For Real This Time

by Beth Reekles

Love, rivarly...orcs?

Misfit and hardcore fangirl Anissa is finally coming out of her shell. She’s leading a tabletop role-play game with friends, is officially part of the group chat with the girls from college, and she’s managed to bag work experience on the set of her favourite TV show, ‘Of Wrath and Rune’. Things couldn’t be going better. . .

That’s until she meets Callum, the hot new actor behind her favourite character on OWAR, and gets totally starstruck. Only Callum writes her off as an obsessive fangirl and now working on set is about to be very awkward. So much for meet your heroes - now he’s her worst enemy.

Battling her newfound friendships, her rivalry-turned-maybe-something-more with Callum, and the occasional fictional orc, Anissa’s about to realise that sometimes getting lost in the fantasy isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be...

For Real This Time is a heartfelt romcom about opening yourself up to new possibilities and falling in love with what’s real, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell, Holly Bourne and Lynn Painter.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 26, 2026

About the author

Beth Reekles is an author and creator best known for her series The Kissing Booth, which was adapted into a series of hit Netflix movies. She began her writing career by self-publishing The Kissing Booth on story-sharing platform Wattpad at fifteen years old, and earned a three-book deal with Penguin Random House at seventeen. Love, Locked Down is her tenth published book. After obtaining a Physics degree and working a day job in IT, she is now a full-time author and self-confessed nerd who loves to review movies on Instagram @authorbethreekles.

Her published works include:
The Kissing Booth
The Beach House
The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance
The Kissing Booth: Road Trip!
The Kissing Booth 3: One Last Time
Rolling Dice
Out of Tune
Cwtch Me If You Can
It Won't Be Christmas Without You
Love, Locked Down/Lockdown on London Lane

Reviews

[Beth Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher it has not affected my opinions.

Despite being a UKYA nerd (I literally run an account yelling about it), I had not read any Beth Reekles previously. Somehow The Kissing Booth had bamboozled me into thinking her from the US. My sincerest apologies, fellow Beth.

For Real This Time, is the follow up to Do You Ship It? but is perfectly capable of being read as a standalone. Whilst Cerys, Jake, and Max feature the focus is on Anissa this time.

With a little bit of courage and a good word from one of the OWAR actors majorly impressed by their cosplay skills Anissa and Cerys have scored a summer of work experience in the props and costume department on their favourite fantasy show. When Anissa meets Callum, the new actor, playing her favourite character she immediately makes the world’s biggest idiot of herself.

Humiliated further when he calls out her behaviour on social media he firmly makes himself her worst enemy. As Anissa tries to navigate new-friendships, work, making the greatest TTPRG sessions ever and whatever this definitely not a crush situation with Callum is Anissa is going to learn getting lost in the fantasy is just as bad as reality.

I loved this story, I noticed Anissa’s ADHD immediately - even if Anissa doesn’t - and related so hard to the idealisation of romance ands life in general and the let down of reality. Her issues with friendships, trying to figure out what people mean, if they’re just mean and why she always feels on the outside even if she isn’t really are so spot on I almost cried. (I wish those feelings went away, they don’t you just kinda rationalise it a bit better and also find your people)

I loved the way her relationship with Callum slowly unknots and becomes something so beautiful. We hate Ritchie and Brayden Brown is amazing.

[⋆. ˚ Demi's Reads ౨ৎ♡]

can't wait can't wait can't wait !! ♡