What can I say about Yellowface.

A contemporary fictional (as far as we know ;) ) satire novel based on the inner workings of the publishing company and one c-rated author who wishes she could break it big. But alas, she has a friend, who isn’t exactly innocent herself, who does have the like she so desperately yearns for and lo and behold after a terrible and super off freak accidental death, the narrator is given the chance to steal her belated friend’s last manuscript. Enter a surreal story of making it big and all the travesties that live within the publishing world.

R.F Kuang has a way of sinking you deep into her words, and you’ll find yourself reading faster than your fingers can catch up. All the characters were well thought out and honestly you may not like some of them. This book was refreshing and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I so desperately wish there would be a continuation to this book one can only hope.

What an interesting premise and inside look at the publishing world. June and Athena had known each other since college but it was Athena who became the famous author and June had a hard time selling copies of he one and only book. When Athena dies in June's presence, June takes Athena's latest manuscript and edits it to make it her own.

Racism in the publishing industry is a main theme and June's theft of a story about Chinese men during WWI drive the story forward. June is not a sympathetic character, neither is Athena, but I didn't want to put the book down. I became invested in how the story would conclude. And I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I highly recommend the book!

I liked The Poppy War series, didn't like Babel, and now I can't really say I enjoyed Yellowface. I ended up DNF'ing the book more than 50% in because the writing was wooden, the main character was poorly written, and it seemed like Kuang was using the book to process her experience as an author/as a vehicle to get back at anyone who has ever criticized her. Too bad, because the concept was interesting.

4 stars

Yellowface is a rather difficult book. And that's putting it mildly. What it aims to achieve isn't the magical element from The Poppy War, but neither is it the stance on imperialism and colonialism from Babel. It is a wholly different thing—a captivating and gritty story of a young writer haunted by the ghost of her guilt.

Admittedly, as many reviewers have pointed out, this isn't in any way, a remarkable and groundbreaking story. But it is born of all things mundane. A white writer steals her "friend's" manuscript and puts it off as her own; only to land an expensive deal; the rest is history. Kuang set out to tell a story of publishing and the difficulties of being a person of colour in the industry, but what emerged was a book that asks more questions than answers them.

Juniper Hayward is nothing, while her friend Athena Liu is the beloved of the community. Adored by all, she's the token Asian writer in the industry, who writes about her identity and intersectionality, which only skyrockets her career as a marginalised writer. Only human, Juniper is bound to be jealous of her writer friend. But as tables turn overnight, Athena is no more and Juniper is now the only person who has in her possession, Athena's unfinished manuscript. A little too convenient, isn't it?

The book, irrevocably, is a remnant of today's world. Does belonging to a marginalised identity immediately make you the people's favourite? Readers these days are, of course, gaining interest in "own-voices" stories, so naturally white authors should be on the decline. But are they really? Or is it the complete opposite? Nobody knows, and these are only some of the questions addressed in the thought-provoking literary fiction.

And what's more unique about the novel is that there is no "someone" to root for. The story, all displayed in Juniper's head, takes us through all the good and the bad in her. From her voiced thoughts to the dark ones lingering in the corner of her mind. And it's not just her. We learn more about the celebrity author, Athenia Liu—whether it is through June's capricious narrative is for the readers to find out.

Yellowface is, in all, a satire on the publishing industry. It is also very meta, exploring topics like Twitter discourses, privilege as an author, and many others. This honestly, isn't like her other projects, which was for a wider variety of audience due to the nature of its themes. It's not nice, the truth never is. And as a bottom line, I would say that go into this book without expectations because the presence of them would perhaps ruin the aftertaste of finishing the book. Or not, depending on t
he reader.

Thanks to NetGalley & William Morrow for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic yet morbidly hilarious book! Very entertaining and meta--love all the digs at books and publishers in today's culture.

Fair warning, I don't think this book will be for everyone. The protagonist is an insufferable know-it-all and constantly makes terrible decisions. It's very entertaining, though. I think having a background in internet culture & book publishing helps but the author does a good job of breaking it down as it happens.

This book is brilliant. Wow, the audacity of Juniper. I love how R.F. Kuang can play in any genre and just hit it out of the park. The satire of this book is funny even as it drops truth on you. I loved this book.

June and Athena are authors on two different planes: Athena is destined for fame while June is struggling to get published. So when Athena dies and leaves behind an unpublished manuscript that is destined to be a best seller, June decides to edit it and publish it under her own name... (Well, under a pseudonym that sounds a little too suspiciously like she's trying to pass for Chinese.) After all, it's not stealing if you make it your own, right? It's a tribute to her late "friend"! At least, this is what June convinces herself as she goes further and further down a dangerous path toward plagiarism and cultural appropriation. But just how far will June go to feel the serotonin boost of success? And will it pay off?

This book exceeded my expectations! It hooked me from the beginning, and June was so insufferable yet fascinating to follow as she descended into madness and self obsession. It was a humorous yet infuriating look at racism inside and outside of the publishing industry with stark social commentary and a dash of mystery/suspense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook! The narrator was incredible and made the story even more addictive.

