If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
Standalone
Published on October 11, 2022 by Inkyard Press
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Contemporary
Rep: Chinese-American MC, Asian(-American) MCs
Rating:
Synopsis:
Alice Sun has always felt invisible at her elite Beijing international boarding school, where she’s the only scholarship student among China’s most rich and influential teens. But then she starts uncontrollably turning invisible—actually invisible.
When her parents drop the news that they can no longer afford her tuition, even with the scholarship, Alice hatches a plan to monetize her strange new power—she’ll discover the scandalous secrets her classmates want to know, for a price.
But as the tasks escalate from petty scandals to actual crimes, Alice must decide if it’s worth losing her conscience—or even her life.
💯💯💯
After a bizarre ceremony, Alice suddenly finds herself invisible, with her only ally being Henry Li, her rival and the guy who keeps a photo of them on his study table. Seizing the opportunity, Alice decides to become an entrepreneur, offering her invisible services through Beijing Ghost. As her business gains traction, Alice finds herself taking on riskier jobs for more money, putting her reputation and education in jeopardy. Attending an elite international boarding school with wealthy classmates has warped Alice’s perspective on her peers, including Henry. Despite her preconceived notions, Alice realizes that everyone has their own struggles.
“Yes, is the obvious answer. I do hate you. I hate everything about you. I hate you so much that whenever I’m around you, I can barely think straight. I can barely even breathe.”
To Henry, their rivalry is just friendly competition, until he discovers Alice’s true feelings. Throughout their interactions, Henry proves to be a supportive friend and potential boyfriend, often bailing Alice out of tough situations and assisting with Beijing Ghost tasks. Despite her friendly demeanor, Alice feels lonely at times, yearning to fit in with her classmates while also remaining focused on her academics and entrepreneurial ventures.
I enjoyed reading from Alice’s perspective because she’s ambitious and a perfectionist. Even after turning invisible for the first time, her thought is about turning this into profit. We love an entrepreneur queen. With that said, she’s also flawed in her own ways when all of a sudden, what she wanted was at reach, but her morals might be compromised.
If You Could See the Sun delves into themes of parental sacrifice, the disparity between the rich and poor, and the pressures of student life. Alice’s relationship with her parents is a central focus, highlighting the guilt and obligation she feels as they continually sacrifice for her. Despite their struggles, Alice’s parents only want what’s best for her, and they all strive to navigate their circumstances in their own ways.
Overall, the novel offers a lighthearted exploration of supernatural abilities and a love-hate rivalry romance, while also delving into deeper themes. However, the lack of explanation for the invisibility aspect leaves a gap in the story that could have been further explored.
“If I’m not swimming as hard as I can, feet thrashing at the waves, I’m drowning.”
thisbellereadstoo.wordpress.com 