That Feeling When

by Beth Reekles

A new romantic comedy from the bestselling author of The Kissing Booth, about an avid fangirl who finds herself working on the set of her favorite fantasy show—but will she fall for the dreamy prince from the screen in real life?

For Anissa, avid Of Wrath and Rune fangirl, the OWAR fandom is more than just cosplays and For the first time she has a thriving circle of friends who really get her.

So when Anissa wrangles an internship on the OWAR set, she couldn’t be more excited to immerse herself in the fantasy—and her dream prince Prince Kai, the fan-favorite cinnamon roll/evil prince who takes “brooding but sensitive” to the next level.

Enter Callum, aka Prince a rising star actor who’s getting attention this season, both online and on set. But when Anissa’s meet-cute with Callum quickly goes south, he writes her off as an obsessive fangirl. Anissa is Insufferable Callum is nothing like her comfort character. But as they begin to spend more time together on set, the two of them will discover that maybe finding true love is the biggest quest of all.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Beth Reekles is an author and creator best known for her series The Kissing Booth, which was adapted into a series of hit Netflix movies. She began her writing career by self-publishing The Kissing Booth on story-sharing platform Wattpad at fifteen years old, and earned a three-book deal with Penguin Random House at seventeen. Love, Locked Down is her tenth published book. After obtaining a Physics degree and working a day job in IT, she is now a full-time author and self-confessed nerd who loves to review movies on Instagram @authorbethreekles.

Her published works include:
The Kissing Booth
The Beach House
The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance
The Kissing Booth: Road Trip!
The Kissing Booth 3: One Last Time
Rolling Dice
Out of Tune
Cwtch Me If You Can
It Won't Be Christmas Without You
Love, Locked Down/Lockdown on London Lane

Reviews

[Sadie Thorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
PUBLICATION DATE: December 8, 2026❕

Agghh I’ve been sitting on this review for a while because I have so many notes and I’ve been super busy but here it is!

Honestly this book was really fun and entertaining because of the plot and characters.

I honestly can’t get my thoughts together rn so I’ll just add my notes and go from there?!

1. I don’t like how it’s pushing the idea that Anissa would be less lonely if she had a boyfriend. [There’s a scene where she’s with some friends who all have significant others and she says she’s lonelier than ever.] If you rely that much on your boyfriend/girlfriend to keep you from being lonely, what happens when (if) you break up?! Better to have close friends who you aren’t dating to rely on for not being lonely.

2. OMG, when she got his DM my heart stopped!!

3. I loved reading the text bubbles on page but…sometimes it was overly cringey with the abbreviations and word choice (I don’t think 17 year olds talk like middle schoolers)

4. I skipped every single scene where they were doing the role playing game bc they were very boring and hey, the story was great without them! I do realize though that the game was a big part of Anissa’s life; I was just satisfied with the verbal recaps afterward without having to read about the game play by play.

5. The ending with the mmc…👌

I loved the mmc and fmc and their banter 😍 literally perfection!! I’d definitely recommend this book if it sounds interesting, it’s just not one I would reread. Satisfying, but not necessary.

🚨Warning: at the end, the fmc’s best friend says something like, “You have ADHD, I thought you knew?! Oh, and that’s why you’re quirky!!” And the fmc is like, “Wow, cool! That explains everything!” And it’s happily ever vibes…kinda threw me off a bit. And was just…strange 😑

Special thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC!

[September Withers]

That Feeling When is a witty and emotionally engaging romantic comedy that blends fandom culture, self discovery, and slow building romance into a highly entertaining reading experience. Beth Reekles crafts a story that feels modern, relatable, and full of heart, capturing both the excitement and emotional complexity of being deeply connected to fictional worlds and the communities built around them.

At the center of the story is Anissa, whose passion for Of Wrath and Rune gives the novel a vibrant and authentic energy. Her internship on the set of her favorite fantasy series creates the perfect backdrop for awkward encounters, emotional growth, and romantic tension. The contrast between fantasy expectations and real life relationships adds depth and humor throughout the story.

The dynamic between Anissa and Callum is especially engaging. Their relationship evolves from misunderstanding and frustration into something more genuine and emotionally layered, creating a satisfying balance between romantic comedy and emotional connection. The behind the scenes setting further strengthens the atmosphere, giving readers an entertaining glimpse into fandom culture, celebrity perception, and identity.

Beth Reekles delivers a warm, funny, and emotionally grounded romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy fandom centered stories, enemies to lovers tension, and character driven romantic comedy with emotional depth.

[norareadsromance21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

That feeling when Beth reekles
**Review of Adavanced Reader Copy from NetGalley!!!**

