Reviews

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

sidreads27's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.75

usually i don’t fw fake dating but i loved loved this book. CAZ SONG IS THE STANDARD. i have binged all of ann liang’s books over the last few days, and this one is def my second favourite. the way her characters are so well written and realistic is so gagging and these books are not corny at all. I ADORE ADORE ADORE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I LOVE THEM THEY ARE SO CUTE. 

blakereads_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

semisemiwkkaa's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

abitri's review against another edition

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3.0

3.75

kihhhm's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

loujeanne's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

3.25

"Liar"

imissbookit's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

2.75

I usually love Liang’s books, but both the plot and the characters felt less well-crafted than others I’ve enjoyed (I Hope This Doesn’t Find You and I Am Not Jessica Chen being my favorites). I suspect this is in part due to the lighter tone of this story than the others, as I feel that more serious stories show off her poetic turns of phrase, artist’s eye, and the deep emotional wells with which she develops her characters. Of course, part of this could also be because I’m not usually a fan of fake dating as a trope, but I find Liang’s writing to be so poetic and emotionally articulate that I had to give this one a try regardless of that preference. I also felt that the pacing was a bit off, with the buildup being too long and the denouement being too short. Without knowing more about the emotional journey of the male MC, the payoff at the climax of the plot isn’t as rich as it could have been.

lovezone's review against another edition

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4.75

i love it SO MUCH at first it was a bit hard bcs .... some characters infuriate me bcs i hate dense and stubborn people but like.... at the end.. i understand why and its like??? oH !! i get u!! totally valid! AND THE ENDING WRAPS UP EVERYTHING SO NICELY I LOVE IT

howltct's review against another edition

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this was such a cute read, although i def would've enjoyed it more if i was younger

user4789's review against another edition

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

4.0