Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

 

"Enemies-to-Lovers-it's our trope, Buxbaum."

TW: Death of a family member 

Release Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Young adult fiction

Rating:

Summary:

Liz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her next-door neighbor would be a prime 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 meat 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 Ev er After should really look like. 

Review:

This book ABSOLUTELY blew me away. It is, in fact, better than the movies. 

I connected with Liz instantaneously for our love of romantic comedies. Always waiting for the picture perfect "meet cute", that screen worthy moment. Also our affinity for dresses.

The references to different timeless rom coms throughout the book AND a curated playlist for the book? Absolutely obsessed. Lynn Painter knows how to win my heart.

Enemies-to-lovers is one of my all-time favorite tropes. This book showcases this trope so beautifully. Wes is absolutely swoon worthy. From the first mention of Wes Bennett, I was absolutely infatuated. Heart eyes all the way. Wes gives the PERFECT Mr. Darcy/Mark Darcy vibes.

Fake dating is one of my least favorite tropes. I have never been a fan. I do not like the deceit and the mess of lies. HOWEVER, this book was able to make me enjoy the fake dating trope. I didn't find myself getting horribly annoyed or frustrated as easily like when I read other books featuring this trope. Now, do not expect me to continue reading books with the fake dating trope! This is a rare occurrence! 

I finished this book so quickly, lightning fast. Now I am upset I didn't take more time with it. I think a re-read of this knockout is an absolute must!

Now excuse me while I listen to the book playlist on repeat. 

Quotes:

"Because of things like car accidents and lost loves, life and death and broken hearts, we should grab every moment and absolutely devour the good parts."

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

"You look best when you're you."

"Be brave enough to go big."

"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."

"She's not you." "What?" "She. Isn't. You."

"She's pretty, but her face doesn't transform into sunlight when she talks about music.: He did that clench thing with his jaw and said, "She's funny, but not spit-out-your-drink-in-astonishment funny." It felt like my heart was going to explode as his eyes moved down to my lips under the glow of the buzzing streetlight. He moved his face a little closer to mine, looked into my eyes, and rumbled, "And when I see her, I don't feel like I have to talk to her or mess up her hair or do something - anything - to get her to swing that gaze on me."

"I fell in love with teasing you in the second grade, when I first discovered that I could turn your cheeks pink with just a word. Then I fell in love with you."

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