I’M PUBLISHING MY FIRST BOOK!

I’ve been waiting for such a long time to finally say this, and honestly, I still don’t know if it feels completely real. I’ve had 3 Hearts in Tempo in my life for so long that sometimes I forget there will eventually be a point where it isn’t just a story sitting on my laptop anymore. It will be a real book, with a cover, an ISBN, a publishing page, and, hopefully, readers who will pick it up and spend a little part of their summer with Ava, Orca, and Zara.

So, here I am, finally saying it.

I’ve wanted to tell you so much about this book, but I’ve also been trying very hard not to say everything at once. There are so many little things about this story that I’m excited to share, from the characters and their love stories to the summer setting, the friendships, the messy feelings, and all the little moments that made me fall in love with this book in the first place. I’ve spent so much time writing this story quietly that getting to finally talk about it openly feels a little strange, but in the best possible way.

And now that I’ve finally said it, I think it’s time to properly introduce you to 3 Hearts in Tempo.

So, what is 3 Hearts in Tempo about?

3 Hearts in Tempo is a YA contemporary coming-of-age summer romance about three best friends, three very different love stories, and one summer that brings back almost everything they thought they had left behind.

Here’s the official description:

Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han, this coming-of-age summer romance follows three hopelessly romantic best friends who reunite a year after the summer that changed everything, only to discover that the lives they built apart might not matter as much as the people they left behind.

Ava, Orca, and Zara are back together. One year ago, they left for a gap year with no idea what they wanted their lives to look like, spending one last summer together before figuring out their futures. Now, they have careers to chase, plans to make, and lives that have kept them busy for the past year. But when they reunite at Ava’s Aunt Daisy’s wedding, surrounded by the same people, places, and memories they thought they had left behind, it feels like no time has passed at all.

Maybe it was the summer air or the way the three of them fell back into their old rhythm, but this summer feels different. Last summer had felt like a dream, full of late-night conversations, stolen glances, and feelings they were too scared to name. This time, they aren't unsure of who they are or where they are going. As the people they fell for find their way back into their lives, they begin to wonder if the love they left behind might be the one thing they were always meant to find.

Why did I write 3 Hearts in Tempo?

I’ve always loved stories where friendship is just as important as romance, and that was something I really wanted to have at the heart of this book. Yes, 3 Hearts in Tempo has three love stories, but it’s also about three girls growing up together, figuring out their futures, making mistakes, changing their minds, and trying to hold on to each other while their lives start moving in different directions.

I wanted the story to have that feeling of a summer you know you’re going to remember forever, where every little thing somehow feels more important because you know it won’t last forever. There are beach days, late-night drives, bonfires, movie nights, family drama, festivals, love letters, old feelings, new beginnings, and plenty of moments that I hope will make you want to keep turning the pages. I wanted it to feel warm and romantic and a little nostalgic, like looking back on one particular summer and realizing just how much changed during those few weeks.

And, of course, there are three romances at the center of it all, each with its own kind of story, because Ava, Orca, and Zara could not be more different when it comes to love. I think that’s one of my favorite things about them. They each have their own way of loving, their own fears, and their own idea of what they think they want, and watching those things change throughout the story became such a huge part of writing them.

So, when is it coming out?

This is probably the part I’ve been most excited to finally share.

3 Hearts in Tempo is coming in Summer 2027.

I’m not revealing the exact release date just yet, but I can finally tell you the season, and honestly, I think Summer 2027 is perfect for this book.

I’ve always pictured 3 Hearts in Tempo as a summer read, so the idea of actually releasing it during summer feels really special to me. I want it to be the kind of book someone picks up during their summer break, takes to the beach, reads late at night, or keeps in their bag while they’re waiting for their next adventure. There’s something about reading a summer romance during summer that just feels right, and I really hope this book can become part of someone’s summer in the same way so many books have become part of mine.

There’s still a lot to do before then, so I’m giving myself plenty of time to get everything ready, but knowing that there is now an actual season attached to this book makes everything feel so much more real. I’ve spent so long saying “one day” when talking about publishing this story, and now I can finally say, “Summer 2027.”

Where will 3 Hearts in Tempo be published?

I’ll be independently publishing 3 Hearts in Tempo through Amazon KDP, and the book will be available through Amazon when it releases. I’m also planning to make the book available through Barnes & Noble, which is something I’m really excited about because there’s something a little surreal about imagining your own book sitting on a bookstore website after spending so much time looking at other authors’ books there.

And yes, I have my ISBN now!

That probably sounds like one of those very small publishing details that wouldn’t seem exciting to anyone else, but for me, it was one of those moments where everything suddenly felt a little more official. This isn’t just an idea anymore. I’m actually getting the book ready to publish, and all those little publishing details that once felt so far away are suddenly things I’m dealing with myself.

Since I’m independently publishing, there’s also a lot happening behind the scenes that readers don’t necessarily get to see. There are files to prepare, formatting to think about, the cover to work on, publishing details to figure out, pages to check, and so many little decisions that I never really thought about before I started doing this myself. It’s definitely a lot, but it’s also something I’m genuinely excited about because I get to be involved in every part of bringing 3 Hearts in Tempo into the world.

