First-Time Caller

Heartstrings #1

by B.K. Borison

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded 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.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Friends To Lovers

420 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2025

About the author

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

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Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

IDK I appear to be in the minority with this one. It started really sweet but it was also kinda cheesy. I didn't really connect with the characters and it was way too long for a contemporary romance imo.

I'm just gonna keep this one short and to the point. It didn't give enough Sleepless in Seattle for me. It felt very heavily over troped and thus very predictable and unexciting for me.

The MMC having the last name Valentine, in a valentine's day themed story, while being the grumpy in this grumpy sunshine duo, while hosting a radio talk show based on love and romance, while not believing in love annoyed me on an irrational level.

Overall the writing is really well done, the pacing is okay... few lulls here and there. It did feel a little dragged out due to the amount of pages. It could have easily been 300-350 pages.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

I'm such a sucker for a Sleepless in Seattle inspired story. Here we go! Please be good! 💗🤞


╰⪼ 💗Forced Proximity
╰⪼ 💛Grumpy ✘ Sunshine
╰⪼ 💗Chosen/found family
╰⪼ 💛Single Mom
╰⪼ 💗Yearning
╰⪼ 💛Finding Excuses to Touch Them
╰⪼ 💗Who did this to you
╰⪼ 💛Slow Burn
╰⪼ 💗Public Declarations of Love
╰⪼ 💛Witty Banter
╰⪼ 💗Dual POV
╰⪼ 💛Spice


Anticipated Release Date - 02/11/25

🌸 A huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 🌸

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE KEEPS A LIST OF HER FAVORITE THINGS IN HIS GLOVE COMPARTMENT SO HE DOESNT FORGET

you can pry that one scene at the restaurant out of my cold dead hands!!!! (it’s a romance genre staple and i’m not letting it go!!)

aiden and grayson on the lucie defense squad🤝

Read my full review

berkley romance i love youuuu (thank you for the arc)

Bookstagram | Blog

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the premise and set up for this one! It was fun, flirty, entertaining & perfect for hopeless romantics (like me and lucie)

But around maybe 45-50% I unfortunately got the ick from Aiden (LOL) and there was no coming back from it. He was so emotionally unavailable and lacking so much confidence, I truly think lucie deserved so much more/better. Their chemistry & compatibility lacked for me, BUT I will say I loved the side characters & there were definitely some sweet moments

(This book also felt a tad too long)

[Sydney Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD

[ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[maria (catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 3 ✰

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹”Do you think I’ll get my magic?”
“Nah, Lucie. I think you’re the magic”⋆𐙚₊˚⊹

First-time caller follows Aiden who is a radio host for a romance hotline, but he no longer believes in love. And Lucie who is a single mother and an auto mechanic whose daughter calls into the show, hoping to find her mom a chance at happiness. Aiden and Lucie start talking, the people of Boston fall in love with her, and she’s eventually invited on the show to help her find love. Naturally, Aiden and Lucie end up falling for each other.

At first glance, the idea of a hopeless romantic and an anti-romantic falling in love together seems like a recipe for an unforgettable, love story. It should be the kind of narrative that explores the intricacies of human relationships—how opposites can sometimes attract and heal one another. Unfortunately, despite the intriguing setup, the story ultimately falls flat. The chemistry between Aiden and Lucie is underdeveloped, and what should have been a deep emotional connection instead feels superficial and rushed.

➸ I knew I was taking a gamble with this book, considering my mixed experience with B.K. Borison’s books—I enjoyed two books from the Lovelight Farms series but really hated the other two. Still, I was excited to read this. Maybe my lack of familiarity with Sleepless in Seattle (which this book is inspired by) made it harder for me to fully connect with the story. I have to admit, I was enjoying the first half—my reading updates prove it.🤚🏻 But lately, I’ve found that books are struggling to hold my interest in the second half, and this one was no exception. The writing also felt quite superficial, which made it even harder to stay invested.

One of my biggest issues with this book is its length. It felt unnecessarily stretched out, and I think some people are confusing that with it being a slow burn. But in reality, the main characters developed feelings for each other in a month or so —so calling this a slow burn feels like an exaggeration. Instead of a well-paced romance, the book relied on excessive descriptions and drawn-out moments that made the story drag. After a certain point, I found myself questioning why they even liked each other. Their connection never felt fully developed, which made their growing feelings hard to believe.

➸ As for the characters… they were just meh. I didn’t hate them, but I didn’t love them either. They had some sweet moments together, but since their relationship lacked a solid foundation, those scenes didn’t really hit the way they should have. I had mixed feelings about Aiden. There were moments when he was a sweetheart, but overall, his character didn’t entirely make sense. He’s emotionally unavailable because his mom had cancer three times (though she’s still alive), and that fear of loss made him avoid attachment. But instead of growing from that experience, he takes it to an extreme—he’s actively avoiding his own mother, the one who survived cancer, simply because he’s afraid of watching someone he loves suffer. And this is a grown man in his thirties.😭 Honestly, he just needed therapy. His entire reasoning felt frustrating and weak, and instead of making him a complex character, it just made him seem emotionally immature. For Lucie I really loved her character at the beginning, I saw a little of myself on her with how much she want magic in love but I was a little mad at the end when she was willing to let that magic go and she was almost choosing a situationship with Aiden, like why are you going to accept the bare minimum after all the things you said you wanted in a relationship😔

I also didn’t care that much for any of the side characters. There was an overwhelming amount of unnecessary information about them, and none of them added much to the story. It felt like they were just there to fill space rather than contribute meaningfully to the plot. On top of that, despite most of these characters being in their thirties, they acted like teenagers. Their behavior often felt unrealistic for their age, making it even harder to take the story seriously.

Another thing that really bothers me is how this book is marketed as a single mom romance, yet the male main character barely develops a connection with the FMC’s child. When I pick up a single-parent romance, I expect to see a genuine relationship develop between the kid and the love interest throughout the story—not just as an afterthought. But here, that connection is practically nonexistent until the very end, which felt like a huge missed opportunity.

