Nothing Like the Movies - Lynn Painter

Series: Better Than the Movies
Series Number: 2
Release Date: October 1, 2024
POV: Dual POV
Genre and Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Main Location(s): UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Tropes: second chance, college, fake dating, he falls first and harder, baseball player MMC, boy next door
Micro Tropes: grand gestures, she wakes him up from his nightmare, rom-com references
TW/CWs: death of a parent and subsequent trauma, cardiac arrest (mentioned), grief and guilt, PTSD, underaged excessive drinking, mentions of cheating, depression
On KU?: No
HEA: Yes
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 0.5/5 (just kisses)

Summary:
Wes thought he had everything when he and Liz, the strong-willed girl next door, fell for each other. But a sudden tragedy derailed their plans, leaving Wes to pick up the pieces and breaking Liz’s heart in the process. Now, months later, they’re both at college, and Wes is determined to win Liz back. Armed with rom-com-worthy grand gestures and clever schemes, he tries everything to remind her of what they once had. But Liz isn’t making it easy, especially with a new guy friend in the picture. As Wes pulls out all the stops, he begins to wonder if their love story is truly over—or if he can convince Liz to believe in them again.

Review:
Nothing Like the Movies takes Liz and Wes’s story into new territory, delivering a second-chance romance filled with tension, growth, and plenty of heartfelt moments. Set two years after the events of Better Than the Movies, Liz and Wes find themselves crossing paths again, with Liz’s internship covering the baseball team where Wes is now playing. The chemistry and yearning between them are undeniable, and watching Wes try to win Liz back is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
This sequel feels more mature as it explores the challenges of growing individually and finding your way back to someone after life has changed you. Liz’s character felt more grounded and realistic, while Wes transformed from the sunshiny boy we loved into a responsible man navigating his own struggles. While the book isn’t as light and fun as the first, it’s full of memorable moments, from the masquerade party to the balcony scene, and it beautifully captures the ups and downs of second chances. Fans of Better Than the Movies will appreciate revisiting these characters, though the bittersweet knowledge that this is the final chapter for Liz and Wes makes it a little harder to say goodbye.

I adored Better Than The Movies, so I had high hopes going into this book. I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but I struggled with this one- for a long time. I had every intention of finishing this ARC before the release, but I could not focus on the storyline. It seemed so out of left-field (no pun intended) what happened to Wes, and the split in the relationship. It just seemed like nothing he would ever do... maybe that was the point. I also haven't wanted to strangle the FMC so much as I did in this book. Like, really? Get over yourself. This boy loves and adores you- you find out all the things that you suspected happened were never true and were only fabricated because of grief, and you still want to be mad at him. Ugh. I still adored the movie quotes at every chapter header, but I was a little disappointed overall. I have to say that I finished the book on audio, which helped me get through it, but again I didn't love it as much as the first.

In exchange for an honest review, I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity!

I really love Lynn Painter's other books, and Better than Movies was a lot of fun and enjoyable. So I was super excited to read this arc. I have to say I was a little disappointed with this book. It is probably my least favorite so far.
I did not love the characters this time around as much as I had the first time around. It felt like the magic and swoon worthiness of the first book is nowhere to be found and the tone of this book is a lot more slow-paced, and lacking in all the romcom of most Lynn Painter books.
I will probably still purchase for my students, and I am anxious for their take on this one.

Thanks Netgalley for the digital Arc to review.

A deeply emotional sequel that tackles heavy themes of grief and abandonment, while also delivering on the romance in a very satisfying happily ever after.

Lynn Painter does it again with a heartfelt, emotional sequel that brings back everything we loved about Liz and Wes—while adding new layers to their story. Picking up two years after Better Than the Movies, Liz has grown into a powerhouse at UCLA, while Wes has spent those years grappling with family responsibilities that forced him to end their relationship. Now, with Wes back in Liz's orbit, the question looms: can they find their way back to each other?

The emotional depth in this book is incredible. From Liz’s evolution into a mature, goal-driven woman to Wes’s vulnerability as he fights for a second chance, their journey is as bittersweet as it is swoon-worthy. The tension, the chemistry, and even the heartbreak feel so real, making every moment between them hit hard.

New characters like Clark add levity, while returning favorites bring nostalgia and warmth. Painter masterfully balances humor, romance, and poignant moments, crafting a story that feels like revisiting old friends. This sequel may not replace the magic of the original, but it stands tall as a worthy continuation.

Highly recommended for fans who love second chances, emotional depth, and a romance that truly grows with its characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy!

Better than the movies was one of my first 5 star reads of 2024 and as exciting as it was that this book was announced I was also very hesitant.

I’m not going to lie this book was unnecessary. Better than the movies is arguable a perfect YA romance book, and it kind of felt like this one ruined a lot of things we built up in the first book. The characters didn’t really feel like themselves and I hated the conflicts that happened in this.

If you loved better than the movies you absolutely don’t need to read this one and it might ruin the first book of you do. I’m very sad about this one!

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

OMG, I loved this book! It was so good to be back in Wes and Liz’s world! They were meant to be together and sometimes you need to lose something to figure out exactly what you had. This is a such a sweet YA, witty, second chance romance, with a slow burn, and I am here for all of it!

I loved Better Than the Movies and this one did not disappoint! Thank you @netgalley, @lynnpainterbooks, and @simonandschuster for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

This was such a delightful follow up to Lynn Painter's Better Than the Movies (a favorite YA romance of mine). Right off the bat (no pun intended), we discover that much has changed for Wes and Liz since moving away to college; a traumatic event has not only impacted their relationship, but also altered the trajectory of their young adult lives in ways they could not have predicted. Without giving too much away about the plot, I loved that we got to see both Liz AND Wes' perspectives in this book, as opposed to just Liz's story in the first book. I think without hearing Wes' story, he may have been a less sympathetic character. Most of all, I loved watching Liz grow and evolve over the course of two books, and I'm so glad that Painter decided to give them both a second story.

