If you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read with witty banter that’ll make you kick your feet and giggle out loud, then Better Than the Movies is most definitely the right choice. Liz Buxbaum, not exactly popular at her high school, strikes up a deal with Wes Bennet, the next-door neighbor with a killer smile and knack for bothering her. He has to pretend to be Liz’s boyfriend in order to make his best friend, Michael, Liz’s current crush, jealous and take her to the prom.
With the fake-dating trope and rocky start to Liz and her neighbor Wes’s relationship, this novel ticks all the boxes for a rom-com but in book form. Painter intricately weaves emotional topics into the story as well, effortlessly capturing loss and grief in a way that isn’t overwhelming or overly superficial.
Apart from having its very own soundtrack, Better Than the Movies has articulately crafted side-characters that enhance the story and give it a unique twist, especially if you stay tuned for the sequel Nothing Like the Movies that continues to follow Liz’s story during her college years.
By Teen Reviewer Louisa Marie