B.K. Borison delivers a heartwarming and cozy romance in First time Caller, a novel that beautifully blends humor, longing, and personal growth. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this story follows Aiden Valentine, a disillusioned romance radio host, and Lucie Stone, a hardworking single mom who never expected to become the center of Baltimore’s matchmaking frenzy.

From the very start, the book pulls readers in with its engaging premise—Aiden’s viral radio moment with Lucie’s daughter sets off a chain reaction that forces both characters to confront their true feelings about love. Aiden, despite his cynicism, is undeniably sweet, and his chemistry with Lucie crackles with tension, making every interaction between them a delight. Their slow-burn romance is filled with witty banter, emotional depth, and moments that feel both intimate and real.

What truly makes the book shine is its strong character development. Both Aiden and Lucie experience personal growth throughout the story, making their romance feel even more satisfying. The novel also strikes the perfect balance between humor and heartfelt moments, creating a cozy and uplifting read.

If you're a fan of charming, feel-good romances with great character dynamics and just the right amount of tension, First time Caller is a must-read. It’s a sweet, comforting story that will leave you smiling long after you turn the last page.

the best way i can describe this book is as a way better version of sleepless in seattle (sorry to everyone that loves sleepless in Seattle)

i just loved aiden and lucie so damn much, their banter was so fun, they had such unbelievable chemistry and seeing their development as characters was so satisfying, both of them were struggling with overcoming feelings of inadequacy and their insecurities from the past, but i adored seeing them grow together and because of each other

the setting of a radio show was so fun as well, the guests calling in and lucie beginning her bachelorette journey while aiden was jealous and grumpy next to her was absolutely delicious; maya and lucie’s support system were such a gem in this story as well

b.k. borison has done it again!

thank you to netgalley, b.k. borison and pan macmillan for this arc in exchange for my honest review

4.5 / 5 ☎️🎧💌

Huge thank you and appreciation to Pan Macmillan for the early copy!

This book was so sweet and I fell in love with Lucie and Aiden from the very first page. Their chemistry just radiated of the page and created some seriously good tension-filled moments. I also loved the little town, and how they played a unique part in their story, especially those at the Auto shop.

Maya, Mateo and Grayson boy did they add a special element to this book. I loved how we saw a single mum romance with a stable, non-messy co-parenting situation. I just loved how Grayson and Lucie's relationship and dynamic was depicted in this book and I want more books to take note because many make that the drama when it honestly has no reason to be.

Nonetheless, this was so freaking good and I cannot wait to continue the Heartstrings series hopefully with Jackson and that god awful weather reporter or so he says.

Okay, I absolutely loved this book! It was everything I needed to kickstart February! I loved both FMC and MMC; they had chemistry from the get go, great banter and a relatability which wasn’t force-fed or overdone. I smiled so much reading through this!

Lucie was so relatable, and Aiden had just the right amount of grouch to underpin his thoughtfulness. I loved this from start to finish!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this in advance of its release!

I have heard such amazing things about this book and it did not disappoint!

This was such a fun and cute read. The MC’s were both great, and I LOVE a grumpy guy who’s a little bit against love 😍 It was a pure feel good romance and really felt like a noughties rom-com 🤭

It was very cheesy… sometimes a little too cheesy. But that was the vibe of the book, so I let it slide.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- Sleepless In Seattle vibes
- Single Mom
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Radio Show Romance
- Jaded Lover Boy x Hopeless Romantic
- Meet Cute

The romance in this book is top tier - he runs to her side when she is stood up! He keeps a list of everything she loves!!! I loved Lucie and Aiden together, and I loved Lucie on her own.

My main negative of this book (and why it got 4 instead of 5 stars) is that Aiden felt very one dimensional. The reason I love B K Borrisons writing is the richness and depth she gives her characters, but it felt lacking with him.

However, all the side characters were a delight and I am a slut for a sleepless in seattle vibe, so I enjoyed this one!

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the e-arc!

I've read Borison's books and they always feel like a warm hug. They have this cozy atmosphere that's makes you feel good while reading, and this was also the case with this one.
I loved Lucie and Aiden, the way they relationship was built little by little but how they connected from the start. I also loved how Lucie acting very mature, which makes perfect sense for her age, but sometimes in books the main characters act quite immaturely, so that's something I was very glad to read.
Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy and lighthearted romance! All the moments in the radio station felt refreshing and so enjoyable, glad it was different from other basic romance plots.

My book of the year right here! Easiest 5 stars i've ever given. Aiden is just such a sweet heart and Lucie deserves the world!

I loved that it reminded me of sleepless in Seattle, it just gave me all the cosy vibes and i cannot wait to read more from this world!

Highly recommend

B.K. Borison has once again delivered a book that feels like a warm hug with First Time Caller! I adore the fresh take she offers on Sleepless in Seattle and I was completely drawn in by the undeniable chemistry between the characters.
The characters are what truly made this book shine. They felt so incredibly real, flawed yet lovable, and their journey had the perfect mix of humor, longing, and heart-melting moments. The slow burn was done masterfully, making every interaction between them feel electric. I found myself grinning like an idiot one moment and clutching my heart the next.
The side characters added so much warmth and charm, making the story even more enjoyable. And the romance? Pure magic. It’s cozy, steamy, and emotional in all the best ways.
Borison’s writing is effortless and immersive, and was everything I wanted—sweet, funny, and full of heart. I loved the witty banter, the emotional depth, and the small-town charm that Borison writes so well.
If you love cozy, feel-good romances with just the right amount of spice and heartfelt moments, this is a must-read.


