5 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶
I absolutely loved this book! This is such a sweet and funny romance. Aiden - my heart broke for you. Aiden is this sweet, guarded perfect book boyfriend. Lucie - Oh wow, the bravery it takes to be so vulnerable and open to new connections. I really related to each character at different times. The plot, the character growth from both of these was perfect and exactly what was needed. There was tooth achingly sweet moments and the kicking my legs spice that we all love from BK. The banter between these two were chefs kiss. There was a third act breakup but, rather than it feeling like a conflict that isn't needed. This third act break up was very needed and the grovelling and Aiden's gesture at the end was amazing. I am hoping that the next book is Jackson's because I love him already.

Thank you for this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Can we all just agree that the hype for this book is definitely justified?! It's amazing!

I actually ended up listening to this as an audiobook, and it was just the best. I highly recommend it as a cute, easy listen. It had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn't help falling in love with Aiden and Lucie and rooting for them. It was a swoon worthy romance for sure.

!! attention, minor presence of spoilers*

This was one of my most expected romance of the year and I wasn't disappointed at all.
First Time Caller has a sort of magical writing style so delicate it's impossible not to be charmed by its story. It's a caress to the heart, making us consider, in the meantime, what do we really want for ourselves and who we would love to be with, without misconceptions or idealizations.
This is a novel about two common people who, thanks to their simplicity and authenticity, capture immediately the heart of every radio listener (as well as every reader), whether they're flirting, bickering or discussing about something. If I have to be honest, Lucie and Aiden conquered me since their very funny - and unintentionally double meaning - first encounter in person, and I couldn't stop rooting for them because these two goofies are made for each other. I think that one of the things that hooked me the most was this sort of nineties movies vibes: very quiet, sometimes bittersweet, and slow, with apparently simple main scenes, that always gave me a strong emotional impact because they felt so true.
It's crystal clear Lucie and Aiden aren't perfect, they often misunderstand the other, they make mistakes or not always say the right thing, but they're also capable of recognize and admit their errors, and they try to make amend. Of course, it's not a short journey, but seeing them understand their issues and try to do better was so heartwarming I couldn't stop to care for them. And it's not something only related to love life, since Lucie have time to reflect about herself too, while Aidean starts to confront himself with the way he keeps people he loves away, family included, because he doesn't want to suffer again.
And talking about family, I loved how the non-traditional one that Lucie formed with Maya and her two fathers and Aiden's one showed the same thing: the people we call "family" could not be related to us by blood, but that doesn't mean anything. Family is our safe place, and includes people who loves us and are here for us, no matter what. That also means they can lecture and scold us if we're doing something wrong, and help us when struggling, because they care. That's why one of my favorite moments is Aiden and his dad's phone call. It's so honest and full of frailties but also love for each other it made me emotional. I would love a father who talks to me like that, really.

Another thing I really appreciated is how careful Aiden is approaching Maya. At the beginning he listens to her even if he doesn't know a thing about this little girl calling for help about her mother love life, and then they meet in person and they just... click. I really wanted more scenes with the two of them bonding because they are so sweet together.
Furthermore, I'm not a fan of third act breakups, but I liked how this has been handled. Lucie reacts in a very mature way, even if hurt by what happened, and that made the difference for me. Her ability to really understand Aiden (better than himself, I'd say) and her patience during the whole story are amazing. Plus, then Aiden makes up for it beautifully, so, I have nothing to complain about.
I'm sure I'll miss having their point of views in book two, especially Aiden's bossiness in certain occasions, although I'm super curious about the next couple. I think we'll have lot of fun!

Anyway, I'm totally smitten by this adorable story. So I totally recommend to give this book a chance, if you haven't done it already.

(Thanks to the publisher for the eARC <3)

You know those books you go into with moderate expectations and the knowledge that BookTok went crazy over their previous series, but something about the summary is calling to you so you go for it? Listen to that call. Seriously, listen. That’s how I felt about ‘First Time Caller’ and it’s now one of my favourite books of 2025 so far.

This books made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it made me swoon. I absolutely loved it.

