Five years after walking away, Ava never expected to see Dylan again. She’s back in her old college town for a photography exhibit: divorced, restless, and unprepared for the man who never forgot her. Dylan has built a careful life, but her return cracks it wide open. One night reignites everything they buried… and forces them to decide if love can survive second chances. Intimate, emotional, and raw, "This Time, For Real" is a modern romance about timing, forgiveness, and the courage to stay.
Celeste Hana is a writer, content strategist, and certified survivor of the modern corporate grind. With over a decade of experience in soul-sucking offices, endless Zoom calls, and middle-management chaos, she’s seen it all and lived to write about it.
She’s worked across industries from tech to publishing, often as the youngest (and most quietly frustrated) person in the room. Celeste has questioned why we’re told to smile through burnout, pretend to love our commutes, and bond over awkward team-building. This book is her way of saying: you’re not the problem, the system is.View all by Quinn Reid
