Better Than The Movies

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Genre: YA Rom-com

Rating: 3.5 stars

Writer: Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies was everything I didn’t know I needed — quick, emotional, and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish. The pacing was perfect, the characters felt real, and the story had this effortless flow that made it impossible to put down.

And let’s just be honest — Wes Bennett completely stole my heart. I am obsessed with him. He’s respectful, funny, patient, and thoughtful in a way that feels rare, both in fiction and in real life. He’s the kind of person who listens before he speaks, who teases but protects, who shows love quietly but meaningfully. He’s officially joined my list of future baby names — that’s how serious this crush is.

“She isn’t you.”

That line ended me. I melted!!

I also adored Liz — she’s relatable, emotional, and full of personality. Her character is written with so much warmth, though I do wish we got a little more of her relationship with her dad. There were moments where that connection could’ve added even more depth to her story.

The enemies-to-lovers trope will always be one of my favorites, and Lynn Painter delivered it perfectly — the slow tension, the hidden feelings, the realization that love can grow from the most unexpected places. Still, I couldn’t help but want more from their relationship once it bloomed. Wes and Liz’s chemistry was beautiful, but I wish we got to stay with them a little longer, to really feel everything unfold.

The writing itself is easy and fast-paced — sometimes a little too Gen-Z and slightly cringy, but in a way that feels intentional and honest. It reflects real teenage emotion — dramatic, hopeful, and completely in love with love.

And honestly? This book made me feel so single. The kind of single that makes you stare at the ceiling afterward, wishing you had someone who’d see you the way Wes saw Liz. It made me yearn for something real — for the comfort, the laughter, the soft kind of love that sneaks up on you and changes everything.

Better Than the Movies reminded me why I love romance stories — not because they’re perfect, but because they make you believe that love like this can exist. It’s charming without trying too hard, and emotional without being dramatic. If you’ve ever fallen for a fictional character or secretly wished life felt a bit more like a movie, this book will hit exactly where it hurts — and heals.

xoxo

-T