Book Review: If You Could See the Sun

By Ann Liang 

5 Stars 

In If You Could See The Sun, a scholarship student at an elite Beijing international boarding school discovers she has the power to turn invisible. Struggling with her financial situation and feeling invisible in more ways than one, Alice devises a plan to leverage her unique ability by uncovering her wealthy classmates' secrets for profit. As her assignments escalate from harmless gossip to serious crimes, Alice faces a moral dilemma: will she sacrifice her integrity—and perhaps her life—for fame and fortune?  

I've read a few books by Ann Liang already and loved each and every one of them. Her writing style is so good, and the stories are amazing. The romance she writes is perfection! The dynamics in this book were just right. This book is way more than a simple rom-com; it has fantasy elements but also explores other important topics. Alice's struggle to be perfect and her focus on being the best is so relatable. I always connect with the characters in Ann's books. Henry is the perfect boyfriend—loving, sweet, and genuinely caring about her. The academic rivals-to-lovers trope was done really well in this one.  

"If I'm not first, I'm nothing." This hit really close to home. I felt a strong connection to Alice and saw myself in her story.  

This book has romance subplots and magical realism. You should definitely read this YA contemporary novel if you enjoy reading about themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. 

Reviewed by Joni 

View in Library Catalogue: Print