Swindon author Beth Reekles' romance novel The Kissing Booth has been filmed for the silver screen as Netflix's teen summer blockbuster so Tom Seaward takes a look

HIGH school is complicated enough without falling for your best friend’s brother.

Lee has been Elle’s best friend from the day they were born, within minutes of each other in a California hospital.

The pair have a set of rules that governs their relationship. Top of the list: no falling for their best friend’s siblings.

For Elle that’s a problem. Lee’s brother Noah is an All American hunk: six foot plus, toned, tanned and ready for trouble.

The pair find themselves snogging by chance at a high school fete kissing booth. Elle and Noah embark on a secret love affair. But the teens’ romance turns tail when brother Lee finds out.

In this adaptation of the novel the romance breathes Hollywood glamour over the classic story of heartbreak and redemption.

This is California, where pearly white teeth reflect the all-day sunshine and where it only rains for dramatic effect.

Young actress Joey King shines as lead Elle, while Aussie hunk Jacob Elordi smoulders as her hell-raising biker love interest.

Millions of youngsters read The Kissing Booth after it was published - originally on website Wattpad - in 2011 and it was a hotly awaited release for Netflix this summer.

Now translated for the silver screen, The Kissing Booth is 105 minutes of pure romcom slush. If your favourite film is Silence of the Lambs, this latest Netflix offering is unlikely to appeal.

Luckily, I was raised on a diet of Notting Hill, Mean Girls and Clueless.

While this film doesn’t quite share the wit or the charm of those big screen classics, it’s perfect for wasting a couple of hours when you should be revising for your GCSEs.

The Kissing Booth has obviously been made for a US audience. It’s slushy, the main character flashes philosophical aphorisms, no one complains about spots and there’s a prom dance at the end.

If it had been made in Britain, within minutes of the kissing booth scene half the characters would have ended up with cold sores. Americans appear to be immune.

Cold sores aside, The Kissing Booth doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a feel-good summer film for people who’ve spent more time dreaming about kissing booths than working them.