Book Review: “Call Me at Midnight” by Barbara Howard
“Call Me at Midnight” by Barbara Howard (2025)
Genre: Romance, Fiction
Page Length: 496 pages (electronic review edition)
Synopsis:
By day, Kaila King rules Cleveland’s airwaves with practical relationship advice. By night, she hosts “Late Night Love Lines,” where lonely hearts call in seeking wisdom for their romantic woes. She has all the answers for everyone else’s love life— but her own heart is off the air.
When a mysterious caller known only as “Night Owl” begins phoning her show, his deep voice and midnight confessions have Kaila’s heart fluttering. And sparks an undeniable connection that captivates both Kaila and her listeners. As their connection deepens on-air, she can’t help but wonder: who is the man behind the voice?
Meanwhile, Kaila’s new neighbor, Nathaniel Okoro, a successful architect who seems to have a few secrets of his own, enters her life. The chemistry between them grows as they navigate their newfound friendship, leaving Kaila questioning her own heart, torn between the man on the other end of the line and the man right outside her door.
With the help of her best friend and producer, Sonny Cho, Kaila embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind Night Owl’s identity. As the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Kaila must confront her own fears and insecurities to find the courage to trust in love once again.
Review:
After enjoying Howard’s previous release My Sweet Escape, I knew I was excited to read her latest release Call Me At Midnight! If you enjoy romances stories with:
- Friends to Lovers
- Mistaken Identity
- Slow Burn Romance
- A Meet Cute
Then you are sure to get hooked into the pages of this novel. The romance and concept of a late night radio host who ends up finding love reminded me of classic 90s/2000s romances that I grew up watching at the movies. I appreciated how Kaila’s and Nathaniel’s romance takes its time as they heal from previous broken relationships and discover a new chapter in their lives.
Howard’s writing is smooth and detailed allowing the reader to become one with Love Lines, the radio show, and all of the sights within in Cleveland. It felt like I was not only taking a tour of the city, but also getting a glimpse of what it’s like to be local celebrity (in a sense). The novel shows us that giving advice is not the same as taking it to heart while also how hard it can be to start change. I appreciated that this novel is a balance of romance and a message about new beginnings which readers can relate to.
The slow burn romance aspects are done well, that had me anticipating what would happen next in the plot but not wanting to rush the progress of their relationship. There are many swoon-worthy moments and a couple of spicy ones too. Most of all what I love about Howard’s romance stories is that she digs beneath the surface level with her characters and relationships. I enjoyed the exploration of modern dating through technology and how technology connect and shapes our relationships.
*Trigger warnings: Death, Domestic Violence
Final Verdict:
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
