A review by tsundoku_
This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

emotional 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

4.25

This book had me giggling. It took a bit for Caz to grow on me but then I absolutely loved him. The fake dating I think was done well. I did really like that Caz was the one who confessed his feelings first since it wasn't in his pov so you didn't always know how he felt. I will say Eliza did bother me sometimes. She was just so sure that nobody liked her or that everyone was going to leave her without even talking about it to them. And to an extent I have felt this way too, but I wish she would've at least tried to do something about it sooner.

I didn't like how long it took for her to make things right with Zoe. The whole plot with Zoe I felt wasn't fleshed out enough. Also, the scene where Caz was sick and Eliza took care of him????? Had me giggling and kicking my feet that was so cute and sweet. And when she got up and he woke up just to ask her to stay???? Soooo freaking cute I can't take it.

I do wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. They took so long to get together and then the book basically ended right after. I wish we could've seen what her article for the magazine was even though I technically know the general idea of it. I think there could honestly be room for a sequel, but then again I don't always like sequels for romance books unless there's an equal mix of something else like mystery or something. Also I don't usually pay a ton of attention to the writing style unless it's really not for me, but this was really beautiful writing.