Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars
It’s been so long since a read a book that actually made me laugh out loud. Romcoms are not dead, B.K. Borison is keeping them alive.
Aside from the incredible side characters, the palpable tension between the FMC and the MMC, the witty humor, and the romantic setting that had me melting, giggling and kicking my feet, there was also something about Lucie and Aiden’s struggles that hit deep into my core. Being a hopeless romantic, but also settling into thinking that you don’t need or want romance, and even avoiding it so you don’t go through the risk of getting hurt.
This book felt very personal, and it’s definitely going into my Top Tier Romance List. Can’t wait for people to get the chance to read it.

My heart is full to the absolute brim with having read this book.

BK Borison is one of my top five authors since I read her Lovelight Farms series so was hoping for big things with First-Time Caller and I was not disappointed at all, and will say it is in the top 5 of my reads of 2024. BK Borison for me has a way of writing characters you can't help but fall in love with and want to protect at all costs, you might want to whack them upside the head a few times but you are honestly you are in for a treat.

This book is loosely based on Sleepless in Seattle (don't hate me I haven't watched it) with the main male MC working as a radio host in a run down radio station. HIs show is all about romance, and you can tell as soon as you meet Aiden that he is one grumpy person. He has fallen out of love with love, and being a radio host trying to promote and support those who are in love, well these two things do not mix. Lucie is our female main character, I wouldn't necessarily say she was a sunshine character but she was the Sunshine to Aiden's permanent dark cloud. She thought he life was going well, she had a gorgeous daughter, great best friends, does a job she enjoys but her daughter has other ideas.

I love that these two characters meet on Aiden's radio show, and that it was Lucie's daughter that called in secretly. The scene in the book made me chuckle with Lucie's thought process and the fact that she thought her daughter was talking to someone on the phone late at night and had tried to hide calling in to the show.

I don't want to say too much as I want you all to go in and absolutely fall in love with Aiden and Lucie. Their path to happiness is not smooth sailing, and you know I feel that you will make comments about poor Aiden and having to pull ones finger out of one's ahem you know BUT HE LOVES HER. He has a list of all her favourite things in his glove compartment of his car. He ran to her when she was stood up and upset. HE FELL HARD AND FAST. Lucie to me was a brilliant character, she had her sass, she knew what she wanted and I adored her interactions with her friends in particular her ex-partner and father to her daughter. The dramatics of the man, I am kinda sad we won't get a book about him if I am being honest.

I am excited for others to read this book and the rest of the series, and to see who the next book is about.

This book was the easiest 5 stars I've given. Everything I could wish for in a good romance book was here. I don't think I've ever rooted so hard for two love interests, and I was sucked in at the first chapter and didn't put the book down until I finished at 4am.
Our FMC Lucie is so damn relatable. I felt so drawn to her, and very seen and I know a lot of other people would feel a similar way. We're all just looking for our own slice of happiness and Lucie's vulnerability is what I imagine a lot of us are feeling deep down.
The banter between our two main characters flowed so well and had me cracking up with laughter or kicking my feet in giddy suspense for the romance that was to ensue.
I loved the single mother aspect of the story, and a strong female character working in a male dominated industry. I enjoyed the concept of the radio show being the stage for these two characters to fall in love.
And the epilogue - perfection!

If contemporary romance is a genre you enjoy, you absolutely have to pick this book up and if you've never tried out contemporary romance then this is a great starting point into the genre. It's hard not to love this book.

Thank you SO much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC copy, and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts about the book. I really appreciate it.

in this ‘sleepless in seattle’ inspired novel, we follow single mom lucie & radio host, aiden. lucie’s 12 year old daughter, maya, calls heartstrings, aiden’s radio show and asks him for advice on how to help her mom find her true love.. the clip goes viral and now the residents of baltimore are invested in lucie’s happy ever after

aiden is SO cute!! he made my heart melt so much!! this grumpy, ‘i don’t believe in love’, broody guy that is determined to help lucie on her quest to find her true love had me SWOONING! he was utterly adorable, i mean he kept a list of her favourite things in his glove compartment! could it get more cuter than that?! 🥹

lucie is one of my favourite fmc i’ve read about in a very long time!! she was so sweet and stuck to what she truly believed in.. love is magic & she did not settle for less! she’s a brave, loving soul who deserves the world.

