Review Detail

NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES by Lynn Painter is the second novel in which we readers get to follow along as Wes and Liz’s love story unfolds. However, instead of picking up where we blissfully left off in BETTER THAN THE MOVIES, or the novellas in between, Wes’ life has gone off the rails, and as a result, the two are no longer the madly-in-love couple we knew. Wes has broken Liz’s heart and she’s determined to forget him. Only, Wes knows Liz is the one for him and once he gets his life together, he’s prepared to get her back. However, in their time apart, Liz has changed. She’s no longer the girl next door he knew, and Wes may no longer fit into her life at all.

The beginning of this book is very unexpected and it took a second for me to accept what had happened. However, I really like how Painter holds back on giving us all the details upfront, so that by the time we finally have the full story we can totally understand how it all transpired and appreciate both characters points of view. That said, I still find it hard to believe that Liz’s parents lived next door to Wes the whole time this was playing out and had zero inkling what was going on, nor did they offer to help beyond a singular phone call. Though, I’m willing to put that aside, because true to form, Painter takes us on a ride with this book!

I honestly believe only an author as talented as Painter could break apart such a solid couple, find the boy-loses-girl story, and make it so darn entertaining. The characters have definitely matured in this sequel, and I enjoyed getting to see them grow up and explore the world. I especially loved the role Wes’ sister plays in this narrative, and it’s fun to get more of her sassiness and snark. I also loved all of the new characters, particularly Wes’ teammates and Liz’s roommates.

This is such a slow burn of a novel, but it has an enormous payoff in the end. While the events are sad, I’m really glad Painter chose to shine a light on difficulties many young kids may experience, while at the same time, showcasing what it’s like to be there for your family, go after your dreams, and not always have the right answer.

NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES is a solid follow-up to one of the best-penned romances that deserves its space next to all the love stories quoted in the chapter beginnings.