Book Review

First Time Caller by BK Borison.

Book Synopsis

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.

My Review

This is the first novel I have read by BK Borison. When I read the synopsis for First Time Caller I just had a strong feeling that I would enjoy this book, especially the part about it being inspired by Sleepless in Seattle which is one of my favorite romantic comedy movies to watch (and re-watch).

The slow-burn chemistry, the romantic tension and the flirty banter between Lucie and Aiden is just so perfect and it gets steamy and close to the end of the book. There is also character growth which really reaches the peak close to the end of the novel. I really enjoyed this book, but I feel that I could have done without the typical third act break up commonly used (overused) in the plot in romantic comedy genre books. I understand it moves the plot forward, and I don't mind it so much if it is done well and if the characters talk through their issues. Having said that, I appreciated that it wasn't overly dramatic just for the sake of being dramatic.

I appreciated the representation in the novel in Lucie working as a female mechanic and enjoying her work in the field. I also appreciated the type of parent and role model she is to her daughter. The supporting characters added some humor to this novel and I enjoyed them too.

My understanding is that this book is the first in the Heartstrings series and I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the books inspired by popular romantic movies. I have added the books in the Lovelight series to my tbr and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Berkley and Penguin Random House for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 🍕🍕🍕🍕

Book Details

Author: BK Borison

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: February 11, 2025

Genre: Fiction. Romance.

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 448

---