Better Than in the Movies (with an illustrated slice)

For readers 16+ and fans of first love, friendship, and high school romance stories.

Liz Buxbaum always knew Wes Bennett was an awful neighbor. He's been a menace since childhood: first putting a frog in her "Barbie Dreamhouse," then decapitating a garden gnome and leaving it in her DIY girl's library. Ten years have passed since the gnome's beheading, and it seemed everything should have changed… But now the neighbors are engaged in a brutal new war: over a parking spot on their street.

This is Liz's final year of high school – a time filled with important, big-screen-worthy events. The girl is completely absorbed in fantasies that her life will unfold like in romantic movies. Suddenly, she realizes she needs Wes's help. The truth is, Liz has long been in love with Michael – the boy of her dreams, who has just returned to town and, unfortunately, befriended Wes. If Liz wants Michael to finally notice her, then the insufferable neighbor Wes is her chance.

But it will take a miracle for the girl to convince Wes to enter into an odd agreement, the goal of which is to arrange a magical, almost cinematic romantic moment for Liz with Michael at their prom… Or perhaps Wes is no longer that disgusting mischief-maker, but a grown-up and reliable guy she can deal with?