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A review by blewballoon
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has an alarming number of similarities to the movie The Duff. The jock neighbor named Wes, making a deal that revolves around wooing a different guy, the jock neighbor giving the main character a makeover, a mention of a plaid red dress, a special spot in a semi secluded area, and more. The biggest differences are that there aren't really any mean girls in this book and I found the protagonist of The Duff a lot more charming, Liz drove me nuts! I was reluctant to give this 4 stars because I found her so frustrating. On the flip side, this Wes definitely beats movie Wes in terms of romantic potential. He was so obviously kind and considerate that it made the main character's irritation with him seem unreasonable.
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail