Reviews

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

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

yippeeee_meg's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

alexsemihiatus's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative 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

4.75

moonstrucksue's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

It's so cute! Ann Liang knows how to keep up with current pop culture references. I love that the main lead is a C-drama actor.

nicolehalcon's review against another edition

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

3.75

alavenderlibrary's review against another edition

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

5.0

I love everything Ann Liang writes and This Time It's Real is no exception. I love their story so much and Eliza might just be my favorite Ann Liang character. Eliza Lin is the perfect portrayal of a young girl trying to navigate loss and cultural disconnect, while trying to deal with the emotions that come with being young and falling in love. 

Ann Liang does such a phenomenal job at writing about generational trauma, cultural disconnect, loneliness, the fear of inadequacy—and shows the readers through the eyes of a teen protagonist, one of the hardest and most influential times in someone's life. With Eliza, she focuses on the inescapable pain of losing friendships and realizing that not everyone is meant to stay in your life—something everyone goes through at least once. 

Eliza is deeply afraid of giving more of herself away, just for that person to leave in the end. Caz is deeply afraid of being inadequate, of being himself just to be rejected for who he really is. Through their partnership, they realize they might be exact what each other needs to let go and heal. 

I really love that Liang made them friends first; even though they both had feelings for each other and didn't know, we get to see them care for each other as friends first. The closest people in their lives, who get to see the real side before falling in love. Their love was so sweet and I actually really like the trope where they realize they both have feelings before the confrontation. 

chiyeul's review against another edition

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4.0

okay.. so what now?

llau's review

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

kymiess's review against another edition

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4.0

Vraiment mignon

foxfalied's review against another edition

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3.0

simpático mas pra um fake dating faltou um pouco de angst pra mim