“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.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than the Movies
First in series, Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies is a fun romp through classic romantic comedies as experienced by a hopeless romantic high school senior trying to win over her childhood crush. Liz Buxbaum’s childhood crush, Michael, has moved back to their hometown! Convinced that he is her soulmate and determined to make him her prom date, she enlists the help of her next-door neighbor, Wes, to grab his attention. Wes may be her nemesis, but he’s friends with Michael. Having grown up watching many classic romantic comedies, Liz hatches a fantasy plan straight from one of her movies involving Wes that will hopefully lead Michael to become her prom date. Downside: she’ll have to spend a lot more time with the boy who has tormented her since childhood. Upside: she discovers that spending time with Wes isn’t actually that bad. Has she misjudged him? Her feelings about this whole situation are changing and she isn’t sure what that means for her, Wes, or Michael.
Better Than the Movies was absolutely adorable. Liz is obsessed with her first love, Michael, but her relationship with Wes had me squealing as they grew closer and closer. I also loved the romantic comedies that Liz, the hopeless romantic, has been obsessed with since she was little. It was something her mom loved before she died, so Liz frequently watches the same movies that her mom enjoyed. Liz talks about many of the movies throughout this book, which I enjoyed (and want to watch again!).
Movies series
- Better than the Movies (2021)
- Nothing Like the Movies (2024)
Interested in this book? Better than the Movies is the February See YA Book Club pick. We will be discussing this book on Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30pm at our Eastern Avenue branch. For more information about future See YA book picks, visit our website.
Join our adult book club with a teen book twist. See why so many teen books are being turned into movies and are taking over the best seller lists.
Registration is not required. Books are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Eastern Avenue library. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at Eastern at 6:30pm. Stop by the service desk for more information.
Wednesday March 4th session will be meeting in the Story Room.
February 4 – Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter
March 4 – The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
April 1 – Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell
May 6 – If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
June 3 – Shut Up, This is Serious by Carolina Ixta