Better Than the Movies was a 5 star read for me so I was so excited to get back to life with Wes and Liz.

While a lot has happened since we last saw Wes and Liz, Painter stayed true to their character. College life is in full swing for Liz and she's changed a lot so it flips her life upside down when she runs into Wes in her own apartment during an annual party.

Nothing Like the Movies took a while to take off for me. Since the last book took place 2 years prior there was a bit of backstory that needed to be covered, but by 40% I was excited to see how things would end up. Liz is still stubborn as ever trying to figure out her feelings and Wes is overcoming huge obstacles. The best part was we get glimpses of all the great side characters from Better Than the Movies (mostly Helena) and get a new cast of endearing side characters and I definitely laughed out loud a few times.

What made BTTM great was all the lead up to figuring our how Wes and Liz feel about each other through all the small moments. But in NLTM those moments and history have already been established and they're trying to figure out if they work together as the people they are now and I didn't get as many as those moments in this story. I think there was a little too much lead up for this one and it seemed to end so quickly.

This was enjoyable overall but still fell a little short for me. 4.25 stars for me.

⭐️: 3.5/5

I was absolutely, 100% for sure not the target audience of this book. However, I was also 100% not the target audience of Better Than the Movies and I LOVED that one. This sequel however was simply just contrived and unnecessary. Drama was definitely created and a breakup was forced in order for this one to exist at all, and for that reason, it was kind of obnoxious. I think it also kind of cheapens the first book too, since we find that their teenage HEA wasn’t so happy after all.

The way that Wes was acting the whole book was irritating and unnecessarily blasé, and honestly if I was Liz I’d find the way he was treating her so offensive, because it was clear he wasn’t listening to what she was saying at all. It felt clear that Wes was the one who messed up, so he should have been doing a better job at groveling, which I don’t think we got enough of. I also kind of felt like a lot of the references were like, millennial coded, but the target audience is probably more gen-z, so that was confusing as well.

I think the main issue I had with this one was that for a second chance romance, they hadn’t grown up nearly enough. In my opinion, for a second chance trope to truly hit, there has to be more than two years inbetween, and the MCs have to be in a different phase of life than when the breakup occurred. Wes is…still a freshman and Liz is…still in college. So I’m not convinced at all.

This one was just longer than it had to be, and really just didn’t have to be at all 😂 It was cute enough though, and I had to add an extra half star for the reality that I am NOT the target audience of this one.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for this eARC for my review!

I love love love this book. I adore Wesley so much, it’s kinda weird, frankly. I mean, he’s so ridiculously well-spoken and honest and funny. He is so clear in his feelings and he is so focused on his pitching. And I wish I knew him.

And Elizabeth? I kinda wish I was her. Or that I could have had a life more like hers. I didn’t have the confidence she has and I certainly didn’t have her drive. I also wish I had been more able to appreciate my friends like she does. It’s sort of inspiring.

Mostly, I would just like to thank Lynn Painter for her hilarious, lovely, interesting, yummy writing. These novels are so great for certain students and I really can’t wait to start recommending them! 💜💜💜📚

Another winner by Lynn Painter. Read in one day. Loved this book. Better than the movies series is a good pick for contemporary romance readers. Won’t disappoint

I'm going to read anything that Lynn Painter writes, but I think Liz and Wes could have just stayed with one book. I enjoyed their next chapter, but it lacked the hope that the first book did. In Nothing Like the Movies, Liz and Wes have broken up but it takes a long time before you understand the full reasons behind their breakup. It devastated Liz and she reinvented herself to get beyond the hurt. Now Wes has come back into the picture expecting to take off where they had stopped, not realizing just how much he hurt her. It is hard to see this couple back as an enemies to lovers trope, but that is where they are. It is a good story, but it didn't make my heart flutter the way Better Than the Movies did.

As a lover of all baking shows, this book kept me captivated! I loved being behind the scenes of the baking show. The relationship between the two main characters was expected, but extremely enjoyable.

This was VERY cute. While I don't think a sequel was necessary, this was exactly what I expected and wanted a sequel to be. Lots of swoon, lots of angst, but not too much angst, excellent cameos from high school friends, new characters <spoiler>hello we're getting a book about Clark and Sarah and their inevitable love story, right??</spoiler>, and enough will they or won't they to keep the readers hanging on.

Knowing Liz is named Buxbaum after [author:Julie Buxbaum|843820], there was a moment where Wes listed three things and my heart did a little jump (I've read that book an obscene number of times as a comfort read).

I would like liked more wrap up with Lilith and whatever was going to happen with her documentary. It seemed like she had secret plans to make it about Wes and Liz, but that never materialized.

Weird thing to notice, the term "you little shit" was used A LOT, like a lot a lot. Strange.

One thing that felt very manic pixie dream pick me girl is how Liz is suddenly into everything sports related. It felt very off brand for her, even if it was showing her growth in college.

Overall, very sweet, very fun, very full of college baseball.

