Better Than the Movies
First edition hardcover | |
| Author | Lynn Painter |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Sarah Creech |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult, contemporary romance |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
Publication date | May 4, 2021 |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 9781534467620 |
Better Than the Movies is a young adult romance novel by American author Lynn Painter. It was published on May 4, 2021 by Simon & Schuster.[1] It gained popularity through BookTok with the release of its paperback edition in 2022.[2][3]
Synopsis
Liz Buxbaum is a long-time fan of romantic comedies, which she uses to connect to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was a child. In her senior year of high school, she attempts to turn her romantic fantasies into reality, when her long-term crush Michael moves back to her hometown. Now that he is back, Liz is determined to draw his attention so that she can invite him to prom, and so convinces Wes Bennet—Liz's next-door neighbor and Michael's new friend—to pretend to be attracted to her, despite Wes being a source of irritation for Liz since they were children due to his constant pranks. But as they scheme together, Liz develops a genuine interest in Wes.
Reception
In 2022, the book received a surge in popularity with the release of its paperback edition, which Painter credited to Haley Pham, who called it "the best romance book [she had] ever read."[3][4] As of March 2026, it has spent 40 months on the monthly New York Times Young Adult Paperback Best Seller List.[5] It spent two months in the number one position.[6]
Kirkus Reviews called the novel a "charming, fluffy concoction [that] manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope".[7] Mary Kamela of School Library Journal noted that fans of romantic comedies would likely be able to predict the direction of the story, but said that it was made enjoyable by its quippy banter, lovable characters, and "will-they-won't-they" tension.[8] Ellis Cochrane gave the book four and a half stars in her review for The Independent, saying that the novel proves that you do not have to be a young adult to enjoy young adult literature.[9]
Sequel
In 2024, a sequel titled Nothing Like the Movies was released.[10] It follows Wes and Liz in college, now broken up. It was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction.[11]
References
- ^ "Better Than the Movies". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Lima, Mariana. "Lynn Painter: Get to Know Your New Favorite BookTok Author". Her Campus. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ a b Jones, Iyana. "Q & A with Lynn Painter". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Pham, Haley. "I read as many books as possible in 24 hours..." YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Young Adult Paperback- March 01, 2026". The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Young Adult Paperback- March 01, 2025". The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "BETTER THAN THE MOVIES". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Kamela, Mary. "Better Than the Movies". School Library Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Cochrane, Ellis. "Best romance books you won't forget, from fantasy to historical novels". The Independent. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Bhatt, Jinal. "'Nothing Like The Movies' author Lynn Painter on breaking up the most green-flag couple ever". The Mary Sue. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction". Goodreads. Retrieved March 16, 2026.