First Time Caller
by B.K. Borison
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Pub Date 13 Feb 2025 | Archive Date 12 Feb 2025
Pan Macmillan | Pan
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Description
A hopeless romantic meets a demoralized radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.
Aiden Valentine has a secret: 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.
Advance Praise
“First-Time Caller is a beautiful, steamy, effervescent romance that pours hope and love right into your soul! Absolute magic lives inside these pages.” — Sarah Adams, New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect
"First-Time Caller is everything: tender, sexy, stuffed with flirty banter that had me screaming into my pillow. Full of characters who feel real, like family. A beautiful love letter to love and the movie that made me believe in it. Infused with the kind of magic I can't properly put into words, because B.K. Borison took all the prettiest ones for this book. It's B.K. at her very best, a reminder that it's her world and we're the lucky readers who get to live in it. Hang this one in the Louvre."—Jessica Joyce, USA Today bestselling author of The Ex Vows
"Sharp, swoon-worthy, and profoundly romantic—First Time Caller is brimming with heart, vulnerability, and humor. BK Borison handles her characters and their stories with such care that you can’t help but clutch at your chest as you cheer them toward their happy ending. Aiden and Lucie remind us what a truly courageous thing it is to both be loved and give love in return."—Lyla Sage, USA Today bestselling author of Done and Dusted
"First Time Caller is going to blow fans of Borison away. It is filled to the brim with brilliant prose, delicious banter, and enough flirting to make any reader blush. While still feeling fresh, new, and current, First Time Caller somehow also manages to evoke feelings of nostalgia that brought me to tears on multiple occasions. This was a heart-clutching, giddy-grinning, and sexy-steamy read from beginning to end and I truly could not love it more."—Hannah Bonam-Young, USA Today bestselling author of Out On a Limb
"Chemistry that sizzles across airwaves! First-Time Caller effortlessly draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last chapter. With dynamic characters, sharp wit, and laugh-out-loud moments, you’ll fall in love with every turn of the page."—Bal Khabra, USA Today bestselling author of Collide
“A perfect romance in every way - off the charts chemistry, banter for days, and an emotional connection that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. First Time Caller is a total charmer.”—Annabel Monaghan, USA Today bestselling author of Summer Romance
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781035028894 |
PRICE | £9.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 400 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I am so lucky to have got a copy of this early and I had to start it right away as BK is hands down my favourite author. Her words resonate with me on a deep level and her characters are always perfectly written.
I wasn’t sure what to expect after the Lovelight Farms series. This is totally different and I wondered if i’d miss the small town setting. I never should have doubted. BK smashed this out of the park. I fell madly in love with Aiden and was rooting for him throughout and just wanted to see him learn to love himself!
The yearning was next level in this book and when we finally finally got the goods (ch27) it was HOT HOT HOT!
The ending was so perfectly crafted and the epilogue added so much to the rounding out of the story (something I find often isn’t the case with epilogues)
I’m currently in a brain tangle trying to figure out if this could even be my new favourite BK book. I didn’t ever think anything could top Beckett for me, but Aiden was the whole package!
This was absolutely adorable. I so love this author work and this new world she created. Aiden is simply amazing character and I so loved this falling in love on air story. Can't wait for more of this world!
Firstly, thank you very much for the opportunity to read this e-arc before its release.
I was so excited to get the e-arc approved so I just had to prioritise picking it up next. I’m so glad I did because I’ve absolutely adored this book. It’s got everything - likeable and realistic characters, strong chemistry between the MMC and FMC, brilliant banter and dialogue and a strong dose of humour. I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this.
The storyline was strong, and as a big fan of Sleepless in Seattle, I was fully bought into the premise. Lucie was so relatable and Aiden was just a dream. I loved everything about him.
The end was perfect too, sometimes with stories like this it can feel overdone or drawn out, but this really didn’t. The author kept to the narrative, the sentiment (which was clear throughout the story) and gave us exactly what we needed.
There isn’t anything I would want to change and I will definitely be rereading this when it’s released!
"Good Morning Baltimore"
I am in love. That is my review for this book. Nothing else will ever compare.
