Better Than the Movies Book Series by Lynn Painter: Review

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!

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.