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!

This book absolutely hits the mark. When I tell you I can’t stop thinking about this story, characters, setting…. Like it’s literally going to become my whole personality.
We were promised 90s rom-com vibes and it served spectacularly with modern day Sleepless in Seattle vibes coming through strong.
Lucie I absolutely adored. Strong but compassionate, a fighter but still a hopeless romantic. Showing that even when you take a few knocks you can get back up again and always hold on to that hope; that you should never apologise for wanting what you want and waiting for that perfect, whatever it may be.
Aiden was such a cutie! Learning to love again and fighting through the dark places. The perfect book boyfriend. Ms Borison certainly knows how to write them.

What I loved most of all though, is that theme of found family. The support networks were gorgeous, the banter between them all, from Lucie’s best friend and baby daddy Grayson, Aiden’s coworker Jackson, Lucie’s colleagues at the garage - it all contributed to such a delightful read and I can’t wait to delve into the other characters stories.

Shout out to the scene where Aiden comes for Lucie after her failed date. Siiiggghhhh *chefs kiss*. The tension, the flirting, the will they won’t they - it was scrummy!

I couldn’t stop reading and when I had to reluctantly put it down to go and participate in life, I was just thinking about when I could sit down and read it again.

Favourite quotes:
“I want goose bumps. I want to be wanted. All this time and I—I haven’t given up. I guess I’m just waiting for it to find me.”

But I want—I want to kiss her when other people are around. I want to hold her hand. I want to have pancakes at her house on Sunday mornings and I want to help with Indiana Jones costumes. I want her people to be my people too.”

B. K. Borison’s books are a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold rainy autumn day and just make my soul really happy.

Now thank you for coming to my TED Talk on why you should read First Time Caller.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan, Book Break and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Becs Borison does not miss! After reading the Lovelight Farms series i was curious to see where she would go, but leaning into the romance genre hard, and deviating from her usual small-town romance vibe was such a pay off! The characters in the book were all really fleshed out, the side-characters had many funny moments that never took away from the scene. The development of the romance felt to real and well paced, i just wish it didn't end where it did! Can't wait to see more of them in her next book.

★★★★.✫

𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧…
🎙️ Sleepless in Seattle vibes
💓 hopeless romantic fmc x jaded mmc
🎙️ single mom
💓 found family

𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨…
Sleepless in Seattle with a twist! Maya, Lucie’s 12 year old daughter, calls into Heartstrings - Aiden’s radio show about finding love - looking for advice for her perpetually single mum. When the clip goes viral, Lucie is invited onto the show to try to find her happy ending.

𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
I loved this book! The Nora Ephron / Sleepless in Seattle vibes were immaculate… only better because the meet cute was just perfect! 🫶🏼 (who is really flying across the country to stalk a man they’ve never met 👀) Whereas this felt so natural, and I loved watching Lucie & Aiden’s relationship bloom over evenings spent together in the booth 🎙️

The banter and the tension between Aiden and Lucie was perfect - this had me both laughing out loud and kicking my feet with cuteness! It is also a slooow burn so you’re really thankful when the spice finally hits 🥵🔥😂

I absolutely loved single mum Lucie, and her relationship with Maya, Grayson - her baby daddy - & his husband Mateo made me so happy 🫶🏼 The best found family! And I’m hoping to see this grow over the next two books 🥹

I loved the ending! I’m a sucker for a big romantic gesture, and this was was perfect (there were tears x) 😭💓 Also the epilogue really got me 🥹🫶🏼

I’ve flipped between 4.5★ and 5★ several times here… but whilst I loved it so much, for me it wasn’t *quiiite* the full house. Aiden was a loveable grouch, but I wasn’t fully on board with his “I’m not good for you” spiel, and it made me love him less. Also I would have loved for him to spend more time with Maya - this is always a part of single parent books I love!

I cannot wait for book two already (Jackson 👀) - why is it a whole year away 😭

Loved it!


