A review by jiixbooks
If You Could See the Sun, by Ann Liang
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Right book, right time, right story, the stars really aligned perfectly for me and this novel
I enjoyed every single second I spend with these characters, it’s been a while since I related to a character so much just ajdjdb
Don’t be fooled by the fact that the mc can suddenly turn invisible to think this is some supernatural story book, those powers of hers are more so used as a backdrop to discuss things like the pressure of academia especially on working class students (at private schools but also in general), the life of a diaspora kid and the plight of feeling like you’ll never achieve enough to make it worth the sacrifices of your parents, class criticism and more
The way the overachiever archetype was presented here just hit so close to home I needed a second, especially with her explaining that to achieve her academic success she HAS to study and how she’s not one of those people who just know the curriculum without trying
Also I’ll never get over her first thought after turning invisible being „oh no it’ll ruin my perfect attendance record“ (she’s just like me fr)
I enjoyed every single second I spend with these characters, it’s been a while since I related to a character so much just ajdjdb
Don’t be fooled by the fact that the mc can suddenly turn invisible to think this is some supernatural story book, those powers of hers are more so used as a backdrop to discuss things like the pressure of academia especially on working class students (at private schools but also in general), the life of a diaspora kid and the plight of feeling like you’ll never achieve enough to make it worth the sacrifices of your parents, class criticism and more
The way the overachiever archetype was presented here just hit so close to home I needed a second, especially with her explaining that to achieve her academic success she HAS to study and how she’s not one of those people who just know the curriculum without trying
Also I’ll never get over her first thought after turning invisible being „oh no it’ll ruin my perfect attendance record“ (she’s just like me fr)