Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a charming young adult romance centered around Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic who views life through the lens of her favorite rom coms. Liz has always dreamed of a grand, movie-worthy love story, especially with her childhood crush, Michael, who has recently moved back to town. To win Michael’s heart, Liz enlists the help of her next-door neighbor, Wes, who she finds annoying but knows is her best shot since he’s friends with Michael. As Liz and Wes spend more time together, their fake dating scheme turns into something more real than Liz could have imagined.
The novel is filled with witty banter, awkward moments, and a love story that’s both funny and charming. I rate this book a five out of five. I know that some people would say that this book is childish and lighthearted, and that’s what I love most about it. It’s lighthearted, funny, and cute. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good comfort rom-com story. This is definitely one of my favorite books.