If you’ve spent more than five minutes on BookTok, you’ve seen the bright blue cover. Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies has basically become the gold standard for the "fake dating" trope. It’s cute. It’s nostalgic. It’s obsessed with rom-com soundtracks. But for parents or younger readers trying to figure out the Better Than the Movies book age rating, things get a little murky. Is it a sweet, innocent middle-school read, or does it lean more into the spicy territory that has dominated Young Adult (YA) literature lately?
Honestly, the "official" labels don’t always tell the whole story.
Most retailers and libraries slap a 12 to 17 age range on this one. That’s the standard YA bracket. But as anyone who reads modern fiction knows, "YA" is a massive umbrella. It covers everything from the innocent magic of Harry Potter to the heavy, explicit themes found in Sarah J. Maas books. Luckily, Lynn Painter stays firmly on the "sweet" side of that spectrum, though there are a few things that might make a protective parent do a double-take.
Why the Better Than the Movies Book Age Rating Can Be Tricky
The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a high school senior who is hopelessly devoted to the idea of a "happily ever after." She’s a rom-com obsessive. When her childhood crush, Michael, moves back to town, she’s determined to get her cinematic moment. The catch? She has to team up with her annoying, lean-out-the-window neighbor, Wes Bennett, to make it happen.
It sounds like a Disney Channel original movie. It mostly feels like one, too.
However, the Better Than the Movies book age rating is influenced by the characters being seniors in high school. They are roughly 17 and 18 years old. Because of that, there is some swearing. Not "sailor on shore leave" levels of cursing, but the occasional "sh*t" or "hell" pops up. It’s realistic for how high schoolers talk, but if you’re looking for a completely "clean" read, that’s a small hurdle to consider.
The Romance: Sweet or Spicy?
Let’s get to what everyone actually wants to know. Is there "smut"?
🔗 Read more: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
No. Not even a little bit.
If you are worried about the Better Than the Movies book age rating because of explicit scenes, you can breathe a sigh of relief. This is a "closed-door" or "fade-to-black" romance. There is plenty of tension—lots of yearning, hand-holding, and some genuinely heart-fluttering kisses—but it never crosses the line into graphic descriptions. Lynn Painter focuses on the feeling of falling in love rather than the mechanics of it. It’s about the butterflies. It’s about the mixtapes.
For a 13 or 14-year-old, this is a perfect entry point into romance novels. It’s safe. It’s aspirational. It captures that specific brand of teenage longing without introducing adult content that they might not be ready for.
Emotional Maturity and Grief
While the romance is light, the book actually has some heavy emotional lifting. This is something people often overlook when discussing the Better Than the Movies book age rating.
Liz is dealing with the loss of her mother.
The grief isn't just a background detail; it’s a central part of her identity and why she clings so hard to romantic movies. She uses these films to connect with her late mom. There are scenes of deep sadness and moments where Liz has to navigate a relationship with her stepmother, Helena. For a younger reader who has experienced loss, this might actually be the most "adult" part of the book. It requires a certain level of emotional maturity to appreciate.
💡 You might also like: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
Alcohol and Typical Teen Behavior
Since the characters are seniors, there is some mention of parties and underage drinking. It isn’t glorified or used as a major plot point, but it exists in the periphery of their social world. Again, this fits the Better Than the Movies book age rating of 12+, as most middle and high schoolers are aware that these things happen. It’s handled with a relatively light touch.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Book
A common misconception is that because it’s popular on social media, it must be "spicy." We can thank the overlap of "BookTok" audiences for that confusion. Because Better Than the Movies is often recommended alongside books by authors like Ali Hazelwood or Colleen Hoover, parents sometimes assume it’s for adults.
It’s not.
This is a true Young Adult novel. It’s written for teens. The themes of identity, high school graduation anxiety, and first love are tailored specifically for that 14 to 18-year-old demographic. If you have a 12-year-old who is an advanced reader and starting to show interest in romance, this is actually one of the "safest" bets on the shelf right now.
Comparing the Ratings
To give you some perspective, here is how it stacks up against other popular titles in terms of "intensity":
- The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han): Very similar vibe. Mostly sweet, slightly more angst.
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Jenny Han): Better Than the Movies is a tiny bit more "mature" in its dialogue, but on the same level of romance.
- Icebreaker (Hannah Grace): Absolutely not the same. Icebreaker is New Adult (18+) and very explicit. Don't let the cute covers fool you.
Final Verdict: Is it Appropriate?
If I’m being blunt, the Better Than the Movies book age rating is effectively a PG or PG-13.
📖 Related: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
If you’re okay with your teen watching a modern romantic comedy movie, you should be perfectly fine with them reading this book. It’s wholesome. It’s funny. It actually teaches some pretty decent lessons about not judging people based on their "annoying neighbor" persona and learning to move forward through grief.
The biggest risk here isn't the content—it's that your teen will start asking you to buy a record player so they can listen to soundtracks on vinyl.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Readers
If you're still on the fence about the Better Than the Movies book age rating, here is the best way to handle it. Start by reading the first three chapters. Usually, that’s enough to get a feel for the "voice" of the book and the frequency of the swearing. If the "sh-words" in the first fifty pages don't bother you, the rest of the book won't either.
For younger readers (ages 11-12), consider reading it "together." You don't have to literally sit on the couch and read aloud, but maybe read it at the same time so you can talk about the themes of grief and the way Liz treats her stepmom. It’s a great conversation starter about how we handle big emotions.
Lastly, if your child finishes this and wants more, look for Lynn Painter’s other YA titles like Betting on You. Just be careful—she also writes "Adult" romance (like Mr. Wrong Number), and those have a very different age rating. Always check the spine or the publisher's description to ensure it’s part of her YA line.
The world of YA romance is a bit of a minefield lately, but Better Than the Movies is one of the few safe harbors for readers who want the romance without the graphic details. Stick to the 13+ recommendation and you’re golden.