★ARC review!★
Wow wow wow
This is the first book I've read from R. F Kaung and I couldn't get enough.
For me, this was the perfect blend of satire, ridiculous while still getting the point across and I absolutely loved it.
The story unravels to become less about the circumstances framed within the story and more about the lengths people will go to rationalize their own behavior, no matter how disgusting, wrong, and out of touch they come across.
I found this perfectly entertaining, I literally could not stand to put it down.
★Thank you NetGalley, the opportunity to read an Advanced Copy.★

Thanks very much to the publisher and Netgalley for this review copy!! I am a big fan of satire, so this one was a fun and important read. My first RF Kuang, and won’t be my last.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first R. F. Kuang book. I liked her writing style and enjoyed the commentary on racial inequalities both within the realm of publishing, but also just in the world in general. This book also commented on cancel culture, and how canceling an author can actually boost them and their sales. I spent the whole book, hoping our main character would be found out. The ending was both disappointing, and sadly the most likely conclusion. I enjoyed this book despite the unlikable main character, which is new for me, because I typically cannot stand to read from the point of view of unlikable characters. I can’t wait to read another RF Kuang book because I really vibe with her writing style and I have recently purchased the poppy war trilogy in the hopes that her writing style is similar in those.

This was a different type of book than what Kuang has written before. Very satirical and focused on the book industry, this book hosts an unlikeable and unreliable narrator. But I think it works well for this story. Some of the opinions seemed a little heavy-handed at times but overall I really enjoyed this one.

This is an excellent novel--riveting from start to finish. It is the "bad art friend" discourse brought to its greatest heights. It is an expert portrayal of the insecurities of a burgeoning writer, June Hayward, and the lengths she will go to find success. The way Kuang gets into June's psyche and is able to show all the ways she fails to do the right thing and the way she fails to see herself for who she is so intensely good. I was blown away. It is also a fantastic and scathing rumination on all that is wrong in publishing.

This book is impossible to put down, endlessly readable, and so much fun.

Yellowface is a unique first-person narrative that delves into the complicated world of plagiarism, racial identity/racism, and cancel-culture. The story is told from June Hayward's perspective, chronicling her complicated friendship with fellow author Athena Liu, whose tragic death gives June a unique chance to take fame for herself through a theft that rocks the literary world.

This is my second reading of Kuang's work, and all I can say is that her hype is not overstated. This book dazzles with not only brilliant writing and character study, but also with its deft handling of a very current events, such as appropriation, cancel-culture, and publication's deeply problematic system. I think this is a very important read for our time and I can honestly say I learned a lot while reading this book. If you are in any way interested in books or becoming an author, this is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world and what it takes to become an author.

June Hayward's journey is both compelling and repulsive at the same time, which, I think, is such an interesting story idea for Kuang to write. It's like an accident you can't look away from, the story just pulls and pulls your eye to it and you feel the need to keep coming back to see if it gets worse (and, somehow, Kuang always manages to up the ante every time). June's story is a familiar one, in some ways. Though she has a unique opportunity that most do not have, which is the catalyst for all her problems (if you've read the book you know which one I mean), what spills out after is familiar in many ways: a writer is accused of [fill in the blank] and chaos ensues.

How June handles each new hurdle is something that many would be familiar with. Kuang utilizes Twitter as the device in her story that makes it familiar and horrifying at the same time. Most are familiar with the hellscape that is Twitter, where vitriol and bashing are a common occurrence. Junes actions force her into the path of all kinds of internet trouble, but Kuang uses this as a means for addressing the nature of online bullying, cultural appropriation, and authorship + theft. What does it mean to be a writer and is it stealing if you take stories of others' lives and use/adapt them into a work of fiction? Who is "allowed" to write the story of a certain culture/people? Is there any such thing as a truly authentic representation of a culture/people? These are all big topics that Kuang tackles in her book and yet at no point does the narrative feel too heavy, too on-the-nose.

We process everything through June's eyes and it gives us the separation to evaluate her and her actions, but also brings us close enough that we feel for her and maybe even root for her (or we might feel the complete opposite and take pleasure in watching June's life go up in flames - Kuang makes room for both possibilities). While at times sympathetic, June is bitter, jealous, and defensive in ways that are at once familiar. Her story is a rollercoaster that you both do and don't want to ride. The plot is excellently paced, and even when you think you know where the story is going, it takes a turn and has you guessing again. It is a genre-defying work that will grip you from page one.

Overall, I can honestly say that I haven't read a story quite like this and I will not be forgetting this book any time soon. The writing, the plot, the characters, it all comes together into such a powerful narrative that I couldn't put down. I highly recommend giving this one a read. It will grip you and keep you turning pages till the very end.

3.5 stars. A very interesting and timely premise and story. Not quite sure it succeeds to the level I had hoped for, and the story slogged at Lots to think about along the way, not least about "cancel culture," "wokeness," and many other questions very relevant to our times and beyond. Not sure about that ending, but no spoilers here. Given the controversy that has come up with books like "American Dirt," among many others, the AAPI representation it offers, and other things the book has going for it, I think this could be a great book club choice, and a good read overall.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Yellowface by RF Kuang takes on the topics of “own voices” in publishing, intellectual property, and racism in an industry that has struggled with diversity for some time now.

