I don’t think I have any notes for this beautiful work of fiction. If you know Wes and Liz then this book is everything and a bag of chips. I could go the corny route and insert lines from dozens of songs (because there’s still lyrics in our mind). This… THIS is the sequel we needed to get. Lynn Painter — GIRL — you knocked it out of the park, every pun intended. I loved this book so much it will be getting a special place on my book (tattoo) sleeve in the form of a vintage teddy bear. I don’t know how she nailed college but she nailed it. UCLA is the perfect spot for the kids to have their moment in the sun and find themselves and their love again <3. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Thank you Simon and Schuster’s Books for Young Readers for sending me an ARC. I will simply never recover. You can find me curled up rebounding by listening to the playlist in the back of the book and talking myself out of buying a UCLA jersey with Bennett on the back.

I loved loved LOVED this book! This was my very first book by this author and I couldn’t stop or get enough! It was cute, funny, and swoon-worthy and I ate it up!

I loved better than the movies, and I loved the idea of nothing like the movies. Character growth and development from some beloved high schoolers was really interesting to me. I didn't feel like it flowed very well. It was choppy and seemed like we deviated so far from who the characters were at the end of the book to the break up. I would have like the book to pick up when they went to college and go through the "off screen" challenge together since it's dual POV so I could have been more involved in it and then do a flash foward to the current state and winning her back. It felt very disjointed trying to piece the whole thing together. I look forward to what the author does next, but this one made me sad for my favorite duo!

Thank you to Simon Books and Simon Audio for the free copies of Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter, a delightful sequel to Just Like the Movies. This is a charming and sweet rom-com, but like its predecessor, it offers depth and a thoughtful examination of Wes and Liz as individuals, not just romantic leads.

While Just Like the Movies focused on Liz’s journey—her exploration of her future, her connection to her late mother, and her personal growth—Nothing Like the Movies shifts to Wes. It’s a well-crafted story about his grief, reconciling events from his recent past, and his pursuit of his dreams.

I did miss some of Liz’s quirks—her style and distinct voice (though she has her own chapters, the focus is more on Wes). However, the unfolding of Wes’s story, his resilience, and the nuanced way his challenges are revealed made for a satisfying read. This isn’t just a second-chance romance; it’s a story about growing up, dealing with loss, and learning how to share your true self with others. Liz, now in college, is grounded with clear goals and opportunities, but she remains her authentic self—caring, connected to her music, and still dreaming.

Recently, I’ve been reading essays on the power of YA books to disrupt and resonate. Painter’s work reminded me why YA matters—it captures that in-between stage of adolescence, when young people are not fully “in charge” yet are stepping into their independence. Painter leans into this transitional phase while preserving the vulnerability that comes with being young and uncertain about the future. The rom-com elements are strong, and the pop culture references add a fun, lighthearted layer to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC. While I enjoyed revisiting these characters, the sequel did not fully meet my expectations. I will absolutely highlight and recommend this book. It is a quick, fun read for those looking for a light YA romance. Teenage readers will LOVE it.

I was thrilled to dive into the sequel to Better Than the Movies. Having adored Liz and Wes in the first book, I eagerly anticipated their return. However, this second chance romance, where Wes attempts to win back Liz, unleashes themes I did not expect.

The novel delves into Wes’s journey through grief, introducing new, enjoyable characters and keeping the witty banter Lynn Painter is known for. Yet, the chemistry between Liz and Wes felt lacking compared to the original. The magic of their connection seemed to dissipate, with pivotal moments arriving too late in the narrative. Liz’s transformation from the hopeless romantic we loved in the first book was particularly disheartening. Liz came across as immature and lacking growth.

Despite these shortcomings, the book offers sweet moments and engaging dialogue. Painter’s talent for banter shines, though it takes a while to surface. Wes’s character depth is explored more thoroughly, but this comes at the expense of Liz’s development, making her seem less familiar and her new relationships superficial.

In summary, Nothing Like the Movies is a cute, sweet read with some delightful scenes, but it does not capture the charm of its predecessor. Fans of the first book might find themselves missing the original chemistry and connection between Liz and Wes.

