This is one of those books where you’re rooting for the two main characters from the get-go and you just have to keep reading because their path to togetherness contains such a perfect mix of emotional, humorous, and swoony moments. Lucie and Aiden both think they know what they want and those wants are completely opposing; it takes several evenings of close proximity in a radio booth for them to gradually shift their positions. Aiden’s journey from jaded to crush to ‘what do I do with all these feelings?’ is so beautifully written, and Lucie, with the life she’s so determinedly built, is charming, captivating, and relatable. With an excellently-drawn supporting cast and amusing radio show snippets between chapters, this is a romance that I’m already looking forward to reading again.

I loved this book!!! Lucie and AAidenwere perfect . They felt so natural and real which I have found with many of this authors books. I loved little maya and Grayson's meddling.
All over a lovely read!

First Time Caller by B.K. Borison is a charming contemporary romance that expertly blends humor and heart. Following Lucie as she navigates love and personal aspirations, the story showcases her witty banter with a captivating radio host. Borison's sharp writing and well-developed characters create a delightful narrative filled with relatable struggles and genuine chemistry. It’s a quick, engaging read that beautifully captures the unpredictability of modern love. A must-read for fans of romantic comedies!It’s a perfect read for those who enjoy a blend of romance and humor with a dash of real-world relatability. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I am so in love with this book! I feel so, so lucky to have received an ARC for First Time Caller! Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and B.K. Borison, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity!

First Time Caller is one of my most anticipated 2025 releases, so I dropped everything to read this book as soon as I got approved! It very quickly made it into my top 5 reads of 2024, and it is my favourite B.K. Borison book to date. This book was EVERYTHING! I cannot get over how much I loved this book. It felt like a warm hug from the first page, it was adorable, and it is one of the best romance books I have read, because the way it made me feel was just... magic. Infinite stars!

Aiden and Lucie are very well written characters, and they felt so real and relatable. Their relationship develops in such an organic and heart-warming way that you can't help but fall in love with them. The attraction, the yearning, the love between them... you feel all the emotions! The slow burn was fantastic, and when they finally get together... wow! I really enjoyed all the other characters and Lucie's family dynamics, it was unique but so perfect! I loved how the book was structured, and it has the best 90's rom-com vibes; I actually was picturing it as a movie while I was reading! The ending and epilogue were so well written and perfectly wrapped up the story. I loved everything about this book and I could talk about it for hours. I can't wait to have a physical copy because I *need* to annotate and highlight so many parts!

I will now spend the rest of the year resisting the urge to do a re-read, but I have a feeling I'm not strong enough and will read it at least once more before release day!

A huge thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and B.K. Borison for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved how real the story felt because of how relatable the characters were and how authentically modern day dating was portrayed – I mean, everyone just wants to be loved in some way…

Lucie and Aiden’s "meet-cute“ was hilarious! I loved how Maya called for dating advice for her mom and how Lucie ended up doing the romance hotline with Aiden. Aiden definitely fell first (and harder) and I enjoyed how jealous he was of anyone who called to date Lucie.

I liked that the story was a slow burn. The conflict and resolution were predictable, but made sense for the plot. Both Aiden and Lucie had a good character development – I just wish Aiden had spent more time with Maya, but I’m hoping we'll get glimpses of their relationship in the coming books. Even though I was sad to leave Inglewild, I think Borison’s new series will be just as good. That being said, I can’t wait for Jackson and Delilah (work-rivals to lovers?) or whatever comes next!

Book 1 in the HEARTSTRINGS series and I am already obsessed. I fell head-over-heels in love with Aiden - that man is an abslute sweetheart.
If you love a good slow burn then you need to read this, seriously. I adored Becca's LOVELIGHT series, but this is by far the best book she has ever written. I am so jealous of everyone who gets to read it for the first time.

I am a massive fan of this author, the love light farms series is one of my all time favourites so I was very excited for this one.

There was so much to love about this book that I don't even know where to begin with this review. I will start with the two main characters. I enjoyed the dual POV and as a reader who loves, relates to and heavily invests in flawed characters I was hooked early on. Lucie was a brilliant female MC smashing independent women life with a kick ass job as a mechanic. Aiden was so reserved to begin with but his character arc development was perfection. I really loved the found family element, it was lovely to see such a well formed family that was made up of people who had genuine love and respect for each other. The romantic touches in this *list in the glove box - I'm looking at you* were just perfect and had me swooning.

Thank you B K Borison for another wonderful romance.

Also can I just take a minute to say how much I love this cover!!

“I like that. Thinking that I’m worth paying attention to. Something ordinary made extraordinary by the person you’re sharing it with. That’s the sort of date I’d want.”

