A review by cozygrovereads
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

this book was literally so cute!!! the banter and the lil frenemies to lovers thing they had going on was freaking adorable. this took me 2 days to read. 2 DAYS!! ITS ALMOST 400 PAGES! THAT'S LIKE A RECORD FOR ME. anyways, don't be fooled though, it does deal with some difficult subject matter like the loss of a parent. it's done in a really nice and gentle way. i loved liz, she developed so much. i admit, the way she just didn't know how to communicate til the middle-end was kind of infuriating, but it's also so realistic, and you find yourself rooting for her. and wes??? we all deserve a wes. he was literally so precious and fun. i loved every second. i'm so excited for the 2nd book with wes pov chapters!!!! i also loved how rom-coms played into this book, but also how it's told in a way where you don't even have to have seen the movies that are mentioned! i low-key want to go through and watch all the ones that i actually seen before! it's just so cute. and i love how she thinks of a soundtrack playlist for every scenario so we get a lot of music recs as well!! also, no spoilers, but if you're a swiftie, you NEED to read this book. you just need too. overall, it's such a wholesome, feel-good, uplifting book that i will definitely read again one day. 

the only reason it's not 5 stars is because one of the chapters was almost 60 PAGES LONG!!! my brain finds it so hard to focus without little chapter breaks. but that is 110% a ME THING! the book is perfect.