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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
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
the only romcom to ever exist! i have never related to a fictional character more than i relate to liz buxbaum and THAT is why reading Nothing Like the Movies next week is gonna ruin my life!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
I just finished this a few days ago, and my first thought was: this book is super cute. It honestly felt like watching one of those early 2000s rom-coms—fun, sweet, a little cheesy, and something you can just sit back and enjoy without thinking too much. But at the same time… it didn’t really give me anything new. The storyline felt pretty predictable and kind of overused, if I’m being honest.
Now, let’s talk about Liz Buxbaum. She wasn’t exactly the easiest character to root for. Throughout the book, I just felt like she didn’t really know what she wanted. She was confused, emotionally all over the place, and on top of that, she really didn’t know how to communicate her feelings. I get that she’s supposed to be a teenager still figuring things out, but there were moments where her behavior just felt unnecessarily frustrating. Like, girl… talk to people.
But then there’s Wes Bennett. And honestly? I loved him. He totally carried this book for me. The way he handled Liz, his personality, the small things he did—it was all so effortlessly charming. He felt like the kind of character you can’t help but love, and I honestly think he deserved better at times. But I do think he was the perfect person for Liz. He saw through all her confusion and insecurity, and somehow still showed up for her again and again.
What I appreciated about this story is how it reminds you that love doesn’t always look the way you imagined it would. Sometimes we try to force real life to match the love stories we’ve seen in movies or read in books—but real love is messier, more unexpected. The “right” person might not check off everything on your dream list, but that doesn’t make them any less right for you.
Overall, it’s a fun, fluffy read. Not super deep, and not something that left a lasting impression—but definitely enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something feel-good with a swoon-worthy love interest.
Now, let’s talk about Liz Buxbaum. She wasn’t exactly the easiest character to root for. Throughout the book, I just felt like she didn’t really know what she wanted. She was confused, emotionally all over the place, and on top of that, she really didn’t know how to communicate her feelings. I get that she’s supposed to be a teenager still figuring things out, but there were moments where her behavior just felt unnecessarily frustrating. Like, girl… talk to people.
But then there’s Wes Bennett. And honestly? I loved him. He totally carried this book for me. The way he handled Liz, his personality, the small things he did—it was all so effortlessly charming. He felt like the kind of character you can’t help but love, and I honestly think he deserved better at times. But I do think he was the perfect person for Liz. He saw through all her confusion and insecurity, and somehow still showed up for her again and again.
What I appreciated about this story is how it reminds you that love doesn’t always look the way you imagined it would. Sometimes we try to force real life to match the love stories we’ve seen in movies or read in books—but real love is messier, more unexpected. The “right” person might not check off everything on your dream list, but that doesn’t make them any less right for you.
Overall, it’s a fun, fluffy read. Not super deep, and not something that left a lasting impression—but definitely enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something feel-good with a swoon-worthy love interest.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes