thanks to harper voyager & netgalley for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

i first read If You Could See the Sun in 2022, during my freshman year of high school. the book really resonated with my anxieties as i began IB coursework, becoming something important to me.
now, it's 2025, and i've graduated high school and am 2 weeks from moving abroad for university. i feel like i've grown up with ann liang's writing, and the struggles chanel has in this book have become so much more present in my life as i've grown up. because of that, this book was very important to me.
ann liang's talent, in my opinion, lies in giving her characters realistic personalities. ones with flaws and problems, but still allowing them to still be loveable and be in love. chanel is no different — she faces very real problems faced by 18-year-olds (as i would know), and the character-driven factor of this otherwise very fantasy-lite novel allows it to have so much more dimension than it would have if it were simply plot-driven.
ares is also a very good character. his life is slightly less realistic than chanel's, but a lot of the undertones resonated. his search for his brother, while confusing and definitely underdeveloped, provided a lot of material for ares' motivations throughout the story.
the book overall felt more like chanel stumbling upon ares' search for his brother and essentially staying little more than a bystander. however, it worked. as you can see by my rating, i loved this book. so much.
if you like ya romance, this is absolutely incredible. ares and chanel have great chemistry, and the alice and henry cameos were so cute.
so, read this if you like ya romance, dramatic searches for missing family members, or magic moonlight and lakes. this is for you.

3.5 stars. I'm suuuper conflicted on this one! On one hand, I truly adored being back in the world of Airington. IYCSTS is one of my favorite YA books, and I loved the speculative elements here too! Plus, Ares is one of my new favorite Ann Liang boys. Like, genuinely—he had me giggling and kicking my feet he's sooooo dear to me. I loved his character, his attention to detail regarding everything Chanel liked, and I especially LOVED reading from his pov. Chanel was also a fun character to read and root for.

However, I do also have a few negatives. I found the plot extremely hard to believe (and I say this as someone who was rooting for Chanel before the book even had a description), and I honestly felt like Ann Liang didn't pull off the genre-blend as well in this, as she did with her debut. The idea of Chanel making Ares fall in love with her felt like a HUGE case of jumping to conclusions, and it felt like it was there to make the plot happen. Moreover, I didn't understand why there was so much conflict regarding the whole prom thing—I couldn't get behind that conflict at all, even if I tried to look at it through Chanel's eyes.

But the tension in this book was SOOOO good, and I honestly loved Ares and Chanel together. I'll always read anything Ann Liang writes.

Ann liang never disappoints and this was proven again in "I could give you the moon". The characters were amazing and I especially loved the vulnerability of our main fmc Chanel and her growth throughout the book

i can not believe how Ann manages to write like this, you can feel like she has written the best of all her books so far and than she comes out with yet another masterpiece and you say, "oh but nothing can top THIS" until she writes again and it happens all over again... love Ann, love this book, love the plot, love Chanel, love Ares, love my babies Alice and Henry, love the prose, love everything, love the way Ann never forgets to blend in her previous babies into her every new writing, just so much love love love!!!!

full rtc

✨Well, I absolutely loved Alice and Henry Li’s paranormal romance in If You Could See the Sun, so when I found out there was a sequel—this time focusing on Alice’s glamorous former roommate, the It Girl and social media star Chanel Cao—I literally fist-pumped the air and shouted YAY! It felt so good to return to Airington, especially for an enemies-to-lovers romance laced with supernatural intrigue. I devoured this in one sitting, loved it just as much as the first book, and I’m already crossing my fingers for a third installment (please let it be Luke’s story!).

The story opens on a rooftop, where Chanel—Airington’s own “Beijing Serena van der Woodsen”—is helping a friend confront her cheating boyfriend. But what she doesn’t expect is to cross paths with mysterious new student Ares Yin. He’s intimidating, brooding, a boy of few words with a magnetic presence that pulls people toward him like moths to a flame. Intrigued, Chanel follows him…and stumbles upon a hidden lakeside spot where the moonlit water reveals visions of the future like a crystal ball.