the banter between the two characters was so delightfully entertaining and the chemistry was oozing out of my kindle. the sparks between the two was undeniably intense, it was so cosy and exciting to read about!

the found family aspect of this book is one of my favourite things about it! i absolutely loved the healthy & loving relationship lucie had with maya’s dad, grayson & his husband, mateo.

this book is definitely for lovers of cheesy romcoms & romance books 🥹

thank you so much to netgalley & panmacmillan for sending me an e-arc of this book! first time caller releases next year on 11/02/25

This was such a heartwarming romance—I couldn’t put it down! Like all of B.K. Borison’s stories, this one had me hooked right from the start. I’m a total sucker for a slow-burn with the single-parent trope, and this one has easily made it into my top five. Lucie, the hopeless romantic, and Aiden, the anti-romantic, were such a fun pairing, and their dynamic, along with the adorable Lucie, made the story even more charming.

If you’re looking for a romance that will not only tug at your heartstrings but also feel like a warm, comforting book hug, this is the one for you!

The vibes of this book were impeccable!

I was worried that B.K. Borison's new project wasn't going to quite live up to the magic she created with 'Lovelight Farms' but I was SO pleasantly surprised. This was such a comfy read, like a warm hug or a hot chocolate in winter. The romance was a lovely slow-burn, and the two main characters were just so charming; B.K. Borison writes all my favourite male characters.

I am excited to see where she takes this new series which already has a wonderful array of characters ready for their happily ever afters.

If you ever needed an example of a fictional character embodying the ‘actions speak louder than words’ and ‘if he wanted to, he would’ vibes then I would promptly drop this beauty into your outstretched hands because this was full of several swoony moments like this! I’m not going to list my favourites because I detest spoilers!

Despite being an 80s baby, I don’t remember a huge amount of the Sleepless-in-Seattle plot so I can’t make any comparisons however I loved every second of this!

The overall feel I got from this was so much deeper and more mature than the cosy vibes in The Lovelight Farm Series. The interactions between Aiden and Lucie, their individual character development, aspirations, fears etc felt almost as if they were coming from people much older than themselves. The flirting and banter (and subsequent slow burn) was delicious!

This ticked so many boxes for me and I already know it’s going on my re-read list!

I've been a B.K Borison fan for a while but only rad the Lovelight Farm books so was really interested to see her write about a new set of characters in a new world. My goodness, I think I'm an even bigger fan now after reading First Time Caller. I was so invested in Lucie and Aiden's story that I was crying in the dark an hour after my usual bedtime as I just had to finish to find out if Lucie and Aiden finally get together. The ending where he called into the radio station and she was in the booth was perfection!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Aiden Valentine is the host of Heartstrings, Baltimore's romance phone in radio show. Aiden is struggling hosting the show as he has fallen out of love with love and the ratings are dropping until one night when he receives a call from a young girl called Maya asking him to help her mum Lucie find love.

Aiden decides to help Lucie find the magical love she is looking for and soon this search is the talk of Baltimore.

Can Lucie find her happy ever after?

I have seen a lot of great reviews for B.K. Borrison's books but this is the first one that I have read by her and it did not disappoint.

I enjoyed the storyline, which is loosely based on the Sleepless in Seattle movie, along with the dual points of view in the book. It took me a little while to get into the book however I soon felt an attachment to Aiden and Lucie.

This book brought me happiness and tears as it proceeded and I would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for my advanced copy.

B.K. Borison is one of my auto buy authors. Her Lovelight series is one of my favourite series of all time, so when I received an eARC of First-Time Caller, I dropped everything to start reading it right away!

First-Time Caller follows Lucie, a single mom, mechanic, and hopeless romantic who is single and thinks she’s doing just fine. Worried her mom is lonely, 12-year-old Maya calls in to Heartstrings, a romance hotline, to ask for advice on Lucie’s behalf. The call is answered by Aiden Valentine, the host of Heartstrings, who has fallen out of love with love, and whose show numbers are suffering. Lucie takes over the call, and her raw and honest conversation with Aiden soon goes viral. After some persuading, Lucie agrees to temporarily join the show as co-host, hopeful that Aiden and the listeners of Baltimore can help her find her perfect match. But, what if her perfect match is the man she shares a radio booth with three evenings a week?

