This blog post is all about my review of the Better Than the Movies book series by Lynn Painter.

If you love rom-coms with sarcastic banter, slow-burn tension, and main characters who feel like they’ve stepped straight out of your favourite comfort movie, the Better Than the Movies book series by Lynn Painter deserves a top spot on your reading list.
This wildly popular YA romance series has become a favourite among romance readers thanks to its nostalgic rom-com energy, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and swoon-worthy love interests.
In this review, I’m breaking down what makes the Better Than the Movies book series so addictive, why it resonates so strongly with rom-com lovers, and whether it’s worth picking up if you’re new to Lynn Painter’s books.
I’ve also included a handy section on more books by Lynn Painter to read next if you finish the series and immediately need more of her signature charm.
And if you’d like to keep up with my reading in realtime, you can follow me on Goodreads here!
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This blog post is all about my review of the Better Than the Movies book series.
Review of Better Than the Movies Book Series in Order
Below you’ll find a spoiler-free review of the Better Than the Movies book series by Lynn Painter.
Discover why this rom-com romance series is perfect for fans of witty banter, slow burns, and feel-good love stories.

1. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a sweet, nostalgic YA rom-com about Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic determined to finally win over her longtime crush when he moves back to town. Her plan involves teaming up with her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor, Wes Bennet, who has been driving her mad since childhood.
But as fake schemes turn into real feelings, Liz is forced to rethink everything she believes about love, happy endings, and whether the best romance might be the one she never planned for.
My Rating: ★★★★★
This had been on my Kindle for a while, and I remembered enjoying a previous Lynn Painter book that I’d read (The Do-Over) so thought it would be a nice rom-com book to read going into the Christmas period.
I think I finished it in less than 48 hours, I read it so quick. I was quickly obsessed with Wes in particular and the banter between the two main characters.
There were parts that had me smiling like an idiot and I’m so glad there’s a second book in this little series so I can continue on with Wes and Libby.

2. Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter picks up with Wes and Liz navigating college life after a painful breakup that left both of them changed.
Determined to win Liz back, Wes leans into the grand, rom-com gestures she once loved, but Liz isn’t interested in reliving the past, especially with someone new in her life.
As old feelings resurface and second chances are put to the test, Wes must face the possibility that love doesn’t always follow the script.
My Rating: ★★★★★
Lynn Painter is definitely a new-found favourite author of mine. I have a few more of her books lined up on my TBR to be read immediately because I can’t get enough.
I was rooting for Wes and Liz throughout this entire second book and even though this is YA fiction, there’s a lot more chemistry and banter between these two than a lot of the characters I read in my adult fiction romances.
I’m so glad we got a second book to Wes and Liz’s love story and hope this turns into a movie soon!
More Books by Lynn Painter You Need to Read
If you loved the Better Than the Movies book series and aren’t ready to say goodbye to Lynn Painter’s signature wit and swoon-worthy romances, you’re in luck.
These are the best Lynn Painter books to read next, featuring the same heartfelt humour and rom-com magic her readers adore.

1. Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter follows Dani and Alec, once inseparable childhood best friends who drifted apart after Dani moved away.
When she returns to Minnesota for her senior year, Dani finds Alec transformed into the town’s hockey golden boy, worlds away from the soft, nerdy kid she remembers.
An unexpected fake-dating situation forces them back together, uncovering old hurts, family secrets, and feelings neither of them ever truly left behind.

2. The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
The Love Wager by Lynn Painter follows Hallie and Jack, two accidental almost-hookups who agree they are definitely not interested in each other. Instead, they become wing-people in their separate quests for love.
As they swap dating disasters, share post-date tacos, and place a wager on who will fall in love first, their “just friends” arrangement starts to crack.
When a fake-date weekend wedding throws them together, it becomes clear the real bet might be on each other all along.

3. The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed, and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again.
And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.
Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into in unfortunate ways.
How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames?
My Rating: ★★★★

4. Betting On You by Lynn Painter
Betting on You by Lynn Painter follows Bailey and Charlie, former travel companions turned coworkers at a chaotic hotel waterpark.
What starts as constant bickering turns into easy friendship, inside jokes, and a wager about whether men and women can truly be just friends.
As fake dating, family drama, and unexpected feelings blur the lines between them, Bailey and Charlie must decide if their growing connection is worth risking everything, especially when a hidden bet threatens to undo it all.
Better Than the Movies Book Series Review
The Better Than the Movies book series is exactly what it promises to be: a love letter to rom-coms, first loves, and the messy, magical moments that make romance stories so irresistible.
Lynn Painter perfectly captures that cinematic feeling of falling in love, blending humour, heart, and emotional growth in a way that feels both comforting and fresh.
Whether you’re a longtime romance reader, a fan of YA love stories, or simply searching for a feel-good series that’s easy to devour, the Better Than the Movies book series is an easy recommendation.
And once you’ve turned the final page, diving into the More Books by Lynn Painter to Read section feels less like an option and more like an inevitability.
Some stories really are better than the movies, and this series proves it.
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By Orlagh Shanks
Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and moved to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.

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