Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Better Than the Movies | 2021 | Lynn Painter | Buy |
| 2 | Meglio che nei film | 2021 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 3 | Wes & Liz’s College Road Trip | 2021 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 4 | Liz’s Proposal | 2023 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 5 | The Party | 2023 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 6 | Wes e Liz na estrada | 2022 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 7 | Wes Bennett’s Vivid Dream | 2021 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 8 | Nothing Like the Movies | 2024 | Lynn Painter | Buy |
| 9 | Better Than the Prom | 2022 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 10 | Basketball Night | 2023 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 11 | Better Than Before | 2023 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 12 | The 15th of December: A WesLizNickEmilieBaileyCharlie Christmas | 2023 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
| 13 | Nothing Better Than You | 2024 | Lynn Painter | N/A |
The Better Than the Movies series began with Lynn Painter’s 2021 YA debut and quickly became one of the defining BookTok romance series for teenage readers. The central duology follows Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennett across two books that cover first love, loss, and the messiness of real relationships compared to the rom-com logic Liz grew up believing in.
The companion titles in this grouping expand the world of the original books, giving page time to characters who appeared in supporting roles in the main duology. For readers who connected strongly with the friend group and setting of the first two books, the companions offer more time in that world without requiring the central couple to carry every story.
Reading the core duology first is recommended before picking up any companions, as the companion books assume familiarity with the events of Better Than the Movies and Nothing Like the Movies.