Nothing Like the Movies coming October 1, 2024 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 448 pages
Content Warning: Foul language, heavy drinking, parental death (mentioned)
About the Author: “Lynn Painter is the international bestselling author of Better Than The Movies. She writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Lynn Painter on the following platforms:
“It seemed I was destined to spend the rest of my life thinking about the girl who wasn’t sure if she wanted to think about me at all.”
In this highly anticipated sequel to Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz are no longer the perfect couple. Right when they started their freshman year together at UCLA, tragedy struck, pulling them apart. Two years later, Wes returns to UCLA in a healthier place and determined to win back Liz. But, Wes left Liz heartbroken, and now she wants nothing to do with him. She even has a new guy friend. When she ends up working with the school baseball team Wes is on, Liz is forced to spend time with him—and it’s clear they still have a connection. In an effort to regain her love, Wes creates clever plans and rom-com worthy schemes. As he continues to fail, Wes can’t help but wonder if she’ll ever love him again.
As an avid romcom reader and lover of all Lynn Painter books, I was not happy when I found out Nothing Like the Movies was a second-chance romance. Better than the Movies was truly the perfect YA romcom, and no one wanted to believe that Wes and Liz had broken up after their story ended. However, Nothing Like the Movies might be Lynn Painter’s best book yet. It was more than just a cute love story like the first book. This sequel held so much emotional depth. After having his entire life turned upside down two years ago, Wes Bennet wasn’t just getting a second chance to win back Liz; he was getting a second chance at the life he always wanted on the UCLA baseball team. Liz too had changed in the years they’d been apart, and she was working towards her dreams by helping to create a documentary about the baseball team. What was so important about this new chapter in their story was that they both had grown and changed in their time apart, yet there was still an undeniable spark between them. Though it was written in dual POV, Wes felt like the main character. I loved that he was still just as in love with her as he had been over two years ago. Wes was chasing his dreams while chasing the girl of his dreams, and as the reader, all I wanted was for him to make them come true. Nothing Like the Movies was one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve read it. To everyone who has been impatiently awaiting its release, you won’t be disappointed.
Nothing Like the Movies releases on October 1, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Sam Yanis, Pine Reads Review Lead Writer