Reviews with content warning for Cancer - First-Time Caller

Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

406 reviews

oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

3.0

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I fear that this book might have suffered from over hype syndrome for me. I heard so many people raving about this new romcom that my hopes were likely higher than was fair. I truly wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it fell flat and never really held my attention.
I think the premise here was interesting and unique - set up by her tween daughter, a woman calls and confesses her inability to find the magic of love to a local romance radio show. Unbeknownst to her, the station is struggling for listeners so they develop a Bachelorette-style series where prospective romantic interests can call in to pitch themselves to our leading lady who will date those of interest. I wish that the book had really dedicated itself to this, but the main "plot" of this book ended up being a side quest that we dipped in and out of without any real meaning.
The characters felt underdeveloped in the first half of the book which resulted in the reader not being as invested in them or their happiness. The MMC has what could be a compelling backstory, but ends up just feeling immature and lost in comparison to the FMC who, with the exception of not being in a recent romantic relationship, very much has her life together. The dynamic doesn't always work in a way that is thoughtful or believable until we get much farther into their story.
I will give credit where due and note that the back half of the book was developed in a way that allowed our two leading characters to work through their feelings with one another, and the FMC was written in a thoughtful, dynamic way. I was so worried that it would fall into the third act miscommunication trope (the most infuriating plot device in a romcom) and instead we actually had the leading lady in a position of confidence and strength, carefully articulating how she was feeling and what she wanted in a believable way. I like that she didn't fall into any of the tired typical romcom tropes and instead had a full life with a great job and supportive family and friends. More of this, please! The writing was good and flowed naturally from one chapter to another, with the vignettes working as nice breaks between the dual POV's.
Overall, it was a fine book, just unfortunately not the type of book that made me want to keep coming back to it or kept my attention as much as I would have preferred.

Content Warnings

ejens10's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

lucy_boden's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

squidney1317's review against another edition

4.25

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

sky2024's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

rhisreadsss's review against another edition

4.0

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is a Rom com for the ages. I have never read from this author before and I am kind of glad. This was an unexpected joy for me. It was a nod to the 90s/00s Rom coms we know and love.
Lucie was a great main character, playing on gender stereotypes and being an absolute bad ass single mother. Her relationships with Mayas dads was *chefs kiss*. This book really did well at exploring different types of love and that felt like a breath of fresh air. Aiden irritated me a little at the end. I get we need a third act conflict but he was still very stuck in his ways until the last few pages and that didn’t work for me. Lucie laid it all out on the table and he still couldn’t decide. He was very much an acts of service king though and this guy just KNEW what she needed and what she was thinking at any given moment. I did love him. I just didn’t need to indecision.
Would definitely recommend this, especially if you are after a great Rom com that feels like the movies.

Content Warnings

nadrojeiliah's review against another edition

4.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Adored our side characters, not typically a big fan of kids in stories but Maya was a GEM and written so well! The romance hotline was such a fun take!
Loved the banter and chemistry between our MCs but felt like their relationship could’ve used more outside of the radio show development. Their lives were so separated that it didn’t make me fully believe that they were in love by the time we got to those declarations. And after the declarations we only got a small time jump ahead for the epilogue. Felt like we should’ve had more on page time with them as an established couple before the story wrapped, gave a more Happy For Now feeling than a HEA.

Content Warnings