Real when I'm With You by Lucy Powrie

✦ BLURB ✦

Seventeen-year-old Effie is fed up of playing third-wheel. She can often be found hanging out at the local coffee shop "Love You a Latte" while her so-called friend Chelsea and her boyfriend kiss in front of her.

One day, following a snide remark from Chelsea about never having a boyfriend, she declares she can absolutely get a date if she just asks for one, so she strides over to the counter and asks the irresistibly cute barista Aiden to pretend to put his number in her phone. Of course, he obliges with a grin - what ensues is a whirlwind of fake dates. But when their fake dates are exposed, Effie and Aiden decide to carry on dating for good, but then, spoiler, nobody believes they really are in a relationship.

But who cares what anyone else thinks? This is Effie and Aiden's story.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

I’ve said before that romcoms usually need a pretty unique hook to grab me, and this one definitely had it. Fake dating is always a classic, but I was especially intrigued by the fact that the leads are both neurodivergent - and that it’s a story where asexuality is explicitly part of the conversation. That’s rare enough in YA, and even rarer in something fluffy and warm. I’m going in hoping for sweetness, awkwardness, maybe some real emotional resonance, and the kind of found-family, gently defiant vibes that stick with you.

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... Effie and Aiden's story absolutely delivered on the emotional beats I wanted. There’s a gentleness to the way their relationship develops - clear boundaries, open conversation, and no pressure to conform to traditional romantic expectations. I appreciated how much space the book gave Effie to be herself in all her neurodivergent, emotionally prickly glory. The fake dating premise stayed charming and carried some deeper weight, especially once the two of them had to navigate what it meant to be believed when they started being real.

It surprised me by... ...how well it balanced light, tropey moments with sharp, poignant observations about friendship, social expectations, and being othered. The conflict with Chelsea never felt cartoonish - it reflected that painful dynamic where the person who should have your back is the one undermining you most. And Aiden! I really loved that he wasn’t just the quirky love interest; his ADHD wasn’t played for laughs, but instead added complexity and tenderness. There’s such heart in this story.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

📚 Loveless by Alice Oseman – Both books explore asexuality in thoughtful, affirming ways, and centre characters learning how to define love and connection on their own terms. Like Real When I'm With You, Loveless also handles friendship shifts, self-discovery, and the emotional messiness of growing up with tenderness and care.

📺 Heartstopper (Netflix) – This rec fits not only for the soft, wholesome vibe and slow-building trust in the relationship, but also for its inclusive, respectful portrayal of queerness and neurodivergence. If you liked the way Heartstopper shows healthy communication and emotional safety, you’ll find similar joy here with Effie and Aiden.

✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

🎵 Featured Song: "Grow As We Go" by Ben Platt  - it’s soft, honest, and all about growing alongside someone without needing them to change for you.
🎶 Vibe Album: Immunity by Clairo  - hazy, introspective, intimate. A great background to soft, complicated teenage feelings.
🎧 Artist Recommendation: mxmtoon  - especially if you want music that feels like a diary entry in the best way.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

Colour Palette: lilac, latte brown, lemon yellow, and robin’s egg blue
Soundtrack: café clatter, softly played acoustic guitar, nervous laughter, and the ding of a text notification
Season: Spring
Mood: Vulnerable but hopeful
Scent: Vanilla latte with oat milk and a twist of citrus peel

FAVOURITE QUOTES

"The only time I usually feel empowered is when I’m creating art; I didn’t realize I could feel the same outside of my sketchbook. I’ve found a spark within myself that I’d like to grow into an inferno."

"Deep down , we all want to feel wanted – in a relationship, in our friendships, at home. We want to know someone cares."

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

The Lovers (from the Moon Dust Tarot) – This card isn't about romance in the traditional sense here. It’s about choosing to be vulnerable, to connect, to honour your truth even when it's not what others expect. Effie and Aiden's story is a quiet but powerful testament to that.

Real When I'm With You publishes on the 3rd July, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.