4.25🌟

first off thank you B.K Borison, Netgalley and Berkley Romance for this free book!! i was so excited to read this book and getting the arc of this was so exciting ❤️ first off i wanna say i love how Lucie knew what she wanted and how to communicate her feelings. it took Aiden some time to learn what he truly wanted and open up about what he was feeling. i loved the whole radio show about romance and how both Aiden and Lucie met because of it but really met because of Lucie’s daughter calling into the show!! it was so fun reading about these horrible dates Lucie had to go on but you just knew the chemistry between Aiden and Lucie was too good that you just wanted them together already!!! 🤭

I love this book with my whole heart.
B.K. Borison whatever you infuse your books with, please keep doing it. I need them.

The growth we see with both the characters felt so realistic and necessary. I loved seeing Lucie & Aiden’s relationship unfold. This is a slowwwwww burn but that’s my favorite kind of burn. We see the frayed edges and missing pieces they both have to figure out before they can be together, but it makes it all the sweeter.

The overall message that neither has to be perfect or all the way healed in order for them to be together... it seems simple but…

I loved all the side characters so much and I can see so much potential for this to be a series. Pleaseee let it be.

Aiden is the sweetest to ever exist and I treasure his character. Everything he’s been through and despite it all, the love he’s willing to give and receive… I cannot.

Will never stop thinking about this one.

So cute! I really loved this. I've enjoyed Borison's previous books, but this was a level up from those. Just so fabulous!

Aiden is the jaded radio host of a call-in romance advice where a teenage girl calls in, asking for advice for her mom. Once Lucie, the mom on question, gets on the phone, she and Aiden wind up having an hour-long conversation. Within a week, Lucie is joining Aiden on the show, and he's helping guide her toward finding love for herself.

The Sleepless in Seattle vibes are SO strong here, especially at the beginning, but without the sad of "dead wife/mom" that Tom Hanks's character has going on. Lucie has a great found-family type of situation going on, and a ton of support. I love that she's got an unconventional job, too, especially for a rom-com. Not many mechanics floating around.

I do wish the guy the author uses as the catalyst for the third act breakup was more of an organic foil for their relationship, rather than how he's used here. They have a really fun meet-cute, and I wanted to see him do something about it in person, rather than how it shook out.

I also really loved the solid references to Baltimore as a city, especially after having spent so much time there myself a a kid. Every mention of Bertha's made me grin like an idiot.

This was such a fun, lighthearted book, and I love the whole ending of it, contrived as it was. It was perfect.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

First-Time Caller is B.K. Borison’s best work yet! I loved the entire Lovelight series but there’s something a little extra magical about this one. It’s hilarious, charming, relatable, romantic, it’s everything. The YEARNING between Aiden and Lucie was so delicious. I was obsessed with them from beginning to end, I couldn’t put this book down. I gleefully stayed up until 2 am multiple times giggling and kicking my feet. 🥰

Lucie was so relatable and I think all the romance lovers are going to love her so much. Every romantic wants a little magic in their life and is constantly being told that they’re being unrealistic or perhaps silly for wanting romance, that perfection in a partner doesn’t exist. Lucie’s road to love (lol) isn’t perfect, and neither is Aiden, but it’s real—it’s magical and perfect in its own lovely way. Lucie held on to her beliefs and she served as a reminder to never settle for anything less than what you deserve.

Aiden is also a character that I think many can relate to. Someone who is afraid to love and avoids attachment to anything to protect his heart. Nevertheless, he was sweet and thoughtful and Lucie wiggled her way into his heart so thoroughly. I adored the way he slowly fell in love with her without even realizing it. His growth throughout the book is so important to me, he acknowledged his issues and he took responsibility because he knew that Lucie was worth it.

The side characters in this book were so good and they make me so excited for the rest of this series. Each one had such a unique personality and added so much to the story. I laughed out loud multiple times at Jackson’s and Grayson’s antics. The family Lucie made for herself and Maya was so cute and full of love. Although, I do kind of wish we got to see a bit more of Aiden and Maya’s relationship.

Also, the setting?? I never thought I would love Baltimore as a setting so much but B.K. Borison writes it so vividly. I loved this city as a backdrop to Aiden and Lucy’s love story and all the ways they were connected through the place they called home! Overall, this book was about love—but not just romantic love. It was about self-love, friendship love, the love between a parent and their child. I adored everything about it!

