Better Than the Movies
A rom-com obsessed teen enlists her nemesis to win back her crush
By Ember · Updated July 2, 2026
Better Than the Movies follows Liz, whose childhood crush returns to town before senior year. She enlists her annoying neighbor Wes to help win the crush back, recreating iconic rom-com moments. Naturally, helping Liz chase another guy makes Wes realize his own feelings.
Painter writes YA contemporary romance with genuine charm. Liz's obsession with rom-coms isn't quirk for quirk's sake, it's how she processes her grief over her mother's death and her longing for perfect love story. The film references are integrated into emotional arc rather than just window dressing.
The romance develops through forced proximity and genuine friendship. Wes isn't secretly perfect, he's annoying and competitive and also paying attention in ways that matter. The shift from antagonism to friendship to romance feels natural, and the coming-of-age elements about grief and identity add emotional weight.
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Quick answer
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter follows Liz, rom-com obsessed teen enlisting annoying neighbor Wes to help win back childhood crush. YA contemporary romance features enemies-to-lovers, film references integrated into emotional arc about grief and fantasy versus reality, and sweet coming-of-age energy as Liz learns person showing up matters more than perfect moments.
A rom-com obsessed teen enlists her nemesis to win back her crush
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Why readers search for books like Better Than the Movies
You want YA romance that understands rom-coms without being cynical about them. Books that love the tropes sincerely while also recognizing real life is more complicated than movie montages. Characters who think in film references but learn that perfect moments require real vulnerability.
You're drawn to enemies-to-lovers where the enemy phase is more irritation than cruelty. Where characters push each other's buttons but aren't actually mean, where underneath the bickering is genuine attention and care.
What you're after is the satisfaction of realizing the right person was there all along. The moment when the fantasy crush reveals itself as shallow compared to the person who's been showing up, paying attention, caring about your actual life rather than the version you perform.
The reader take
Painter writes YA romance with charm and emotional depth. The rom-com references serve the story rather than overwhelming it. Liz's arc about processing grief through fantasy and learning to value real connection over perfect moments is satisfying. Wes is annoying and attentive in equal measure. Sweet without being saccharine.
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Book recommendations
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han
Fake dating with childhood nemesis becoming real. Han writes YA contemporary with similar sweetness and emotional authenticity.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Coming-of-age summer romance with childhood friends and first love. Han writes grief and growth alongside romance.
Tweet Cute
by Emma Lord
Anonymous online connection and in-person rivalry. Lord writes YA rom-com with charm and genuine emotion beneath the banter.
You Have a Match
by Emma Lord
DNA test reveals secret sister, complicated family dynamics. Lord writes identity and belonging alongside romance.
The Hating Game
by Sally Thorne
Adult version of enemies-to-lovers with similar banter and slow realization that antagonism was masking attraction.
Common questions
Is Better Than the Movies appropriate for all ages?
It's YA contemporary, so there's no explicit content. Some kissing, but it's sweet and age-appropriate. The emotional themes about grief might be heavy for younger readers.
Do I need to know rom-coms to enjoy it?
No. Painter provides enough context that you can enjoy without catching every reference. That said, if you love rom-coms, the references add extra layer of fun.
Is there a sequel?
Yes, Nothing Like the Movies follows the same characters after high school. It's more mature in tone while maintaining Painter's charm.
Related books like
The Summer I Turned Pretty
A girl spends every summer with two brothers at their beach house
Red, White & Royal Blue
The First Son and a British prince fake a friendship and fall for real
The Hating Game
Office rivalry so intense it starts to look like devotion
Funny Story
A fake couple, a real heartbreak, and the roommate who becomes home
Common in these genres
Ready for your story? Imagine living it.
Obsessed with recreating movie-perfect moments with your childhood crush, not noticing your annoying neighbor is the one actually seeing you? Ember writes that revision into story. Imagine planning grand gestures that feel hollow while small kindnesses from unexpected source feel more real than any script. Where choosing authenticity over fantasy means admitting you were wrong about almost everything.
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