Nothing Like the Movies

The novel is written from Wes’s and Liz’s alternating first-person points of view. How does this formal choice depict the characters’ internal experiences and contribute to the narrative tension? Consider how the narrative would unfold differently if the author wrote it from an alternate point of view.

Examine the role of vulnerability in the novel. How do Wes’s and Liz’s fear or reluctance to open up about their emotions create tension or miscommunication between them? How do these barriers affect their ability to connect, and what events or realizations usher them to confront their vulnerabilities? Consider the role that trust and emotional honesty play in their growth as individuals and as a couple.

How is baseball an extension of Wes’s identity? Consider his history with the sport, his evolving relationship with it, and how the sport connects him to his dad.

Craft an argument that supports the following claim: Returning to Omaha, Nebraska, changes Liz and Wes. What do the characters experience while in Omaha? How do these experiences impact them emotionally and psychologically? How does the trip aid them in their Journey Toward Healing and Forgiveness?

Explore how Wes and Liz change throughout the novel. Identify key experiences, conflicts, and relationships that contribute to their character arcs and internal evolutions. How do their changes relate to the novel’s explorations of personal growth?

In Nothing Like the Movies, the author alludes to several romance films and novels. Choose one specific reference to a romance film or novel and analyze its significance within the context of the narrative. How does this reference mirror or contrast the characters’ feelings, their decisions, or Wes and Liz’s evolving relationship dynamic? Discuss how it relates to the theme of Balancing Expectations and Reality.

Explore how the UCLA setting impacts Liz’s and Wes’s Personal Growth and Coming-of-Age Journeys. What relationships, classes, groups, and opportunities do they invest in while here? How do these college experiences challenge them as they mature?

Nothing Like the Movies is a contemporary romance novel. Explore how the novel embraces or subverts genre expectations. What tropes does the novel employ, and which tropes does it defy? Cite textual evidence in your response.