Table of Contents
About The Book
A USA TODAY and New York Times bestseller
Perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, this “sweet and funny” (Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks) teen rom-com follows a hopelessly romantic teen girl and her cute yet obnoxious neighbor as they scheme to get her noticed by her untouchable crush.
Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.
The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.
But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.
About The Author
Lynn Painter is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, The Do-Over, Betting on You, Mr. Wrong Number, The Love Wager, Nothing Like the Movies, Fake Skating, and Trust Fall. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. You can find her at LynnPainter.com, on Instagram @LynnPainterBooks, on X @LAPainter, and on TikTok @WesBennettsMom.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (January 6, 2026)
- Length: 384 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665990301
- Ages: 12 - 99
Raves and Reviews
"Better Than the Movies is a sweet and funny love letter to romantic comedies that shows how happily ever afters can help us navigate our toughest moments. I loved watching Liz learn that unexpected plot twists sometimes make the best stories. Perfect for anyone who wishes their life had a film-worthy soundtrack, a quirky wardrobe, and a memorable meet cute."
– Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks
Awards and Honors
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List High School Title
- Golden Archer Award Nominee (WI)
- TAYSHAS Reading List (TX)
- Grand Canyon Reader Award (AZ)
- Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominee
- Rhode Island Teen Book Award
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Better Than the Movies (Collector's Edition)
Paper Over Board 9781665990301
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Author Photo (jpg): Lynn Painter Photo by Jackson Okun(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
