B.K. Borison writes books with so much heart and love, and it shows in all of her beautifully crafted stories. This one was full of so much of that care and healing that it kept me smiling and swooning over this new couple throughout their journey.

Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, romantic hotline radio host Aiden is a love cynic. Reeling from his past experiences, he doesn’t know if he believes in love. When an unexpected caller asks for advice for her mom—and the broadcast goes viral—Aiden meets Lucie, and her surprising honesty and sweet banter knock him off his feet. But she’s a hopeless romantic looking for her happily ever after, and Aiden isn’t sure what the future holds for him anymore.

I fell for this warm-hearted story and felt the struggles Lucie and Aiden dealt with at my core. It’s hard to remember to pick yourself up after difficult times and believe in love or romance, but this story does a great job tackling those subjects, showing you’re not alone and that love is out there for everyone in different ways.

I also loved the new cast of characters we have in this new start to a romantic series, and I can’t wait to see who the next book will follow!

4.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

PEAK ROMANCE! This book is so precious. The yearning and tension from Aiden is actual perfection. Lucie is such an incredible FMC, her strength and confidence is something I strive for. The unconventional family dynamic is so good. If you loved 90's romcom movies growing up, you will want to add this one to your TBR immediately. B.K. Borison has an unparalleled way of writing romance and if you have read any of her other books, you would understand. Highly recommend this book!

When Lucie's precocious 12-year-old daughter calls in to a late-night radio show about romance, Lucie is upset, then baffled, then resigned. For once in a blue moon, she opens up to the radio host, Aiden, about how lonely she can be and how difficult it is to date as a single mother. When the clip of the two talking on air goes viral, Lucie is embarrassed; it felt different when she thought no one is listening. Meanwhile, Aiden's romance talk show has been struggling, and his producer sees dollar signs at the magic of him and Lucie chatting together. So they recruit Lucie for the radio show, promising to help her find love, and to get ratings in the process. But maybe it's Lucie and Aiden that are meant to be after all.

So apparently this is a take on Sleepless in Seattle? I watched that movie once, years ago, and haven't again because I firmly remember liking You've Got Mail more (and there can only be one). So I have no recollection of the plot. But now I want to go back and watch it again because this book was AMAZING. Like, it was exactly what I needed to get me out of a reading slump and make me motivated to stay awake while sick with a cold. I have nothing but good things to say about this book and am so curious and excited that it's labeled as a book one... what could book two possibly be?? Whatever it is, I will be reading it.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

B.K. Borison has done it again! If you are longing for Lovelight Farms, this book will perfectly satisfy your cravings.

First-Time Caller is romance in its purest form with all of Borison's signature humor and beautifully healthy friendships intertwined throughout. This book is for the hopeless romantics and the people who stay up listening to Taylor Swift's "invisible string" in the middle of the night just imagining that the love of their life is out there somewhere. Aiden and Lucie have stolen my heart, and I am so deeply invested in the Heartstrings world. Thank you so much B.K. Borison for how you so beautifully portray romance, friendship, and found family. 10/10 would recommend this book to any romance lover.

This was really sweet and good way to spend my afternoon. This author can always make me feel cozy and I really like the pink and orange used in the cover.

BK Borison just nails it every single time. This book was a delight! Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this book begins when Lucie's pre-teen daughter calls into Aiden Valentine's romance advice radio show to try to find a boyfriend for her mom. Lucie didn't think anything was missing from her life. She has a daughter she loves. Her lifetime friend and co-parent lives next door with his husband. Her best friend is across the street. She has a life she loves and family that supports her. Talking to Aiden affected her in a way she did not expect and finds Lucie as a regular feature on his talk show as he tries to help her find love and companionship. Aiden may be giving the romance advice but he is unhappy and no longer believes in happily ever after. Seeing these two banter and talk was so heartwarming and sweet. I loved his grumpy to her sunshine. I felt for Aiden. He has very real reasons for his feelings. Both our characters see true growth as they have conversations with one another. They learn more about themselves as they learn about one another. The setting of a radio show in Baltimore was fun and unique. I didn't think anything could be as great as Borison's first series in Lovelight Farms, but I am happy to say I was wrong. This book has been aching for more in the best way.

B.K never fails. Let’s just state that as a fact now.