Read if you love:
☎️Sleepless in Seattle!
🎙️Single momma
☎️Forced proximity
🎙️Workplace romance
☎️Boy obsessed
🎙️Grumpy x Sunshine/Opposites attract (romantic x cynic)
☎️Slow burn
🎙️Found family + hilarious side characters

Thank you so much to B.K. Borison, Penguin Random House, and Berkley for the ARC! Congrats on the upcoming release. I cannot wait for more from the Heartstrings crew! 🩷

Thank you @berkleyromance @joyfulchaosbookclub and @authorbkborison for my opportunity to read the #travelingarc! First Timr Caller is out February 11. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! 💕❤️

Lucie’s young daughter calls into a love themed radio show late one night to find advice for her single mom. Lucie hasn’t really tried to find love after the end of her marriage, but she has a good career and family. She even has stayed close with her ex husband and his new partner. But after Maya points out that she seems lonely, Lucie realizes she could put herself out there more. She gets on the phone with Aiden from Heartstrings and they have a great connection. Aiden is down on love after many years of fielding calls of disgruntled lovers looking for advice.

Aiden’s manager offers Lucie the opportunity to find dates right on the show. They would have people call in and set Lucie up. She would also participate in the show each week. Lucie has a lot of bad dates for content for the show and Aiden finds himself getting jealous.

This is my first time reading BK and I jumped at the opportunity to read the traveling arc. I love to see all the comments and doodles that the other readers have left before me. Did we all swoon at the same parts? Usually! This book had strong Sleepless in Seattle vibes and if you love that, you will absolutely love this book!

Unrelated, but worth mentioning: Lucie is a car mechanic!! I love that she is a woman in a very male dominated field. The tow truck scene in the book is EVERYTHING!!

When Lucie’s 12-year-old daughter calls into a love radio show searching for help for her mother to find love people are captivated. Radio show host, Aiden agrees to help Lucie in her quest to find love, setting her up on dates to experience love. Aiden doesn’t believe in love, his family has had their tragedies, and he has given up that it exists. How can Aiden, who doesn’t believe in love, help Lucie find her soulmate while he starts to develop feelings for her?

This was a sweet rom-com. Aiden and Lucie spend much time together and have the best banter and chemistry. Lucie has the love of her found family, but is searching for the magic of true love. I love her interactions with her friends and family, it is obvious how much she cares for them. Aiden says he has given up on love but has a heart full of gold. I mean, he keeps a list of things Lucie loves in his glove box, so he doesn’t forget. One of the sweetest things ever.

This book is a slow burn, and I mean glacial. These two take forever to get together. With that slow burn, you do get some great mutual pining and tension between these two though. Through that, it felt like their relationship developed naturally. They both struggle to believe that they are good enough for the other, but have significant growth individually and as a couple. You can see they truly care for each other.

B.K. Borison’s writing sucks you in with her story-telling and you fall in love with Aiden and Lucie. If you love a good romance, with tons of banter, and two lost souls coming together, this is the book for you! Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

4.5*

Well this was excellent. Lucie and Aiden were so sweet together - the way they both didn’t even realize how much they flirted, and were falling for each other. They had such natural chemistry right from the jump. I absolutely loved how protective Aiden was when she was going out on dates. And c’mon, the grand gesture at the end? So much to swoon for. What a delightfully satisfying slow burn this was - BK Borison hit it just right. Goodness I'm so excited about this new series.

“For the hopeless romantics.
And the reluctant ones too.”

This book was absolutely everything. I haven’t resonated with a book this much in a long time, maybe ever. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It hit the deepest parts of my soul.

First-Time Caller showcases the magic of love in all its forms, from found family to blood family to friendship to romantic. The Sleepless in Seattle inspiration initially hooked me, since that movie and You’ve Got Mail are some of my favorite romances. The characters in First-Time Caller are just as captivating, I didn’t want it to end and I’m hoping we see more of them in future books!! I related so hard to both Aiden and Lucie’s journeys, I highlighted more quotes than I ever have in my life.

“I don’t know if any of us have any idea what we’re doing. But we’re trying, yeah? We can all be trying together.”

