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iconic_messreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
Minor: Death and Alcohol
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
"Sometimes we get so tied up in our idea of what we think we want that we miss out on the amazingness of what we could actually have."
I've been curious about this author for quite some time now, but I wasn't quite sure if her books would be for me. I've been warned that her adult books are probably too steamy and to stick with her YA books, and I'm having the feeling this advice hits the nail on the head. I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I can totally understand why Better Than The Movies is so popular. This is such a cute fake dating romance and basically an ode to romcoms, and I really enjoyed my time with this story. I loved the many romcom quotes at the beginning of the chapters as well as the references to movies and music in the story itself. They worked so well with the plot as well, and I liked the little something extra it added. I loved the whole enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers and fake dating elements this story had, although the love triangle vibe was a tad too strong for me. I like quirky and adorable characters, and both Wes and Liz fit the bill. I do have to say that I was a bit annoyed by Liz at times, and especially when it comes to how she treats the people close to her. I understand that she is still grieving her mother, but that doesn't really excuse just how bad she treats them at times. There were some other minor niggles that prevented me from giving it the full five stars, but I still very much enjoyed reading Better Than The Movies. I will be looking forward to the sequel coming out next year!
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
cepbreed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
At the same time Liz as a character annoyed me. She constantly emphasizes how different she is from the “popular” crowd in order to seem unique and relatable. I’m tired of this type of female lead but it happens so often it’s disheartening. It makes sense that authors infuse bits of themselves into their characters but from what I’ve seen that means all authors are unpopular weirdos and I really hope that’s not the case. Plus there’s no reason for all leads to be bookish introverts. Liz is embarrassing, she lies for no reason and acts in ways no normal human being would. I literally had to close the book and take a second because the cringe was too much.
Random coincidence but the two short stories she mentioned on page 176 were also assigned to me senior year and I had to choose from those plus a couple others to write a paper on. Of course I went with my girl Kate Chopin.
Songs: (they’re just so Taylor Swift coded, specifically Lover)
- Movies - Conan Gray
- Daylight - Taylor Swift (“I once believed love would be black and white / But it’s golden”)
- Afterglow - Taylor Swift (after Prom)
- Satellite - Harry Styles (this is so Wessy)
- Rear View - LANKS (this to the rain scene omfg, it embodies Liz’s perspective)
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Alcohol
rylin_marie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
samchase112's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Reread April 2024
Did a quick reread in anticipation of Nothing Like the Movies, and ahh so happy this is just as good as I remembered. Wes and Liz are an incredible couple, and I cannot get enough of them!! Truly, imagine how insufferable I’d have been if these two existed when I was in middle school or early high school. LOVE!
Graphic: Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
theinstabookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
THE BAD: One thing I didn't like about this book were the long chapters. There's only 19 chapters but the book is 349 pages. The story is also only told from Liz's point of view and I think if Wes's point of view had been included it would have been even better. My copy also could have used another round of editing, as there were quite a few grammar and spelling errors.
Favorite quote: "I just need to know that happily ever after really exists."
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
bri__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, and Alcohol
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Car accident, and Alcohol
kendra_taylors_version's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Alcohol