➸ Now, onto my biggest issue with this book—the smut. I cannot stand B.K. Borison’s writing when it comes to steamy scenes. I hated every single one in the Lovelight Farms series, and this book was no different. The closet scene is something I’ve vaguely mentioned a few times, but let me just lay it all out. That’s basically their first sexual interaction and it’s when she literally rides his thigh in the radio station building—because, apparently, that’s just a normal thing to do. It was so random and out of place, like we went from 5% to 100% on the lust scale with no real buildup. One moment, they’re having a normal conversation, and the next, it’s full-blown desperation out of nowhere.

And the actual sex scenes? Full of lines like "You can take it," "Look how good we fit,"—which, at this point, just feel overused and cringeworthy. I got so fed up that I had to skim through the last 100 pages because I physically couldn’t keep reading about them. The romance itself was already lacking, but the way their intimacy was written just made it worse. It felt forced, unearned, and more focused on instant gratification than any meaningful connection.

I could give you some example of how cringe and awkward the smut was but I’m a good person.








JOKING, we all going to suffer together.🤗

Exhibit A

⤷ "Why did riding my thigh make you think of pizza?"
"Well." She shrugs, and her arm shifts against mine. We're back to being plastered together on this uncomfortable seat."Pineapple pizza is borderline orgasmic."
I cup my hand around the back of her head. My thumb traces the long line of her neck. "Is that so?"
"Yeah," she breathes. "It's really good."

who in their right mind writes the words pizza and orgasmic in the same sentence?😭😭

Exhibit B

⤷ "Condom," I grind out from between clenched teeth. "Get a condom. Please."
"So polite," she says, fumbling with the box.
My hands squeeze. "I'm about to be really rude, to be honest." She tears the wrapper with her teeth and rolls the condom
over me.
"I can take it," she whispers, and I have to think through the starting roster of the Orioles spring training team to keep myself from mindlessly rutting against her.

➸ This might seem like just normal smut, and I realize I’m probably in the minority for feeling this way because all over TikTok, I see people absolutely losing their minds over these scenes. Everyone seems to find them hot and intense, but for me, they just didn’t work at all.

Anyways, I wasn’t thinking of writing a full review but it looks like I had a lot of things to say hahah. overall: I know my review sounds like I hate everything of this book but this was a cute book specifically in the beginning but it’s nothing out of this world. if you have liked previous books by B.K. and found the smut good then you’re probably going to like this book, since that was my biggest problem.


_________

ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.

I FOUND AN EARLY COPY AT MY WALMART 🤸🏻‍♂️🤸🏻‍♂️ B.K is a hit or miss for me, so let’s see with this one🫣

[Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m honestly a little torn on how I feel about this book. there were moments that felt absolutely adorable and had me smiling, but other parts just felt bland. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it the way I thought I would. It kind of landed somewhere in the middle for me.

this was my first book by this author, and I’ve heard so many great things about her other stuff, so I’m definitely not giving up just yet! Maybe this one just wasn’t the book for me, but I’m still excited to check out more of her writing.

now, let’s talk about the plot because the setup was honestly so cute 😭 we start off with lucie’s 12-year-old daughter secretly calling Aiden’s romance hotline because she wants her mom to start dating again. And somehow, this leads to a conversation between Aiden and Lucie that goes viral. People absolutely love how real and open Lucie is, so Aiden and his team decide to bring her on the show. This, of course, creates the perfect forced proximity situation, which I love and what’s even cuter is that fact that everyone in the intern start shipping them together saying “to be honest I’m listening to the show just to hear Aiden flirt with lucie” I’m telling so cute!!

lucie is someone who wants a real, passionate relationship something that sparks and feels electric. She’s not willing to settle for anything less. Meanwhile, Aiden is the complete opposite. He fallen out of love with love itself. He’s scared of getting hurt, of giving his heart to someone who might leave, just like he saw happen with his parents.

as for our main couple: i actually really liked both Aiden Valentine and Lucie Stone. They were fun, witty, and easy to root for. and let’s take a moment to appreciate Lucie being a mechanic how cool is that?! You don’t see a lot of female characters in romance with jobs like that, and I loved that detail. another thing that stood out to me was Lucie’s relationship with her ex (Maya’s dad). It was so refreshingly healthy and well written! no unnecessary drama, just two people co-parenting in the best way possible. and then we have the found family trope with Aiden’s friends, which was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. Seeing Lucie slowly become part of that circle was just so heartwarming. It’s that good because she don’t have a lot of friends.🥹

now, here’s where my main complaint comes in and the reason I ended up giving this book three stars. I love when romance books focus on building a solid friendship before diving into the romantic side of things. But in this case, it felt like the author focused so much on their friendship, their jobs, and their relationships with other people that the actual romance between them got lost in the mix. When it did happen, it felt rushed, almost like an afterthought rather than something that naturally developed over time. I wanted more build up and tension, more of those slow burn moments where you can feel the shift from friends to something more. so the romance itself just didn’t get the attention it deserved, which left me feeling a unsatisfied. I didn’t hate it, but I wanted to love it, and I just didn’t quite get there 😫

and we can’t forget that he made a list of her favourite things and kept it in his glove compartment 🥹



***ARC Provided by the Publisher—Berkley Publishing Group—in exchange for an honest Review.***

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book! I cursed myself for reading it so quickly! Several things made me swoon and sigh, starting with the delightful banter between Aiden and Lucie during their radio show, where they shared a tiny booth without a single complaint. I absolutely adored the moment when Lucie found the list of her favorite things in Aiden’s car glove compartment, and her being stood up by her date turns into the most entertaining and memorable night—reminiscent of a scene from New Girl's pilot episode. (I’m trying not to give too many spoilers, but I can’t help sharing some moments that made me truly adore this book!)

I have a confession to make, and I hope Nora Ephron fans won’t boo me for it, but this book’s plot is even better than Sleepless in Seattle! The similarities begin with 12-year-old Maya’s call to Heartstrings, Aiden Valentine’s Baltimore romance hotline (which unfortunately only a dozen people listen to), asking for dating advice for her 29-year-old single mom, Lucie Stone. But that’s where the similarities end. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait until the end for the characters to meet at the Empire State Building (because, let’s face it, I’m not that patient).

