Very very sweet. Wes and Lizz deserve the world and it was so sweet seeing them older and maturing. Love the lessons they learn and the emotions they go trough. Lynn Painter writes books that are so enjoyable to read and just make you happy inside, this one did the same. Very easy, enjoyable cute read but still was able to make me emotional.

I love everything Lynn Painter has written. Better Than the Movies is a favorite of mine. I adore Wes and Liz so much. I was rooting for a happily ever after.

Nothing Like the Movies is what happens after their HEA. When life came down hard and they were separated. We watch as they find their way back to each other after years of being apart.

It was such a sweet book. I didn't devoure it like I did the first book, but I enjoyed every moment. This is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Lynn Painter for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wes and Liz and Better than the Movies brought me fully back into obsessive reading. I’ve always been a reader but I picked that one up during Covid and, well, here we are. I loved the banter, the antics, the childhood friends to boyfriend and girlfriend arc so much. Wes and Liz forever.

I was excited to meet up with my friends, a few years older and finally together, after a book that was the slowest of slow burns.

Except that’s not what we get.

Instead, Liz is changed as a result of a break up with Wes two years earlier. She’s a junior now, at UCLA, with a career goal she’s unapologetically moving toward, a new group of friends, and no wish to look back at Omaha or Wes. No sir, singleminded, she’s only moving forward.

But Wes is coming to UCLA, a freshman, unexpectedly, after the death of his father two years before. A death that changed the course of his life. But he’s ready to take back what he wants: baseball and Liz.

And so begins the slowest of slow burn redemption stories.

Listen, Wes is a dream. Always has been. Always will be. And my heart went out to him and the difficulties thrown in his path.

I was a big Liz fan in the first book. And while I realize she’s still a kid, I was less of a fan this time around. Her hurt was warranted. The amount of groveling she put Wes through felt unnecessary.

I still enjoyed it. Painter has a way with words and setting the scene. She writes great characters. But I went in this time expecting something else.

Don’t listen to me, I bet you’ll love it! And Painter is still an auto-buy for me.

Lynn Painter can do no wrong, and she proves it once again. I was so invested in the characters throughout the story.

I think I did Lynn Painter and myself a disservice by not reading Better Than the Movies before diving into this book. I heard nothing but praise for the first book and expected to be able to dive right into the sequel. Unfortunately, I never experienced the great chemistry the main characters were purported to have in the first book. Their interactions felt a bit flat.

The book starts months after Wes and Liz broke up when they meet again at a New Year’s Eve party. It’s evident that neither Wes nor Liz has moved on from their first love and the rest of the book focuses on Wes’s plan to win back the girl next door. Wes is sweet and smitten and, while Liz still has feelings for him, she won’t make it easy to win back her trust or her heart.

There’s something about this book that felt forced to me and I think that’s on me. I plan to start at the beginning and read the first book, then revisit this one. I like Lynn Painter’s writing and enjoyed the book’s pacing. The secondary character’s were endearing. There was enough to like about NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES to try again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Shortly after arriving at UCLA, Wes' life imploded. Now, two years later, he was getting his second chance. His second chance to go to college, play ball, and to win Liz's heart.

It goes without saying that these after the HEA stories are never easy on my emotions, but I put my trust and faith in Painter to do right by them, and *whew*, she did. There was so much that happened, and so much that had changed, and now it was time to see if these older and world weary versions of Wes and Liz were still meant for each other.

OMG! Lynn Painter I have no idea why you did this to Wes, but I adored his journey. He had the bottom fall out of his life, and he really had to shift gears from an incoming hot-shot freshman ballplayer, to someone who had to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. I cannot say he handled it all well, but he got through it and was so deserving of the second chances he received.

Liz also changed A LOT from her breakup, and it was up to Wes to get to know this new version of Liz. She was not going to be easy on him, but he was a determined man. It was really touch and go at times, but in my heart, I never stopped believing in the power of love that existed between these two.

I sound so dramatic and parts of this book really were, but it was also a lot of fun. Liz had a great group of friends, and there was even a lot of overlap between her and Wes' friend groups since she worked with the student athletes. I was especially fond of the baseball boys bromance and was so happy Wes had them after sort of being on his own for the past few years.

Though I wish we could have jumped forward a bit more at the end, I am grateful that Painter revisited this couple. My heart ached for them, but I was so happy to get a chance to see them grow and spend more time in their world. There were ups and downs, but this story ultimately filled my rom-com loving heart with joy.

