"Better Than the Movies" by Lynn Painter is a sweet and funny young adult romantic comedy. It follows perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum, who has long held a crush on Michael, her childhood friend who moved away. When Michael returns, Liz is determined to get his attention and secure him as her prom date. To do this, she finds herself reluctantly enlisting the help of her annoying, yet attractive, next-door neighbor and nemesis, Wes Bennet. As Liz and Wes scheme to get her the perfect movie-worthy prom moment, Liz begins to question her perceptions of love and what a "happily ever after" truly means, realizing that real-life romance might be even better than the movies.