Better Than the Movies: Discover the swoonworthy tiktok sensation

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I picked this up on a whim, not expecting much, just a light read to dip my toes back into YA after years away. What I got was a delightful surprise: a story so well-written, so emotionally resonant, and so full of charm that I found myself completely swept away. YA often has great ideas, fun plots, lovable characters, but the execution can feel too juvenile for adult readers. Not here. Lynn Painter nails the tone with sharp dialogue, layered characters, and a narrative that balances comedy, romance, drama, and nostalgia in just the right proportions. It reminded me of the time when I was the target audience for YA, and somehow made me feel like I still am. Even though it’s written for teens, this book speaks to anyone who’s ever had a crush, a complicated friendship, or a soundtrack to their coming-of-age. If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, don’t let the genre label fool you, this one’s for you too. It brought back memories I didn’t know I’d tucked away, and made me laugh out loud more than once. I thoroughly enjoyed it and immediately dove into the sequel. Five stars from me, and I can’t wait to explore more of Painter’s work. If this is what YA can be, I’m officially back in.

I enjoyed this book way more than i expected to. It was a slow start for me but within about 4/5 chapters I was hooked. I read 80% of it in one day. *may contain spoilers* At first you meet Liz who is over the top girly and obsessed with rom-coms. Something she shared with her mum, who passed away when Liz was younger. She bumps into an old crush from her childhood and decides he's her destiny. So she cuts a deal with her annoying/hot neighbour Wes to help land him. The sickly-sweet over the top girliness of Liz's nature was a bit much in the beginning but i couldn't help but like her. All of us who grew up watching rom-coms all secretly wished for grand gestures and perfect meet cutes. I felt for her navigating important milestones without her mum. The book has a lot of heart and it's just an enjoyable read from start to finish. I loved Wes, he wasn't over the top cruel like some leading men, he was the right balance. There are a couple of lovely scenes written between the two that made me nostalgic. The only reason i gave this 4 stars and not 5 is because i really didn't like Jocelyn's character. She was really judgemental. But other than that this is a really great story filled with embarassing moments, sweet exchanges and grabbing-my-face-while-reading-because-i-can't-believe-she-said-that moments. At one point i even yelled "no don't say that!". If that's not the mark of a good story then i don't know what is!

Great book,amazing for teenagers trying to start reading. Was so intrigued that I had to buy the second one-nothing like the movies-. Excellent condition

okay so I did enjoy this book, I liked the banter and the sweet and cuteness of it but I felt that it was quite hard to pick back up. It wasn't amazing but the ending kind of made up for the rest of the book. I wasn't a big fan of the tropes so if you like these tropes then you'll probably like it more than I did

❝Sometimes we get so tied up in our idea of what we think we want that we miss out on the amazingness of what we could actually have.❞ Liz and Wes grew up as next door neighbours. Wes was always messing with and tormenting Liz and this continues as they enter Senior Year of High School. When one of their childhood friends (and Liz’s crush) moves back into the neighbourhood, Liz needs Wes’ help to secure him as her prom date. Liz starts to question if Michael is really for her and starts to see Wes in another light. This book was just so amazing! This was my first Lynn Painter book and I was not disappointed. The perfect holiday read. The whole time I was just waiting on Liz to realise her true feelings. I really loved Liz (even though I wanted to shake her a few times) and my heart honestly broke for what she was going through coping with the loss of her mum. Liz and Wes were just so funny and cute. I especially loved how he was always there for her - like giving her clothes when she needed them and more.

A great book for fans of rom coms. Predictable, but in the best way! I plan to continue reading more of Lynn Painter’s books :)

This gave rom-com, fake dating, grief, childhood friends, next door neighbour all into one and I ate every crumb up. Love!

After all the hype this book went through, I was expecting a more exciting ending. Although the book itself was cute and easy to read, I think my expectations were too high because I thought it would be something super exciting. It turned out to be just a good book for one day. Although I will still read more books by this author because I liked the writing style.

After reading spicy book after spicy book, I was in a serious funk and was craving a good old love story with the classic enemies to lovers trope. Liz is adorable, Wes is perfection and this little piece of magic will make your heart flutter. Love, love, loved this book. Highly recommend for those who need a little romance in their life.

I love this book with all my heart

I picked up BETTER THAN THE MOVIES and flew threw it in just a few hours, enjoying every page-turning minute. There is a comfort in this book, of the characters who I want to imagine as my best friends, of the quirkiness of Liz's family, of the old-fashioned close-knit neighborhood setting. And of COURSE it harkens back to all of Liz's favorite movies, with RomCom references everyone will recognize. My heart ached, but it also sang for joy, and grew three sizes during the big, romantic climax. And did I mention it is TRULY hilarious? I loved every page of this book, and cannot wait for more from Lynn Painter. YA RomComs had always been my genre of choice, and BETTER THAN THE MOVIES has reminded me just why. There is something so special in the way that Lynn Painter writes. There is an energy in every sentence, whether it's leading to a joke, a bout of quick banter, or a heart-wrenching emotional beat. She understands the humor, the embarrassment, the awkwardness, and the hope, of being a teenager, and also highlights the very best bits of those years that often go forgotten once we grow up and move on--late night fast-food runs, shopping with your best friend, crappy retail jobs, watching movies in a crowded living room, and the very first keg parties that are never as glamorous as you expect. Liz is a heroine to root for. After her mother her passed away, and left her legacy of RomCom movie DVDs, Liz is obsessed with finding her perfect Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan ending of her high school career. She is confident in her own originality, her funky clothes, and affinity for movie soundtracks, but she can't be put into a box, either. She has relatable flaws and fears that feel so real, you can imagine having sit beside this girl in English Lit. When she sets off on her quest to make her childhood friend, Michael, fall in love with her, you just can't help but hope she gets her big, grand gesture kiss and happily ever after. Wes, the boy-next-door who is constantly stealing her favorite parking spot, is a jock and yet flips the stereotypical "popular boy" character on its head. He's a clown, but remains charming and tender. When he promises to help Liz get close to her crush, the two are thrown together for an unforgettable senior year. At the risk of being cheesy, I just want to say that this book... really is... BETTER THAN THE MOVIES. ;)

Perfekt en ontime

Cute and sweet. Nice light reading and references to many much-loved Rom-coms.