4.75 stars, thank you to netgalley for the arc.
I think the author must have heard us all saying we needed yearning back in our lives, and she delivered.
As a big fan of meg ryans catalogue of films, I was very excited for this and was not disappointed.
Really loved it, the girlies are gonna enjoy this one

Oh man, this was so good ! I loved the sweet chemistry between Aiden (the grumpy one) and Lucie (the sunshine one). I enjoyed all the reflection around relationships,the sweet banter, the not so solo mom vibes. The story is pretty cool : Aiden runs a radio show about romance, even if he has stopped believing in it. And Lucie's daughter calls his show because she wants her mom to stop being lonely. And they begin to speak together, and the chemistry is so obvious that Lucie is asked to join the show.
My heart broke a little for them, but also filled with good vibes, and that's all I'm waiting from a romance novel. I loved it !

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"When the whole world tells you you're silly for wanting the things you want, you start to believe them. You start to think you're not worth it. That if the things you're waiting for do exist, they're not for someone like you."

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 448 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: B.K. Borison
⏳ 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: Interconnected Standalone Series
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Pan Macmillan
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 13 February 2025

What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Romance
— First Person X Dual POV
— Mechanic X Romance Radio Show Host
— Single Mother
— Grumpy X Sunshine
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Close Proximity
— Found Family
— Matchmaking Antics
— Yearning & Banter
— Self Reflection & Discovery

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
First-Time Caller is the first instalment in the Heartstrings series by author B.K. Borison. This is my first book by the author and it's safe to say that she has successfully ripped my heart out of my chest, stomped on it and then shoved the mangled pieces back into its rightful place. I never felt more emotionally connected and laid bare by a fictional journey towards love in my entire existence as a reader... and yet it was everything that I needed from the experience and then some. I feel like every hidden fear and raw vulnerability that I've long buried has been shoved to the surface with a coddling sense of love and patience. The compelling and tumultuous journey had me riveted to my kindle device and finding myself unwilling to put it down. First-Time Caller felt perfectly paced as we are granted ample opportunity to explore our two main characters within their own time as they grow and learn from two deeply vulnerable individuals into an undeniably captivating romantic pair. The compelling dialogue perfectly balanced the banter-filled interactions alongside the deeply intimate character exploration that takes place from beginning to end. The endearing cast of characters leave you wishing you were a member within their unshakeable found family unit which is filled with nothing but love, patience and understanding. I was utterly enraptured by the emotionally-driven dialogue and character interactions which left me laughing and sobbing (sometimes at the same time) as my own heart swelled with the love to be found within the pages of this beautiful book. I have never felt more seen, understood and yet terrified at the same time by that recognition in all of my life. This story was crafted with clear heart and intent and there's no denying that I will cherish it for many many years to come as it is not only one of my favourite books of the year, but one of my favourite books ever. I'm so excited to read the sequel which I am hoping will feature a certain workplace rivals-to-lovers that is teased during this story.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
First-Time Caller follows the journey of Lucie Stone as she faces the unknown in a bid to feel brave and chase after the magic that is missing from her life. Lucie has lived her adult life in content for all of the good that she is grateful to possess. A wonderfully charismatic twelve-year-old daughter, a dramatic best friend and co-parent to said daughter and a job that she enjoys. She doesn't think she needs a romantic partner to fill the gaps within her life until her daughter takes matters into her own hands and phones into a romance radio show in the hopes of finding her mother a date. Suddenly Lucie finds herself agreeing to being a feature on the radio show as they try to matchmake her into finding the magic that she realises has been missing... until she realises her unexpected magic can be found within her surly co-host, Aiden Valentine, who has long-lost his belief in love and romantic sparks. I absolutely adored watching the plot unfold through hilarious yet well-meaning meddling. Lucie's reaction to catching her pre-teen daughter on the phone to a strange man within the confines of darkness should not have been as funny as it was, but it offered the delicious first tasting of the banter to be found between Lucie and Aiden. I was immediately entranced by their connection and couldn't wait to explore it further as their immediate chemistry was seen by everybody except themselves. I loved how we got to experience snippets of their live interactions in the booth and quickly became addicted to how their connection was showcased to evolve much to delight of the callers who were cheering for Lucie's success. First-Time Caller is definitely long in length compared to what's standard for a Romance book, however I feel like every page was well utilised to give these characters the story that they deserved throughout the duration of the plot. Can Lucie put her trust within herself and a group of strangers to find that connection that she has yearned for? Can a man like Aiden reignite the darkness within his heart that has long since buried beneath his fear of the unknown... or will their time end leaving them more fractured than ever? Only time will time.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
The character of Lucie Stone alone has solidified First-Time Caller as a five star read for me without the sheer perfection that is the entire story. Lucie is a beautiful soul who somewhere along the lines of her life has become convinced that the love she yearns for is unattainable and is asking for too much. She loves her life and carries a lot of pride for the volume of love can be found within, and as a result Lucie has found herself expecting and asking for less. I really resonated with Lucie's character as she is visibly struggling with her own deep-rooted fears and vulnerabilities that have convinced her that romantic love is not meant to be a part of her life. That the love she yearns for is too much of an ask. The expectation of a partner to willingly mould into the life that she has lovingly carved with her untraditional family dynamics that is no less real or true. Lucie's journey truly broke my heart and I admired the seemingly unlimited abundance of strength that she possessed when things didn't work out as she hoped. Her bravery and optimism in her pursuit for love tugged on my heartstrings in spite of her fears, and I felt nothing but pride for her journey and character progression from beginning to end. Getting to see Lucie evolve into a more confident and headstrong woman who recognised that the magic she was searching for wasn't going to be found within a fantasy derived with her mind and instead, within something real. Something real that is perfect in its imperfectness. Something that is hard work, sometimes messy and means exposing every vulnerable aspect within yourself that you have ever harboured with the faith that the other person will love you regardless. Seeing Lucie recognise her worth and the value that she brings to a relationship left me audibly cheering and I concluded First-Time Caller feeling so much joy. Her relationship with her daughter was such a wholesome aspect to explore and I loved how Lucie seemed to channel a lot of her inner-strength from the hopefulness of her child. It was so special to see Lucie supported by such a wonderful group of people who continued to cheer her on and lift her up during moments of doubt. The love felt within my own grasp and I loved how Lucie continued to feel embolden by her circle of chosen family. I feel genuinely inspired by Lucie's bravery and I cannot wait to re-read this book when I know I'll need the reminder the most.