When their conversations go viral, bringing back ratings and sponsors to the struggling station (thanks to Aiden’s brooding tone and existential crisis), the intimidating station manager Maggie Lin decides on a solution: to include Lucie in the show. So many lonely listeners connect with her and her journey to finding the real love she deserves.

Aiden agrees to help Lucie in her quest for love, sending her on dates connected through a separate phone line provided by the station. But there’s one big problem: if there were a Grinch who stole Valentine’s Day, it would be Aiden. He fell out of love with love a long time ago due to family tragedies, keeping people at arm’s length and avoiding any intimacy in his life.

How can Aiden, who doesn’t believe in love, help Lucie find her perfect match when he’s starting to develop feelings for her himself? He tries to restrain himself, believing he can’t offer her the magic she deserves. But the sparks between them are undeniable, and Lucie has feelings for him too. Can he do the honorable thing and send her to a man who can give her what she wants, or will he tear down the walls he’s built around his heart and take a chance on becoming a better man?

I loved Aiden and Lucie’s story. Their attraction and sizzling chemistry are off the charts. Lucie is brave, kind-hearted, and tough, always putting her loved ones first—and she’s also a kickass mechanic. Aiden, on the other hand, is incredibly sweet, a true romantic hiding behind his cold, sarcastic, and depressed exterior.

Grayson, the gay dad next door who’s fiercely protective of Lucie, and his husband form a big, eccentric family that had me laughing so much. And Maya is smart, sweet, and absolutely adorable.

If I had the talent to write and compose a love song for this book, I would do it in a heartbeat!

I have a feeling we’re going to read Jackson Clark (Aiden’s best friend with a cruffin addiction I can’t blame him for—those things are amazing!) and Delilah Stewart’s enemies-to-lovers story in the second book of the series. (At least, that’s what I’m guessing based on the hints the author dropped!) I can’t wait to read more of this series. It’s off to an even better start than the Lovelight Farms series (which I also adore). Aiden and Lucie’s story will tug on your heartstrings, bringing you joy, entertainment, and hope—the perfect recipe for a great romance!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this perfect romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[🌺 Hannah 🌺 (very busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first SIX-STAR read of the year! ❤️⭐️

This book was just so heartwarming and enjoyable. I kept falling more and more in love with the characters and their growth, it just made my heart so full. One of my favorite parts was that there wasn’t really a third-act breakup. Instead, it was about two mature adults giving each other space to figure out their feelings, rather than unnecessary drama.

Lucie is an amazing FMC! She is funny, lovable, and easy to root for. Watching her grow and truly believe that she deserves to be loved was amazing. I also loved how she broke gender stereotypes with her job and had such strong support from her coworkers. Maya was full of sass and admiration for Lucie, and the bond between them was one I wish everyone could have with their mom 🥹 And let’s not forget Grayson and Mateo.. the sass, the found family vibes, the unconditional love? Chef’s kiss 😙

Aiden was a great MMC as well! He wasn’t perfect, but he owned his mistakes, learned from them, and showed so much growth. His friendship with Maggie and Jackson added so much humor to the book, and I seriously cannot wait for Jackson’s book!

This book was pure perfection!! 💓 I wish I could read it again for the first time. It’s the kind of story that wraps around your heart and leaves you smiling from ear to ear! Highly recommend to all romance and romcom lovers! 💕

[Kristen Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best contemporary romance I have ever read. The characters are so believable and likable! A divorced mother to a 12 year old daughter that not only gets along with her ex but lives next door?! I wanted to reread this book immediately after finishing because I had a smile plastered to my face the ENTIRE TIME I was reading it. I laughed so hard the whole way through. The banter is 10 out of 10! This love story made me feel all the warm fuzzy feelings I got watching old romcoms back in the day when they were still good. I actually have zero notes. Perfection!

[paula ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Oh wow... The hype was real, I loved the book 😍

Aiden and Lucie are so adorable, I wanted to hug them both 💗

I couldn't give it a perfect 5 because I felt like Aiden was playing with Lucie's feelings in some parts. I understand because of everything he's been through as a teenager, but if you're not clear about things, don't play with the other person's feelings. I'm just saying 🤷🏼‍♀️

Even so, I loved the book, its main characters, and even the supporting characters. I can't wait to read Jackson's book 💗

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I can see why people like this story but it wasn’t for me.


“I wasn’t—I wasn’t expecting you.”


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ Baltimore setting
✨ auto mechanic x radio host
✨ romantic x cynic
✨ single mom
✨ insta lust
✨ friends to lovers
✨ 2/5 🌶️
✨ miscommunication
✨ third act breakup
✨ blended family
✨ LGBTQ rep
✨ dual POV
✨ TW: parent with cancer, estranged family


My Thoughts:

The premise is cute. Aiden is a radio host for a romance hotline but he no longer believes in love. Lucie is an auto mechanic and a single mother whose daughter calls into the show because she wants her mom to be happy / date. Aiden and Lucie talk. The people of Baltimore love her. She's invited on the show to help her find love. And, of course, Aiden and Lucie end up falling for each other.

There's a few lines that had me chuckling. The spice shows up at 60% and pops off. There's a tense third act breakup but Aiden wins her back in the end. The story checks all the rom-com boxes. However, this story was just so bland. It felt very formulaic and without any real soul.

At 30%, I started to really have issues. Once Lucie joins the radio show, we skip ahead two weeks, missing out on interactions between her and Aiden, which is important for showing how they develop a connection. Instead, it goes from them just meeting and talking once to Aiden having intense emotional reactions to Lucie. For example, Lucie has a bad date and throughout this scene, Aiden thinks, "I would have punched myself in the face too if I thought I made Lucie cry" and "I'm going to kill that slimy piece of shit." I just didn't understand why he was so emotional and protective over Lucie in such a short amount of time. But again, if we had some scene between them during the two week period leading up to this date, maybe we would have seen some feelings grow.