When Chanel sees her own house in flames, a scarred man watching with a young boy at his side, and Ares holding a lighter that makes him look like the arsonist, she’s shaken to her core. Ares, however, realizes he’s not the only one with this ability, and suddenly their fates are tangled together.
Chanel keeps her terrifying vision secret, trying to use her charms to get closer to Ares in hopes of protecting her family. Meanwhile, Ares is fighting for his kidnapped little brother Luke, dragged into the dangerous world of underground fight clubs and ruthless men tied to Chanel’s family. Both Chanel and Ares are hiding agendas, circling each other with mistrust, but as they spend more time together the masks begin to slip.

Chanel discovers that Ares isn’t just a cold, brooding fighter—he’s protective, thoughtful, and far more tender than she imagined. And Ares learns Chanel isn’t the shallow, narcissistic girl she pretends to be; beneath the “It Girl” image, she’s sensitive, determined, and willing to risk everything for the people she loves. Together, they begin to ask: what if destiny isn’t set in stone? What if love is strong enough to rewrite the future?

💫 This was a fascinating romance with an addictive paranormal edge, brimming with sizzling chemistry between Chanel and Ares. Their banter, tension, and slow-burn trust made this story impossible to put down. I adored every moment, and I’m hoping Ann Liang keeps bringing us back to Airington—again and again.

🌟 Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the digital review copy of this amazing YA romance/fantasy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A much anticipated spin off of Ann Liang’s debut novel, If You Could See the Sun. As a long time fan of Liang’s, it’s been an honor to see her writing develop and mature over the years which is especially evident in I Could Give You the Moon. The introspective writing style is consistent with her previous works, and I can see the shift in perspective to be more adult than her early novels while still existing within the YA genre.

We revisit an old friend, Chanel Cao, perfect as perfect comes, and meet new characters, one of them being this story’s main male protagonist, Ares Yin. Their fates become intertwined in another case of the supernatural which sets the stage for the events of this story. I really enjoyed the slight mystery aspect of the story where we get a glimpse of the future, but we don’t know exactly how they are going to unravel or what impact they will have. I found myself wanting to read faster to not only see Chanel and Ares’ relationship develops but also how their actions can change their futures. I loved Chanel and Ares’ relationship. Although they were off to a rocky start, Ares knows how to treat Chanel like the goddess she is. There were so many moments where I felt like giggling and kicking my feet. I love the angst and the hurt before a HEA, which I can always count on Ann Liang to deliver.

Chanel Cao is definitely steals the spotlight as the female main protagonist and I loved reading her perspective. I think her motivations were clear, and I found myself really rooting for her even if she had to manipulate a few men to get her way (sorry Ares). She is someone who is extraordinarily unrelatable in her extreme wealth, beauty, and perfection, but she is also relatable in her vulnerability, insecurities, and anxieties. She is someone who loves hard but who is hard to accept love, and I think we can all relate to the feeling of wanting to be loved regardless of our flaws.

A beautifully written spin-off that can be read as a standalone, I Could Give You the Moon absolutely lived up to the expectations set by its predecessors.

Ann Liang’s I Could Give You the Moon is a heartfelt and luminous romance that captures the tension between fate and free will. Chanel Cao begins as a fame-driven Instagram star chasing prom queen but grows into a character who learns to value genuine love and connection. Opposite her, Ares Yin is a quietly devoted and deeply memorable love interest whose small, thoughtful gestures give the story much of its emotional weight. Their sunshine-and-grump slow-burn dynamic unfolds with charm, vulnerability, and just the right amount of tension, even if some side plots occasionally distract from the central romance. Ultimately, the novel’s exploration of love, choice, and self-discovery solidifies Liang’s reputation as a writer who continues to deliver moving and beautifully crafted stories.

3.5 stars

’anything that matters to you matters to me.’

⟡ ladies and gentlemen, this book may be in my top 3 ann liang books of all time. she continues to surprise me with her love stories, her characters that we can’t help but feel empathetic towards - even if we might dislike them at the beginning - her ever-changing storylines, and her beautiful writing style. it genuinely surprises me everytime she releases a book and it immediately becomes my new obsession - so many authors continue to disappoint me with their releases, but she continues to deliver hit after hit. i wish i could unread this so i could experience the euphoric feeling of this book for the first time once again.

i could give you the moon follows chanel cao, our extremely rich and famous instagram model fmc and our stoic and straightforward mmc, ares yin. (i’m on my knees for this man.) the two of them share a vision together at a lake - essentially tying their fates together. both of them realize they have to work together, whether they like it or not. ares & chanel both have secrets they’re unwillingly to tell the other party, and throughout the story, we see them desperately trying to save themselves from this inevitable fate - but of course, they fall in love along the way.