Firstly, the vibes of this book are perfection. It was giving classic, 90’s nostalgic rom-com, which isn’t surprising as it’s inspired by Sleepless in Seattle. B.K. Borison’s prose is, as always, glorious. There were so many lines that had me swooning. I would read this woman’s shopping list!

I also adored the characters. Lucie is strong yet soft, and I really admired her hopefulness. I loved that she knew what she deserved and refused to settle for less. Aiden is a man who has closed himself off from love, and his backstory was tenderly explored. I am a sucker for a grouchy love interest who is secretly a bit of a softie (especially for her!) deep down, so I was always going to fall in love with his character.

I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Lucie and Aiden. Sometimes I feel like this trope can feel over exaggerated and forced, but it was done perfectly and realistically here. The banter, chemistry and tension between them was incredible, and I loved seeing their relationship blossom in the radio booth. Their romance was a delicious slow-burn, and fret not, the spice is 100% worth the wait!

Another aspect of the book I loved was the found family. Although Lucie is estranged from her parents, she has a fantastic support network in the form of best friend Patty, baby daddy/best friend Grayson, his husband Mateo, and the trio of guys she works with at the auto shop. It was just so wholesome, and I was cackling at so many of the interactions between the characters.

The plot was engaging, and the ending and epilogue were perfect. I am a huge fan of a big romantic gesture, and the one in this book had me bawling my eyes out! This book truly had me feeling every emotion at some point, and I already want to reread it. I cannot wait for the second book in the series!

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, charming, sexy, and funny read that’ll pull at your Heartstrings (pun intended!) then I think you will love this one.

A million thank you’s to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This author does it again, not me tearing up on the tube with this book. It was heartbreaking and heart warming all at the same time. It's started a little slow but wow does it make up for it in the next 75%.

What to expect
Sleepless in Seattle vibes
Single Mom
Found Family
She's a mechanic
He's a radio host
Grumpy x Sunshine

Lucie is an amazing single mom, her life is filled with love that's she has made for herself. Her preteen daughter has 2 amazing dads that live right next door, and her best friend owns an amazing coffee shop down the road.
But when her daughter calls into Heartstrings the local romance radio station trying to find a love for her that's just for her, it's starts a chain of events for Lucie and Aiden and a connection that they didn't expect.

I loved the characters in this I really felt connected to them. Aiden was grumpy, and he doesn't believe in love anymore, and even more closed off to it. As his past unravels you understand why he's so closed off, and it honestly broke my heart.
But don't worry, this book also will help heal your heart too!

Lucie is gorgeous, and with the help of Aiden and her friends, it helps her find a love that might not be perfect, but it's perfect for her.

4.75 ⭐️

Book Review: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

I’ve just finished reading First-Time Caller, the first romance novel in B.K. Borison’s new series, Heartstrings, and I can confidently say it’s a standout in the genre. From the first page, it became clear that this book is unlike anything I’ve read.

The writing in First-Time Caller is sheer perfection, masterfully weaving together elements of witty banter, poignant sadness, and heartfelt love. I found myself in tears during several chapters, truly empathising with Lucie and the challenges she faced in the dating world. Yet, it was precisely those emotional moments that made the heart-fluttering scenes with Aiden all the more impactful. Aiden’s thoughtful gesture of keeping a list of Lucie’s favourite things in his glovebox raised the stakes in romance expectations—what a lovely touch!

The setting of the radio station booth is brilliant, allowing the strangers-to-friends-to-lovers dynamic to unfold seamlessly. It provides a familiar and comfortable backdrop for Aiden as he grapples with his feelings for Lucie, making their connection all the more believable.

Lucie herself is a relatable character, beautifully illustrating the complexities of modern dating and the struggle to discern genuine intentions from fleeting amusement. Her experiences resonate deeply, adding depth to the narrative.