This book feels like a warm cozy hug. There’s so much love poured out on every single page. The sleepless in Seattle vibes are top tier. Lucie and Aiden deserve the absolute world. Aiden…sir you definitely took me by surprise. I didn’t know you had it in you lol. Seeing these two grow throughout the book was so heartwarming. And Maya….girl please come work some magic in my life lol. From Patty to the dads, it was all so perfectly put together. That epilogue…SWOON!!

5 stars. I am so impressed with First-Time Caller. This is only the second book I've ever read from B.K. Borison, but if the rest of her backlog is anywhere as entertaining as First-Time Caller, then I will be rushing to read those. Rom com is hit or miss for me. I do love easy and readible books, and by far, my number 1 genre to read is romance. But sometimes, rom coms can be a little too cheesy for my liking. First-Time Caller, is perhaps, the perfect rom com. And that probably shouldn't surprise me, given that the book was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle. Nora Ephron is without a doubt the queen of rom coms, and I think that Borison did her proud. Everything about First-Time Caller worked for me- the characters and their development, the secondary characters, the romance, the steam, the banter, the meet-cute. And although First-Time Caller is inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, it's very much inspired and not a carbon copy. B.K. Borison managed to imbue her own magic and style into such a well loved and known story. All in all, I can't rave about this book enough. It's truly a must read for rom com lovers. And in case you didn't know, the entire Heartstrings series will be based on different Nora Ephron movies. I for one, can't wait to read them all. Thank you so much Berkley, netgalley, and Borison for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Oh. My. God. This is my favorite book of the year (so far), but I can guarantee it'll stay in the top ten by the end of the year. I get the hype now!!!

I know this is really hyped but FOR GOOD REASON! I've been in a romance book slump and this brought me out of it and then some. Lucie's daughter calls in to a radio show in hopes of finding her mom love. The call goes viral and soon Lucie is regularly on air with the host, Aiden Valen(tine) to host a new segment helping her find love. But as Aiden is supposed to be helping her find a date, he starts falling for her himself...!

I loved the supporting cast of characters, from Maya to Grayson and Mateo to Jackson to Patty; they made for such a fun and entertaining cast. While definitely a bit of a slower burn, Lucie and Aiden's banter as they get to know each other on air and outside the station made me smile, and I loved that all of Baltimore was invested in her/their love story. Aiden is dealing with some of his own anxieties that I really understand, and I enjoyed seeing how that plotline played out. The phone convo with his dad 🥺

The ending of the book did me in, with the list of Lucie's favorite things, "I know what falling in love feels like because I've been falling in love with you," and the happy ever after of course.

First-Time Caller publishes on 2/11 and you are not going to want to miss it!!

This sadly was a DNF for me. I heard so many good things, but found the plot to move so slowly. I stopped at 50%.

I don’t even know how to put into words how beautiful this book was to me. Finding love that is real, that is honest, that is open and kind and fair… Lucie and Aiden were truly incredibly written characters, as well as every other member of their circles. The dynamics and love that SPRANG FROM THE PAGES is something I haven’t experienced in a long time in a book. This was a romance book that truly made me believe in love again. A love that is true, and vulnerable, all-consuming, and hard to face while being the easiest decision you could ever make. This is beyond a five star in my mind. This is a masterpiece.
(Of course need to shout out all of the meddling family members and coworkers because truly, incredible. And because I didn’t mention it- the concept of this book??? RIDICULOUSLY APPEALING AND WELL DONE!!!)

Much like B.K. Borison, I adore "Sleepless in Seattle" so I was a little hesitant to review "First-Time Caller."

I'm so glad I did because this book is a warm fuzzy, slow burn novel that is 100% its own. There are nods to "Sleepless.." but the story is fresh and utterly delightful. I can't wait to recommend this to my romance readers!

Well, this book has my WHOLE HEART! It is just so precious! You had me at a modern-day Sleepless in Seattle-style romance. That was one of my favorite movies in college. You think, who listens to the radio anymore how could this work? Trust me...IT WORKS!

I loved Lucie's found family. Grayson, Macy's dad, lives next door with his husband and is a supportive partner post-breakup. It's so heartwarming. I love seeing split-up parents with healthy happy boundaries post-breakup. Lucie's found family is so sweet and supportive and I love how even though both Lucie and Grayson have strained relationships with their family they still have beautiful support systems around them. Aiden is so grouchy and has kind of isolated himself after years of struggling with his mom's cancer. He never processed those feelings and doesn't know how to have a relationship when he sees how hard it has been on his dad to see his mom suffer so much. Because of that, he is keeping everyone at arm's length. That is until Lucie breaks through and now he has to figure out his feelings and heal from past traumas. He isn't a relationship guy and is supposed to help find Lucie the big love she deserves. Except maybe what he thinks she deserves and who she actually wants are two different things and who she actually wants is him.

