39 pages • 1 hour read
Lynn PainterBetter Than the Movies
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Several rom-com tropes like friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers are enacted in the novel. What other rom-com tropes are in the story? What other movies or books contain these same tropes, and how are they used similarly and differently? How does Better Than the Movies rewrite these tropes?
How does the novel justify Wes’s encouragement of Liz’s makeover? What does this say about his characterization as a rom-com hero?
Explore each of the chapters’ quoted allusions to rom-coms. How does the quote at the beginning of each chapter underscore the events or themes explored? How does context play a significant role in the novel?
What does Liz’s instinct to lie say about her characterization? How does she rationalize lying to herself? Who does she lie to the most/least? Why?
Why do the Chuck Taylor shoes hold special meaning to Liz? How do they contribute to her ideas about romance and fate?
How does Michael fit the role of the hero compared to Wes, for both better or worse? What is Michael’s significance to Liz’s emotional development?
How does Joss fit the role of the typical protagonist’s best friend? How does Joss’s friendship help Liz expound and overcome her own insecurities?
How is Helena’s evolving relationship with Liz important for Liz’s character development? How is their relationship both strained and easy? What role does Liz’s father play in this relationship?
Explore how the novel tackles the nostalgia that comes with growing up. How has each character’s childhood shaped them into who they are now? What does this say about maturity and friendships?
What does the novel imply about Liz’s future in Los Angeles? How has she grown or matured as a soon-to-be college student? As a daughter? Friend? In what ways has she stayed the same?
Related Titles
By Lynn Painter