Do yourself a favor and read this delightful gem of a book. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you Berkley Romance for the gifted free copy of this book!

4.75⭐️ This was such a great fun rom-com!! I loved the concept and really connected with the characters! The spice was so good and not too much! I was giggling, smiling, and tearing up at the story. A little cheesy at times but in the best way?

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! Aiden and Lucie were so cute and I loved seeing them get together. This was a very unique premise for a romance book that I had not read before and I loved it. The flirting over the radio was top tier, especially when everyone would tell Lucie like we know you like each other, everyone who listens to the show can tell. I also loved getting both characters POVs. I think it was so great seeing both sides to them falling for each other. THE YEARNING!!!! It was too good. I also loved that Lucie was a romantic. It was very relatable and her feelings on love and falling in love were very relatable. I loved it!

3.75⭐️

Okay, first off, the way the book hooked me from the start is not even funny. I posted a reading update on my instagram stories when I was 5 pages in telling everyone I had such a good feeling about this book- and I was so right!

If you are a rom-com fan, 👏🏻THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!👏🏻 It was truly such a no-brainer, refreshing, and heartwarming read. I loved both main characters (especially Lucie!) and how they pushed each other to be the better version of themselves. Also, Lucie's daughter, Maya, was everything. I adored her and her relationship with her mom soo much.

My fave quotes:🫂🪽(my subtle way of trying to convince you to give this book a try!)

mild spoilers ahead! (nothing that ruins the book though)


"But what's wrong with being a romantic? I can be a confident, independent woman and still want someone to hold my hand. To ask about my day. It's a good thing to want passion and excitement and care. Attention and affection. I don't want to settle for anything less than that.”

"No, that's not what I mean. I don't want to try. All I do is try. All day long I'm trying, and I'm so tired. Why can't this be the one thing I don't have to try at? Why can't it be a thing that just... happens? I don't want—I don't want to think about what I should say or how I should act or ... or have talking points in the notes app of my phone for a dinner date at a restaurant that I don't really like. I want to feel something when I connect with someone. I want sparks. The good kind, you know? I want to laugh and mean it. I want goose bumps. I want to wonder what my date is thinking about and hope it might be me. I want... I want the magic."

"CALLER: I've been with my husband for sixty-five years. Every day isn't a fairy tale. We've worked hard for our relationship. To build it. To maintain it. I've become so many versions of myself and so has he, but we've found a way to fall in love with one another over and over again. Every time. [pause]
But there's magic too. In between the hard work there are perfect moments where everything lines up exactly right. What else is that, if not the universe telling me I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be? I'm right next to him, holding his hand. [laughter]
CALLER: I wanted to tell Lucie that she's right to believe in it. Her magic. And I hope she finds what she's looking for."

"Aiden?" I ask after a while, my body deliciously heavy. "Yeah?" "Do you think I'll find someone?" I voice the question that's been banging around in my heart for the past decade. "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."

“UNSENT TEXT MESSAGES FROM AIDEN VALEN TO LUCIE STONE AIDEN:
I keep waiting for you to walk through the door even though I haven't given you a reason to. AIDEN: Have you had the pineapple pizza from the place on Broadway?
AIDEN: I can't stop thinking about you.
AIDEN: Fuck, Lucie. I think I could let myself love you too.”

"She does this thing when she laughs... it's like she laughs with her whole body. I've never seen anything like it. She holds her hands tight together like she's-like she's holding on to her happiness. Like she's not afraid to grab it." Aiden pauses, his breath gusting over the receiver. In the background, I hear the crunch of asphalt. He must be pacing, wherever he is. "I want to be the kind of man who deserves that laugh.
Who earns it."
“It's not about deserving," I say, my throat tight. "If someone gives you something, you have it. You don't have to earn it."

"She told me once she doesn't want to settle anymore and I think that's what I've been doing. My whole life, I've intentionally broken everything down into pieces because it's been easier for me to handle. And it's been the same with her. I've been letting myself have sips of her, afraid of what might happen if I let myself go. But I want—I want to kiss her when other people are around. I want to hold her hand. I want to have pancakes at her house on Sunday mornings and I want to help with Indiana Jones costumes. I want her people to be my people too."

