Title: Better Than the Movies
Author: Lynn Painter
ISBN: 9781534467620
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 356
Source: Private copy
Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar – and maybe snag him as a prom date – even befriend Wes Bennet.
The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.
But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love – and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.
Official Summary
14 November 2024
So, I finally got around to reading Better Than the Movies after seeing everywhere (shoutout to people like Haley Pham who were obsessed with it). I gotta be honest, I wasn’t totally sold, even though I was expecting to love it. I mean, everyone was hyping it up so much, I thought it was going to be life changing. And while it was definitely cute and funny, I don’t know if it lived up to all the crazy hype.
This book has been on my physical TBR practically the whole year. And as the year is coming to an end I am starting to stress about finishing our Bingo reading challenge we did for this year. One of the things I was having trouble with was a book that was my favourite colour. And my favourite colour is purple and the second book in this series is just that. So I have read the second one and my review will soon follow. Now all I need is a colour in the title so if you have any recommendations let me know.
The plot was pretty standard Liz who is a rom com superfan, teams up with her grumpy, brooding neighbor Wes to help her win over her crush. Like, I get it, it’s a total “opposites attract” situation, and the movie references were a fun touch. But… it kind of felt like I had seen it all before? The characters were likeable, but not mind-blowing, and some of the plot twists were predictable. I guess I was just hoping for something a bit fresher.
That being said, the humor in this book was so good at times. There were definitely moments when I laughed out loud, and I really liked the banter between Liz and Wes. Their chemistry was pretty solid, and while I didn’t fall head-over-heels for Wes like everyone else, I could see why he was such a fan favorite. I did enjoy the character growth, though, as Liz had some good moments where she really stepped up and came into her own.
Overall, it’s a solid 4-star read for me. I wasn’t totally blown away, but it was definitely fun and funny enough to keep me engaged. Maybe the hype set my expectations too high, but if you’re a fan of rom-coms and looking for a quick, cute read, Better Than the Movies might be the perfect book for you.
Also by Lynn Painter
NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES
For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: the strong-willed girl next door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off for college to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.
Flash forward months later, and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.
Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with rom-com-worthy grand gestures she loves. Only . . . Liz will have none of it! Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend . . . a guy friend.
Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.
About The Author
Author Bio from the Author’s Site
Lynn Painter is the international bestselling author of Better Than the Movies. She writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom coms.
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