A hopeless romantic meets a demoralized radio host in this cosy, Sleepless in Seattle inspired love story from fan-favourite author of the ‘Lovelight’ series, B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and ‘Heartstrings’ into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending. . .even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

I haven’t read a contemporary romance in a long while, but this has been calling to me and reading it during Valentine’s week just felt right. This is how you write romance and I immediately want more from this series and these characters, and in the meantime I’ll be reading BK Borison’s other novels.

I’m a huge fan of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ (and that whole era of romances and romcoms from Nora Ephron and her contemporaries, honestly) so that what was drew me to ‘First Time Caller’ and I think it honoured the original really beautifully. It also actually made me think of elements of ‘Just Listen’ by Sarah Dessen as well with the falling in love during a late night radio show, though the rest of the novel is very different! There’s always a magic to people talking late at night when barriers are lowered, the darkness shields your face and anonymity allows a freedom of expression, but adding to that the element of radio and the extra layer of protection but also intimacy when it feels like that person on the radio is talking only to you.

When presenting on ‘Heartstrings’, Lucie and Aidan exist in a little bubble insulated from the outside world by their tiny little studio, able to cut off all influences from the outside world with the incoming calls - for a few hours they exist as Lucie and Aidan, and that allows them to fall head over heels in love. And I fell in love with them, too.

I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of romances in my time, but it takes something special to make me tear up when someone opens up or for something to feel truly romantic, and ‘First Time Caller’ achieved both of those things. Even though it had a modern setting, it also felt like it could have existed in a 90s or 00s romcom effortlessly because the emotion was there and it’s a love story that could have taken place anywhere and in any time. Yet to through the novel into 2025, it has some recognisable tropes: grumpy x sunshine, single mum, forced proximity, and found family.

The found family and non-traditional family structure in ‘First Time Caller’ was a joy. Lucie co-parents her 12-year-old, Maya, with Maya’s father and his husband who live next door, and Lucie very quickly becomes a part of the Heartstrings family after joining the show, while you can see Aidan desperate to be a part of Lucie’s family. There’s lots of discussions around family, love in all of its guises and the strains of parenthood, even when the parents love their roles whole-heartedly. It was deftly handled and even though I’m not a parent, I felt the pull that Lucie felt between doing right by her child and also taking back time and fun for herself.

The chemistry between Lucie and Aidan is red-hot, but the slow burn is tantalising and all of the build up was more than worth the wait. There is a dose of spice in this novel, but it’s anchored by real feelings as well as lust which was really appreciated and evident in a publishing trend of the more smut the better (which I do read now and then!). Everything about their romance made me want, and that’s what a good romance should do.

I absolutely loved ‘First Time Caller’ and I haven’t read anything since finishing the novel so I’m a little concerned that I loved it so much that it’s put me into a slump!

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the review copy.

Written by Sophie

For some reason this didn’t quite catch me as much as the former books from the author have. I really wanted to love it, but it was hard for me to connect with the characters. I just didn’t fall in love with Lucy and Aiden. I also think the story was quite uneventful…? The whole dating concept was intriguing, but for some reason didn’t play that big of a deal throughout the story. I did like some of the dialogue as well as the little radio snippets in between chapters.
But overall unfortunately this read is more like a 3.75 stars.

3,5⭐️ J’ai découvert l’auteur avec ce livre, et la couverture m’a tout de suite attirée avant même que je ne lise le résumé. (Je suis sûre qu’elle vous plaît aussi !)

J’ai trouvé le concept original et intrigant : trouver l’amour grâce à une émission de radio, c’est tellement différent !

Cependant, je n’ai malheureusement pas réussi à m’attacher aux personnages, que j’ai trouvés un peu trop superficiels.

Il y avait pas mal de longueurs dans le récit, ce qui m’a un peu ennuyée par moments.

I loved everything about this.
I'm not a huge contempory romance fan HOWEVER this sucked me in from the start and was actual perfection for me.
I loved that the main characters weren't perfect. They were a bit older and had their life together. I loved the side characters as they really added to the story. I could read more books in this story tomorrow and not be bored!

This was super cute and cozy🥹💌🫠🫠
But beyond the romance, this book glows with warmth and depth. It’s about rediscovering hope, taking risks, and believing in love again—even when it feels impossible.
Borison balances humor, heart, and just the right amount of angst, making every moment feel authentic and deeply satisfying.
It was truly the perfect cozy, feel-good romance to curl up with.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with this e-ARC.

