Are you already obsessed with The Kiss Bet by Ingrid Ochoa on Webtoon? Soon, you’ll be able to read the series in a whole new format, as physical edition of The Kiss Bet Vol. 1 will be released by Webtoon Unscrolled on February 25, 2025.
To celebrate the cover debut, which you can see by scrolling further down this page, The Beat also caught up with Ochoa over email to learn more about the physical adaptation of The Kiss Bet. Read on to learn what we discovered in the process!
AVERY KAPLAN: The Kiss Bet has such an interesting core concept. What was this story’s origin?
INGRID OCHOA: A lot of the characters are actually inspired by many of my close friends and crushes. All of us would always be making funny bets to see if we would be brave enough to do some crazy things. I thought this story up when I myself was 18 years old and was embarrassed I hadn’t yet had my first kiss. I sometimes wanted really badly to just get it over with and kiss any random person, so I wouldn’t be seen as weird. I learned a lot along the way about how special a first kiss can actually be, and I wanted to capture those feelings and experiences and lessons in the story. Of course, Sara Lin is not entirely based on me, but many of her feelings are very similar to my own.
KAPLAN: What’s it been like to see The Kiss Bet’s journey to being published as a physical book? What was the most unexpected part?
OCHOA: It’s really been a dream come true to see how big of an audience it has reached. My audience initially began as just my little sisters, but it grew to my whole classroom, and eventually to the internet. I would draw my comics on paper and fold them so they would resemble a physical book, and I dreamt that some day, I could publish my own copies of my comic books. So to actually be getting my own physical graphic novel really makes me emotional and proud of myself.
KAPLAN: Is there any part of your work on The Kiss Bet over the years of which you are especially proud?
OCHOA: Growing up I’d read so many manga comics and other fantasy and science fiction books, and I always felt so inspired by the characters and the life lessons they learned. I would get so attached to these imaginary friends and they felt so real to me. Now, getting messages from people all over the world telling me how inspired and close they feel to my characters makes me feel really happy and emotional.
KAPLAN: Which character do you most closely relate to (if any)?
OCHOA: I can’t deny Sara Lin and I have a lot in common. We both had a terrible relationship with math during school, and a rocky relationship with boys too. And we probably both have undiagnosed ADHD, haha! I do enjoy using Sara Lin to dump a lot of my feelings into from things happening in my own life – it’s the reason I started writing this story.
KAPLAN: Do you have a personal creative routine, or any other kind of rituals that surround your work?
OCHOA: I love observing people around me. Noticing feelings I get from interactions with friends or family or my crushes. I love writing about those real feelings and the problems I’m facing. I write all of my random little ideas or dialogues I have with people in my notes app on my phone, and later, as I’m writing my story, I look back and fit in a lot of ideas inspired by that. When I work I have to listen to music…my favorite is Billie Eilish because she has music that isn’t super loud and I can still think and work while I listen.
KAPLAN: Are there any other stories that were particularly inspiring to your work on The Kiss Bet?
OCHOA: There are many old mangas that have inspired many little things, ranging from art style to story. Some of the classics are Studio Ghibli, Inuyahsa, Ranma ½. Mangas like Lovely Complex, Hana Kimi and Sakura Card Captor.
KAPLAN: Have you experienced any particularly memorable interactions with fans of The Kiss Bet that you can share with us?
OCHOA: I’ve actually become close friends with someone that started as a fan and now I’ve hired as my official colorist, because she is really good at drawing and somehow can match my Kiss Bet style perfectly. She has surprised me in a few Cons I’ve traveled to and now we are friends!
But honestly, I just love meeting people that read the Kiss Bet and enjoy it because I immediately think we just have so much in common. If they enjoy The Kiss Bet, we would probably be friends, since I write all the things I think are fun and cute! So I always love spending time chatting with them.
In this adorable coming-of-age comic for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads, Sara Lin has decided now is the time: she’s going to make her first kiss, something special and magical, happen.
In this adorable coming-of-age comic for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads, Sara Lin has decided now is the time: she’s going to make her first kiss, something special and magical, happen.
It’s senior year and Sara Lin just turned eighteen. She’s got great friends, a cool dad (or so he thinks), and a whole lot ahead of her. The last thing she needs is to worry about having her first kiss.
But that’s all about to change because her good pal Patrick just challenged her to a bet that will either lead to love, heartbreak, or embarrassment…or maybe all three.
Sara Lin understands that her first kiss is a rite of passage, one that she takes very seriously, even if everyone around her doesn’t. She wants it to be special–true love’s kiss–and wants to fall for someone she really cares about, not just get it over with.
Along the way, as Sara explores her relationship options with three different boys…she discovers that life isn’t a fairytale and romance is inherently complex. It’s messy and complicated, but boy, it sure can be fun.
What do you think of the cover for The Kiss Bet Vol 1? Will you be picking up a copy when it arrives on February 25th, 2025? Be sure and let The Beat know what you’re thinking in the comment section.
You can learn more about The Kiss Bet Vol 1 via the official website.
