Book Review: "First-Time Caller" by B.K. Borison

I’m so grateful to Berkley and NetGalley for providing access to an advance copy of this amazing book!

Aiden is the host of “Heartstrings,” a Baltimore radio show that provides romantic advice for the lovelorn and those struggling to find or keep love. But lately, he’s not been enjoying his job, and that’s been reflected in the ratings. He’s just over the whole concept of love.

One night during his show he gets a call from a 12-year-old girl named Maya. She tells Aiden that her mother never goes on dates and that she is lonely, and asks Aiden to help her. When Lucie, Maya’s mom, discovers who her daughter has been talking with, she unexpectedly bears her soul on the radio. And of course, the show goes viral, so people all over the world are rooting for Lucie to find love.

“When the whole world tells you you’re silly for wanting the things you want, you start to believe them. You start to think you’re not worth it. That if the things you’re waiting for do exist, they’re not for someone like you.”

The radio station’s general manager invites Lucie to join Aiden’s show in the hopes that he can help her find her happily ever after. As listeners follow along, Lucie starts dating again. But will she find her soulmate this way, or are the feelings sparked behind the microphone the ones she wants to pursue?

I absolutely fell in love with B.K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series, and while I’m sad that she didn’t continue with that, this is the start of a new one I love already. She is such a fantastic storyteller, and the characters she creates are tremendously memorable. They’re the kind of people you want in your life.

Book Review: "Perfect Fit" by Clare Gilmore

Josie has always wanted to work in fashion; even as a young girl she was drawing costumes for her friend's stories. Now she is the CEO of Revenant, a fashion brand based in Austin, Texas. She works incredibly hard and has put countless hours into making her company a success, and has so many ambitious plans to move it forward. But for the most part, she is all work and no play.

When she wants to ensure that Revenant is a certified sustainable brand, her major investor orders her to hire a consultant. She's more than ready to do so, and then a last-minute candidate enters into consideration: Will Grant, the twin brother of her ex-best friend. They haven't seen each other in nine years, since a drunken makeout session during their senior spring break. That kiss led to a fight between her and Will's sister which ended their friendship.

Sure, Will is immensely good-looking now and he seems to know his stuff. Josie can't quite forget overhearing him call her shallow when they were younger, but she's determined to put their past behind them in order for Revenant to succeed. But being a CEO is exhausting, and spending all of her time working is starting to burn her out. Will tries to show Josie that there's more to life than work, and of course, in the process, they draw closer.

Josie's heart is longing for Will but her head is trying to keep her from making the same mistake twice. Besides, they live so far away from one another, and where would she find the time for a relationship anyway? And what about Will's sister? Ultimately, Josie must decide if she can have both success and happiness, or which one is more important.

This was a cute story. Will and Josie were characters I rooted for, and I enjoyed their banter. I just felt the pacing of the story was much slower than I would've liked, and that hampered my full love of the book.