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alisonannk's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity
moonlitreading_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
“I’d rather be the villain who lives to the end than the hero who winds up dead.”
This was a super cute read and the invisibility element made it even better. It was exciting to read as Alice did her tasks because of how high the chances of her getting caught were. I have and will always be a supporter of women’s rights and, most importantly, of women’s wrongs.
Fun aside, I couldn’t help but empa hize with Alice as I read about her struggles and thoughts as she navigated her school life around the wealthy and privileged. I really felt her pain especially towards the end. I almost ended up a sobbing mess because of her.
The best part about this book for me was the academic rivalry between Alice and Henry. I love a good academic rivals to lovers!!! From their banters to their serious conversations, everything was just *chef’s kiss*.
This is my second Ann Liang book and I now consider her as one of my auto read authors. She never misses fr.
This was a super cute read and the invisibility element made it even better. It was exciting to read as Alice did her tasks because of how high the chances of her getting caught were. I have and will always be a supporter of women’s rights and, most importantly, of women’s wrongs.
Fun aside, I couldn’t help but empa hize with Alice as I read about her struggles and thoughts as she navigated her school life around the wealthy and privileged. I really felt her pain especially towards the end. I almost ended up a sobbing mess because of her.
The best part about this book for me was the academic rivalry between Alice and Henry. I love a good academic rivals to lovers!!! From their banters to their serious conversations, everything was just *chef’s kiss*.
This is my second Ann Liang book and I now consider her as one of my auto read authors. She never misses fr.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Classism
Moderate: Racism
ye_li's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
toffishay's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
These teenage academic rivals to lovers solve classism with the power of invisibility...but mostly with money!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Hate crime
taroroot's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
4.0
this was such a fun read. i loved the setting as well as alice's unique perspective on her school & classmates. i wish there had been a little bit more of an explanation/resolution for her powers but that's just magical realism i guess. i liked how her and henry's relationship retained their competitiveness even though they weren't technically 'rivals' anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime
weirdfi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Received a copy from Harlequin Aus.
~~~
I thought from the blurb this was a little interesting and would be a fun quick read. Life drama with some fantasy elements thrown in. A little like With this Kiss, I guess?
And in most respects it was, quick yes, fun? Funny is probably the better word, as it went deep and dark and fast paced more than I expected but had laugh out loud moments. The main character Alice did start to grate my nerves but after finishing it, I wouldn't have it any other way. Replace her with a perfect character and it would not have had the same effect. She needed to be an imperfect teenager who still acted rashly from time to time. If you're interested in class power dynamics or even slight racism intentional or unintentional and how it makes us feel this one had it all.
I don't want to give plot lines away, or secrets within secrets out... So I'll say if you liked adult books With this Kiss, or In Five Years, it's similar to them in terms of contemporary fiction with fantastical or supernatural elements. Just a bit less romance. In terms of YA, perhaps if you enjoyed The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling this would be a good one to pick up.
~~~
I thought from the blurb this was a little interesting and would be a fun quick read. Life drama with some fantasy elements thrown in. A little like With this Kiss, I guess?
And in most respects it was, quick yes, fun? Funny is probably the better word, as it went deep and dark and fast paced more than I expected but had laugh out loud moments. The main character Alice did start to grate my nerves but after finishing it, I wouldn't have it any other way. Replace her with a perfect character and it would not have had the same effect. She needed to be an imperfect teenager who still acted rashly from time to time. If you're interested in class power dynamics or even slight racism intentional or unintentional and how it makes us feel this one had it all.
I don't want to give plot lines away, or secrets within secrets out... So I'll say if you liked adult books With this Kiss, or In Five Years, it's similar to them in terms of contemporary fiction with fantastical or supernatural elements. Just a bit less romance. In terms of YA, perhaps if you enjoyed The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling this would be a good one to pick up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Classism, Stalking, Racism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
need a henry in my life
so many things are left unanswered, like why anna became invisible and why it just conveniently stopped? also unclear why her aunt was so cryptic. it was made to sound like a plot point but at the end of the day it meant nothing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Confinement, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Medical content
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks to Harper360 for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dramatic and compelling, this is a speculative novel that follows Alice Sun as she discovers an unexpected ability to turn invisible and decides to use it to pay for her expensive school fees. Alice and Henry's rivals-to-friends relationship was one of my favourite aspects of the novel and their budding romance was sweet, though I would have also been happy if they remained platonic friends because this seemed like a more interesting and dynamic aspect of their relationship than the romance to me. This book spends a lot of time reflecting on the classism and toxic social hierarchies that can exist within fee-paying schools and does a good job of critiquing the entitlement and prejudice of the wealthy and powerful.
Dramatic and compelling, this is a speculative novel that follows Alice Sun as she discovers an unexpected ability to turn invisible and decides to use it to pay for her expensive school fees. Alice and Henry's rivals-to-friends relationship was one of my favourite aspects of the novel and their budding romance was sweet, though I would have also been happy if they remained platonic friends because this seemed like a more interesting and dynamic aspect of their relationship than the romance to me. This book spends a lot of time reflecting on the classism and toxic social hierarchies that can exist within fee-paying schools and does a good job of critiquing the entitlement and prejudice of the wealthy and powerful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
nadiaherondale's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Jesus I wish I knew were to start the praise for this book but I guess it took over my heart and head so much I don't even know how to think anymore.
Alice's struggles, everything felt so real, so relatable. How power and need corrupt you.
One of my favorite reads of the year and probably forever
Alice's struggles, everything felt so real, so relatable. How power and need corrupt you.
One of my favorite reads of the year and probably forever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Sexism
mysterymom40's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Confinement, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy and Infidelity