With Valentine’s Day coming just around the corner, what is more convenient than a satisfactory romantic comedy novel?  

Liz Buxbaum is far from a realist, as a matter of fact, her head is in the clouds. When Liz’s old neighborhood crush comes back to town, all bets are off. Her fantasy to live out her favorite rom com is coming to life. The one problem is, she can’t have him in her arms without the help of her arch nemesis, Wes Bennett. The next door neighbor who’s been pranking and harassing her since childhood. They strike a deal and Liz surprisingly starts hitting it off with Wes. While navigating highschool life, she must reconstruct her view on a happy ending. Maybe the bad boy next door is not so bad after all? 

Lynn Painter’s novel is Bridget Jones Diary meets 10 Things I Hate About You. The enemies to lovers trope immediately caught my eye and I nearly laughed at every relatable page. The novel explores the themes of fastidious love and ultimately how love can often bloom in the strangest of circumstances. The read was perfectly lighthearted and overall, was a 9/10.