Review: Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Title: Mr. Wrong Number

Series: Mr. Wrong Number #1

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: Adult, contemporary romance

Publication date: March 2022

Published by: Berkley

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall... or maybe she’s just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing...

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks—and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I never thought I'd have a favorite romance author, but here we are, because I think Lynn Painter is my favorite romance author 😆 Everything I have read by this author I have enjoyed—including this book!

Review: Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

Title: Fake Skating

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: September 2025

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter comes a heartfelt and banter-filled rom-com about childhood sweethearts whose icy reunion in their hockey-loving hometown unexpectedly thaws when they fake a romantic relationship.

Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend. Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t.

Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance to confront him on his MIA status for all these years). But teenage Alec is nothing like the kid Dani remembers. He’s a hockey star in a town where hockey players are worshiped as gods. Dani’s place as his shadow has been taken up by drooling female fans... and he loves it.

Dani is resolved to ice out her former best friend until an unlikely series of events brings them together—and forces them to fake being a couple. Once forced together, the former childhood sweethearts begin to reconnect, unearth complicated family secrets, and face their true feelings towards each other…including the real reason Alec has been pushing Dani away all these years.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

I don't read many romances, but damn if I don't love a Lynn Painter book! 😍 Over the years, I've come to discover what I like and don't like in a romance, and for me, Lynn Painter just does romance right! They're so cute!

Review: Wes & Liz’s College Road Trip (Better than the Movies #1.7) by Lynn Painter

Title: Wes & Liz’s College Road Trip

Series: Better than the Movies #1.7

Previous book in this series: Better than the Movies

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: January 2022

Published by: Lynn Painter

Source: Read online

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Synopsis: Elizabeth Buxbaum and Wesley Bennett are on their way to the University of California. But Liz is in no rush, because hitting the road with Wes and laughing at his jokes is more fun than anything else in the world. As they cross the country and see beautiful landscapes through the car window, Wes and Liz will create a soundtrack, rescue an abandoned cat on the road, get into trouble, kiss a lot and maybe even find the courage to say those three magic words. But they both know that when they reach their destination, nothing will be the same. By leaving their hometown and adolescence behind, they are also opening the doors to new possibilities, and the future may be surprising.

My rating: ★★★★★

I’ve had my eye on this short story for a while, and after I finished reading Nothing Like the Movies, which gave me a book hangover, I thought that would be the perfect time to finally read it! And I loved it! Which is not surprising because Lynn Painter does not miss... especially when it comes to WesLiz.

Review: Nothing Like the Movies (Better than the Movies #2) by Lynn Painter

Title: Nothing Like the Movies

Series: Better than the Movies #2

Previous book in this series: Better than the Movies

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: October 1st, 2024

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: eARC for review from publisher via Netgalley

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Synopsis: In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

My rating: ★★★★★

Better Than The Movies ended with a wonderful Happily Ever After, so going into this I knew something was going to happen with Wes and Liz, but I was not ready for how heartbreaking this book ended up being...

I can't breathe without you, but I have to...

Review: Nothing Better Than You (Better than the Movies #1.6) by Lynn Painter

Title: Nothing Better Than You

Series: Better than the Movies #1.6

Previous book in this series: Better than the Movies

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: August 30th 2024

Published by: Simon Teen

Source: Read online

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Synopsis: Experience Wes and Liz’s first kiss from Better Than the Movies from Wes’s point of view!

My rating: ★★★★★

The way I am so infatuated with how infatuated Wes is with Liz...

God, I’m such an idiot for her.

Review: The 15th of December by Lynn Painter

Title: The 15th of December: A WesLizNickEmilieBaileyCharlie Christmas

Crossover sequel novella of: Better Than The Movies | The Do-Over | Betting on You

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: December 15th 2023

Published by: Lynn Painter

Source: Read online

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Synopsis: Wes and Liz and Nick and Emilie and Charlie and Bailey - the whole gang - are out doing holiday things in Omaha TONIGHT - December 15th!!

My rating: ★★★★★

I was so excited to read this novella! A crossover between all of Lynn Painter’s YA characters?! Yes, please!

Review: Better Than The Movies (Extras) by Lynn Painter

Title: Better Than The Movies (Extras)

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date:

Published by: Lynn Painter

Source: Read online

Add them on Goodreads: Liz's Proposal | The Party

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Synopsis: Scenes in Wes's POV from Better Than The Movies.

My rating: ★★★★★

I love these Wes POV scenes! Once I started reading them I couldn’t stop! They are just so cute!

Review: Better Than Before (Better Than The Movies #0.5, Betting on You #0.5) by Lynn Painter

Title: Better Than Before

Crossover prequel novella of: Better Than The Movies | Betting on You

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: November 2023

Published by: Simon Teen

Source: Read online

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Synopsis: Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies collides with Betting on You when, after meeting the annoyingly cute Bailey on his flight, Charlie gets picked at the airport up by his cousin, Wes, who introduces him to his annoyingly cute neighbor, Liz.

My rating: ★★★★☆

There's just something about a girl that hates your guts.

Excuse me, but you’re telling me that Wes and Charlie are cousins??

Review: Better Than The Prom (Better Than The Movies #1.5) by Lynn Painter

Title: Better Than The Prom

Series: Better Than The Movies #1.5

Previous book in this series: Better Than The Movies

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: August 2022

Published by: Simon Teen

Source: Read online

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Synopsis: Prom night has arrived, and Wes Bennett couldn’t be less excited.

Not only is he not going with Liz, the girl he’s loved his entire life, but Liz is going with Michael, the guy she’s loved her entire life. Talk about a nightmare.

They manage to avoid each other at the event, but every glance he steals of her in that gown, smiling up at her date, feels like a punch to his solar plexus.

But when she’s waiting for him after he ditches the dance, he realizes that nothing about the prom even matters.

Because Liz Buxbaum, in Chuck Taylors and a sweatshirt under the streetlight that shines above their spot, is actually far better than the prom.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I loved Better than the Movies so I was so excited when I found out that there was an extra scene written in Wes’s POV.

Review: Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

Title: Better Than The Movies

Series: Better Than The Movies #1

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: May 2021

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar - and maybe snag him as a prom date - even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love - and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.

My rating: ★★★★★

This was the second Lynn Painter book I read and I freaking loved it! I don’t read a lot of contemporary romances, but when I read two in a row by the same author, that’s how you know it’s good!

Review: Betting on You by Lynn Painter

Title: Betting on You

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: November 28th 2023

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: eARC for review from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip.

Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance, but books like the ones Lynn Painter writes are honestly making me realize that I may enjoy them more than I once thought.

Review: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Title: The Do-Over

Author: Lynn Painter

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: November 15th 2022

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

My rating: ★★★★★

Oh my god, not me requesting an ARC of a contemporary romance, being excited after being approved, and then absolutely loving the book after reading it! Sometimes I don't even recognize myself 😆 But honestly, I'm enjoying diving into and exploring this genre that just years ago I would not touch. And this book is probably one of my favorite contemporary books I have ever read! (To be fair, I haven't read that many, but still 😆)