Nothing Like the Movies

Better than the Movies

By: Lynn Painter

Narrated by: Charlie Bushnell, Jesse Vilinsky

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

©2024 Lynn Painter (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Lynn Painter strikes again (get it?)

Great voice actors in this book-they really captured Wes and Liz. I loved it.

Character Development

Loved the evolution of Wes and Liz. The reality of family responsibilities conflicting with a relationship was so relatable. I loved to see their growth in that struggle this second time around. Excellent work!

VOICE ACTORS BROUGHT IT TO LIFE

LYNN PAINTER I FREAKING ADORE YOU WONDER OF A WOMAN. THANK YOU FOR THIS. TRULY. I LOVE THIS SERIES. I just sobbed tears of sadness and happiness!!! Absolute masterpiece

I need therapy

I need therapy after of this angst Lynn. My god. Please make them happy. Pls

The best sequel EVER

I love Lynn Painters writing. She is my favorite author! Her stories are captivating and I love her creativity with her characters. A must read for romance lovers!

Great

It’s been a while since I was in love with a story. I need more! Loved the 2 voices Vs 1

Nothing Like the Pain… or the Comeback!

Lynn Painter’s Nothing Like the Movies takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, bringing back Liz and Wes from Better Than the Movies—only this time, they’re not together. I was devastated to find out about their breakup and the painful circumstances that led to it. The chemistry that made them so perfect in the first book was still there, but this time, it was overshadowed by heartbreak, regret, and growth. Watching Wes fight to win Liz back was both swoon-worthy and agonizing, and I was completely on board for it.

The character development in this sequel was astonishing. Both Liz and Wes had to face their own issues, making them feel even more real and relatable. Liz, once the hopeless romantic who dreamed of grand love stories, was now more guarded, and Wes, who was always the easygoing and confident guy, was forced to confront his mistakes and fight for what he wanted. Their journey was full of tension, longing, and bittersweet moments that made my heart ache and root for them even harder.

Now, let’s talk about the audiobook. The dual narration by Charlie Bushnell and Jesse Vilinsky was absolutely fantastic. Having both perspectives brought so much depth to the story, making it feel even more immersive. Bushnell captured Wes’s determination and regret so well, while Vilinsky perfectly portrayed Liz’s heartbreak and hesitant hope. Their performances added an extra layer of emotion, making the highs even sweeter and the lows even more gut-wrenching.

Overall, Nothing Like the Movies was an emotional yet satisfying follow-up. While it hurt to see Wes and Liz go through so much, it made their love story feel even more real. If you loved Better Than the Movies, this sequel is a must-listen—just be prepared for all the feels!

actually amazing

the best ending to wes and liz story I could have ever possibly imagined!!! Loved it so so much!

5 ⭐️

I will never stop loving Wes and Liz!!! They make my heart happy. Wes is the most smitten guy ever, and Liz is helpless to resist him. I don’t always love second chance romances, but this one made me kick my feet in happiness because they are soulmates. I wish I hadn’t read it so fast because now it’s over, but I guess that just means I can read it again sooner.

Lynn Painter puts something in her YA books that never fails to give me the warm fuzzies. Also, the 2.0 playlist is perfection.

Jesse Vilinsky and Charlie Bushnell killed the audiobook narration. The pining emotions came through perfectly.

Love Wes & Liz ; Narrators are fantastic ; wish the book focused more on their relationship when together

Love both characters - loved them in the first book and loved Wed even more in the second book.

I feel like the book dragged on a little too long to the final moment us all readers desperately wanted. Liz’s indifference got to the point where I found myself saying “stop thinking so much and just freaking get together with him”

I feel like in both books we didn’t get enough insight into their relationship while in love and happy and that fantastic connection they have. That is something I wish would have been in the book - less of the build up exchanged for a few chapters of them in love and their banter.