There's something really magical about visiting some of your favorite fictional characters a few years down the line and Lynn Painter did not disappoint. This book is quintessential Liz and Wes with the teasing, the obsession, and the music soundtracks. I loved that it was dual POV and that we got a peek into Wes Bennett's head to see how down-bad he was for Liz. I think this story could've gone differently - maybe they were already together in college, and then there was a third-act break-up however I feel the second-chance romance trope fits these two best. I wish we got maybe 25 more pages at the end of the book but ultimately the book had me in my feels to see Wes fighting for his girl. I loved Clark; it was refreshing to see a healthy opposite-sex platonic relationship in a romance novel. Wes's sister, Sarah, was hilarious. All side characters were a little cuckoo nuts and just added humor to the story. Also, I loved the movie quotes at the start of the chapters and the musical choices, Chef's Kiss! Lynn Painter, do we share the same playlists? The book is perfect for those who love the cheesy, squealing, kick-your-feet-in-the-air feeling you get from romance movies and books.

So often the sequels cannot hold a flame to the original but in this case, I loved the sequel just as much if not more. Wes and Liz are two of my favorite characters with their witty banter and love for lyrics. While most of it is a love story, other themes include troubled family dynamics, fake relationships, and navigating new friendships. Make sure to read ‘Better than the Movies’ first but then grab this one for a sweet, fun ride.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lynn Painter and Simon & Schuster for giving me the privilege to read this novel. It is one that I will be recommending again and again as this series has quickly become one of my top YA Romance reads.

I was so sad and confused when I found out at the beginning of this book that Wes and Liz had broken up soon after the events of Better Than the Movies. The way Wes let Liz go and went incommunicado didn't make sense to me since they seemed to be close enough to talk through their feelings. What do you (Lynn Painter) mean that Wes just shut down and shut Liz out, causing them to break up? So much of the tension in this book could have been prevented if Wes just tried to have an honest conversation with Liz about what went wrong with him, because he tried to win her back without talking through those issues, leaving her feeling very confused about his wishy-washiness. Ultimately, I still enjoyed seeing Wes work hard to get back into Liz's good graces, and this was a cute and happy story. You need to have a high corniness tolerance to deal with some of the writing in this book, like the characters calling each other by their last names, constantly thinking about how hot the other one is, and making references to pop culture. Overall, very enjoyable and I am a fan of Lynn Painter's banter-y voice!

As an avid fan of Lynn Painter's writing, having devoured her complete works and regarding her as a must-read author, I was surprised to find Nothing Like the Movies somewhat disappointing. The dialogue sometimes came across as excessively immature, granted the Young Adult genre and teenage characters. Moreover, the book's pacing felt drawn out. Although it didn't rank among my favorites, I valued the reading experience and eagerly anticipate Painter's future publications.

I love Lynn Painter and this one doesn't disappoint! Nothing Like the Movies took me back to my college years. I loved Liz and Wes' second chance romance and revisiting characters from Better than the Movies.


Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed Better Than the Movies so much , that I immediately knew I had to read the sequel. This duology is a love letter to the romance movies we all grew up watching, fit into a sweet, funny, and heartbreaking novel. Great pick for teen readers.

Prepare to be swept off your feet by Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter—a dazzling, heartfelt journey that will have you reminiscing about your own college days and the complexities of young love! This enchanting story follows the magnetic connection between Wes and Liz, two characters who will steal your heart and make you root for them every step of the way.

As they navigate the challenges of long-distance romance, you'll be captivated by their struggles and triumphs. Liz's transformation from a girl searching for her perfect "meet cute" to a strong, self-assured woman is not just remarkable—it's downright inspiring. Her character development is a masterclass in growth, and you will find yourself cheering her on as she discovers her true self amidst the chaos of love.

But it’s not just Liz and Wes who shine in this narrative; the vibrant supporting cast of characters enriches Liz's life in ways that will resonate with you long after you turn the last page. Each character adds depth, warmth, and a sprinkle of humor, making this a richly woven tapestry of friendship and romance.

With its witty dialogue, relatable themes, and the kind of unforgettable chemistry that leaps off the page, Nothing Like The Movies is a story that demands to be experienced. It’s a celebration of love, self-discovery, and the magic that happens when you embrace life’s unpredictability.

Don’t just take my word for it—this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of love and the beauty of finding oneself. And seriously, can we get a movie adaptation? Because I need more Wes and Liz in my life! Grab your copy OCTOBER 1st, and prepare for a journey that will leave you laughing, crying, and utterly enchanted!