After this failed date, they have quite a few small touches and forehead kisses here and there, yet somehow, neither Aiden or Lucie are aware that this might signal they are into each other. People who only know each other for three weeks in a semi-professional environment don't do those things unless there is attraction or feelings. 🙄 They were being purposefully obtuse to fit the narrative of this story.

I'm also SO over characters that CLEARLY need therapy but refuse to seek it, only letting their unresolved issues fester and dictate their lives. What do you mean this 30 year old man has been distancing himself from his parents because he can't handle his mom possibly going through another cancer scare again??? She beat cancer three times and he avoids her?! What a fucking dick. I could understand Aiden doing this in his early 20s but continuing this into your 30s, when he's completely aware of this behavior and does absolutely nothing to be better? No. There are times when a grumpy asshole MC is sexy, but this was not one of them.

The spice was open door and explicit, but it just felt like the scenes and dialogue where following a romance playbook. It didn't feel original. First kiss happens at exactly 60%; the next time they kiss he makes her cum and refuses any reciprocation because . . . no real reason; and then the next intimate scene is a sex scene where he says all the right things. I've read so many male main characters say "I fucked my fist" or "You can take it" that I no longer get excited reading these sentences. I realize most romances have similar dialogue, so I'm aware my issue with it in this book might just be because I didn't connect with the characters. But still, can authors please give us something new? I'm jaded over here and want to feel hot and bothered gain when reading these spicy scenes.

But really, my biggest issue is the writing. I’ve read three books from the Lovelight Farms series and didn’t quite connect but I was hoping this series would be a little different. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I think it's because I don’t like how BK Borison writes, regardless of the story, tropes, or characters. In my opinion, Borison overwrites and includes a lot of unimportant information. And any new info introduced feels like an info dump, that could easily be condensed or excluded. I ended up skimming a lot of the non-dialogue and I didn't miss anything. BK Borison books and I just don't vibe, so this will officially be the last one I read.


Favorite Quotes:

It feels like every time I get my hopes up for something good, reality comes out swinging. I don’t know how to be a hopeful person anymore. It’s easier not to be.
_______

“I don’t want to be with someone if they’re not giving me something I don’t already have. I don’t want to waste my time on things that don’t feel like everything I’ve always wanted for myself. . . 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.”
_______

“I like that. Thinking that I’m worth paying attention to. Something ordinary made extraordinary by the person you’re sharing it with.”
_______

“You’re gonna make me work for it, aren’t you?” he murmurs.
“You like it when I make you work for it,” I fire back.
_______

“Ah, Lucie.” Aiden smiles, his fingers fanning out wide against my back. “I’d know you anywhere.”
_______

“I like a woman who can toss me around.”
_______

“You might not be what I’m looking for, but you’re what I want. And that’s enough for me.”
_______

Kissing her won’t lead to anything good. But I’ve never claimed to be all that good to begin with, and I’ve been on my best behavior for weeks.
_______

“You have a pineapple pizza?”
I nod, annoyed with myself. “I do.”
“You said pineapple on pizza is disgusting.” “
It is.”
“Then why do you have it?”
“Because you said it was your favorite,” I admit. “And I want your favorite to be my favorite.”
_______

Maybe Lucie doesn’t make me stupid. Maybe she just makes me honest.
_______

“I can be brave enough for the both of us. I can make my own magic. You just have to give me a reason to.”
_______

Love isn’t”—he sighs, a deep, rumbling sound—“love isn’t always sunshine and daisies. Sometimes it’s hospital beds and shaved heads. But I wouldn’t trade any of it. Because all of it is with her.”
_______

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite book of 2024.

First-Time Caller is a marvelous Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance. With slow burn, banter, tension, connection and so much more, you can’t help but fall in love with Aidan and Lucie. Not only do you fall for them on their own but as a couple as well.

Lucie goes on a romance hotline (hosted by Aidan) to try and find a date, she’s looking for love. But where she finds love is unexpected.

If you were to watch a late 90s, early 2000s romcom, this book gives you that same exact feeling that those movies do. It’s a feel good, butterflies in your tummy, chest palpations type of romance. And I fell head over heels in love.

There is not a single flaw in this book (in my opinion) and it was perfection is written form. Honestly, BK Borison can do no wrong. And FTC just solidified that.

If you’re in need of a romance for the ages that will make you feel all the good feelings while reading it, First-Time Caller is a must read. Trust me, you’ll fall in love just as hard as I did.

[emma]

being brave (trying a new romance)

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5⭐️

What a freaking breath of fresh air! As someone who doesn't usually have a good time with a contemporary romance, I read this in one delicious sitting and had a blast. This one stands out from the crowd because Lucie, the main character, is a grown-ass woman with healthy self-esteem, functional friendships, a wholesome co-parent relationship, a fulfilling job with supportive co-workers, and the cutest living situation. She's literally someone I would be friends with, and she feels deserving as hell. So it actually makes sense that she would be the object of someone's love and desire!

The setting of this one is so fun as it takes place in Baltimore mostly in a radio booth (a fun spin on forced proximity), or at Lucie's house which is right next door to her kid's dad (swoon).

Thematically this one is also solid as it doesn't rely on tired miscommunication tropes or overly dramatic trauma, but very believable emotional unavailability, and the characters have a lot of self-awareness. The characters grow. The characters communicate. The characters make believable choices and I bought their reactions. The spice is earned and well-written. The humor hits, and the ending is super satisfying.

This one does what others in the genre strive for, and nails it. If First-Time Caller has one fan, I'm her. If it has no fans, I'm dead. Loved it.

