screaming crying throwing up this i am SO SAT for the One Person who can see through you trope that she writes so well

UPDATE!

✩☀️📝Review:

A striking speculative YA debut!

“If You Could See the Sun” follows Alice Sun, a scholarship student at an elite Beijing international school, after she monetizes her invisibility powers by working with her academic rival Henry Li to steal and sell her classmates’ secrets. 

Liang’s debut is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be seen and the role class plays in affording one opportunities to leave a mark. Alice’s ability to turn invisible serves as a deeper metaphor for her lack of power and voice in navigating her elite boarding school, where she is marginalized by her affluent classmates for her lower socioeconomic status. What she initially perceives to be a curse helps her step into herself and learn what she wants out of life. I loved watching Alice, the type-A straight-A student, come to the realization that money, good grades, glory, and recognition aren’t everything. That what we are most passionate about, even if it isn’t necessarily practical, is worth wanting. At the same time, Liang does acknowledge that reputation and the right connections do hold weight, but we can only control what is in our control. I truly saw so much of myself in Alice and her journey of self-discovery, which just goes to show that as much as we feel alone, there are other people who likely feel the same way. 

Liang executes the academic rivals to lovers trope flawlessly! I love how Alice and Henry’s reluctant partnership forces them to work together for once instead of against each other. The chemistry that develops between them practically leaps off the page! Henry is the first to truly SEE Alice and I couldn’t help but swoon as she gave in to the pull. 

This book is definitely a top-favorite of mine and showcases how wonderful a storyteller Liang is.