My first B.K. Borison and certainly not my last!
I loved the premise - Lucie and Aiden meeting through a radio show and subsequently starting a segment on the show to find Lucie a date. What could possibly go wrong?!
I adored the healthy family dynamic between Lucie, her daughter and her ex-partner and his new partner, it was so refreshing. Mainly, though, I loved the connection between Lucie and Aiden. It felt so natural and real. The flirting and the genuine laugh out loud moments, the raw and emotional side to the story- I just adored it.

I knew this was going to be five stars about a quarter of the way into the book. This author crafts sentences so beautifully and had me smiling so much. I loved the whole nostalgic storyline that was inspired by “Sleepless in Seattle” which is a perfect movie. I loved Lucie so much. She is a single mom and auto mechanic doing her best when her daughter calls into a radio station to find love for her mom. The romance hotline host, Aiden, is a grump who no longer believes in love. The story progresses to Lucie ending up on the show on a quest to find love and Aiden figuring out he’s obsessed with her. I love found family as a trope and there was a huge amount of it. It was glorious. Jackson needs his own story as well as Patty and Aiden’s terrifying boss Maggie. I enjoyed every second of this lovely and healing story. I finished it very quickly and loved the dual POV chapters. I was so engrossed and had a lovely time. Read this if you want to feel hope about love again.

B.K. Borison made it hereby officially into my auto-buy always a good time favorite author list 🥂

"First-Time Caller" was so cute and adorable, yet emotional and heartwarming, but also entertaining, funny and steamy, all while being relatable, honest, and full of little things I want to remember about self-worth, love, and loss. I loved it.

"And a part of me, a teeny-tiny sliver of myself, is still waiting. To bump into someone on the street or pick up the wrong coffee order. For the right person at the right time in exactly the right place. To not have to try so damn hard at any of it. It's the romantic in me [...]. And maybe it's childish or naive or whatever, but it's me. I'm allowed to want soft, special things."

I fell in love with Lucie and her adorable family. I fell in love with Aiden and his loss for the right words. I fell in love with all the supportive friends and family, the feminism through and through, the jokes, the bantering, and most importantly - the growth.

"I told Aiden that I'm tired of wasting time on things that don't feel like everything I've ever wanted for myself, but I'm not sure that's true. I don't know what I want for myself. It's all twisted up in the things I think I deserve, then squashed under the things I'm brave enough to reach for. I don't think I've ever thought about any of it long enough to know what I want."

Also, as always, B.K. Borison delivered an amazing new book boyfriend, just saying... might be my favorite so far of hers. A few examples to support this thesis:

"'Who the fuck made you cry?' I snap."

"'You're bossy.'
'I certainly can be.'"

"'You have a pineapple pizza?'
'I do.'
'You said pineapple on pizza is disgusting.'
'It is.'
'Then why do you have it?'
'Because you said it was your favorite. And I want your favorite to be my favorite.'"

A call into the radio station by adorable daughter Maya to help get her mother Lucie back out there and date, results in a radio show by Aiden and Lucie to push this along.

"You tell me all the time you have all the love you need. That you're fit to burst with our family and all the people in it. But I thought, maybe just this once, you could have the love you deserve too."

And them sitting in the tiny booth together resulted in so many funny, cute, heartwarming, and toe-curling moments - I loved it so much. I don't even want to take anything away. But when you love romances with cute, movie-worthy scenes and adorable family and friends while helping overcome relatable insecurities and struggles to help them grow - this is the book.

"When the whole world tells you you're silly for wanting the things you want, you start to believe them. You start to think you're not worth it. That if the things you're waiting for do exist, they're not for someone like you."

I am in love with this book (also, the cover is to die for 😍) and will eat up everything B.K. Borison serves and leave no crumbs.

"'What do you need to fix?'
'Me. I need to fix me.'"

Thank you, Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and B.K. Borison for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This is my second arc and fourth book after Business Casual (Lovelight Farms #4) by B.K. Borison (which I loved as well), and I am so so grateful and happy - thank you!

"I want goose bumps. I want to be wanted."

"Yeah, I guess sometimes I do get lonely."

This is the first B. K. Borison book I have read and it won't be the last.

First Time Caller is a charming contemporary romance full of heartfelt moments and personal growth. We are introduced to Aiden who has given up on the concept of love and Lucie who wants nothing more than to experience the magic that love brings. Their chemistry is undeniable and the time they spend together throughout the book is very sweet and I was constantly cheering them on.

This book is perfect for those who enjoy:

- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy ✘ Sunshine
- Slow Burn
- Dual POV

Thank you Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the e-arc to review.

