Lynn Painter

Liz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her next-door neighbor would be a prince candidate for her romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only proven himself to be a pain in the butt, ever since they were little. Wes was the kid who put a frog in her Barbie Dreamhouse, the monster who hid a lawn gnome's severed head in her little homemade neighborhood book exchange.

Flash forward ten years from the Great Gnome Decapitation. It's Liz's senior year, a time meant to be rife with milestones perfect for any big screen, and she needs Wes's help. See, Liz's forever crush, Michael, has just moved back to town, and—horribly, annoyingly—he's hitting it off with Wes. Meaning that if Liz wants Michael to finally notice her, and hopefully be her prom date, she needs Wes. He's her in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz her magical prom moment, she's shocked to discover that she actually 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 perception of what Happily Ever After should really look like.

Better Than the Movies #1

Better Than the Movies

Erin 

Kaila Nesbitt

Olivia 

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.

Haley

Did you ever know, Liz, that Wes used to sit on the back porch and listen to you practice the piano?

but there was also nothing quite like closing my eyes and just losing myself in a song I’d played a hundred times before, tweaking the tempo and passion and listening to see if I could hear the minute differences I’d attempted to create

Life pressed forward with a burning velocity that left all of the beautifully-pressed details quickly forgotten.

Kyra

? What on earth could she possibly be lacking? Do you want bigger boobs or something? Is she not-„

Alyssa Weaver

Wes: Okay, then send me a pic of something else just so I feel included. 

I cranked “Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys.  

“What if I want you to turn naked cartwheels through the commons during lunch while singing the entire Hamilton soundtrack?" "You got it. I love 'My Shot."

Only now he had a slightly Southern drawl. Michael Young hada soft accent that made me want to person- ally handwrite a thank-you note to the great state of Texas for mak- ing him even more appealing than he'd already been. 

"We don't have time for lipstick." "There's always time for lipstick." 

Luna

»Enemies-to-lovers - it's our trope, Buxbaum.«

Sanne

My inheritance was the knowledge that love is always in the air, always a possibility, and always worth it.

tinica

“You’re wrong about Alex. She’s not flawless.” 

“Bennett, no one is totally flawless—come on.” I couldn’t believe his nerve. “She’s pretty dang close, though.” 

“You suppose? What on earth could she possibly be lacking? Do you want bigger boobs or something? Is she not—” 

I wanted him to lean in and kiss me—I wanted it so badly—but I knew he wouldn’t. 

Because I’d spent my entire life making sure Wes Bennett knew just how much I would never-ever-ever want him to kiss me. I said on a breath, “Gee, thanks, Bennett.” 

His voice was quiet when he said, “I mean it.” 

“Weren’t you the one who demanded I straighten my hair?” 

“I was.” His skin was wet from the rain too—obviously—and a drop was poised to tumble off the tip of his nose. Those brown eyes traveled all over my face, dipping over my eyes and cheeks and mouth before he said in a hoarse, deep voice, “And I think I regret all of it. I miss your clothes and curly hair. You look best when you’re you.” 

You look best when you’re you. Oh, God.

He kind of laughed and so did I, and then he said, “I really am sorry about earlier, by the way.” 

“I made you cry.” He looked away, but I caught a glimpse of his clenched jaw. It was almost like it mattered to him that he’d upset me. And, in the moonlight, I felt something that I had never felt about Wes before. I wanted to move closer to him.

Ellie M.

4.75 ⭐️. If this book was a song, it’d be lover by Taylor Swift feat. Shawn Mendes because lizwes feels like long drives, daydreams, qnd bookstore trips that it felt like going home. Not only do Liz and I the same name but we’re both incredibly dense 😭 lmfao and I felt like I was 13 again, pining for this dude who’ll never notice me. I initially felt too old for the cheesy stuff but I liked the romcom references, the slowburn, funny banter, and the subtlety of friends to lovers. Not only that but this book dealt with managing loss and grief, growth, and friendship. There is literally nothing bad about this book, I just don’t consider it a favorite, but I find that it was written really really well.

abby

THIS IS PURE SWEETNESS. an adorable YA romance, involved with prom night, first love, crush, childhood friends, and all thos argh-dorable things!!

Nanthanat Chompradist

4.75/5 🌟 round up

Liz and Wes got me blushing, smiling, giggling, covering my mouth with my hands, kicking my feet on my bed, squealing, dying, crying, throwing up, sliding down the wall dramatically, banging my head on the wall, ripping my hair out, whistles loudly, punching air.

This has the potential to be a solid 5-star because I totally devoured this book in 3 days. But, I'm sorry to say that sometimes Liz got really annoying. So, I deduct 0.25 from that.

Fenix Voliton 

soooo cute but sometimes gave “not like other girls” vibes.

