For those who fell in love with Liz and Wes in “Better Than the Movies,” Lynn Painter’s follow-up “Nothing Like the Movies” feels like a heartbreak of its own. This sequel picks up as Liz and Wes, once the ultimate rom-com couple, are following their college journeys—separately, after a poorly explained breakup. While Wes is on a mission to win Liz back through grand gestures and schemes straight out of her favorite rom-coms, Liz is unrecognizable.
In the first book, Liz was so relatable––her romcom obsession, quirky optimism, and those awkward adorable moments that made her fun to follow. But in this one? She feels like a completely different person. Apparently, Liz is now an anti-romantic cynic. She doesn’t watch romantic comedies anymore because she would rather watch football (no disrespect to football) and she’s a baseball manager/influencer/filmer.
“She’s one of the guys you know? She’s just…different,” (insert vomit sounds here) I get it, she’s more mature now, but that doesn’t mean she had to lose all her spark!
As for Wes… dear Wes. I was obsessed with him in the first book. He was sweet and funny–a perfect romcom hero. But this is not the Wes I know from BTTM. His character felt SO off. All that growling, possessiveness, and use of weird metaphors? NO THANK YOU. Why did we swap all the adorable, wholesome moments for territorial growling? “I could smell the Chanel No.5 on her skin, and I wanted to hyperventilate on it…” Why is he sniffing her?
Let’s not even get into that breakup. It felt so forced and unnecessary. I get that Wes was going through something heavy cough cough*—dead dad—*cough, but pushing Liz away like that? It didn’t make sense—the unnecessary miscommunication between the characters, the break up that was never fleshed out properly, and the patch-up that seemed so rushed. Also, I didn’t sign up for emotional turmoil. If I wanted this angsty drama I would’ve picked up “If He Had Been with Me.”
This book is missing the bonding moments that really connect the readers to the characters; like in the first book when Wes supported Liz with Helena (her stepmother). There wasn’t enough of that or enough of him finding ways to talk to her properly. It was annoying that his sister had to remind him to set her straight and that they couldn’t just COMMUNICATE.
But instead of focusing on rebuilding the main couple, the story packs in an excessive number of side romances that feel more like filler than enriching subplots. Between secondary characters like Coach Ross and big-shot producer Lilith, and Sarah and Clark, it feels as though the author aimed to give everyone a love story without allowing Liz and Wes’s relationship room to breathe.
On the bright side, I did enjoy the few moments where Liz and Wes had that flirty banter I loved from the first book (and acted like normal humans). The romance, when it actually happened, was chef’s kiss. The scene outside the ice cream shop? I loved it! The emotional confessions? Sign me up!
Overall, “Nothing Like the Movies” was missing the heart and soul of what made “Better Than the Movies” so special. I wanted to be swept off my feet with this second-chance romance, but instead, I was left wondering where all the fun went. Anytime you’re trying to follow up a top-notch YA novel, the bar is going to be high. Will I re-read this one? No. But I’m probably going back to “Better Than the Movies” to remind myself why I adored Liz and Wes in the first place.
