i dnf-ed this at 30% in because i simply did not care enough to drag myself through the finish line. not for the characters, not for the tension, not for the plot. perhaps i am missing out and everything got better, eventually, but a quick skim of the entire book did nothing to convince me.

there are certainly a lot of things that i should love about this book: the food descriptions, a "hate-to-love" rivals romance, relatable depictions of the diasporic east asian experience, family bonds. i mean, this quote did maim me really hard when i first encounter it because of how relatable it is: [when mc's family came back to Beijing] "I was free to simply be a child again, to shed the role of translator-chaperone-protector, to no longer feel the need to constantly hover around my parents in case they needed something, to shield them from the worst of America's many casual cruelties."

... but that's it, really. the keyword is "should" and i was pretty unfeeling the entire way. nothing truly sparkled and kept me going. even with the unique magical realism element, it just felt like i'd been pulled by these narrative threads before; where it's the same overachieving mc who has a lot to prove, who clearly deserves more than what she currently has, plus the boy who has everything. plus magic. although, if i'm being honest, BIPOC authors deserve to write and publish to their heart's content, doesn't matter if it's just one trope/story format over and over or not; we are underrepresented as is.

anyway, my review is just my version of ranting to myself, it shouldn't sway your decision to read this book if you are interested in that beautiful cover or the synopsis.

If You Could See the Sun is a story of friendship and family surrounding a girl who feels invisible, then starts to feel visible only after she literally turns invisible. It's a coming-of-age story with a touch of magic. A story of the conflict between aspiration and class with a touch of heart-fluttering romance. I love the way details of culture - language, fashion, assumptions - are woven into it and glue all these different aspects of the story together and make it all feel so rich with feelings, so real.

There are very few things I didn't enjoy, and they are all related to Alice in the first two-thirds of the book. I can't claim to understand exactly where she's coming from, since I'm not from China and my family aren't like hers. But I was a partial-scholarship student at an elite, top college, where my parents basically emptied their pocket for me to attend, and I have faced many of her fears. (The author gets these fears so accurate it's scary!) So, I know there are other trains of thoughts she could've taken, and so it's sometimes jarring how she can be so good at studying - especially analyzing books and writing essays - yet fail to see the flaws in her own logics, fail to question her priorities, and keep going down the rabbit hole. I understand that this is a coming-of-age story, so the protagonist is unlikely to make good decisions, but I was still quite annoyed with her.

As for the best thing about this book: it's definitely the feelings! The book manages to invoke so many feelings in me. The anxiety, nervousness, frustration, anger, fear, and thrill - the words on the page conveys everything the main character feels to me so effectively and forcefully that I need to put the book down many times to take a deep breath. And then, of course, Henry Li thankfully is the reason I didn't become too overwhelmed (with all the feelings, especially my annoyance with Alice.) He's a very comforting character, everything I ever need in a young adult love interest with his resourcefulness, calmness, and positivity. He's officially my number one fictional crush now.

This is a very cute young adult contemporary fantasy that is in vein with the current trends. It reminds a reader a lot of a contemporary YA with misadventures and a romance B plot, that happens to take place outside the United States. It would easily satisfy readers of Maurene Goo or Axie Oh. What makes “If You Could See the Sun” so special though is twofold: the main character and zany plot. This is not a book trying to a k-drama -- or c-drama, in this case. It has the plot of a heist novel, which is so engaging.

Our protagonist, Alice, is a “Study Machine,” as they call her in the book, without being dull or too moralistic. There is a comparison to Macbeth at one point that I love, and also makes for an interesting comparison. Alice’s deep-rooted need to achieve success through academia, and the limitations she faces due to academic quality directly corresponding to the amount of money people can invest into, are very relevant and very well portrayed.

Additionally, Alice’s relationship with Henry, her forever-rival, is excellent. His characterization and their interactions are engaging, and their relationship is more complex that just rivals or two people who are secretly in love with each other.

However...other side characters do not get this same treatment. The book’s pacing is great. I was able to read this in about three days despite being extremely busy, but one of the sacrifices to pacing was any side character development beyond Henry. One character declares she wants to be friends with Alice, for example, and that goes pretty much nowhere.

The use of the invisibility is interesting, and definitely not done in a way I have read before. I would genuinely recommend this book to anyone who likes an intriguing concept, a luscious, food-filled setting, and some shenanigans with a happy ending.