And I cannot wait for And Now, Back to You (Heartstrings,
#2)!! I need Jackson and Delilah rivals to lovers workplace story 😫

I tried so many times to get into this one and I just cant, so its a DNF for now - but with the intention to try again in 6months+

I absolutely adored this quirky romcom!
The idea of a radio dating show is brilliant, and it sets the stage for some truly funny and heartwarming moments. I felt as if I were right there, listening to "Heartstrings" and witnessing the growing chemistry between the two main characters as they fall for each other. (Although, to be honest: Aiden was utterly captivated from the moment they met in the hallway earlier (oh yes, great scene), and it's easy to see why!) Lucie is an incredibly charming and relatable protagonist, making it impossible not to root for her.
This story was exactly what I was looking for!

"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."

|| • workplace romance • single mom • opposites attract • a pessimistic radio host x a hopeless romantic (we love a good grumpy x sunshine romance)

I think it's safe to say at this point that B.K. Borison, for me, can do no wrong. What is it about her writing romance that just ticks every damn box for me. Every time I think about this book, it makes me giddy!

A Sleepless In Seattle inspired story we follow Lucie a hopeless romantic and Aiden a jaded radio presenter who hosts a romance hotline in Baltimore.
Aiden has fallen out of love with love. He's weary and doesn't know how to get that spark back, but when a young girl calls into Heartstrings attempting to find love for her mum, the interview goes viral and suddenly everyone's eyes are on Aiden and the biggest radio romance line.

Lucie has it all, a great job, an incredible family, and a daughter that she adores, It's just the romance element that hasn't really been there for a while but with the whole of Baltimore invested in her love life, she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought or if in fact as her daughter suggests she's kinda lonely.

Everyone wants Lucie to have a happy ending, but no one more than Aiden, so when sparks behind the booth begin to fly, Lucie must make her choice, to continue dating on the show or to choose the man sitting next to her in his headphones.

Full of heart, First-Time Caller had me swooning from pretty much the first page. Lucie and Aiden are everything! I loved how our FMC didn't need a man, like she fully had her shit together and wasn't looking for anyone to complete her, and Aiden is perfect for her. The miscommunication at the end wasn't, in my opinion, necessary, but that's just my personal taste and it wasn't too traumatic in fact I love how the romance between them bloomed organically rather than feeling forced. The yearning was also done so well! I love that Aiden came through for her in the end in probably the sweetest way I've ever read. The side characters are also so wholesome, especially Lucie's family, as well as her found family at work and the love they share is magical.
This book is sheer perfection when it comes to my taste in romance like I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished. It's just a beautiful, beautiful book.

Thanks to b k borison and panmacmillan I got to read an ARC of first time caller. I loved it.
Every bk borison's book is even better than the one before I don't understand how that's possible.

This book is so cute and delicate it could make everyone believe in love.
There is everything one could hope for: yearning, tension, found family, banter, chemistry and so on.

Both the protagonists are interesting and well developed. Lucie is so loving but also bold and she has an amazing non traditional family. Aiden omg he hit so close to home... His fears are so understandable but he is also able to be so caring and perfect.AMAZING.

This book is an easy 5 stars for me.

After falling in Love with the Lovelight Farm series, I couldn’t wait to pick up this latest offering from BK Borison. Boy oh boy, it did not disappoint.
I absolutely devoured this book and fell in love with Lucie and Aiden as characters! I adored watching the friends to lovers development and even enjoyed the flirting and slow burn element, and I’m really not a huge slow burn fan!
Aiden was just so cute, caring and considerate! I had the biggest crush on him!

Not sure when her next book is out, but it will definitely be an auto buy for me. Hopefully I don’t have to wait too long!

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just like looking at you,”

I enjoyed this one. The set-up was so cute, it had so many cute and adorable moments that had me giggling. It was like watching an early 2000s rom-com. I loved Lucie and Aiden. It is my first book by b.k. borison and I am definitely going to read her other books.
Thank you so much pan macmillan and netgalley for the earc!!

