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A review by happyeverabigail
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC. I’m lukewarm about BK, I find it a bummer that In the Weeds got republished and the BIPOC main character still stayed with no culture or defining characteristics or background besides having “brown” skin. It’s something I will always call attention to.
Okay talking about this book: credit where credit is due, I actually enjoyed this, it was charming and just unfolded at an entertaining pace. The narration was also GREAT. It’s not duet but there are short in between chapter snippets that I’m assuming on page are radio transcripts that are narrated as duet so it felt like you were listening in, so that was fun. But other than that the narrators they picked fit the characters SO well.
I was worried the blended family was going to feel forced and too all wrapped up and perfect and I think for the most part it didn’t, especially with the background of the FMC and her child’s father. It checks out to me how a friendship that was never truly romantic could be so stable and intertwined. Same with the FMC being a mechanic, it was mostly realistic without getting too cutesy or “not like other girls” thank goodness.
My biggest issue was the third act breakup. I think it happened too quickly and in too short of time. I was like wait what?? I think that reasoning could have been built up over time vs being a simmer to straight boil. Like the MMC was the same with his same MO the whole time so I didn’t understand what that huge difference was for him to act like that.
Also this isn’t my reasoning for dropping in rating but just fyi there’s almost no other similarity with sleepless in Seattle besides the initial catalyst. I’m happy for what this book is but don’t go into it expecting a “retelling” and like I’m glad it’s not.
Overall, I’m glad this is imo better than the middle 2 of the lovelight farms series!
Okay talking about this book: credit where credit is due, I actually enjoyed this, it was charming and just unfolded at an entertaining pace. The narration was also GREAT. It’s not duet but there are short in between chapter snippets that I’m assuming on page are radio transcripts that are narrated as duet so it felt like you were listening in, so that was fun. But other than that the narrators they picked fit the characters SO well.
I was worried the blended family was going to feel forced and too all wrapped up and perfect and I think for the most part it didn’t, especially with the background of the FMC and her child’s father. It checks out to me how a friendship that was never truly romantic could be so stable and intertwined. Same with the FMC being a mechanic, it was mostly realistic without getting too cutesy or “not like other girls” thank goodness.
My biggest issue was the third act breakup. I think it happened too quickly and in too short of time. I was like wait what?? I think that reasoning could have been built up over time vs being a simmer to straight boil. Like the MMC was the same with his same MO the whole time so I didn’t understand what that huge difference was for him to act like that.
Also this isn’t my reasoning for dropping in rating but just fyi there’s almost no other similarity with sleepless in Seattle besides the initial catalyst. I’m happy for what this book is but don’t go into it expecting a “retelling” and like I’m glad it’s not.
Overall, I’m glad this is imo better than the middle 2 of the lovelight farms series!