This was a fast read for me, and I enjoyed the story, but I also felt the writing and characterization were a little simple for the concepts it was trying to cover (class struggles, academic pressure, the pivot from academic rivals to business partners to lovers, to name a few). Some character decisions didn't make much sense, some plot points were a little too easily solved, but overall, a fun and slightly magical read about the age-old question "Do the ends always justify the means?" (Also the age-old question of "What do I do when I fall for the guy I've hated all through high school?")

So good! Loved the magical realism of the story and the clever modern way it was incorporated. Alice was a wonderful realistic teenage main character and her academic rivals to lovers arc with Henry was great.

Academic rivals to lovers>>> I love this book. The depth of Alice's character and how she handled her situation at school was so captivating. I definitely related on some level to Alice's strive for academic validation. The only thing that thinking back on I was confused about was the mode through which Alice turned invisible. I'm kind of okay with that. The romance and resolution were very fulfilling. Great read!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the Digital Advanced Copy!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before its publication date in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Of course, I am currently living in Beijing, teaching at an international school, so I found myself very able to relate to the story. I can only imagine how much my students would LOVE this story. The author, drawing on her own experiences, is able to capture the struggle of young people growing up in China, working so hard to not bring shame and disappointment to their families, while also trying to find their own place in the world. What would YOU do if you were invisible?

(no spoilers)
A book filled with Chinese traditions, culture and ideologies (and Chinese childhood favorite, White Rabbit milk candy!). Reading this book as an Asian, I can relate to it a lot. The inevitable pressure of doing well at school, having a good reputation, and eventually getting a good, well-paid job. But turning invincible? Isn't that the superpower that every one have wished for once in their lifetime?
The last 5 chapters of the book tho. OMG almost couldn't breath reading it.

Asian Author. Check ✓
Full Asian Cast. Check ✓
Academic Rivals to lovers trope. Check ✓
Elite Boarding School. Check ✓

However, I feel like the first half of the book is a bit long, a bit of a slow burn with a few unnecessary parts. It is definitely not as fast-paced as I wished it would be. Also, it would be even better if it has a dual POV, maybe some chapters with Henry's POV would be amazing. :D

Overall, I liked this book a lot and it's a great debut novel. Congratulations Ann Liang :)

This is a love letter for the girls who want without abandon, who wish to be seen in any way possible.

I don't think I've ever loved YA more than when I was reading this book. The entire premise hooked me from the very beginning and the cover is one of the most beautiful thing's I've ever seen. The main characters have such an interesting dynamic, and for a book about a girl feeling -- and being -- unseen, I have never felt more seen. A lovely experience all around, and a stunning debut.

I thought a lot about the movie Parasite while reading this book and the themes about how class and wealth can be so disparate that presentations of their indicators are like looking at another dimension entirely. Alice's character development, her self-imposed pressure and her stifled frustrations over the world she navigates every day, was a central party of the story. The plot didn't hold many surprises for me, but the focus on Alice, Henry, and Chanel sold the whole thing. I almost didn't even need the romance sub plot because Alice's situation is so much more interesting than that part, but I see the role it plays in resolving her story and her growth.
I even like that the supernatural aspect never gets explained because it's not the point. There's one part at the end when I wonder if a minor character gets their due, but it's realistic that their fate is left out. The world is incredibly unfair. I can guess what happened.
Just the same, well written themes and strong character development. 4.5 stars

