Several rom-com tropes like friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers are enacted in the novel. What other rom-com tropes are in the story? What other movies or books contain these same tropes, and how are they used similarly and differently? How does Better Than the Movies rewrite these tropes?

How does the novel justify Wes’s encouragement of Liz’s makeover? What does this say about his characterization as a rom-com hero?

Explore each of the chapters’ quoted allusions to rom-coms. How does the quote at the beginning of each chapter underscore the events or themes explored? How does context play a significant role in the novel?