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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Middle School Librarian Title: Nothing Like the Movies Author: Lynn Painter Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 8-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Some underage drinking (they are in college), and a lot of f-bombs Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter is one of my all-time favorite YA books from the last decade. It's such a feel good read; I couldn't wait to read the follow-up! If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: Get ready to dive back into the world of Liz and Wes as they embark upon college and the challenges that come with life's unexpected curveballs. |
Review:
I was sad to see this one end!! It's long... 442 pages, but it never felt like it. This book will appeal to those who have read the first book, Better than the Movies, as it is the sequel, but could be read as a stand-alone. That being said, knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will certainly help readers appreciate all they’ve been through and root for them that much harder.
Nothing Like the Movies starts out only a few short months after Better Than The Movies ends. Wes and Liz went off to college together (UCLA), but a sudden death in Wes' family finds him dropping out of college and moving home to help his family. While Liz is more than willing to do the long-distance thing, Wes feels like it's holding her back from having the college experiences she deserves, so he breaks up with her.
We then flash forward two years. The characters' ages (20) are older than the typical YA characters, however, it still reads like a classic YA book. Wes, who had originally gone to UCLA to play baseball, has somehow earned a spot back on the team and returns to college as a freshman to try and pick up the pieces of the life he left behind. He hasn’t spoken to Liz since the day he broke her heart, but nonetheless, is determined to win her back. However, Liz is not the same hopeless romantic she once was. Her guard is up and she’s less open to love after the heartbreak she endured two years ago. Her focus is on school and her job, working for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media. A new assignment for her internship has her covering pre-season for the UCLA baseball team, and finally, Liz and Wes’ worlds collide again. But Wes has his work cut out for him, because Liz is not interested in rehashing the past. She’s in a good place and wants to stay there.
This second-chance romance has all the makings of a classic romcom: fake dating, witty dialogue, quirky best friends, heartache and enough emotional drama to, well, fill 442 pages. But the thing I loved most about Better Than The Movies was the dynamic between Wes and Liz, and that element is at the core of this sequel as well. Readers will find themselves cheering for our couple to find their way back together again. The end includes a playlist of songs referenced throughout the novel, a fun addition for music-lovers.
Number of party hats:
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