Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter: Spring Outfit Ideas Inspired by Liz Buxbaum

My book club picked up Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter a few weeks ago and I will be honest with you, we were not all on the same page about it. Some of us were completely swooning, some of us were a little frustrated with Liz, and all of us agreed that Wes Bennett deserved the world. Which is honestly a pretty fun book club conversation to have, so no regrets on the pick.

The Book Club Verdict: Wes Carried, Liz Tried

If you have been in a reading slump or just need something light and easy to carry you into spring, this one genuinely delivers on the rom-com energy it promises. It reads exactly like a movie, complete with quotes from classic rom-coms at the start of every chapter, which was one of our favorite touches. Our group just skews a little more "adult" in our reading taste, so the squeaky-clean YA vibe was not universally loved, but the banter between Liz and Wes had everyone smiling, whether we wanted to admit it or not.

The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic who has been in love with her childhood crush, Michael, since kindergarten. When he moves back to town right before prom, she sees her shot. The problem is that getting close to Michael means teaming up with Wes Bennett, her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor and longtime rival, who somehow has become Michael's best friend. What starts as a scheme to get Liz noticed quickly turns into something neither of them planned for.

You can grab a copy here: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

The Aesthetic: Dress Like Liz, Not for Anyone Else

There is a moment in this book where Wes looks at Liz in a dress and says "Wow. That dress is so Liz Buxbaum." and I thought about that line for days after finishing it. Not because of what the dress looked like specifically, but because of what it meant. He was not complimenting the dress. He was saying that she looked most like herself, and that was the thing he found most beautiful about her.

That is the energy I wanted to build this spring outfit around. Not a trend, not a perfectly curated look, just pieces that feel genuinely like you. Liz has a personal and slightly quirky style, she is not chasing what everyone else is wearing, and there is something really refreshing about that as an aesthetic starting point.

Book Pairing: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

This is a YA contemporary romance that earns its comparisons to your favorite 2000s rom coms. Enemies to lovers, fake dating, childhood rivals who cannot stop bickering, and a slow burn that builds in the most satisfying way. Wes Bennett is one of those book love interests that people genuinely cannot stop talking about and after reading it I completely understand why.

What gives the book a little more weight underneath the fluff is Liz's relationship with rom coms themselves. She watched them constantly with her mom before she passed away, and they became the way she stays connected to that memory. So her obsession with finding a movie-worthy love story is not just being dramatic; it is grief wrapped up in hope, and that part hit our book club harder than we expected.

Fair warning though, if you read darker or more adult romance, this one will feel very clean and very YA. Our book club was split on it for exactly that reason. But if you are in the mood for something light and swoony for a spring afternoon, it genuinely delivers.

"You Look Best When You're You": The Spring Outfit Edit

Wes tells Liz "You look best when you're you," at one point, and it is honestly the outfit advice I did not know I needed. So instead of a perfectly coordinated trend moment, here are some spring Amazon finds that feel personal, effortless, and a little bit like you picked them because you actually love them and not because an algorithm told you to.

• A Floral Maxi Skirt — something with a little personality, a fun floral print, or a detail that makes it yours, the kind of skirt someone would say is "so you" when they see it
• White Chuck Taylor Converse — effortless, a little retro, pairs with everything, and somehow always looks intentional
• A Leather Crossbody Bag — nothing too polished, something that feels lived-in and easy
• Noise Cancelling Headphones — comfortable fit, neutral color to match any outfit while keeping your in your playlist
• A 2026 Planner — something that's practical, cute, and very on-brand for Liz

Shop the full spring list here: Soft Spring Bookish Aesthetic Finds on Amazon

Whether this one ends up being your new comfort read or you finish it and go "okay but where is the spice," I hope it at least gives you an excuse to put on a dress you love and channel a little Liz Buxbaum energy this spring. And if you have already read it, you already know: enemies to lovers really is the best trope. Wes Bennett said so himself.

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