Aiden Valentine is a unique and complex character who I enjoyed breaking down into smaller pieces as the truth around who he is slowly unravelled over time and with patience. Aiden is a man who has long lost his belief in love after his once hopeful career about giving strangers advice and the confidence to pursue love backfires as callers instead call to complain about their partners. Constantly hearing about the negative aspects of being in a relationship has fizzled out the spark and joys of the idea of love, and Aiden isn't keen on feeling any other way after experiencing a great deal of trauma. With show ratings at its lowest and his job now being at risk, Aiden knows something has to change and that something needs to begin with himself. I loved how the people within Aiden's orbit were unafraid to call him out and keep him accountable. Aiden unknowingly fell into a surly emotional state that affected the people around him and I was thrilled to follow him on his journey towards unpacking his emotional trauma and becoming a better presence for those who deserved it. I truly felt connected to his character as it quickly became clear that a lot of Aiden's character and his regard towards love stems from an almost paralysing fear that has dictated much of his young and adult life. Learning his backstory broke my heart, however I was grateful to be offered the insight as suddenly everything about Aiden Valen was making more sense. I loved how despite being adamant that love is not on the table, his actions spoke significantly louder than his words as it was clear Aiden's heart was ready to take a chance long before his brain was. Aiden is a deeply emotional being who often struggles with feeling and expressing those emotions to their fullest extent and as a result he unfortunately makes some mistakes along the way. His flaws were everything as they accurately reflect real human reactions and I loved how easy it was to connect with his character. I love how Aiden found a lot of strength within Lucie's hopeful outlook on life, and how over time this emboldened him to want to be the partner that she deserves. I loved how all of his softness seemed reserved for her alone and the attentiveness that to held for the beautiful woman who embodies the sunshine he shouldn't want yet craves. Aiden is a true sweetheart at his core and I loved every single moment of his journey from beginning to end. Seeing him take responsibility for himself and put in the work to right his wrongs made me feel nothing but pride, and I loved seeing the joyful man who came out of the experience in the end.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
I was honestly giddy from the very first interaction between Aiden and Lucie as their instant chemistry was undeniable to miss which left me feeling excited for everything that still to come. I love nothing more than following the love story of two broken souls who find healing and acceptance within one another and First-Time Caller was no different. The banter between the pair left me grinning like a creepy cheshire cat as they seamlessly bounced off of one another from that very first phone call. It's actually comical how long it took Aiden and Lucie to realise that they shared a mutual attraction whilst everybody else around them was just waiting for the inevitable to happen whilst shaking their heads at their stubbornness. The way they show up for one another and established a beautiful bond built on trust and respect was everything I needed from their origin story. I loved how their friendship becomes a staple within their relationship at it created a safe space to open up about their deepest vulnerabilities and fears without judgement or ridicule. The fact that Aiden went running towards Lucie as soon as he found out that her date stood her up? Swoon. And don't get me started on the fact that this man keeps a list of her favourite things in his car and bought her favourite pizza to try so that it would also become his favourite. I could've melted there and then in a puddle of my tears. I loved getting to watch Aiden and Lucie grow and evolve together prior to acting on their attraction as it helped deepen their connection and the believability of their compatibility. Aiden's immediate acceptance of Lucie's unconventional family dynamic and the way he seamlessly fit into their routine? Obsessed. I love how Aiden just took all of the craziness in his stride and grew with confidence at his place by Lucie's side. The big romantic gesture at the end was hilarious and romantic, and felt very fitting for these two wonderful souls. The way the people within their lives championed their relationship during times of struggle was everything that they needed and I'll forever adore the supportive group of people that Aiden and Lucie are lucky to call friends. Honestly the only thing I missed was getting to see Lucie meet Aiden's parents. I think that interaction could've been a beautifully vulnerable and intimate conversation that would greatly benefitted the story, however this is more personal preference as opposed to something that the book was missing. Aiden and Lucie are so perfectly suited and I've ended First-Time Caller feeling more content or satisfied with their journey.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
As this is my first read by author B.K. Borison I genuinely went in blind with little to no expectations on the journey that was awaitinf me. The overwhelming sense of joy that I feel having discovered a new favourite book that I emotionally connected with on a deeper level than I ever have before is deeply gratifying, and I cannot thank the author more for creating two beautifully vulnerable characters like Aiden and Lucie. I'm so beyond excited for the second instalment to the series And Now, Back To You which I'm hoping will feature a teased workplace rivals-to-lovers romance story that I already know is going to be rife with delicious and unwanted yearning. If you're looking for a Romance book to read and obsess over in 2025... do yourself a favour and make it this one.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

