Better Than the MoviesBetter Than the Movies
What it's about
Liz Buxbaum has loved Michael Young for years, and now that he's moved back to town, she'll do anything to get his attention and maybe a prom date, even befriend Wes Bennet, her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor, who has been a pain since they were kids. As Liz and Wes scheme to get her noticed, she starts to wonder whether her real romantic comedy is happening right next door.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent more than 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a funny, warm teen rom-com full of movie references that readers adore.
You'll love it if you liked
The Fault in Our Stars
The Deal
The Love HypothesisGood to know
It's a young-adult romance, sweet rather than steamy. Its sequel is Nothing Like the Movies.
By the numbers
- Readers53 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller68 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #31 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #36 of the 233 romances we rank
- #94 of the 481 new books we rank
- #527 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Uplifting
More by Lynn Painter
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The Hawthorne Legacy
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It Ends with UsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Better Than the Movies worth reading?
Yes. It has spent more than 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #527 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Better Than the Movies about?
Liz Buxbaum has loved Michael Young for years, and now that he's moved back to town, she'll do anything to get his attention and maybe a prom date, even befriend Wes Bennet, her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor, who has been a pain since they were kids. As Liz and Wes scheme to get her noticed, she starts to wonder whether her real romantic comedy is happening right next door.
How long does it take to read Better Than the Movies?
About 9 hours (368 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Better Than the Movies?
If you liked it, try The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, The Deal by Elle Kennedy or The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.