just kept on burning without anything really happening? Idk how to explain it. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time for them to get together, even though they crushed on each other through the entire book. I can understand why she took a minute to put herself out there. Single mom, already embarrassed about this situation to begin with. But his excuse was garbage at best. And it just seemed to get worse the longer it went on. He kept doing nice things for her and getting her favorite things without any intention of moving the relationship forward. Chevy guy was a better date all the way around.

What a gem of a story! Aiden Valentine is a host of a radio show about finding love in Baltimore, Maryland. During one of his segments, a tween girl calls in to talk about finding her single mom, Lucie, love. Aiden invites Lucie to be a guest host on the radio show where they work together to find Lucie dates. Despite Aiden’s lack of interest in finding love for himself, Lucie might be his cure for his broken heart.

I adored this book and couldn’t stop listening! I loved the dual POV between Aiden and Lucie, and how they both had events from their pasts that turned them off to love, but they were able to explore these feelings and work through them. I also loved Lucie’s daughter and her two dads, the modern family dynamic was so sweet and the perfect addition to the story. I also enjoyed the short clips of the radio show, and the exploration of both familial and romantic love. A perfect book for Valentine’s Day as it comes out on 2/11!

I read B.K. Borison's "Lovelight Farms" a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I've meant to go back and read the other books in that series, but I just haven't had the time. When I saw that she had a new series coming out, I jumped at the chance. While I didn't love it as much as others seem to, I appreciated its feel-good energy, endearing characters, and moments of genuine connection.

The story begins with Aiden Valentine, the jaded host of Heartstrings, Baltimore's romance hotline, accepting the fact that he has fallen out of love with love. This is a bit of a problem for someone whose career revolves around giving others advice on finding love. Things take a turn when a young girl, Maya, calls into the station seeking dating advice for her mother, Lucie. The call quickly goes viral, and Aiden and Lucie are thrust into the spotlight, with everyone in Baltimore suddenly invested in Lucie's love life. In an attempt to capitalize on the success of that episode, the struggling radio station brings Lucie in to temporarily join Aiden's show as she looks for the love of her life. As Aiden and Lucie grow closer behind the scenes, sparks fly, but is it worth chasing when both are looking for different things?

Overall, this is a cute read, but I found the book's first half much stronger than the last. The dynamic between Aiden and Lucie is playful yet emotionally charged, and their chemistry feels natural. After Aiden and Lucie start hooking up, the earlier spark fades somewhat, causing the story to lose momentum once the "will they, won't they" tension is resolved. While their intimate moments are written with care, the shift in dynamics made the latter half of the book less engaging for me. Another thing that felt underwhelming was the expected third-act breakup. We all know these are coming, so I wasn't surprised by it, but it felt a little underwhelming here. The conflict seemed trivial and lacked the emotional weight necessary to make their reconciliation feel satisfying.

Despite these minor issues, Borison's writing is easy to enjoy. She has a talent for creating relatable characters and infuses the story with warmth and humor. The dialogue is sharp, the family dynamics are heartwarming, and the premise is both unique and fun.

One of the things that works well is the dual points of view. Alternating between Lucie and Aiden's perspectives allows us to get a full picture of the situation. Lucie is chill and relatable. She would love to be in a loving, committed relationship but doesn't really know how to date. She's been so focused on Maya and the needs of others that she doesn't know where to begin. She was hopeful yet cautious, and I could relate to her. Aiden, on the other hand, is a bit grumpy and emotionally guarded, which contrasts nicely with Lucie's warmth and resilience. Seeing the story unfold from both sides gives the romance more depth and lets readers feel invested in their journey.

The side characters add an extra layer of charm to the story. Maya's clever schemes and genuine care for her mother bring humor and heart to the narrative. Grayson, Lucie's gay best friend, and Maya's father, provides a refreshing take on co-parenting. His friendship with Lucie is one of the book's most touching elements, showcasing a deep bond rooted in love and mutual respect. Aiden's coworkers, Maggie and Jackson, are also notable highlights, providing a few comic moments.

While it didn't completely blow me away, I still found this to be an enjoyable and sweet read. The characters are engaging, the premise is fresh, and the moments of humor and heart make it a worthwhile pick for fans of contemporary romance. If you're looking for a low-stakes romance with lovable characters, a touch of humor, and a focus on family, this might just be the book for you.

This is such a cute love story, and definitely evokes Nora Ephron! I loved the radio show scripts between chapters, and the side characters kind of made the book for me. Jackson the weather guy is definitely getting his own book, right?!!

I did feel as though this book was a little long, but that could just be my dwindling attention span :)

🩷BOOK REVIEW🩷
First Time Caller by BK Borison
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🎀This book was pure magic, and I adored every single minute of it. It was the perfect book for a romance lover like me, and I absolutely fell in love with Lucie and Aiden.

🩷Aiden Valentine is the host of Heartstrings, Baltimore's romance hotline, and he's fallen out of love with love. When he receives a call from a 12 year old looking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral and he finds himself sharing airspace with Lucie Stone. Lucie thought her life was just fine, but now that the entire city is invested, she realizes she wants romance. But as Heartstring's producer and listeners clamor to find her true love, sparks are starting to fly between Aiden and Lucie.

