Nothing Like the Movies
by Lynn Painter
Better Than the Movies
Wes Bennett and Liz Buxbaum were about to start at UCLA together when a family tragedy pulled Wes home and ended their relationship. Months later, Wes finally makes it to campus as a pitcher for the baseball team, and Liz is there photographing the team for the athletic department. She has worked hard to protect herself from being hurt like that again, while he is determined to win her back. Kirkus calls it a worthy second-chance sports romance, with fake dates, funny friends and real heartache.
About This Book
Nothing Like the Movies is a young adult romance novel by Lynn Painter, first published in 2025 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. It is part of the Better Than the Movies series and runs 464 pages. Readers can expect second chance, fake dating, first love.
At a glance
- Genre
- Young Adult
- Trope
- Second Chance
- Length
- 464 pages
- Format
- Trade Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- When a college pitcher returns to campus to win back the girl he left behind, they navigate the complexities of past heartbreak through forced proximity.
- Fans of second-chance romance
- Readers who enjoy sports-adjacent settings
- Sentimental
- Features Second Chance
This may not be ideal if…
- Pacing might be standard for the genre
- High reliance on previously established characters
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Relatively balanced, though currently strained by individual priorities.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Young Adult readers interested in contemporary college-era romance.
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Wes Bennett and Liz Buxbaum were set to attend UCLA together until a family crisis forced Wes to withdraw, effectively ending their relationship. Now, months later, Wes has arrived at UCLA as a baseball team pitcher, and Liz is covering the team as a photographer. While Liz is determined to keep her guard up to avoid future pain, Wes is committed to winning her back, leading to a dynamic involving fake dating and lingering emotional history.
Central Conflict
The protagonist's struggle to balance her desire for emotional self-preservation with the persistent romantic overtures of an ex-partner she hasn't fully moved on from.
Setting
UCLA campus, specifically the athletic department and baseball team environment.
Strengths
- Strong established emotional core
- Clear, recognizable tropes
- Compelling central conflict
Consider before reading
- Pacing might be standard for the genre
- High reliance on previously established characters
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 4, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Lynn Painter
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Length
- 464 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781665947145
Nothing Like the Movies: quick answers
- Who wrote Nothing Like the Movies?
- Nothing Like the Movies was written by Lynn Painter.
- When was Nothing Like the Movies published?
- Nothing Like the Movies was first published in 2025 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
- What genre is Nothing Like the Movies?
- Nothing Like the Movies is a young adult romance novel, with second chance, fake dating, first love.
- How many pages is Nothing Like the Movies?
- Nothing Like the Movies is 464 pages long (Trade Paperback).
- Is Nothing Like the Movies part of a series?
- Yes — it is part of the Better Than the Movies series.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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