Lynn Painter is an American contemporary romance author. She writes primarily for the young adult and adult demographics. She gained popularity through BookTok with her 2021 debut novel Better Than the Movies.[1] Her novels are categorized by their resemblance to romantic comedy films.[2] Her 2025 young adult novel Fake Skating is set to be adapted into film by Sony Pictures.[3]
Lynn Painter | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation |
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| Period | 2021–present |
| Genres | Contemporary romance, young adult |
| Notable works | |
| Children | 5 |
| Website | |
| lynnpainter | |
Early life and education
editPainter was born in Champaign, Illinois, where her father was attending Air Force weather forecaster school.[4] Her family moved around for a few years before settling in Omaha, Nebraska, where she still lives. She attended college to train to be a teacher.[5] Despite growing up an avid reader, she did not consider writing until her sister suggested it to her. This inspired her to return to college and attend the writer's workshop at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Career
editPainter had written multiple books before her first published work.[6] First among them were adult romances that included a 90,000 word novel called Beyond Texas, a book called Forgetting Tuscany, and a book with "a senator and a murder and an organized-crime-but-love type of plot." After reading Looking for Alaska, she wrote her first young adult novel. This novel did not get published either, however, it got closer to publication than any of her previous books. After this, her agent recommended that she try writing a young adult romantic comedy, which would end up being the genre of many of her published works.
Painter's published debut Better Than the Movies was released in 2021 for young adults.[7] It surged in popularity in 2022 through BookTok.[1][8] A sequel titled Nothing Like the Movies was published in 2024.
In 2022, her first published adult novel Mr. Wrong Number was released. Since then, she has published one young adult novel and at least one adult novel every year. She released a spinoff titled The Love Wager in 2023. She published her first middle grade novel The Wish Switch in 2025.
Painter was nominated for two Goodreads Choice Awards for Young Adult Fiction in 2024 for Nothing Like the Movies and Betting on You.[9] The next year, she won an award in the same category for Fake Skating.[10]
A film adaptation of Fake Skating developed by Sony Pictures was announced in 2026, with Will Gluck as producer.[3]
Personal life
editBibliography
editYoung adult fiction
editBetter Than the Movies series
edit- Better Than the Movies (2021)
- Nothing Like the Movies (2024)
Standalone novels
edit- The Do-Over (2022)
- Betting on You (2023)
- Fake Skating (2025)
- Trust Fall (September 2026)[12]
Adult fiction
editMr. Wrong Number series
edit- Mr. Wrong Number (2022)
- The Love Wager (2023)
Standalone novels
edit- Accidentally Amy (2022)
- Happily Never After (2024)
- Maid for Each Other (2025)
- First and Forever (May 2026)[13]
Children's fiction
edit- The Wish Switch (2025)
References
edit- 1 2 Lima, Mariana. "Lynn Painter: Get to Know Your New Favorite BookTok Author". Her Campus. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ↑ Bhatt, Jinal. "'Nothing Like The Movies' author Lynn Painter on breaking up the most green-flag couple ever". The Mary Sue. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- 1 2 Kroll, Justin. "Will Gluck's Olive Bridge Banner And Sony Developing Adaptation Of Lynn Painter's Novel 'Fake Skating'". Deadline. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Lynn Painter Interview - Better Than the Movies". Jean Book Nerd. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ Dehghan, Faith. "Romance and Reading: An Interview with Author Lynn Painter (Part 1)". Her Campus. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ Oldfield, Kate. "Lynn Painter on finding her happily-ever-after through writing her YA novel, Better Than the Movies". United by Pop. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ↑ Fuentes, Tamara. "Lynn Painter Reveals New YA Novel, 'Trust Fall,' and Trust Us That You'll Fall In Love With It". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Iyana. "Q & A with Lynn Painter". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction". Goodreads. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Readers' Favorite Books of 2025". Goodreads. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ↑ Dehghan, Faith. "Romance and Reading: An Interview with Author Lynn Painter (Part 2)". Her Campus. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Trust Fall". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ "First and Forever". Penguin Random House. Retrieved March 16, 2026.