The 15th of December: A WesLizNickEmilieBaileyCharlie Christmas

Better Than the Movies #2.5

by Lynn Painter

Wes and Liz and Nick and Emilie and Charlie and Bailey - the whole gang - are out doing holiday things in Omaha TONIGHT - December 15th!!

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Christmas, Contemporary, Short Stories, Fiction, Novella

42 pages, ebook

First published December 15, 2023

Reviews

[Elizabeth Portillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Lynn Painter wrote 101 Liz and Wes short stories, I would read 101 Liz and Wes short stories. I am obsessed with them.

[megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

you already KNOW i devoured the liz and wes

[kella ⋆˚࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh. my. gosh. this was actually so cute ☹️🫶🏻 i love all of these couples and i missed them sm. them and their banter is everything! it had me giggling and laughing out loud at their ridiculousness sometimes. and seeing all of them all together made my heart happy 🥹

➳ wes & liz
“nothing would ever be as perfect for me as she was.”
my babies 🫶🏻 i love them and their teasing each other tehe. i’m glad to see they’re keeping up with their childish games and antiques lol. ugh i just adore them sm!

➳ nick & emilie
ahhh i forgot how much i loved them from ‘the do-over’! and omg the tattoos they chose for each other matching perfectly? it literally is fate pulling them together you can’t convince me otherwise. and the song lyrics—STOP. “everywhere, everything” by noah and gracie?? are you kidding. i’m obsessed with that song and they’re so perfect for it 😭

➳ charlie & bailey
glasses & mr. nothing! cuties. charlie surprising bailey by coming home early was so precious. and him literally dragging around a christmas tree for her lol 😭and ofc you gotta love the impromptu christmas caroling 😚 the ending when they all joined together was so cutesy too!

🎄| pre-read
i wanted to sneak in another christmas read today and this sounds so so perfect! i can't wait to be reunited with some of my favourite couples 🥹

[angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OKOK. if the box wes is talking about is a ring i might just explode. ALSO THEY ARE ALL SO CUTE IM.

[karli · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cheesiest thing lynn has written but i grinned like an idiot all 42 pages

[saffiyah✧ఌ]

I AM SO CONCERNED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ

ERASE THIS FROM MY MEMORY RIGHT NOW

I WANT TO CRY

WHAT IS THISS

rtc
----------

wes + liz = perfection

nick + emilie = perfection

bailer + charlie = oh hell no

the odds are in my favour (it better stay that way)

[nat!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

give me more of whatever this was please lynn painter.

i was screaming the whole time i read this ask my friends

[audrey ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I JUST READ THIS AND IM LITERALLY CRYING I MISS THEIR BOOKS SM 😭

[Sofiah ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the crossover of my three fav lynn painter book couples
so wholesome and fun for christmas!

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“It doesn’t lock,” I said, leaning my body into hers, pressing her against the wall while I lowered my mouth to her ear. “Tell me you don’t care, Lib.”

“How could I care,” she breathed, her fingers sliding into my hair, “When I’m with you?”



I swear, with the number of misc. content Lynn Painter releases over time, she would have enough content to write up a whole novella featuring these characters. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually did! 😆 But, if nothing else, it's definitely a clever marketing strategy to keep the interest for these couples sated and alive. Although, it's pretty clear, she has a favorite - or I just have my Wes-blinders on for my own personal favorite - Wes Bennett. 🥰 🩷

This man doesn't only have a PhD in kissing, Liz's words, not mine! 'YOU KISS LIKE YOU HAVE A PHD IN KISSING!' ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Haha, this scene - absolutely cracked me up! 😂 He's the sweetest and cutest and most perfect boyfriend. I don't think it's fair that Liz has his heart. Liz, you lucky devil, you! 😣 But, December 15 in Omaha and getting handsy during the intermission of The Nutcracker in a coat closet, no less, will make for some delicious food. 🤌🏻🤌🏻

“It was breathy and hot, needy and seeking, and I was just her fool.
Her lackey.

I’d happily do anything she asked and beg for more.
I’ll forever take your crumbs, Buxbaum.”

