Better Than The Movies

Better Than The Movies is a sweet story that uses a mix of popular RomCom tropes -- enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers and some fake dating too. In this teen RomCom, next-door neighbours/enemies Wes and Liz band together to help Liz get the attention of their former neighbour Michael in the hopes that he'll ask her to prom.

What struck me the most about this Teen romance is the amazing banter. I absolutely loved it! Like, choke on your morning coffee kind of laughter. I also loved the addition of well-known RomCom movie quotes at the beginning of each chapter, a playlist at the end of the book and references to popular culture which make this a perfect pick for any RomCom lover.

This is a lighthearted story about friends and more-than-friends that also has a strong family vibe, especially the relationship between stepparents and children which is handled in a touching way. The story focuses on Liz who is a good main character, but who sometimes came off as histrionic and immature with her deceptions. That said, you can't help but feel for this young woman and her chemistry/banter with Wes is brilliant.

Better Than The Movies is a nice blend of all that we love in RomCom movies. Sure, it's predictable (and a tad cheesy in parts), but it is an entirely entertaining escapist read. I found myself chuckling at the banter, getting all swoony over the relationships and choking up at the more poignant moments as the story addresses the deeper issues of complicated relationships and grief set within a sweet Teen romance.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: RomCom, Teen Fiction

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada

First Published: May 4, 2021

Opening Lines: My mother taught me the golden rule of 

dating before I even hit the second grade. 

Book Description from GoodReads: In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she 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 ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.