Nothing Like the Movies

5 / 5 🎀📄🎵⚾️

Huge appreciation to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book!!

Ok, I will admit I was at first a little skeptical to the concept of this book because what do you mean Liz and Wes break up but starting this book, I knew it was kind of meant to happen. They were in high school and the circumstances that occur make sense.

And this book was perfect, it was quintessentially Liz and Wes but make it second chance . It was a pocket of sunshine. With the perfect UCLA setting. The forced proximity through her internship/job and him on the baseball team. It was Lynn Painter doing what she does best and that's writing YA romcoms that warm your heart. It's filled with niche references to music and some very well known ones, but it's the way they aren't just thrown in to the story but deeply have a purpose and that's the lore of Liz and Wes. Let me tell you, this book had me giggling, kicking my feet and swooning the entire time and when there was a goddamn 'In Between' Reference and it was from WES' POV, I almost screamed out loud. Because an unreleased Gracie song that is probably my favourite and is just so Ms. Swift coded, I'm so down just wish I could have listened to it.

Nonetheless, I completely adored this book and all that it was. It truly exceeded my expectations so if you are a little iffy on this book but loved Wes and Liz, I highly encourage you to give this a chance when it comes out in October because it might just surprise you!!

After loving Better Than the Movies, I was so excited to read Nothing Like the Movies, and it did not disappoint! In fact, I think I enjoyed it even more. Lynn Painter has a way of writing characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, and this sequel had me hooked from the very beginning.

In this book, Liz and Wes face the realities of college life and adulthood, and it’s clear their relationship is being tested by new challenges. I really enjoyed seeing how they handled these obstacles while trying to figure out their future. Revisiting characters from the first book felt familiar and comforting, while also allowing them to grow in new directions.

One of my favourite parts of both books is the way each chapter begins with a movie quote. It adds such a fun and nostalgic touch, and for anyone who loves romantic comedies, it’s a great nod to that genre.

What I found particularly special in this book is how Painter handles the more serious topics, like grief and stepping into adulthood. She weaves these themes into the story in a way that feels natural and heartfelt without weighing it down. The balance between the lighter moments and the heavier ones made it all the more compelling to read.

I also loved the dual POV. It was great to be able to get inside both Liz and Wes’s heads, and it really helped me connect to each of them on a deeper level. It added so much to the emotional impact of the story.

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down. If you enjoyed Better Than the Movies, this is definitely a must-read. It’s a heart-warming, funny, and emotional story that I’d highly recommend—one of my favourite reads of 2024!

Huge appreciation to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book!!

4.5⭐️ - I was equal parts terrified and excited when I heard about the sequel to Better Than the Movies, mainly because I didn’t want to imagine a world where Liz and Wes weren’t together! So I went into Nothing Like the Movies with extremely high expectations that Liz was going to do their love story justice and this would all make sense by the end.

I honestly loved this so much more than I was expecting! The story picks up two years after Liz and Wes head off to UCLA together, only to break up a few weeks in after Wes unexpectedly loses his Dad. In the present day, Wes is determined to win Liz back over and knows the ‘little Liz’ he fell in love with is all about the grand gestures worthy of the romcoms she dreams of. So much has changed in their time apart, not including Liz’ new roommate who she is rarely seen without and sparking dating rumours to their circle of friends. But one thing remains the same - Wes knows Liz is his endgame and will stop at nothing to win her back.

Spoiler free review - I honestly think this was a second chance romance that beats the stereotype of poor miscommunication! When you find out the backstory to the breakup, be prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions you’re going to go on. Wes has to battle against the changes he’s gone through, along with maybe not knowing the new Liz who has gone through two years at college without him.

This book is full of witty banter, heartwarming moments and all the romcom references you could dream of. But at the core it’s actually really heartfelt and full of pining, which isn’t at all what I was expecting. Wes Bennett remains one of my favourite book boyfriends and I loved being back in this universe.

Nothing Like the Movies is an extremely well done sequel in my eyes and I highly recommend to any fans that can’t get enough Liz and Wes content! I’m very grateful to have been sent a copy by Simon & Schuster UK in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this! I was originally hesitant about this book because I didn't feel like a sequel was necessary but I was very wrong. I actually much preferred this to Better Than The Movies, it felt a lot more real and it was really fun to see how Wes and Liz had matured and grown. I found myself rooting for them even more this time around. I really liked all the new characters and enjoyed the little glimpses we got of the old characters. I really felt for both Wes and Liz throughout this, the story didn't hold back on how they were feeling and how they had been affected and I think it was a really interesting concept for a sequel. If you liked Better Than The Movies, you'll love this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I love lynn painter and I love this series! This is the perfect fun romance that’s easy to read and super boggle. If you love romantic comedy movies this is the perfect book for you!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

Wow, Lynn painter is fast becoming a new auto-buy author for me! I loved this book even more than book 1. There’s no doubt in my mind that Wes and Liz will be with me for a very long time.

