Reviews

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

ri_ri's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

"When you care about someone, you want to be inconvenienced—you wouldn’t mind being inconvenienced by them every day for the rest of your life. That’s what love is. That’s all love really is."

This story and it's characters hits home. Once in a while you come across the books and characters that made you feel all kinds of emotions and you could relate to them truly and emotionally. It heals you and gives you hope all at the same time. This book was that book for me.

This book was purely beautiful. It is full of hope, humour, love, emotion, healing, friendship, family, vulnerability and so many fluff and cute adorable moments between Caz and Eliza. This was like super cute and enjoyable and the characters were so much relatable especially Eliza. I loved absolutely everything about this book. From fake dating concept to knowing the meaning of 'Home'. It was perfect. I never expected to like it this much.

Ann Liang perfectly shows the challenges of living in different countries while growing up and making your dreams a reality while going through so much in your life, and all the while finding a place and people that feels like home.

"Home for them was one piece, one place, not something scattered all around the globe, fragmented into something barely recognizable."


I liked Eliza's family dynamics and how her family always spend some time together by watching dramas and talking about each other's day and some random stuff. These kind of small moments and efforts are what makes a family. I also loved Eliza's relationship with her mother and her younger sister. How they always comforted each other with love and humour.

I love how Eliza and Caz slowly and steadily fell in love all while doing those "Chemistry Experiments". Eliza never believed in love but somehow Caz helped her to understand that she can also have a romantic relationship and she just needs to believe in herself. They both were so cute and are made for each other. They comforted each other and it was purely beautiful to watch them fell in love. And their banter was hilarious

4leaf_clover's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

jewelled_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"When you care about someone, you want to be inconvenienced—you wouldn’t mind being inconvenienced by them every day for the rest of your life. That’s what love is. That’s all love really is.”

a little cliche, a little cheesy, a whole lot of fun.

would've been a 5 star if not for the ending feeling a bit rushed.

puglord's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

chmpgneprcblems's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jennkei's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

An easy read.

tessahaddock's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

susuuuu's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

'and this, i think, is my ultimate fatal flaw. missing people who don't miss me back. clinging on to strands of strings that shouldn't mean half as much as they do. it takes so little for me to love someone, yet so long for me to move on.'

they're cute but eliza just pissed me off sometimes because why is she constantly comparing herself to him, everyone is their own person & everyone battles their own insecurities. also annoying how she belittled his insecurities as if he's not allowed to have any just because he's so "perfect".... annoying. AND she's actually TELLING him how he's gonna feel like babe he's pouring out his heart to you in the rain and you're saying "you don't actually feel this way" just because he's famous LMAO what even

anyway, caz <3<3<3

rlulwa's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

3.5 ☆

“i hope you remember to miss me when all this is over”

Ann Liangs writing is so captivating. the vivid descriptions immerses you into the story in such an engaging way!! new favorite author
- i was so happy to find the tiny reference to ‘if you could see the sun’
- the ending was a bit rushed

joonswifey's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

this was sweet. this woman just knows how to write the cutest most adorable shit in the world and it is an absolute JOY! fake dating x popstar, it’s giving tatbilb meets starstruck. a lovely fun time