The side characters elevate the story even further. Maya, Grayson, Mateo, Jackson, and Maggie each bring something special to the table, and I’m particularly hoping for a love story centred around Jackson in the future. They enrich the world Borison has created and deserve their moment in the spotlight.

I took my time with First-Time Caller, knowing I was reading something truly special. I can’t wait to add it to my ever-growing B.K. Borison collection. If I’m honest, I believe this book surpasses her Lovelight Farms series—of which I adored every story.

First-Time Caller deserves every star I can give it, and I’m eager to recommend it to fellow romance readers or anyone seeking to break out of a reading slump. This book is simply the perfect fit!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review! (might contain mild spoilers)

5 Stars, a full heart and a sappy smile on my face (because Aiden learned to like pineapple on pizza simply because it was Lucie's favourite)..

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of everything B.K. Borison writes and I will quite literally drop almost CR just for the opportunity to dive in head-first into the love stories this amazing author writes - so imagine the absolute joy I felt when I read the email saying my ARC request had been approved.

And now, two days later (I really did try to pace myself) I just feel so lucky that I got to read this book. As a jaded hopeless romantic, this Aiden and Lucie's story felt like a soothing balm for my weary heart. there was something so cosy and comforting about these characters, their struggles and their journeys that just spoke to me and made me fall in love with love all over again. B.K. Borinson calls this book a love letter to love, and I can't help but agree wholeheartedly.

Aiden, a grumpy, cynic who doesn't really believe in romance anymore, and Lucie, a jaded, hopeless romantic who stopped believing she would ever find the magic she always dreamed about. Their banter, their flirting, their journey was an absolute delight to read about - as were all the characters that helped AidenLucie find each other.

To finish this review (when I really just want to gush about AidenLucie for days on end), I'll just drop some out of context quotes that I sent my best friend while reading this just because I loved them so much:
"I think if anyone could convince me to believe in love, Lucie, it would be you."
"She took her hand back about an hour ago and I've been silently scheming on the other end of the table for ways to get it back."
"A grin splits her face and it's like I've been plugged into the wall. Like the sun's been tilted in my direction."
"She said she wanted magic and I though we found something better. Something real. But apparently, there was a little magic, after all."

PS. I legit can't wait to read the rest of the series and it's a personal kind of hell that I will have to wait so long to do so.

When I heard that B K a prison was writing a new rom com series inspired by Nora Ephron films I was 100% in. Still, I was a little nervous going into the first offering which is based on Sleepless in Seattle, a perfect film that is very dear to me. (It’s amazing how often you’ll hear us doing an impression of Tom Hanks doing an impression of Cary Grant saying “Hello Diane, take a look at these swatches” in this house.) I have watched this film so many times. I know every line, I listen to the soundtrack regularly, I’m obsessed with the specific way Meg Ryan peels an apple or sings the words “horses, horses, horses”. And I loved this book.

First of all, it’s not a retelling, but a really funny, charming riff on the film. It takes the same starting point: Lucie’s precocious daughter phones in to a late-night Baltimore radio show to try and find her mum a boyfriend, and Lucie ends up opening up to the jaded host Aiden on air, kicking off her quest to find love, but then it’s utterly it’s own thing, going in a completely different direction. It’s like if Sam had fallen for Dr Marcia Fieldstone. (What a great premise!) Aiden and Lucie are incredibly loveable, the slow-burn between them is delicious.

It’s very witty and very sweet and very, very hot. It’s clear this book was written by someone who is also deeply in love with the film. The way it shares the same DNA with Sleepless in Seattle is pure magic, and there were regularly lines that I could HEAR in Tom Hanks’ voice. So clever. I loved it and I think you will too, it’s out in February just in time for Valentine’s Day at the top of the Empire State Building.

I’m obsessed with this book! Had me hooked from the first chapter. The whole book had that early 2000s rom-com nostalgic feel. (The book is inspired by Sleepless in Seattle) The chemistry and banter between the main characters was just *chef’s kiss*. Aiden, a grumpy grump who does not believe in love anymore. And Lucie, a hopeless romantic who has suppressed anything to do with the L word. This book had me cackling while also leaving me teary eyed at the end. All of the side characters were fantastic they complemented the main characters so well.
Romance girlies are in for an absolute treat with this one.

