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    Ann Liang’s This Time It’s Real is pitch-perfect YA rom-com

    1
    By Jessica on February 8, 2023 AANHPI Heritage, YA review, young adult
    This Time It's Real
THIS TIME IT’S REAL, by Ann Liang, Scholastic Press, Feb. 7, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult)

    A girl starts up a fake relationship with a famous actor in Anna Liang’s new YA rom-com, This Time It’s Real.

    When 17-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

    Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

    Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend — he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

    But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart? —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

    This Time It’s Real is a bright read that you won’t want to put down. Author Anna Liang’s comfortable tone pairs flawlessly with this genre.

    Told from Eliza’s point of view, readers are immediately immersed in a world of knowns and unknowns. Eliza’s family moves every couple of years, and she hasn’t lived in China in 12 years. Through her eyes, readers get to experience the land she rediscovers. Through her, readers also get to know Caz.

    Eliza and Caz appear to be opposites. Caz is famous and outgoing. Eliza easily disappears in a crowd. But they both have vulnerabilities, hopes and dreams that bookend enough to make them a strong match. Eliza’s voice rings true from beginning to end, and it’s not hard to see why she falls for her fake boyfriend.

    This Time It’s Real is a pitch-perfect rom-com that calls to mind works by Meg Cabot and Jenny Han. It’s light-hearted, sweet and a great escape. I read it in one sitting, and I can’t wait to discover more from this author.

     

    Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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    1 Comment

    1. Kim Aippersbach on February 26, 2023 10:07 pm

      Ha ha, the fake dating trope: I can’t get enough of it! I just read Ann Liang’s If You Could See the Sun, and really enjoyed it—she’s a good writer. (No fake dating in that one though!)

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