3.5 stars.
FIRST OFF, upon reading the premise, I was beyond intrigued to read this book. Ownvoices Asian magical-realism is on the rise and I, for one, am beyond stoked about that because authors like Ann pump out AMAZING stories like these. The creativity I keep reading for this particular genre has no foreseeable bounds.
Every character in this story is just, beyond enjoyable in their own way. I loved Alice, she was hilarious and sarcastic and so incredibly relatable, especially if you're someone who grew up on the lower-end of a household income, for all the shit she gets into in this book, she seems completely logical and calculating pretty much every step of the way, save for some emotional moments that definitely added to her character. The character development is strong in this novel, for Alice especially, and for Henry, too. Speaking of Henry, uhmmmm swoon?? One of the most enjoyable opposite end of a romance in a book I've read in a long while. Sweet baby boy I wanna protect him my SON.
One of the better highlights of this book is definitely the close look at the ever-present classism that exists not only in Beijing, but pretty much anywhere else. The genuine gap of knowledge and understanding rich kids have towards lower income families is on full-display here. Alice comes up with her plan to monetize her abilities due to the rising school fees at her prestigious private school, her motives are completely understandable. Her bitter year-long rivalry with Henry Li is fueled due to his rich status, his competition with her being no more than a game to him, stakes he doesn't have if he wins or loses, meanwhile Alice depends on her grades for her entire future, hard work is the only way she can see herself moving forward in life, without the privileges present presented to all of her classmates.
Speaking of her rivalry with Henry Li, oh man. This is by far one of the best rivals to lovers showcased in a story I've read for a long while. I definitely started out disliking Henry, her hatred for her him was very believable and came through the pages, however I began to adore him as the story progressed, as his character was explored, as is pretty much always the case, he is not the posh perfectionist he presents himself as. At least, it's not all of him. Like I mentioned before, the character development present here is so wonderful and makes my heart warm.
This all being said, upon stewing upon my enjoyment overall for a few days after reading, I do have a few inconsistencies I'd like to share.
First off, I finished this book in 3 days, I breezed through it, and then I absorbed most of what I'd read after the fact. What I can say is that after this, I have a few issues with the plot.
(Please note that there are definitely minor spoilers ahead. Read with caution).

Andrew Oh is like the dumbest villain or contention in a story I've ever read. He's portrayed as like this criminal mastermind and then when he's met with Alice's plan he just goes with it with barely any argument. And then he switches to this comic relief "hahah look at the bad guy no friends boohoo" like I'm honestly unsure what purpose he even serves overall I just, couldn't take that seriously.
The end of the story never explains why Alice turns invisible. Throughout the story we're teased by the possibility that there may be others around her that have or may have had her same affliction, however literally nothing ever comes of this and for all her wondering about why it happens and how it works, the story never explains it either. My personal hypothesis was that she turned invisible whenever she felt invisible, usually when it happens; Alice is put in a position where she's made to feel less-than, or she's spiraling in her thoughts about her future and not being good enough. The more she hangs out and feels seen with Henry, the less she turns invisible. Every night she spends time with him, she doesn't turn that night. I think it may be a subtle nod to the fact that sometimes your own mindset is what is mostly holding you back, however I feel if it were maybe explained subtly at some point it could've served a greater purpose, but I'm still unsure of the intention behind just leaving it off there at the end so, that's the majority of my speculation.

My final thoughts, read this especially if you grew up wealthy or at least financially comfortable, and just read it because it's an amazing debut novel and a really enjoyable story from start to finish.

2.5/5

I was initially quite interested in the concept of If You Could See the Sun, but the execution of its most compelling concepts — academic rivals to lovers, an interrogation of elite Beijing educational institutions, the supernatural element of invisibility — left me feeling incredibly jaded, leading to a rather half-hearted finish of the book.

To begin with a less internal impression of the book's substance, the writing itself was textbook Wattpad. It's not something I say with any malice whatsoever (especially for a YA novel) but rather an acknowledgement of certain stylistic elements: bombastically juvenile dialogue, contrived events, purposefully oblivious internal monologues/observations (e.g. Alice noticing Henry's pink ears without thinking about why they're pink). While this sort of style works for some people, it's not something I personally resonate with — for the expansive YA genre, I've enjoyed other types of writing more.

As for characters, I didn't feel particularly strongly about them (sans Henry, who reminds me of a teenage version of Henry Golding's Nick Young from Crazy Rich Asians — though he is portrayed as near-perfect, with few flaws, if any). Many of the them felt categorically stereotypical of the general high school population: the rich influencer, the jock, the SoundCloud rapper, the smart ones. While they're portrayed with some amount of depth (mostly with background rather than complex personality traits), it was hard to be interested when they relied so heavily on tropes. The enemies (or academic rivals) to lovers element between Alice and Henry, too, fell flat — not enough enemies and barely more lovers made for a rather stale dynamic. I wish Henry harbored mutual resentment for Alice rather than immediately being drawn to her — it feels dismissive of her academic capabilities and removes tension from the relationship.

For plot specifics, Alice's invisibility was given no explanation, resolution, or imbuing of improbability. Liang references a few characters who might have further knowledge of this phenomenon, but it's never explored further than a knowing look or vague comment. Henry is also strangely accepting of this physically impossible occurrence, which is juxtaposed strangely with his science-driven intellect. The kidnapping plot was also extremely random, even more outlandish than Alice's invisibility — it invokes the stereotypical mafia-esque tendencies of powerful rich families in fiction without any of the foundation to support it.

