BLURB:

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 believed. 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 decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all, let’s talk about the universe aligning in hilarious ways. Last year, my first book of 2024 was Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison. This year, First-Time Caller by—guess who?—B.K. Borison is my first book of 2025. Coincidence? I think not. At this point, B.K., we’re in a committed relationship. If you drop a book in January 2026, just know I’m already reserving it as my first read of the year. Tradition demands it.

Now let’s get into this absolute gem of a book. You know how rom-coms have that warm, fuzzy charm? First-Time Caller didn’t just have it—it delivered. I’m a certified sucker for rom-coms, but this one? It exceeded every expectation I had. Every time I thought, “Okay, it’s cute but a little slow,” Borison came through like, “Aht aht, you thought!” It just kept getting better and better.

Borison mentioned this was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, which I love, and the radio show element really brought that classic vibe with a fresh twist. (And yes, I caught that Love Light Farms Easter egg, B.K. You’re slick, but I see you!)

The characters? Absolute perfection. Lucie, our charming lead, was such a beautifully layered character, and her co-parenting relationship with Grayson was goals. Grayson had me laughing out loud so many times—someone give this man his own spin-off! Their family dynamic was heartwarming, and the fact that they lived next door to each other made it all the more endearing.

And then there’s Lucie and Aiden. Friends-to-lovers is my kryptonite, and this book nailed it. Their banter was top-tier, and the slow build of their relationship was so satisfying. I was practically vibrating with excitement waiting for them to just be together.

Oh, and let’s not forget that EPILOGUE. Brooks Robinson? B.K. Borison, you genius. What a way to tie everything together! The whole “universe aligning” theme was chef’s kiss. If my daughter doesn’t grow up and call into a radio station on my behalf to help me find true love, I’m going to feel cheated by life.

This book gave me everything I love about romance: humor, heart, a single mom trope, friends-to-lovers tension, and characters so real they practically jumped off the page. It made me want to cozy up in a little coffee shop with a pastry, blasting Sisqo’s Thong Song on repeat (read it, and you’ll understand).

If you’re a lover of rom-coms, First-Time Caller is a must-read, especially with Valentine’s Day around the corner—it drops February 11, 2025. My lover-girl heart is still swooning, and honestly? I’m not ready to pick up another book yet. I want to live in this story just a little bit longer.

B.K. Borison, see you in January 2026? Please and thank you.