ARC Review: Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

I was gifted a copy of the book by Simon and Schuster UK for an honest review

After loving Better Than the Movies, I wasn’t sure what to expect with a sequel as the first instalment ended so nicely. But in true Lynn Painter fashion, it was pure escapism and I couldn’t put it down. She truly is a master of the rom-com genre.

We find Wes and Liz in different paths of life when the book begins, after breaking up two years prior. Wes is back at UCLA as a first year student, while Liz is in her third year.

We find a lot of information about the split sporadically at the same time some of the characters make the discoveries, especially as there’s a lack of communication throughout. This at times was frustrating but it did make sense because of how they had previously left things.

I liked how the author portrayed the grief Wes felt following his dad’s death and the glimpses we get of his new family life. His bond with his sister was nice to read about and her quirky nature shone through the pages.

It felt realistic how Liz struggled to move on from how things ended with Wes and be friendly towards him, even once she starts to understand more about their past and the real reasons he had to drop out of university.

One plot point that truly stood out was how much the characters had grown individually during the split. I liked seeing Liz’s school life and the successes she was having behind the camera. Liz had become a tougher person and a lot more independent during their time apart.

My one critique would be how Wes sometimes came across a lot more selfish and demanding than in the first novel which seemed out of character. I think it’s played off as a cheeky nature but sometimes it came across as too overbearing and slightly jarring.

The university setting was great. We got to meet lots of new characters that were good for the story. Clark in particular is a new favourite due to the antics he creates. Wes’ teammates also added a lot of humour with their silly jokes and how they teased Wes. It felt like a fun and inviting place with the parties, the fancy apartment and social gatherings.

There’s a lot of movie and music references throughout which make the book unique and in a way, it comes to life like a film. Similar to the first book, each chapter starts with a quote from a famous movie – from Bridget Jones’ Diary to Clueless. It was fun seeing little easter eggs of some of my favourite rom-coms scattered throughout. At the back there’s a playlist of the songs mentioned so readers can read along to the playlist as well.

Nothing Like the Movies shouldn’t be missed if you love a good rom-com. It’s a lighthearted sequel with a lot of depth.

Rating: 4/5

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Have you read any Lynn Painter books before? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

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