Loving Literatures

The title covers it, folks. This romance comedy book is BETTER THAN THE MOVIES.

With the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope, forced/shared proximity (as next-door neighbors), and fake dating, this book embodies every good thing seen in rom-com films all across the board. I could envision parts of 10 Things I Hate About You, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Notebook, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The DUFF, and so many more books and films into this single book. Applause for Lynn Painter! And the rom-com quotes at the beginning of every chapter?! So so cute!

While there are some cringey parts of the book — rom-coms, pretty typical, especially those from the 2000s and 2010s — I really enjoyed this read!!

Can you hear my excitement about this book?! I’m smiling and giggling, just thinking about it!

This romance book by Painter is about enemy neighbors, Liz and Wes, who have known each other since they were kids, and suddenly, as high school seniors, team up to get Liz the boy and prom date of her childhood dreams, Michael. Michael, a childhood friend of theirs, recently moved back to town after nearly a decade away. Wes provides Liz with advice and general dating/social help in exchange for The Spot (a parking spot shared between their two houses, something they have been fighting over every day since both started driving).

But, while the popular baseball player is helping the quirky music student, their plans to fall in love with other people fall apart (shocker, ha!), as they begin to develop feelings for each other in their forced [agreed?] proximity.

Is it too late for Liz and Wes, as they’re going to the senior prom with other dates?

This book is better than the movies, and there is a sequel that I will be absorbing this weekend. I simply could not put this book down, I really read it in less than a day! What a great start to the new year!

I sacrificed a lot of sleep for this book, but do I have regrets? Absolutely not, not even for a second.

Very important end note: Wes is THE book boyfriend (aside from Percy Jackson, of course)

Exhibit A (sourced from this book):

She’s not you.

What?

She’s. Not. You.

PLEASEEEE, I CAN’T hehe

**Last little note, there is NO spice, please read it if you want a phenomenal rom-com recommendation!