I ate up the first 100 pages of this book - the drama! The rest of the book was a bit slower for me. This book concentrated a lot more on sports, it was more centric around baseball.

I loved the continuation of Wes and Liz’s love story. It felt like real life and relatable, when life kicks you down and you come back stronger. I also liked the collage aspect of their lives verses the first one when they were in high school.

Overall, a great fall read!

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and truthful review.

I love a good second-chance romance and this book is just such a good example of it. Especially for two people who have known each other for so much of their lives and then falling in love and having to reconcile the changes? Just absolutely chef's kiss for me. Especially from someone that loved the first book so much.

Just Like the Movies
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lynn Painter

How could this possibly be my first Lynn Painter book? It certainly won’t be my last that’s for sure. This books with its references to movies and music all had me invested in the story even more.

This book has Wes and Liz (or Lib) who were childhood friends turned sweethearts but after Wes’ father passed away, Wes had to take on the responsibilities of home and had to leave UCLA and his baseball career and sadly, decided to leave Lib also as he didn’t want her to lose herself while he spiraled down this path.

Fast forward two years and Wes comes back to his baseball career as a freshman at UCLA again and Lib after seeing him is determined not to give him the time of day. But, with so many obstacles but also reminders how long can Lib steer clear of Wes.

This movies was truly a slow burn and there were times when I was just like alright already let’s get on with it. But the slow burn made the rest of the journey that much more enjoyable.

I loved the references as I mentioned to movies and music which made the storyline that much more interesting as well as the group of characters that were Wes’ teammates and friends and Liz’ tribe. While this was a sweet, clean romance the way the feelings of love, grief, longing were all so clearly portrayed in Lynn’s words. I could almost picture the story playing out right in front of me.

This won’t be my last Lynn Painter book that is for sure. I’ll be reading her backlist and anxiously waiting for her next book!

This is one of those sequels that was just as good as the first book. The story picks up a few months after Liz and Wes go off to UCLA together. There was a tragedy in Wes' life and he is left to deal with the mess, which unfortunately causes him to loose Liz in the process. But now that he is back at UCLA, he is determined to get Liz back, except she's not the same Liz he once knew.

The story between Wes and Liz is a rollercoaster of emotions in the best way. It had Lynn Painter's usual rom-com aspect while also having that serious/more emotional element to it. The book made me feel like I was back in college. I believe Lynn Painter really captured what it is like to be a freshman/sophomore figuring out what you want out of life while also dealing with your own personal challenges. I also loved that it was dual POV because I got to understand Wes even more than in the first book.

Overall, I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you're looking for a fun but also emotional read, pick this one up! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC.

4.25 ✨

“I exist to exist alongside you.”

Okay, okay.

I LOVE me some Wes Bennet. 🥹🫶🏻

I am not here to tell you this was a perfect book. This was so messy. It was frustrating. There was so much miscommunication. There was an (annoyingly) excessive amount of cussing in it.
Like WHHYYY are we putting the “f-word” in almost every page? Yuck. And this is classified as YA!?
Yes.
I felt all the things. BUT.

Wes and Liz truly seem like real people to me at this point. I adored watching them grow up in Better than the Movies, but this? This was a whole new perspective. They’re in college now, and you’re getting a heavier, more rugged scene.

They have both seen and been through a lot of things that just made them both, simply, bitter.
I could feel their chemistry and tension from page 1, and I continued to root for them despite all odds.

I will die on the hill that this was a beautiful story. An extremely messy story. But, such a good one. 😭🥺

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for sending this my way. 🧡

Easiest five stars ever. I cried and laughed so many times throughout this book, it was so heartwarming seeing both Liz and Wes rekindling their relationship. I felt so many different emotions while reading this and I won’t go into specifics because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I am so grateful to read Lynn’s words. Her stories are so magical and sweet and the right amount of serious and relatable.
I truly see myself in all of her characters, but especially Wes and Liz.
Sequels aren’t always a smart idea, but Lynn Painter knocked it out of the park! I had no doubts that I would adore this book, but looking back, I had no idea how much it would mean to me.
Sometimes you just need a cheesy and relatable YA book and sometimes that YA book becomes your favorite story to come back to. And sometimes, dear reader, the author continues their story in a way that is so perfect — it’s better than the movies.

this was a hell of an emotional rollercoaster oh my goodness, i went straight into this after finishing BTTM and it did not disappoint 🤭

i went into this a little scared knowing that liz and wes had broken up but man did lynn do a wonderful job at showing their growth and the slow burn of them falling back into one another 🥹

wes bennett the man/book bf that you are my goodness 😭