Infinite stars!!

Aiden has fallen out of love with love, which is inconvenient, seeing as he is the radio host for Baltimore's romance hotline, Heartstrings.

Lucie is a single mom and a hopeless romantic who has mostly given up on the idea of ever finding the love of her life. She is content with the life she has built, but her 11 year old daughter feels differently and secretly calls in to Heartstrings hoping its host, Aiden, can help her mom find love. Lucie catches her in the act, and the meaningful conversation that happens while on air with Aiden goes viral and the story takes off from there.

A nostalgic love story inspired by Sleepless in Seattle that had me crying, laughing and blushing. It left me with an overwhelming feeling of hope and joy, with a full heart and a tear-streaked face.

Becs' writing truly shines in this story. She created characters that will burrow their way in, making a permanent home for themselves in your heart. She wrote a romance that is so tender it'll make you ache, in the very best way. Every word, on every page was perfect!

I loved this story so much it makes me feel giddy!

B.K Borrison is a must-read romance author, and First Time Caller is the first book in her upcoming Heartstrings series. This is a Sleepless in Seattle inspired story that follows a romance radio host that doesn’t quite believe in love and one of his callers whose story goes viral. With the whole town rooting for her, she finds herself as a temporary co-host as she searches for love. While I miss the Lovelight crew, I already adore this new world and the cast of characters she created. Bec’s writing took me back to some of my favorite rom com movies filled with the sweetest romantic gestures and giddy moments. I will say, I did not feel the chemistry between the two MCs in the first half of the book as much as in the second and there were some inner monologue moments that seemed to drag. But still, an overall win!!

Read if you like:
-Sleepless in Seattle
-Single mom
-Workplace
-Grumpy/sunshine
-He fell first
-Cinnamon roll hero

5/5⭐️


Aiden is the cutest man ever. He has a way of speaking that is both serious and goofy, and I absolutely love it. Everything about him is lovable, from how he cared for her from the very beginning to his little acts of love. Even though he claims love doesn’t exist, he is incredibly romantic and considerate right from the start.

Lucie's transformation is also something I admire. She evolves into a person who knows what she wants, which, though it took time and the right influences, made me incredibly proud of her. Watching her come from her shell and bravely express her feelings was truly heartwarming. It inspired me to be more like her, particularly when it comes to understanding and voicing my own desires and emotions.

I loved how the story concluded, especially seeing Aiden come to terms with his feelings. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

This book was charming and everything I could ask for from a contemporary romance. I previously read the Lovelight Farm series so I was excited to see that Borison had a new book. The plot is loosely based on Sleepless in Seattle and it definitely gave off Nora Ephron vibes. I loved the main characters and the premise of the radio show. What really stood out for me was the cast of supporting characters. Often times supporting characters come across as one dimensional, Borison did a great job bringing the minor characters to life. I really liked the way that the main relationship was portrayed. Romance books sometimes portray these crazy, unrealistic relationships where the characters are so down bad for each other that they can't survive without the other. While that can be romantic, especially in literature, I really enjoyed getting both main characters inner dialogues and the portrayal of falling in love as ultimately a choice. I look forward to Borison's future work.

Wow. This might be the most romantic book I’ve ever read. The 90s romcom vibes got me all up in my feels and yes, tears were shed. Did I send a crying voice note expressing my love to B.K. Borison because I have no chill? Also yes.

I can’t wait for everyone to meet Aiden and Lucie.

First-Time Caller is a romantic comedy loosely based on Sleepless in Seattle. The story follows Lucie, a mechanic and a mom, as she navigates dating men she meets from a radio show with the help of her family and Aiden, the radio host.

The characters in this book added to the depth of the story. Lucie is described as a hopeless romantic, but it was refreshing to also see how she was also a realist at times. Aiden is definitely her opposite when it comes to his view of love and romance. However, their interactions detail how their relationship develops and how they grow together.

Overall, First-Time Caller was an enjoyable read, especially for those readers who like grumpy x sunshine books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

I am a fan of B.K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series, so I was excited to see she has a new series coming out. First-Time Caller is the first book in the new Heartstrings series and it was everything I’ve come to expect from Borison. I really enjoyed it!

