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While eliciting scepticism from critics, Netflix's The Kissing Booth [3] has effectively charmed teen audiences everywhere with the easy chemistry between its leads [4] and its danceable, breezy soundtrack [5]. Fan or foe, there's really no denying its overwhelming popularity. The novel from which the movie was adapted also reached cult-level status shortly after its debut. In fact, Beth Reekles [6], the young Welsh author behind the book, is something of an internet sensation.
At age 15, the South Wales native wrote The Kissing Booth and uploaded the story onto a writing platform called Wattpad. The novel was a hit and accumulated 19 million reads. A few years later, Random House UK picked it up and offered her a book deal. Since then, she has published other young adult reads like Rolling Dice, Out of Tune, and Cwtch Me If You Can. Now 22, Reekles appears focussed on a career in science. She graduated from the University of Exeter with a physics degree and is working toward an IT graduate scheme.
Taking inspiration from Reekles's novel, director Vince Marcello wrote the screenplay for Netflix's adaptation. Marcello is known for his work geared toward younger audiences, such as Liar, Liar, Vampire and several installations in the American Girl franchise.
While Marcello wrote the script, Reekles herself wasn't entirely removed from the filming process. On Instagram, the authoress revealed her small cameo in The Kissing Booth during Elle and Lee's joint birthday party, sporting a glitzy flapper outfit. It's not the only picture on her feed from the movie. She has also posted several images [8] of herself on the set of the film in Cape Town.
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What will Reekles write next? Well, she's already teased the idea of a sequel [11] for The Kissing Booth, so her brigade of devoted fans may get a special treat from her very soon.