If you’ve been scrolling through the internet lately, chances are you’ve seen a lot of Team Alex or Team Cole edits from Netflix’s new series My Life With the Walter Boys. Ever since the series debuted on Dec. 7, fans have been talking about the characters, the storyline, and of course, the love triangle nonstop. My Life with the Walter Boys follows a teenager named Jackie after she’s forced to uproot her life in Manhattan to live in a small town in Colorado with a family that has 10 kids. It’s no shock that My Life with the Walter Boys has been making fans swoon, especially when it comes to the romantic leads.
Even though the show is set in the modern day, there are elements of comedy and drama that make this a must-watch for anyone who’s obsessed with 2000s rom-coms or love stories. My Life with The Walter Boys is based on a Wattpad novel written by Ali Novak, who began writing the book at just 15 years old. While writing the novel, Novak drew inspiration from a fan-favorite teen drama series, and you might be shocked to hear what aspects of the show inspired her story.
Ali Novak credits The Vampire Diaries as inspiration for the My Life With The Walter Boys love triangle.
In a Dec. 7 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Novak shared that one of the biggest inspirations for Jackie, Cole, and Alex’s love triangle in My Life With The Walter Boys was none other than The Vampire Diaries. “There’s always something to be said about love triangles, but it was inspired by Damon and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries. There’s just something so compelling about a love triangle, and there’s so many YA books that have been influenced by the show,” Novak said.
In the beginning stages of writing her novel, Novak made sure that each love interest was equal so the audience wouldn’t prefer one over the other. “We wanted to make sure that both boys have equal weighting. And I think there’s so much more to this story than just the love triangle,” Novak told EW.
Ali Novak wanted to tell a story about coming of age amid tragedy.
Even though Jackie, Cole, and Alex’s love triangle takes the forefront of the series, Novak wanted the story to still be about Jackie’s journey of navigating a new life.
While speaking to EW, showrunner Melanie Halsall explained the importance of adding these elements in a story about a love triangle. “It’s coming of age. It’s discovering yourself. It’s coming to terms with the difficulties life can bring you. It’s found family,” Halsall said.
Since fans are eagerly awaiting news about season 2, it’s safe to say that everyone is going to be talking about what will happen next in My Life With The Walter Boys. Fans already have theories about what this next season could bring and are enthusiastic to see what’s in store.