He keeps a list of her favourite things in his car. He builds a fort. He is everything a girl wants!

The story-line was strong, and as fan of the movie 'Sleepless in Seattle,' this book was the perfect read. Lucie was so relatable and Aiden was just a dream. I loved everything about him.

I loved the side characters, Grayson, Mateo, Maya and Patty, oh I need a Patty in my life!

I laughed and I cried, the phone call Aiden makes to his dad had me in tears. The character development really pulls you in, you can see them both changing throughout the boo.
(Trigger warning, this does mention cancer.)

The epilogue tied the story up perfectly however it did leave me wanting more. I want to know what their life is like, I want to listen to Heartstrings with Aiden and Lucie!

Thank you NetGalley and B.K. Borison for the opportunity to read this e-arc before its release. I will be recommending this book to all the ladies at my bookclub

It is no secret that from the moment that B. K. Borison announced she was working on a trilogy based on the Nora Ephron holy trinity, I started to beg and plead to everyone who would listen to give me a chance to read and review the first book, First-Time Caller. And I’m so happy to confirm that this is her best book yet, and a fantastic start to a series paying tribute to an immensely special set of films.
Of the three films that inspired the Heartstrings series, Sleepless in Seattle has probably aged the worst – charming as Meg Ryan is, it gets very hard to defend her character’s arc (I’d actually forgotten she hires a private detective to run a background check on Tom Hanks’ character after listening to his radio interview). However, B. K. Borison captures all the charm from the film – the precocious children, the difficulty of opening up to love after experiencing grief, the tenderness and reluctant wonder with which both characters move through the world – and brings it into the 21st century with her own spin. First-Time Caller is an homage, not a retelling, and it’s all the better for it.
Lucie and Aiden’s dynamic is a wonderful slow burn. Even though they’re smitten right away, their feelings for each other are so believable and I’m still analysing how B. K. Borison pulled that off, because to make love at first sight convincing to a romance reader as picky as me is tricky. I think it boils down to the respect and maturity they show to each other, and the trust that underpins their relationship from the get-go, going from coworkers who have their doubts about each other to close friends with undeniable chemistry. Though the buildup is slow, the payoff is amazing, to the point that I was blushing once the slow burn builds up.
Every character in this book won me over completely. Lucie’s lack of luck with relationships and her dedication to her daughter is so believable – it’s hard to summarise it without making it sound trite, but B. K. Borison infuses her with depth and grit and strength. Her struggle to balance her yearning for romance and companionship with her fears about opening up is so relatable, and it captures the spirit of the dedication (“For the hopeless romantics, and the reluctant ones too”) so well. I loved her co-parents, and her best friend who pushes her to get out of her comfort zone, and of course I loved her daughter Maya, who miraculously manages to be smart and bold and precocious without getting on my nerves at all. And Aiden? An absolute dreamboat who rivals Charlie Porter for my favourite B. K. Borison love interest. He’s so kind even when he’s feeling completely disillusioned with the world, and it was so effortless to root for him to open up even in the face of grief and fear.
Last but not least – I love that B. K. Borison doesn’t set her books in the typical settings for romcoms. It was such a pleasure to see Baltimore, a city I only knew from Hairspray and Sleepless in Seattle, through Lucy and Aiden’s eyes. There’s so many little details that showcase B. K. Borison’s love of this city, and it’s so refreshing to see people with slightly more ordinary lives get their happy endings too.
I cannot wait for the rest of the Heartstrings books, and also to be holding a copy of this in my hands to annotate and photograph and give pride of place to on my romance shelf once it’s ready. Nora Ephron would be so, so proud of this.