♯ chanel cao. i’m so surprised at how much i enjoyed her character. in the beginning i was a bit skeptical because her biggest dream and goal in life was to be crowned the prom queen at her school. this made me laugh out loud sometimes - the emphasis on how important this was to her was a bit ridiculous. there were moments where she would break down because she thought she wasn’t going to win prom queen. however, we see her transform into a practical and down-to-earth character. one of my favorite moments in this book was where she realized that these moments that give you only a fleeting moment of satisfaction are generally useless - and that what is most important is the moments with the people you love. chanel is definitely ann’s least relatable fmc, however, i don’t think that was ann’s goal in this book - more so the love story.

♯ ares yin. OKAY MY MAN MY MAN!! while reading every book i write down my thoughts and the sum of all my thoughts for this book is how much i ADORE ares yin. he, as every ann mmc starts out, is extremely closed off, but as the story develops, we see how much he genuinely cares about the people he loves. the little things he would do for chanel were so touching (where can I get my own?) exhibit A: a few months before they started dating, when they were still “enemies”, chanel mentioned how she would buy this dress if only it had spaghetti straps, and months later when they began dating, ares got her the dress she wanted, even though the store didn’t do adjustments 🥹 exhibit B: waiting in line for hours to buy her a lychee pink cake because she wasn’t able to eat one for her birthday C: buying a flood of bots to remove comments about her parents’ divorce because she thought it would ruin her image. the list goes on and on and on. the way i was giggling when he talked to her 😍🤭 ann liang mmc’s are always the elite.

꒱ ┊the romance. oh my gosh they were the most adorable couple ever. i always eat the sunshine grumpy trope up (as long as the sunshine isn’t annoying). he was so grumpy but in the best way possible. she was so sweet and sunshine-y in the best way possible, too. some people might not like the way chanel used some of her “techniques” to manipulate him & make him fall in love with her at times, but honestly, she was the hottest when she did that 🫦 the lipgloss scene with chanel on the sink 🧎🏻‍♀️ the tension in this whole book was INSANE. i loved how their relationship didn’t move that fast - it was more of a slowburn. yearning and tension will always get me over insta lust.

side characters.

- long ge - this guy was GOOFY af lmao get him out of here!! not him setting up an entire illegal empire, exploiting children, and trying to kill people to impress a woman that will never want him was so embarrassing 💀 this plotline was so silly honestly.
- coco cao - it confused me how she suddenly redeemed herself at the end of the book, but i guess whatever works
- i thought that maybe the relationship between coco and chanel’s dad would somehow get a side plotline - because at the beginning, i thought they were both hiding something. it would’ve been nice if we got a little more of a deep dive into that, but that could’ve possibly made the story way more complicated.
- alicehenry fans: the mention of them in here was adorable, the alicehenry fans will eat it up

bottom line: i wish ann liang could release a book every week.

The part about Ann Liang's sweet, cute, happy romances that makes me cry the most is how the characters are always so deeply understood and seen by their love interests.

Chanel is a people pleaser. She seeks out people's attention and love, but she is most scared of falling in real love, maybe because it's too real. Ares fights and protects people who care about him, sometimes at the cost of his own life. He makes it known to her that her attention and love is worth just as much as other people's, maybe even more. And she shows him that he deserves to be cared for too, healing each others' wounds. Actually, so, so cute!!

I loved the exploration of fate and free will, how much our past, our present choices, and our vision of the future affects the way we live and breathe in this world. I think this was done well, but it left me wanting so much more from this aspect of the book. I love how the symbols of the moon and the stars and the planets weave into each chapter of the book to build a complete story.

I feel like I have so little thoughts about this book because it would affect me more if I read it as a past or future version of myself. But because I'm in such a weird gray area right now, it gives me more space to think, rather than me contributing my reflections and thoughts to the review. But the best books are like this, it helps you bridge all the versions of yourself, and I Could Give You the Moon does just this.

