Better Than the Movies Summary

Liz Buxbaum is a high school senior with a deep love for romance movies, forged through cherished memories of watching them with her late mother. These films shape her views on love and relationships, creating a desire for a perfect, dependable boyfriend; her image of love is influenced by idealistic lessons from her past. As Liz navigates her final year of high school, her journey leads her through unexpected twists and turns, shifting her once simple expectations of romance.

Liz’s childhood neighbor, Wes Bennet, creates a playful yet competitive dynamic in her life. He embodies everything she thinks she should avoid, being sarcastic and irritating—a true foil to her romantic ideals. Their long-standing rivalry come into play often, most notably when they argue over a single parking spot on their street. While tensions arise from their antagonistic interactions, there's an underlying hint of their potential to understand each other beyond surface-level conflicts.

When Michael, Liz’s childhood crush, unexpectedly returns to town, she rekindles her infatuation and dreams of attending prom with him. Although her best friend Joss cautions her, Liz is determined to win Michael over. She reluctantly enlists Wes’s assitance in her romantic pursuit, agreeing to let him take the parking spot preference in return. As Liz strategizes her plans toward the prom, she finds herself realizing there’s more to Wes than his annoying exterior.

In chasing Michael, Liz gradually notices that her insistence on crafting the "perfect movie romance" is damaging the friendships around her—as well as pushing her stepmother away. During late-night chats and submitting to the candid moments shared, Liz does begin to reassess her previous thoughts on Wes, noticing parts of his character that don’t align with the bad-boy stereotype she had thought defined him.

As Liz’s infatuation with Michael continues, she faces disappointing reality checks; her expectations of passionate romantic gestures fall flat with him. At the same time, her friendship with Wes grows more complex, leading them to confront deeper feelings. In a breakthrough moment, they share their true feelings, dismantling the walls each had built around their hearts, transforming their rivalry into something entirely unexpected.

In a pivotal scene, Liz illustrates the evolution of her understanding of love by pursuing a genuine relationship with Wes, abandoning her mythologized view of romance. This powerful choice leads to a defining moment for both of them when they share their first kiss, marking the shift from fantasy to the reality of a fulfilling relationship—indeed, “better than the movies.”

As the story closes with an epilogue, Liz and Wes prepare for their college journey together at UCLA. This signifies growth and acceptance, bringing her full circle as she reflects on how proud her mother would be to see her choose authentic love, one that embraces individuality and the realities that come along with it. Liz realizes that love doesn’t have to follow a script; it can be as genuine and messy as life itself.

Liz, also known as Libby, and Wes finally confront their misunderstandings, which have hindered their relationship. After working on her friendships and supporting Michael with Laney, Liz realizes her true feelings for Wes. She makes the choice to pursue him and set things right between them.

Although she sees Wes with another girl briefly, they eventually find their way to their secret meeting spot. Here, they both open up about their feelings, and their honesty leads to a heartwarming confession of love. They share a kiss that symbolizes the start of them being together, marking a joyful moment in the story.

The epilogue reveals Liz and Wes getting ready to attend UCLA together. Liz feels a sense of peace within herself and believes that her mother would be proud of her. The journey of choosing real love, complete with its flaws and complexities, has brought clarity and depth to her life, highlighting the importance of authentic connections over the charm of dreams and fantasies.