Fun, sweet romance tips hat to romcom films and tropes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Teens swear regularly, mostly "ass," "piss," and "s--t" or variants of those words. There are a few instances of "damn, "bitch," and "hell." "F--king" is used twice as an adjective.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
A couple of scenes of passionate kissing between the main couple. Teen characters make joking references to sexual activity that isn't actually taking place, such as grinding, banging, and boot-knocking. Liz mentions that is she's "still (sort of) a virgin."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Popular culture references on almost every page, especially movies and music. A romantic comedy is quoted at the beginning of each chapter, and characters watch and/or discuss romcoms. Those mentioned frequently include: Bridget Jones's Diary, Kate & Leopold, Pretty Woman, Sweet Home Alabama, When Harry Met Sally, 10 Things I Hate About You, and You've Got Mail. The characters are reading The Great Gatsby for a lit class and discuss it frequently. Many songs and musicians are mentioned, including everyone from James Taylor to Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder to Jay-Z. Brand names mentioned include Barbie, Burger King, Cheesecake Factory, Chucks (Converse), Diet Coke, Gap, Google, and McDonald's. Though there are lots of these references, they don't feel like product placement, more just scene setting.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Mentions of beer bongs, beer breath, and Fireball. Liz and Wes attend a keg party. Wes doesn't drink because he's driving, and Liz only takes a sip of her beer. Other characters are drinking at the party, and a girl vomits on Liz. Wes and Liz smoke a Swisher Sweet cigar at the firepit. It's Liz's first time smoking, and she doesn't like it.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Liz's mom died before the action of the book begins in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Wes and Liz are in a minor car accident during a rainstorm.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Honest and open communication is important in close relationships of all kinds, particularly when dealing with grief and other challenging emotions. Admitting mistakes and showing humility helps heal broken relationships. Compassionate and supportive family and friends can be trusted and depended upon.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Throughout the story, Liz learns that hiding her grief and lying in general are not helping her situation. She realizes that she can only continue to heal and improve relationships through honesty. Her dad and stepmom are supportive and loving parents. Wes is compassionate, honest, accepting, and open-minded.
Educational Value
very little
Readers may learn a bit about the grieving process. They also learn about romcom plots and cliches.
Diverse Representations
very little
There's some gender diversity in the way the teenage characters are represented. Liz doesn't care about popular fashion trends, and Wes enjoys both sports and romcoms and mentions more than once that appearances aren't the most important aspect in a romantic attraction. Michael is a fan of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, on which the first season of Bridgerton is based. Characters read White.
Parents need to know that Lynn Painter's Better Than the Movies is a sweet teen romance and a fun tribute to the romcom genre. The plot highlights romance, family, and friendships: Main character Liz Buxbaum is navigating her last year of high school and looking for love with an old crush while also grieving the loss of her mom. Characters swear regularly, mostly "ass" and "s--t," plus two uses of "f---ing." Teens attend a keg party, although the main characters drink little or nothing. There's kissing and some sexual innuendo. Expect lots of references to popular romcom films, songs, and musicians (the songs on Wes and Liz's soundtrack are listed at the end of the book). Themes include communication, compassion, honesty, and humility.
Teen romcom is sweet; has overall tame content, some swearing.
Better than the movies was one of the book I read recently, and here's a few things I have to say. The romance doesn't go beyond kissing and innuendo. A keg party takes place where some characters drink but aren't drunk; the major characters drink very little or nothing (one takes a sip of beer, the other doesn't drink at all). Swearing is present, but I don't consider it a deal-breaker. Overall, the romance, drinking, and swearing are pretty tame compared to other YA romance novels. There are messages about frank communication in a relationship, and how important it is to talk about things that bother us. All the characters in the book are great role-models, and are kind, caring, and supportive. I liked the book, it wasn't groundbreaking, but it was sweet and cute...would recommend for anyone who likes romcom films!!
What's the Story?
In BETTER THAN THE MOVIES, Liz Buxbaum is hoping to find romance with her old crush, Michael, during senior year. She's a huge fan of romcom films, a passion she shared with her screenwriter mom, who died several years ago. Liz imagines any potential romance in light of her favorite movies. Liz enlists the aid of her neighbor/lifelong frenemy, Wes, to help her get together with Michael. Things get complicated when Liz hides her scheming from her best friend, Joss. She also struggles to include her stepmom in her life as she navigates all of the "lasts" of senior year without her mom. Then, as Liz spends more time with Wes, her feelings for him begin to change. Miscommunications, mishaps, and misunderstandings start to pile up. Will Liz's lies and secrets catch up with her? Will her idea of a dream romance prevent her from having a true one?
This sweet romantic comedy is entertaining and a lot of fun. Liz is a quirky but relatable teen who likes wearing boldly patterned dresses with pockets, reading novels, and watching romcom films. Although her scheming and lies can be frustrating at times, she's ultimately an endearing character, and readers will root for her. Liz's grief over her mother's absence during her senior year is movingly and realistically portrayed. As for humor, the banter between Liz and Wes is laugh-out-loud funny at times. Wes is kind, compassionate, and open-minded, a positive teen boy role model. Many romcom cliches are included in the plot of Better Than the Movies, including a makeover, fake dating, and "enemies to lovers." Not all readers will get all of the references, especially since some of the films mentioned have an older target audience than that of the book. But overall, readers who like romcoms will find much to love in this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how grief is addressed in Better Than the Movies. Why does Liz hide her grief? How does she learn humility and start to communicate more honestly with the people who care about her?
Liz often finds herself at odds with her best friend, Joss, her neighbor, Wes, and her stepmom, Helena. They all care about Liz very much. In what ways are they compassionate toward her?
Romance is the main theme of the book, and many classic romcom films are mentioned. Do you enjoy romantic comedies? If so, what are your favorites, and why? If not, why not?
Available on:
Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle, App
Last updated:
August 16, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Mary Krawczyk
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
