Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter is probably my favorite YA romance. This is my second time reading it, and how is it possible that I love it even more now?
This book brought me straight back to high school, when everything felt simple and overwhelming all at once. A time when a small crush could feel like the whole world and a heartbreak could feel like it might never end but you get over it eventually. Oh, to be young and in love! (Not saying it happened to me haha…but you know what I mean) As we get older, those moments might seem silly and a bit naive, but at the time, they were everything.
I really see myself in Liz, especially in her love for music and movies. Some songs instantly remind me of the good times, and when things get hard, I totally wallow in sad music until I feel better. And romantic movies? Still my go-to comfort binge, every single time.
Now, Wes Bennett. Who wouldn’t fall for this guy? ❤️
This book was so sweet and charming. There were plenty of funny moments that had me laughing out loud and adorable moments that left me grinning like an idiot. Every little interaction between Liz and Wes gave me butterflies, and I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time! Definitely a must-read for all romantics out there!
In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.
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.