“Nothing Like the Movies”…because it is a book
This October, book lovers were blessed with a sequel to Lynn Painter’s 2021 novel “Better Than the Movies,” which has become a TikTok sensation, for good reason. It is such a wonderful representation of what a teen-romance novel should be like. “Nothing Like the Movies” was published on Oct. 1, and is easily one of my favorite books to be released this year.
“Nothing Like the Movies” picks up two years after “Better Than the Movies,” which ended with our main characters, Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennet, beginning their relationship and getting ready to start their new lives at UCLA. Within the first few chapters, the reader learns that Wes Bennet dropped out of UCLA after one month due to a personal tragedy, and then goes on to break up with Liz. Two years later, he is ready to get back everything he had: his baseball career, his school and his girl.
One of my favorite aspects of the first book, “Better Than the Movies,” was that it felt like I was reading a rom-com from start to finish. There were moments that had me hiding from embarrassment, but that was part of the charm. “Nothing Like the Movies” contrasts that, as it tells the story of a romance riddled with tragedy. This book encapsulates similar comedic aspects, while at the same time allowing for more serious and contemplative moments that really show the changed and matured world that our characters now inhabit. While the more serious note is an adjustment, it is not an unwelcome one, as the Painter still manages to provide the characters’ well-loved personalities from the first book.
As a writer, Painter is excellent at setting up a storyline. She creates lovable characters and complex dynamics, while also reeling you in with the plot. Painter manages to portray the process of grief in a very delicate fashion, that expresses the character change Wes goes through, while also portraying his healing process. An addition to this book which I thought was incredibly smart and a good creative decision, was the alternate narratives from which the story was told. It switched between that of Liz, who was the sole narrative of the first book, and that of Wes. This change allowed the characters to be explored in different ways and really gave depth to the story.
In the end, I can confidently say that I absolutely loved this book, and that I will be reading and rereading it at every chance I get. I fell in love with Liz and Wes’ story in the first book, and this new edition only propelled that love further. To me, this couple is now one of the classics, and a representation of how modern love should go. It is an adorable romance about trial and triumph that will have you wishing for more and more, all the while kicking your feet.