Ultimately though, it's a YA novel that doesn't take itself too seriously — I didn't mind how direct its message about class commentary was, since it's geared towards younger readers. I loved seeing the cultural elements interwoven into the book, and the cover features a stunning graphic. I just wished there was more thought put into the execution of a novel with an interesting initial concept.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Spoiler free*

With just a little bit of fantasy flare, this is a book that delivers on the gentle emotion punch that it promises.

This is a book that takes the prickly parts, the ones that seem to screech slightly off key, and looks at them with such compassion and love. It turns them into something that doesn't hurt to look at. It embraces those hard parts, it recognizes them, and allows them space to exist.

But at the same time, it is offset with the most incredible rivals to lovers romance with a layer of snark and humor that is delivered in the same lush manner that the whole book is written in. The romance stars two dorks, who are dorks about each other. The perfect blend of competition and oblivious pining.

Also, it add the supernatural into the real world with such grace. It felt real. Abnormal, of course, but it doesn't treat it as Magic or Otherworldly. It's more something that is happening, and it worked really, really well.

Overall, a book the is gloriously gorgeous, with just enough of a gut punch to make the eyes teary, but with enough humor that made me cackle throughout. So, yes, I loved it very much.

beautifully written and lovingly crafted with chinese diaspora in mind. i am almost glad it took me so long to get through (due to work) so i could savor it a little longer. the major in which i teach doesn't lend itself to using this for curriculum, but i can't wait to get a copy of this for my shelf -- the beautiful cover art will have students asking me about it and i'll be delighted to recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the digital ARC of 'If You Could See the Sun' by Ann Liang.

The line that stood out to me the most in this book was: "There was once a time when no one really noticed me at all. When I was invisible to the world..."

This wasn't said by Alice, but it fit her so perfectly. She struggled with her confidence and self worth, and she pushed herself so hard, and yet wasn't truly noticed... until one day... she actually became invisible.

This book highlighted some really important issues thar teens struggle with, and was also a really great look at dilemmas people can face.

My only real complaint was after the last 'text' everything just felt really rushed, and the pacing felt a little off. Other than that, solid 4/5.

Really delightful. Gripping academia/fantasy/heist/enemies-to-lovers mashup, with great dialogue and personalities.

The thing that really sent it for me was the Experiencing China trip: having been on roughly equivalent Experiencing Taiwan trips as an exchange student, everything about the trip that hosts the climax of the book was pitch-perfect. Expensive hotels, long train rides, teenagers somehow

Another enemies to lovers story, but this one has a big twist. Alice is the poor kid on scholarship at a fancy boarding school. Her parents work their fingers to the bone to pay the outrageous tuition, since her scholarship only covers half of her fees. Of course, then you have Henry, whose dad owns a huge tach company. Alice and Henry are constantly competing for awards at school.

When Alice's parents say that they're going to pull her out of her expensiveschool, Alice turns to Henry to help her build an app to raise money.

An interesting story about ambition, power, and feeling invisible.

Add me on Goodreads!

4.5/5

Big thank you to Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful piece! This book doesn’t come out until October, but I personally think everyone needs to put it on their to-read and preorder it as soon as humanly possible, because… wow. This book blew me away.

If You Could See The Sun follows Alice Sun, a young, gifted girl who attends an elite prep school in Beijing. However, when her family drops the news that they will not be able to send her there anymore, Alice discovers she has the ability to turn invisible. By accident. Capitalizing on her newfound power, she teams up with her academic rival who she hates very, very much, Henry Li, to dish out her classmates’ secrets in exchange for money.

It’s very rare I click request on an eARC as fast as I did for this one, but my mouse moved astronomically quick when I saw the stunning cover paired with dark academia, magical realism, and academic rivals to lovers set in somewhere that wasn’t England or the east coast United States. There was no way I was taking no for an answer. And I’m so glad I didn’t; this book checked every box for me. The romance was a perfect slow burn, every character was so fun and wonderful, and the cast was diverse and so, so real. The magical realism was beautifully executed and added a touch of symbolism to the story.

I also would like to mention how much I adore Henry.

