“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱."

TLDR: Still enjoyable in its own right, but is it necessary? I'm not so sure 🥲

I read Better than the Movies last year and LOVED it. I proceeded to read every possible extended epilogue out there, and when I found out there's going to be a sequel I was SO excited. You can probably guess how ecstatic I was to be approved an ARC. Thank you @netgalley, @simonteen, and the author!

I enjoyed Nothing Like the Movies. The story took place two years after the ending of BTTM, and started with Liz and Wes having broken up. This one definitely felt more grown up - the characters and the writing both. All those love confessions and Wes one liners still got me feeling like a lovestruck teenager - yes the giddiness was still there! But now coupled with pain and sadness for the struggles they had to go through.

While I appreciate and love that we got character growth and development - with Wes working so hard to get back everything he lost the first time around, and Liz getting confident and finding her footing in college - I would have liked more concentration on how Wes wooed Liz and how they TALKED and worked out their complicated past rather than taking too long keeping us all in the dark on what really happened with Wes.

Don't come for me but I feel like this kind of lost the charm I loved so much in BTTM 😭💔

‼️ SPOILER ‼️
I REALLY HATE NOBLE IDIOCY and appreciate Liz for chewing Wes out when he did this! I am all for open communication, PLEASE.

***Trigger Warning: death of a parent***

Nothing Like the Movies is the sequel to Better than the Movies. It follows Wes and Liz as they navigate college. But right when they were about to start freshmen year tragedy happens. This leads to Wes and Liz breaking up. Flash forward years later Wes and Liz find themselves at the same college again. Wes is determined to win Liz back. Liz seems to have a new man in her life. But Wes will not stop until he gets her back.

I am a big fan of Lynn Painter. I have read all of her books. This was my most anticipated one because I really loved Better Than the Movies. I actually liked this one better. It had a bit of a sports romance vibe which I love. It also deals with grape and such a raw and real way. It had some pretty cute moments through out also. I really really liked this one. I highly suggest this series.

Thank you so much Lynn Painter, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I LOVED being back with Liz and Wes wow. I am obsessed with getting to see them fall back into love with each other. I loved the deeper conversations that were held in this book with romantic comedy along side. I already want to reread this and I definitely pre-ordered a paperback. LOVE ANYTHING LYNN WRITES! Highly recommends.

4.5 stars

This is a fantastic sequel that will leave readers feeling like they are getting both new information and some solid wrap-ups for past situations.

While this book can be reasonably read and enjoyed on its own, that would be a nearly criminal act. Prospective readers should absolutely take the time to read the first installment to get the most out of this relationship. It's also a great book in its own right, which helps even more.

Wes and Liz are in a completely different place than where readers left them at the end of the first book, and, well, it's complicated. I loved learning about their journeys and especially how they managed them, so I'm omitting those details, but the main point is that they both (Wes especially) really struggle, break up, and finally reconnect at the same school. Kismet puts them in each other's orbit again, and the results are like something a little more out of reality than a movie. That doesn't make their story any less magical.

Fans of the first book will find themselves fulfilled and charmed by the way the tale of Liz and Wes evolves. It's not a sappy, straightforward journey, which made me enjoy it even more, but it is extremely heartwarming.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6297548009
2.5⭐️
this was very unnecessary… it truly had potential but it was just not liz and wes. This could of been good as an adult romance because the themes are a little bit darker then most YA. I wish we got more depth of some of the darker topics. Also some moments were just very cringe and liz annoyed me ALOT. My last straw was a ski mask masquerade dance… like WHAT😭😭😭
Sadly very disappointed

It's not everyday that what I thought was a one-and-done romance gets a sequel. Better than the Movies ended on a perfect note, equal parts sweet and saccharine. Nothing Like the Movies picks up a few years into the future where the landscape of their lives has shifted dramatically, but Lynn Painter has a way of setting the scene perfectly. Their college life, with or without each other, is new and nostalgic and full of characters I fell in love with easily. I will never not root for Liz and Wes, nor will I ever turn down an opportunity to read a continuation of their story.

Lynn Painter is a genius. This was an unexpected sequel, but masterfully done. It has heart, depth, Painter’s signature banter, and an amazing cast of supporting characters. I was thrilled to reunite with Liz and Wes.

I will forever be a Lynn Painter mega fan. She’s never done me wrong. BUT I will say that it took me a lot of convincing to finally read this book. I was so giddy to receive an early copy, but then hesitated because Liz and Wes’s story is the one that feels closest to my own and going into this book knowing they weren’t together seemed like setting myself up for disappointment. After re-reading everything that has been written about them, listening to the first soundtrack on repeat, and being convinced by Lynn’s Omaha bestie, I finally dove in. At first I was so sad to see how much both of them had changed but I started to understand the growth and maturity that had taken place while they were apart and I was a big fan. Wes’ dedication is swoon-worthy. Liz’s self-confidence was admirable. And the ending? Man I loved it. Fingers crossed for a lot of short stories to come because I have not gotten enough of these two!