First-Time Caller was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025, with Business Casual, B. K. Borison's last book, being in my all time favourites list at 7th place. So needless to say I have been putting this off a little despite being lucky enough to receive an arc.
The disappointment for not enjoying my time with this book is so real. It started off well, setting up a slow-burn romance but I was ready for some good tension between our main characters, Aiden and Lucie. Unfortunately, the main let down for this book was our MMC. What a red flag of a man. The jealousy and possessiveness? Stomach-churning. His attitude towards Lucie was nothing I could root for and this particularly manifested during the spicy scenes which were not enjoyable whatsoever.
I'm so confused as to why this romantic pairing makes sense, what do they have in common?
Lucie also has a 12-year-old, whose character I felt to be odd in terms of behaviours for that age.
There was a lot of conflict, but at the 90% mark another came up and I was genuinely fed up of reading this book, obviously this was then resolved unrealistically fast.
I've never rooted for a completely different man, but really Lucie should've picked Colin. Or even the other guy she went out on a date with, who I can't remember his name but know he was much more likeable than Aiden.
B.K. Borison, I love your writing style, but these two didn't work for me unfortunately. I guess I somewhat enjoyed the mixed media aspect with the radio show but I don't have many positives to say otherwise. I am so gutted I don't love this as much as I hoped. I'm probably not going to continue with this series, as the next book's set-up doesn't sound particularly promising.
1.5 stars (rounded up to 2 on NetGalley)

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and B.K. Borison for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads, StoryGraph, Amazon and Waterstones.

I knew I had to read First Time Caller after reading and loving other novels by B.K. Borison. First Time Caller is not exception, and in fact may be my favourite book by Borison I have read so far!

Inspired by the infamous romance movie, Sleepless In Seattle, this story has all the warm, nostalgic feelings of a heart warming rom-com. On every page I could picture exactly how this would look on screen, and as someone that is a sucker for a 90's rom-com movie, I lapped it up. This book had be giggling and kicking my legs like a teenage girl. I mean HE LITERALLY KEEPS A LIST OF HER FAVOURITE THINGS IN HIS GLOVEBOX.

I think this book is filled with an amazing, fully fleshed out ensemble of characters that add so much to this story and give the reader the loveliest example of found family ever. What do you mean she lives next door to her daughter's dad and his husband and they all co-parent their kid as the best of friends?? Yes yes and yes I love it. And the three guys that she works alongside at the garage that look after her like interfering dads or uncles? I love them all!

I cannot wait for more Nora Ephron inspired stories from B.K Borison to read alongside the "it's the 90's and you're the leading lady in a nora ephron rom-com" playlist I found on spotify (highly recommend for the full fantasy of First Time Caller).

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange of a review.

THIS BOOK!! I absolutely loved it with my whole heart. I adored B.K Borrison's Lovelight Farms series so I was really excited to hear that she was publishing new interconnected series and especially that they would be based on Nora Ephron films, and this first instalment did not disappoint. It felt so nostalgic to the Sleepless in Seattle film of which it was inspired by while also keeping the plot fresh and new. I loved the found family and the chemistry between the two main characters was electric!

Lucy thought she was doing okay... until her tweenage daughter calls in to a romance hotline, asking for advice on her behalf. Now she's looking for love on-air... but will jaded radio host Aiden prove to be a help, a hindrance, or something else entirely? Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, I fell head over heels for this romcom - perfect for fans of Emily Henry!

Today is my stop on the tour for First-Time Caller by B.K.Borison 💖 Thank you so much to the lovely Chloe at Pan Macmillan for my copy and for having me on the tour!

I have been so EXCITED for this book!! I love B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series and Sleepless in Seattle is one my favourite films so I immediately knew I was going to love this!

I’m obsessed with the concept and our characters - Aiden who has given up on the idea of love and Lucie who wants to find the magic. They had such an instant chemistry that carried beautifully throughout the story, I couldn’t help but smile everytime they interacted! Lucie was such a lovely character - I’m pretty sure I fell in love with her too during this book 😂

Plus, the side characters were so fun and the humour throughout this book is amazing! I haven’t giggled out loud like that in so long and it gave me all of the same wonderful romcom feels that my favourite movies do!

This was such a magical and romantic read, I feel like my heart is about to burst! This is being added to my all time favourite reads list and is definitely going to be a comfort read for me that I come back to time and time again!

First-Time Caller is the rom com of my dreams, I loved it so much! 💖

EASY FIVE STARS!!! this is for all the classic rom com lovers. i loved the story, the romance, the characters, the pacing... every thing was perfect!! B.K. Borison - you have done it again!!

Another awesome book from Borison - I fell in love with Lovelight series and I can already tell this series will make me fall in love as well. Aiden is fed up of love, dealing with as your day job can make something lose its sparkle. Insert Lucie who is forced into the public eye because of her own daughter. This book made me laugh so much and it gave me the all the feels. I cannot wait for the next!

I was intrigued to read this one given all the excitement about it online but came to the conclusion that it's slightly over-hyped. That said, it's a good, serviceable romance from a reliable author who knows what their readers want and will suit anyone looking for a cute, easy read very well

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
First-Time Caller was my first ever book from B. K. Borison, but definitely not the last! This story had everything I needed. It's like a warm blanket on a chilly evening. It was so refreshing seeing older main characters as the leads for a romance book. I resonated with everything Lucie stands for, and my feelings felt so validated by her thoughts and feelings. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Reading a BK Borison book is like slipping under a cozy blanket with a warm sugary drink, it's comforting and sweet.
Aiden and Lucie were so cute and I could not help but root for them throughout the whole book.

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.