I’m still learning as I go, and I’m sure there will be plenty of things that don’t go exactly as planned, but I think that’s part of the fun of doing something for the first time.

And yes, there will be a cover reveal!

I have been waiting for the day when I can finally show you what 3 Hearts in Tempo actually looks like, because the cover is such a huge part of the book for me. I’ve had a very particular feeling in my head for this story for a long time, especially when it comes to the summer atmosphere, the romance, the friendship, and the overall aesthetic, so seeing all of that start to come together has been one of the most exciting parts of this whole process.

I’m not revealing the cover just yet, but it will be coming as we get closer to the release, and I cannot wait to finally put it out there. Until then, I’m going to have to keep my mouth shut a little longer, which is honestly harder than it sounds. (THE CURRENT IS JUST A PLACEHOLDER)

What about preorders?

As we get closer to publication, I’ll also be sharing the official preorder information and links so you’ll know exactly where to find the book when it becomes available. I’ll make sure to announce all of that here as well as on my author platforms, so if you want to follow along with the publication journey, you won’t have to hunt around for the information later.

There will be plenty of announcements between now and Summer 2027, so this definitely isn’t the last time you’ll hear me talk about 3 Hearts in Tempo.

And then there are ARCs!

One of the things I’m most excited about as we get closer to publication is getting 3 Hearts in Tempo into the hands of early readers.

I’ll be opening ARC signups for readers who would like to read the book before its official release and hopefully share their thoughts, reviews, and excitement as we get closer to launch. If you’re interested in being part of the ARC team, you can sign up through the 3HIT ARC Form.

I honestly cannot explain how strange it feels to think about someone who isn’t me or one of the people who has helped me with the book opening the manuscript and reading Ava, Orca, and Zara’s story for the first time. These characters have lived in my head for so long, so the idea of them finally reaching other readers is both terrifying and incredibly exciting.

You can add 3 Hearts in Tempo to your TBR!

If you’re already curious about the book and want to keep up with it before Summer 2027, you can also add 3 Hearts in Tempo to your Goodreads Want to Read shelf. It would genuinely mean so much to me to see the book slowly making its way onto readers’ TBRs, especially this early in the publishing journey. (The Official link of goodread will be shared soon)

Even something as simple as adding it to your list or sharing it with a friend feels huge when you’re an author getting ready to publish your first book. I’ll also be sharing more updates through my author platforms, so you can follow along there for character introductions, little snippets, aesthetics, behind-the-scenes moments, and all the random things I inevitably end up getting excited about while preparing for publication.

I also have a whole world of 3 Hearts in Tempo outside the book.

If you know me, you probably already know that I love making playlists and Pinterest boards for my stories, because sometimes I need to see and hear the world before I can properly explain it.

So, of course, 3 Hearts in Tempo has its own little collection of songs, pictures, summer inspiration, outfits, places, and all the tiny details that helped me build the atmosphere of the story. I’ll be sharing more of that as we get closer to publication because I want you to experience the feeling of the book before you even open the first page.

There’s something really special about watching a story slowly become a whole little world, and I think that’s one of my favorite parts of being a writer.

There’s so much more to come.

This announcement is really only the beginning of 3 Hearts in Tempo being out in the world.

Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing more about Ava, Orca, and Zara, their individual stories, the romances, the inspiration behind the book, the summer setting, playlists, aesthetics, the cover, ARC updates, and all the little things that make this story feel like 3 Hearts in Tempo.

I’ll also be sharing more about the publishing process as I get closer to Summer 2027, because I know how interesting it can be to see what actually happens behind the scenes when someone is getting their first book ready for publication. I’m learning so much through this process myself, and I think it would be fun to bring you along instead of only showing you the finished book at the very end.

I’ve spent so much time writing this story quietly, keeping little pieces of it to myself and wondering when I would finally get to talk about it properly. So being able to sit here and write this post feels a little strange, a little scary, and mostly just really exciting.

Spotify Playlist and Pinterest Board

So, here we go.

My name is Maisy Marissa, and I’m publishing my first book.

3 Hearts in Tempo is coming in Summer 2027.

It’s a story about three best friends, three love stories, growing up, finding your way back to people you thought you had left behind, and one summer that changes more than they expected.

After spending so long writing this story, rewriting it, thinking about it, and wondering what it would be like to actually publish it, I can finally say that 3 Hearts in Tempo is making its way into the world.

There’s still a long way to go before Summer 2027, and I’m sure there will be plenty of exciting moments, stressful moments, and probably a few moments where I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, but I’m so happy that I get to take you along for it.

So if you’re excited about 3 Hearts in Tempo, add it to your Goodreads TBR, follow along for the upcoming announcements, sign up for the ARC if you’d like to read it early, and come back for the cover reveal and everything else I’ll be sharing as we get closer to publication.

And, honestly, thank you for being here at the very beginning.

I’ve dreamed about publishing a book for such a long time, and now I finally get to say that it’s happening.

Welcome to the beginning of 3 Hearts in Tempo. ♡