“First Time Caller” Book Review
"First Time Caller" by B.K. Borison
“First Time Caller” is a swoony rom-com even cynics can’t help but smile over.
Summary
This Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance follows the cynical romance hotline host Aiden Valentine, and the lonely romantic Lucie Stone.
Aiden Valentine no longer believes in love. Having been the longtime host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, Heartstrings, Aiden has seen how bad love looks up close. If love hurts, why love at all?
Lucie is a loving mother, who has built a life full of love with her daughter, her best friend, and the father of her child. Lucie might not have the one, but she’s happy with the life she has built. Lucie thought she was fairing pretty well until her 12 year old daughter worriedly called about her on Baltimore’s romance hotline. Looking at it, Lucie doesn’t know what to think of her life anymore.
When her late night admission on a dying radio station goes viral, the Baltimore romance hotline is reignited. Together, Aiden and Lucie try to find out if a happily-ever-after exists out in Baltimore.
On air, Aiden and Lucie grapple with love and expectations in this hilarious and unexpected rom-com.
Review:
First Time Caller was nothing short of beautiful. Dreamy and honest, B.K. Borison captures the feeling of falling. Even with classic tropes — grumpy x sunshine, Mr. I’ve Sworn Off Relationships, and friends with benefits — this book felt new. As much as I love a comforting, easy romance read, predictability can get boring. First Time Caller was unique and engaging to read.
This book definitely had me giggling and blushing and kicking my feet. There was so much cute banter and tension. Lucie is awkward and honest, which made her feel extremely relatable. She’s a hopeless romantic, but she also has no idea what she’s doing- but damn does this girl try. What made this book such a good read in my eyes, was the fact that Lucie is messy and real and she’s lovable for that reason. B.K. Borison gives a voice to the hopeless romantics through Lucie in a non-cliché way.
“I want to feel something when I connect with someone. I want sparks. The good kind, you know? I want to laugh and mean it. I want goose bumps. I want to wonder what my date is thinking about and hope it might be me. I want…I want the magic.”
The dialogue and banter between Aiden and Lucie was great! Building their friendship, and seeing it evolve into a relationship was super cute. It also felt well developed.
As far as Aiden’s character, I really enjoyed him. I am nothing if not a girl who loves a brooding MMC. Aiden has fallen out of love with love. But seeing him find it right in front of him, battling with his own fears was really engaging and powerful. Aiden is sassy and brooding, but also displays real depth in his character.
Atmospherically, this novel felt so dreamy and cozy. From the recording booth to Lucie’s home, Baltimore felt intimate in this novel. Borison’s writing has a warm, romantic quality that made me want to take my time in this book. Beautiful is the perfect word to describe the feeling of this novel.
“Do you think I’ll find someone?” I voice the question that’s been banging around in my heart for the last decade. “Do you think I’ll get my magic?”
”Nah, Lucie ... I think you are the magic.”
On a different front, not only is the characterization and atmosphere of First Time Caller really pleasant, but there’s also a heartwarming found-family piece of this novel. Lucie’s cluttered but lovable family serves as representation of non-nuclear dynamic, in a positive fashion that is not always depicted in media. Lucie has an army of people by her, full of unconditional love, despite lacking a traditional family structure. Seeing healthy co-parenting dynamics, conversations about lifestyle and religion, makes this book stand out. Care was put into all the relationships in this novel, not just the romantic ones.
Would I recommend?
Yes!!! This book was 5 stars for me! It felt refreshing, honest, and romantic. This book helped get me out of a book slump, and kept me engaged the entire time. I really found myself rooting for these characters and relating to them in unexpected ways. This novel also has some really meaningful takeaways, for romantics and cynics alike. First Time Caller is a must.
