this was everything I didn’t know I needed in a sequel. I devoured book 1 last year and it felt so comforting to be back with Wes and Liz. Although at times cheesy (which I feel is the point and this books charm) it was so good. Hearing all that Wes went through and his personal journey to get back to Liz just warmed my heart. His relationship with his sister melted my heart and head me tearing up. Liz growing up and making a life for herself at UCLA without Wes was also so fun to see. Her new circle of friends and their dynamic was great.

The ending though. I was tearing up at the ending of this. Such a beautiful perfect ending for little Liz and Wes Bennet 🥲🥲 I just adore them and ate this up. Such a quick cute story.

I liked Better than the Movies but the sequel really knocked that one out of the park! I loved both of the characters and their development as well as the slow burn reconnection.

I'm going to be honest, I was very scared to read this book. Wes and Liz are a top tier couple, so when I found out they were broken up in this book, I was sad and had lower expectations for it. But after finishing Nothing Like the Movies, I can confidently say Lynn Painter has hit it out of the park (no pun intended, ha) once again. Was my heart broken for 90% of the book? Yes. But was it put back together in the last 10%? Absolutely. I found this book to be so beautifully realistic as to what people would actually feel like in real life if they had to go through what Wes and Liz have had to go through. These characters have grown and changed, but who doesn't grow and change after graduating high school and going to college? Especially after grief and heartbreak. I loved getting to see these characters more, I loved their banter, their wit, and all the cutesy moments along the way. I will read anything and everything that Lynn Painter writes.

As a resident Wes and Liz apologist, I was so excited to receive this arc and get thrown back into their story. I love a great second-chance romance, so to see them both rediscover their love for each other was something I ate up immediately. This story grabs you from the beginning and you find yourself falling fast into the story until - wait. It's over? That fast? I just started?

I enjoyed myself immensely while reading this but I felt as though the plot picks up far too fast and the book ends far too quickly. I wanted more, and it felt like that's what kept me from giving the book a full 5 stars. I also then had to consider if I felt even happy with the way Liz and Wes's story played out following Better Than the Movies. It just didn't feel very true to their characters, it had that almost "New Moon" effect where I was irritated by their breakup, and the miscommunication of this book is insane and almost hindered my enjoyment.

So with that I caution, this book is a fun fast read, and if you enjoy messy relationships, you'll love it. If you loved the quaint sweetness of Better Than the Movies, you might want to skip this one. I really appreciated Painter's idea that relationships grow and change, especially between high school sweethearts, but I do wish the characters hadn't lost some of their spark in the process. 3.5/5 Rounded Up to 4.

Gotta love a good second chance romance!
I loved Will’s character development and Lynne Painter sure knows how to write a golden retriever MMC. The addition of the playlists at the end is brilliant. Make sure you read Better Than The Movies before picking this one up!

It breaks my heart knowing that Wes and Liz broke up before their relationship really started. This book takes place 2 years after their break up. Liz has been at UCLA for those 2 years and Wes is finally starting his freshman year. Now they are discovering how much they’ve changed but also that no matter what they still know each deep down. I loved all the little references from book 1 and the fact that we got Wes’s pov. There were so many times I just wanted to go through the pages and give Wes a hug! I also understood why Liz felt the way she did but I just wanted her to forgive Wes. And shout out Clark because he was my favorite side character 🫶🏼


Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to arc read this book!

Gotta love a good second chance romance! Especially when it's Wes feeling all the feels! Loved his story and his character development.
Also obsessing over Wes and Liz's soundtrack at the end of the book. So clever and cute!
Highly recommend reading Better than the Movies before reading Nothing Like the Movies.

Thank you so much to Netgally for providing me with an ARC for Nothing Like The Movies!

I would like to start out by saying that this book was so much fun! To jump back into this amazing world that Lynn Painter has created was so nostalgic. Seeing both Wes and Liz apply different songs to their emotions and life events was absolutely amazing! (Also can we mention Wes literally saying ‘in between’ is their couple anthem! Huge TikTok win lol)

The only small problem that I felt with this book is that it almost felt like a forced sequel. Sometimes a book ends and it does not feel like the story needs to be continued and this is one of those books. Was I glad to see more of these characters? Of course I was! That’s being said I still did not feel like the plot of this book moved forward their story line a ton!

