Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

 

4*

Nothing Like the Movies is the long-awaited sequel to Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies, a sweet, clean, YA second chance romance. I wish I had reread the first before I began this one, not because it can’t stand alone, but because I wanted, fresh in my mind, Wes and Liz’s origin story and the place where they left off.

Liz and Wes were next-door neighbors in Omaha, and Wes enjoyed antagonizing her as all little boys do when they like a girl. It wasn’t until their senior year, when Liz’s old crush Michael moved back, that she and Wes faked a relationship in the hopes of getting Michael to finally notice her. As so often happens, after spending so much time together, they realized that their feelings had gone from frenemy to love. This story picks up as Liz is entering her third year at UCLA where she started with Wes as a freshman until his father’s sudden death forced him to drop out and quit a very promising baseball career. So, imagine Liz’s surprise when she sees that he’s back and eager to rekindle their relationship despite breaking her heart (and his own). Liz, in a misguided attempt to dissuade him, fakes another relationship, this time with her very platonic roommate Clark. When her new internship has her enmeshed with the baseball team, filming their every move in the preseason, it becomes harder and harder for her to ignore Wes’s efforts, especially when she finally learns the truth about what happened that led to their breakup.

Although I didn’t find this sequel quite as entertaining as Better Than the Movies, I think it’s because of the suffering these two delightful kids went through to find their way back to each other. Wes is quite clueless when he thinks he can just work his charm on Liz and she’ll fall back into his arms, but she’s not having it. I enjoyed watching each of them excelling, Liz with her sports video productions and Wes with his exceptional pitching (when he can get his head back in the game after recalling his father’s critical comments). There’s a good balance of humorous banter and painful vulnerability, and side characters provide encouragement and guidance to help Wes and Liz recognize the truth of their complicated feelings. I also enjoyed the rom-com movie quotes at the start of each chapter, my recognition proof of my unapologetic love for the genre. Once again, Painter has demonstrated why she’s a star in the YA romance world. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BFYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

4*

Romance books sell more than any other genre, yet they’re often seen as guilty pleasures or dirty little secrets. As Del says in this book, “...toxic masculinity permeates even the most mundane things in life. If masses of women like something, our society automatically begins to mock them. Just like romance novels. If women like them, they must be a joke, right?” Yet, it’s these same books that this group of high-powered men use as self-help manuals to learn how women think, how toxic masculinity can destroy relationships, and how to shed it to win back their wives and girlfriends. The premise of a romance book club for men is laudable for its unique approach although it’s never explained how the group formed, they don’t hold regular meetings, and only half of the members appear throughout the book. Inexplicably, one of them is Braden Mack, a single flirt whose sole purpose seems to be to throw snarky and annoying roadblocks in Gavin’s path. Aside from the club, however, the story follows a standard romantic trope of a couple (Gavin and his wife Thea) who aren’t honest with each other and who will destroy their marriage if they don’t revisit their past (“backstory”) to acknowledge the baggage that stands in their way. It’s a fun and often frustrating read, and romance readers will enjoy the spin.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington

4*

Aiden, his school’s star baseball pitcher until life throws him a curveball in the form of vision loss, abruptly quits the team without explanation. Over the summer, he works at River Depot, his family’s outdoor adventure business and devotes his time and energy to finding an art form that inspires him. Olivia, who lives with the aunt who has raised her after her mother left to “find herself”, is dumped by her lifelong friend-turned-boyfriend Zander, loses a great job writing for a local newspaper when they are forced to sell the business, and finds out that she’ll be moving to Arizona at the end of the summer for her aunt’s new job. Desperate to salvage what she can of the summer, she begins work at River Depot and vows to focus on her writing.

Although Zander and Aiden’s were teammates, he and Olivia have to dispel misconceptions and acknowledge the break-up before they can begin to build a romantic attachment. As trust builds, Aiden reveals his vision loss and Olivia her family issues. However, she doesn’t tell him about her impending move. When the truth comes out, will Aiden’s sense of betrayal destroy their relationship?

There’s much to love in this character-driven coming-of-age romance. Aiden is the perfect boyfriend and their relationship is adorable. Pennington’s choice of Lake Michigan as the beautiful backdrop for their love story is brilliant and their visit to the Grand Rapids ArtPrize festival serves as the perfect inspirational vehicle for Aiden’s large-scale projects. The dual points of view give the reader a more complete picture of their relationship. She also introduces Aiden’s gay cousin Ellis while avoiding the stereotypical “gay best friend” trope.

However, there are some minor flaws that bear addressing. Problems that seem monumental are too easily resolved, such as Olivia’s renewed relationship with her mother and Aiden’s vision loss that is never fully-explained. When Olivia’s boyfriend Zander breaks up with her, she doesn’t seem very heartbroken. It also seems problematic to leave fate to a coin toss, which is cute only the first time.

Overall, it’s a perfect quick summer read with an charming romance and a refreshing lack of teen angst. Give this to fans of Sarah Dessen, Kasie West and Huntley Fitzpatrick


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Tor Teen through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.