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

—— 𝟓 ☆ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬. ☎️

❝whᥲt if this is whᥲt ყoυ’vᥱ bᥱᥱᥒ wᥲitiᥒg for? whᥲt if it’s ᥲᥣᥣ ᥲ striᥒg of ᥴhoiᥴᥱs ᥲᥒd momᥱᥒts ᥲᥒd ᥱvᥱᥒts ᥲᥒd dᥱᥴisioᥒs thᥲt hᥲvᥱ ᥣᥱd ყoυ to ᥱxᥲᥴtᥣყ right hᥱrᥱ? ᥲᥒd whᥲt if whᥲt hᥲρρᥱᥒs ᥒᥱxt—whᥲt if whᥲt hᥲρρᥱᥒs ᥒᥱxt is thᥱ good ρᥲrt? thᥱ ρᥲrt ყoυ’vᥱ bᥱᥱᥒ wᥲitiᥒg for.❞

📖┆𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐁.𝐊. 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟝/𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟝/𝟙𝟜/𝟚𝟝
📋┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”Aiden Valentine has 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, Lucie Stone, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. When all of Baltimore start suddenly scrutinizing Lucie’s love life, or lack thereof, she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. 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.”」

❝”do ყoυ thiᥒk i’ᥣᥣ gᥱt mყ mᥲgiᥴ?”
“ᥒᥲh, ᥣυᥴiᥱ.”
iᥒ mყ drᥱᥲm, hᥱ brυshᥱs ᥲ kiss ᥲgᥲiᥒst mყ forᥱhᥱᥲd.
“i thiᥒk ყoυ’rᥱ thᥱ mᥲgiᥴ.”❞

♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟶𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ:💘❄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴘɪɴᴇᴀᴘᴘʟᴇ ᴘɪᴢᴢᴀ 🍕
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ!

lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: [ᴀ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴜɪʟᴅ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴏɴ ♪ ʟᴏɪꜱ ᴀʀᴍꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢ]
1:02 ———♡——— 3:01

◁◁ ▐ ▌ ▷▷

‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐₊˚⊹ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼'𝑚 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠, 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑜ℎ, 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒; 𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑜𝑛.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
☎️ “ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ɪᴛ”
🎙️ ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
☎️ ʀᴏᴍ ᴄᴏᴍꜱ
🎙️ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
☎️ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴍ
🎙️ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
☎️ ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ
🎙️ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘʟᴇꜱꜱ ɪɴ ꜱᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ

❝”how’d ყoυ kᥒow it wᥲs mᥱ? thᥱrᥱ ᥲrᥱ ρᥣᥱᥒtყ
of sᥲd girᥣs iᥒ bᥲᥣtimorᥱ.”
“ᥲh, ᥣυᥴiᥱ.” ᥲidᥱᥒ smiᥣᥱs, his fiᥒgᥱrs fᥲᥒᥒiᥒg oυt
widᥱ ᥲgᥲiᥒst mყ bᥲᥴk.
“i’d kᥒow ყoυ ᥲᥒყwhᥱrᥱ.”❞

♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡

💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• I’ve never seen Sleepless in Seattle, but I’m guess I’m going to have to now. The rumors are true. This book is worthy of all the hype.

• First Time Caller had me feeling giddy & swooning every time I went to pick it up; it felt like I was the one experiencing the crush on my grumpy, tall, dark haired co worker (I pictured him as Adam Driver as I do for a lot of mmcs described like this). 🤭 on that topic, does anyone else have a celebrity crush they picture when they read about certain mmcs?

• “Who the fuck made you cry?” 🫠

• As someone who went through a parent who was diagnosed with cancer, I related to Aiden a lot & felt for him so hard. I couldn’t even get mad at the “third act breakup” because of why he was holding back on loving Lucie. 💔 His might have been the only acceptable excuse.

• I loved the cozy setting the author created, despite it taking place in a big city, & I especially loved all the characters. I wonder who the next book is going to be about.

• The list Aidan made of all of Lucie’s favorite things had me squealing.

• This book did something to my heart that a romance novel hasn’t been able to do to me in a long time. First Time Caller gave me the same warmth in my chest that I would get from hot coffee on a cold day, rainy nights, clean bed sheets after a shower, string lights all lit up at night. I think that’s why I’m so picky with what romance books I choose to read. I wish they could all feel as magical & heartwarming as this one did for me.

• TLDR; Read this. It will pull at your heartstrings. 😉

♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*

❝how ᥣoᥒg hᥲvᥱ ᥣυᥴiᥱ ᥲᥒd i bᥱᥱᥒ orbitiᥒg ᥱᥲᥴh othᥱr? how mᥲᥒყ ᥴhᥲᥒᥴᥱs did i miss bᥱforᥱ i ρiᥴkᥱd υρ thᥲt ρhoᥒᥱ ᥴᥲᥣᥣ iᥒ thᥱ middᥣᥱ of thᥱ ᥒight? shᥱ sᥲid shᥱ wᥲᥒtᥱd mᥲgiᥴ ᥲᥒd i thoυght wᥱ foυᥒd somᥱthiᥒg bᥱttᥱr. somᥱthiᥒg rᥱᥲᥣ. bυt ᥲρρᥲrᥱᥒtᥣყ thᥱrᥱ wᥲs ᥲ ᥣittᥣᥱ mᥲgiᥴ, ᥲftᥱr ᥲᥣᥣ.❞

♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:* ･ﾟ♡･ﾟ:*｡.:*

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fun, everything happened the way i expected it to but omg did this book feel like it just went on forever and ever

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I’m a bit superstitious about my first read of the year-(hoping to start the year out strong) so I went with this “Sleepless in Seattle” inspired love story- the first in B.K. Borison’s newest series-(Heartstrings, #1) and it proved to be a wise choice! ❤️

Aiden Valentine is the host of Baltimore's late night romance hotline, “Heartstrings” but he is not sure if he still believes in love. It seems to bring more heartache than joy-if you were to judge love by the majority of the calls he takes.

But then 12 year old, Maya calls in asking for dating advice for her mom. When Lucie Stone hears her daughter on the phone when she is supposed to be asleep, she enters the bedroom interrupting the call-and her conversation with Aiden goes viral.

Lucie considers herself happy!

She has a fulfilling job as an auto mechanic, and a great relationship with Maya and both of her daughter’s TWO Dads-who live right next door and are helping to raise her. Maya’s father, Grayson would end up being the platonic love of Lucie’s life-but the romantic love of Grayson’s life would end up being Mateo. Fortunately, all three are mature people doing right by Maya, and each other and the three are now the BEST of friends.