If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be “cute.” This book was so cuuuuute! Aiden and Lucie had great chemistry and good banter. They brought out good things in each other and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also liked Lucie’s daughter and co-parenting team, as well as the rest of the staff at Aiden’s radio station. I wish we would’ve gotten a little more of the side characters, though, to be honest. I am so excited for Jackson’s future book!

My one big issue with the book is the same as with other books by this author. Things are so sweet and cute and then when it’s time for the love scene(s) it gets very graphically spicy and kind of incongruous with the rest of the book. I know a lot of people won’t have a problem with that, and a certain amount of graphicness is to be expected in a mainstream Romance book, but there are also different shades of books in the genre and these couple scenes definitely felt like they belonged in a different book.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed First-Time Caller. It’s highly romantic with characters you will love rooting for. I’m excited to read more from the Heartstrings universe in the future.

Sometimes, I come across stories that resonate so deeply with me that they linger long after the final page is turned. This was one of those rare experiences. From the very beginning, I found myself drawn to the characters—each one beautifully flawed, burdened by fear, yet somehow managing to navigate their way through uncertainty. Their struggles felt raw and real, almost as if I could reach out and touch their emotions.

The way these characters declined, resisted, and yet pressed forward was both moving and inspiring. They were so vividly portrayed that I could sense their inner turmoil and feel their hesitation with every choice they faced. There were moments where their fear was almost palpable, and it was in those moments that I felt the most connected to them.

What struck me most was how deeply these experiences touched me. They weren’t just plot points but essential elements that shaped each character, making their eventual growth feel all the more meaningful. Every scene was crafted with such care and detail that it left a lasting impact on me. This isn’t just a story I enjoyed; it’s one that has become a part of me.

BK! BK! BK!

This woman has my whole heart. When I tell you how I squealed when I was approved for this galley….well, it’s unbecoming of a woman my age. Aiden and Lucie were so adorable….and so real. Far from perfect, but infinitely more perfect for being so.

This book also had the secret sauce of an amazing cast of supporting characters that quickly began to feel like my friends #graysonforever

I can’t wait for you to meet them all in 2025.

What a darling book! Considering Sleepless in Seattle is one of my all time favorite books I knew I was bound to like FIRST TIME CALLER. I love the world Borison creates with her books and while I was a little anxious to step into a new one after loving the Lovelight series, she has truly proven herself with this book!

I love a single parent romance and I loved all the nods to the classic film! I’m excited to see where this series heads with some of the side characters! Overall, a really sweet and swoons romcom!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Truly a delightful read. I am very excited about B.K. Borison's next series of books. A tribute to classic Rom-Com's. This book was so enjoyable it overtook everything else that I was reading at the time. She creates fantastic characters and swoon worthy romances. A favorite author for sure.

If B.K. Borison writes it, I'm going to read it. That's a non-negotiable! I was super eager to get my hands on this (thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!) to see what her writing is like outside of the Lovelight universe and of course, she delivered. First Time Caller feels different than Lovelight-- less inherent small town coziness-- but comes with Borison's signature knack for creating swoony characters and top-tier banter. I found myself laughing out loud more than once (Grayson's brief turn on-air was particularly hysterical) as well as tearing up at moments. As a mom myself, I resonated deeply with Lucie's struggle to prioritize her own wants and needs, and her wistfulness for "fun" and "carefree" when that can be hard to come by when raising a kid.

This was a slower burn than I expected and I found myself wishing for it to move a bit faster at points, but boy did it deliver once the pace picked up. I anticipate the next two books will read a bit faster now that the Heartstrings world has been introduced. I also found myself wanting a bit more backstory about Lucie. We got a LOT of Aiden's family history but very little of hers, and I think a bit more of her story would've helped to round out why she behaves the way she does. I can't wait to get glimpses of these two in Borison's future books!

First Time Caller will undoubtedly be a 2025 favorite, and anyone who loves Borison's Lovelight series will be charmed by this newest from her.

