Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

Welcome back, guys, to another book review! Wow, if there’s one thing I love about school breaks (and there’s more than one thing), having tons of time to get through my TBR list is it. I’ve read four books over break and I’m on my fifth, which will probably continue into beginning school again. But, I love having time to get absorbed by my books and spend the whole day finishing one of my five-star reads. Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter was kind of the last hurrah for this winter break’s reads, because I finished it yesterday (still on the brain!) and I start school again in two days. But, it was an awesome last hurrah, I loved it so much, and I think it’s in my favorite romance books and Beach Read. Those two are just—agh!! So good!

So, because I’ve been reading books voraciously over the past two weeks on break, I read BTTM in about two days. Let me tell you: loved those two days so much. I always forget how much I love soft romances full of idyllic fluff. I’m always reading my trifecta: Feminine Classics TM (aka elitism), hardcore romantasy, or world-based, often heartbreaking novels. That’s the span of main genres I love to read and read consistently, but there are outliers. Like, right now, I’m reading 1984 which is written by a *man* I know, guys, that’s so weird of me to be reading a book by a *man* but it’s actually pretty good right now, so let me see if it ends up pulling through. Anyway, back to my main point before I got distracted, I don’t normally or consistently read fluffy romances, though I guess you could categorize the Off-Campus series and Icebreaker as fluff. However, I would argue that they’re not quintessentially fluffy and neither is the Twisted series. So, no, I don’t normally read fluff romance.

However, I always forget just how much fluff wrecks me, ’cause when I read Beach Read, boy, was I a puddle of absolute tears. I don’t cry that often when I read (many, MANY other emotions, but not usually crying) so I know I’m in for it when the only books I think I’ve ever cried while reading are both fluffy books. Like, I can read depressing, heart-wrenching novels and even fantasy, which have a lot of super sad moments, and never cry. But give me a little bit of fluff and heart-string pulls? Puddle of complete tears, am I. It’s pathetic, seriously.

Better Than The Movies was no exception because even though I forgot just how much light romances wreck me, I was still a puddle of tears by the end of this adorable book. I loved the idyllic storyline and adored the rom-com, romantic appreciation, and Taylor Swift references that Lynn Painter put in—a recipe for success. Such an adorably sunny and sweet read after the rollercoaster of my previous reads over break (The Cruel Prince, Icebreaker, and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous). I was immediately a simp for Wes Bennett, even though I was a bit uncomfy drooling over a guy who shared my last name. It’s fine, he’s so awesome, it made up for that!

By the end, all the sappy amazingness of this book had me bawling my eyes out at 8 am (don’t even ask, I like to finish a good book first thing when I wake up) and haven’t stopped thinking about it. I’m in love with Wes—it has been confirmed, everyone’s invited to the wedding—and I loved the entire vibe of this book. I’m always reminded of how much I love this genre of light, fluffy romances and I need to read more. Though I have said I also want to read more dark romances, so I’m not sure how those two things are going to coincide….recs, anybody?

Genre: light romance, Y/A, fluff, rom-com, fiction

Age: 12+

Rating: 10/10