But with all of Baltimore now scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—Lucie begins to wonder if Maya is right, so when the radio station invites her to co-host “Heartstrings” and look for love over the air waves-she steps out of her comfort zone to give it a try.

ALL of Baltimore begins to fall in love with Lucie, rooting for her to find love-but Aiden starts to realize that he ISN'T rooting for her along with the rest of the city-as he as fallen for her right along with all of their listeners.

But, will he find the courage to tell her so—before it’s too late? ⏰

The book- dedicated by the author to “hopeless romantics and the reluctant ones too”- unfolds from the alternating POV’s of both Lucie and Aiden-with snippets of their radio show interspersed throughout.

This unique, captivating story stole my heart IMMEDIATELY!

The characters are likable and the witty banter develops the red hot chemistry between Lucie and Aiden long before their physical relationship begins. It was definitely a book that I couldn’t wait to get back to-whenever I could-and a series that I actually look forward to continuing! (Hurry please!)

Because of personal preference, I wavered between a 4 and 5 star rating. I prefer a more “closed door” 🚪 romance, as opposed to a “play by play” of the SPICY 🌶️ scenes that uses the three “C” words-as those words aren’t romantic or sexy to me, AND there is a LOT of frustrating miscommunication!

But, despite those two very minor issues, I really enjoyed the time I spent with these characters so I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one!

AVAILABLE NOW!

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! As always, I have offered my candid thoughts!

[sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ

⤷ First-Time Caller had such a fun premise. I understand why so many people love it. I really enjoyed the family dynamics. I LOVED Lucie and I was really invested for the first 40% of the book. The sweet moments and banter between Lucie and Aiden were enjoyable to read.

But why is there a man who doesn't believe in love running a romance hotline? Also I hated the fact that this was a single-parent romance but Lucie's daughter Maya had like next to no interactions with Aiden apart from the phone calls to his radio show. I'm not even sure that man is fit to take on someone’s child. This was still a cute and fun read overall.
___________

Preread
Picked this one up purely for its pretty cover

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I think you’re the magic.”

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩ 5 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Workplace Romance
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Grumpy x Sunshine
➼ Single Mom
➼ Radio Cohosts
➼ Romantic x Commitment Phobe
➼ Sleepless in Seattle Inspired
➼ Duet Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV

Now this is a romance for the romantics! 🥰 Someone please buy the film rights immediately, I need to see Lucie and Aiden come to life!

I absolutely adored this book! The writing was so witty and funny and pulled many genuine laughs out of me. I’ve read lots of books where an author wanted me to believe that an FMC is almost universally beloved, but this was one of the first times I’ve actually believed it. Both characters felt so authentic and likable. These were two people I would genuinely love to meet in real life!

For a lot of the book the MMC is closed to finding love, essentially because he fears losing that person, but he was still very honest with her about his feelings which was so refreshing! I’ve read so many books where both characters are afraid to tell the other how they feel which is somewhat relatable, but also kind of cowardly and immature. The way he so willingly shared that he was developing feelings for her without embarrassment was such a sexy deviation from the norm.

He was also very in tune with her needs and insecurities and never hesitated to step in and make himself vulnerable when the moment presented itself. This felt extra meaningful since being vunlnerable was arguably what he feared the most. I think it’s accurate to label this book with the grumpy x sunshine trope, but he’s not grumpy for long because he was almost instantly changed by her light. 💛 Such a healthy depiction of two people who are very clearly better together! ☺️

I’m sure there are people out there who will disagree, but I just can’t imagine anyone not loving this. Not only was this a 5 star read, but it’s one I’ll likely read again in future. Literally can’t think of anything I would change about this book! 🫶🏻 It’s that good! Highly recommend the audio too!

Already dreaming about book two! 💭

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: My Afterlight SE arrived this week and it’s so cute! I’m really excited to finally be starting this! I better hurry up and read it before I see any more less than glowing reviews. 😅

☎️💗

Loving the Sleepless In Seattle vibes! Excited to read something by this author outside the world of Lovelight Farms.

[aira · Rating 2 out of 5]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 1.75/5

This is my fault and I take full accountability for the rating.

I didn't vibe with the writing and I think that's where my biggest problem was. The book on an overall level was good for a while and then it got boring, but the biggest thing was that I couldn't get past the writing.

Also, I usually don't prefer to read single parent books. The rating is not because of that though because I truly think the book did the trope justice. I, however, just didn't vibe with the book in a general sense because my entertainment levels weren't as high as I had hoped. Maybe I went in with too many expectations since everyone raved about this book and it just didn't quite leave me with the same feeling.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and I have to say that audiobooks are going to be my lifesaver because I get so much more "reading" done this way. Every free minute of the day when I used to listen to music, I now listen to an audiobook. It took me a while to get into it because I have the memory of a goldfish and the attention span of a toddler, but I've come to enjoy them so much more than when I first tried to listen to one (it was BTTM if you remember, which quite literally feels like a lifetime ago now that I think about it 🤭)

Aiden Valentine. I'm sorry, but I didn't really like him. I think he was supposed to be a form of "tall, dark and handsome" but I couldn't see the appeal to him. His character felt underdeveloped and maybe there was something more I was searching for in regard to him as a character?

Also, he was a little asshole-ish in places. I was low-key more interested in Jackson than Aiden. I'll be reading that next book when it comes out for sure.

Lucie Stone. She was literally just there for a while. Funny story, but I read the blurb and I for real thought that Lucie was asking for HER mother. I was so out of it that I didn't think it was Lucie's daughter asking for Lucie.

Yes, mistakes have been made, but so have retributions. Here's my lesson to read the blurb more carefully next time so I don't accidentally overlook things like this again. Delilah Stewart has me so intrigued though and the next book is about her. Sign me up asap, please.

The plot. This has a very interesting plot line, especially because it is something that hasn't been done before when it comes to the books that I've read. It's just like I said above that the writing style wasn't my vibe and that took away from the experience. It was a little too slow in places which made it lag. I think it also got really cheesy and corny at one point and not in the way that I like which made me want to finish it before I got an ick. The "smut" was also kind of cringey and I had to skip over it.

I mean, it helped bingo, so there's that. Totally forgot that was one of the squares anyways, so I guess it worked out in the end.

Leave it to me to pick up a book and completely reinvent the reason behind it. 🤡

square 8: main character is a single parent ✔︎

| o | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| ⨯ | o | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ | o | ⨯ |
| ⨯ | o | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ | ⨯ |

-------

pre-read: I've been meaning to read for a long time and I kept putting it off all summer so I might as well read it now. 🌚

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄?”
“𝑵𝒂𝒉, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒆.” 𝑰𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄.”

This book has been living rent-free in my mind for days, even as I sit here writing this review 🫠 As the first book of the Heartstrings series this definitely fits the name of the series because my heart was literally PULLED by its strings with how emotionally invested I became ❤️ The author gave us not only two wonderful characters but also that slow-burn buildup I devoured with every page 🔥

𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆.

Lucien Stone, a single mom and badass mechanic who hasn’t had the best luck in love, finds herself in the spotlight when her daughter calls the Heartstrings Romance Hotline radio show for advice 🎙️ Enters Aiden Valentine, the charming host who listens to her opinion about dating and love itself. Just one phone call and Baltimore couldn't get enough of Lucien's story. Weekly shows turn into heartfelt conversations that slowly chip away at Aiden's walls, while Lucien's perspective about love blossoms into something truly beautiful 🥹🥹🥹

“𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕?”
“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈, 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆.”
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕.”
“𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐.”

The plot is simple and easy to read which helped my experience as a reader. Sometimes a good book is the simplicity of just knowing that HEA will come no matter what. We obviously can't forget about the delicious banter between Lucien and Aiden had me hookeddddd 😍 Watching Aiden realize that no man truly measures up for Lucien while knowing he can't cross that line because of his own issues was so ugh heartbreakingly sweet 😭 He genuinely cares for her, and it shows in every action he takes.

“𝑯𝒐𝒘’𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒆?” “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.”

“𝑨𝒉, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒆.” “𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.”

Also special shoutout to the empowering depiction of Lucien as a woman thriving in a male-dominated field. It’s refreshing and adds depth to her character, just as the message of never settling for less than you deserve is ✨beautifully woven✨ throughout the book.

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄? 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅...”

Reading about two ordinary people navigating their messy love lives but finding something extraordinary together made this slow burn 100% worth it 💖.

𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 °˖➴
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘷
- 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦
- "𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘺?"
- 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘈𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬
- 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 (𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦)

Tropes
☎️ grumpy x sunshine
☎️ radio show romance
☎️ single mom
☎️ forced proximity
☎️ slow burn

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest review

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅screaming, crying and throwing up 😭😭😭 i am so READY to read this book, anyone else?!?

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I know what falling in love feels like because I’ve been falling in love with you.” ❤️

I really enjoyed this book! This was such a heartwarming and fun romance about first love, taking chances, happiness and family. First-Time Caller follows Aiden the host of a radio show called Heartstrings who doesn't believe in love anymore and Lucie a single mother who's daughter calls on the radio show asking for dating advice for her mom. When the radio call goes viral, Lucie realizes that she's lonely and Aiden must come to terms with what love means. With the help of Aiden, Lucie tries to find love and finds it in an unlikely place.

I became immersed in this wonderful story and fell in love with the characters from the very first page. The plot was engaging and the pacing was perfect. The writing was engaging, fun and descriptive. I appreciated that the author discussed important topics in a respectful and relatable way such as cancer, family estrangement, and being welcome of all sexual orientations. I enjoyed that the author showed that love can be romantic but also can be hard work and when you find the right person for you, you will know. The characters were well-rounded and relatable. I loved Lucie, she was a great a mother, loving, kind, funny, brave and hard working. I can relate to Lucie because I am also a romantic, but I've never been on a date or had a boyfriend. Lucie's character development was great, I enjoyed seeing her become more confident and find the love that she was dreaming of. I'm in love with Aiden, he is a gruff on the outside but has a sweet and loyal side to him. I giggled and swooned at many of the sweet scenes between Aiden and Lucie. Aiden's character development was excellent, I'm glad that he became more optimistic and believed in love again. I enjoyed the side characters as well especially Aiden's parents, Maya, Jackson, and Grayson. I loved the interactions that the side characters had with the main characters, especially the teasing moments.

The tension and chemistry between Aiden and Lucie was amazing! I also loved the banter between Aiden and Lucie. I enjoyed that the romance developed over time and they were friends for a long time first. I'm glad that they made each other better and were able to find the love they both wanted. I wasn't a fan of the argument near the end and when Aiden played with Lucie feelings, but thankfully it was resolved quickly. The ending was so sweet and heartwarming!

I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, awesome characters and engaging writing.

[Iqra · Rating 5 out of 5]

AidenLucie made me fall back in love with love. This was so everything. Everyone in the world NEEDS to know how everything this book is.

Life is worth living again!!

I was in the most DISGUSTING slump and this book saved me. It gripped me from the pits of this slump and flung me so high I’m still floating in space never to return. I’ve peaked so hard idk what I’m gna do now that it’s over 🤚

Since I finished marriage for one by Ella maise i’ve been actively searching for something that will give me the same feeling and I’ve not had anything that even came close. I’ve been chasing the high since but as soon as I got to chapter two of this book??? It felt like I finally found home again 🧸💗

The writing is so masterful so emotionally inclined it’s genuinely hard not to get swept away by their love story. The metaphors, the softness and the small moments-GOD THE SMALL MOMENTS 😫🙏 I’m on my knees begging. The not so subtle half touches and sneaky glances at each other and noting all the tiny data points of what makes them who they are.

