Better Than the Movies

Liz Buxbaum has built her life around romantic comedies, soundtrack moments, and the happily-ever-after wisdom left behind by her late mother. When her childhood crush Michael Young suddenly returns to town, Liz is convinced the universe has delivered her dream prom date at exactly the right time.

There is only one problem: Michael is already drifting toward another girl, and Liz needs help getting his attention. Unfortunately, the only person with the right social access is Wes Bennett, her irritating next-door nemesis and longtime rival in a brutal parking-space war. Their fake dating plan begins as strategy, but every party disaster, late-night conversation, and stolen moment in the rain pushes Liz toward a truth no movie prepared her for.

• Listeners who love enemies-to-lovers teen romance with sharp banter and emotional payoff.
• Fans of romantic comedies, movie references, prom drama, and grand gestures.
• Readers who want a sweet love story with grief, family healing, and self-discovery beneath the humor.

Lynn Painter is an author from Omaha, Nebraska. She writes romantic, funny, character-driven stories and has also contributed to the Omaha World-Herald parenting section.