This young adult romance makes you feel all the feelings, I was unsure at the start what could’ve happened to split them up but then it all made sense and Wes Bennet the man that you are, he deserves the world.

I will be thinking about them forever, Lynn’s writing is unmatched and I think she’s done the characters so much justice.

I would happily read about them forever!

𝟒.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 .𐦍༘⋆
Was this a cash grab to follow the success and praise of “Better Than The Movies”? Maybe
Did I still really enjoy it? Absolutely

Wes and Liz are one of my all time favourite couples when it comes to YA romance.
This book was so well written and I loved that the writing style between BTTM and this one was still the same. They’re still the same lovable characters from the first book. Which is always a huge factor when it comes to books with multiple parts, I think sometimes it’s really easy for authors to lose the quirks that made the characters so loveable.

I will say that this book would have been a lot shorter if they had just communicated clearly from the jump lol. I think during certain parts I was a bit frustrated when Liz wouldn’t just listen to what Wes had to say but I can also completely understand why she would have that hesitancy and I think that makes the characters all the more real, those flaws that sort of piss you off as a third party person. The ending was adorable and it was very in line with the typical Wes and Liz fashion.

Outside of the romance I LOVED that there was still actual plot.
So many times rom-com books focus on the romance of the story that there is no other plot going on so it was really nice to read this and have other things going on in these character’s lives outside of just falling back in love. I loved Wes’s journey back to baseball and university and actually living the life of a normal college aged person. I loved seeing him handle grief, loss and how he overcame it. I loved seeing Liz do what she loves to do and seeing how much she actually enjoys it and it on her way to making a name for herself.

Just when I thought my WesLiz heart was complete, it was shattered when I realised Better Than The Movies was after they’d broken up - BUT everyone deserves a second chance, right?

Usually, I’m not a fan of this trope - but I ATE this up and left no crumbs. This is the most perfect second chance college romance and honestly, Lynn Painter you are a genius. The angst, the tension, the hurt - honestly I just can’t fault it at all, I was just giggling and kicking my feet throughout most of the book. I’ll probably never shut up about these characters - if anyone needs me I’ll be listening to their soundtrack 2.0 version on repeat.

Diving back into this world was effortless and getting to know the grown-up Wes and Liz was so much fun. Thank you for not only giving Wes and Liz a second chance, but for giving us as readers a second chance to love them.

Thank you Simon and Schuster UK Children's and NetGalley for giving me this ARC to review.

Our high-school sweethearts, Liz and Wes are back again with a college twist that will want you rooting for that perfect rom-com ending.

Liz and Wes thought that the future was theirs for the taking as they set their sights on UCLA together, but when tragedy strikes their lives and their relationship are turned upside down and torn apart. Fast forward two years and Wes is back in a healthier place, but the only thing missing is his one true love Liz. Liz is finally mending her broken heart and has everything going for her to make all her future career dreams come true, so when Wes falls back into Liz's life... it is not the welcoming reunion he had in mind.

Still, Wes will not give in and pulls out all the big romantic gestures he knows to win over Liz's affection. But when he truly realises how much has changed since the two years they spent apart, Wes begins to question whether Liz will ever be his again...

I'm not usually a YA lover, but something about Liz and Wes' has me eating out the palm of Lynn Painter's hand for the second time. You are gripped right from the get go to see if this well-loved pair reunite, and this second book in the series will elicit all of the emotions as you follow Liz and Wes through their tumultuous reunion. Schedule a girls-night in, light some candles and grab a relaxing face mask and your favourite bookish snacks to read Nothing Like the Movies so it can give you all the rom-com feels we've been begging for since Better Than the Movies.

We are following Liz and Wes, who were neighbours growing up. They used to be together but something happened that made Wes break up with Liz. Two years later, they both attend UCLA and Liz is forced to spend time with him thanks to an internship she got with a renowned documentary producer.

Wow, this book was incredible. If you have read Better than the movies a while ago and don’t remember a thing, you can definitely read this one. The story will come back to you.

Now, it is a second chance romance. It is not usually a trope that I like but with these two characters, I did not mind. Liz has such an amazing personality, I love her.
The banter in this book is next level, and I appreciated the multiple references to movies and songs (like Taylor Swift for example!)

Having a dual point of view in a romance is always a bonus as we get to see both perspectives and know their feelings towards each other.

I had also forgotten about Helena and her dad. It was so nice to have them in the book.

I was so excited to read this book as I loved the first one. I was on an emotional rollercoaster with this one but I loved it. It was the perfect sequel to better than the movies and I absolutely devoured it.

I really enjoyed this novel. I have read other books by the author and Nothing Like The Movies certainly didn't disappoint. The story was easy to follow, had good pacing and a great cast of characters. Overall a brilliant novel that I would recommend to other readers.
🩵 Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

She’s done it again… a perfect Wes and Liz sequel to Better Than The Movies!

I recently re listened to Better Than The Movies and just thought how will @lynnpainterbooks top this and I believe she has… swoony scenes, top quality tension, heartbreaking heartbreaks and of course lots of movie and music references!