This Time it’s Real by Ann Liang
Contemporary YA romance. Own voice, Beijing, China. HFN.
17 year old Eliza Hunts school essay goes viral. She made up a story about meeting the love of her life. Everyone is enamored with the story and her writing. She proposes a fake relationship with K-drama and school mate Caz Song. They pretend to be a couple and as time goes on, they become friends. But Eliza has always lost friends when she moves with family. They all disappear over time. Eliza is afraid to tell Caz how she really feels in case he breaks her heart.
Their relationship is built on a lie. Eliza has known the potential crash since the beginning yet she pursues it regardless. I enjoyed the first half knowing she was making a mistake but along for the ride hoping for friendship and love to follow. But she’s so afraid. So much angst. A lot of the second half of the story is so sad in her fear of the future of getting hurt. Don’t give up! Eliza learns she needs to open her heart and reach out. She can’t keep her fear or expectation of a future hurt get in the way of expressing her feelings.
Sweet, charming, a bit heartbreaking, and in the end, full of hope.
It did not take long for Ann Liang’s rom-dram “This Time It’s Real” to win over my heart!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
The novel centers on Eliza Lim, an aspiring writer, and Caz Song, a famous actor. Their worlds collide when Eliza’s essay about her relationship with her boyfriend goes viral…only she doesn’t really have one. Caz agrees to play the part in exchange for receiving Eliza’s help with his college applications. From the outside looking in, the two could not be more different, but Liang shows that there is more than meets the eye.Both characters struggle to grasp their identities and feel a sense of belonging. Though Eliza was born in China, she does not feel at home there when her family returns because she is not fluent in the language and familiar with their customs. Liang creates tension in having Eliza up and move every few years due to her mother’s line of work. As a result of her inability to take root and hold on to the friends she meets in each city, she believes she is unlovable. Eliza’s pain surrounding the memory of her past lives in Los Angeles, New Zealand, London, and Singapore feels real because of the way in which Liang captures her complex emotions on the page.The reader is able to empathize with Caz’s fear of vulnerability. Because of his public image, Caz puts on a mask to cope with the pressure he experiences. Before Eliza became his fake girlfriend, he never felt like he could ask for help when he needed it or let his true self shine through.I loved watching their fake relationship turn into something real because they helped each other grow and confront their insecurities.I experienced a full range of emotions while reading this book! I cried during the 3rd act breakup, swooned over Caz and Eliza’s experimental dates around Beijing, and laughed when their differing personalities clashed. This novel truly mimics a c-drama and I could not recommend it enough!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
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Top reviews from the United States
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Madison W Fairbanks
This Time it’s Real
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2023
Young Family
I'm obsessed
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023
Jessica
It did not take long for Ann Liang’s rom-dram “This Time It’s Real” to win over my heart!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
It did not take long for Ann Liang’s rom-dram “This Time It’s Real” to win over my heart!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
The novel centers on Eliza Lim, an aspiring writer, and Caz Song, a famous actor. Their worlds collide when Eliza’s essay about her relationship with her boyfriend goes viral…only she doesn’t really have one. Caz agrees to play the part in exchange for receiving Eliza’s help with his college applications. From the outside looking in, the two could not be more different, but Liang shows that there is more than meets the eye.Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
Both characters struggle to grasp their identities and feel a sense of belonging. Though Eliza was born in China, she does not feel at home there when her family returns because she is not fluent in the language and familiar with their customs. Liang creates tension in having Eliza up and move every few years due to her mother’s line of work. As a result of her inability to take root and hold on to the friends she meets in each city, she believes she is unlovable. Eliza’s pain surrounding the memory of her past lives in Los Angeles, New Zealand, London, and Singapore feels real because of the way in which Liang captures her complex emotions on the page.
The reader is able to empathize with Caz’s fear of vulnerability. Because of his public image, Caz puts on a mask to cope with the pressure he experiences. Before Eliza became his fake girlfriend, he never felt like he could ask for help when he needed it or let his true self shine through.
I loved watching their fake relationship turn into something real because they helped each other grow and confront their insecurities.
I experienced a full range of emotions while reading this book! I cried during the 3rd act breakup, swooned over Caz and Eliza’s experimental dates around Beijing, and laughed when their differing personalities clashed. This novel truly mimics a c-drama and I could not recommend it enough!
Images in this review
Danielle
So much more than a rom com
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023
