Actor, comedian and now acclaimed YA author Harry Trevaldwyn burst onto the book scene with The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King, introducing readers to the gloriously dramatic, hopelessly romantic and utterly irresistible Patch Simmons. Patch’s mission to find himself a boyfriend delivers a wonderfully funny, warm-hearted celebration of first love, friendship and the spectacular embarrassment of being a teenager. Harry’s debut shortlisted for the 2026 YA Book Prize.

Patch returned this summer in I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend, where discovering that someone might actually fancy him turns out to be only the beginning of his romantic complications. Packed with the same brilliantly authentic voice, friendship, family drama and laugh-out-loud mishaps, it proved every bit as irresistible as the first. Both Patch Simmons novels have been awarded LoveReading4Kids Star Book status by our reviewer Joanne Owen, who loved their warmth, wit and wonderful cast of characters.

We caught up with Harry to talk about creating Patch, the real-life humiliations that found their way into the books, the relationship between acting and writing, Patch’s essential soundtrack and what he hopes readers will take away from his wonderfully chaotic world.

Q. Was there a moment that made you think “I need to write these books!”? Or did the idea of writing YA fiction, and the development of the Patch Simmons novels, evolve more gradually?

A. It was a bit like waiting for a bus and then seven come all at once- I knew that I wanted to write a YA book, because they were so important to me when I was growing up (and still now)- I was thinking of different versions and then Patch came barrelling into my head and it took off from there. 

Q. Did your acting skills come in handy through the writing process?

A. I do think the two inform each other quite nicely- especially when it comes to dialogue. And I also write quite visually, so I sort of imagine it and write down what I’m seeing and vice-versa. 

Q. Largely thanks to Patch’s fabulous voice, The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King and I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend feel incredibly authentic. Are any of Patch’s experiences and relationships inspired by your own? For example, did you have a “constant co-star” friend like Jean, or a teacher like Ms Beckett? Are you “weirdly good at triple jump”?

A. A lot of Patch’s humiliations are taken from my own life, but tragically a lot of them are taken from when I was much older than Patch. And I feel very lucky to have many Jeans in my life, I don’t think I would have the confidence to do what I’m doing if I didn’t. And also yes to Ms Beckett, I had a wonderful wonderful English Teacher at school and I remember her being one of the first teachers who spoke with us about books and life rather than to us. TRAGICALLY, I was terrible at triple jump. But weirdly quite good at high jump but I think that was purely by dint of being quite long rather than any technical skill. 

Q. Name a few songs that would definitely be on the soundtrack to your Patch novels.

A. I think ‘love is embarrassing’ by Olivia Rodrigo would be up there and definitely tonnes of Chappell Roan because she feels like a theatre kid (compliment)

Q. To borrow the “finding your character” technique deployed by Patch’s drama club teacher, what would your object be, and why?

A. I think for Patch it would be the surfboard necklace from when he tries to ‘reinvent’ himself in the opening of the first book because it feels intrinsically Patch- endearing idea but terribly executed. 

Q. What do you most hope readers take from reading the Patch Simmons novels?

A. I hope that Patch’s world feels like one they are part of. I think I wanted to create a space that feels warm and funny but with a bit of heart. And I hope that they know that whatever humiliating things they do in pursuits of the heart, Patch has done it worse and with too much hair gel. 

@harrytrevaldwyn

Huge thanks to Harry for chatting to us and giving us a glimpse behind the scenes of Patch Simmons’ gloriously dramatic world. If you haven’t met Patch yet, The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King and I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend offer two hugely funny, warm and big-hearted reasons to put that right.

Click on a book below to read Joanne's reviews in full, buy or download an extract.