I do have to admit I aged them both up in my head. I had a hard time picturing her as a 29-year-old with a 13-year-old daughter.

Read if you like a forced proximity, single mom, slow-burn romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 2/11.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The plot was unique and the banter was really fun between the two MC’s.

As someone from Maryland, I absolutely adored the references to Maryland and Baltimore like Old Bay, Berger cookies, crab chips and Royal Farms chicken.

The ending was so sweet. I binged the last half because I just couldn’t put it down.

First-Time Caller by BK Borison is such a gem! It’s funny, sweet, and full of heart, with characters you can’t help but root for. The romance feels so natural, and the banter will have you smiling the whole way through. If you’re in the mood for something cozy and uplifting, this one’s perfect. Contemporary romance at its finest.

PURE ROMANCE!

🎙️I’m tired of trying so hard at something that comes so easily for everyone else.🎙️

All it took was one late night call into a radio show for me to be hooked. Lucie and Aiden were fantastic together. It’s been a minute since I read a slow burn romance and let me tell you IT WAS WORTH IT!!

🎙️I wonder what it’s like to walk around with your heart on your sleeve. Mine is buried so deep in my chest I’m not sure I could find it if I wanted to.🎙️

There were moments when I was straight giggly and others where I was wiping tears off my face. Truly all the good makings of a romance book

Thank you Berkley for the eARC

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page, I was hooked, and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. The characters, Lucie and Aiden, were so well-developed and felt incredibly real, which made the whole story even more engaging.

Aiden Valen, also known as Aiden Valentine, is the host of a love advice radio show. At the start, he’s totally disillusioned with his job. He’s been fielding calls from phony listeners and dealing with loveless, uninspired situations that have drained him. You can feel his exhaustion and frustration—it’s like he’s lost his connection to love entirely. But everything changes when a teenage girl calls in for advice—not about her own love life, but about her mother’s. It’s such a unique twist that immediately grabs your attention.

Lucie, the mother in question catches her daughter on the phone and this is where everything changes. Their conversation on air is charged with so much tension, vulnerability, and heart. What starts as a casual exchange soon becomes something more significant—something that marks the beginning of a truly transformative journey for both of them.

The way the author weaves their lives together, building both the romantic tension and the emotional depth, kept me completely captivated. It’s not just a love story; it’s about finding inspiration, rediscovering passion, and learning to open up in unexpected ways. The chemistry between Lucie and Aiden was undeniable, and their development throughout the story felt so natural and earned.

Overall, this book was a delightful escape, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good, heartfelt romance with characters you can’t help but root for.

Thank you to NetGalley, author B.K. Borison, and Berkley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Wow I loved!! I've seen so much about Borison's previous series, Lovelight Farms, so I was excited to check out her newest release. I thought this was a delightful read that resonated with me more than I was expecting. I'm not the biggest Sleepless in Seattle fan or the biggest fan of single parent trope (both of which were present in the book), but honestly, I fell in love with Lucie and Aiden! Borison's writing felt fresh and realistic without ever leaning towards overly sappy or contrived. I felt like I not only had a clear sense of these characters and who they were individually, I also could easily see them together as real people. Maya was a delight, and I loved Lucie's "found family" through Maya's dads and her best friend. Was it a bit cheesy at time? Of course, since it's a romance novel, but it was never over the top to distract from the connection between the two. I do wish we as readers would have seen more of Aiden's life, as a big part of the novel is him not believing in love anymore. There is a clear reason why he is unable to fully open himself up, but I felt that the perspective of him and why he was distant could have benefitted from a little more time on the page. His background seemed a bit rushed or not fully fleshed out in comparison to Lucie's side of things. I did truly enjoy this story and the premise though besides this, and now I'm more inclined to check out Lovelight Farms and Borison's future works!

You had me at an inspired by Sleepless In Seattle sort of storyline. (100 pages too long and a real meh cover, but who gives an eff when you got those good feels???)

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!