Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter Summary
Overview of Nothing Like the Movies
When love meets college chaos, Wes and Liz's UCLA romance faces its toughest test in Lynn Painter's emotional sequel. Complete with rom-com quotes and a curated soundtrack, this Junior Library Guild selection has readers tearfully turning pages, wondering if movie-perfect love can survive real life.
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Key takeaways
When Heartbreak Returns with a Curveball
Love stories rarely follow the neat arcs we see in romantic comedies. In "Nothing Like the Movies," we meet Wes Bennett and Liz Buxbaum, two people whose love story was derailed by tragedy and misunderstanding. Two years after their painful breakup, Wes has returned to college life with renewed purpose. Once a promising UCLA baseball player with scouts eyeing him for the minor leagues, he had abandoned everything when his father suddenly died of an aneurysm. Now he's back as a twenty-year-old freshman, determined to seize his second chance-including reconnecting with Liz, the girl whose heart he deliberately broke for what he believed were noble reasons. What Liz doesn't know is that their breakup wasn't what it seemed. Wes had ended things not because he stopped loving her, but because he believed setting her free was the only way to prevent her from sacrificing her dreams to support him through his family crisis. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the person who shattered your heart suddenly reappeared in your carefully reconstructed life? This is the question at the heart of this emotional journey through the complicated terrain of first love, heartbreak, and the messy reality of reconnection.
Finding Solid Ground After the Storm
When Pretending Becomes Complicated
Ghosts That Follow Us Home
Truth That Changes Everything
When Chemistry Defies Logic
Finding Courage to Love Again
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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