This Time It's Real — Content Guide for Parents
Found in this book
- Race & cultureBrief
- Gender & orientationBrief
Not found
- Violence
- Scary content
- Religion
- Climate
- Sexual content
- Gender roles
Couldn't confirm
- Profanity
- Profanity: No source describes the book's language or lists swear words from its text.
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.
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Religion
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin's essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine...and a massive secret to keep.
Eliza made her essay up. She's never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?
Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She'll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.
But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza's carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?
Frequently asked questions
Is This Time It's Real appropriate for a 7-year-old?
In one scene a restaurant cook asks Eliza if she is even Chinese, and the book touches on Chinese identity and belonging for someone who has grown up abroad. One reader review refers to a gay romance between actors in the story; the main romance is between a girl and a boy, and no other source describes the gay romance.
Does This Time It's Real have violence?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have scary content?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have religion?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have race & culture?
Found (Brief): In one scene a restaurant cook asks Eliza if she is even Chinese, and the book touches on Chinese identity and belonging for someone who has grown up abroad.
Does This Time It's Real have profanity?
Couldn't confirm: No source describes the book's language or lists swear words from its text.
Does This Time It's Real have climate?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have sexual content?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have gender roles?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does This Time It's Real have gender & orientation?
Found (Brief): One reader review refers to a gay romance between actors in the story; the main romance is between a girl and a boy, and no other source describes the gay romance.
