What if the best story you ever read wasn’t written by the person who claimed it?
Yellowface, written by R.F. Kuang, explores the dark side of cultural appropriation during the book publishing process and its obsession with diversity. The novel delves into the complexities of race and the privileges that come along with it, and the suffocating pressure to succeed in an industry that claims to champion diverse voices while still deciding who gets to tell which stories.
Synopsis:
June Hayward is a struggling white author who feels like a nobody: overlooked, dismissed, and increasingly irrelevant. Her relentless pursuit of literary success is met with indifference, especially in contrast to her close friend, the literary darling Athena Liu, an Asian author who writes novels that never fail to hook you. June doesn’t just envy Athena’s talent; she grows resentful of what she sees as an industry infatuated with identity, one that elevates writers of color for the very cultural narratives June feels she can’t access.
But when Athena suddenly dies in a freak accident—choking on a pancake during a late-night hangout—June makes a split-second decision that changes everything: she steals Athena’s unpublished manuscript.
She edits it. She puts her name on it. She lets the world believe it’s hers.
Shouldn’t every story be shared with the world, despite its teller? June plays along with her being the writer of Athena’s story, even when evidence, piece by piece, begins to unfold of the truth behind the novel. Can June handle being in Athena’s shadow? How far will she go to pretend to be someone else simply to be recognized?
In Yellowface, R.F. Kuang delivers a satirical thriller about greed and ambition, along with questions on diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, with their terrifying connection to social media.
Review:
R.F. Kuang’s writing style is both descriptive and accessible, which makes it easy to connect with the story and its characters. Her prose plays a crucial role in conveying June’s internal struggles, especially during her meltdowns and panic attacks. The depth of emotion Kuang captures makes June’s psychological descent feel raw and authentic.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, particularly June. It’s hard not to empathize with her desperate desire to be seen and recognized in the literary world, even when her actions become morally questionable. Her journey is complex, and while her growth is left somewhat ambiguous, the ending leaves a lasting impact.
Yellowface dives into themes of ambition, identity, cultural appropriation, and the illusion of diversity within the publishing industry. It offers a sharp, insider look at the challenges authors face in getting published and staying relevant.
The plot is unlike anything I’ve read before: unpredictable, fast-paced, and deeply unsettling in the best way possible. It was so uniquely informational that I couldn’t take my eyes off the pages. One of the most compelling parts of the book is when June begins to spiral. The suspense builds as we question whether she has truly learned anything from her experience and what consequences she might face next.
This was my first read by R.F. Kuang, but it definitely won’t be my last. Yellowface is a thought-provoking, psychological novel that completely immersed me from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.
I give this book: 📚📚📚📚📚—twisting, tense, and unforgettable! (5/5)
Love,
Tabitha
GFB Ambassador