This Time It's Real

Ann Liang’s This Time It's Real is a funny, heartfelt, and deeply emotional YA contemporary romance that blends fake-dating with themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. With a lovable protagonist, a swoon-worthy love interest, and poignant reflections on cultural identity, this novel is both lighthearted and meaningful. It’s perfect for fans of feel-good romances that also explore deeper themes of self-acceptance and personal growth. The story follows Eliza Lin, a Chinese-born teen who has spent her life moving from country to country due to her parents’ careers. She struggles with forming real connections and never feels like she truly belongs anywhere. When a heartfelt personal essay about finding love unexpectedly goes viral, she’s offered a coveted internship opportunity at a major publication. The only problem? She made the whole thing up. To maintain the lie and avoid humiliation, Eliza convinces Caz Song, a famous actor, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Caz is effortlessly charismatic, but Eliza is hesitant to get close to him—or anyone, really. But as they spend more time together, lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Soon, Eliza must confront not only her feelings for Caz but also her deep-seated fears about vulnerability, self-worth, and what it truly means to belong. Eliza is a realistic and deeply relatable protagonist. Her insecurities about fitting in, her fear of being vulnerable, and her tendency to keep people at arm’s length make her character arc incredibly compelling. Watching her slowly open up and allow herself to embrace connections is one of the most rewarding aspects of the book. Eliza’s family dynamic, particularly with her strict but well-meaning parents, adds emotional depth. Her classmates, including her new friends at school, serve as a contrast to her initial loneliness, showing her slow transformation into someone willing to connect with others. Caz Song – A famous actor who seems to have everything figured out, Caz is charming, supportive, and surprisingly down-to-earth. While he plays the role of the confident celebrity, he also struggles with expectations and the pressure of living in the public eye. His kindness and emotional intelligence make him a fantastic love interest. Liang’s first-person narration is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Eliza Lin’s inner monologue is sarcastic, self-deprecating, and highly relatable, making her a compelling protagonist. Liang uses sharp, observational humor to bring Eliza’s personality to life, making even mundane moments feel entertaining. The dialogue in This Time It’s Real feels natural and authentic, avoiding overly dramatic exchanges while still carrying emotional weight. Liang excels at capturing the way teens actually speak, using banter, subtext, and hesitation to make conversations feel organic. Liang’s descriptions are not overly flowery, but they are vivid and full of personality. Rather than just describing a setting, she infuses Eliza’s thoughts and emotions into every scene, making the reader feel connected to her perspective. "Beijing was a blur of colors, sounds, and smells—of neon signs flashing above crowded alleyways, the scent of roasting chestnuts mixing with motorbike exhaust, and the low hum of conversations in a dozen different dialects." This passage is a great example of immersive sensory writing, making the setting come alive. At its core, the novel explores what it means to truly belong—whether to a place, a culture, or even a relationship. Eliza has spent her life moving from country to country, constantly adjusting to new environments but never truly feeling at home. She struggles with the disconnect between her Chinese heritage and her Western upbringing, feeling like she doesn’t fully fit into either culture. Her status as a perpetual outsider affects her confidence and how she interacts with people, making her hesitant to form deep connections. Fake dating Caz forces her to confront her desire for genuine relationships rather than maintaining surface-level interactions. Eliza’s parents have high expectations for her, particularly regarding academic success and her future. Their traditional values and pragmatic outlook often clash with Eliza’s own dreams and insecurities. She feels the constant pressure to prove herself, especially after her viral essay makes her appear more accomplished than she actually feels. The fear of failure is a recurring struggle for Eliza, as she worries about disappointing her family and not living up to the image she unintentionally created. The contrast between Eliza and Caz highlights different approaches to success—while Eliza prioritizes her future, Caz has learned to embrace the present, teaching her to do the same. Throughout the novel, Eliza debates whether to continue writing as a passion or conform to a more “stable” career choice to meet her parents' expectations. This inner conflict drives much of her character development. This Time It's Real is a fun, heartfelt, and beautifully introspective story about belonging, love, and self-acceptance. Ann Liang masterfully blends humor, romance, and emotional depth, making this an unforgettable read for fans of contemporary YA. My final rating: 4.5⭐ – A delightful mix of romance, humor, and self-discovery. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with meaningful themes.

How to critique this story?..... I understand feeling "less than"; in everything. Or, almost everything. I understand wanting " to do the right thing.". I understand keeping a concrete wall around one's heart. However, I loathe deception for stupid reasons. I "get" Eliza wanting to portray a fake relationship but to continue to withdraw and to continue the ruse when Caz seems to be earnest in his feelings, is...FRUSTRATING! This book\story, offers much food for thought for those of us who grew up feeling disconnected, emotionally, and not knowing how to deal with it. I rated only four stars because Eliza's multiple rejections of Caz got on my last nerve. This is the 2nd book (in a row) I've read. Lover her style and incorporating characters who are academic, athletic (Caz, in this book), and relatable, into her stories.

Got this book for a class and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. If you're into C-dramas, this will be for you. It also gets really into the identity crisis of being a Chinese-American and how valuable family is. It's a very sweet and romantic story that is also not very dense.

I read I hope this doesn't find you first.Even though this was published earlier . I originally thought that one was best .But this book right here is the best book I have ever read. Caz and Eliza are seriously the cutest.I love that in the book ,there are Chinese references .As a Chinese person I feel like I can relate to it a lot. All of this is to say .This book is so good!

Book came in damaged and exchanged for another one.

Really loved it! the hardcover is so cute and the design is awesome! the story line is cute and has a rom-com type of feeling to it. I love all of Ann Liangs books!

This is the best book ever, I love twists and drama that is in the book

This book started out on a pretty big lie, which made me nervous because I wasn't sure how things were going to work out. This was actually a very fun and cozy contemporary novel. It gave me all the same feels that my C-Dramas (and K-Dramas) do. Eliza was a tough nut to crack, and I got a little (lot) frustrated with her at times because of it. But at the same time I also understand why she is the way that she is. She's moved around a lot and grown apart from everyone she ever considered to be a friend. So now she's protecting herself by not letting anyone get that close. Was the growing apart also probably partly her fault? Yes. I'm sure she had a part in it. She spent a lot of time misinterpreting Caz and HIS actions and feelings, and then she would say things that were actually kind of mean and it made me wince... And then when he tried to confess his feelings she pushed him away. I get that Eliza was struggling with a lot of different things, and I am supposed to feel bad for her, but I felt worse for Caz. Caz was so kind and thoughtful and sweet, and basically just the complete opposite of Eliza. It was an interesting contrast to see them together, that's for sure. I wish there had been more of their relationship, and interactions with him and Eliza's family, because they were ALSO amazing, especially Emily. I wasn't really sold on the ending though, but I suppose it was meant to be left up to our imaginations. We didn't get to see Eliza deal with the consequences of her Big Lie... It was mentioned vaguely that she wrote something telling the truth and that she wasn't sure how people were going to respond. But we didn't see her dealing with the backlash or anything. Which, to ME, felt a little like a loose end that wasn't taken care. But it's also leaving it up to the imagination of the reader, which some might prefer. This was a story of growing up, growing apart, and learning to put yourself out there.