Mark your calendars. B.K. Borison’s next novel, Longtime Listener, is officially set to arrive on February 23, 2027, and the bestselling romance author has revealed new details about the highly anticipated Heartstrings novel in an exclusive interview with ELLE.
The interview offers readers their clearest look yet at the third Heartstrings book, from its Nora Ephron inspiration to the surprising revelation that it was originally planned as the series’ second installment.
It also raises an intriguing question that many fans have been wondering since the book was announced: Will Longtime Listener be the final Heartstrings novel?
Here’s everything we learned.
Longtime Listener Release Date
B.K. Borison’s Longtime Listener is scheduled for release on February 23, 2027.
The novel returns readers to Baltimore’s 101.6 LITE FM for another heartfelt romance, following First-Time Caller and And Now, Back to You. Inspired by Nora Ephron’s beloved film You’ve Got Mail, the book has been one of Borison’s most anticipated projects since the Heartstrings series was first announced.
Now, thanks to her latest interview, readers have a much better idea of how the story came together and why it holds a special place in the author’s heart.
Longtime Listener Was Originally Planned as Book Two
One of the biggest revelations from the interview is that Longtime Listener wasn’t always intended to close the Heartstrings series.
According to Borison, when she first developed the series after the success of her Lovelight Farms books, she envisioned Heartstrings as a two-book project.
The plan was straightforward.
First-Time Caller would introduce readers to Baltimore’s charming radio station before Longtime Listener followed as the second and concluding novel.
Then everything changed.
At her editor’s suggestion, Borison wrote And Now, Back to You first, expanding Heartstrings into a trilogy and moving Longtime Listener into the third position.
Despite the shift, Borison explained that Longtime Listener remained one of the most fully developed stories in the series from the very beginning.
Is Longtime Listener the Final Heartstrings Book?
Based on what Borison shared, Longtime Listener appears to conclude the Heartstrings trilogy as it currently exists.
Throughout the interview, Borison refers to the novel as the third installment, and the author discusses it as the book that brings the planned trilogy full circle.
At the same time, she stops short of saying she’ll never revisit these characters or this world again.
For now, readers should consider Longtime Listener the planned conclusion to the Heartstrings series, while recognizing that no announcement has been made about any future books set in the same universe.
If that changes, we’ll update our coverage accordingly.
A Love Letter to You’ve Got Mail
Longtime romance readers won’t be surprised to learn that Nora Ephron has had a lasting influence on Borison’s writing.
She credits Ephron’s films with inspiring her love of romance storytelling in the first place, making Longtime Listener a particularly meaningful project.
While each Heartstrings novel draws inspiration from a different Ephron classic, Borison says this is the book that stays closest to its source material.
Like You’ve Got Mail, the story follows two people who unknowingly build a connection through anonymous messages while finding themselves on opposite sides of a professional rivalry in real life.
For Borison, capturing that balance between humor, heart, and emotional vulnerability also meant embracing the pressure that comes with reimagining one of the most beloved romantic comedies ever made.
What Is Longtime Listener About?
Longtime Listener follows Maggie Lin, the dedicated manager of Baltimore’s 101.6 LITE FM, who has devoted herself to keeping the independent radio station running.
Her biggest challenge arrives in the form of Cooper West, a media executive sent to acquire the station as part of a major corporate expansion.
Away from work, however, Maggie and Cooper unknowingly form an anonymous online friendship, creating two very different versions of the same relationship.
Borison describes Cooper as one of the toughest heroes she has written, contrasting with the softer romantic leads readers may recognize from her previous novels.
That dynamic creates the central challenge of the story: two people who begin firmly at odds before slowly discovering the connection they’ve already built elsewhere.
The result promises a romance built around mistaken identities, workplace rivalry, emotional growth, and plenty of classic rom-com charm.
The third and final book in the Heartstrings series.
Why This May Be Borison’s Most Faithful Nora Ephron Tribute Yet
Although every Heartstrings novel takes inspiration from a different Nora Ephron film, Borison believes Longtime Listener is the closest adaptation of the three.
She explained that the anonymous correspondence, mistaken identities, and conflict between a large corporation and an independent business all remain central to the story.
That doesn’t mean readers should expect a scene-for-scene retelling.
Instead, Borison uses the familiar framework of You’ve Got Mail to tell a romance that feels distinctly her own while celebrating one of the genre’s most enduring influences.
Building the Story One Chapter at a Time
Even with years of planning behind it, Borison admits there comes a moment in every novel when the story suddenly clicks into place.
While writing Longtime Listener, that realization arrived midway through the draft, when she finally understood exactly who Maggie and Cooper were, both individually and together.
It’s an insight many readers may find reassuring. Even bestselling authors don’t always know every answer when they begin writing.
Sometimes, the story reveals itself one page at a time.
Looking Ahead to February 2027
With its February 23, 2027 release date now confirmed, Longtime Listener is already one of the most anticipated romance novels arriving in 2027.
For the latest updates on Longtime Listener, including its release date, cover, synopsis, preorder information, and future announcements, visit our dedicated Longtime Listener book page.
Want to see what’s next from B.K. Borison? Visit our B.K. Borison author page to explore all of her new and upcoming books, complete release schedule, and the latest news.