First of all thank you so much to BK, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this gorgeous ARC of First-time Caller ♥️

This book and BK’s heartfelt storytelling is every reason why I love the 90s nostalgia of a great rom com with all the feelings. This book filled my heart and made me grin. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned and felt all the pitter patters that reminded me why I love a slow burn romance.

Aiden is definitely a secret, swoony boy. I loved his layers and the honesty of his heart once he’s brave enough to show it.

Lucie is kind and smart, funny and effervescent. Her humour is beautifully refreshing and her vulnerability shows her strength.

It must be said that I obviously have a crush on spicy Maggie. I loved adorable Jackson and I definitely want to know more about his (enemies to lovers workplace?) story 😏

The chemistry LEAPT off the pages between Aiden and Lucie and BK 💯 nailed the feelings and humour of all my favourites: this was Sleepless in Seattle and One Fine Day. It was While You Were Sleeping and the kind of magic that made me believe in the best romances.

I’m giddy that I got to receive an early copy of this book and will never stop raving about it.

A delightful, heartwarming, slow burn spicy 5 ⭐️

Fave moments(without spoilers) are:

“Nah, Lucie. I think you’re the magic.”

“Wider. Make room for me.”

“Because you said it was your favourite. And I want your favourite to be my favourite.”

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Borison outdid herself with this one, writing wise this is an upgrade from the Lovelight series which i already love.

If I had to describe this book in three words it would be cozy, cute and funny. I absolutely loved the vibes and the characters, especially Lucie, who is officially one of my fav female characters. She was so charming and relatable.

While Aiden and Lucie were cute, their romance scenes felt kind of superficial to me. However, i enjoyed the characters dynamic so much that it didn't really bother me that much.

This is definitely going to be a comfort book for the winter time for me and i can't wait to be officially released so i can finally get this gorgeous cover in my hands.

I'm already excited for the next book, Jackson seems really funny.

where do I even start with trying to review this book that broke me into pieces and put me back together? i giggled, swooned (HARD) and sobbed..
B.K Borison has been an auto-buy author for me since the beginning of lovelight farms with her whistful writing and loveable characters and this did not disappoint, instead it completely exceeded my expectations.

plot˖˚⊹ ꣑ৎ‎ I loved the premise of this book and the fact it took after one of my fave romcoms ever (sleepless in seattle).. i found the whole radio host/ finding Lucie love, a different and unique premise that I absolutely adored from the minute Maya made the first call. I felt like it was well-paced and I found myself not being able to stop reading chapter after chapter.
i loved how the focus was solely on adien and lucie- with the side characters being loveable but without taking too much away from the story of adien and lucie .
the writing was stunning and I found myself having a regular little cry at just how well B.K Borrison could describe feelings I had never even considered.

adien & lucie˖˚⊹ ꣑ৎ‎ this relationship is a slowwwburn so expect a lot of tension and a bit of conflict, but I honestly fell in love with both these characters and wanted the absolute best for the both of them. the characters felt raw, real and everything I wanted from a romance book.
the conflict towards the end only added more depth and I felt it made sense with all the feelings adien had to work through. it just made me so much more endeared to them both.

overall, I could find no real fault with this book and loved every moment of reading it. my only regret is reading too quickly!

B.K. Borison has done it again! What a wonderful book. I loved it and couldn't stop reading.
I loved watching Lucie and Aiden's relationship grow.
I really liked Lucie's relationship with Maya's father and his husband, which was fantasic and different from how it usually is in books. Found family in the best of ways.
This was just lovely. Heartwarming and funny.
This is a book I definitely will reread in the future.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book early.

I’m taking this as my sign to read more of B.K. Borison’s books because THIS was everything I needed and more. I’ve been in a reading slump for a little over a week and this was the perfect book to get me out of it. Lucie and Aiden’s story was so sweet and I really love how the plot progressed. The flirting was top tier and I related to both Lucie and Aiden in so many ways - they were such real and raw characters which I loved. The *only* reason this wasn’t a 5 star read was because of the third act breakup… but other than that, OBSESSED 🩷

Thank you for my earc of this book. I was so looking forward to this book, especially after loving love light farms!
I did enjoy this but I have to (painfully) admit that it didn’t live up to my expectations. I liked the romance and thought our MCs were loveable and the plot enjoyable but something felt a little superficial about it for me? I can’t quite put my finger on it but the romance didn’t draw me in as much as others and it almost felt flat/awkward during the sex scenes

B.K. Borison is back with an absolute banger!

While I was nervous going into the first Borison book not set within the scope of Lovelight Farms family, this story was filled with a rom-com magic all its own. Where I really liked Lovelight Farms and its sequels, I LOVED First Time Caller and I am beyond excited to see the future instalments in this series. At this point I will read anything Borison puts out.