“I'm thinking about her, about us, about this. About this tiny café across from her house and all the places we almost met. About the right time, the right place, the right moment. I'm thinking about the way her hand fits in mine, and the way my heart drums out a beat that matches her name. Lu-cie. Lu-cie. Lu-cie. The almost and the maybes and the what-ifs.
The universe lining up for one perfect moment and handing me her. I got so fucking lucky.”


Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Pub, and BK for this ARC- I'm so grateful and lucky to receive such a gorgeous and hyped upcoming release as a new ARC reviewer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

First-Time is the first book in the Heartstrings standalone series.

Single-mom Lucie is content in her life. She feels like she has all the love that she needs with her daughter and the family that she has built around her. Lucie's daughter doesn't agree - she calls into a radio romance hotline, hoping to help her mom find love. When Lucie is put on the spot with the phone call, she doesn't expect to open up about why she doesn't want to date. After Lucie's on-air conversation goes viral, the radio station convinces her to join the show and to allow them to help her find love. Sparks fly between Lucie and Aiden, the host of the show, and they both fight the feelings they begin to develop for one another.

I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. It seemed like a cliché premise, but B.K. Borison executed it in a special way. Her witty and heartfelt writing had me entranced in this book. I couldn't get enough of the smart dialogue and the in-depth characters.

Before I talk about Lucie and Aiden, I want to talk about Grayson. Grayson is Lucie's daughter's father. Lucie and Grayson have a co-parenting relationship that I wish everyone who has to co-parent outside of a romantic relationship could have. I loved the scenes with their family and I couldn't get enough of them. I wish we could get a book for Grayson!

Lucie and Aiden's chemistry was evident from the moment they connected on-air. As awkward as that situation was, there was something about Aiden that made Lucie want to open up to him. As they continued to work together, their on and off-air connection was clear to everyone but Lucie. When they finally gave into the sparks, I was elated for them! Lucie finally put Aiden out of his misery and did something that was just for her for once. Good for her!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: cancer

Was my first book of the year potentially my favourite book of the year? Quite quite possibly, but it's a little early to tell. Because I have nothing negative to say about this book and I could spend all day yelling about how incredible this book was and how swoony it was and all the things I loved the most about this book.

Not only is Borison's writing absolutely flawless, but her characters feel so real you're desperate for them to be your best friends. I really won't waste your time with all the sickly sweet lovey things I need to say about this book, but I will say you need to read it. And prepare your heartstrings because they'll be constantly tugged and torn and put back together.

This is the perfect book for those of us who grew up loving romcoms. This book is a love letter to all the classic romcoms that came out in the 90s and 2000s. This is based off of Sleepless in Seattle and it has so many swoony moments that will have you kicking your feet. It is oh so romantic with our MMC Aiden being a radio host for a love segment. He has become desensitized to love after hearing people call in to his show for years and complain about their relationships. Until one night when a little girl calls into the show to get advice about how she can get her mom a boyfriend. Through that phone call Aiden meets Lucie and he suddenly is invested in her story. This is the perfect feel good book that is just in time for Valentine’s Day.

First-Time Caller was pure magic.

This book really checked so many of my boxes when it comes to contemporary romances. If you like found family, idiots-in-love, mutual pining, a realistic relationship progression, and beautifully written main characters, you will love First-Time Caller.

In this heartwarming, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired romance, jaded radio host Aiden Valentine, secretly disillusioned with love, finds his show (Baltimore's romance hotline 'Heartstrings') thrust into the spotlight after a young girl calls in seeking dating advice for her mom. That mom, Lucie Stone, has a perfectly happy life but starts to question her happiness as the city tunes into her love story. Amid the public pressure and media frenzy, Lucie and Aiden discover unexpected sparks behind the scenes, forcing her to choose between a scripted happily-ever-after and the real connection blossoming between them.

I really loved how natural and realistic Aiden and Lucie's romance felt. The progression of their relationship was well-paced and believable, with their inner misbeliefs and past life experiences creating genuine challenges that didn’t feel forced or cheesy. Their growth as individuals and as a couple was rooted in relatable struggles, making their connection feel authentic and earned.

