Self-growth
Business & Career
Success
Communication
Healing
Relationships
Psychology
Happiness
Do you remember that warm sensation of a perfect romance that played out like your favorite film after finishing Lynn Painter's bestseller? Well, there's a way to bring it back with a list of books like 'Better Than the Movies'!
Emma Lord's 'Tweet Cute,' Kasie West's 'P.S. I Like You,' and other BookTok recs capture the same magical mix of humor, heart-melting "happily-ever-after" tropes, and Hollywood-worthy moments. And yes, they're impossible to put down, too!
Need a personal guide to get through the literary landscape? Headway will give you a helping hand! The app offers nonfiction bestsellers in a bite-sized format, so you can easily choose which story to plunge into next.
Download the Headway app today and get the key ideas from top books on love, relationships, self-growth, and more in 15 minutes a day!
Quick summary: Top five books like 'Better Than the Movies'
Can't decide where to start? Here are five books that readers absolutely love:
'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han: The ultimate fake dating romance.
'Tweet Cute' by Emma Lord: Social media rivals heat up real fast.
'The Love Hypothesis' by Ali Hazelwood: Fake dating with serious chemistry.
'One True Loves' by Elise Bryant: A love triangle that actually makes sense
'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry: Two bookworms find each other.
Keep reading for the full list of book recs!
★★★★★ 172K+ reviews
Empower yourself with the best insights and ideas!
Get the #1 most downloaded daily growth app.
Start nowWhat's your ideal romance trope? A quick quiz
Before we continue, let's figure out which romance story is perfect for you. Pick the option that sounds most appealing:
Ready to reset your approach to love? Download Headway and find tips on reigniting and rebuilding your relationships.
Top 13 romance books like 'Better Than the Movies'
Here are the 13 books that deliver the same romantic magic, humor, and heart as 'Better Than the Movies.' Each one is organized by the romance tropes that make them so addictive.
Fake dating favorites: When pretend becomes real
1. 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han
Lara Jean writes secret love letters to five boys she's never meant to send. But they get mailed out anyway. When one of those boys, Peter, suggests they fake-date to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, Lara Jean agrees. What happens next will make your heart race.
Key themes:
Characters thrown into a fake relationship that becomes genuinely romantic.
Sweet high-school humor mixed with real emotional growth.
Family relationships that matter as much as romance.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Just like 'Better Than the Movies,' this book has the perfect balance of awkward moments and genuine feelings. You'll laugh on one page and swoon the next.
2. 'Tweet Cute' by Emma Lord
Pepper and Jack are rivals on social media. During the day, they compete in their schools' friend groups. Online, they're enemies.
But when they're matched on an anonymous chat app, they start opening up to each other. And they have no idea who the other person really is.
Key themes:
Social media misunderstandings that feel realistiс.
The thrill of discovering your enemy might actually be perfect.
Modern romance with texting and online connections.
Why rom-com fans will love it: This book captures that same "wait, is this really happening?" energy from 'Better Than the Movies.' The romance builds naturally, and the humor feels fresh.
3. 'The Love Hypothesis' by Ali Hazelwood
Olive is a grad student who gets caught telling a lie about having a boyfriend. So she asks a handsome stranger to fake date her for one evening. What was supposed to be one night turns into months of pretending — while real feelings develop underneath all the pretense.
Key themes:
Fake dating that becomes genuinely romantic.
Characters learning to be honest about their feelings.
The vulnerability of wanting someone to want you back.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Like 'Better Than the Movies,' this story plays with the tension between what's real and what's pretend. You'll find yourself rooting for two people who seem perfect together.
Headway's summary of 'Unglued' can help you understand how to manage the big emotions that romantic stories stir up — and how to handle feelings in your own life.
4. 'P.S. I Like You' by Kasie West
Ella accidentally sends a text meant for her friend to a stranger's number. They start texting back and forth, and Ella doesn't know who he is.