The best kind of Sleepless in Seattle inspired story. Heartstrings is an apt series name for a book that had no business making me swoon as hard as it did.

Lucie is a single mother living in an unconventional set-up and working as a mechanic. She believes she’s got all of the love that she needs from her daughter Maya, Maya’s father Grayson, his husband Mateo and her best friend Patty (massive fan of the representation of healthy and supportive co-parenting and non-stereotypical female career btw)

That is, until she catches her tween daughter on the phone to a stranger late at night. Aiden Valentine is the host of the radio show Heartstrings, where people call up looking for advice about love. However, all the moaning and groaning from the public of Baltimore has had Aiden falling out of love with both his job and romance. But Lucie’s daughter is concerned that her mother is lonely and throws a bit of excitement into Aiden’s show when she calls up on Lucie’s behalf.

“Aiden never stopped believing in love. He forgot how to. He built a fortress around his heart to protect himself and lost the key along the way.”

What initially starts as Aiden and Lucie coming together to boost listeners and help Lucie find love along the way, evolves into a string of failed dates, leaving Aiden to pick up the pieces. Lucie becomes Baltimore’s sweetheart as her honesty about finding her own magic resonates in listeners. And in an unusual twist of close proximity, sharing a radio booth 3 times a week becomes less about creating an entertaining radio show and more about spending time together.

The development of this story was perfect in every way.

HE KEPT A HANDWRITTEN NOTE OF ALL OF HER FAVOURITE THINGS IN HIS CAR. Ugh

Aiden isn’t as open to love as Lucie is, and after pushing her away, afraid that he can’t give her what she wants, he wins her back in the best of ways. Truly swoon-worthy.

“I can make my own magic. You just have to give me a reason to.”

Highly HIGHLY recommend to the rom-com lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

First of all I would like to thank netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc
I've been curious about this author for a while now and needless to say that now I want to go and binge her other series (which l've also only heard great things about)
This romance was so cute I just wanted to keep on reading it. The whole plotline was so interesting and I loved the concept with the hotline
Im usually not one for epilogues but this one was so beautiful This should be on everyone's exciting new releases of 2025

A charming, sweet and fun romance based on Sleepless in Seattle. This was my first novel by this author and I immediately fell for the easy style and deeply real characters. This was a perfect dreamy way to spend an afternoon. I think this one would be even better as an audio book so we can hear Aiden’s radio voice! I’m so excited to see what the next book brings and if we will see any characters from this one return. I’d love to read a book about Jackson and Delilah, or Jackson and anyone. He was such a fun side character, I wanted to read more about. I’m going to read the Lovelights series next.

Oh, this book. These characters. My HEART. 🥹

First Time Caller begins with 12-year-old Maya phoning in to a romance hotline called Heartstrings because she’s worried her mom, Lucie, is lonely.

The person who answers the call is Aiden Valentine, a radio host who has fallen out of love with love, and whose show centred around the very thing he struggles with is beginning to dry up.

When Lucie takes over the call, her conversation with Aiden charms listeners so much, that she ends up joining him in the booth as a temporary co-host as they, and the listeners of Baltimore, search for the man of her dreams. All whilst hopefully saving the radio show!

But… could the man she’s looking for be the one sat right there beside her in the booth? 👀

Good lord, I ate this one up. I knew it wouldn’t disappoint because it’s B.K. Borison, but I wasn’t prepared for quite how much I’d love it. It’s inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, and you really get that old-school rom com vibe from the very first page, which felt quite comforting.

It’s such a lovely, heartwarming, funny, sexy read, and easily now in my top books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to see everyone posting about this one when it’s out; I know it’s about to take the bookish world by storm!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

Did you like Sleepless in Seattle? Have you longed for a modern version? That was kind of the vibe I got from this book. It was a fantastic romance. A single mother with an adorable little girl and a podcast host, who doesn't really believe in love but comes with dating advice. It was sweet and cute. The relationship was really good and the writing was amazing. The prose flowed so easily and it was a joy reading it. Highly recommend!