Rebecca Kuang is, full stop, a GENIUS. I have no idea how she manages to make each book better than the last, but she truly does. YELLOWFACE is brilliant, incisive, hilarious, and deeply unsettling. I don't know how Kuang manages to make such a cutting satire feel somehow kind? I want every bookish person to read this book and then talk to me about it, because I think I'll never be able to stop talking. GENIUS!

rf kuang is one of my all time favorite authors. i enjoyed this book, but i felt it did not match the voice of her other books (which i think is the point), but i was a little disappointed. a lot happened off page and it felt like we were just being told things rather than experiencing them (which again, maybe makes sense because it takes place over 2 years). despite these things, i enjoyed it a lot: i loved the insight into the publishing process and the satirical tone that it took. it made me uncomfortable, which is always the sign of a good book. overall, i would recommend, just dont go into it thinking this book is the next babel.

Wow. My first read of 2023 and I am already blown away by literary fiction from publishing's new star, R. F. Kuang.

I love reading books about writing books and publishing. There is something so delicious and mesmerizing as if you are not only looking at a beautiful painting but watching it unfold straight from the painters brushes. There is so much to say about this novel and a lot will bring controversy to the publishing world. The main takeaway I got from this book was: who has the right to tell what story?

Kuang's prose is much more assured and spiteful in a way that really contextualizes the narrator and protagonist of this story, June. June is a white woman living in DC and working on her next novel after her debut completely flopped. Her best "friend" (more on this later) is the amazing Athena Liu. Athena Liu published her debut after Yale, like June, but her first novel was received with such critical acclaim she became the literary darling of the year while June and her career faded into the background. However, Athena and June hang out together quite frequently. They often have celebratory drinks or dinner when one, mostly Athena, meets a publishing goal. This is the setup for an often-messy but exhilarating ride in Kuang's new "Yellowface." Judging by the title readers will probably have a guess on how this story will unfold. However, there are so many twists and turns that I was not prepared for. The essence of this story really boils down to racism and lack of diversity in the publishing world. It also raises the question of 'if the story is a diverse representation of a forgotten history does the author's race matter?' The crux of the story is that yes, it does very much so. However, even more so, the story is about an obsession with fame and the risks people will take to become a success.

it doesn't get much better than R F Kuang, and this is Kuang at her best. YELLOWFACE is satirical, cutting, and still somehow has a kindness to it, despite it all? I couldn't put this down. It's an incredible genre move for Kuang, and it shows she can do literary thriller just as well as she can do fantasy.

R.F. Kuang offers up a scathing, satirical novel about racism in publishing in her literary fiction debut. The most wild thing about this book is that everything that happens is frighteningly believable; this book is in conversation with several literary controversies (American Dirt, anyone? That YA author who stalked and catfished her Goodreads reviewer?) that have happened over the last few years. Kuang writes one of the most unlikeable narrators of all time - June has little to no introspective abilities, and her often insane thoughts are reminiscent of some of the most unhinged authorial “hot takes” that have made the rounds on twitter. While this book might not have lasting power - it requires the reader to understand specific complexities of book twitter and Goodreads - it captures a powerful snapshot of the 2020s literary and reviewer landscape and the problems within.

The road to publishing a bestseller is paved with good intentions. And lies, and manslaughter, and maybe even a little bit of good, old fashioned racism. R.F. Kuang's lit fic debut is masterfully written, full of clean prose and whirlwind pacing.

I find myself hesitant to write this review, picturing R.F. Kuang herself reading it and making notes (like the Junie Song). BUT, I liked this a lot. I love big bang-up endings and this is certainly THAT. It did remind me, oh so much, of Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne (which I loved), except that Junie Song isn't as clearly criminal as the creative thief in that book. Really good, fast moving, one of those ones that you'll want to read fast to find out what happens at the end.

Zingy, poignant, and razor sharp.

'Yellowface' is a masterfully written exploration of racism in the publishing industry and the commercialization of identity, scrutinizing the performance of literary critique in online spaces and the unique horrors of truth-bending sensationalism along the way.

The story was absolutely wild and unhinged, and it was all the better for it. If you like stories narrated by villains, this is the book for you.

It was uncomfortable and upsetting to read. I was cringing every other paragraph with disgust and frustration over the narrator, author Juniper Hayward, who couldn't go one single scene without expressing some sort of racist thought, comment, or action. Gaslighting and mental gymnastics were her forte. It's amazing how far she went to avoid accountability for her misguided views and actions. Though, diving deeper into the story reveals there wasn't a single likable or redeemable character. June was backed by a similarly racist publishing team, and attacked viciously online to a point of hysteria. Every character we meet was motivated by goals fraught with desperation and self-interest. That being said, every turn of the plot felt unsettlingly real.

I honestly threw my phone across my couch by the end.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE- every nuanced negativity was crafted with intention to make a point, and R F Kuang more than succeeded in her commentarial aim. For that, her work deserves these five stars. 'Yellowface' is brilliantly infuriating, and the questions it begs the reader to contemplate are worth your time.