“I could let myself love you so easily"
•

Lucie Stone is an endless optimist and single mom who thinks she has everything she wants. that’s until she gets lovingly thrown to the wolves by her daughter when Maya calls their local radio station’s romance hotline and declares her mom’s need to find love.

after years of hosting Baltimore’s premier romance radio show, Heartstrings, Aiden Valentine is beatdown and jaded by the idea of love. he’s just going through the motions and hemorrhaging listeners by the minute. when his boss tells him his new segment will be to help Lucie find love, he’s unenthused. but it doesn’t take long before he’s as invested in Lucie’s happiness as the rest of the Eastern Seaboard.

disastrous dates and countless bad pickup lines serve to draw Lucie and Aiden closer and closer. even though they both know Aiden isn’t able to give Lucie what she truly wants (or is he?!), it doesn’t stop their crushes and chemistry from reaching heights beyond their control. but this radio show segment is just temporary, and eventually they’ll sign off the air as a team forever.

will Lucie help Aiden dust off his derelict heart and show him that he never stopped believing in love; he was just too scared to want it? will they embrace the magic of their connection and grab onto the happiness they both deserve? you’ll have to tune in to find out!
_
what can I say?! Becs does it again!

the pacing was great, and I really appreciated the family dynamics. oftentimes with single parent romances, we see the child get pushed to the background, but Maya was handled so well in this story, and the co-parenting relationship was beautiful.

Becs also did a wonderful job of illustrating the pain and anxiety of having a loved one with cancer without it overwhelming the story or bringing a perpetually dark tone.

First-Time Caller is like slipping into your coziest sweater with a mug of hot chocolate waiting for you. it brings endless joy and satisfaction. and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book in this new B.K. Borison series!
•

this and that:
♡ Aragorn x Legolas appreciation
♡ Baltimore pride
♡ blind dates
♡ broom closets
♡ chocolate mints
♡ chosen family
♡ coffee in cookie tins
♡ cruffins
♡ daisies and motor oil
♡ dentistry innuendos
♡ dual pov
♡ finding excuses to touch someone
♡ forced proximity
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ half smiles
♡ he doesn’t do love and she’s a big romantic
♡ indiana jones cosplay
♡ jealousy
♡ mechanic overalls
♡ open door spice
♡ piggyback rides
♡ pineapple pizza
♡ platonic co-parenting
♡ public declarations
♡ radio host x auto mechanic
♡ single mom
♡ slow burn
♡ slow dances in bars
♡ Skee-ball lessons
♡ therapy
♡ thong song
♡ tow truck fantasies
♡ who did this to you
•

triggers:
☞ cancer
☞ family ostracization

The amount of time I was smiling and giggling should be an indicator of how much fun this read was!!! Ahh I loved it and looooved Lucie and Aiden so much more💕 there’s so much to love about them. I mean the man keeps a list of her favorite things in his glove compartment! And the banter!!! Ugh it was too good!! I loved all of their cutesy flirting and it all just felt so real!

Soo precious soo magical!!! This is a new fave and I can’t wait to reread because I miss them already! 10/10 infinite stars I’m obsessed<3

berkley romance thank you sooo much for this arc ! Ily<3

Oh. My. God. I was hooked right from the start and I didn’t know I was going to love this book so much, but here I am about to make it my whole personality.

I’ve never seen Sleepless in Seattle but I know the premise, and reading this book has inspired me to have a movie night. I love a romance where one of the characters is emotionally messy and scared to have any kind of feelings (platonic or romantic) because they have a fear of losing people. Aiden 🤝 me

I also heavily related to Lucie and I think a lot of people will as well, because she’s looking for that magic in love and relationships. Aren’t we all?? Lucie’s road to love had some potholes and detours, but the destination was well worth it. The chemistry and banter between her and Aiden was so quick and witty that I felt like I was in the same room as them and laughing along. The other friends and family group dynamics also helped the story’s momentum and the meddling from Lucie’s daughter was perfect.

The third act breakup didn’t really feel like one, but more of a “the ball is in your court and I’ll be waiting for you” and I kind of liked it because of how chaotic Aiden’s feelings and anxiety was. Also total side note, but Lucie working as a car mechanic and in greasy coveralls did things to me, okay? Anyways!

