“Music made everything better.” (Lynn Painter, Better Than The Movies)

This quote from Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies, a young adult romance full of heart and humor, captures the way music becomes a lifeline in moments of confusion, change, and growing up. For Liz Buxbaum, music is a constant source of comfort and escape, helping her make sense of her feelings and the world around her. As she faces the pressure of senior year and the ache of growing up without her mother, music quietly guides her toward understanding who she truly is. It helps her let go of who she thinks she’s supposed to be and move toward who she wants to become.

Summary:

This story follows Liz Buxbaum, a high school senior who has always been a hopeless romantic. She lives next door to Wes Bennett, a boy who has been annoying her for as long as she can remember. As her final year of high school begins, Liz finds herself missing her mother more than ever. With big milestones like prom and graduation coming up, she feels the absence deeply and struggles to open up about it, especially with her best friend and stepmom. When her old childhood crush, Michael Young, moves back to town, Liz sees it as a sign of fate and becomes determined to win him over, believing it’s what her mom would have wanted. She makes a deal with Wes to help her get closer to Michael, and in return, she offers him the parking spot between their houses. Their plan involves fake dating and secret strategies, but as Liz tries to shape her life into the perfect romantic movie, she starts to realize that real life and real love might look different than what she imagined. Along the way, Liz slowly begins to understand that becoming her own person, not just who she thinks her mom wanted her to be, is the thing that truly matters in the end.

Review:

Better Than the Movies was the first book that ever gave me that obsessive, butterflies-in-my-stomach feeling. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling on the last page and wishing you could read it again for the first time. It’s the first book I truly fell in love with, and even now, every time I reopen it, I feel that same spark I did when I first read it. I’ve reread it twice, and it’s still just as special. This book played a huge role in making me fall in love with reading, and I’ll always hold it close to my heart.

Lynn Painter is, without a doubt, one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is seriously everything. It’s fast-paced, fun, super easy to follow, and filled with details that bring the story to life. I don’t know how she does it, but her words make me feel as if I’m in the story, like I’m walking down the street with the characters or sitting beside them during a heartfelt moment. Her writing really helped me connect with this story and the emotions of its characters so naturally. I was never confused, never bored, and it flowed perfectly. It’s the kind of writing that could make me love any trope, even the ones I normally don’t care for.

Looking at the main character, Liz, she stands out as both well-developed and incredibly relatable, especially for teenage girls. She’s a hopeless romantic just like me, always dreaming, always romanticizing life, even when her love life feels nonexistent. But what stood out to me was her emotional growth and how she struggled with figuring out who she really was. Throughout the story, Liz wrestles with trying to separate the person she truly is from the version of herself she thinks her late mother would have wanted. That moment hit me, even though I’ve never lost a parent. It reminded me of how much I’ve struggled during my first year of high school as I try to figure out who I am now versus who I used to be or who I thought I was supposed to be. Liz’s journey felt so personal, like I saw parts of myself in her. She’s basically me, just in a different font.

If I had to mention something I didn’t completely love, it would be the ending of Liz’s relationship with her stepmom. While there is some growth between them, I found myself wishing for more emotional depth and closure. That relationship had a lot of potential, and I would have loved to see it explored a bit further. Also, while the longer chapters didn’t bother me, I could imagine some readers might find them a little stretched at times.

I love how Better Than the Movies handled themes like love and identity in such a real and heartfelt way. The way Liz learns that she doesn’t have to shape her whole life around a version of herself that isn’t truly her, especially not in the name of honoring someone who loved her unconditionally. Her mom would have wanted her to be happy, not to hide her true self just to meet imaginary expectations. Love is a major theme in this book, not just romantic love, but the love between best friends, the love that shows up in unexpected places, and even self-love. Liz learns that love in real life doesn’t always look the way it does in the movies. It can be messy, surprising, and show up where you least expect it. Sometimes it’s not the person you pictured in your perfect story, but the one who’s been there all along. Identity is another huge part of Liz’s journey. Her story is about figuring out who she is, learning to accept that person, and realizing that being herself is more than enough. Lynn Painter explores all of these themes with humor, warmth, and so much heart. I swooned, I laughed, and I felt everything.

Even though the plot follows familiar romance tropes like fake dating and enemies to lovers—which I love—it still felt fresh and engaging. I enjoy when a romance is a little predictable because it makes the story feel kind of comforting, like a cozy movie you’ve seen a million times. The pacing was well done, and even though some chapters were longer than others, I didn’t mind at all. I was so into the story that I barely noticed. One of the things that brought me so much joy in this book is how each chapter starts with a movie quote. It ties in perfectly with the title and Liz’s love for all things romantic. After my first read, I even went back and watched all of the movies that were mentioned, and rereading the book afterward made it feel even more special. And at the end, there’s also a playlist. I love it when books include playlists because it adds to the whole vibe. Plus, there are so many Taylor Swift references and music quotes sprinkled throughout, which is so my thing. This book is wholesome, comforting, and honestly just a really fun time.

Overall, Better Than the Movies is truly one of my favorite books of all time. I had the chance to meet Lynn Painter earlier this year, and getting my copy signed was such a special moment. I’ve read all of her young adult and adult romances. The Do-Over and Betting on You are also amazing. However, there’s a sequel to Better Than the Movies titled Nothing Like the Movies, which focuses more on Wes’s story and their college years. I definitely recommend reading this one first since it’s really Liz’s story, and it makes the sequel hit even harder. But no matter what, Better Than The Movies will always be extra special because it’s the book that made me fall in love with reading. Reading this book felt like watching a movie play out in my mind, and I seriously didn’t want it to end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to smile, swoon, and maybe tear up a little. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it. If Liz and Wes had a song, it would 100% be Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift. It’s just so them. From the way their dynamic shifts to how they slowly start to see each other differently, it matches the energy of the book perfectly. Better Than The Movies is perfect for high school girls or anyone who loves a heartfelt rom-com, enjoys listening to music, and wants to read a story that feels like a warm hug and a favorite playlist all in one.

I would give this book: 📚📚📚📚📚 – a swoon-worthy, fluffy romance novel that I honestly can’t see anyone hating! (5/5)

Love, Hailie

GFB Ambassador