Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter.

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a wildly popular, highly witty young adult contemporary romantic comedy that leans heavily into classic rom-com tropes, nostalgic movie references, and high school yearning.

Seventeen-year-old Liz Buxbaum is a hopeless romantic who has spent her entire life studying the greatest romantic comedies of all time, convinced that her own life is destined to play out like a cinematic masterpiece. She has a master plan: when her childhood crush, Michael—who just moved back to town—returns, she will orchestrate the ultimate "meet-cute" and win his heart by senior prom.

The only major obstacle in her way is Wes Bennett, her annoying, sarcastic next-door neighbor. Wes is everything Liz is not—messy, laid-back, and prone to pushing her buttons at every turn. When Liz realizes she needs Wes’s help to get close to Michael, they strike a deal: Wes will help her scheme and secure the guy of her dreams. But as the fake-dating/wingman dynamic kicks off and they spend more time together, the lines between movie fantasies and real-life chemistry start to blur.