Writing Wednesdays: Seven songs from my The Kissing Booth 2 travel playlist

Is any trip really complete without a playlist to go along with it?

This week, I got back from Cape Town, where I spent a week on the set of The Kissing Booth's movie sequel. WHICH. WAS. AMAZING.

I'm still kind of digesting the week I spent on set - honestly, I'm not over the fact I have one movie adaptation of one of my books, let alone got to fly back out for another! I can't post too much in detail about set or the movie yet (or the book, for that matter), but I'll be talking a little about it next week here on my blog.

(In the meantime, if you want to check out some of my photos from the trip, head over to my Instagram where you can find me @authorbethreekles.)

Sometimes when I'm working on a book, I like to create a playlist to go along with it. 

Mostly, this happens after I've written the book. I'll be in a different mood writing different scenes, so tend to work through a variety of playlists during writing and editing - but this also means I'll save a couple of songs I particularly like, and they go into a playlist later on.

But whenever I'm going on a big trip, I love love love to create a playlist specially for that.

There's something kind of magical about when you listen to a song on holiday and forever associate it with that trip - and it takes you right back to that place. Every time I listen to Viva La Vida by Coldplay, I'm in the back of our rental car on our first trip to Florida heading to the Disney parks. 

I made a playlist for The Kissing Booth for the first time I went out to Cape Town, to visit the set of the movie - and still associate those songs with that trip and those memories. 

So, naturally, I made another playlist for this trip for the sequel. And this week, I'm going to share a couple of my favourite songs from it!

Crash Into Me by Robbie Nevil

This song is the very first of my playlist for the sequel and my return to Cape Town! It played over the trailer for The Kissing Booth's first movie and brings me so much joy whenever I hear it. Of course it had to be on my playlist this time!

Almost There by Anika Noni Rode

Yes, this is one of Tiana's songs from Disney's The Princess and the Frog, but I love it, and it just really motivates me! I kept singing it while I was packing for the trip, so ended up adding it to the playlist - because, ya know, I was almost out there, but it also just makes me feel like I'm so close to 'making it' and achieving my dreams. (Plus, who doesn't love Disney?)

Africa by Toto

Oh, come on. Did you really, honestly think I was going to take a trip to South Africa and not put this on the playlist? I put it on during landing and take off at Cape Town and it was just awesome to see the city spanning out beneath the plane windows to this.

Set It All Free by Scarlett Johansson

YES, the song from the animated movie Sing. It's a great movie. I love animated movies, okay? And this is just one of those belters that makes me feel totally empowered whenever I hear it. Just like remembering I have a bestselling novel that was made into a hit Netflix movie makes me feel totally empowered.

Meant to Be by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line

There's something weirdly nostalgic and familiar about this song for me. It's easy listening and the fact that the lyrics are along the lines of 'if it's meant to be, it'll be, see where this thing goes' feels like it picks up right after Elle and Noah part ways at the end of The Kissing Booth when he goes off to college.

Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At The Disco

I love PATD, and the title alone made me want to add this one to the playlist. But the lyrics 'Are you ready for the sequel?' and 'Everything's coming up aces, if it's a dream don't wake me' are too accurate. I didn't even realise until I was listening to it on the flight out. Consider me shook.

Rhythm of Love by Plain White T's

I listened to a LOT of Plain White T's music when I was writing the first book (and damn, they're a good band) but this song is so light and upbeat that it always makes me think of being sixteen and summer - which is a pretty perfect feeling for anything The Kissing Booth!



My playlist is obviously a lot longer than these seven songs, but they're some of my favourite picks I wanted to share with you all. I'd love to know if you ever make playlists for books you're working on, or if there's any songs you associate with The Kissing Booth - Tweet me @Reekles or let me know in the comments!