Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter 

Romantic rom-com lover Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael as a kid. When he moves back to town right before Senior Prom, Liz makes it her mission to get him as her date. The only problem is that he’s hanging out with her nemesis of a next-door neighbor Wes Bennet. Liz makes a deal with Wes: help her get Michael and he can have the parking spot they constantly fight over. But as she hangs out with Wes, she will have to rethink her idea of love. 

I disliked this book, however, several book club members did enjoy it. 

The main character was just so mean without any good reason. Liz’s personality is the main cause behind my dislike of the book. Her whole life is centered around her mother who died when she was eight. Yet, she acts like she can’t do anything without thinking of her. Liz treated her stepmom badly even though she acknowledges the fact that she’s cool. Liz also had no clue how romance in the real world worked, which made me dislike her even more. I just couldn’t get behind Liz’s characterization. 

There was also the gimmick of having a playlist that went along with the book. Most of the songs were ones I didn’t know nor liked. It took me out of the experience of the story and was unnecessary. The plot didn’t make total sense and left me with lots of questions. The ending was quite unrealistic and was unsatisfying.  

I enjoyed Wes though, along with most of the other minor characters. 

This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. I was told that the second book was better than the first. 

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin 

In 1965, teenager Frances Adams is told by a fortune-teller that she will one day be murdered. Frances spends her life trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every

person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. No one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, she’s proven right when she’s found murdered. Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting with her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer and save the family estate; however, it seems everyone might have a motive for her murder. Can Annie uncover the mysteries plaguing Castle Knoll, or will she share her great-aunt’s fate? 

I really enjoyed this book. From the characters to the plot, everything was great. 

The characters were well written with each of their stories unfolding at a natural pace. And they were all likeable, even the less likeable ones. Each had personalities that enhanced the plot. The romance between Annie and the Detective adds to plot rather than subtracting from the material. This allows interesting interactions as Annie tries to solve the murder.  

The diary pages from Frances create suspense and understanding of her character and situation at the right times. Her fortune shapes her entire future and it’s intriguing how she lets it happen through her actions. 

The setting was pleasant to explore it with Annie together for the first time. Each location adda to the quaint village that we find ourselves in. It allowed the mystery to weave throughout the place, making one want to turn every corner. 

The plot twists and turns in exciting ways. Each character has a plausible motive for the murder with your opinion of who did it changes with each scene. I didn’t figure out who did it until the chapter before the reveal; quite the accomplishment given my nature for guessing entire plots of books (‘The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig being a prime example. I correctly predicted all the events in the book from the first chapter; one of the many reasons why I despise the book). And even when I figured it out, the character wasn’t one I would have ever suspected. 

I highly recommend this book. The second book comes out in March of 2025, which I am vastly awaiting. 

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth (Olivie Blake) 

Epic fantasy lover Viola Reyes’s life is not going her way. Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, everybody’s suggesting she try being more “likable,” and her school’s star football player and Student Body President Jack Orsino is making her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s escape is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls. So, she chooses to play as a male knight persona. But when a football injury leads Jack to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is startled to discover their online alter egos becoming friends. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline. 

This book played with many of the same tropes that “Better Than the Movies” dealt with- enemies to lovers, a reluctant deal becomes something more, a character trying to get together with someone then finds someone better- but successfully executed it superiorly. First-year book club member Maurice Thomas called it, “a simple yet refreshing story on the high school experience.” 

This author is great at writing what seems to be unlikeable characters, but as story progresses and the reader finds out their backstories and reasoning behind their attitudes, the characters become likeable (She uses this trick in another past book club pick, “Masters of Death”). This allows for improvement in both the characters and understanding in the reader. 

The topic focused on was intriguing. I hadn’t read a novel on the difficulties in the gaming community, both physical and online, it is for females. This allowed for a revealing introspective through the characters. 

I felt for Jake due to relating to his injury. The feeling of having to depend on others for every little action and the long road that is recovery. The way your life is never exactly the same as it once was, with things you can’t do or do as well. His perspective is relatable in a way I didn’t think was possible, but one I completely felt. 

I also liked how one of the main characters thought deeply about their sexuality. When told they were liked by the same gender, they didn’t immediately dismiss the other person’s feelings. They took the time to look within theirself and truly recognize how they love. This is not often seen in books, and I really appreciated the take. 

The romance in this book was realistic and wholesome. You wanted it to succeed while enjoying the path that it took to get there. And the characters still had their sense of self; their whole lives did revolove around the other partner with each having their own dreams. They recognize this fact and are supportive; making compromises that satisfy both of them. I feel like this part of relationships is not often seen, therefore nice to read. 

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.