The humour in this book is right up my alley. I kept finding myself smiling and laughing along with the characters. Dare I say Borison is queen of banter? From Aidan and Jackson's back and forth, to Lucie and Greyson's relationship, the friendships in this story feel so real and made me want to join them all for a coffee and cruffin. The family dynamic in this book felt so unique to me and there were so many sweet moments with Greyson and Lucie that had me questioning why we don't see more healthy co-parent representation because damn, I ate it all up.

Borison hit all my weak spots with this book. I'm a sucker for a pining, protective hero, and Aidan embodies that in the most beautiful non-toxic way. Give me aaaall the longing glances, brief touches and overthinking. Once again, I ate it all up.

Officially placing Borison as an auto-buy-author. I'll recommend this to absolutely everyone who loves a good rom-com.

becs always manages to leave me feeling all good and warm and mushy inside after finishing a book and this was no exception. this had me grinning and giggling at every other page and she's just SO. GOOD. at writing romance that it makes you truly believe in love. i love aiden and lucie and i love maya my baby and i love every single character in this book so much and i am SEATED for the rest of the series

BK Borison has done it again!

First time caller is perfect. I really liked the chemistry between Aiden and Lucie. The initial phone call between Lucie and Aiden was so funny and all set up by Maya, Lucie daughter. The family dynamic is really fun and you can tell Maya is loved by them all.

I was reading it at 5.30 in the morning and sobbing, so I would say look out for triggers.

A Dual POV book always makes me happy and this is a really excellent one! BK Borison really knows how to make me feel things. This book is full of wanting magic in your life and in your relationships. Thanks you for writing this book!

‘First Time Caller’ by B. K. Borison is a wonderful romance novel set at a Baltimore radio station, starring agony uncle and host of ‘Heartstrings’ Aiden Valentine and mechanic and mother Lucie. After Lucie’s daughter Maya calls in to Aiden’s show to ask for advice to help her mom’s love life, a funny and gorgeous tale begins!

I really enjoyed:
- The dual POV narrative, sprinkled with snippets from the radio show
- Lucie’s mischievous daughter Maya, and the wholesome relationship they share with Maya’s fathers
- Pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza, but the way Aiden grew to love it because of Lucie (who adores it) was cute!
- Lucie’s job - as a car mechanic - was very atypical for a romance heroine which was refreshing
- Aiden’s character development in the second half of the book was wonderful
- The final grand gesture was so much fun!

It took me a while to get into the novel, as the characters didn’t immediately strike me as relatable or especially loveable, but the tale and the stars certainly grew on me. Seems like this is the start of a new ‘Heartstrings’ series, so I’m intrigued… hoping we may get to hear more about Elliott (the only nice guy Lucie dated, who was totally pining for someone else!)

Giving this four stars - try it if you want a sweet, spicy, slightly unconventional romance that will grow on you and leave you wanting to spend more time with the characters.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Pan MacMillan via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was so stinking cute!! I loved the 2 main characters and their chemistry was chefs kiss😩 the premise was so cool and the story was well rounded out. 4.5 stars.

I fell so hard for these two!

I wasn’t expecting such a warm hug of a book that grabbed me by the hand and took me along with it.

The romance is tender and sweet … until they’re off air 🎙️ the spicy scenes were *chefs kiss* but I also found myself **squealing** when he brushed her hair back or caught her hand.

I read this in 24 hours as I couldn’t put it down!

📻 Playing: “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” 🎶
“I think you’re the magic.”

4.5⭐ I have to declare myself a fan of B.K. Borison’s work. This is such a heartwarming and beautiful story. I’m in love of the setting and atmosphere that the author is always successful creating.

The beginning is captivating, though some parts before the 60% mark feel a bit slow. But the remaining 40%? Easily the best part. Lucie and Aiden's moments gave me butterflies. Perfect banter, flirting, sexual tension, and spice.

Lucie is a delight, and her relationship with Maya feels so effortless. Maya is fantastic too, and I love that she’s present at just the right moments. The dynamic with Grayson and Mateo is lovely as well. It's clear the focus is on Lucie’s journey of rediscovery, along with her relationship with Aiden, and I really appreciate that. Though, I did find myself a bit frustrated with some of Lucie and Aiden’s moods at times.

I absolutely LOVE the conversations on the radio show, it's like a talkie version of the interview extracts in “When Harry met Sally”. A DO RA BLE.

This book has memorable quotes:
- “I don’t want something perfect; I want something honest. Something that can be mine.”

- “I’m gonna love you so good, Lucie.”

Lastly, what a heartfelt acknowledgment from the author to “Sleepless in Seattle” and Nora Ephron. “First-time caller” is definitely a love letter to love. 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.