You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
chrstnlvly 's review for:
First Time Caller
by B.K. Borison
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up First-Time Caller because it was the May pick for a book club I'm part of. I really wanted to enjoy it, especially since I’ve got a few other B.K. Borison titles on my TBR. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t click with me. Actually… it kind of made me want to DNF it at around 10%, but I powered through for the sake of the discussion.
Now, I know romance books love a bit of cringe and chaos, but wow—this one really tested my tolerance.Chapter 2 already had me raising my eyebrows. If I were a listener of that radio show and heard that entire Lucie-Maya-Aiden conversation play out live? Immediate secondhand embarrassment.
The biggest issue for me was Aiden. Lucie as a character was alright (a little naive, but tolerable). Aiden, on the other hand, gave off this weirdly avoidant, off-putting vibe that made it hard to root for him. His reasoning for not wanting a relationship just didn’t land for me. I get that trauma shapes people, but his conclusion felt more like a red flag than a real emotional arc. And while the banter had its moments, the actual romance development lacked build-up. It just kind of happened, and I was left wondering when exactly the shift occurred.
The dialogue—whew. Some of it was trying too hard to be quirky or deep and ended up sounding really unnatural. Especially in the serious conversations. I found myself cringing more often than swooning, which is not what I want from a romance read. And don’t get me started on thethird-act breakup—it felt juvenile and unprofessional, like watching two teenagers throw a fit at their part-time job instead of grown adults navigating real emotions.
One positive? If you’re into fast, easy-to-read books that don’t take themselves too seriously, this might still work for you. I can totally see why some readers find Borison’s books addictive. There’s a certain comfort in knowing what you’re getting. But for me, this wasn’t it. I wanted more emotional maturity, more believable dialogue, and a lead who didn’t make me roll my eyes every five pages.
So, will I read more Borison books? I’m not sure. First-Time Caller left me second-guessing the rest of her work on my TBR. But hey, never say never. Maybe I’ll give her another shot someday… just not right away.
Now, I know romance books love a bit of cringe and chaos, but wow—this one really tested my tolerance.
The biggest issue for me was Aiden. Lucie as a character was alright (a little naive, but tolerable). Aiden, on the other hand, gave off this weirdly avoidant, off-putting vibe that made it hard to root for him. His reasoning for not wanting a relationship just didn’t land for me. I get that trauma shapes people, but his conclusion felt more like a red flag than a real emotional arc. And while the banter had its moments, the actual romance development lacked build-up. It just kind of happened, and I was left wondering when exactly the shift occurred.
The dialogue—whew. Some of it was trying too hard to be quirky or deep and ended up sounding really unnatural. Especially in the serious conversations. I found myself cringing more often than swooning, which is not what I want from a romance read. And don’t get me started on the
One positive? If you’re into fast, easy-to-read books that don’t take themselves too seriously, this might still work for you. I can totally see why some readers find Borison’s books addictive. There’s a certain comfort in knowing what you’re getting. But for me, this wasn’t it. I wanted more emotional maturity, more believable dialogue, and a lead who didn’t make me roll my eyes every five pages.
So, will I read more Borison books? I’m not sure. First-Time Caller left me second-guessing the rest of her work on my TBR. But hey, never say never. Maybe I’ll give her another shot someday… just not right away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content