If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang is a fun, contemporary romance that dives into the struggles of class privilege and academic pressure. Alice Sun, a Chinese-American scholarship student at her Beijing international boarding school, feels invisible among her rich and influential classmates. To make matters worse, her parents have just confessed that they cannot afford tuition, even with the scholarship. When her insecurity and anxiety manifest into actual invisibility, Alice decides to make the most of the strange situation– spy on her classmates and sell their secrets for the right price. Soon, she finds herself tangled in far more serious crimes than just gossip and drama. Alice must decide whether the money is worth her values and morality.
Liang’s novel is exciting and original, never lacking detail or elaborate characters to keep the reader hooked. I read this book in one sitting on a car trip because I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed reading Alice’s perspective, which is full of funny one-liners and heartfelt moments. The other main character (and love interest), Henry Li, is another great character of Liang’s. The banter between him and Alice kept me entertained throughout the read. My favorite part about the book was how Liang wove different themes together seamlessly. I found myself laughing along with one of Alice’s tangents and then feeling the same anxiety over her struggles. Liang is skilled in connecting her characters with the audience in such a way that the reader may feel that they are experiencing the same events. Additionally, the way Liang incorporates Chinese culture into the novel is flawless. I found myself savoring the foods she described in detail or the shifts in language. Overall, I highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for an entertaining, quick read!