I read and loved the entire Lovelight Farms series so when First Time Caller was announced I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint! Really enjoyed the chemistry and the family dynamic. Perfect for rom-com fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an ARC in return for an honest review.

"When it comes to you, Lucie" - I suck at the dip between her collarbones - "there's not much I don't want."

When Lucie's daughter calls into Aiden's late night radio show "Heartstrings" about her concerns over her mum's loneliness and lack of a love life, Lucie doesn't think that she is lonely. She has everything she needs in her close circle - her daughter, Grayson (the father of her daughter), his husband Matteo and her best friend Patty. Perhaps she does need some help on the dating front though. So when she is invited to join Aiden's radio show alongside him in her quest to find love, she reluctantly agrees. Overwhelmed with the amount of interest the show is gaining and her phone that never stops pinging, Lucie isn't sure that this is going to be successful, and with sparks flying behind the scenes - maybe she doesn't need to look much further to find someone who will treat her as she deserves.

Eeek, this is my favourite book by B. K. Borison so far, I was hooked. The vibes between Lucie and Aiden were immaculate, the flirting, the banter that had me laughing out loud, the ANGST - chef's kiss.
The unique family dynamic between Lucie, Grayson and Matteo was so refreshing and I loved how protective and supportive Grayson was of Lucie. Seeing a good relationship between two people co-parenting was great.

Smart, funny and cute, with characters who feel real and relatable, I ate this up and cannot wait to read the next in the series.

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

B.K. Borison’s First Time Caller is a heartfelt, charming contemporary romance that beautifully blends the warmth of family life with the magic of unexpected love. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this novel brings a fresh take on the "hopeless romantic meets disillusioned skeptic" trope, delivering plenty of swoon-worthy moments and emotional depth.

The story revolves around Aiden Valentine, the host of a romance advice radio show, and Lucie Stone, a single mom whose life gets thrown into the spotlight after her daughter calls Aiden’s show asking for dating advice—for Lucie. From this adorable and unconventional setup, Borison crafts a delightful slow-burn romance that is equal parts cozy and captivating.

Aiden is an intriguing character, a man jaded by love despite being a professional dispenser of romantic advice. His arc, from disillusionment to rediscovering love, is tenderly explored, and his chemistry with Lucie feels organic and electric. Lucie, on the other hand, is refreshingly relatable: a hard-working single mom who has contentedly put her love life on hold for the sake of her daughter and family. As the novel progresses, her emotional journey from contentment to questioning her own happiness adds depth to her character, making her decisions feel real and heartfelt.

One of the standout elements of First Time Caller is its focus on the importance of family and personal fulfillment. Lucie’s relationship with her daughter is at the heart of the novel, and it’s both heartwarming and humorous to see how this dynamic impacts Lucie’s budding romance with Aiden. Borison’s portrayal of family life feels genuine, never overshadowing the romance but rather enriching it.

The radio show element adds a fun layer to the narrative, creating moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt connection between the leads. Aiden and Lucie’s behind-the-scenes interactions, as they navigate their unexpected connection, feel natural and swoon-worthy, allowing their relationship to develop in a way that is slow yet incredibly rewarding.

What makes First Time Caller stand out in the crowded romance genre is its balance of warmth, wit, and emotional complexity. While the premise may seem light and fun, Borison skillfully delves into themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and second chances. The romantic tension is perfectly paced, and the resolution feels satisfying without being overly predictable.

Borison’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a witty and endearing dialogue that keeps the reader hooked. The novel’s tone is playful yet profound, offering a satisfying mix of laughter, tenderness, and introspection. Fans of her Lovelight series will recognize her signature blend of warmth and heart, while newcomers will quickly fall for her immersive storytelling style.

Overall, First Time Caller is a warm, romantic, and emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to fans of contemporary love stories with a touch of heartwarming family dynamics. Whether you’re a fan of Sleepless in Seattle-style romances or simply looking for a cozy, feel-good read, this novel will not disappoint. B.K. Borison once again proves she knows how to capture the joy and messiness of love in a way that feels both deeply romantic and refreshingly real.