Kayla burch 

Omgsh!!! This was such a sweet cute book. It made my heart happy!🥰

So saccharine it makes your teeth hurt but I still kinda loved it.

Amelia Hruby

Jay Becerra

I stayed up till 5am to finish this book… I cried like five times and I wish I could forget everything just so I can read it again like it was the first time.

buny

Great until the last 25% then I just wanted to punch them both in the face. I mean. It made me laugh out loud, smile and giggle and kick my feet like a true romcom's supposed to but Liz, at every point of this story, was annoying and stupid and living in a made up world with no care for any consequences like she's freaking barbie 😭 wake the hell up, gurl!!!!!!!! Wes was so toe curlingly caring, charming and adorable but then he became as stupid as her in the last few chapters, too 🤦🏻‍♀️ talk about a letdown 🤦🏻‍♀️

(Liked it enough to be obsessed with the concept of a Wes pov, though 👍)

It’s official I live Lynn Painter’s YA work. I haven’t enjoyed her adult work and wanted to see what I thought about her YA. I don’t know what it is but I enjoy this so much more. This was absolutely adorable. The movie throwbacks and stereotypes that are thrown in, I loved every part of it. All of Lynn’s character seem the same but it just makes more sense in high school characters than as adult, so maybe that’s something that is different for me. This is just my opinion about it a lot of other people love both. Liz was a character that was grieving in ways I can understand because I’ve done a lot of the same things she did. But overall Wes and Liz were adorable and I was obsessed with them and could literally play this whole book as a movie in my head! Highly recommend!

Priscilla Stanfield

This book had me feeling every emotion possible. I really love the adorable romcom quotes at the beginning of every chapter as they really set the tone for what you’re about to read. This book is like a typical romance story, however Painter adds her own spin on it, making it so much more enjoyable. I instantly fell in love with the characters, Wes and Liz are truly made for each other and I need a second book ASAP. Wow. 

PHENOMENAL. SPECTACULAR. INCREDIBLE. 

This book had me feeling every emotion possible. I really love the adorable romcom quotes at the beginning of every chapter as they really set the tone for what you’re about to read. This book is like a typical romance story, however Painter adds her own spin on it, making it so much more enjoyable. I instantly fell in love with the characters, Wes and Liz are truly made for each other and I need a second book ASAP. Wow. 

Isabella 

SUCH A CUTE ROMCOM BOOK. I didn't raise my expectations for this since I knew right away it would be the typical cliche book. But I needed to read a light book after all the heavy books, and it did its job. I would like to see this as a movie (a proper one).

Julia <3

Ana Luiza

Meu Deus MEU DEUSSSSSSSSSSS
SERIO SEGUNDO MELHOR DO ANO (só perde pro surto que foi fourth wing)
Eu juro que não dava NADA pra esse livro, ando dando só notas medianas para romances ultimamente, nada me animava... Então eu definitivamente não achei que esse livro YA de personagens ainda no ensino médio seria tão incrível.
Comprei esse livro nos estados unidos, em uma Barnes and Nobles da Filadelfia, simplesmente porque ele tava em promoção e eu queria uma lembrança de lá. Melhor escolha possível!!!
Esse livro é muito viciante desde o começo, a narração pelo ponto de vista da Liz já começa muito cativante e engraçado, mas tudo fica 200% melhor quando o Wez realmente entra em cena. Ele é APAIXONANTE. Engraçado, fofo, inteligente, TUDO. Você como leitor consegue perceber do começo como ele é apaixonado pela Liz e eu simplesmente ficava maluca com as frases dele, cada indireta que ele dava, e ela totalmente tapadaaaa. 
Fiquei totalmente viciada, li praticamente em um dia, não conseguia soltar esse livro. Me deu o friozinho na barriga que eu não sentia há muito tempo <3 Favorito dos favoritos, sério!
Quero com certeza ler muito mais da autora!
Inclusive li os spin offs e amei!

Ah, e eu li bem na semana do show da Taylor e esse livro é todo swiftie <3

书婆

Adriana Rojas

I have to admit that it was a little too cliché for me, but it wasn't that bad 
Liked the way the story develops

Ena Kalkan

[sighs heavily] i miss wes & liz already.

i'll come back to review this properly once i stop crying over how much i loved this book.

Saffana Nuraulia

PUNCHING AIR SO BAD OH TO BE YOUNG AND STUPIDLY IN LOVE

Jules

** spoiler alert **
           Loved it! I thought the romance was sweet, and it’s super super adorable how Wes liked her since he was a kid ☺️
The depth about her mom issues was so well done too, really *chefs kiss* 🧑🏻‍🍳💋🤌🏻
It was nice how she wasn’t an obnoxious narcissistic female lead and actually takes accountability unlike a lot of them are these days.

Better Than the Movies Better Than the Movies #1

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