The character of Wes definitely felt like he was a fully developed character with a planned plot and effort put into writing him. Liz however was an incredibly stale and immature version of her previous self. I felt like for every ounce of character progression Wes had Liz had character regression which was disappointing.

Overall I did find this a fun book to read! I found myself giggling and kicking my feet at certain scenes, and even thinking about the book and characters throughout my everyday l would still definitely recommend this book to fans of ‘Better Than the Movies’ but they should keep in mind that it does have an entirely different feel to the story.

I absolutely adored this book. If you are a big fan of Better than the Movies like me, you NEED to read Nothing Like the Movies. I feel like anything could have happened, and I would've just been thankful that Lynn Painter gave me more. Our main characters are no longer teenagers, but they are dealing with heartbreak, loss, and grief. I thought the story was fun and fast paced. I will forever love Wes, and I will purchase and read anything Lynn Painter writes.

Wahhhh!! I wanted to love this one so much and it was just an okay read for me.
I’m so sad because I love Lynn Painter and I loved Liz and Wes in Better Than The Movies.
I think my biggest complaint is that the entire book was Wes and Liz not together. The entire book. I missed their relationship, their banter, and the fun. This was much more serious and Liz just felt like a whole different person. I still adored Wes.
.
.
3.5
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this book!

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☆ 3.25 ‘nothing like the book’ stars… ☆☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Sequels are like coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. Not always worth it, but the possibilities are endless!

playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ck...
pinterest board 📌: https://pin.it/5oFsZiuxh

In more eloquent terms, sequels are a precarious matter. Consequently, I always strive to approach them in an unbiased manner. Though, I stand my ground when I say that the most memorable books are the ones that illicit a visceral reaction from the reader; negative, positive and everything in-between. In this particular instance, I just feel…uncertain, and not in a way that leaves you pondering for time long past.

“˚₊ · »-♡→ Characters

The Liz we all know and love can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, because she’s dead. What’s worse than a ‘pick-me’ girl, you may ask? A ‘one of the guys’ woman.

The lack of empathy toward Wes is, as Liz herself would say, asinine. It devalues her own conflicting experiences with grief and the character development that evolved from such in the previous novel. In the present storyline, readers are subject witness to the stripping of Liz Buxbaum’s entire being. In attempts to prove that she is more than “lovesick Little Liz”, she ultimately deems that the only capable version of herself is the one that swears off love. Not only is she demeaning herself, but the audience that should be rooting for her. I implore authors to truly grasp the concept that you can admire and even desire love and still be a complete individual. The lack or abundance of such bears no weight in who we are. It is not a rite of passage to hate the very act that makes us and it doesn’t make you stronger when you wield your past hurts as a weapon. In a world that feels broken beyond repair, I, like so many others, crave stories of those that love because they’ve been hurt, not hurt because they’ve been loved and lost. Sincerely, a very anti-patriarchal woman that is o v e r the worn out narrative that women need to be heartless to be taken seriously.

I acknowledge what Painter was aiming for in terms of relatability and progressiveness, but subsequently, our main protagonist didn’t emotionally mature from this momentous, heartbreaking and sudden change. She didn’t find her true self, nor did she rise to the odds of such occasion. Instead, she became her own antagonist. Viewing Wes through her eyes is just sad. All the ways in which she finds herself falling in love with him again are physical, and she, like everyone in this life, deserves so much more than that.

Wes Bennett is no saint either. Grief is like a disguise and the longer you wear it, the easier it is to forget who you truly are. That being said, confessing to a sin that you never and would never commit, even in the wake of obscurity is absolutely mind-boggling. It was a complete overlook that took every wrong turn possible before swerving toward a cliff. There were an abundance of perfectly reasonable justifications for your inability to maintain a romantic, or even platonic, relationship at that point in time, and yet that was the out you chose? He’s for the streets, ladies and gentlemen! I literally cannot defend him.