She's gone and done it again. I inhaled the Lovelight Farms trilogy, and I'm so glad that this lived up to the expectations that set. Refreshing to read about Lucie, an independent single mum, and I loved the family dynamics. Funny, sweet and adorable, I'd recommend to all romcom lovers.

This romance novel follows Aiden Valentine who hosts a romance radio show called Heartstrings but he believes he’s fallen out of love with love. A young girl phones up the radio station for her mother to find love and Lucy Stone ends up hosting a radio show with Aiden. Lucy questions if she needs love in her life after not finding anyone but sparks start to fly between Aiden and Lucy and they both must decide if they want to pursue something with time running out on the radio show.

To be completely honest overall I found this a little bit cringe and it felt like Lucy’s daughter was just shoved into the story to start to story. I wanted to love this so bad because the cover is gorgeous and people seem to really love this author. I just found the story to be boring and I just found it a little cringey. It just wasn’t for me but I can easily see so many people loving this.

5 stars. I don't have any notes.

I would usually consider myself a pretty through reviewer, especially with arcs, but I loved this so much I don't really have anything to say except that everyone should read it and I can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands. The Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance book of my dreams.

Thanks to much to netagalley and Pan Macmillan for this e-arc! I owe you my first born child!

I read the entirety of B. K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series and overall loved it. In the series, she managed to create a very cozy, loving atmosphere you really do wish you could jump into and hide in for the rest of your life. It’s one of those series that makes me, a born and raised city girl who loves living in a city, want to move to a small town. Anyways, my point is I really loved Lovelight Farms so I was obviously super excited when I heard about First Time Caller. Although this book does not take place in a small town, the author once again managed to create a very cozy, loving atmosphere you want to hide in. I also really enjoyed the concept, while completely different, it reminded me a bit of Christina Lauren‘s The True Love Experiment, but in this case there’s not a TV show but a radio show. There’s something immediately romantic about the image of two people sitting in a small, darl booth and talking to strangers about love. I’m a huge fan of single parent romances, but most tend to be single dad, so reading about a single mom was super refreshing. It was also refreshing that being a mom didn’t take up the entirety of the book. In many of these single parent romances the kid is always on the page and truly there for the whole falling in love journey. While that’s adorable and part of the reason I love those books, I loved how part of the point was that Lucie needed to focus on who she was outside of being a mother. That she needed some love just for herself. Ultimately (obviously) that love extends to the kid but it’s nice that it’s just hers for a little while.

All of that’s to say, B. K. Borison is an auto-buy author for me at this point. I had a great time reading First Time Caller and all the little teasers of potential future standalone sequels makes me super excited to see how this universe of hers expands.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Firstly, the biggest thank you to @libraryofchlo and @panmacmillan for my early review copy of First Time Caller! Lovelight Farms is a favourite series of mine and this proof was highly anticipated! And it did not disappoint 🥰

This book was a nod to Sleepless in Seattle and I really loved it - the ending (which I won’t spoil!) was so heartwarming and tied everything up so beautifully - chefs kiss 🤌🏼

🩷 Grumpy x Sunshine
🩷 Workplace romance
🩷 Slow burn
🩷 Single parent

Lucie is a hopeless romantic, and Aiden is a closed-off radio host - what could possibly go wrong?!

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ever after - and that includes me! I absolutely loved Lucie and her family, and it was so much fun reading this with the girls!

Take a grumpy radio host, of a romance hotline show, add in a meddling daughter who wants her mom to find love and you get the most perfect romance story. B.K. Borison absolutely smashed it out of the ball park with this one. I could not get enough of it.

The pining, the character growth, the loveable side characters, the way they both fell for each other - it was pure *chefs kiss*.

Borison wrote both characters so well, and although you may get made at them at times, you can’t help but love them. And love them I did.

Just perfection!

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.