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A review by rorireads_
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Let me start by saying this: to anyone who told me that I should read this and I ignored you, I'm sorry. I will most definitely be taking your advice from here on out.
THIS BOOK WAS BLOODY EXCELLENT
I have quite literally never read a ya rom-com that made me feel the way this made me feel. It's that feeling when you listen to a song, and you know from the first second that the song is a new favourite. It's that feeling when you tell your dad that you like something and he buys you 500 of that exact thing, same brand and all. It's that feeling when you read the first line of a book and know immediately that you are going to love it (and that's what happened!). It's that feeling when you haven't been reading that long but you look up and it's midnight. It's that feeling when you forget you're reading and are instead in their world. It's that feeling when you think "I haven't been reading for that long' only to find that you are on page 89 and now you can't possibly stop.
This book had me from the get go. Lynn Painter's writing has this very palpable charm, every word was like being doused in an iced vanilla latte (I love iced vanilla lattes) and then being fed a Jammie-dodger. The setting felt immersive, and this book has so much charm.
Liz and Wes are probably some of my favourite characters I've ever read. They're both so compelling, flawed but not flawed to the point where you can tell that the author thought that 'no-one likes a Mary-Sue, they have to have flaws' was stupid. Everyone in this book feels HUMAN. They're real. Becoming acquainted with the magical world of Liz and Wes was a downright treat.
Every single media reference was so natural to me (maybe because, in my head, I am also a giant rom-com freak who is a little too obsessed with music for her own good). I STRONGLY identified with Liz and not only her obsession with media, but her grief journey. She (as a protagonist) was especially well-crafted, and even when she did something stupid I was still rooting for her. Wes is no different, being not only charming but feeling real. It (in these days) seems difficult for authors to write compelling MMC's without showing us their POV, but Wes was so well done that even though we witnessed him from Liz's point of view, he still was whole and complete. Someone please tell me where the factory producing Wes Bennet's is, and if I can please order one for next day delivery.
I haven't loved a rom-com like this in a long time (and I was utterly enamoured with Funny Story so I think that has to say something. I was swooning, I fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other, all of their struggles felt not only relatable, but realistic. I fear I could gush forever about this book, but I think I would run out of characters and have to continue in the comments.
Lynn Painter truly ate with this one, and it feels that no YA romcoms will come close to this book for a very long time. I love this book so much, and now I HAVE TO buy a physical copy so I can reread and swoon and annotate. I love this damned book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THIS BOOK WAS BLOODY EXCELLENT
I have quite literally never read a ya rom-com that made me feel the way this made me feel. It's that feeling when you listen to a song, and you know from the first second that the song is a new favourite. It's that feeling when you tell your dad that you like something and he buys you 500 of that exact thing, same brand and all. It's that feeling when you read the first line of a book and know immediately that you are going to love it (and that's what happened!). It's that feeling when you haven't been reading that long but you look up and it's midnight. It's that feeling when you forget you're reading and are instead in their world. It's that feeling when you think "I haven't been reading for that long' only to find that you are on page 89 and now you can't possibly stop.
This book had me from the get go. Lynn Painter's writing has this very palpable charm, every word was like being doused in an iced vanilla latte (I love iced vanilla lattes) and then being fed a Jammie-dodger. The setting felt immersive, and this book has so much charm.
Liz and Wes are probably some of my favourite characters I've ever read. They're both so compelling, flawed but not flawed to the point where you can tell that the author thought that 'no-one likes a Mary-Sue, they have to have flaws' was stupid. Everyone in this book feels HUMAN. They're real. Becoming acquainted with the magical world of Liz and Wes was a downright treat.
Every single media reference was so natural to me (maybe because, in my head, I am also a giant rom-com freak who is a little too obsessed with music for her own good). I STRONGLY identified with Liz and not only her obsession with media, but her grief journey. She (as a protagonist) was especially well-crafted, and even when she did something stupid I was still rooting for her. Wes is no different, being not only charming but feeling real. It (in these days) seems difficult for authors to write compelling MMC's without showing us their POV, but Wes was so well done that even though we witnessed him from Liz's point of view, he still was whole and complete. Someone please tell me where the factory producing Wes Bennet's is, and if I can please order one for next day delivery.
I haven't loved a rom-com like this in a long time (and I was utterly enamoured with Funny Story so I think that has to say something. I was swooning, I fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other, all of their struggles felt not only relatable, but realistic. I fear I could gush forever about this book, but I think I would run out of characters and have to continue in the comments.
Lynn Painter truly ate with this one, and it feels that no YA romcoms will come close to this book for a very long time. I love this book so much, and now I HAVE TO buy a physical copy so I can reread and swoon and annotate. I love this damned book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️