I LOVED this !! omg just what i needed i couldn’t put it down! i absolutely love the movie sleepless in seattle its always been a favourite of mine and this book gave me all the same feelings. i can’t believe i’ve had this book for like 5 months and didn’t read it sooner!! just so entertaining i was smiling the whole time and had butterflies. tears at the end too, this was the cutest read !!

4.25
If he wanted to, he would. Aiden definitely wanted to. So he did.

This book was meant to make you feel all happy and hopeful and romancy and however you feel when you fall in love and it certainly succeeded in that.
I caught myself several times smiling and grinning during the majority of the book and I can’t remember when *that* happened the last time.

Aiden, who somewhat gave up on love, and Lucie, who is looking for love and the magic that comes with it, make such a great pair! Love, love, love their chemistry and their back and forth banter during the radio show and generally throughout the book.
I feel like as a reader, one can not only relate to one of the characters, but to both. I certainly did.

Maya, Lucie’s 12 year-old daughter, was my highlight and the secret star of the book!

Even though I very much liked “First-Time Caller”, I have a couple of minor complaints.
First was the development of the attraction from Aiden. I feel like he went from “oh, she’s kinda cute” to “this woman deserves everything and I will make sure she gets it” pretty quickly and too suddenly, compared to how everything else developed.
I wouldn’t say this book is too long or it felt dragged out, but I do think there were parts/scenes that could have been either shorter or replaced with something else. For example, I would have loved to have more banter with Jackson (Aiden’s best friend) in between or more scenes at Lucie’s job (she’s a mechanic, HELLOOO?!?!?) or maybe another scene with Aiden’s parents.
Last thing: there was some miscommunication happening which was fine, but that whole fight that happened at the end felt very inconsistent to everything else communication wise, especially on Aiden’s side, even though his reaction wasn’t necessarily out of character.
What do you mean Lucie was quite literally handing him her heart and all he did was stay silent?

Those are, again, minor complaints on my part and do not take away that I really enjoyed this book and think B.K. Borison did a great job with this one.
Absolutely not surprised about anyone rating this book 5 stars.
Very excited for book two of this series! And three for that matter!

First-Time Caller is my first Borison's book and I enjoyed it very much! It was sweet and cute with relatable characters. Lucie and Aiden's relationship was well developed, with them slowly falling for each other. I only wished some aspects were developed a little bit more, but in the end it was really a good romance book.

This book was cute - just cute! 

I enjoy romance books, but it’s rarely anything to write home about. I tend to find a lot of romance fake, clichéd, cringy, and highly unlikely. But sometimes, I find a romance that feels real and romantic. First Time Caller was that sort of book for me. This kind of book makes all the other ones worth it!

I loved the characters, the dialogue, the pace, and the story itself. I also tend to find spice cringy, but in this book, I didn’t cringe once - it felt more like I was seeing a relationship develop in real-time. It was simply cute!

It's safe to say that my first B. K. Borison book was a success. I WILL be reading all her other ones!

*Thank you to the author and publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

What a book 🙌🏼

I absolutely adored this book! The pacing was perfect and the romance was definitely a slow burn but in the best way
I loved Lucie, how honest she was and her way of looking at love. She was funny, smart and the tension between her and Aiden was perfect
Aiden is such a sweetie! He did drive me crazy at some points but he redeemed himself at the end. His trauma really impacted on his day to day and I’m glad that he found a way through it
Maya and the dads were the perfect comic relief in this book and Jackson has me so intrigued! I would love to see another book just for him.
A knock out romance book 💗

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

i loved the characters but the last third of the book almost seemed predictable and drawn out for no reason other than to lengthen the book.

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!

This was my second B.K. Borison book after Lovelight Farms and I liked it just as much, maybe even more?

I loved how, although Lucie was a single mum, it wasn't made her whole personality like some books have done in the past in my opinion. Her relationship with her daughter, her baby daddy and his partner were all so wholesome and healthy and added bonus points for me. That on top of how the radio aspect was introduced just made this extra special too. I loved the chemistry between our MMC Aiden and Lucie and their spicy scenes were so hot! My only criticism is that once they had a spicy scene the connection between them from the radio scenes and date scene wasn't represented on page as much as before and I would have liked it to have continued in the same way as it dampened my believability in their romance and relationship by the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book releases on the 13th of February!

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.

TW: for discussion of parent who had cancer

o m g, this book was just *kicks feet and squeals into pillow* My first by this author and I so appreciate that I got approved for this ARC. The moment i read a small excerpt I was hooked and needed to know more about these characters. Aiden and Lucie just leapt off the page and their chemistry was so palpable from the get go and the way it grows with each interaction.

Can you tell I loved it? The tension, the romance, the cozy cuteness! Just perfection.

And the secondary characters are just fabulous and add a perfect balance of funny as we get to learn more about our MCs and unravel their inner conflict and emotiooooons. Also hello the build up was so deliciously good when Lucie and Aiden finally kiss it was magic!

Now I must go devour everything else from this author!

✨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!

I'm honestly so sad because I really enjoyed the Lovelight farms series and this sounded so cute! Unfortunately, I'm just finding this to be so boring! It feels long when I'm reading it and I don't really like any of the characters! Really gutted about this one!

It's not a bad book, by any means, it's just not for me!

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.

B.K. Borison’s First Time Caller is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that plays with themes of love, self-discovery, and second chances. Drawing inspiration from the beloved Sleepless in Seattle, the novel takes us into the world of Aiden Valentine, a disillusioned radio host, and Lucie Stone, a woman who thought she had everything figured out—until her love life suddenly becomes a matter of public scrutiny.

At the core of First Time Caller is the relationship between Aiden and Lucie, two characters who, at first glance, seem to be at opposite ends of the romantic spectrum. Aiden, the host of a Baltimore-based romance hotline, is a man who has fallen out of love with love itself. Once an idealistic romantic, he’s now a cynic who hides his disillusionment behind the microphone. For Aiden, romance is no longer something to be cherished, but rather something to be criticized—an unfortunate side effect of years of giving dating advice that he himself no longer believes in.

Lucie, on the other hand, appears to have it all together. She’s got a solid job, a loving family, and a brilliant, slightly mischievous daughter. On the surface, she’s content—except when it comes to her love life. Having been out of the dating game for years, Lucie’s romantic life is practically non-existent. When her young daughter calls into Aiden’s show to ask for advice on her mother’s love life, the innocent query sets off a chain of events that propels Lucie into the spotlight and forces her to re-evaluate her own feelings about love and romance.

The charming twist in this story is the viral interview that catapults both Aiden and Lucie into public attention. As Aiden’s cynical views on love meet Lucie’s need for a little more romance in her life, their interactions become the heart of the book. What begins as an awkward, media-driven connection between a radio host and a woman who is suddenly thrust into the limelight, turns into something far more complicated—and much more compelling.

Borison’s writing is light and breezy, filled with humor, tenderness, and relatable moments. Lucie’s character is particularly easy to root for—she’s grounded, intelligent, and refreshingly realistic about her life. Her journey of self-discovery, as she contemplates whether or not she truly wants to reignite the romantic spark in her life, is a nuanced one. She’s not just figuring out whether or not to find love, but also whether she can allow herself to be vulnerable again after years of putting romance on the backburner.

Aiden, with his complex and guarded heart, is a perfect foil to Lucie’s more open-hearted and hopeful nature. His struggles with his own emotional baggage give the romance a more thoughtful and realistic edge. His slow unraveling as he begins to care again—whether for Lucie or for the idea of love itself—forms a moving narrative arc that will resonate with readers who’ve ever struggled to trust love after it’s let them down.

But where First Time Caller truly excels is in its portrayal of the interplay between love and public perception. Lucie’s romance, which she thought was private and under control, suddenly becomes a spectacle for all of Baltimore to scrutinize. As a result, she has to confront her own vulnerabilities in front of a public audience, which adds an extra layer of tension to the narrative. This idea of a love story becoming a media event is both funny and poignant, highlighting the unrealistic expectations that can be placed on people’s relationships, especially when they’re placed in the spotlight.

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!

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

Honestly, I would have absolutely loved this book if it had been shorter, say 300-ish pages, but no, this book had to be long 😩.

Aiden and Lucie have one of the best meet-cutes I've ever read, and it is so nice what Maya did for her mom. But due to the long pages of this book and due to the fact that this is a slow-burn romance, the banter between our two MCs stretches for so long that I had to do some begging for something, anything, to happen 😅.

Also, since this is a grumpy/sunshine romance, Aiden is one of the grumpiest fictional characters I've ever read; he stressed me so bad!

Overall, this was a very cute love story, and I absolutely adore the radio aspect of this novel.

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.