And cue the cuties of their antics - enough to show just how precious the two of them are together - how utterly smitten. 🫠🫠🫠 Wes is so ridiculously in love - they're just too adorbs for words. 🥹🥹 He's an absolute dear with a devious streak, and still entirely helpless to her charms. What more could you ask for? But, I just know Ms. Painter has some angst up her sleeves for their book - there's no way it can be such smooth sailing as it is. 🥺

I wasn't too particularly invested in the other couples, and that's mainly on me, since I haven't read their own individual books. It still was an interesting and endearing way to have them all converge in one place. But, I'm still salty that Wes was so rudely interrupted by Charlie for the alone time he so desperately craved with Liz. 'That thing was burning a hole in my pocket and I was dying to give it to her.' I'm dying to know what it is, too! What's in the box, Lynn Painter!??? I need to know! 😭😭

So, yes, it was sweet - it was wholesome - it was the cutest of the cute and just made me wish for my own Wes increase in size tenfold. He's such a dream. 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[pheebs (wes’s version)♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG ITS MY BABIES!!!!!

LIBBY AND WESSY 😩😩😩

THEY SHALL FOREVER OWN MY HEART BC THEY HAD ME FULL ON CACKLING!!!

ofc i loved my other babies, BUT NO ONE BEATS LIZ AND WES!!!!!

I CANT WAIT FOR THEIR SEQUEL TO COME OUT!!!! 😁😁😁😁

(bouta reread better than the movies for a third time, i need some self-control…)

[faith]

i live vicariously through matching noah kahan tattoos, stupid jinx games and surprise christmas trees

[Cami✯ (hiatus — school ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grinning like an idiot and I'm not ashamed of it. Can I join them?? Please? I'll even carry the dead Christmas tree 🥹🎄

[yvette ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I forgot to update this one, but I have read it and it was really cute, just a short extra story of them. It was awesome

[Olivia Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a whole section inspired by Everywhere, Everything by Noah, and if that doesn't mean he's made it, I don't know what does.

[Vera ♡ (taylor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wanted to time this perfect - so i read it on the 15th of December and it was so worth it ❤️

[ali wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read Lynn Painter’s grocery list. I guarantee it’s a five star.

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia] · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so fricking cuteeeeeee

idk if i’ll write a full review ever


and kenny says it’s a spoiler but:

BUT I LOVE ITTTT THE KISSING IN THE COAT CLOSET AND THE JINX GAME 😭😭😭

[Kyleigh ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn ill give you my house (or anything you want, i dont even care) to write a whole book about these couples.

[rio · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOP STOP STOP. why was i giggling and kicking my feet up this whole time?! im even giggling thinking about it 😭. some of my favorite three couples in one?! absolute win 🤧🫶🏼

[er · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute little christmas extra, loved it!

[۶۟ৎ kaylin jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

“your all that I need, underneath the treeeee”
🎄🎁

[✞emerson✞ [levi coldwell’s version] · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


OH MY GOSHHHHHHHHH
these characters are my favorite people in the entire world
I cannot with how down bad Wes is for Liz (AND WAS THAT A PROPOSAL HINT AT THE ENDDDD?!?!! 😱😱😱😩😩😩😭😭😭)

Surprisingly although the Do-Over is my least favorite of these three books, I think Nick and Emilie’s short story actually might’ve been my favorite one
THE WAY I WAS BLUSHINGGGG LIKE OK NICK
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IM GETTING A TATTOO LIKE THAT WITH MY FUTURE BF
and with how impulsive I am
I fully believe that will happen heh

I think this is the last of Lynn Painter’s short stories for me 😭😭😭
It was glorious

(Trust Fall is gonna deliver)

[Jenah Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything written by Lynn is the best, but I love these little short stories with all her characters. It makes them feel so real, like I could run into them walking around in Omaha! And all the book couples Christmas caroling together was too perfect!

[ʚEllieɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy my commentary while reading this book:

↬Stopp it, I miss Liz and Wes so much, they are so freaking cutee🥺
↬ Nahh, Nick and Emilie quoting Everywhere, Everything was literally everything I needed today.
↬ Charlie mentioning A nonsense Christmas by Sabrina Carpenter?! Lynn Painter really knows who the good singers are
↬ THEM SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 🤧

[alyymaas ♡ {ia} · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay i don't rly know the other couples but honestly this was cute i wish i read this last yr tho LMAOO anyway - let's all pretend nltm doesn't exist bcz just bttm and these 5000 minis r good enough for me :)

[⋆｡˚ jessie ୨ৎ⋆｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHH CRYING THANK YOU LYNN YOU ARE MY FAVORITE HUMAN EVER

[Hibbah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just adorable.

Me the entire time: 🥹

[stella ･°❀⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My roman empire: Wes obsessing over Liz's boots.

[isu ✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ 3.75 | ❛ I had to kiss her then, because nothing in the world was like kissing Liz. It was almost as if the universe used her mouth as a tool to remind me that nothing would ever be as perfect for me as she was. ❜