Better Than The Movies is one of those rare perfect romance books that encapsulates the feeling of a 90s rom-com perfectly. It is unusual that a sequel to such a book will live up to its predecessor but somehow Lynn Painter did it again! A second chance romance, with dual pining, massive character growth, and a platonic soulmate? This book was a literal masterpiece. Wes Bennett will forever go down as a top tier book boyfriend. I loved the way that Lynn Painter gave us layers to Wes and Liz. We were able to experience their maturation and in some cases the trauma that realistically comes with growing up. Liz in particularly feels like a very different character than the Libby we got to know in BTTM but it truly felt like a realistic character growth for someone who has gone through the life experiences she has. Her friend group was a fun addition to the story and Clark was the perfect platonic soulmate. I hope we get to read more about the characters in this world! As always, Lynn drops the most perfectly timed song lyrics that are just the icing on a beautifully written scene. I could not recommend this book more!

I loved this book and getting more LizWes content! “Nothing Like the Movies” perfectly encapsulates the angst and yearning readers are meant to feel in a second chance romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and getting to know Liz and Wes as evolved and matured individuals in a different stage of life. Their initial love story and their second chance love story gave me so much excitement and love for the characters without ruining the integrity of the original story.

This was cute and humorous! Despite getting Wes’s POV I wasn’t very into humor their rekindled relationship - both characters seemed to gloss over the two years of life since they were last together. Regardless, super fun and sweet!

When I read Better Than the Movies I remember feeling so sad to say goodbye to Liz and Wes. I was thrilled when I saw on Instagram that Lynn Painter was writing more to their story. Lynn Painter never misses, so I loved the book- but I was sad I didn’t get more time with Liz and Wes together. Also, do I see a future story for Ross and Lilith? Just saying…

Lynn Painter's *Nothing Like the Movies* is an absolute gem of a sequel, blending the charm of classic rom-coms with the delightful energy of young adult fiction. The storyline is irresistibly cute, centered around characters who feel so real that it's impossible not to get invested in their journeys. From the banter to their heartfelt moments, every aspect of their lives draws you in, making you root for them from start to finish.

What makes this book stand out is how effortlessly it captures the magic of YA when it’s done right. The narrative is light-hearted yet meaningful, and it’s a reminder of how much fun young adult stories can be. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the genre or just dipping your toes in, *Nothing Like the Movies* will leave you with a smile, proving that sometimes, life—and love—can be just as sweet as the movies.

Dnf. I’m not a big fan of the writing style unfortunately. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc.

"Nothing Like the Movies" by Lynn Painter is a delightful romantic comedy that combines witty banter with heartfelt moments. The story follows a charming yet reluctant protagonist who finds herself caught between the predictable plot of her life and the unpredictable nature of true love. Painter’s engaging writing style and relatable characters make this novel a fun, feel-good read. If you enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of humor and a lot of heart, this book is a perfect choice.

This book was beautifully written but heartbreaking. As much as I enjoyed the story, I really had wished we didn’t have to go through heartbreak season with Wes & Liz. I love the pining and the banter, but the actions of Wes actually tore me up.

Unfortunately this was not for me. I felt this book didn’t need to be written, I was bored throughout most of it and i felt like the plot never really developed into something that made me want to root for them. I liked the writing style and the characters from the previous book but this one felt unnecessary to me.

Nothing Like The Movies

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Lynn Painter
Genre: YA romance
Sequel to Better Than The Movies

Liz and Wes are back!! Sadly they are no longer together 😭. Liz and Wes went to UCLA college together, but after only two weeks, Wes dropped out and moved home due to his dad passing away. This led to the relationship coming to an end. Fast forward two years later, and Wes is finally ready to reenroll in college, and win Liz back. There’s some issues with that though, Liz is no longer the hopeless romantic that Wes knew, and she is in a new relationship. Between navigating new classes, and proving himself on the baseball team once again, Wes is determined to win Liz’s heart back.

I’m not going to lie, usually I’m not a fan of sequels that were made because the fans wanted it. But this one!!! Lynn Painter really threw a curveball by ending their happily ever after story by breaking them up and moving this story to be a second chance at love. This was so well executed, and I love that she let her characters mature and personalities change as we do in real life when we enter adulthood and experience the freedom of college. I was rooting for Wes the whole time, but I also understand my girl Liz is all her reservations. If you liked Better Than The Movies, you must read this sequel!!

I thought the first book of this series was pretty good, so I decided to request this one on NetGalley. Lynn Painter's books can be hit-or-miss for me, but since I liked the first, I thought surely I would like this one. I think my issue with this one is that I don't like when the couples break up and get back together. To me, most of the time, when you break up, there is a reason for it and you should just stay apart. I just don't care for the trope. I think there were parts of the book I liked, but I thought it was way too long and I found myself losing interest. I'll still read Lynn Painter's books, but this one wasn't my favorite.

Lynn Painter does it again! I really enjoyed this sequel; it’s just what I needed. I loved the insight into Liz and Wes’ lives through the dual pov and the hidden details added. Also the Taylor references?!?! Liz and Wes are so back!!

I mean, all I can say is that Lynn has written another book that just made it to my fave reads of the year! 🩷🥹 I love her so much! This book was like coming back home and hanging out with amazing friends!🩷💐