When Maya thinks her mom will never date again, she does the only thing she believes will help, obviously she calls the local romance hotline hosted by Aiden Velntine. Aiden who, ironically, does not believe in love anymore. What Maya and Aiden don't account for is that Lucie, Maya's mom, pours her heart out and shares with everyone in Baltimore who listens to the hotline how she is feeling. And do they have something to say, everyone wants to know if Lucie will find her happy ending and more specifically who it's going to be. Hearstrings, the hotline, has not had that many listeners for a long long time, so Aiden and his colleagues (more like his boss forced him) decide to bring Lucie on the show to keep the residents of Baltimore updated on her love life, or lack of. Lucie accpets, only because she wants to find love, the swoony romance that you only find in movies or books, but to do that she must put herself out there first, and what better way to do that than chatting to people and answering messages on the hotline, with Aiden by her side of course. But she did not account for enjoying the company of the grumpy, very reserved, loves his coffee, doesn't believe in love talk host. And he definitely could not have foreseen liking the hopeless romantic, coffee stealer, single mom of an amazing 12 year old. But how could they ever happen when he's the one who supposed to set up dates for her, help her find her happily ever after with someone who isn't him?
Lucie Stone and Aiden Valentine are my everything and more in this book. Did I cry sad and happy tears throughout all the ending? Yes, yes I did. Would I do it all over again to be able to read this masterpiece for the first time? Yes I would also do that. I love every aspect of the relationships, friendships, family and simply everything.
I'm such a sucker for a Sleepless in Seattle inspired story, and First-Time Called by B.K. Borison did NOT disappoint! I already fell in love with her writing and her characters in the Lovelight Farms series, and I already am on-board with whatever is to follow in the Heartstrings series!
I loved both of the MC's, the perfect blend of grumpyxsunshine paired with strong female (single mom!) energy. This book pulls you from page one and holds your attention until the end, which was really sweet and lovely!
Borison has a way of writing that shoots directly into your heart. It makes me worry I will never be as good a writer, and inspires me to try. First Time Caller had be laughing and and crying, smiling and sighing. You can feel the tension in the booth as if you are there yourself, or as if you're sitting in a dark car driving down the highway with their dulcet tones in your ears.
My only complaint is that I can't read it for the first time again.
I am utterly obsessed!! This book was so hard to put down, legit all i was thinking about all week was Lucie & Aiden my sweet babies <33
Okay first of all, this is likely to become one of the best romance books ive read all year - it was so swoon worthy! Here are some important things to know if you will also love this book:
💓SLOW BURNNN
💓single parent
💓found family!!!
💓grumpy/sunshine
💓UNREAL banter
I adored the premise of this book, romance hotline radio host who doesn’t believe in love (or so he says..) and a single parent who wants to find her magic🪄! Honestly, what more could you want?? The chemistry lucie and aiden had was 10/10, every interaction i was giggling and blushing! This book had me laughing out so many times.
I also really connected to all the characters in this book. The found family was beautiful and it was nice to see a healthy co- parent situation in a romance book!! Ngl i'm gonna need a spin off book for every character in this book bc they all deserve their own story!!
This is a must read of 2025! The perfect butterfly inducing romance book, you will not be disappointed!!
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
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!
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.
✨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!
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.
I loved the ‘Lovelight farms’ series, but this is by far Borison’s best yet!
It has everything a romance book needs: love, hope, yearning, emotionally repressed men. It was so beautifully written with many quotes that will stick with me. It’s definitely a book that resonates with life and I think I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time.
Thank you NetGalley & Pan MacMillan for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
4.75
I loved this so much, I cannot tell you how happy I was to be back with BK Borisons writing. The set up of this series was perfect, she always manages to make you fall in love not just with the main characters but all the side characters too, and I could see the set up for other stories and I am already screeching with excitement at the thought of them.
But back to Lucie and Aiden. Tears. This was so beautifully done, I loved the focus not just on romantic love, but family love, friendship love and all of the in between. I giggled, I swooned, I cried. I already know this is a book I will reread over and over. Oh and now I need to go watch sleepless in Seattle because if that’s what inspired this book I must watch it immediately.
I love B K Borisons books, they are the perfect cozy romance books and get me every time. Lucie’s wonderfilully chaotic family dynamics will make you laugh and you just wanna hold Aiden’s hand while he figures out that Lucie is actually his magic.
the slowest burn of slow burns to slow burn. these two were a labour of love, a delicate yet flirty and hilarious balance. they suited each other perfectly and I couldn’t have been more inlove with the way this ended. everything ended the way it started and i loved the meddling family members. this whole trope as an idea is awesome and I need to watch the movie it’s based off of. a romance hotline with a guy who hates love and a woman who needs her love life back?! and then they fall inlove with each other. this book made me love love, but the real love, the one where you make your own magic.