Sequels can be so tricky to live up to its predecessor but Lynn Painter knocked it out of the park with this one. I loved the dual POV between Liz & Wes in addition to seeing their stories collide at UCLA. It was so much fun to read and follow their journey as they struggled to find their way back to each other..

A great sequel to the first book! Quick read but still gave all the feels. The lack of communication between the characters frustrated me and I found myself wanting to scream at them for not talking to each other!

I loved this book! Lynn Painter is a great author and her books make me so happy. :) I'll read anything that she writes and this one was so cute!

Thank you NetGalley and Lynn Painter!

I didn’t realize I needed a sequel to the story of Wes and Liz, but I absolutely did. This story of love and loss shows the power of perseverance and first love. Painter slowly peels back the layers of the complicated story beginning with the New Year’s Eve party with a devastating bet all the way to UCLA where Wes is given a second chance at baseball. Is their relationship worth a second chance as well? What would that look like?

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and Lynn Painter for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own

Tropes;
· Second chance romance
· MC real down bad
· Sports Romance
· College Romance
· Pop-culture references

This book continues Wes and Liz's romance from high school through college, until a tragedy forces Wes to return home and pick up the pieces. Now, two years later, Wes is back as a freshman at UCLA, ready to chase his baseball dreams and win back the love of his life. This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024! Better than the Movies has always been my ultimate comfort read, so I was thrilled to see their story continue. To top it off, Lynn Painter blessed us with Wes's point of view, which had me literally screaming with excitement.

I loved the college setting, and the dynamic between Wes and Liz never failed to deliver. Even though the romance is a slow burn, their moments together still made me giddy! There were so many heart-wrenching scenes, especially with Wes, that had me sobbing in the middle of the night. I just wanted to give him the BIGGEST hug because of how tough life was for him, but his journey of healing and perseverance was beautifully portrayed. The pop-culture references were a bit overplayed which made the story a bit clunky but still a happy ending regardless.

Thank you to Lynn Painter, Netgalley, and Simon & Schuster for the e-arc!

I love Lynn Painter and love her books but I don’t know if this book was needed. I enjoyed reading it but I also think Better Than the Movies could have stayed a standalone and been fine.

4/5

This was a cute book about second chances.

I will admit it sometimes that I felt like the MMC was trying way too hard and doing too much. It was a little slow in parts, but overall it was a great read.

So many cute moments and also moments where I laughed out loud

Cute second book to continue Wes and Liz’s love story. I felt like it was kinda slow in the middle. Love the movie quotes to start each chapter and the music playlist to accompany the story.

Lynn Painter can do no wrong!!
This was the perfect sequel to Liz and Wes’ story! I was a little nervous when I heard it was a sequel to them breaking up but this was just so good!!
The yearning, the angst, the tension! This was so much fun! Plus a Spotify playlist to go along?! Love Love Love!
I am not the biggest fan of second chance romance (I’m bitter like that) is the only reason for not a 5 star but really such a great book!!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster publishing for an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun book about second chances and making choices for others doesn’t always work how you want to. I do wish the book gave a bit more of the backstory since it had been awhile since I read the first book. Like how did she get the nickname Libby because that was something I did not remember. However the book was a great sequel and it will be joining the shelf when it comes out.

I plan to share this book on my Instagram page on Sept 30th.

Here’s how you do a second chance romance right!

Fans of “Better Than the Movies” might have felt a little sad when they learned that the sequel, “Nothing Like the Movie,” begins with Wes and Liz separated (no spoiler here, it’s on the back of the book!). But trust me, this book will not disappoint! This almost feels like a Wes redemption story – it’s just so good!

Even though I’m not usually a huge fan of second chance romances, Lynn Painter’s take on the genre completely won me over. “Better Than the Movies” captured Wes and Liz’s high school romance, but as anyone who’s been through college knows, life changes—and so do people. Wes and Liz face new challenges and growth, making their journey incredibly compelling. Getting to know the adult version of them was so fun!

I also adored the supporting characters in this story. A lot of times, side plots and secondary characters can be overlooked, but in this book, they really shine. They add depth and charm, making me hopeful for potential spin-offs (fingers crossed, though I might be dreaming).

I love how Lynn Painter incorporates movie quotes throughout this book (and the first one)! I don’t want to post any spoilers so I’ll just share this movie quote to sum it up!

“I will never stop trying. Because when you find the one, you never give up.” – Crazy, Stupid, Love

Mark your calendars for October 1st to dive into their story and see how it unfolds. And if you loved high school Wes, just wait until you meet college Wes!

Thank you to NetGalley, SimonTeens and Lynn Painter for the chance to read this book early!!

I’m going to be honest. I did not enjoy this one nearly as much as Better than the Movies. While I still did LIKE this book, it didn’t live up to my expectations after my complete obsession with the first book. This one didn’t feel as nostalgic to me nor did it give me all the feels. I did still enjoy the Wes and Liz banter and seeing how they developed as characters 2 years after BTTM. I'm also happy this book had a happy ending, but it seemed to take many random turns to get there.

I still do recommend this book, and it was still a SOLID sequel. Just not as great as I was hoping!