I am so excited to continue this series and have some ideas of who the next book could be, but until then, I’m going to be thinking of Aiden and Lucie for a long time. And you’re telling me I have to wait till next year to hold this book in my hands?? Rude. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks Berkley for the arc in exchange for an unbiased review

I have never read BK Borison - the audiobook narrator for Lovelight Farms threw me off so much that I’m putting it off until at least November.

So much truth, humor, and love to “First Time Caller”. The side characters were beautiful, the grumpy x sunshine was everything. There was even a little callback to a Christmas tree farm.

The entirety of the bar scene had me kicking my feet for two days.

I can’t wait to find out who is next in Heartstrings. Jackson & the weather girl? And something has to happen with butt Cooper Wren who had his name dropped just once … I’m thinking it’s a clue.

Anyways 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love the premise of this book and series. I loved Sleepless and Seattle as a kid, and so I was really looking forward to this boo (I even did a rewatch). This book starts out deep and romantic. I loved calling in to the radio station, the single mom, and a grump with the last name Valentine hosting a Romance Hotline. I ate it all up, no crumbs left.

I really liked that BK really broke down some “gender norms” in this book. The FMC is a mechanic, she’s content with her life & family, and she knows what she wants. There was no damsel in distress here and I really liked that. The “damsel” was lightweight Aiden lol. He was a sensitive guy, in tune with his emotions and I felt like I needed a lot more emotional support than Lucie did. Their attraction felt a little instant, and even though it was a slow burn, I kind of wish we got more building of their relationship. I do think though the timing and pacing felt true to Sleepless in Seattle.

I thought they had a lot of sweet moments, and I feel like I could picture their life in Baltimore. BK does a great job of setting a scene, where you get transported into the neighborhood, the house, and the community.

I can’t wait for book 2, as I’ve gotten older I now love When Harry Met Sally, and I can’t wait to see what quirky Jackson gets up to in book 2.

I really enjoyed this one! I was a big fan of the Lovelight series and I love Sleepless in Seattle, so I was so excited to read this one! Aiden and Lucie are so cute together and I really enjoyed how she dealt with some of the more nuanced aspects of the plot.

I devoured this in less than 24 hours - I could NOT put it down!

One night, Maya - Lucie's preteen daughter, calls in to a radio show about love asking the host for advice on her moms lack of a love life. Lucie overhears her daughter on the phone, takes it from her, and after a little misunderstanding as to why this grown man is talking to her daughter in the middle of the night, she opens up about why she is reluctant to find love.

Lucie is an amazing mother and has an amazing co-parenting agreement with Maya's dad. Lucie and Grayson have been best friends since childhood and after Maya gets pregnant they are both cut off from their families. Grayson is married to Mateo and while the family isn't "typical" it really is everything Lucie could ask for, minus the fact that she doesn't have a partner of her own.

Enter Aiden who is dealing with a lifetime of waiting for the other shoe to drop as he has dealt with a sick parent for most of his life. He keeps himself closed off as a defense mechanism but he finds it more and more difficult to stay away from Lucie.

It doesn't hurt that Lucie's call into the station goes viral and she is asked to come join Aiden on his radio show and document her journey going on dates. After two failed attempts she is ready to give up, but Aiden comes to her aid when she is stood up and the flirting and tension and banter IS EVERYTHING.

I love these two characters so so so so much. Aiden is just like the grumpy secret soft boy of my dreams and Lucie is so relatable and such a strong FMC - it was so fun reading about her journey and seeing her character growth firsthand.

This story is told in dual POV (YAY) so we really get an amazing understanding of both characters and their motivations. There is some spice but it is mostly tension and flirting which like SO much better honestly.

Also, this man keeps a written list of Lucie's favorite things in his glove compartment so he wont forget what she likes. He builds her a blanket/pillow fort, orders her favorite pizza, knows how she takes her coffee etc but then still thinks hes incapable of love.

There is a third act breakup but it is very quickly resolved and it honestly makes the ending so much better!

There is also a scene in the closet at the radio station..... Ill just leave it at that.