This Time It's Real

Seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin's viral essay about her imagined love story catapults her into new opportunities and social success, but she must keep the truth hidden—she's never been in love. To maintain her facade, she strikes a deal with a classmate, Caz Song, to pretend to be her boyfriend, leading to a charming and complicated situation. As their fake relationship deepens, Eliza faces the difficult choice between her dreams and staying true to herself. This humorous and romantic story explores themes of honesty, love, and self-discovery.