Despite this, I must admit that I actually enjoyed delving more into Wes’ mind considering his lack of POV in the preceding novel; particularly his involvement in baseball. One of my qualms with ‘Better Than the Movies’ was the abrupt and almost irrelevant knowledge that not only was Wes a player of the sport, but he was also considered one of the best. So much so, he was going to pursue it professionally in college.

˚₊ · »-♡→ Plot

On a more serious note, I would like to speak on behalf of all those that have grieved, are grieving, and will grieve by kindly suggesting that authors not write about life after loss if they’re not willing to properly delve deep into the mental aftermath. Sensitivity readers exist for a reason. Wes doesn’t need the love of his life back, he needs a normal year of young adulthood with no traumatic physical or emotional losses or parental responsibilities for crying out loud!

˚₊ · »-♡→ Dynamics

I fear even fictional high-school sweethearts are no match for the inevitable divorce stereotypes placed upon them. I see no world in which these two live happily-ever-after. There was more vitriol than banter, a far cry from the usual WesLiz charm that with complete transparency, I didn’t even expect, just hoped for. Love is work and I saw no evidence that these two grew enough to be willing and able to persevere in the face of adversity.

˚₊ · »-♡→ Pacing

The plot we anticipate from the synopsis doesn’t begin until 70% of the way through the book with the rest just existing as white noise. An accumulation of niche pop culture references that I would like to declare the end of. They hinder any sense of timelessness and make actual fans of such mentions feel like nothing more than a cash grab (I mean, cut Taylor and I a portion of the check at this point…). The build-up, or lack thereof, set us up for an anticlimactic ending. It was loose ends galore, mainly in regards to Liz’s internship and the project she poured her heart and soul into.

P.S. I call penalty for not capitalizing on the PERFECT opportunity to end this book with “Enemies-to-lovers—it’s our trope Buxbaum.”

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Lynn Painter for so kindly providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

I didn't know what to expect. This book ripped out my heart but also made me happy. I love Liz and Wes and it made me so sad that they weren't together but I love that he was trying so hard to win her back after everything he put her through even if I was so mad at him.

My friend Kari said "I didn't NEED another Liz and Wes book, but I am really glad I got one". Same. So much same. This isnt' a book that I craved or needed. But I really enjoyed getting it. I like seeing these couples go through real life stuff and coming apart and back together. It's hard. There were times when I was frustrated by them. But the pay off is just so sweet. It's the fun and the longing and the romance that we want from Lynn and from these two kids.

3.5⭐️rounding up to 4 because I just love Wes so much 🥺

Let’s start with the good stuff —

Wes had no right to be this darn cute and this swoon worthy. His monologues were epic. His music references - iconic. His emotional growth? GIVE THIS BOY A HUG. His cocky attitude brought in his POV with his complete lack of confidence? Man this boy is perfect. He is the epitome of that perfect balance of the perfect man.

(Minor spoilers) Unfortunately, this is kind of where it ends 😩 listen I loved their banter and I love how Lynn writes these books like an early 00s romcom where the couple doesn’t get together until the very end. But this time around, the miscommunication trope just felt so tiresome and stretched out for longer than necessary. Liz changed so much and while I did like seeing her growth, it’s as if Lynn Painter removed everything that made Liz, Buxbaum.

Her quirkiness is what made her so lovable. Gone? Why… I understand traumas and heartaches change you, but this was a full 180. And while she grew she also somehow regressed on the emotional maturity front? It felt forced how much she couldn’t forgive him. Also I never once fell for the ‘cheating’ so there wasn’t much of a shock for me when everything was revealed through flashbacks and confrontations.

It started off so well but just fell a bit flat after 60% when all that happened was a whole bunch of… nothing. Wes actually believing the fake bf thing? That was not believable considering how smart he is.

