The Book That Made Me Believe in Love Again: A Review of First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
For fans of slow burns, strong single moms, radio show romance, and stories that tug on every single heartstring.
Some books entertain you. Others wrap around your heart and refuse to let go. First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison did both. As someone who lives for romance novels, this book didn’t just give me butterflies—it gave me everything. It had me laughing, crying, smiling like a fool, and whispering “one more chapter” until the final page.
If you’ve been looking for a love story that feels both fresh and familiar—with layered characters, real emotion, and some truly adorable moments—you’re in for a treat.
---
First-Time Caller introduces us to Aiden Valentine, a Baltimore radio host who once believed in love but now just dispenses advice like a tired romantic. His life changes when Maya, a precocious little girl, calls his show “Heartstrings” to ask for dating advice—for her mom.
Enter Lucie Stone: single mom, auto mechanic, and someone who’s not actively looking for love. What begins as a viral call turns into something deeper as Lucie reluctantly joins the show to meet potential matches. What no one expects—least of all Aiden—is the spark that forms between host and caller.
Tropes that shine in this story:
Grumpy/Sunshine (Aiden’s dry sarcasm vs Lucie’s grounded warmth)
Single Parent Romance (Lucie is such a real, fierce mom)
Found Family (Lucie’s ex and his husband are genuinely supportive)
Slow Burn & Forced Proximity (hello, on-air chemistry!)
But beyond the tropes, this story is filled with heart. The emotional tension is real, the writing is engaging without being overdone, and the characters actually grow—something that’s often missing in lighter romances. The relationship between Lucie and her daughter is especially touching, and Maya completely steals the show in the best way.
There’s something beautiful about how First-Time Caller handles love: not just the falling part, but the choosing part. Choosing to believe in love again. Choosing to take a chance, even after disappointment. Choosing to show up, even when you're scared. This book gets that.
---
Final Thoughts:
First-Time Caller is the kind of romance that reminds you why the genre matters. It's soft but strong, funny but meaningful, and just... beautifully human.
If you’re a fan of books that balance charm with emotional depth, you need this one on your shelf. And if you’re someone who’s maybe felt a little burned out by love stories that feel too shiny or too perfect—this is the book that might just win you back.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
About the Creator
Carolina Borges
I've been pouring my soul onto paper and word docs since 2014
Poet of motherhood, memory & quiet strength
Leave a tip, stay a while, subscribe if it moves you
Keep reading
More stories from Carolina Borges and writers in BookClub and other communities.
My Best Poem
They ask me if I still write— if the words still come like they used to, in the quiet moments between coffee and sunset, between heartbreak and healing. I tell them: I haven’t written much lately. But oh— look at her. She is every line I ever dreamed of writing. A stanza wrapped in softness, tiny fingers curled like quotation marks around my heart. Her laugh, a rhythm I never could capture— and yet, here it is, dancing through the room like a chorus I never want to end. She speaks, and the world rewrites itself in gentler language. She is my metaphor for hope, my simile for joy. A poem not inked on paper, but breathing, becoming, being. No verse I’ve written could match the way she looks at me— as if I am both author and reader, the hands that held the pen and the arms that now hold her. So when they ask me, what’s your greatest work? I just smile and say: Her.
By Carolina Borges10 months ago in Poets
My New Book is Finally Here
My poetry collection Beautiful and Brutal Things is done. It's actually done and finally published over 270 pages. Over a year of my life went into this book. More than a year, really. Long days at my computer, sometimes seven days a week because I couldn't stop even when I probably should have. Then two months of editing that felt harder than the writing itself. But it's finished, and I'm still standing, and the book is real.
By Tim Carmichael3 days ago in BookClub
7 Books About Psychology That Are Impossible To Put Down
Psychology is not just an academic discipline—it’s a mirror held up to our inner world. It explains why we think the way we do, why we fall in love, why we sabotage ourselves, and why some habits cling to us like gravity. The best psychology books don’t feel like textbooks; they feel like conversations that change how we see ourselves and others.
By Diana Meresc3 days ago in BookClub
Comments (1)
Just wanted to drop in and say—you absolutely nailed it with this piece. 🎯 Your writing keeps getting better and better, and it's such a joy to read your work. 📚✨ Keep up the amazing work—you’ve got something truly special here. 💥 Super proud of your writing! 💖🙌 Can't wait to see what you create next! I would like to invite you to my Horror writing prompt challenge on vocal at : https://shopping-feedback.today/horror/horror-story-prompt-challenge-the-last-command%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E #KeepShining 🌟 #WriterOnTheRise 🚀