Beth Reekles wrote The Kissing Booth on the Wattpad site as a teenager, and based on its popularity there she was offered a publishing contract. Now she’s a bestselling YA author and her Kissing Booth book series has been turned into a hit Netflix show. Her latest novel, Love & Lattes, follows ambitious Annalise Sherwood, whose summer internship takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally kisses Lloyd, the charming son of the company’s CEO. Reekles spoke with PW about how her experience on Wattpad shaped her writing, the girl boss mentality, and what brings her back to the YA genre.
As a writer, what comes first for you: the plot or the character?
Definitely the characters. I prefer a character-driven plot. I know what my characters are like, and the story builds itself around their dynamics, challenges, and growth arcs.
How did you approach portraying Anna’s strong work ethic?
I drew on my own struggles to switch off from work. I went through a graduate [plan] similar to Anna’s internship, which felt very high stakes. I love stories that explore coming-of-age or quarter-life crises, where everything—work, friendships, and social media decisions—feels intense.
How do you think Anna’s character speaks to the way we idolize successful individuals?
I see a lot with authors who have had a book out, and the last question is always, “So, what’s next?” It’s overwhelming pressure; if you achieve one thing, you need to keep pushing for more. You don’t always stop to celebrate the little wins.
The relationship between Anna and her mother is intriguing. Could you share more insight into their dynamic?
The depth of Anna’s storyline didn’t come in until later on. I’m not very good at plotting in advance, so I just throw the first draft at the screen and see what sticks, letting the story lead me as I go.
At the beginning, I knew that Anna’s character was going to be really driven, hardworking, and focused. As I worked through it, I felt there was this aspect where her mum’s not around. I didn’t realize her mum was even going to make an appearance until she showed up at the office. At that point, I thought that this was an issue for Anna that runs a lot deeper than just affecting how she acts; it’s really influencing her relationships, her romance, and how she approaches work. She’s fallen into the trap of trying so hard not to be like her mum that she’s become what she’s trying to avoid. I thought that was so interesting to explore and I really tightened it up in the next draft.
What was the writing process like for this book?
This book started as an idea based on fanfiction I had written. I thought about what I wanted to do next in the YA space, and a summer internship fit well. Sometimes I delete scenes or realize there needs to be more action to keep the story moving, but I’ve never been able to plot like they taught in English class. I’d often end up with two completely different stories.
How did your background on Wattpad shape your storytelling today?
I always went into that slightly more serialized idea of storytelling. I want my chapters to end on a bit of a cliffhanger that will keep you reading and make you wonder what’s going to happen. It has been scary as a traditionally published author not to have anyone comment on my books as I write them, so I have no idea how people feel about certain characters or scenes until I look at the reviews on Amazon. What I loved about the Wattpad experience was the instant feedback.
The other thing I love leaning into is cliches and tropes because that’s why I love reading. It seems to be coming to the forefront as well with BookTok, because that’s what readers respond to. It’s fun and exploratory because if you pick up a book that’s enemies-to-lovers or there’s only one bed, you know what you’re getting, and that’s another thing I carried over from my Wattpad days.
What draws you back to the YA genre?
I love coming-of-age stories and those moments that feel so big and overwhelming. It’s such a pivotal time in your life. You have a massive playground to work with, whereas in adult books, you miss the day-to-day stuff.
Did the success of The Kissing Booth shape how you approached writing your new book?
I don’t know that it shaped how I approached it particularly, but it was a joy to return to YA romance. From finishing the last Kissing Booth book to working on this new book, I hadn’t actually worked on any YA for about two or three years. I missed it so much and found myself gravitating back towards YA books and shows like Heartstopper. I had so much fun writing The Kissing Booth, and I wanted to experience that joy again.
How did you end up with a physics degree?
I’m a nerd and I like learning things. I knew I wanted to do physics because I liked it and wanted to work in tech. I also liked languages and continued learning those. I did the physics degree and kept writing. I got the email about the publishing deal for The Kissing Booth a week after I sent off my university applications. I remember running to my parents to tell them someone wanted to publish my book, but they said I still needed to go to university.
What was your experience juggling university and writing?
Looking back, it was surreal. I continued going to school, doing my homework, and working on my book in the evenings. It was not much different than what I’d been posting on Wattpad, except now I was editing for an actual publishing house. I struggled with depression in university, and it was fanfiction that got me back into writing, which was nice. Writing was just this weird thing I did on the side.
What is one trope that you would love to have the chance to explore in a future project?
I always really love enemies-to-lovers, which I don’t put in enough of my books considering how obsessed I am with it as a trope—like, when they’re not sure if they want to punch them in the face or kiss them. For me, when they’re really arguing about something, that’s just when the trope is at its best.
Where do you see yourself in the next six months?
Hopefully writing and publishing. I’ve got a couple of other things on the calendar in the U.K., so hopefully they’re making their way to the U.S. soon. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I’ve been a full-time author for three years, which I’m loving. I wasn’t sure how long-term that was going to be, but that’s still the plan to maintain that. So, I will continue writing adult books, which at the minute are like, multi-POV rom-coms, and I’m also working on YA romances that are just sweet and cute and exploring a lot of that growing up, messiness, and fun.
Love & Lattes by Beth Reekles. Delacorte Romance, $12.99 paper Oct. 22 ISBN 978-0-593-80908-2