And the ending? That’s ALL we got? I feel like I’m missing an epilogue 🥲

Nothing Like The Movies
•
Your favorite young adult romance reviewer is back! 🥳😂 I recently finished Better Than The Movies so I was looking forward going into this one with it fresh in my mind and even though Better Than The Movies wasn’t my favorite I was excited to see what happened with Liz and Wes! Once again, I am left with some mixed feelings. Here are my positives….
💏 dual POV
🏫 in college, so I liked it better that they were older
👯‍♀️ loved all the friendships
✏️ chapters were a good length
💚 enjoyed all the quotes at the start of each chapter
🤭 funny moments
🎶 playlist at the end
👨🏻‍🦱 Wes’ character arc
Here’s where I struggled…
Though the chapters were a good length overall I felt like the book was too long. At over 400 pages it just felt drawn out and the main conflict didn’t feel 400+ pages worth. It seemed like a quick conversation could have helped a lot in chapter 1 lol it almost felt like not much was happening throughout the whole book if I’m being honest and Wes and Liz felt different. Their banter wasn’t up to par and they didn’t interact much I felt like until over halfway. Both of these books started off strong, but once I hit that halfway point it starts to fizzle for me. I’ll say that I do enjoy Painter’s writing and I am looking forward to trying one of her adult books. Now keep in mind that people LOVED Better Than The Movies and I’ve seen great reviews for this arc, for me I feel the same about both ⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
Thank you NetGalley, Lynn Painter, and Simon & Schuster for this e-arc. Nothing Like The Movies comes out October 3rd!

If you want a book that feels like a Taylor Swift song come to life, you need to read this series. Full of nostalgia, heartbreak, fireworks, love, and friendship, Nothing Like the Movies definitely has the vibes of “illicit affairs” and “So High School” with a rollercoaster of deep emotions written in the perfect balance of sweet rom-com and heartfelt tenderness that Painter excels at.

My heart ached, broke, and soared for my favorites, Wes and Liz. I loved being back and immersed in their story and seeing them grow and mature into college students. The collegiate, sporty, academic vibes I just adored, and once again I FELL for Wes Bennett. His journey in this book is huge, and I loved seeing him find himself and his way back to Liz. It was so angsty and full of longing!!

These two are my absolute favorite Lynn Painter couple/duo, and I’m so happy the second part of their story is here!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

As if I couldn’t love Lynn Painter more, she throws in a remake of a scene from Twilight!

“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Painter has a way of blending sharp wit with genuine emotion, and Nothing Like the Movies is the perfect example of how life’s messy, imperfect moments can lead to the most beautiful love stories. It’s packed with banter, humor, relatable characters, and moments that are both swoon-worthy and heart-wrenching.

“𝙄’𝙢 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙩, 𝙇𝙞𝙗, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Read if you love:
❤️ Second Chance Romance
💕 Friends to Lovers
💜 Miscommunication Trope
🫶🏻 Pop Culture References
💖 YA Slow burn ROM-com
💘 No Explicit Spice

Liz had me screaming, ‘Just give in already and take Wes back!’ And Wes, UGH!, he could’ve been upfront and honest with her from the start! Then their interactions wouldn’t have been such torture for weeks. But of course, we wouldn’t have gotten all those sweet and hilarious moments in between.

“𝙄𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.”

Liz and Wes’ chemistry is electric! Their relationship feels so authentically real, and this is exactly the kind of story that reminds me why I love rom-coms.

This book was honestly one of my favorite books i have ever read. It was such a good sequel to the original and had a good plot and the ending was absolute perfection. i can’t wait for everyone to get to read this!

Wes and Liz lost each other in the drama of life. Now, two years later, Wes is trying to reclaim everything in his life that he lost, including Liz.

Lynn Painter does it again! Here's what I liked:

Like coming home: I adore Wes and Liz. These two characters stayed with me after reading Better Than the Movies. Wes in particular goes on a huge journey in this one but still keeps his charming self.

The humor: There were some truly laugh out loud scenes in this one. Just like classic Painter, this reads like a romcom movie with quirky side characters and humorous scenes that stay with you.

Heartbreak: My heart broke for Wes a few times in this. He's dealing with the death of his father, trying to regain everything he lost because of that. But seeing him strike out with Liz time and time again made me break for him. You can tell how much he wants to make amends and truly root for him.

All in all, a good follow up to one of my favorite books.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

This book was incredible! The chemistry was amazing and I am so happy they got their happily ever after!!