A review by filipacmiranda
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

4.0

I'm surprised to say I found Better than the Movies to be an enjoyable read!

Let's start with my least favourite part. Liz was annoying and not-so-nice (especially towards her best friend and family). She spent the whole time making excuses, lying and omitting information simply because she couldn't manage to care about anyone else's feelings. I understand grief is powerful, but it shouldn't excuse all kinds of crappy behaviour. 

Despite this, the rom-com and music references were a good choice by Painter, giving the book a deeper meaning. The main character's need to soundtrack all her experiences was relatable, and the romance was cute. I think Liz and Wes's growing friendship allowed her realisation of love to be believable. 

The book would have gained a lot from having both Wes and Liz's perspectives, mainly because he was the better part of this duo. I would have really liked to read about his thoughts on the whole thing. 
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