THE HEART OF OVER AND OVER, BECOMING: Q&A WITH M.A. LOUIE
“I thought I was running from who I was. Turns out, I was running toward her.”
What does it mean to let someone see the parts of you you’ve always kept hidden? In Over and Over, Becoming, walls come down, hearts open up, and two people discover that becoming yourself might just mean letting someone else walk beside you.
Now, let’s talk about the story behind the book, the characters that felt real enough to breathe, and what it truly means to become…over and over again.
Jane and Harold’s relationship begins with misunderstanding and denial. Why did you choose to build their connection through tension and conflict first?
I’ve always loved the enemies‑to‑lovers trope, and at the same time, Harold begins the story already conflicted with himself. To show his arc in a way readers can truly feel, he needed to move through the messiness he’s been carrying, the same chaos that sparks tension with Jane and even with the people around him. Their conflict isn’t just a trope. It’s the emotional groundwork that reveals who Harold is before he learns who he’s becoming.
How did you create Jane and Harold’s identity? Are they based into someone real?
Harold was inspired by my goal to write an anti‑alpha male lead, someone messy, insecure, unsure of himself, and soft in ways the world doesn’t always celebrate.
Jane, meanwhile, is inspired by all the quiet, strong, brilliant women I’ve known: my mother, my sister, some friends from high school, college, and work. Also in many stories, the men are the reserved ones and the women are the expressive ones, so I wanted to explore the opposite dynamic and show that it can be just as compelling and powerful.
What was it like writing this story, a slow new adult romance?
It was surprising. I started writing trial chapters for this story in 2020 and ultimately started the first real draft in 2021 as a standalone, but when I reached around 140,000 words and still wasn’t done, I realized the story needed more room. Splitting it into Book 1 and Book 2 made sense, but while rewriting just so the division/splitting of the book would fit, it became clear that Harold and Jane’s journey needed a Book 3 as well. Because the trilogy explores identity, first love, fear, and the courage to be seen, the story kept expanding. It was difficult too. I had to handle their emotional arcs with sensitivity.
What sparked the idea for this story, specifically the contrast between the public image and a private world of the two characters?
It began with me noticing how the world doesn’t always welcome people’s appearances, softness, interests, or quirks. Growing up, I saw how hiding parts of oneself became a surviving skill just to fit in, and that idea stayed with me well into adulthood. That became the seed for Harold, a male lead who doesn’t fit traditional molds, someone who carries insecurities and hides the things he loves because he thinks they won’t be accepted.
As for Jane, besides wanting to make the FMC the mysterious one in my story, I’ve made her character this way because of how her own arc will unfold in the next book.
And in December 2020, when the Great Conjunction happened, the cosmic theme clicked. Stars, planets, and identity became the backbone of the trilogy.
Miami’s settings, fashion, status, and arts spaces all play a role. How did this location help to tell their story?
I chose Miami because I wanted a place that felt warm, steady, and close to the sea, a city where the sky feels near. Its beaches, art spaces, and fashion culture complement Harold and Jane’s interests, which will unfold across the trilogy.
Why the title is Over and Over, Becoming? Do you have specific reason why you ended up choosing this title?
For the trilogy title, I’ve always believed that life is a series of ‘over and overs’. Each book explores a different kind of repetition that one may experience growing up.
For Becoming, I wanted to show that identity is something you keep revisiting.
In Book One, Harold thinks moving to Miami and shedding parts of himself is enough. But meeting Jane forces him to confront the truth: if he wants real connection, he has to evolve over and over. Together, Over and Over, Becoming means reaching moments in life where you’re called to grow again.
Without giving away spoilers, what message lies beneath their kind of relationship? Is it about love, or about learning to love yourself first?
Both since their story shows that love is intertwined with self-growth and acceptance.
What do you hope readers take away about identity, first love, and finding courage to be yourself?
I hope readers see that identity, first love, and courage are ongoing quests. Who you are in high school, college, and adulthood will keep shifting and there’s nothing wrong with not fitting a mold, as long as you’re not hurting anyone. First love is beautiful, but not always final (one thing that may or may not reflect what happens in my trilogy by the way haha). And courage to be yourself isn’t something you find once; it’s something you keep trying to find and choosing as you grow.
As an author, what are your plans after publishing this book?
Book 2 (Over and Over, Falling) is already finished and proofread. It’s heading to beta reading next, and after final edits, I’m hoping to release it by Valentine’s 2027. Book 3 (Over and Over, Belonging) is currently in progress. I’m still writing it and I’m aiming for a late‑2027 release.
