by Lynn Painter
We both stood there, staring at the bird. After another moment he flew away, but my heart felt lighter, like my mother had wanted to make sure I knew she was happy about me leaving. I cleared my throat and faced him. “You ready?”
“You okay?” He took two steps and was there, wrapping his big body around mine. He ran his hand over my back and said into my hair, “Because we can stay as long as you want, Liz.”
“I’m great, actually.” I pulled back and let myself stare at his handsome face, at the person who had always been there for me, even when I hadn’t wanted him to be. “Let’s go eat.”
THE SOUNDTRACK OF WES AND LIZ
Someone Like You | Van Morrison
Paper Rings | Taylor Swift
Lovers | Anna of the North
ocean eyes | Billie Eilish
Bad Liar | Selena Gomez
Public Service Announcement (Interlude) | Jay-Z
Up All Night | Mac Miller
How Would You Feel (Paean) | Ed Sheeran
Hello Operator | The White Stripes
Paradise | Bazzi
Sabotage | Beastie Boys
Feelin’ Alright | Joe Cocker
Someone Like You | Adele
Monkey Wrench | Foo Fighters
Bella Luna | Jason Mraz
Forrest Gump | Frank Ocean
Electric (feat. Khalid) | Alina Baraz
Kiss | Tom Jones
Enter Sandman | Metallica
Death with Dignity | Sufjan Stevens
We Are Young | fun. feat. Janelle Monáe
New Year’s Day | Taylor Swift
River | Joni Mitchell
Paradise | Bazzi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I should probably thank everyone on the planet, God, the universe, shooting stars, and that summer dandelion that I wished upon once, because surely, all of those things must’ve come into play in order for this to happen, right? YOU GUYS—MY NAME IS ON THE SPINE OF THIS BOOK. LIKE, DUUUUUUUUUUUDE!
Thank YOU, reader who is perusing this page. You’re part of my dream-come-true now, and I’m eternally grateful that you picked up my book.
My brilliant, wonderful, funny, epic dealmaker of an agent, Kim Lionetti. Thank God you saw something in that first rambling manuscript, because you carved out the path for this to happen for me—all I had to do was follow along. You’re a dream-maker extraordinaire, a granter of wishes, and an editorial goddess, and words cannot express how blessed I feel to have you—and the entire Bookends team (waving at you, McGowan)—in my corner.
My editor, Jessi Smith—A million thank-yous (x1000) for letting me work with you on this book. This entire experience has been the most buzzy, happy, rewarding project I ever could’ve wished for. You are a DREAM editor, and I’m so happy we get to do another book together!
The remarkable humans at SSBFYR—I’m in awe of everything you’ve done for this book. Morgan York, thank you for being the wizard who keeps everything moving. Mackenzie and Arden and the team in Canada—you guys are rock stars. Heather Palisi—in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfectly designed cover. Liz Casal—how was I lucky enough to get you as the artist for my cover? I couldn’t love it more. And the rest of the BFYR team—you are a ridiculously talented, well-oiled creative machine, and I am absolutely legit not worthy. You made my dream into a tangible object I can hold in my hand; fairy godpeople, the lot of you.
Finneas, Billie Eilish, Adele, Justin Hurwitz, Post Malone, Frank Ocean—though you will likely never see this, thank you for contributing to my BTTM writing playlist. Your music was the perfect vibe and will forever be a part of this story in my heart.
Cheyanne Young—you were my first-ever “author-friend” and you’re my total writer role model. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your feedback, advice, and venting partnership; you’re simply the best. Eww, David. I can’t wait to see your book on the big screen!
Kota Jones, Tessa Adams, Jennie Gollehon, Kelly Riibe, and Jim Plath—you guys have been kind enough to look at random garbage drafts, and I owe you big-time. Tiffany Epp—I will forever think of you as my first reader, my first fan, because you read my garbage before anyone else and liked it. Lori Anderjaska—you have mad street cred and you’re my favorite chick from the other side of the tracks. Kerbin, my manny—thanks for babysitting Kate all those nights while I was writing—sorry I never paid you.;) And Mark Goslee—thank you for putting up with me. You listen to me ramble incessantly—all day, every day—and have yet to fire (or kill) me.
Professor Anna Monardo—You made me want to be a better writer, and that changed EVERYTHING.
And now—gulp—my family:
Mom—I’m so grateful that you and dad allowed me to be a voracious, flashlight-under-the-covers, ultra-hyper reader. You fostered my obsession and enabled my habit via Scholastic book orders, so I got to live a hundred lives in my childhood through fiction. #well-traveled
MaryLee—you are the kindest person on the planet, the good sister, and I don’t deserve your support. You were the one—back in freaking 1999—who saw an author on Oprah and said to me, “You read all the time; you should write a book.” I’ve written at least ten awful books since then—probably more—but finally found one that took. So thank you. And a shout-out to your amazing clan: Brian, Josh, Jake, Rachel, Anna, Zakari, and Dontavius.
My bonus family—Phil, Barb, Marilyn, Garwood, Wendy, Scott, Joyce, Demi, and Deon. If you were overbearing or awful, I surely would’ve turned to alcohol instead of daydreaming, and this would never have happened. So thank you, in-laws, for not sucking.
My offspring—Cassidy, Tyler, Matt, Joe, and Kate. I love you guys more than I can even say, and thank you for being okay with having a mom who spends way more time daydreaming and reading than cooking, cleaning, or crafting. Also—thank you for being in so many sporty childhood activities. It gave me endless opportunities to zone out (because games with balls can be brutally boring) and follow my characters as they traversed the world in my mind. In a way, your athletic prowess (or lack thereof—looking at you, Cass) helped me hone my craft. You are five of the funniest humans I know and I couldn’t be prouder of each one of you. (P.S. Thank you Terrance and Jordyn for not only taking two of them off our hands, but for putting up with all the madness that comes with our family.)
And finally—Kevin. You’re truly the smartest, funniest, BEST human I’ve ever known and my favorite person in the world (sorry, kids). You deserve a Type-A wife who cleans like a maid and cooks like your grandma (while wearing The Good Makeup), but unfortunately, you got me and it’s too late for givesie-backsies. You’re stuck with this head-in-the-clouds, flannel-pant-wearing snorer for the rest of your life.
If it’s any consolation, I worship the ground you walk on and love every single incredible thing about you.
So here—have this book. I made it for you.
And last but not least, thank you to Starbucks, Spaghetti Works, Rockstar energy drinks, and McDonald’s. You truly are the wind beneath my wings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author photo by JACKSON OKUN
LYNN PAINTER lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband and pack of wild children. She’s a biweekly contributor to the Omaha World-Herald’s parenting section, even though she is the polar opposite of a Pinterest mom. When she isn’t chasing kids, she can be found reading, writing, and shotgunning cans of Rockstar.
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/teen
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Lynn-Painter
LynnPainter.com
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of t
he author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text © 2021 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Jacket illustration © 2021 by Liz Casal
Jacket design by Heather Palisi © 2021 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Interior design by Tom Daly
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Painter, Lynn, author.
Title: Better than the movies / Lynn Painter.
Description: First edition. | New York : Simon & Schuster BFYR, [2021] | Summary: Michael, to whom Liz Buxbaum gave her heart long ago, has returned but to get his attention and, perhaps, a prom date she must scheme with her nemesis Wes, her next-door neighbor.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020042771 (print) | LCCN 2020042772 (ebook)
ISBN 9781534467620 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781534467644 (ebook)
Subjects: CYAC: Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. | High schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Neighbors—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.P352 Bet 2021 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.P352 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042771
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042772