Q&A: Lyla Lee, Author of ‘The Cuffing Game’

We chat with author Lyla Lee about The Cuffing Game, which is a deliciously fun YA K-drama remix of Pride and Prejudice—if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett were a college-run reality TV dating show.

Hi, Lyla! Welcome back! It’s only been about six months since we last spoke, but how have you been and what have you been up to?

Hi! Thanks for having me again. Honestly I’ve been very busy, since I have four books releasing this year. So I’ve been traveling a lot, for both work and family reasons, and busy working on my next book!

Your latest novel, The Cuffing Game, is out November 18^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

LOVE ISLAND meets PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Sorry, I know that’s technically six if you count the “and.”

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a fun, zany remix of not just Pride & Prejudice but also some of my favorite K-drama rom coms and reality TV dating shows like Love Island, Love is Blind, and Single’s Inferno. It’s a bit chaotic and the last thing I want people to think is that it’s a totally serious and faithful retelling or adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Because it’s not. I mean, Noah, my Darcy is in a frat and dances to K-pop. And Mia, my Elizabeth uses her astute observational skills to create a reality TV dating show as a college freshman. If anything, The Cuffing Game is a love letter to Pride and Prejudice and all the  other things I love and got me through some of the hardest times of my life.

Where did the inspiration for The Cuffing Game come from?

It’s funny because despite the above, I never really set out to write this book. I actually had a bunch of different ideas that I submitted to my editor and turned this particular one in on a whim, with an off handed note about how I “went to film school and maybe that could be an interesting point of topic to write about.” My editor at the time, Mabel Hsu, told me to jump on that idea, and the rest was history, especially once I snowballed my teen self’s obsession with Pride and Prejudice (especially the 2005 adaptation with Keira Knightley) and my adult self’s love of reality TV in there. I had a lot of fun with this project and I hope readers do too.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Not to spoil too much but I really enjoyed the quiet, off-camera moments between Mia and Noah where they just talk by the fire pit and slowly catch feelings while learning about themselves and the other person.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

This book itself was actually one of the easiest for me to write, just because of how quickly everything went. If anything, I had a lot of trouble juggling, well, life in general because around the time I worked on this book, I had to juggle not just multiple deadlines but a family emergency and wedding planning (!), too. The last couple of years have been super stressful and the only reason I overcame them is because of my loved ones, who have provided an amazing support system throughout the years. So cling tight to your friends and/or family, fellow writers!

What’s the best and worst writing advice you’ve received?

Best: Write what you’re passionate about

Worst: Write what you know.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on my next adult romance, a steamy enemies to lovers book set in both the K-drama industry and Hollywood.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2026?

I’m looking forward to The Shippers by Katherine Center, Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, and The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa.

Will you be picking up The Cuffing Game? Tell us in the comments below!