What We’re Reading in March 2025
CURRENTLY READING
First-Time Caller
by BK Borison
Calling all romcom lovers, this book is for you! This is the perfect book for lovers of Tom Hanks / Meg Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle, Nora Ephron, 90s romcoms. Really, all lovers of love. I haven’t read a romcom quite this good in ages!
Get your copy of First-Time Caller (Amazon) and read with us!
What Victoria Loved
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
This is officially a front-runner for my favorite book of 2025. I loved it so much.
If you annotate your books while you read, go buy an entire pack of highlighters and pens. If you don’t annotate your books, you’re about to start. Friends, THIS BOOK WAS SO WELL-WRITTEN. I basically read every page aloud to James because I *needed* to share BK’s unworldly use of metaphor — she painted the most vivid scenes. You’ll read / hear the words, but you’ll *feel* them in every inch of your body from the squeeze of your heart to the free-fall of your stomach as it fills with butterflies.
And because this story is so beautifully written, you will also easily fall in love with the characters — Lucie, Aiden, and the long list of supporting characters — because it’ll feel like you’re hanging out with your best friends. BK captures a natural cozy comfort among the friends, demonstrating the depth of their relationship through the ease of the interactions, the care they take in making sure their lives are intertwined and that they stay present and connected, and the clear investment they make to support Lucie in all ways.
And to top it off, Aiden Valen has very quickly climbed the ranks to sit among my favorite MMCs. It’s in all the small things he did, whether or not he realized the reason he was doing it was for love. This slow burn will make your heart beat— it’s silly, it’s witty, it’s flirty — and it’s all built on an unexpected friendship (and pineapple pizza).
Turn on the radio, pop on your favorite podcast… or stream our First-Time Caller playlist (Spotify).
What the Book Club Loved
FIREWORKS & STEAM: 4/5
We didn’t think there was going to be any steam, and the love story was so good we wouldn’t have minded. But the way Aiden and Lucie approached intimacy was so cute. There was comfort in the “grown-up” yearning and pining. And every moment they had together just felt right. We could have definitely had more, but the lead-up and tension was a worthy substitute.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
We loved the nuances between the POVs and writing, prose was so well done and added so much to the characters. You can feel their feelings through the dialogue, their internal monologue told you so much about their personalities. Additionally, the integration of the transcripts were a great vehicle to show the passage of time in a fun way.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
We’re rating this in two-parts, but the end result is the same: BK blew character development out of the water. Starting with Aiden and Lucie, we were obsessed with their interactions, especially their flirting. Even when they didn’t know that’s what they were doing, their quippy exchanges were so core to who they were bringing forth their personalities without an info dump. Every interaction was intentional and fun, a natural progression of getting to know each other (and the reader just happened to be there). And they transformed a lot, emotionally and mentally… but they didn’t lose who themselves in the process.
Similarly, the side characters were relatable and memorable, and we cannot wait for the rest of the series. All characters were very distinct but their personalities all stood out and they were all rooting for Lucie / Aiden. You could feel the support system, community, and how they come together to help Lucie and Aiden in little ways.
THE LOVE STORY: 4.75/5
This is the standard. All the small details made this love story one we devoured from the pillow fort (that was falling apart), getting caught red-handed with a pineapple pizza to Aiden’s list of Lucie’s favorite things, this kind of connection is hard to find and we were absolutely giddy over their transition from friends to lovers.
“First-Time Caller broke me into a thousand beautiful pieces and then glued me back together with glitter glue. ”
- JESS
If You Loved First-Time Caller, You’ll Love These
LOVE THROUGH A COLLEGE RADIO SHOW: Begin Again by Emma Lord (Amazon)
A new school year means a fresh start, but for Andie Rose, it’s quite a rocky beginning when all her plans crumble at her feet. This new adult romance does a beautifully nostalgic job of bringing together the unease and excitement of the first few days of college and the journey to finding oneself (and love) amidst the chaos.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
AN AUDIO-CENTRIC ROMANCE WORTH LISTENING TO: Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (Amazon)
The queen of audio has released a masterpiece, and then she narrated the audiobook herself! This is a must-listen because in true Julia fashion, you will be transported into the story. While this romance gives us a peek behind the curtain of audiobook narration, Julia brings to life characters with so much depth as their profession weaves into their personal (and intimate) lives.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
THINGS GET HEATED IN A CLOSET AT WORK: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Amazon)
This is the book that reminded me of my love for this trope and featured some of my favorite things: donuts, books, and one bed. Lucy and Joshua may be playing games by their own set of rules… but ultimately, you (the reader) come out victorious.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
FOR FANS OF TOM HANKS: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey (Amazon)
Unsurprisingly, when I’m not reading romance novels, I’m binging classic rom-coms and have Hallmark movies on an endless cycle. Kerry Winfrey has written the sweetest story that brings to life the most magical rom-com moments for her main characters.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
BY THE AUTHOR: Lovelight Farms (Lovelight Farms #1) by BK Borison (Amazon)
A Hallmark Christmas movie as a romance novel. If you need an easy read, here’s your introduction to Lovelight — a magical little Christmas tree farm with a community that’s ready to open their arms to welcome you home.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
