Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies is a light-hearted, warm YA depicter of the romantic comic by Lynn Painter that highlights high school senior Liz Buxbaum. Sweet and perky Liz has probably imagined the fairytale love story and eternal prince charming, and when Michael, her school sweetheart, comes back to her town, everything is supposed to turn into a movie. For her, this is her opportunity to have this dream come true and get this man to fall for her.

In order to be closer to Michael, Liz is forced to work together with her husband’s best friend and her former friend/enemy, Wes Bennett. Wes is popular, relaxed, and the last man Liz would want to be in the company of, but he is friends with Michael. Liz confides with Wes to help her get Michael’s attention to propose that they date but later develops feelings for Wes.

Regarding themes, loss, friendship, personal identity, and an opposition of romanticized and realistic portrayals of relationships are revealed in the novel. Liz is a beautiful reminder that love is not always grand and movie like but it can be just as beautiful in its different form. It is simply an inspiring, funny and cheerful story about love, death and the process of becoming an adult.