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!

Oh, Liz and Wes 🥹 after absolutely adoring Better than the Movies with my whole heart, I couldn’t wait to return to these characters. Nothing Like the Movies is sweet, funny, and incredibly moving; it will really tug at your heartstrings. This story has truly left a permanent mark on my heart. Lynn Painter just gets it right every single time. 🫶🏻

I was very excited to read this as it is a sequel to Better Than the Movies and I was looking forward to exploring Liz's and Wes's relationship - although I was shocked by the continuation I enjoyed seeing them develop and grow with their feelings.

Did the perfection that was better than the movies need a sequel? No.
Am I incredibly happy that we got one and I got to spend more time with Liz and Wes? Yes.

This sequel followed Liz and Wes 2 years after we leave them in better than the movies and follows the fallout of their break up after Wes’s life falls apart around him. I absolutely loved watching Liz and Wes find their way back to each other and find their spark again despite Liz being adamant that she will not be entertaining Wes Bennett and his charm after he broke her heart.

I especially loved that this one was dual pov after only getting Liz’s pov in the first one as I really loved being in Wes’s head and seeing how he feels about Liz from his own perspective. This one while still being ya also felt slightly more grown up that the first one and obviously I loved that we also got another playlist for the book.

Cue the fluttery hearts, ridiculous plots to woo and the inevitable pull that two people who are meant to be have towards each other!

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Better than the Movies is one of my all time favourite YA books, so when I heard there was going to be a sequel I was equal parts excited and nervous (because I read the blurb for this and had my heart BROKEN by the way 😭!)

Anyway. I shouldn't have been (nervous that is!) Because this was like coming home.

As this is set 2 years later, it had a more mature feel to it, which I loved. And, as ever, Lynn had me giggling and swooning like a teen myself despite being in my 30s 🤭🙃🙃 . I also found myself wanting to bawl at times too, of course.

I've always said BTTMS is Lynn's best work and I'm really happy this sequal has also lived up to my expectations. I'm a fan!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I came to this ‘fresh’ as I hadn’t read Better Than the Movies but I was still completely enchanted by the love story between Wes and Liz.

Set two years later we see Wes going back to the same College as Liz and hoping to win her back. Liz is focussed on her studies and the amazing internship that will open many doors. Will Wes win her back?

Beautifully written and totally engaging. I love the quotes used to introduce each chapter and a playlist throughout. This is a great book that I’ll be thrusting into the hands of my library users.

Since the book 1, better than the movies, was released, I wanted to read more about the protagonists of this book and the author gave us that blessing via this book 😁 and i absolutely love the author fir this reason, she gives what her readers want and desire for🫂
This is as soothing as the Better than the movies 😁 and the protagonists again charmed off my heart ❤️ I am so in love with the author's writing. Literally ate this book in a day.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this novel. Having read and enjoyed the previous novel, Just Like the Movies I was really looking forward to this novel and it did not disappoint. Painter draws engaging characters and an absorbing plot that provide wonderful escapism, continuing a story with two main characters that were really well matched. It’s another slow burn, but this time we get more of Wes’s side and it’s welcome insight into his past struggles as well as hers in what is often a difficult time for any early adult.

After a false start halted by a family catastrophe Wes finally has an opportunity to take up his dream once again and attend UCLA on a baseball scholarship with a real possibility of playing in the major league once again. The only missing piece is Liz. It’s been two years since they’ve been together- she the girl next door and he the boy who has been in love with her forever. He’d finally achieved a place in her heart only to have circumstance tear them apart just as they were both starting UCLA. She’s now a junior and he’s a freshman, but he’s determined to win her back. Only she wants nothing to do with him and that’s she’s different now. No longer someone whose every big moment was guided by romance movies that her mother had loved, she was practical, hard headed and interested in things she’d never had been before. As Wes tries to persuade her they are still meant to be, he wonders if things have really changed so very much.

A warm and thoroughly enjoyable read that was a perfect follow up to the previous book, though it could be read as a standalone.

This book is a complete emotional rollercoaster, I was a nervous wreck as i was reading as I am a huge Wes and Liz fan. My poor heart just couldn't take it!
I felt that the story dealt with heavier topics such as grief very well and Wes's story really resonated with me and i really felt for him.
It was a perfect follow up for Better than the movies and I feel quite satisfied by the story, Highly recommend!

4.75 ⭐️

I had the pleasure to meet Lynn Painter at a signing back in June this year and I got to tell her about my excitement for Nothing Like The Movies (sequel to Better Than The Movies). So, getting an ARC for this novel was like a dream come true.

This book follows Wes and Liz, who were once together and in love but just as they were about to start a new life in college, they broke up. Now, Wes is determined to win Liz back with big romantic gestures, but she isn't easily convinced, leaving him to wonder if they are truly over.

I actually enjoyed this so much!!! (ignoring the fact that all I did was cry). Re-reading the whole Better Than the Movies series before getting into this sequel was like a rollercoaster. At the beginning of the book, Wes was in a really dark mental state so he decided to end things with Liz so he wouldn’t bring her down with him. And I, too, shut myself down when I have any problem so I understood him a lot and got why he did all of that.