Than you to NetGalley for my advanced copy.

I will read Lynn Painter’s grocery list!!! I could read a thousand stories about Wes and Liz 🥹🥹🥹🥹. I need more from them and this world immediately!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

I can safely tell you this sequel was NOT a cash grab. I can tell that Lynn decided that if she was going to write a sequel, she was going to write a SEQUEL. This book tortured me in the very best way--the tension between the now-exes was high, the story kept me on my toes, and I was genuinely worried about when and how they would find their way back to each other. I also thought she did a great job of capturing college life including what it's like to make new friends, live off-campus, and have an internship. It made me think of when I was in college--even though I didn't go to parties the way Liz and Wes did, I still connected with lots of the college elements. And as always, this book made me feel like I was watching a film. Brava, Lynn! Another one for the books ;)

I absolutely love Lynn's latest book! Her writing is phenomenal and keeps my hooked the entire time. I loved visiting Liz and Wes again and seeing them go through some real life struggles. highly recommend!

As much as I’d like to read and review this book, I just don’t support the authors views on what’s happening in the world right now. I think a necessary change—and self reflection is necessary in order for change to happen. It’s really disappointing and disheartening. But the first book was really good . I just won’t be moving forward

I devoured atleast 90% of this book in one sitting, which speaks to just how much I love Wes and Liz. After loving bttm, I expected another solid 5-star read, and while this book had its issues, there’s still so much to adore!!

The Positives:
- Just like bttm, this book is incredibly cute, with the same heartwarming charm!! The second-chance romance trope was beautifully handled.

- The characters felt more mature this time around, and the growth was portrayed with skill and nuance.

- The new characters were meaningful additions—Wes’ friend group, and Liz's friends too. Clark has my whole heart btw.

- The dual POV was a brilliant choice, offering deeper insight into both Wes and Liz’s perspectives.

The Negatives:
- Despite being the same length as bttm, the book felt longer. A few sections in the middle could have been tightened up.

- There were more pop culture references than in the first book, which, at times, felt a bit overdone. I love Taylor Swift as much as the next person, but it started to feel repetitive.

- Liz’s lack of sympathy for Wes in the first half seemed out of character. While she’s supposed to be angry about the “cheating,” something about her reactions felt off. It might be intentional, reflecting the characters' growth, but it left me unsure.

- Wes’s pining was a bit overemphasized, which dulled the impact of his feelings over time.

- The lack of diversity was noticeable, especially given the college setting. It was disappointing that neither friend group had a single person of color.

Conclusion: This book isn’t perfect, but it still captures the magic of Wes and Liz’s relationship. Their love story, despite its flaws, remains endearing and I’m thrilled they got their happy ending. For fans of the first book, this is a must-read—just be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

Thank you so much Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC !!

I had so much fun reading ‘Better than the Movies’ a few years ago, so when I saw there was a sequel, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to see Liz and Wes in college and watch their love grow. This definitely wasn’t as light and fun as the first, though it did have many light and entertaining moments.

It’s Liz’s third year at UCLA and she and Wes haven’t seen each other in two years. Yes, you read that right. Wes went home after a tragedy in his family and ended things. Now he is back playing as a freshman on the baseball team and Liz’s internship takes her right there… covering the baseball team.

I loved watching Wes try to win Liz over and seeing them change and grow. This book hit me in my feels more than once but it also made me laugh and smile. If you haven’t read a Lynn Painter book before, what are you waiting for? I adore them!

I first want to disclose that I did not read the other books from this series, I think you can read this alone like I did and enjoy it. I enjoyed Wes and Liz’z reconnected story. They were in college so I had to keep reminding myself of that as I read….because both their characters were quite immature. Especially Liz. I was entertained and engaged the whole time, but it wasn’t my favorite from the Author. I feel like I probably should have read the other ones in this series first to be more invested in the characters. But overall. it is more YA behavior than I like to read as a 40+ audience. Still, the writing was good.

Bottom Line: Read it.

** I received a copy of Nothing Like the Movies from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**

Very cute and engaging romcom! A little lengthy for YA. But it was sweet and had you wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved the characters but found it hard to really connect with them at the start. I did however find myself loving them by the end!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Super fun rom com that I gobbled up!! This was effervescent and so cute. A perfect new adult novel! Felt very authentic and true.

This was probably my most anticipated read of 2024!
I love Lynn Painter's YA Romcoms so much! The characters, the banter and humor always hit just right.... With that said, if I hadn't read and fallen in love with BTTM first l'd probably give this a solid 3-4 stars but because it is Wes and Liz I can't bring myself to give it anything less than a 5! Don't get me wrong, it's a great story! My heart is just stuck on the old Wes and Liz
I was a little nervous on how this would be a second chance romance after the ending of BTTM but it all came together nicely (in a tragic kind of way though)! You see the characters change and merge into adulthood without really losing who they've always been to eachother. (Does touch on the topic of grief, and honestly this was heartbreaking!)

Read if you like:
• Second Chance
• Dual POV
• It's Always Been You
• College Romance

This book felt like home. I love the movie lines at the beginning of every chapter. It feels so nostalgic. Their love was so sweet. In the end we all knew they’d come back together.

This was a cute enough follow up book. I really wish one of the chapters did not start with a quote from Descendants 3, as that was so unserious it took me out of the book completely.