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alicia_g's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
really a slow burn
the way the food is described in this book 🤤
the way the food is described in this book 🤤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Hate crime, Child abuse, Classism, and Racism
daenerystargaryen's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Infidelity, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Confinement
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, and Vomit
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, and Blood
_persephone's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
i wanted more of chanel. :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse
cameronreads's review
2.5
I read this book as a break between high fantasies and I think it worked well for that. It was a fun easy read, despite its important discussions of elitism in private education, and enjoyable enough. I think our main character really felt like a teenager in her thought processes and decision making and I really enjoyed that - it made the book feel very realistic. I could feel her growing throughout the book and starting to realise that she was just a kid as well, although this was subtle. The other characters didn’t have quite as much depth though - Henry especially felt like he’d do anything the main character asked and was just kind of magically there whenever he was needed, making him feel more like a tool for the plot than a fleshed out character. I did like the concept of the romance between them; academic rivals to lovers is always fun, but because Henry was just kind of down for whatever the main character needed the tension was really only felt from Alice’s side.
There was also something slightly off about the pacing right at the beginning of the book (although for the most part it was fine), with magical powers developing all of a sudden and characters just accepting it without a second thought and immediately moving on with their lives. I don’t necessarily have a problem with there being no explanation for the powers (although due to personal preference I would have rather had one) but it did just feel like a very quick onset and acceptance.
I liked what this book was saying about private schools and I think it was successful for the most part - it wasn’t the most nuanced view but it wasn’t really trying to be so that’s not necessarily a problem. I like that Alice found a way to help others in her situation at the end, which was a nice cumulation of her character growth.
I also thought it had interesting points about academics and self worth, in fact I wish it had delved into it a bit deeper. There’s a point where Alice realises that she actually does have potential to have deeper relationships with her classmates and she’s accidentally isolated herself, but she moves on quite quickly. She almost has a great conversation with Chanel about why they aren’t better friends and I thought they’d come back to it nearer the end but never do.
Essentially, I really liked the concept of this book, and if it had been delved into a bit deeper and the characters had been fleshed out a little more, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
There was also something slightly off about the pacing right at the beginning of the book (although for the most part it was fine), with magical powers developing all of a sudden and characters just accepting it without a second thought and immediately moving on with their lives. I don’t necessarily have a problem with there being no explanation for the powers (although due to personal preference I would have rather had one) but it did just feel like a very quick onset and acceptance.
I liked what this book was saying about private schools and I think it was successful for the most part - it wasn’t the most nuanced view but it wasn’t really trying to be so that’s not necessarily a problem. I like that Alice found a way to help others in her situation at the end, which was a nice cumulation of her character growth.
I also thought it had interesting points about academics and self worth, in fact I wish it had delved into it a bit deeper. There’s a point where Alice realises that she actually does have potential to have deeper relationships with her classmates and she’s accidentally isolated herself, but she moves on quite quickly. She almost has a great conversation with Chanel about why they aren’t better friends and I thought they’d come back to it nearer the end but never do.
Essentially, I really liked the concept of this book, and if it had been delved into a bit deeper and the characters had been fleshed out a little more, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Hate crime
bloodbrooxv's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
super fast and fun read, i really liked the romance although i think there were major plot holes regarding alice's invisibility powers: the fantasy elements felt very vague and sometimes out of place in the context of the story
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Infidelity, Classism, Racism, and Child abuse
itaby's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Racism, Cursing, and Child abuse
replaceblue's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I picked up this book one day on my lunch break, flicked through it idly, and saw Chinese international school kids described with "watered down American accents" and absolutely lost my mind. Nobody's ever been able to pin down my accent, not even me, and that description was so perfect I instantly vowed to come back and buy the book when I could.
When I did, was delighted to find this book about a Chinese girl, written by an author with the same last name as me. I didn't quite grow up in Beijing, but the descriptions of super elite high school ft. foreign expats and pot-belled uncles in stained white vests felt exactly like my childhood in front of me, like a movie. The way Alice's parents love, quiet in their love but tough and suffering behind the scenes so she could have a better life, felt so awfully familiar. Alice working hard so her parents' suffering isn't in vain - Henry's backstory - the interspersed pinyin I could so gleefully piece together, even without the characters - they felt like home all over again.I especially liked how Henry's father was written - I've certainly known my share of parents who hurt you for a long time, eventually stopped, but your fear and scars remain. Of course, many parents don't stop, but it was nice to see Henry's strange in-between relationship with his father all the same. And of course, all the romance clichés you know and love, this time for a Chinese teenage couple. Their clumsy romance - mostly on Alice's side, sorry LOL - was very sweet to read. Thank you, Ann. Much like Alice, I'm in between cultures quite a bit as well, having studied overseas for years, and this made me very happy to read.
When I did, was delighted to find this book about a Chinese girl, written by an author with the same last name as me. I didn't quite grow up in Beijing, but the descriptions of super elite high school ft. foreign expats and pot-belled uncles in stained white vests felt exactly like my childhood in front of me, like a movie. The way Alice's parents love, quiet in their love but tough and suffering behind the scenes so she could have a better life, felt so awfully familiar. Alice working hard so her parents' suffering isn't in vain - Henry's backstory - the interspersed pinyin I could so gleefully piece together, even without the characters - they felt like home all over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Racism and Child abuse
bookcheshirecat's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
“Descartes was wrong, you know, when he said, 'To live well, you must live unseen.' To live well, you must learn to see yourself first. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
âž˝ If You Could See the Sun follows Alice, a student at a prestigious Beijing elite school who discovers she can turn invisible. I loved the premise, as I always appreciate a magical twist and the idea of an invisibility power was interesting to me. Alice's family is struggling financially and even with her scholarship she is close to having to drop out. She has never felt like she belonged there, which nicely ties in with feeling invisible with her emerging powers. At first, Alice has no idea how to control them, as they seem to be tied to her emotions. However, she quickly utilizes her invisibility to uncover her classmates' secrets in order to make money so that she can stay at the school. I liked the moral dilemma about her new business and how far she would invade other's privacy in order to stay afloat. Her co-conspirator is Henry, her arrogant rival and the only person who knows about her powers. I liked their romance, though I felt like Henry remained a bit shallow. The ending was a bit wild, but definitely had the suspense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Classism, Racism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
drraytay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Kidnapping, and Child abuse