B.K. Borison has done it again - everything she writes is full of magic. It’s comforting, perfect escapism, and I will continue to read absolutely anything she writes. This book was perfect, and I will be thinking about it for a long time.

I LOVED this !! omg just what i needed i couldn’t put it down! i absolutely love the movie sleepless in seattle its always been a favourite of mine and this book gave me all the same feelings. i can’t believe i’ve had this book for like 5 months and didn’t read it sooner!! just so entertaining i was smiling the whole time and had butterflies. tears at the end too, this was the cutest read !!

4.25
If he wanted to, he would. Aiden definitely wanted to. So he did.

This book was meant to make you feel all happy and hopeful and romancy and however you feel when you fall in love and it certainly succeeded in that.
I caught myself several times smiling and grinning during the majority of the book and I can’t remember when *that* happened the last time.

Aiden, who somewhat gave up on love, and Lucie, who is looking for love and the magic that comes with it, make such a great pair! Love, love, love their chemistry and their back and forth banter during the radio show and generally throughout the book.
I feel like as a reader, one can not only relate to one of the characters, but to both. I certainly did.

Maya, Lucie’s 12 year-old daughter, was my highlight and the secret star of the book!

Even though I very much liked “First-Time Caller”, I have a couple of minor complaints.
First was the development of the attraction from Aiden. I feel like he went from “oh, she’s kinda cute” to “this woman deserves everything and I will make sure she gets it” pretty quickly and too suddenly, compared to how everything else developed.
I wouldn’t say this book is too long or it felt dragged out, but I do think there were parts/scenes that could have been either shorter or replaced with something else. For example, I would have loved to have more banter with Jackson (Aiden’s best friend) in between or more scenes at Lucie’s job (she’s a mechanic, HELLOOO?!?!?) or maybe another scene with Aiden’s parents.
Last thing: there was some miscommunication happening which was fine, but that whole fight that happened at the end felt very inconsistent to everything else communication wise, especially on Aiden’s side, even though his reaction wasn’t necessarily out of character.
What do you mean Lucie was quite literally handing him her heart and all he did was stay silent?

Those are, again, minor complaints on my part and do not take away that I really enjoyed this book and think B.K. Borison did a great job with this one.
Absolutely not surprised about anyone rating this book 5 stars.
Very excited for book two of this series! And three for that matter!

First-Time Caller is my first Borison's book and I enjoyed it very much! It was sweet and cute with relatable characters. Lucie and Aiden's relationship was well developed, with them slowly falling for each other. I only wished some aspects were developed a little bit more, but in the end it was really a good romance book.

This book was cute - just cute! 

I enjoy romance books, but it’s rarely anything to write home about. I tend to find a lot of romance fake, clichéd, cringy, and highly unlikely. But sometimes, I find a romance that feels real and romantic. First Time Caller was that sort of book for me. This kind of book makes all the other ones worth it!

I loved the characters, the dialogue, the pace, and the story itself. I also tend to find spice cringy, but in this book, I didn’t cringe once - it felt more like I was seeing a relationship develop in real-time. It was simply cute!

It's safe to say that my first B. K. Borison book was a success. I WILL be reading all her other ones!

