B.K. Borison has done it again!
Another great start to a series, I can't wait to see where these ones go.
Inspired by Sleepless in Seatle, there is a lot of love in this one, between couples, parents and children, friends, new relationships and old. This book has it all with a splash of spice.

I crave reading romances. I want the happily ever afters. I want the romance. The magic. The flirting. And yes, the spice.
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I want to smile secretly to myself at the witty banter and the sauciness. I want to laugh out loud at the comical side characters. I want to fall in love with the grumpy male main character, who is actually a complete sweetheart and cute as hell. I want to cry at the declarations of love. And this book was just perfect. It gave me everything I look for in a romance.
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Based on the film “Sleepless in Seattle” it has all the cosiness and magic of that movie. And all the humour and romance.
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Lucie finds herself chatting to Aiden Valentine live on the radio, when her daughter Maya phones in to meddle in her love life. That phone call leads to the rise of “Heartstrings” ratings and a huge number of fans who love Lucie.
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So Lucie is invited to share the radio booth with Aiden. Aiden’s mission is to find Lucie the magic that she wants. To get her dating again and ultimately to find the love of her life. But things begin to get problematic when Lucie and Aiden develop real feelings for one another.
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This was such a wonderful book. It was so heartwarming and yet heartbreaking in parts too. Aiden’s story particularly brought a lump to my throat.
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I also loved Jackson and his hopeless weather reports. And Lucie’s whole found family were adorable. Just a gorgeous romance. And perfect to read around Valentine’s Day.

This Sleepless in Seattle inspired romcom is full of magic and overall heartwarming!! The story is about a hopeless romantic single mom who ends up co-hosting a radio show to find her happily ever after, because her daughter phoned in to said show to ask for dating advice on ‘behalf’ of her mom. But of course, she slowly starts falling for her co-host instead.
The story has a simple plot and is just so very sweet. Lucie and Aiden deserve the word! Also, Maya is iconic for forcing her mom into dating lol. I did feel like the story sometimes existed in a vacuum, because we don’t get much of them outside the radio booth, and friends/family are a bit more on the background. However, I feel like it worked for this story and I really enjoyed myself while reading it!! (loved the slow burn ofc). Go read it!!

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

This book is the definition of romance and I loved it so much!

I have nothing else to say other than this book was perfect and I have no criticism.

Another perfect romance from B.K. Borison.

Love, love, love!

4.5/5*

This was the most delicious slow burn romance that I have read in a while. A properly cooked and seasoned book, with BK Borison delightful signature.

Aiden and Lucie are totally fine, absolutely astonishingly OKAY, but they somehow end up having live conversations on a Baltimore radio station about… sort of… life? Dating? Cynicism? You name it. Their relationship builds with the connection that you can find in the short moments of the daily life: one instant at time. I really enjoyed every part of their journey.

Besides the layered and interesting main characters, Borison has a talent for creating secondary characters that bright with their own light. I am already wanting to know who will be next in this series. This is definitely a story that will stay with me.

Thank you to BK Borison, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley an advanced copy of the ebook

Aiden is skeptical about love and Lucie is a hopeless romantic. In a hilarious and delightfully cringeworthy turn of events, Lucie ends up co-hosting Aiden's romance hotline in a bid to find her happily ever after. Inevitably, they are drawn to each other despite their different outlooks on love. I absolutely loved this one. The main characters are so authentic and their chemistry is top notch. The side characters are all keepers. It's full of wholesome and happy vibes. It's funny and deeply romantic. It did not disappoint.

This one sucked me in completely. A lovely romantic read with cracking chemistry between our two main characters Lucie and Aidan. Perfect cosy read for these cold winter nights. 4 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and B.K. Borison for sending me an ARC of First Time Caller!

Lucie Stone, a single mom and mechanic, unexpectedly finds herself on-air with Aiden Valentine, a cynical late-night radio host, after her daughter calls in for dating advice. Their conversation goes viral, leading to a new segment where Lucie searches for love—while sparks fly between her and Aiden. As she navigates her dating journey, Lucie starts to wonder if the romance she’s looking for has been right in front of her all along.

