Ring in Valentine's Day with First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

As we ring in the season of love, First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is a perfect Valentine’s Day read. It is a dual narration novel between the two main characters, giving the readers insight on both their perspectives on love and romance.

Summary

Lucie Stone is a 29-year-old single mother who works as a mechanic to help provide for her 12-year-old daughter Maya. Grayson, Maya’s father, lives next door with his husband Matteo. 

Aiden Valentine is the host for a romance radio show called Heartstrings. He gives listeners advice on their love lives, the questions becoming too heartbreaking for him to listen to. Aiden realizes he no longer believes in love and is struggling to continue with his show. 

As Lucie tries to sleep one night, she hears her daughter on the phone with what sounds like a man. She assumes the worst, bursting into her room to find out she is on the phone with Aiden Valentine. 

Maya begs her mom not to be mad, as she called the host of the romance radio show Heartstrings to help her mom with her love life. Lucie is vulnerable with Aiden and the listeners at home, explaining how she wants to find love but does not think she is worthy of the “magic.”

“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.”

After waking up the next morning, Lucie realizes her segment on Heartstrings has gone viral. Listeners call in to the show and ask Aiden more about Lucie, explaining how they agree with her views on love and want more magic. 

Maggie, Aiden’s boss, sees how famous Lucie has become and asks her to be part of the show. They create a new segment called Lucie’s Road to Love, where Aiden and Lucie talk with different listeners who are interested in dating Lucie. 

The book follows Lucie’s journey in finding her perfect match, filled with unsuccessful dates and tension in the radio station booth. 

Review

I found the book relatable, as love can be troubling and confusing. Lucie is a hard-working single mother, which was empowering to see how much she adored her daughter through the book.

Aiden is a lovable character with emotional intelligence, as he grew up struggling with accepting love in fear of losing people. He goes through his own journey throughout the book, trying to find a way to allow himself to be loved.

The novel is a well-written romantic comedy, which had me kicking my feet and laughing out loud. Although the main characters are in their late twenties, the storyline reminds me of a teenage couple falling in love. 

First-Time Caller has become one of my favorite books, as it has what I would consider a perfect balance of romance and comedy. The tension built up throughout the novel is great, as it is not too fast or too slow paced. 

My Rating

After reading the book in one sitting over winter break, I knew it is now one of my favorites. The characters are likeable and the plot is not lost within the romance, which is common for recent romance novels. Overall, I rate First-Time Caller five out of five Cyclones!