First-Time Caller

Borison (“Lovelight” series) writes a superb Sleepless in Seattle–inspired romance. Twelve-year-old Maya is worried her single mom, Lucie, is lonely, so she calls into Aiden Valentine’s romance hotline on a local Baltimore radio station to get some dating advice for her. Lucie walks in on the call and ends up reluctantly talking with Aiden live on the radio, sharing her romantic hopes. When the interview goes viral, the radio station hopes to capitalize on it and invites Lucie back on the show to help her find a date. While the dates go nowhere, her regular appearances in the booth with Aiden are getting cozier, but his jaded views on love make him keep an emotional distance. As they navigate expectations and a potential relationship, both grow through the process, and Lucie realizes she might just need to make her own magic. Borison excels at writing both steamy scenes and charming characters who show care for each other, including Lucie’s supportive found family.