Magical, mysterious and romantic! 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.

Great if you love:
- Slow burn romance
- Celebrity/influencer romance
- light magic themes
- mystery/thriller vibes

Chanel lives a life of luxury. As a wealthy influencer, she doesn’t think she needs love. Whatever she needs- she can provide herself.
Ares is a boy that goes to school with Chanel, but does not seem to be infatuated with her like the other people around them.
The two connect only by chance, when they both share a terrifying vision of the future.
Chanel is sure that Ares will be the cause of the destructive events to come, and she must keep him as far away from the scene as possible- which will mean bringing him closer to her and risking her own heart.

I have not read anything but Ann Liang previous to this title, but I know a lot of people love her work so I was pretty excited to dive into this and see what all of the hype is about.
I think her writing style is really nice. I enjoyed the pacing, and it kept me pretty engaged and interested throughout.
It reads quite easily, and is not too simplistic or overly frilly. I think for a young adult novel this is perfect.

I do have to say, I don’t love Chanel’s character. It’s just personal preference, but she has the "rich, out-of-touch, social media influencer" persona. I just found it to be a little frustrating. I felt she was lacking depth and did not have a lot of relatable or likeable personality traits.
Perhaps younger audiences may like this a more than I did, especially if they are have a bigger interest in social media and influencer culture.
I did feel for her during some parts though, like when she discussed her relationship with weight and body image.

I enjoyed the progression of Chanel and Ares relationship, and I like how he was like an outlet for her to be able to express her true self, which she was not able to do online or in front of her other friends and socialites.
Ares was so so sweet to her, and I thought that was adorable. Always protecting her and running to her whenever she was in trouble.
The birthday cake scene actually has my heart.

Overall, I think the story itself is quite interesting, and is made even better by the authors writing abilities. Although it fell a tad bit short on certain parts, i still found it pretty enjoyable!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books and author Ann Liang for providing me with the eARC of “I Could Give you the Moon”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: April 14th, 2026
Reviewed on Goodreads: August 23rd, 2025

This is definitely a step up in maturity from Ann Liang's other books. Ann Liang does contemporary YA romance very well, and it's clear she's playing with other genres with this book. I thought it was engaging, with a great plot that I cared about as much as I cared about the romance, a really swoon-worthy MMC, and it takes place in a version of Beijing I've not seen much in fiction - dark alleyways, underground boxing rings, sticky nightclubs. Definitely more adult. I really enjoyed it! I hope Ann writes more in this vein.

Ann Liang can't write a bad book, so with that said, this one is missing the magic that captured my attention and made me giggle like I was 13 again with "If You Could See the Sun". Neither of the main characters were necessarily dislikable, but the plotting felt so lost and forced at times that it made it simply not enjoyable to read some of the chapters. There was a lack of coherent purpose, and there were moments where Chanel and Ares felt more like mannequins than people.

Some scenes in the story were sweet and tender, enough so that I can't knock this book down too far in my star rating. Anyone interested in an intro to Liang should consider "I Hope This Doesn't Find You" or "If You Could See the Sun" as a better representation of her work.

I am living for Chanel and Ares! Their story was so full of tension but also warmth towards each other, and I had so much fun watching their relationship grow with each other. They made each other into better people, but they didn't need to fully rely on each other. Seeing how they grew comfortable with each other, especially Chanel, was really nice because she finally didn't have to worry about being in the spotlight when she was around him. I adore that kind of relationship. Ann Liang did not disappoint with this one! I also loved seeing the AliceHenry cameo in the story!!

Thank you so much for accepting my request for this book. I have been reading Ann Liang's books ever since "If You Could See The Sun" got released. This book felt like a warm hug from an aunt I used to love as a kid.

It has the perfect combination of realism and fiction. Chanel is relatable in a soft but shrewd girly way because aren't we all like that? I loved how slow burn it was and the slow confusion between the two. It was good seeing her fall in love over her fear and it was very good to find Ares reciprocating in the perfect way. I love yearning male leads and I relate to yearning but cold female leads. This book is everything. Thank you.