*Thank you to the author and publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

What a book 🙌🏼

I absolutely adored this book! The pacing was perfect and the romance was definitely a slow burn but in the best way
I loved Lucie, how honest she was and her way of looking at love. She was funny, smart and the tension between her and Aiden was perfect
Aiden is such a sweetie! He did drive me crazy at some points but he redeemed himself at the end. His trauma really impacted on his day to day and I’m glad that he found a way through it
Maya and the dads were the perfect comic relief in this book and Jackson has me so intrigued! I would love to see another book just for him.
A knock out romance book 💗

this book was pure romance. i honestly don’t think i have words to say how much i adored this - aiden is ‘if he wanted to he would’/‘boy obsessed’ PERSONIFIED. b. k. borison has smashed it out of the park yet again

i loved the characters but the last third of the book almost seemed predictable and drawn out for no reason other than to lengthen the book.

Love love love this book! Adore how the characters went from strangers, to friends, to lovers.

Wonderful writing and some really evocative ways of describing things, feelings and situations.

Can’t wait until it’s published so I can own a copy!

This was my second B.K. Borison book after Lovelight Farms and I liked it just as much, maybe even more?

I loved how, although Lucie was a single mum, it wasn't made her whole personality like some books have done in the past in my opinion. Her relationship with her daughter, her baby daddy and his partner were all so wholesome and healthy and added bonus points for me. That on top of how the radio aspect was introduced just made this extra special too. I loved the chemistry between our MMC Aiden and Lucie and their spicy scenes were so hot! My only criticism is that once they had a spicy scene the connection between them from the radio scenes and date scene wasn't represented on page as much as before and I would have liked it to have continued in the same way as it dampened my believability in their romance and relationship by the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book releases on the 13th of February!

4 ☆
I'm so grateful to have read this early - its definitely been an anticipated read for 2025 and it absolutely delivered.

I also know the age old saying 'you shouldn't judge a book by its cover', but I also wanted to add a side note to say whoever designed the cover of this book did a fantastic job!

After loving the Lovelight Farms series I had high hopes for this and I knew I could count on B.K. Borison to bring us another brilliant read . The book is clearly based upon Sleepless in Seattle (Which if you haven't watched it, what are you doing - go watch!). If you want a cute rom-com with characters that are down to earth and relatable then I'd pick this book up.

I loved the way the MMC AND MFC met, and Aiden is by no means perfect, but certainly relatable, and his growth during the book was heart-warming to read. Overall if you want a cute, heart-warming read with great tension and chemistry please pick this up :)
I can't wait to read what she releases next.

TW: for discussion of parent who had cancer

o m g, this book was just *kicks feet and squeals into pillow* My first by this author and I so appreciate that I got approved for this ARC. The moment i read a small excerpt I was hooked and needed to know more about these characters. Aiden and Lucie just leapt off the page and their chemistry was so palpable from the get go and the way it grows with each interaction.

Can you tell I loved it? The tension, the romance, the cozy cuteness! Just perfection.

And the secondary characters are just fabulous and add a perfect balance of funny as we get to learn more about our MCs and unravel their inner conflict and emotiooooons. Also hello the build up was so deliciously good when Lucie and Aiden finally kiss it was magic!

Now I must go devour everything else from this author!

✨4.5 stars✨

This was such an adorable romance! I loved all the characters, including the side characters who all felt real. This couple in this book were so cute together and I especially loved how Aiden remembered all the little things about Lucie.

I will definitely be reading the next book in this interconnected series!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I'm honestly so sad because I really enjoyed the Lovelight farms series and this sounded so cute! Unfortunately, I'm just finding this to be so boring! It feels long when I'm reading it and I don't really like any of the characters! Really gutted about this one!

It's not a bad book, by any means, it's just not for me!

If BK Borison has no fans, I am dead. She is honestly one of the best writers of modern romance and it was an honour to be sent an early copy of this to read. After devouring the Inglewild series (which I have read more than once), I was SO excited to dive into her new book and it did not disappoint.

Aiden and Lucie were both so loveable and, as always, the side characters were also perfect. I loved this loose retelling of Sleepless in Seattle and all the rom com vibes had me swooning. Lucie was such an amazing character with so much depth and I loved the journey she went on.

Aiden was a wonderful book boyfriend and I loved his character growth. He deserves the world and his journey to find love was so special. Him and Lucie made the perfect pair and I fell for them and their romance SO hard.

I highly recommend this book and everything BK Borison has written. I’m a true BK Fangirl! Thanks to Netgalley and Pan macmillan for this e-arc.