Better Than the Movies

The protagonist, Liz Buxbaum, reveals that her infatuation with romance began at age seven after she watched Bridget Jones’s Diary with her mother. This started the romance movie binge-watching tradition she and her mother shared. Before she died, Liz’s mother taught her that the charming “bad boy” is not the man to aim for; instead, Liz should seek a nice, dependable man for her “happily ever after.” Since then, Liz has been ready to find her “Mr. Right” (2).

Liz finds Wesley, her vexing next-door neighbor, lounging on her car. She is immediately suspicious because she and Wes have an ongoing rivalry over the one available parking spot on their street. Liz recently called the parking police on Wes, who ticketed him for violating the 24-hour parking ordinance. She discovers that Wes has now taped the ticket to her windshield and struggles to remove it before heading to school.

Liz meets her best friend, Jocelyn in the school bathroom. Joss compliments Liz’s outfit before teasing her for dressing like the heroines in her favorite romantic comedies. In English class, Liz sits between Joss and Laney Morgan, the mean girl who Liz has resented since kindergarten for her cruel behavior.