Was a sequel really that necessary? I don’t know but I am just a girlie who loves second chance romances and —sue me— but I enjoy the miscommunication trope as well. And, to be honest, I’ll take any LizWes crumbs I can get.

Read if you like:
⚾️ second-chance.
⚾️ dual POV.
⚾️ college romance.
⚾️ slow burn.
⚾️ longing and banter.
⚾️ miscommunication.
⚾️ content warning: grief, PSTD, anxiety.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter will be coming out on October 2nd.

4.5 ⭐️

Whenever I read a YA romance, I often find myself wondering if they'd actually stay together after. You like to think they would, but realistically, it probably doesn't work out that way most of the time.

Lynn really knows how to write grief. In book 1, we see Liz deal with hers, and in this one, it's Wes. Two very different manifestations of grief but both very well written. You can feel his pain and his struggle with it.

We also keep the theme of strong friendships going with this one. Both with their new groups of friends and their old one. I like that we get to see a little of what the high school group is doing as well as side relationships with the new group. I'm fairly convinced Clark likes wes's sister, and I'd read the hell out of that.

The thing with Liz and Wes is their romantic moments are always super sweet. There's Taylor Swift quotes and movie moments, and I love that. But I was sad when I realised this book is basically a huge miscommunication, I wish we had gotten a bit more of Liz helping him with his grief because it would have added an even more mature aspect.

The reason we have for Liz being so upset with him was unnecessary for me. There was already a lot going on while I got that we needed a reason for her to be so set on avoiding him it felt a little random. Plus, wes was so clearly head over heels. I'm surprised anyone believed it anyway.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and its look at grief, PTSD and anxiety. The friendships are great, and the romance is very cute. I've gone with 4.5 stars because while the miscommunication is probably my least favourite book trope, there is a good reason for the initial secrets, and it was handled well.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

nothing like the movies ―୨୧⋆ ˚
i don't even know where to start with this revue other than the fact this book absolutely broke me and put me back together again.

honestly I was super nervous going into this read considering I liked 'better than the movies' and had no clue where lynn painter was going to go with 'nothing like the movies' because wes and liz got their HEA right?

no. completely wrong.

from the first chapter I decided to go into this book acting like Wes and liz were two new characters who had a lot of backstory. and in some ways they absolutely were and it made this book a little less excruciating to read. but the plot on the who was super enjoyable (also a bit gut-wrenching) but showed such a clear divide between high school drama and relationships with the real-world issues and events that happen in people lives and how they come back from it.
lynn painter showed this beautifully in the setting and the characterisation of wes and liz.

wes and liz ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the growth and maturity of wes and liz was slightly jarring at first and was a slight shock because they felt different and in a lot of ways they were.. 2 years older and a lot has happened in the mean time but the glimpses of the their 'better than the movies' younger selves were so precious to me as I read this book and saw so much development.

overall, i could spend days talking about this book but then i would spoil the whole thing.. this was such a beautiful needing to a HEA i thought i already had and lynn painter wrote the loss, the maturity and the pain of growing up in the most beautiful way that this book pretty much made me sob through the last 50%.

I am so happy to finally read about Liz and Wes again! I’ve missed them so much and this book is literally perfect. As someone who was so obsessed with this book since 2022, getting a sequel like this is my literal dreams come true, and moreover, getting to read an ARC of the book?! I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity and I just love Lynn’s writing so much. I love Liz and Wes’ character development, I love every single banter and every single scene that they have with each other. Pls pls pls read this book!,

I didn’t think this series needed a continuation but honestly I loved the way this was done. It was definitely different vibes. I really enjoyed seeing the characters affected by life and really grow and change.
There was so many emotions in this book and I felt like all the grief was represented really well.
The characters still had their original personalities but only now they were more mature and facing more difficulties in their lives and of course that showed.
I also could not put this book down I absolutely ate it up.
I love Wes and Liz but also the side characters (new and old) plus getting more in depth with Wes’ family was also nice to see.
Loved that it was finally dual pov!!
The only thing I would’ve wanted would have been a bit more of them being happy together.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Nothing like the movies - lynn painter
Review-
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would give this book all the stars in the world if I could so just know I actually rate this more than 5 stars! I was so unbelievably honoured to receive this arc as I absolutely love Lynn painters books every single one of them so this was a dream come true for me🥺.

Wes and liz have my whole and complete heart and I was so happy to read another book with them in they are the literal best main characters ever, I loved the changes to each of them and seeing them grown as people finally able to put the past behind them and be the most beautiful couple again, tears was definitely shed while reading happy and sad ones both of them deserve the absolute world! Reading about Wes and the things he went through was raw and emotional and hit very close to home for me so it added a level of understanding to this beautiful story for me too.

All in all I absolutely LOVED this book and I’m actually so sad it’s over and now I don’t know what to do with myself gonna miss my silly little love lovers 🥲💕

"𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵, 𝘓𝘪𝘣, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