I won't be forgetting or getting over Athena Liu's ghost any time soon. This book is one that will surely haunt me for a long time to come.

(This review is based on an e-ARC I received.)

R.F. Kuang's Yellowface is all in all, a very fun book. It's about white writer June Hayward who's in shadow of her superstar former Yale classmate, Athena Liu. When Athena chokes to death on a pandan pancake, June steals her manuscript, edits it, and peddles it off as her own. Chaos ensues.

As someone terminally on writing twitter, Kuang has exactly diagnosed how its boom and bust cycles work. I had a few issues with the text--(spoilers)

I could spot who the 'ghost Athena' was from a mile away; the twitter wars portion of the book felt overlong; the writing felt defensive on Kuang's part at times (as was aptly pointed out in several other NG reviews); the clueless whiteness of June was at times overlabored.

All in all, I found Yellowface to be a flawed but fun read. I'm suitably terrified of publishing now lol.

RF Kuang is back with another show stopping novel that is sure to chart all the top lists of the year 2023. I was very interested to read the premises of this book as it didn't match the Fantasy aesthetics of her previous novel. I did not doubt RF Kunag would write an insightful novel that is strong in her beliefs which exemplify social injustices. The characters in YELLOWFACE truly fell off the page and I could not put this book down until I had finished it. I hope Kuang continues to write more books like this one, but I am excited to read whatever she puts out next regardless!

"Yellowface" is the perfect novel for people who hate "American Dirt," but loved the "American Dirt" controversy. Unlike Kuang's previous works of historical fantasy, "Yellowface" is as contemporary as it gets. The novel follows June Hayward, a mediocre white author who steals the manuscript of her friend—the Chinese-American literary darling Athena Liu. "Yellowface" masterfully explores questions of race, ownership, and cancel culture, with Kuang's astute insight into the topics delivered through biting satire. While potentially too inside baseball for the casual reader, for anyone working in the book industry, "Yellowface" will be an absolute treat. Razor-sharp and captivating, "Yellowface" proves Kuang is can tackle any genre.

Wow!! This books was amazing! I literally could not put it down and read it one day! This is was first book by R.F. Kuang and I am definitely eager to read more by her. This is the kind of book where every character is extremely unlikable especially the main character which I’m usually not a fan of but it really worked in this book. All the commentary on racism, the publishing and book industry and social media as a whole were brilliant! I really loved this novel and can’t wait to recommend to everyone!

This is much different than R.F. Kuang's other works - still similar themes, but the writing style is more "poppy," so to speak. A searing take on the publishing industry. Loved all the DC references.

What an unlikeable narrator! This book will definitely be popular with book clubs and other groups that like to discuss books. BTW, there's also an unrelated play with this title by David Henry Hwang

Phenomenal! Different from R. F. Kuang's previous works, but it was, as always, a delight. I loved the writing and the message behind the story. I can tell this will be this year's hit book.

Kuang takes on the publishing industry, diversity, and cultural appropriation in this dark satire. Told through the first-person narration of Juniper Song, the white woman who is going to publisher her dead friend's book on Chinese laborers in WWI, this novel twists and turns while asking the question "are there stories that only certain people can tell?" If you liked The Other Black Girl, you'll love this meta pageturner!

This. Book.

This is my first read of R.F. Kuang's, and it's clear that I've been missing out. I quite literally could not put this book down. Athena and Juniper were both such incredibly compelling characters, and the way that Kuang portrayed the influences of writing and publishing on their "friendship" even after Athena's death was enchanting. On top of heavy commentary on racism in publishing, Kuang also illustrates how fickle and even terrifying the world of social media can be for authors.
YELLOWFACE is a must-read for bookish people and especially for writers and those in the publishing industry. Being in Juniper's head as a young white women desperate to make it big in the publishing world is packed with nuance, creating a narrative both engrossing and terrifying.

Yellowface was a book I couldn't put down. I finished it in a day and was engrossed in the story the entire time. The characters are complex and interesting and I enjoyed reading a story where I wasn't rooting for the protagonist to win. R. F. Kuang does it again with an amazing and complex story. I absolutely loved it.

It's R.F. Kuang, need I say more? R.F. Kuang's first non-fantasy book is everything and nothing like I would have expected. Her prose stands strong while dealing with race-baiting and bringing a bit of dark humour into the story.

As someone who spent years fully entrenched in the online book "community" I had so much fun reading YELLOWFACE. For me, the satire was spot-on and, I thought, pointed out the ridiculousness, self-righteousness, and sheer cringe that can happen on both sides whenever lit-related drama rears its ugly head, often to the detriment of important conversations about race, gender, etc. Which is often. While I do think this novel was written for a very specific subset of people (anyone who hasn't been involved in book social media between say 2016 to present will probably have no clue what is going on in this book) it is sure to make anyone who *has* been very online at any point shudder in recognition. I did have a few issues with the pacing, and all the edge-of-your-seat wondering if June will be found out fades as the middle section goes on too long. The ending will not satisfy everyone, but I did appreciate that the author chose to acknowledge that the book drama will never truly end. A smart, thought-provoking, entertaining take on modern publishing and social media.