This Time It's Real

Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the crushing weight of high expectations or feels they must project a perfect image to be worthy of success. Set in an elite international school in Beijing, the story follows Eliza, whose viral essay about a fake boyfriend lands her in a high stakes lie. To keep her college prospects alive, she enters a fake dating pact with a famous young actor. While the premise is a fun romantic comedy, the heart of the book explores the deep seated fear of being ordinary and the struggle to be authentic in a world obsessed with status. It is a sophisticated, sweet, and emotionally resonant choice for high schoolers navigating social media pressures and the terrifying leap of letting someone see their true, unpolished self.