Thank you so much Pan MacMillan for this! ♥️

4.5 ⭐️

If you enjoy a book where the romance is full of sarcastic banter, then this is the book for you. Lucie and Aiden are great together, and I've always loved the radio talk show on love gets a new cohost thing. They both have tough backstories involving cancer, teen pregnancy and disowning. I think these were handled well, especially aidens struggle with a fear of losing people.

While I enjoyed our romantic couple, the side characters made this for me. Maya with her meddling. Her dad and his partner are so supportive and demanding all the gossip. I would love to read how grayson and mateo got together. Having seen the title of the next book, I'm hoping it's about Jackson, I'd love to see more of our weatherman.

This book contains one of the longest smut scenes i have ever read. Honestly, maybe a little too long, but I think a lot of people will like that. Don't get me wrong, it was well written but quite late in the book, and I was concerned about there not being enough space for the romantic development after it.

I do feel like the romance took a back seat to lust for most of the book until you realise a lot of the romance was happening in the little things. I think on a second read, you'll probably pick up on those more. The comedic value of our pairing added to the sweet moments keeps you refusing to put the book down.

All in all, I enjoyed it, and I'll definitely be checking out more of the authors books.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Yes please!
This was amazing! The banter between both of them, the jokes, the side characters are amazing...
Pfff, a great contemporary romance!
I found the beginning to be a bit slow... But I was quickly very invested and read it super quick.

Maybe mini spoiler incoming...

The third act "break up" I fairly short and the ending is very satisfying.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for access to the ebook against an honest review.*

Absolutely glowing, easiest five shining stars!! I loved everything about this book - it felt like the warmest, coziest hug. Everything about this was just pure romance, and I was intrigued the entire read. Highly reccomend for anyone looking for a true romcom read!

Becs can do no wrong!!! Once again she wrote a perfect book that made me complete obsessed with the mmc 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨🤭🤭🤭 I mean AIDEN??? MY GOD!! He keeping a list of all her favourite things made me actually feral.
I loved the representation of the “unconventional” families and all the love that comes from all the the different forms of family structures!
I loved how romantic it felt ( I was giggling, kicking my feet and blushing throughout the whole book) but at the same time how different it felt from Lovelight farms, just proving further the TALENT Becs has.
It was the perfect love letter to love and love stories, the perfect 90s romcom vibes 😭😭💗

Thank you Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange of my honest review 💗

Heartstrings features a cute concept - a young girl rings up a romance hotline on a radio station looking for advice for her mum. A clip of it goes viral and soon the mum and one of the main characters (Lucie) is invited onto the show for a regular segment on her dating life. The radio host is Aiden Valentine, a cynic who's fallen out of love with love. Until Lucie walks into his life...

So, cute concept. And I liked the characters a lot, secondary ones included. The daughter is on just the right side of sweet instead of annoying. There's a nice slow burn to the plot - though warning, it may be too slow for some.

Towards the end, I did want to shake Aiden a bit - he has a serious case of the tortured inner conflict going on. But ultimately this is about Lucie and her search for magic, and I was very keen for her to find it!

I don’t know how BK Borison does it, what she puts in her books, but as always I love it. I fully expected to adore First Time Caller, and it was perfection.

I found both Lucie and Aiden so relatable. They may have different views and expectations on love, but it’s easy to resonate with some of the things they both said. She’s hopeful and doesn’t know whether to throw caution to the window or not, but she finds the strength to take a risk in order to find her magic. He’s… well a lot less hopeful. But as they work together, maybe he’ll start believing in magic too. Just with her.

Their chemistry was there from day 1, but their different views mean they won’t act on it until really late. Prepare yourself for a slow burn, and to not want to put down the book until they get their happily ever after.

It’s also a story of chosen family, and Lucie has found a good one. Grayson is hilarious and clearly wants what’s best for Lucie. Their daughter, Maya, brought a dose of adorableness and lightness to the story. Their side characters added a layer of fun, and their support and dedication into seeing Lucie happy was heartwarming.

I will be obsessing about Lucie and Aiden for the foreseeable future. I wish Heartstrings was real, because I wish I could listen to them.

this unfortunately wasn’t for me but I’m definitely in the minority! I just found this slow and uninteresting. It felt like I had read double what I’d actually consumed and none of it gripped me or excited me, and that’s coming from a huge romantic who used to work in radio. The MMC Aiden wasn’t just “grumpy” he was miserable and dragged my mood down and I think the FMC (I cannot even remember her name) deserved better.

This is a valentines day inspired romance book and I ate this up!
The grumpy sunshine dynamic, the single mom trope, radiostation hosts and just everything? Love!
Absolutely adore and can't wait to tell anyone who's listening to buy this one!

4 stars

This was so freaking adorable 😍
The way I swooned for these two.
I related to Lu and her trying to trust someone enough to date. Her inner monologs and the way she saw herself even when people who cared about her told her how amazing she was... ugh, I felt so seen.
Aiden was such a grumpy cinnamon roll... I adored him.
I love the built-up to their romance and that it was mostly friends(?) To lovers. So cute.
I love the side characters 😍 especially Grayson and Maya... my babies.
Also, the spice was soooo good.
Overall, this was another amazing story by BK.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this so much! It was everything I wanted it to be and more! Desperately praying that we get a book on Jackson too

It was a fun read. A bit too long in my opinion, I think it could’ve been 59 pages shorter. I still have a great time reading it tho!
The characters were likeable and I loved the setting!