What the I am so confused. Ohhh ok. I am not a fantasy girly at all. Girl I feel you about not being able to flirt. I understand the social awkwardness so much and feeling like you don’t have friends! And when you do you don’t know what to do! And trying to fit in and then they still make fun of you! Sooo she’s in high school! And meeting the actor! Omg this guy is the best!! This is literally me being invested in off campus, the summer I turned pretty, and TATBILB. Omg he reads check & mate. Aww girl you’re not too much. Oh no not this run in. I love the friend. And the awkward main character for the win! Some plans is good! Oh no not the discord talking about the situation and him posting it on his Instagram. Theyre leaving her out without her friend there 😭😭😭. Girl I get the irony. Not the groupchat. Oh no she’s found him again! Omg hes mean. That interaction at the coffee bar again!! Hahah callum is funny! I wish we had his POV! Oh no he’s found out her name while he’s in character! She’s going to freak out. Ooo they’re relating over school. Omg he found out her name??!!! Aww they’re dming. I want to feel like everybody else so real. Dancing at a party! Why did he block her? Why does he think it’s her! Awww he ruined it for her. Anissa just tell your friend what happened! Oh no she’s has to go get him. Awww he gets it. I know where this is going- enemies to friends to enemies to lovers. I love how we’re seeing the texts between the girls, the discord, and the Reddit! Makes it feel like I’m immersed in the world! Girl he probs is nervous! Hahah they’re messing w each other. Omg she’s in costume and he’s making fun of her lol. Awww no one cares about him. Why can’t they be friends? Callum red the books? Omg he’s helping her up??? And this banter I love 😍. Girl that line between hate and love is small. The girls don’t really include her 😢. He finds the online community intense? I don’t like how callum has ruined Kai for Anissa. Omg he gets it??? Omg he’s reading the books??? Omg why does he always think the worst of her. lol the photos app! Omg no last day!! He wants her to stay!! Omg this kiss!!! 💋 I get the feeling of suddenly havimg friends. Oh no they’re extending the contract??? OMG HE READ HER FANFIC? To get inside her head??? Ooo a party! 🎉 not the closet. And the fight in the closet? At least they both understand each other. Aww he doesn’t have his parents. Omg they think she’s dating him 😕. Omg Nikita being so rude. Omg he’s gonna come to the party!! DID MAX AND CERYS BREAK UP? Omg I’m loving teddy and Jake together. This is giving heated rivalry club scene them pining across the room. Omg why did she kiss someone else? But I get that feeling of thinking it would be something big. There is a lot of back and forth here and I can’t tell if I love it or I hate it (get it 😉). OMG THEY KISSED AGAIN! Why did he block her again noooo!!??? And not the agent calling to pay her off 🤦🏼‍♀️. Omg not him getting into a fight. The agent is his uncle??? This uncle geez 🙄. At least he’s finally standing up for himself!!! And he wants to be normal 🥰. RICHIE LEAKED WVERYTHING??? Omgomgomg. Ok it’s over?? I need MORE BETH REEKLES!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, and Beth Reekles for this Adavanced Reader Copy of “That Feeling When” By Beth Reekles out 12/08/2026!!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

Unfortunately, That Feeling just wasn’t the right book for me. I really wanted to love it because the premise sounded cute and relatable, but I struggled to fully connect with the story and found it difficult to stay invested for much of the book. The pacing felt slow at times, and I never quite became emotionally attached to the characters the way I had hoped.

That said, Beth Reekles does a good job capturing the uncertainty and intensity of being young and trying to figure out who you are and what you want. The themes of self-discovery, growing up, and navigating relationships were well done, and I can definitely see this working better for readers who enjoy character-driven YA contemporary stories. While it didn’t completely win me over, it had some sweet moments and an overall message that I appreciated.

Overall, this was a solid 3-star read for me. I didn’t dislike it, but I struggled to get invested enough to truly love it!

[DeliMeat · Rating 3 out of 5]

THANK YOU PUBLISHER & NETGALLEY FOR THIS ARC!

-classic enemies to lovers, mixed feelings


I have a bunch of opinions for this book, ultimately because authors think teenagers talk so cringy??? Anytime I read a YA book where it has teenagers(17 y.o. Range) as the main character, they sound like middle schoolers. The amount of TIMES I got second hand embarrassment from this book.

I didn’t like how everyone portrayed Anissa as this awkward fangirling, shy, lonely-can’t get a boyfriend-because the amount of times the mmc brought it up to her attention…😶‍🌫️

MINI SPOILER- he tells her, “Probably written fanfics all about it. You can’t even get through reading a few lines with me without getting all tangled up.” HES SO FULL OF HIMSELF. And in her head, she’s like, “I hate that he’s true”😭-BYE✋I CRINGED.

Other than that, it was an easy read, maybe recommend to 13-15 year olds. I did enjoy the ending.

1-F-word
Couple of S-words
gay best friend
2ish described kiss scenes
-scumbag thrown in there.

[Aish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute YA read! I loved the main character, Anissa. The book started off more interesting than it ended, and because I'm not a huge fan of or very knowledgeable about fantasy role-playing games and fanfiction, I struggled not to tune out during some of the fanfic scenes and had a hard time keeping up with certain terminology and aspects of the world.

It also wasn't quite as comedic as I expected, and I wasn't convinced by Anissa and Callum's romance. Their relationship felt a bit forced, and I think the book would have been just fine without that aspect of the story.

Overall, a solid read, just not a book that was particularly up my alley. 3 stars.

Thank you to Beth Reekles, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

#ThatFeelingWhen #NetGalley

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
Rating: 3.5 stars
This book spoke to middle school me who loved fanfiction and definitely made a fool of myself meeting actors for my favorite shows (I still don't know how to act normal when I go to conventions to meet my favorite voice actors or when I meet my favorite authors. This was a fun book that reminded of early 2010s Disney channel comedy movies with goofy antics, a good group of friends to help you out when the times get tough, and several impossible situations that the MC stumbles into. I loved it for a goofy read that doesn't take itself too seriously. It was a good way to relax, enjoy, and remember those times where I was like the MC (and then cringe a little because I relate to goofiness).

[Ava Russell]

DNF at 8% because of the language.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every part of this book the characters, the setting and how cozy it all was this book felt realistic to fandom just like the other one where Cerys featured in this one features Anissa who was a side character in Cery's book this book takes you into the world of fandom, and everything involved in it the story was really easy to follow the romance was cute, and believable. This was all you can ask for in a contemporary book it's sweet, and wholesome the pacing was just right, and the side characters really stood out for me I liked the bits we had of of wrath and rune's world, and the fanfics Anissa wrote it really elevated the story. I had fun reading this story and I highly recommend it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher for the arc.