Nothing Like the Movies is the perfect follow up. That said, you MUST read Better Than the Movies first!!!

In this one, Wes and Liz are no longer together. And it takes awhile before we figure out the full story as to why. But for the most part, life got in the way of their happily ever after. Until Wes is able to turn his life around, return to college, and try to weasel his way back into Liz’s life. Only… Liz isn’t “Little Liz” as he knew her anymore. Now she’s older, cooler, and confident. And he’s intimidated.

“He’s got nothing to lose and everything he’s always wanted to gain, so you should probably brace yourself.”

This story was beautiful and heartbreaking. It was filled with ups and downs, as life often is, and it followed redemption arcs as well as the plot of college-aged kids trying to find themselves. It highlights the beautiful connection some people are lucky enough to share and made me nostalgic for all the best rom-com movies…and college.

“There was never anyone else for me but you.”

Read if you like: rom-coms, second chance romance, college romance, fake dating, banter

CW: loss of a parent

Would you recommend this book?
Yes, for sure! Nothing like the movies is a sweet and lovable romance that gives a good dose of sexual tension, and some R-rated action, while leaving most of the deep and dirty details to our imagination. The focus is pointed strongly on their character development individually, and as a couple getting their second-chance.

Many thanks to Lynn Painter for providing us with enough details in the epilogue to imagine more of Liz and Wes’ future.

Would you be friends with the main character IRL?
I would like to BE her for just a few days. She is creating media content centered around college athletics in Los Angeles. Video, photography, design… she’s living the dream. Her professional story is similar to my original life’s dream before I was diverted on another path in my 20’s.

Mood Readers:
Nothing Like the Movies is perfect for romance readers who love a romantic pursuit. This is a second chance romance, and Lynn Painter perfectly balances the flashbacks to their adolescent love story with Wes seeking a chance to win Liz back.

I want to start by saying that I LOVEEEED Better than the Movies. That was an instant 5 star read for me. Unfortunately, because the original was so good, this sequel fell flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Wes and Liz. But that’s what made some of their actions in this book so unrealistic. The book was fine. But it just did not live up to the original. In fact, I’d like to pretend none of its contents ever happened.

Truly another 5 star read from Lynn. I really enjoyed this one a lot, it was a little bit more mature than better than the movies - it had some heavy moments but the whole story was relatable. I definitely felt my heart break reading what Wes went through with his dad.

I loved the side characters in this one a lot too. It seemed like such a realistic group of people and friends.

I would definitely have been fine with just better than the movies, but I like that Lynn gave us this story. It gave the characters a lot of depth and flaws and made it more realistic.

Personally, I’ve always thought some books don’t need a sequel. And although I’ve always stated better than the movies never needed one, this was still a fun read! There were many moments full of angst and anticipation as well as romance and comedy. However, there were times I needed to step away from the book as I felt the characters had changed a drastic amount compared to the first, but I can’t lie, I still love them!

I’d recommend this book but I’d also recommend reading it with less expectations because it might make it a more gripping read.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Lynn Painter what have you done to me?! I devoured this book possibly quicker than I did Better than the Movies!!

This is a continuation of our 2 love interests from book 1. Now they are in college, grown up, something has happened in the past that has driven them away from each other. We take our time in a dual-pov setting where we get to hear their thoughts, their feelings and little by little the story starts to come out on what happened to them after that prom night!

I just need so much more Lynn Painter in my life.

“In a crowd of million ski masks, I’d still be able to find you.”
I loved reading about Wes and Liz again but sadly did not need this book😭😭 in my mind they never broke up.

Grateful to netgalley for this ARC🫶🏻

Better Than the Movies quickly became a classic and a fan favorite for YA romance. I had super high hopes going into this one, but it didn’t quite live up to its prequel. One of my biggest pet peeves in literature is an obnoxious amount of Taylor Swift references, and this definitely got on my nerves for that reason.

