Better Than the Movies

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER Perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, this "sweet and funny" (Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks) teen rom-com follows a hopelessly romantic teen girl and her cute yet obnoxious neighbor as they scheme to get her noticed by her untouchable crush.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.

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384 pages

Average rating: 7.96

306 RATINGS

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37 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Casssmithy
Jan 21, 2025
5/10 stars
Was okay but just needed a bit more
LesBooks
Jan 14, 2025
8/10 stars
I usually don’t like rom-coms or books that are fluffy. But Painter’s writing was so fun, and I got immersed in the characters. I ended up loving this book!
Anonymous
Jan 07, 2025
8/10 stars
Goofy YA romance, but handles themes of grief in a respectable way. Good palette cleanser between some other dense reads, would read more from Painter if the mood is right.
Abbey1
Dec 22, 2024
10/10 stars
Wes and liz have my heartt
readwithinsoul
Dec 11, 2024
10/10 stars
Lynn Painter's "Better Than the Movies" is a delightful rom-com that has my favourite trope, Enemies to Lovers. The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic whose dream is to secure a prom date with her long-time crush, Michael. However, her plans are complicated by her unexpected growing attraction to Wes Bennett, the boy next door who has been her enemy for years.

The chemistry between Liz and Wes is undeniable. I also liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, which added extra depth and meaning to the story. They were like bits of wisdom, setting the tone for the chaos that would follow. Painter’s writing effortlessly captures the essence of teen romance and the excitement of unexpected love.

FYI: For the curious, there is no smut in this book - there is 0%. But I’ll tell you, the conversation between Liz and Wes was so swoon-worthy it gave me goosebumps. If you're a fan of romantic comedies, connected heroes, and swoony romances, then "Better Than the Movies" is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

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