In this stinging satire, Juniper Song Hayward, a white woman, steals the work of another writer after her death. June takes on Athena Liu’s work as her own, edits the finished manuscript and submits it to her agent as her own. The topic of the work is Chinese labourers during World War 1. Athena, when she was alive, was a star in the publishing world and had just gotten a Netflix deal for one of her books. June hated Athena for her success but didn’t mind the free drinks and food Athena treated her to. The new book is a success and changes June’s life. That is until someone claims knowledge that The Last Front is stolen from Athena.

A question that has come up in contemporary publishing is what connection to a story must an author have. Can an author write on any topic they are interested in? Should diverse stories only be told by diverse voices? Kuang places June squarely in the spotlight on this topic. The style is one of discomfort and is more theoretical in nature than many literary fiction pieces you will read where the characters lead the story.

The narration is solely June and the reader is invited to squirm along with her as she wonders if she will get away with it, if what she is doing is truly wrong, and if Athena’s ghost will continue to haunt her. The author has added some well known and oft compelling arguments for June’s actions that had me as a reader considering my own biases.

Yellowface would make a great book club book, offering many points for discussion. Thank you to @harpercollinsca and @netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Yellowface publishes May 16, 2023.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang was such an interesting read. Kuang is masterful in writing a main character's voice that embodies a whole host of motivations, beliefs, and emotions, not the least of which is her implicit and explicit racism which shines through at various points of the story.

I think Kuang used a subtle hand with her sarcasm and her satire, to the point where I believe some people will nod along with the main character June Hayward/Juniper Song, not seeing the issues with some of her beliefs and statements, while others will be outright horrified. I think this idea also reflects in June as a character because she believes herself to be progressive and a Democrat and yet carries with her a whole host of racist ideas and actions that she doesn't even recognize as such.

I also found the commentary on the publishing industry particularly interesting and enlightening. I thought it was woven in nicely with the story as a whole and provided a great backdrop to explore Juniper's motivations and beliefs.

Kuang also weaves in some commentary on social media, but I'm not too well-versed in this space so I can't comment much on its strength. To me, it felt genuine.

Despite all of the heavy topics involved in this book, at the end of the day, it was also just so readable! I saw one review that said that the book was both compulsively readable and uncomfortable, and I couldn't agree more. You want so badly to know what June is going to do next, but you're also horrified at every next step that she takes.

I will definitely be reading more from R.F. Kuang in the future. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review!

Rating 4.5
First time reading R.F. Kuang’s work, and I have to admit she’s on her way to being one of my favs.
Wow, what a ride! This was one of the most disturbing and upsetting stories I’ve read, and I loved it. The story really keeps you hooked, and you can’t wait for June to fall on her a**! Believe me; you will hate June, then feel bad for and then hate her again. The only con is the ending felt quick and rushed.

I know exactly why Rebecca Kuang wrote this book. Anyone terminally online and involved in fandoms, particularly the very fandoms she calls out being Chinese web novels and Chinese drama fandoms, will be able to connect the dots to the xenophobic and sinophobic ways that whitewashing and cultural erasure work. While most likely inspired by recent events, mentioning The Untamed, BTS, and boba tea 3 times sure was a very Asian moment, this is a work that doesn't feel like it'll be outdated. Beneath the story of racism, are also interesting and entertaining caricatures of the publishing industry which makes the novel lighter. This novel takes all of Kuang's power and packs it into a modern punch. Well done.

I finished YELLOWFACE!!!!! Or did Yellowface finish me? 🤔

R. F. Kuang’s latest just confirms for me that I will follow her rage wherever it goes 🔥 The number of times I would pause in my reading and mutter, “this bitch…” is hilariously high. If you ever wondered, “what would more of Letty’s perspective been like??” in BABEL, or how could Michael in DISORIENTATION have the fucking audacity — then you’re in for a treat. Because the story is all told from the perspective of the thief herself. Juniper Song is both protagonist as well as antagonist, and the experience is a trip. It hits like a subversive flipping of the infamous unhinged white woman trope and an indictment of the publishing industry two-for-one punch!

Kuang’s writing is biting and darkly comedic , and I found myself unable to stop reading more of Juniper Song’s fucked up story. Just thinking about it now has me heated LOL. I can’t wait for this to come out in May because people are going to eat this up and then can be angry with me 😤 Right in time for #aapiheritagemonth

so so good. The satire was phenomenal. I hated this MC so much. Honestly I think I hate everyone in the publishing world. So many people with the worst intentions thinking they exude the right ones.

Juniper Song, I hate you, but I was fascinated by you. Driven by jealousy and greed in the name of a deceased fellow writer and hardly a friend. People are so fake, as we saw in this novel, you really can't trust anyone.

I loved the pacing of this novel. I could not put it down. I think this will be a top book of the year for me.