Better Than the Movies
A girl’s pursuit of prom night perfection teaches her about real love.
Summary of 6 Key Points
Key Points
- High schooler Liz Buxbaum’s quest for a prom date
- Reconnection with childhood crush, Michael
- Unexpected partnership and banter with neighbor, Wes
- The realization that real love differs from movies
- Liz’s personal growth and understanding of relationships
- Exploration of family dynamics and friendships
key point 1 of 6
High schooler Liz Buxbaum’s quest for a prom date
Liz Buxbaum, the protagonist of the story, is a high school senior who has always been a romantic at heart, heavily influenced by the classic rom-com movies she adored with her late mother. Her nostalgia and longing for a picture-perfect prom experience stem from the countless hours spent watching these films, which have shaped her beliefs about love and romance. Liz dreams of her prom as the ultimate romantic culmination, akin to the grand finales seen in her favorite movies. She envisions a night filled with magic and the perfect date, hoping for a prom that lives up to the cinematic milestones that set her expectations…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 6
Reconnection with childhood crush, Michael
The protagonist, Liz Buxbaum, has nurtured a long-standing crush on her next-door neighbor, Michael. This crush began in childhood and was deeply rooted in the many shared moments they experienced growing up. Liz’s romanticized view of Michael is in part fueled by her love for classic romantic comedies, which has led her to idealize him as the perfect leading man. Her crush is a mix of genuine affection and nostalgia for their past friendship before high school social dynamics pulled them apart…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 6
Unexpected partnership and banter with neighbor, Wes
In the narrative, the protagonist finds herself unexpectedly pairing up with her neighbor Wes, leading to a partnership that she initially didn’t see coming. Wes, who is characterized as someone from an entirely different social circle than the protagonist, embodies the quintessential ‘boy next door’ with whom she shares a complex relationship. Initially, there is a sense of tension and antagonism between them, largely rooted in their history and the stark contrasts in their personalities…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 6
The realization that real love differs from movies
In the narrative, the protagonist, who is an avid fan of romantic movies, initially holds an idealized view of love that is deeply influenced by the perfect, fairy-tale romances portrayed in films. She romanticizes the idea of grand gestures, dramatic confessions, and the notion that everything falls into place like a scripted storyline. She believes that real love must be filled with these cinematic moments to be genuine and fulfilling…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 6
Liz’s personal growth and understanding of relationships
Liz, the protagonist, starts her journey with a romanticized view of love, heavily influenced by her passion for classic romantic movies. She nurtures idealistic expectations, hoping for a cinematic love story of her own. At the beginning, Liz is somewhat naive, believing that true love is as simple and predictable as the plots of her favorite films. She dreams of grand romantic gestures and picture-perfect moments, often overlooking the complexities and effort required in real-life relationships…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 6
Exploration of family dynamics and friendships
The exploration of family dynamics in the narrative delves into the complexities of family relationships, particularly in the wake of loss and grief. It illustrates how family members cope with the absence of a loved one and how this shared experience both challenges and strengthens their bonds. The protagonist’s relationship with her mother and the memories of her deceased father play a central role in how she understands love and relationships. The book demonstrates the way family history and parental influence shape the protagonist’s expectations and fears about romance and finding ‘the one’…Read&Listen More