When real-life circumstances bring them together, everything gets complicated because he knows her secret feelings, but she doesn't know his true identity.
Key themes:
Anonymous communication that leads to a real connection.
The risk of being honest with someone you don't know.
Chemistry that translates from texts to real life.
Why rom-com fans will love it: This book has that same "I didn't expect to fall for you" vibe that makes 'Better Than the Movies' so special. Anonymous romance never felt so satisfying.
Enemies to lovers: When tension turns to passion
5. 'Nothing Like The Movies' by Lynn Painter
Wren thought she was over her crush on Brendon until she went to his baseball game. But instead of talking to him, she accidentally flirts with a random guy, and Brendon gets jealous. Their fake relationship, meant to make each other jealous, becomes way too real.
Key themes:
Best friends realizing they might be more.
Jealousy as a way to figure out true feelings.
How fake dating reveals real emotions.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Also by Lynn Painter, author of 'Better Than the Movies,' this book has the same heart and humor. It understands how romance sneaks up on you when you're not looking.
6. 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' by Jenny Han
Belly has been going to the same beach house every summer for her whole life. But this summer, everything changes. The two boys she's always known suddenly see her differently, and she has to choose between a safe, familiar love and something new and terrifying.
Key themes:
Summer romance that feels transformative.
Coming of age and growing into yourself.
Love triangles that actually feel genuine.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Like 'Better Than the Movies,' this book nails that feeling of summer romance — the intensity, uncertainty, and the sense that something important is happening. You'll be transported right to that beach.
To learn more about self-discovery and personal growth in romantic relationships, check out Headway's summary of 'Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It' — a guide that helps you understand your own worth before diving into romance.
7. 'The Summer of Broken Rules' by K.L. Walther
A group of friends reunites at a beach house for one last summer before they go their separate ways. Old tensions appear, past heartaches resurface, and new attractions spark. By the end of the summer, everything has changed — including who's with whom.
Key themes:
Friend groups navigating complicated feelings.
Summer as a turning point.
Growing up and figuring out what really matters.
Why rom-com fans will love it: This book has that same ensemble cast energy as 'Better Than the Movies.' You'll care about every character and root for them to find happiness.
Romantic adventures that feel like movies
8. 'One True Loves' by Elise Bryant
Iris has been with Marcus for five years. Then Sam comes back into her life, and everything she thought she knew gets flipped upside down. Iris has to figure out which love is her true love. And the journey is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Key themes:
Having romantic feelings for more than one person.
Going through emotional confusion.
Figuring out the meaning of true love.
Why rom-com fans will love it: The book doesn't shy away from the messiness of real romance. It shows that feelings aren't always simple.
9. 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry
Nora and Garrett are rivals who find themselves at the same publishing events time after time. One day, they learn that they must spend a summer together, only to realize there is more when it comes to their feud.
Key themes:
Rivals discovering chemistry.
The importance of intellectual connection in romance.
How humor and wit can hide real feelings.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Like 'Better Than the Movies,' this book celebrates the kind of romance where two people just get each other. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is undeniable, and the ending will make you happy-cry.
10. 'Love and Other Words' by Christina Lauren
Mia and Naomi were best friends who shared something deeper until one terrible fight drove them apart. Years later, they reunite and have to deal with all the unresolved feelings still lingering between them. Can they find their way back to each other?
Key themes:
Reconnecting with a love interest.
Forgiveness and letting go of hurt.
Relationships that are worth fighting for.
Why rom-com fans will love it: This book shows that love sometimes requires us to be brave enough to try again.
To explore more about healing past relationships and moving forward, read Headway book summaries on forgiveness.
11. 'Betting on You' by Lynn Painter
Avery makes a bet with a boy at school about who can get through spring break without checking their phone. When she thinks she wins, he suggests a different kind of bet — dating for the next month to see if they can fall for each other. What could possibly go wrong?
Key themes:
Games that turn into genuine feelings.
Taking emotional risks.