First off, Thank you Netgalley and Lynn Painter for the chance to read this arc!!! 🩷🥹

I loved "Better than the Movies" and was excited this book was Liz and Wes! "Nothing Like the Movies" was cute, like all of Lynn Painter's books 🩷 Was happy to see more of their story!

4⭐️


Better than the Movies is one of my favorites books so I knew this wouldn’t disappoint. It was a little sad to see how much had changed between Liz and Wes. They seemed completely different from the first book. I did enjoy seeing how their relationship grew throughout though. Nothing could keep them apart.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Title: Nothing Like the Movies
Author: Lynn Painter
Length: 448 pages
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: Oct 01 2024
Genre: Romance | Teens & YA
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ♾️
Summary:
Wes had his dream girl, Liz, but tragedy struck just before they left for college, causing them to drift apart. Now, months later, they’re both at UCLA, and Wes is determined to win her back. Armed with rom-com-inspired grand gestures, he tries everything to rekindle their romance, but Liz isn’t budging, especially with a new guy friend in the picture. As Wes pulls out all the stops, he starts to wonder if their love story is truly over.

Thoughts:
Y’all. This is what we’ve been waiting for! I’m not going to lie, I was a little stunned when the blurb came out, and our precious Liz and Wes were BROKEN UP! But I had faith in Lynn, and when I received the ARC I immediately jumped in head first! Only Lynn could make me a fan of second chance romance and actually not be a fan of fake dating 😜. This takes place after Wes and Liz have already broken up, so we don’t have to fully feel the heartbreak of their breakup. We discover over time what exactly happened to break them up, and that was a little easier on my heart. What wasn’t easy on my heart was Wes’s POV basically the whole time. It was so sad and sweet and really tugged at my heart strings! Of course I was also laughing throughout the entirety of the book as well. With a perfect cast of main and side characters (can we get a whole Clark book?!), the witty banter that we always get from Lynn, the swoony romance that Wes works so hard for, and the healing that we get to see both Wes and Liz go through, this book was A+++++++++. Literally everyone needs to read it! And then read it again and again!

Special thanks to the @netgalley and @simonteen for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 ⭐️This was cute! I didn’t read all of the little mini stories in between (gosh, there were a lot!), so when the book immediately opened up the way it did, I was a little let down.

I thought the book was still cute and I did enjoy reading it. It def changed my opinion on Liz, ALOT.

It was a little slower paced than BTTM and didn’t have all the feels in there. Would I have missed out by not reading this one, nope. But not mad that I did. It’s still a cute enemies to lovers, second chance, make you want to rush to the end book.

I’ll still totally read anything Painter writes.

I really enjoyed this one but I can see why some people may not have if they didn't read the first book. I definitely recommend reading the first book first so you can already have that attachment to the characters and feel more in depth. I loved reading about Liz and Wes again.

Any book with Wes & Liz i’m going to absolutely adore. I won’t lie it kinda broke my heart when within the first few chapters they weren’t together, but getting to see their chemistry in a different format was exciting. I also love that in this book we get more of Wes character depth, because the first book was mostly Liz. Overall if someone enjoyed the first book, I would definitely recommend them to read this one.

Thank you @NetGalley, Lynn Painter, and the publisher for this arc! I was very excited to receive it.

Honestly, I am tired of all my highly anticipated sequels being let downs. I feel like there hasn’t been one that’s really out done the first book. Unfortunately this was similar.

It was boring, I didn’t love Wes’s POV, it lost the magic the first book had, too many side characters, we got really important backstory from like chapter long interviews??? And through side characters retelling it?? Which felt kind of lazy.

Wayyyy too many pop culture and Taylor swift references. I actually didn’t mind it in the first book because I think it was done really well, but this time it just…wasn’t. One of the first chargers started with “I was listening to [song], one of the best Harry songs” when referencing a Taylor swift song. Obviously I get it, but i think it’s the wrong way to do pop culture references.

I did feel invested in the story for a bit and the writing wasn’t horrible, this just really wasn’t for me. I’m going to pretend it doesn’t exist and reread the first one.

I actually skimmed a lot of it, so I may rate it 1.5 stars🥴 sorry y’all, I wanted so much from this.