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison was my very first book of her, and I'll definitely read her other books!

When Lucie's daughter Maya talks to a stranger on the phone hidden in her room, she's absolutely suspicious and on alert. But Maya talked to Aiden Valentine from the radio show Heartstrings to help her mother find love again. This help leads to Lucie's own radio show and horrible dates... but also to so much more she doesn't realise at first.

Oooooh, my...
This beautiful love story of Lucie and Aiden totally stole my heart right from the beginning! ❤️
I loved the mood of it. It was so special and heartwarming.
Experiencing the story of Lucie and Aiden felt like a warm, fluffy blanket. Like a nice holiday where you do all your favourite things. 😍

Lucie is a strong single mother and a mechanic who knows what she wants when it comes to everything in her life - except her love life.
She wants more, feel the magic again.
But... it's not that easy when you've to take care of a teenage girl. The good thing is she has her ex, Grayson, and his husband Mateo to support her with Maya. They're all sooo adorable! 🙏

And Aiden? OMG! The cute, kinda nerdy and grumpy radio guy! He's shy, but also sexy, with a heart of gold... but he has to carry his own baggage. Oh, my heart. ❤️

I definitely could feel the special chemistry between them, even through my Kindle. ❤️
How both talk to each other on the radio show? OMG! CHEF'S KISS!
I laughed soooo much about their banter!
And even got GOOSEBUMPS EVERYWHERE!
So, talking about chemistry: there wasn't just this kind of attraction to each other. It felt like they just clicked. You know? I'm not even sure how to explain it the right way.

Well, anyway! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!
I LOOOOOVED THE STORYLINE, ALL THE CHARACTERS, ALL THE EMOTIONS, THE TENSION! PERFECTION! ❤️😍🙏
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF ALL THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT LOVE STORIES. ❤️

Thank you so much to B.K. Borison and Pan Macmillan for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

I don't think it's great that the book becomes less interesting when the characters start spending more time together. I found them both a little immature and really didn't like the male main character. I'll definitely pick up another B.K. Borison book though as I've enjoyed more of her books than I've disliked.

A news book series by the author I discovered last year. The book was very light-hearted and cosy but I loved that the author included some more serious storylines, including dealing with cancer diagnosis and coparenting. The characters felt relatable and real and I cannot wait for the part two – hopefully this will be a book about Jackson, the weather guru and absolute legend.

Final rating: 4.5 ☆
This was everything I needed and more. Let me tell you - if you’re looking for a book to help you out of a reading slump, this is the book for you! I was giggling when I was barely 5% through the book! This was just so. Good.
Also - this is loosely inspired by Sleepless in Seattle. So if that doesn’t make you want to read this, I don’t know what will honestly.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own. This is out NOW! I definitely recommend you pick it up if you’re looking for your next romance fix 🙂‍↕️

♡ single parent
♡ Grumpy x Sunshine
♡ he falls first

Also - I’m not sure if the coup for book 2 has been announced… Delilah and Jackson for book 2 anyone? A little enemies to lovers action? Rival weather people? Count me in 🤭

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Clearly I'm in the minority for this one, but I just didn't gel with this at all. I thought the chemistry was lacking between Aiden and Lucie, with a build up that relies heavily on implied conversations that the reader doesn't see. It left me feeling lukewarm and not at all invested in their story. On top of that, the plot is very thin on the ground. Lucie has a couple of dates, but they're fleeting, and instead we get snippets of the two in the recording booth mixed with Lucie at home or with Maya, Grayson and Mateo. I just found it really boring and dragged out. Aiden is really under developed in particular, with a backstory that just didn't make much sense to me. I get that cancer affects family members differently, but his behaviour towards Lucie just felt like a plot device rather than a personality flaw.

I initially DNF'd this at about 50 pages in because I could already tell this wasn't going anywhere interesting, but picked it back up because of all the rave reviews. I kind of wish I hadn't wasted my time. A beautiful cover, but not for me.

I loved this so much. The radio station setting was great but I really loved Aiden and Lucy as characters, they felt so real. They had relatable problems and obstacles in the way of what they wanted and I could really relate to them! Bk Borison made me feel sooo giddy, the connection between Aiden and Lucy was so electric!!