I absolutely loved this, not going to lie i delayed finishing this book because i just didn’t want to leave the characters.

The close knit relationship between the characters was something i just couldn’t get enough of, it really felt like something you just want to be a part of. Even in the garage Lucie works at with the guys just feeling like her protective dads/brothers who only want the best for her.

This is the type of book where you fall in love with the characters and their story, seeing the relationship between Lucie and Aiden change as they get closer together after spending more and more time together was so cute. I love them.

And of course with it being a small town romance you just know everyone else will be rooting for them and doing their own part to meddle and make sure they get the happy ending they deserve. There are books where other characters are just that, they are side characters, then there are books where the side characters make the book. This is one of those books, all the characters in this feel like one big happy family who would do anything for each other, especially Lucie and Aiden.

One thing I particularly liked was the whole “seeing the character falling in love” being in Aiden’s perspective. It just felt so real and genuine, he fell for Lucie, single mum who works at the local garage, Lucie who puts everyone else first, Lucie who has just accepted single life because she didn’t think she would get to experience the magic of love. He fell in love with Lucie’s personality, who she is as a person, the small things she does. Lucie truly felt like the one for him and being able to see him fall in love was just something i loved so so much. Thank you for that 🤭

With this book coming out on 13th of February, I would 100% recommend this to be a Valentines read this month!

KEY TROPES:
- single parent
- small town romance
- meddling family and friends
- radio show romance
- inspired by Sleepless in Seattle
- jaded loverboy x hopeless romantic

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

WOW. I'm late to the party, but this was my first BK Borison book, and it certainly will not be my last.
I immediately connected to the witty, genuinely funny writing, which I feel is not always easy with romance. The line between sweet and cheesy is very thin, and BK never crossed it. I loved Lucie and Aiden right off the bat as individuals, and then, as their relationship grew, it was lovely to read about all the ways they fit with each other. Maya, Grayson and Mateo were also such fun characters, and I loved their special little family.
Lucie's journey, specifically, was so relatable-I think a lot of people, women especially, feel the same way about the ordeal of finding someone who is going to love us for everything that we are.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

This book was soooo cute! I loved every second of it! From the kid to the slow burn between Aiden and Lucie to their friends. The writing was amazing and so fluid, it made me not want to stop reading!

First Time Caller has all the feel of a cosy Nora Ephron rom com. I found myself taking my time with this read, just to stay in Aidan and Lucie’s world a little longer.

My favourite of Borison’s books so far, I loved the warm and swoony vibes and the gentle build to romance. It plays perfect homage to Sleepless in Seattle, but Aidan and Lucie’s relationship feels fresh and unique. Like Sleepless, the book celebrates many types of relationships in a way that feels heartfelt and intentional. I particularly loved the parent child dynamics of Maya and Lucie, Aidan and his father.

Overall I’d highly recommend for anyone looking for a romance with heart and wit, character and chemistry. An absorbing and cosy read - 4.5⭐️.

Thank you Pan MacMillan for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

This is definitely a new favourite book I am so in love with the love between Lucie and Aiden 💕

I went into the story with my only knowledge being that it was a romance, that it featured a radio show that people called in to, and that it was written by B.K. Borison. That is all I needed to know to know that I needed to read this book, and I was correct it was such a delight!

It was such a joy to see the love that Lucie already had in her life prior to her romance journey, I adored Maya and her want for her mum to be happier as well as her beautiful relationship with her platonic soulmate and coparent Grayson and his partner Mateo. Their dynamic was so heart warming. Also A+++ support from her friend Patty, sometimes you just need someone to laugh at you and then ask the right questions. Like Grayson, I too would commit terrible, violent crimes on Lucie’s behalf because she deserves all of the good things in life!!

This gave me all of the warm and fuzzy feelings as well as a lot of laughter. It was full of heartfelt moments that I think will stay with me for a long time. As a single woman who is quite happy this way currently, Lucie’s view of love being all around but also looking for someone to just enjoy the little moments with felt very relatable!

