Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter is a contributor to the Omaha World-Herald’s parenting section and a passionate fan of romantic comedies. It’s the latter that inspired her new young adult novel, Better Than the Movies. This loving homage to rom-coms makes the perfect spring-time read!

Pop Culturalist had a chance to speak with Lynn about Better Than the Movies, romantic comedies, and what it’s like being a new author.

PC: Hi! Welcome to Pop Culturalist, Lynn! To start, please tell our readers about your debut novel, Better Than the Movies.
Lynn: Hello–thank you for having me! Better Than The Movies is a YA rom-com about rom-coms. Liz Buxbaum is a hopeless romantic who is convinced that fate wants her to land her childhood crush, Michael, after he moves back to town. However, the only way she can think of to get him to notice her is to work with Wes, the irritating boy next door. But the more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that Wes is not the obnoxious neighbor she always thought he was. So, so rom-commy, right?

PC: Better Than the Movies is described as an “ode to romantic comedies.” Was there a particular rom-com book or movie that sparked the idea for this novel?
Lynn: Um, basically all of them…?  Like Liz in the book, I grew up watching rom-coms and they became comfort viewing for me. So, the idea for the book was sparked by the rom-com canon, if you will. I really wanted the book to have the feel of all those wonderful flicks where the main character is destined to end up with THE guy, but she just has to go through numerous scenes of embarrassing torture first.

PC: Which character did you enjoy writing the most?
Lynn: Helena, Liz’s stepmom. She’s absolutely herself, with her quick-speak and digressive banter, and I adore her. Totally inspired by Lorelai Gilmore, by the way.

PC: What prominent themes can be found within Better Than the Movies?
Lynn: It’s a coming-of-age story, as Liz is finishing her senior year and getting ready to leave for college, but the book also deals with grief. Liz lost her mother when she was a child, and even though a decade has passed, she’s still trying to figure out how to handle the gaping absence that her mom’s death has left in her life.

PC: What are some of your favorite romantic comedy tropes?
Lynn: I love enemies-to-lovers and fake dating–love, love, love them. They’ve been done and re-done, but they still suck me in every time.

PC: Share with us your top five rom-com movies and/or books!
Lynn: Movies: When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, 10 Things I Hate About You, Bridget Jones’ Diary, and Crazy Stupid Love.

Books: The Unhoneymooners, The Love Hypothesis, The Hating Game, Waiting For Tom Hanks, and About A Boy.

PC: What important lesson have you learned on your journey as a debut author?
Lynn: I’ve learned that it’s important to take a moment to revel in every step along the way. The debut year is filled with deadlines and benchmarks, and it’s easy to get caught up in constantly looking toward what comes next (When will I have a cover design? When will I get my ARCs? When will the book be on NetGalley?) and miss what’s happening in the moment. It took me many, many years to finally get a book deal, so I am jumping and squealing over every little thing. Heck, I still tiny clap every time I get an email from my agent or my editor, because ohmigawwwd I have an agent and an editor!

PC: Can you share with us what you are working on next?
Lynn: I have an adult rom-com, Mr. Wrong Number, that will be published by Berkley in March 2022. I also have another YA rom-com, The Do-Over, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in May 2022.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round:

PC: Writing session must have? (ex: music, food, drink, etc)
Lynn: Music: If drafting, something quiet, like the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack or La-La-Land, and if I’m editing, it’s usually Taylor Swift, Finneas, or Adele.

Drink: Can (or two) of sugar-free Rockstar.

Food: Meatballs, popcorn, peanut butter toast; anything and everything.

PC: Plotter or pantser?
Lynn: Somewhat reformed pantser, aka messy plotter. I plot, but on a plethora of messily-scrawled post-it notes.

PC: Audiobooks, physical books, or e-books?
Lynn: Physical, although I just listened to my first-ever audiobook (Santino Fontana narrating You by Carolyn Kepnes) and it was amazing. If they’re all that good, my answer could change in the future.

PC: Genre(s) other than contemporary you would like to write?
Lynn: Nah–I’m too lazy for world-building.

PC: Currently watching or reading?
Lynn: Reading: Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price.

Watching: Just binge-watched Shadow and Bone (and can I say ohmigawwwwd?!) and I am counting the minutes until The Handmaids Tale

PC: Go to self-care activity?
Lynn: Reading and binge-watching (so, basically, see previous question 😊)

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Better Than the Movies is on sale now.