How humor can mask real vulnerability.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Also written by Lynn Painter, this book has that same playful, sweet energy as 'Better Than the Movies.' The banter is fantastic, and watching two people open their hearts feels so rewarding.
12. 'The Do-Over' by Lynn Painter
A girl wakes up and realizes she's getting a second chance at a day that went horribly wrong. She gets to see how her choices affect the people around her, including the boy she's secretly had feelings for. Sometimes a do-over is exactly what you need.
Key themes:
Second chances in romance and in life.
How your choices matter more than you think.
Finding the courage to be honest about your feelings.
Why rom-com fans will love it: This unique premise combines romance with real emotional stakes. Like 'Better Than the Movies,' it reminds us that love requires bravery.
To dive deeper into the psychology of how we handle emotions and relationships, check out Headway's summary of 'Reboot' — a powerful guide to resetting your mindset so you can approach relationships healthier.
13. 'I Hope This Doesn't Find You' by Ann Liang
Pip and Matilda were the best of friends. Now they have to work together on a school project and finally confront the part of their lives that caused their friendship to end. Reconnecting forces them to grow up and actually figure out what they want.
Key themes:
Friendship as a foundation for romance.
Dealing with past conflicts and misunderstandings.
Growing up and becoming who you're meant to be.
Why rom-com fans will love it: Like 'Better Than the Movies,' this book understands that the best romances often start with genuine friendship and connection. The emotional journey is just as important as the romance.
Want to understand more about what makes relationships work? Explore Headway's summary of 'Modern Romance' — a fascinating look at how dating and love have changed in our modern world, and what that means for finding real connection.
And if you're interested in the emotional and spiritual side of love, Headway's summary of 'The Mastery of Love' shows how to love yourself and others with intention and authenticity.
Try Headway as your personal shortcut to global bestsellers
All these books like 'Better Than the Movies' prove that messy, complicated feelings are part of love. So, if you want to go into detail on what builds close emotional ties in your favorite romantic stories, explore Headway summaries on healthy relationships, intimacy, friendship, and communication to learn from the top experts.
The Headway app gives you access to summaries of your favorite books, helping you explore more stories without sacrificing your time. With smart notifications, offline reading, and a beautiful design, it makes book exploration feel like a daily habit instead of a chore.
Download Headway today and start your journey toward personal growth, self-discovery, and becoming the person you want to be!
Frequently asked questions about books like 'Better Than the Movies'
What is the book 'Better Than the Movies' about?
Lara Jean loves classic romance movies and believes real life should work the same way. When she develops feelings for a boy at school, she tries to make their relationship feel like a Hollywood movie. Along the way, she learns that real love is messier, funnier, and often better than the movies.
What makes 'Better Than the Movies' so popular?
This book captures the feeling of cinematic romance — the kind where everything feels slightly dramatic and perfectly timed. It has humor, heart, and characters you genuinely care about. For instance, Lara Jean's journey from movie fantasy to real love resonates with readers who've felt that same confusion about what romance should look like.
Are all these books YA romance?
Most of them are! They're written for teen readers, but honestly, adults love them too. The emotions are real regardless of age, and the romance feels genuine rather than cheesy. These books appeal to anyone who believes in the power of connection and second chances.
Which book should I read if I loved the fake dating trope in 'Better Than the Movies'?
'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' and 'The Love Hypothesis' are your best bets. Both have that same satisfying journey from fake to real. You'll feel the same excitement watching characters realize their pretend feelings aren't pretend at all.
Do I need to read these books in any particular order?
Nope! Each book stands completely on its own. You can jump in anywhere. Some readers like to read them by trope (start with all the fake dating ones), while others prefer to mix it up. Choose whatever sounds most appealing in the moment.
Are these books good for readers who don't usually like romance?
Sure! These books cover so much more than romance. They feature themes of friendship, family, self-discovery, and the idea of growth as a person. The romantic aspect is at the center of the story, but it’s more about how the characters become better people because of their friendships/relationships.
