Better Than the Movies

Description

The multi-million-copy New York Times global bestseller, TikTok phenomenon, and the ultimate modern masterpiece of Young Adult contemporary romance! From acclaimed author Lynn Painter comes Better Than the Movies—a brilliantly structured, fast-paced, and utterly hilarious rom-com about rom-coms. Infused with classic cinematic magic and written with breathtaking emotional intelligence, this unputdownable book delivers a spectacular mix of razor-sharp witty banter, childhood nostalgia, and undeniable fake-dating chemistry that will keep you glued to the page.

Perpetual daydreamer and hopeless romantic Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. Her cool, aloof forever crush never really noticed her before he abruptly moved away, but now that he has finally returned to town, Liz will do absolutely whatever it takes to get on his radar. Desperate to secure him as her dream prom date and manufacture her own cinematic happily ever after, she realizes she needs a calculated insider strategy—even if it means making a high-stakes deal with Wes Bennett.

Wes Bennett is her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor who might look like a prime, swoon-worthy candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies on paper, but he has been a massive pain in Liz’s butt since they were toddlers. In her mind, childhood pranks involving wild frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do absolutely not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, against all odds, Wes and Michael are hitting it off as friends, which means the irritating boy next door is officially Liz’s only way in.

As Liz and Wes join forces to engineer a high-performance scheming campaign to get Liz noticed, they orchestrate elaborate, unscripted scenarios to make Michael fall for her. But as the fake-dating charade and strategic setups continue, a massive chemical combustion occurs in close quarters. Liz is utterly shocked to discover that she genuinely loves being around Wes. As they grow closer through shared soundtracks and late-night car rides, the lines between her calculated fantasy and real-world intimacy blur entirely. Liz is forced to thoroughly reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and completely rethink her own rigid ideas of what a true happily ever after should look like.

Masterfully executing the enemies-to-lovers, boy-next-door, fake dating, forced proximity, and childhood-frenemies tropes, Better Than the Movies delivers a beautifully structured, atmospheric, and high-energy narrative. Brimming with iconic romantic comedy references, deep grief-healing arcs, and unforgettable dual-POV tension, this premium Simon & Schuster paperback edition is a mandatory masterpiece for every contemporary romance enthusiast’s personal collection.