AND THE WAY BOTH THEIR POVS WERE SO UNIQUE TO THEIR PERSON PLSSSS-
It sounds like the most obvious bare minimum thing, but I’m telling u it’s not. The way I always read dual pov and I can TELL the guys pov is off. It’s always usually very similar in thoughts and structure to the fmc. I notice these things and it genuinely gives me the biggest sense of satisfaction when it’s done right. And my god was this book perfect. Their inner voices fit them to the T. Aiden’s inner monologue felt so real and vulnerable but also the grump in him was written in such a way it wasn’t overwhelming but just right.

I feel like Goldilocks with baby bears toys and porridge lol but it’s true! That’s the embodiment of how I feel about this book as a whole.

AidenLucie are REAL to me. They’re probably in the coffee shop right now eating their cruffins and laughing about how Maya’s got paint on the back of her shirt. When I tell you I’m obsessed I mean it in every sense of the word. They’re home family security. They’re warmth and sunshine and all the colours of the ocean when the light hits it just right.

I wanna tattoo a heart around their names on my forehead so everyone knows they belong to me. Someone tell me u understand my obsession too and I’m not alone 😫💗🧸

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I neeeeeed Jackson’s book like rfn

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
JACOB LATIMORE - AGAIN
Johnny Orlando - Temptation
Joe Kay - Frontin & Crushin (feat. Arin Ray & Blackway)
Ray J - Quit Actin' (ft. R. Kelly & Shorty Mack)
My Family - Michael Hakim

𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”

“Lucie laughs, bold and bright. I want to yank out the headphone jack and fill the studio with it.”

“Lucie.”
“Aiden.”

“Fuck it.”


─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

If u see me adding a tonne of books to my cr mind ur business 😝

Book Club Pick of the Month ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

[Eden Yonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SOOOOO CUTE!!! The premise was super fun and I was ROOTING for the MCs the entire way through. This is a true 4⭐️ for me. The side characters were lovable, the banter was SO entertaining, and the FMC was literally one of my favorites I’ve read in a romance book in a long time!!!


AIDEN VALEN YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS (but baby maybe work on your conflict resolution🤍)

When this comes out in February do yourself a favor and indulge!!!!!

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio host Aiden Valentine hosts a radio show about love. The only problem is, he no longer believes in it. Lucie Stone is a single mom with a career she enjoys and a beautiful blended family. But when her daughter calls into Aiden’s show Heartstrings, to ask for dating advice for her mom, Lucie admits to wanting more in life. Soon, Lucie is guest co-hosting with Aiden as her family and all of Baltimore tune in hoping to help her find Mr. Right…who might just be closer than they all realize.

It took me a minute to become fully absorbed into this one, but once I was, there was no pulling me away. Literally. When I heard this was a Sleepless in Seattle inspired novel, I was reticent given my love of that film. And yet I wound up absolutely adoring the storyline here. It is the most perfect reimagining of this beloved story combined with something completely fresh and new.

The characters are fully fleshed out and incredibly lifelike. Lucie’s blended family and its inner workings was such a joy to read about and ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the story. I loved the dynamics between Lucie and her ex and Lucie and his husband, and how much of a close knit family they had all become. I was also completely smitten with our MMC Aiden, the cinnamon role alpha who adored Lucie from head to toe. Their crushes stole the show here, and the more they got to know and like each other, the more I found myself simultaneously swooning and rooting for them.

If you are in need of a feel good story (and who among us isn’t right now) that has the perfect ratio of sweet to spice, this is one to put on your radar.

🎧 I don’t recall hearing these narrators before and yet they both blew me away. E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee brought these characters completely to life. It was a pleasure spending a few hours with them and because of the occasional radio show type blurbs in the book itself, audio was the perfect format to experience the book as a whole.

Read if you like:
▪️single mom
▪️radio show life
▪️sweet and spicy romance
▪️opposites attract
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️Sleepless in Seattle reimagining

Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

[lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s pub day!! yay, y’all go read this!!!! 🩰

final verdict: i still feel very conflicted

the things that stand out to me are less positive than i would hope. the thing that immediately comes to mind is the fact that he never *actually* spends time with her kid after their initial meeting, which took SO LONG in my opinion??? it was said this was single parent, but she’s always off of work and away for her to hook up/hang out with aiden…like, there comes a time where, when two people fall in love, they eventually meet their significant other’s child i’m so 😭

other than that, the setting really never changed. that’s not something inherently bad about the book because the whole point of this book is the radio show, but it’s a personal issue. that was kinda boring, i wanted more from them out of the booth.

what upsets me the most is how fucking long they took to get together in ANY respect. this was so slow burn the candle idk dissipated???? we had emotional hang up’s galore and sometimes aiden was really not swoon worthy and i thought lucie deserved better high key

okay okay hater time over, the three stars are for 1) enjoyable writing. this single book is better than the lovelight farms series 2) RIDICULOUS spicy scene. singular scene, which sucks, but boy was she hotter than the sahara! 3) lucie representing dating in this era and still finding love. miss girl it IS hopeless out there, that’s why i read!


thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

⁀ ⊹ ₊ For the hopeless romantics. And the reluctant ones too.

three stars, which is basically a it-was-cute-i-guess? rating. the whole thing was super low-stakes, you know? plot-wise, it's like, the most basic romance trope ever. nothing groundbreaking, nothing that's gonna make you scream and clutch your pearls. it was just there.

aiden and lucie were total snooze-fest as mmc and fmc. like, zero personality. they were both so bland, i almost forgot who they were halfway through. no spice, no angst, no compelling reason to actually care about their relationship. it was like watching paint dry, but with slightly less drama.

honestly it wasn't bad, per se. just incredibly forgettable. if you're looking for a quick, easy read that requires zero brainpower, then maybe give it a shot. but if you're looking for anything remotely engaging, or characters you actually connect with, you'll probably want to skip this one and search for something a little more extra.

pineapple on pizza is a crime.

2.5 stars ⊹

thank you charlotte for reading this with me ily x

[Bailee Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This was cute and fun! I loved the premise and the family dynamics, and I LOVED Lucie! Aiden got on my nerves a little bit at some points, but otherwise, I enjoyed this! Perfect palette cleanser read.