Genuinely, biggest thank you to the publishers & NetGalley for the ARC. This was my most anticipated book of the year and I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to read it early.

My initial thought when I finished the book was "I don't know what to think about this" but I read a review that kind of summed up what I was feeling: Nothing Like The Movies makes Liz and Wes and this story more Real. There was so much angst and tension that ate up a lot of the book that there were times I was genuinely worried that Liz & Wes were done for (even though we had real-live confirmation that this was a HEA). A lot of what happened in this book was kind of like a reality check for me? Better Than The Movies was so fluffy and happy and NLTM was so It's Time To Grow Up. I can't explain as much as I'd like without giving too much away but the gist of it is: Nothing Like The Movies is #angsty.

I fear it needs to be said that Better Than The Movies really didn't need a sequel. That said, I think Lynn Painter did the characters and the relationship justice in NLTM. My only complaint is that I wish we had had more of them together by the end of this one. I understood the actual buildup to them getting back together and it felt very on par with everything that happened between them, but then the ending felt a little too quick for me. I understand the whole rom-com movie ending style that Painter was going for here, especially with the references towards the end, but I just wished we had a smidge more. Who knows, though? Maybe more bonus scenes are coming?

Nothing Like the Movies was one of those books I could not put down!!!! The plot, characters and attention to detail of being at UCLA really makes you feel like you were in LA (take it from a native herself). Wes and Liz are the cutest, funniest, and most amazing characters I have had the opportunity to read about through Better Than the Movies.

Nothing like the movies however made them even more real and authentic. Growing up itself is hard but making decisions based on what life throws at you is even harder. Both Wes and Liz learn from their past allowing them to grow and be stronger but still holding on to who they always were. While I know this is a romance with a happy ending, I found it to be more cathartic as Wes side of the story shows how not everything can be perfect. At times, I found myself relating to him as he needed to make difficult decisions and learned that chasing your dreams is possible. Aside from having to both deal with a heartbreak, their banter, the force proximity and comedic timing really lived up to the standard of who Wes and Liz are. Thank you Lynn for writing such a beautiful story about what it means to fall in love and grow up.

Loved this book! Very interesting and moving! I was hooked from the start and could not put it down! I was laughing and crying and falling in love with the characters. Could not have asked for a better sequel.

I got the honor to read this book as an arc! I can't
even believe I'm actually saying this but I just finished the last book in the "better than movies" series! This book literally change my whole life (not unexpected at all because I have read better than movies more than 3 times!) I genuinely don't think anyone understands wesliz like me they're literally my baby's! If you follow me on TikTok you probably already know that! everything about this universe is AMAZING. Through out the book I was sobbing, screaming, giggling. The pacing for this story is amazing!
lizwes is so special to me. this is LITERALLY my comfort series! I wish I was joking I was up at 3am last night reading this book literally giggling to myself trying not to wake the people at my house up. I haven't felt this way about a book in a while. this book is so beautifully written. I couldn't put this book down every time I did all I could think about is picking it back up.
thank you netgellay for giving me this opportunity to read this book! Thank you so so so much for the Arc!🫶🏻🎀

[Thank you to Simon Teen, GoodReads, and NetGalley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]
--
Sequels are sometimes scary because you don't want characters and/or stories you love to be ruined. I loved BTTM and I was nervous when I learned that this would be a second chance romance (how could Liz & Wes have fallen apart?!). Turns out it was unnecessary to be wary. I read NLTM in one sitting and absolutely loved it.

Painter did such a beautiful job continuing with the story of Liz & Wes. Liz claims to have moved on from Wes, working towards her career goals, while Wes is desperate to get Liz back after experiencing a family tragedy that took him away from school for two years. During NLTM, we learn different aspects of their breakup but we don't learn the full story until almost the end of the book. 

This book has all the things that you know and love about Painter's writing: banter, tension, angst, etc. We are introduced to great new characters (Clark is my favorite) and there were even a few surprise cameos in there. Is it possible to love Liz & Wes (especially Wes) more now? I wouldn't have thought so and yet here I am. 

I don't want to spoil anything, but please know that this book is great and you should absolutely pick up a copy. I would read a million more bonus chapters and/or books about these two but if there's nothing else, I feel good with where we leave them.

Oh how wonderful it was to be back in the universe where Liz Buxbaum and Wesley Bennett exist!

2 years after "Better Than The Movies", Liz and Wes are broken up. While Liz remained at UCLA, built new friendships and is doing quite well, due to unfortunate circumstances at home Wes had to drop out and move back to Omaha. Despite trying to maintain a long-distance relationship, they broke up shortly after.
Now, two years later, Wes has decided to re-enroll at UCLA and continue playing baseball. He has major plans: to win back Liz. Fortunate for him, Liz's job is to film UCLA's baseball team, thus they are forced to spend some time together and catch up. Even though Liz does not seem to happy about Wes's surprising return to UCLA, he is determined to do everything in his power to get her back and will not be stopped by anyone.

This book was funny, cute, heartwarming yet a little heartbreaking. Following both Liz and Wes while both try to sort out their emotions was insanely captivating. If you loved 'Better than the Movies', you'll love this one as well! It is impossible not to get attached to these characters and not root for them.

After a tragic breakup two years ago and circumstances tearing Wes and Liz apart, Wes is ready for a second chance. But is Liz ready to start over after all of this time and growth away from Wes?

4.25⭐️
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for access to the ARC!

As such a big fan of the first one I was so excited to go into this, and it did not disappoint. From the very first page which includes a quote from the movie Set It Up, I was hooked. Lynn does not hold back on the music and movie references in this book which I absolutely loved, and it made it so much more fun to read.

Onto the actual dynamic of Liz and Wes, seeing Wes in such a state of yearning after having gone through so much on his own made me so sad, but I ultimately love him even more now (which I didn’t think was possible after the first book). The buildup between them was great and I loved how we learned different aspects of the breakup throughout, meaning we didn’t know the full story until the very end. It made the ending all the more rewarding. Overall, I feel the story was tied together with a perfect (and emotional) ribbon that I cannot wait to discuss with others once the book comes out.

Though I feel the buildup was great, I wish the pacing allowed for more time to see them together and happy. I hope there will be short stories in the future where we are able to see the two of them interacting with all of their friends as a couple. As such a WesLiz girlie, I had the most amazing time reading this, and I wish it could have gone on forever!