Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a YA romance that follows teenager Liz Bauxbaum, who is a hopeless romantic who has given up on love. Her view of love changes after a previous character from her life, Wes Bennett, a popular boy who always gave her a hard time, returns to her town. The book navigates the highs and lows of untangling their love but must see if they can both overcome their own fears.
The themes that are explored consist of self-discovery and growth, and love and relationships. I felt so lifted while reading this, I was never not smiling. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a lighthearted story, yet also relatable characters. This book inspired me to be optimistic about love, and how it can come when you are not searching for it. I rate this book 5 stars, I was smiling for hours after reading it!