🎀Aiden is grumpy and disenchanted with love, but when Lucie steps into his life, he can't stop feeling things for her. Watching him become besotted with her was such a joy! And Lucie was such a strong woman, a single mom and a car mechanic who never wanted to put her own needs first. I loved them both, and their chemistry was perfection. I adore BK Borison's writing style and found myself wanting to annotate so much of this book. She has a way of making her characters so lovable and realistic. I also enjoyed the side characters and the relationships they had with Aiden and Lucy. His interactions with co-workers at the station made me laugh out loud, and Lucie's relationships with the men at her job, and her daughter's dads were so sweet and endearing.

🩷I truly can't say enough good things about this book. If you are a fan of romance, love stories, rom-coms, etc, buy this book! You won't regret it.

🎀First Time Caller publishes on February 11th

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the e-arc of this book and thank you Berkley and Berkley Romance for the physical copy.

This book has been one of my most anticipated reads and I knew from the first chapter it was going to somehow exceed my expectations.

The way BK Borison writes is romance perfection. The words flow beautifully, the humour is witty, the flirting makes you squeal and kick your feet up, and the tension and love between the characters is a dream.

Aiden and Lucie are two characters that are going to live in my heart for life now. Lucie with her big heart and her belief in the magic of love and Aiden with his skeptical nature who immediately falls for Lucie but doesn’t realize it. SWOON.

This entire plot is genius - from the radio show, the best co-parenting crew, to the entire cast of characters. Even the conflict felt well placed and real.

The last 10% of this book got me…I started bawling and couldn’t stop until the end. I friggin’ love this book and these people.

what an amazing amazing amazing read for a February release! I cannot and will not shut up about this book, for months i just know it. The characters, details. foreshadowing, the romance, the humor.. just swoon and swoon! 5 stars, elite, that is all.

Thank you to the publisher for this eArc.

B.K Borison has done it again! I think this book would cause me to break the 5 star scale to rate it higher if I could.

The yearning. The tension. It’s all there and more. This book is funny, tender, sweet, and spicy all wrapped into one amazing package. The romance had me blushing, giggling, and kicking my feet the entire time.

I couldn’t recommend this book more to anyone who reads romance or needs to believe in love again. I will be talking about this book constantly to anyone who will listen!

4.5* rounded up!

This was SUCH a cute read. I knew I wasn't going to be able to put it down once I heard it was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle. There was a perfect balance of banter, heart squeezing scenes, and character growth that made me feel invested in the story. Every single sweet moment pulled on my actual heartstrings and made me love Lucie and Aiden even more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 stars rounded up!

This was such a sweet little diddy! It’s been AGES since I’ve seen Sleepless in Seattle (I’m definitely due for a rewatch now) but even knowing the book was based on that plot, this still felt really fresh. I loved Lucie and Aiden (and the whole cast of side characters) and watching their love bloom was so delightful, I also GREATLY appreciate that there wasn’t a drawn out third-act break up; what happened made perfect sense with the plot and flowed the story nicely to the end.

I definitely hope BK gives us more stories in this universe because I NEED more!

Overall I loved this - B.K. Borison is just a treasure - but I have to admit that it dragged slightly for me in the first half. I think it could have been just a touch shorter and still been just as effective. I loved the Sleepless in Seattle setup - female main character Lucie Stone's daughter Maya calls into a local Baltimore area romance radio show to express concern over her mom's lack of a love life. Lucie catches her, talked to Aiden Valentine, the host, and their conversation goes viral. Lucie agrees with Aiden's producer's scheme to have her on the show as she looks for love and talks all about it. Of course, because this is a romance novel, it's Aiden and Lucie who really have a spark of magic between them, but Aiden is an anti-romantic (despite hosting a romance radio show) and Lucie is afraid. Their on-page chemistry was truly excellent, and there are small details in this that I'll be thinking about for a long time. It was hard to leave Lovelight behind but I'm so happy to know that B.K. Borison's magic is still alive and kicking. I'm hoping this will be a series and really, really hoping for a Jackson story next time!

THIS is a romance novel. This is banter. This is flirting. This is chemistry. This is YEARNING. There are a lot of romance novels I've read lately where the couple gets together so quickly that we lose the build up to them finally admitting their feelings together. This was laugh out loud funny, while delivering the perfect pacing. Aiden was adorable and absolutely head over heels for Lucie. He is perfect for those looking for a classic sercret golden retriever MMC.

DNF - I think this will find an adoring audience in fans of this writing & storytelling approach. For me, it felt far too on the nose with characters dictating every single feeling & action as though the reader could not intone anything. The flow of the storytelling did not alude to anything & rather left the plot & characters feeling very shallow as a consequence.

BK’s books are so comforting and cozy for me to read, I absolutely adore her work. This one may be my new favorite of hers though. I LOVE Sleepless In Seattle, it’s one of my favorite films and this book perfectly captures the feeling that movies gives me. Aiden & Lucie are so loveable and their chemistry absolutely leaps off the page. I especially appreciated Lucie’s work as a car mechanic! It was such a refreshing addition to the story and the way BK wrote about women in these types of fields and how they are often treated was beautifully done. Lucie’s love of romance was also so deeply relatable to me. I just adored this book y’all!