I absolutely adored Lucie as a FMC. She isn't cookie-cutter by any means, but it never reads in a "pick-me" way. She is such a good mom to her daughter and throughout her love story, Maya remains a priority. Lucie also co-parents with her ex—who’s now happily with his new partner. There is no toxicity, just a village raising their daughter and it honestly was so heart-warming. It is really rare that you enjoy an ex as a character in a romance plot, but I think Borison did such a great job of creating an ex that is truly on Lucie's team.

Aiden Valentine is peak "men written by a woman". I adore this man. I adore how down-bad this man is. I adore his inner monologue, and how good of a person he genuinely is. He is the perfect MMC, and combined with my love for Lucie, I was truly rooting for them both the entire story.

B.K. Borison's writing is incredible. From the first chapter, I was highlighting passages not only of great dialogue, but simple descriptor phrases just because I loved the words she had chosen to express herself.

If you want the perfect love-story to read valentine's week, you need to read First-Time Caller.

"I think you're the magic."

Another amazing romantic novel by B.K. Borison. As a huge fan of her Lovelight series, I could not wait to read this new novel. This rom com gives Sleepless in Seattle feels that will keep you reading for sure. I almost wish I had done the audio, since it is bases on a radio call in show. I am sure that when the audio comes out I will listen to the story in this form as well!!!! I loved the main interests, the dual point of view, and the nosy family that added a lot of humor to the story. I can't wait to see what Borison comes up with next!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the free book and audiobook!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH!!!! My new favorite BK Borison book and most importantly, what I know will be one of my favorite books/romance releases of 2025!!!! I loved this story so much, it was emotional, so romantic, a love story to love, and had the most heartwarming, fun, comforting plot. Truly so unique and so wonderfully written.

First Time Caller is loosely based off Sleepless in Seattle. It all starts with Lucy's preteen daughter calls into the Heartstrings radio station, and Lucy spills her soul to the host, Aiden Valentine. Lucy opens up about how she has struggled with dating and finding the right type of person in her adult life, and how she craves finding the magic in love. When the clip goes viral, Lucy is invited to co-host a new segment of the show with Aiden, where they can work to find Lucy a love match!!

Aiden was the perfect, closed off, grumpy male main character. I LOVED HIM!!!!!! A man with a gold chain, who remembers all the details of the woman he is crushing on, who will do anything to hear her laugh and make sure she isn't alone, but won't say it to her face!?! I'm obsessed. I loved Aiden's growth throughout the book, as he begins to realize that maybe love can be good and kind, and that he needs to trust that if he opens himself up to feelings things and trusting others, it all won't crumble every time.

And LUCY!!! What a powerful, badass, vulnerable woman. I LOVED how she was this single mom figure, struggling with her love life in her 30s, trying to do everything right for her daughter. Feeling like she was failing at dating but also knowing what she wants and refusing to accept less. I loved her character so much, I really think so many women in their upper 20s and 30s are really going to relate to her daily struggles and internal dialogue.

The romance was ON FIRE. I genuinely could not stop listening to this book I just wanted more more more!! The narrators were so perfect for the characters, I was soooo obsessed with Aiden's voice. I loved the little components in each chapter of adding in clips of Lucy and Aiden talking on the radio, it made the audiobook feel so real, like I was listening to Heartstrings. I loved literally everything about this book, no complaints. The writing was GORGEOUS, and made me tear up multiple times. I already cannot wait to reread!!!

B.K. Borison you have done it again. I'm not sure what this woman puts in her books, but it's truly addicting. She is truly one of those authors that gets stronger with every output, and I can't wait to keep reading more from her, especially when I see what she has on the horizon! I loved the setting of a radio station for these two, it was so much fun. Just like our beloved Lovelight Farms, this radio station comes to life immediately and this pocket of the city feels so full of love and wonder. Aiden and Lucie have a ton of chemistry, and all the side characters were incredible. I loved that Lucie was really satisfied with her life, except for the fact that she was single, because I felt like Aiden came into her life and just the right time- and conversely, that is exactly the kind of person that Aiden needed. Borison puts everything together like a perfectly plotted puzzle, and I loved reading this book! I can't wait for Jackson's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book. 5 stars for sure, hands down this is one of my favourite contemporary romances I have ever read! The dynamic between hopeless romantic single mom Lucie and grumpy anti-love radio show host Aiden was everything. It was everything I didn’t know I needed. This story will have you smiling ear to ear — in fact my cheeks still hurt from smiling.