Hi readers! Last month while on vacation I brought First-Time Caller with me, and it became my emotional support book for the duration of my trip. Going to coffee, oh look she has her book. Hot tub? There's her book again. Passenger princess time, more like nose in a book time. All joking aside, I had seen a lot of hype about the newest B.K Borison release, and was very happy to have snagged my book of the month copy just in time for my trip. I previously had enjoyed Lovelight Farms by this author during the winter season, so I had high expectations for her newest release, especially when I heard it was essentially a Sleepless in Seattle retelling. So let's get into it.
Synopsis
Aiden Valentine is the host of Baltimore's romance hotline but there's just one little issue...he doesn't believe in love. One night Lucie, a single mom, finds her daughter calling into the hotline on her behalf, and her love life is quickly thrown into the spotlight. When her segment goes viral, she get's invited to be a guest host on the hotline beside Aiden. As she tackles the world of dating, her relationship with Aiden changes, and maybe along the way she can convince his jaded heart that love is real.
Strengths
I can gladly say there were so many things about this book that I enjoyed! I loved Lucie's character, and that she's a mechanic (go girl!), as well as a single mom, who wasn't necessarily looking for love, but instead got thrown into it thanks to her 12 year old daughter Maya's phone call to the hotline. I also enjoyed Aiden and his story, as it explains a lot of why he closed himself off to the idea of love, that is, until Lucie slowly breaks him out of his shell. However, I think my favorite thing about First-Time Caller is the amazing family dynamic between Lucie and Maya's dad Grayson, as well as Grayson's husband Mateo. I love a unconventional family, and the relationship between these four was the most sweet, supportive, and heartwarming I've seen in a book in a while. Last but not least, I can't forget to mention that Aiden keeps a list in his glovebox of all of Lucie's favorite things, which of course had me swooning.
Weaknesses
For me, it really came down to the pacing. I enjoyed this book so much, but for some reason it was hard to get into because of the slow pace of the story. I think a lot of it has to do with it essentially being a slow-burn romance, which isn't a bad thing, sometimes I even prefer it. However, in this case it reminded me a bit of a Emily Henry book where you have a slow-burn romance, but also a slice of life story going on. Was it bad? No. At the end of the day I think if you are in the current mindset that you want something a bit more slow-burn then this might actually be a perfect fit for you, but in my case I felt it sadly slowed me down a bit.
Would I Recommend It?
I would 100% recommend this book. Even though I had a small issue with the pacing, I still enjoyed it a lot, and I've seen so many people out there giving it five-stars. It's definitely worth a read, especially if you are a fan of Sleepless in Seattle because it gives some of those same vibes, and is overall a cozy little romance book. Highly recommend reading it in a coffee shop for ultimate cozy vibe overload.
My Ratings
Overall Rating:3.9/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Content Warnings
Cancer, sick parent, grief
(Photo above I took in a little hole in the wall coffee shop on vacation)
This post has affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you choose to purchase this book through the link listed on my blog. Thank you for your support.
Comments
Post a Comment