detectivevaliant 's review for:

If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

3.5

emotional funny reflective 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

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I liked this book, related to Alice and liked the academic rivals to lovers vibe. I feel like there were some loose ends and some characters and relationships could have had more depth. I read "I Hope This Doesn't Find You" before this one and it's very similar in terms of the rivals to lovers plot and overachiever main character, just without the invisibility plotline. And I feel like that book handled the plot a bit better, the connection between the MC and the love interest and the character development. Totally agree that this book walked so that one could run.
In this book, Alice is the most built out. I feel like her relationship with Henry, and him himself, could have more depth, like why he likes her and having better build up to their emotional connection. Chanel seems like a background character like the rest. I wish she was built out more if she was going to be the MC's friend, but she was just kinda there...
The invisibility plotline got out of hand when

Alice was commissioned to kidnap Peter. Idk if it needed to go there. Like at the end of the day, I can see how she evaded responsibility by changing the app design and lying about what it was originally about but she really didn't though. The rich kids got off scot-free. Only the poor girl has revelations and gets punished. She is 100% wrong but I honestly felt like it was a jump for that to be a part of plot and for her to actually agree to it. I liked it better when they requests were just personal and sometimes petty stuff.

But I did like the cultural and familial elements of the story. It felt really relatable for me.