Aiden also deserves all of the best things, witnessing the walls he had built to avoid love crumble for Lucie was so beautiful and I love these sweet babies so much. I too want a man that will eat Hawaiian pizza just because it is my favourite...

I 10000% recommend picking up this book ASAP, and you don’t have to wait because it is released today!! It is perfect for Valentine’s Day week! I am definitely going to be reading again via audiobook ASAP because I feel like it will only elevate the experience 😍

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review, all views are my own.

5 stars
Content warning: side character suffering from cancer, subsequent trauma to main character, historical toxic parenting and abandonment
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

The way that I felt comforted by this novel is next level, it's truly like the warmest hug you can find. Both Aiden and Lucie offer so much relatable content by being flawed characters, that it doesn't take long for the reader to want them to thrive in every way possible. From the beginning, you get a real sense of them being two people who have settled for what they think is their lot in life, and when they start to venture out of that compartment, things get messy, and beautiful, and just so overwhelmingly real. Lucie and Aiden, by far, are BK Borison's most realistic characters yet, and I love them so much.

The writing is raw and full of the daily mundane, which actually makes for a fantastic read. There's chaos (especially wherever Grayson goes), and it's wholesome, and then the spice... Borison created something that feels effortless to sink into. The romance is a slow burn, which I really appreciated, and the tension is built to perfection. The intimate moments, when they arrive, are well-suited to the pair, and the way *slight spoiler* that I wanted an Aiden of my own to build the shittiest fort there ever did exist too. Much like the callers of the show, I was invested in them getting their happy ever after, and I'm beyond satisfied with the journey to get it.

This is a cosy and refreshing take on Sleepless in Seattle with a great cast of supporting characters, some of which I hope get their own stories too. The chemistry between the main characters is gorgeous, community and family connections are still a valued point as I came to adore in this author's previous series, and the whole world felt rich in imagery. I felt like I was in the coastal city with these characters, and I cannot wait to delve back into this book again because the re-readability factor is definitely there. Borison also tackles some darker themes within this novel with grace, especially the situation around Aiden and his parents and his mother's struggle with cancer. I strongly urge those who are jaded with romance and life and want something to pick you back up to give this book a try. I really cannot speak highly enough of it.

Love
Love
Love this old-school romance - two wonderful main characters, and plenty of nuance make it a favorite for me. Lucie is a mechanic and single mother with a precocious 11 year old daughter in a blended found-family arrangement. Her daughter calls a late night radio show about Lucie's dating life and this sets off all the events where Lucie meets Aidan Valentine – host of the show. He is really locked down, with low level depression and is struggling to find the optimism needed to run a romance radio program.

This just works so well - there’s layers around their personal history and nuances in the ways that they interact together. Lucie joins Aiden's program and when they are in the recording studio it's magic ✨💖 The studio is a tiny and intimate space and at the same time they are broadcasting to all of Baltimore – and maybe the world. It’s dual POV which gives us a direct insight into the pining and yearning of these two. Lucie is much more in tune with her feelings than Aiden and she's also emotionally wise – so she’s graceful with Aiden.

Even with little drama, there’s plenty of momentum. It’s muted in the way that life can be with depression, which made it both authentic and emotional. It’s a slow burn but when they get there, it’s all go 🌶🌶 I adored how much intimacy was from Aiden's point of view. This goes straight to my favorites and comfort reads.

Thank you BK Borison, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Headlines:
Radio show
Uncertain and hopeful
Audio heaven

This was a joy of an audio that was definitely accentuated by the fact that the setting was a radio show and so the scenes from that felt so authentic narrated back and forth. This was a fun set up with a romance radio show host (MMC) who had lost any kind of belief in love had a daughter call in for her mom. What ensued was the FMC becoming a regular co-host on the show trying to find love.

I liked the step outside of stereotypes for this story. Lucie was a mechanic and Aiden was the romance show host. Those differences weren't laboured but this something I appreciated in the plot and characterisation.

