Better than the movies Lynn Painter

"Better Than the Movies" is a young adult romance novel by American author Lynn Painter, published on May 4, 2021, by Simon & Schuster. The book gained popularity through BookTok with the release of its paperback edition in 2022. The plot follows Liz Buxbaum, a romantic comedy fan who uses these films to connect with her late screenwriter mother. In her senior year of high school, Liz attempts to turn her romantic fantasies into reality when her long-term crush, Michael, moves back to her hometown. To get his attention, Liz convinces her next-door neighbor, Wes Bennett, to pretend to be attracted to her, despite Wes being a source of irritation for Liz since they were children. As they scheme together, Liz develops a genuine interest in Wes.