What stood out to me as I read this is that everyone came from different backgrounds, and the book urges you not to judge anyone by their outward appearance. Alice, our narrator, comes from a very different background from many others at her school, but she learns more about her classmates and it reminds us as readers that there is always more to someone than meets the eye. Whether rich, poor, beautiful, privileged, etc, each character is fundamentally different and challenges the reader to look beyond external perception. Young adult novels in academic settings, in particular, can fall into a trap of stereotyping characters. If You Could See the Sun doesn’t do this at all. Instead, it challenges preconceived notions Alice may have about her classmates she didn’t know that well to begin with, and presents a different story for every single person that crosses the page.

Did I mention I love Henry?

Alice is also a lovely protagonist and is about everything readers dream of in a badass, independent female protagonist. She doesn’t distinguish herself as “different from other girls” or put herself above any of her peers, but she is humble yet headstrong and brilliantly feisty. She also has the best one-liners (my favorite: “I’m greeted at my aunt’s door by Buddha. Not the Buddha himself—though it certainly wouldn’t be the strangest thing to happen to me this week.”). Her voice is strong and inspirational and certainly provides a voice to those of us who were mega-overachievers in school (I know I was). I wish I could hand this book to a 16-year old me—Alice might’ve inspired me to slow down a little!

Now to expand on Henry (as I’ve been wanting to do this whole time). Admittedly, I almost always hate love interests. I was thrilled to see that this book subverted my preconceived opinions once again. Henry first comes across as this perfect, smug, beautiful man who Alice feels frustrated she cannot live up to. They are competitive, and he has a way of pushing Alice’s buttons like no one ever has. However, when they end up partnering to create the app together, Alice learns more about him and that his life wasn’t all big money and studying like she originally thought. He grows just as much as Alice during the novel and is much, much more than a pretty face. He is easily my favorite character in the whole book (shocking for you all to hear, I know).

Aside from the main two, every side character is well-developed and easy to remember. The number of characters introduced is not overwhelming, yet not so small that the school feels entirely empty. The teachers, especially, provide some insight into the story and serve as mentors who push Alice into making better decisions for herself and not devalue her own worth despite the differences between her and her classmates.

Without giving too much away, I also commend the fact that this was a young adult novel without an ending where everyone wins. Often when I read young adult novels, the characters are not held accountable for their mistakes. It’s frustrating, and it makes the endings very weak. Liang cleverly challenges this by creating a favorable outcome for her characters, but not a perfect one. Alice’s problems don't magically go away with a flick of the wrist but rather, she uses the bad situation as well as her intelligence to her advantage. The characters are held accountable for their actions, and while things ultimately end well, they don’t end with the problems dissipating into thin air. Typically the endings of novels are like a walk through the mud for me, but this one left me pleasantly surprised!

If You Could See the Sun is a delightful read, packed with drama, a wonderful romance, and a spark of hope for young people that may not yet know what they want to do with their lives or understand how much they’re worth. Absolutely unputdownable, with an exceptionally strong protagonist and a compelling story, this is a debut packed with elements that will delight readers of any age. Thanks again to Inkyard Press for a free eARC, and I am on my knees begging anyone who has read this far to wishlist this book immediately!

In Ann Liang's debut novel, Alice Sun, an overachieving high school student, uses her newfound power of invisibility to make money so she can stay at her prestigious (and expensive) school. Along the way, she's forced to confront her preconceived ideas about her classmates, her morals, and what she wants for her future. The novel's greatest strength is in Alice's voice. She feels young but mature, making her mistakes believable while still holding appropriate space for the novel's themes about class and familial obligation. The audience can see gaps in Alice's self-awareness—like her budding romance with academic-rival-turned-accomplice Henry Li—but understands why Alice has these gaps. It makes her not only a well-rounded character, but one that endears her to the reader, makes us want to root for her even when she's making poor choices. A stunning debut for all fans of magical realism, Ann Liang is an author to watch!

Being the only scholarship kid at her school, Alice has never quite felt like she fit in. That’s even more true when she starts turning invisible. Then, she finds out that her scholarship isn’t enough to be able to keep her at the same school anymore. She decides to use her powers to spy in on conversations and use her knowledge of these scandals to make money. Things get more complicated when the scandals escalate from school gossip to broken laws. Where does Alice draw the line?

I found the character of Alice to be a little cringey at first in the story, but once she gained her powers, I was drawn in. Interesting and original story that contains the usual salaciousness found at expensive prep schools. Will recommend. Fun read.