Over time, Lucie and Aiden slowly built a tentative chemisty but it was full of uncertainty. All the while, the search was supposed to be on for Lucie's big love with dating being reported back on the show. I loved their hopeful and gentle flirting that developed from a strong friendship and how that played out into their eventual intimacy; it was a sweet story with humps in the road.

The narration was dual POV with duet dialogue and it worked so well. The characters were truly brought to life.

Thank you Panmacmillan for the review copy.

thank you netgalley and b.k. borison for letting me read an early copy of this book!

I love b.k. borisons writing style. i am obsessed with every character and all the witty one liners or comments that get made throughout.

I fell in love with this story, dating lessons has always been such a fun trope to read about and this was a different kind of dating lessons as it was all done live on air.

Lucie was such a relatable character and her thoughts on love felt so real and i’ve never related to something more than when i read about how she wanted to be treated. She was such a good mum and friend, this is also one of the only books where co-parenting is seen as positive instead of negative and it was so refreshing to read about their entire family dynamic.

Aidan was such a softie but tried to hide behind a hard exterior. you could tell he had been through a lot and at such a young age, I understood his reasonings for distancing himself from everyone as he thought it would help him but really he was still hurting and still vulnerable.

Seeing the two of them form a friendship from a weird situation was hilarious to read about, but you could see how quickly the lines started to blur and how Aidan would be there to catch Lucie at every fall. Even though they agreed to ‘fun’ it was far from that when you could see the pair of them falling in love with each other but both terrified to voice these feelings as they have both suffered a loss before.

The way Lucie says she will wait for him instead of giving up is what I loved about their story. She was so confident in what she wanted and who, that she was not going to give up on him and I’m so glad that Aidan figured it out and finally let down his walls just enough to let Lucie (and Maya) in.

The side characters featured in this story played such vital roles as well and I hope we get to see more of them if and when this is continued as a series.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was not disappointed at all and I’m now not so patiently waiting for my next fix of b.k. borison and her writing.

This was my second time reading a book from the amazing author BK Borinson and omg i loved it sm!!! First Time Caller is the perfect read for this season, as it is adorable, cozy and super romantic 🤭 I can’t wait for everyone else to read this (cause i desperatly need someone to talk to about it) and fall in love with Lucie and Aiden like i did 🥹

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC of the eBook.

Finally, a proper rom-com. This book had me giggling away to myself and loving the slow burn romance.

Aiden and Lucie were brilliant main characters and I loved watching them fall for each other.

The side characters though, fantastic and hilarious. I loved every single one of them.

This is the first book by Borison I've read and I will absolutely be going back to read the Lovelight series. This book is definitely worth a read!

BK Borison has been a favourite author since I read Lovelight Farms and she just keeps getting better and better
This new series is everything I would need from a Nora Ephron inspired romance! It's a rich setting, wonderfully witty characters, loving and sexy romance, a mix of angst and love...
I adored this for everything it was and I'm so excited for the rest of this series!

Well, as a first-time reader of this author's words, I can definitively say I'm a huge fan of First-Time Caller. I loved the narrative voice - really sparky and warm and funny, like a Nora Ephron film in book form, and its own thing at the same time. I think what I most enjoyed was Borison's characterisation: the dialogue was naturalistic and believable, and there were so many little bits of precise detail in the narrative that managed to paint a vibrant and well-rounded sense of each character, within a wider story-world (the Baltimore setting, the radio station, the garage, the cafe, the friends and family) that felt real and lived-in. It was a great example of show, not tell, with no lazy exposition, and the breaks in between chapters a stylish way of adding pace, interest and wider context.

As for the characters - I fell in love with Lucie and Aiden, and couldn't help but root for them. They leapt from the page, and I felt a bit like I was one of the many listeners to Heartstrings, tuning in to follow along with the show and delighting at the subtext and guessing at how things would pan out. I'm really pleased that this seems to be the first in a new series from Borison, and I'll definitely be picking up the follow up, in addition to circling back to her previous work.

A love-letter to romantic comedy, highly recommended!