We chat with author Kayla Olson about her new release The Reunion, which follows two former teen stars reconnect at the reunion for their hit TV show, they discover their feelings for one another were not merely scripted—perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
Hi, Kayla! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, everyone! Let’s see, a little about me: I’m a lifelong reader who loves cats, coffee, and playing tennis. I love the beach—especially if I’m getting there via a Disney Cruise ship. When I was younger, everyone (myself included) thought I’d end up as a musician; I’ve been singing and playing the piano since age three, and took up guitar in college. I live in Texas with my husband, my son, and three adorable cats.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always loved a good story, but the book that turned me into an obsessive reader was Karen’s Haircut (one of Ann M. Martin’s BSC Little Sister books). I couldn’t get enough Baby-Sitters Club after that—and then I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. I remember wanting to write my own, but never quite knowing what to write about. Once I finally got an idea—a couple of years after graduating college—I started writing my own books and never stopped.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Oh, wow, this is taking me way back. The first book I ever remember reading? I’d say The House that Had Enough, a Little Golden Book by P.E. King. As for the one that made me want to become an author: it was around 2009 when I started writing, and that was immediately preceded by my first read of the Harry Potter series—I was amazed at the depth and plot twists and character development in those books, and I felt inspired and challenged to try and write a book of my own. And, lastly, a book I can’t stop thinking about: Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died—wow. So well written, so moving.
Your new novel, The Reunion, is out January 17th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Are we friends…or more?
What can readers expect?
This was such a fun book to write, and I think readers can expect the reading experience to be fun, too—a peek into the life of a Hollywood actress who’s just stepping back into the spotlight after being a bit burned out from it in the past. Out of context spoilers: botched cat tattoos, numerous sunrises/sunsets, a charcuterie board on the beach, and lots of fake pop culture (including a show I wish was real—Flower Wars—and my fake pop star Millie Matson, whose fake album title coincidentally ended up being almost exactly the same as Taylor Swift’s new one)!
Where did the inspiration for The Reunion come from?
It struck like lightning one night while I was doing a Boy Meets World rewatch with my husband! I was thinking about how Cory and Topanga were in a relationship on the show for basically the entire series—which coincided with their entire adolescence—and it made me want to explore the idea of what a fictional version of that experience might have felt like. I imagined that the line between fiction and reality might start to feel blurry, and envisioned two teen stars who were best friends offscreen and couldn’t quite tell if their feelings for each other were purely platonic or something more—but it felt like an adult book, the story of these two actors reuniting as adults, rather than a YA book about two teenagers living through that actual experience.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really loved writing Liv, the main character—particularly thinking about what it might be like to be a superstar who’s more on the introverted side, and how private she tries to be despite being in the spotlight all the time. There’s a garden party that happens in the book that was really fun to write—especially a moment toward the end of the scene that involves only Ransom and Liv. Another one of my favorites happens down on the beach outside of Liv’s house.
You’ve previously published two YA sci-fi books. What inspired you to dip into the delightful world of rom-coms?
The pandemic! I always describe my two YA books as being survival books set against a sci-fi backdrop—one set on a desert island, the other a mystery on a space station—and as fun as they were to write, they also deal with big, speculative ideas about how the world might change in the future (and not in a good way). For the longest time, I actually called my space book Space Virus Book (its actual title is This Splintered Silence) because it features a virus that is eerily similar to what Covid-19 became just a few years later. All that to say: writing those sorts of stories just felt too stressful, too close to real life. I needed somewhere fun to escape in my head—especially since we were all on lockdown at the time! I’d been reading a lot of rom-coms, which all came with their pretty-much-guaranteed happy endings, and thought: YES. Yes. I need to write something like that. Writing The Reunion gave me something fun to look forward to every day during those stressful 2020 days!
Do you have any advice for those who may have set some writing resolutions for the new year?
Find a friend with similar goals and hold each other accountable. Even better if your schedules are similar and you are writing at the same time—check in first thing, and text each other your goals for the day. Set a timer, focus, and then check in again when the timer goes off. Rinse and repeat! Writing is a solitary endeavor, and you do have to do the work, but it feels like you’re part of a team when you have others working toward their goals right alongside you.
What’s next for you?
I can’t talk *specifically* about that just yet, but I can say that I’m working on another adult rom-com—if you’re interested in hearing about things in a more specific way, keep your eye on my Instagram (@authorkaylaolson) and/or my website in the weeks/months to come.
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
Oh, there are so many 2023 releases your readers should look out for—and I bet a lot of them are already on their radar! The new Emily Henry, Ava Wilder, Christina Lauren, and Ali Hazelwood books immediately come to mind, and I’m excited for them all. I’m also really excited for Carlie Walker’s upcoming adult rom-com The Takedown and Emily Bain Murphy’s adult debut Enchanted Hill.
