Title : Yellow Face
Author : R.F Kuang
Published date : May 16 2023
Genres : Fiction , Satire , Suspence , Psycological Fiction
Length : 236 pages
Favorite Character : June Hayward , Athena Liu ( Main Characters )
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary
Yellow face follows June Hayward, a struggling white author who envies the success of her literary peer, Athena Liu, a celebrated Chinese-American writer. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June seizes the opportunity: she steals Athena’s unpublished manuscript—a powerful novel about Chinese laborers in WWI—and publishes it under a racially ambiguous name, Juniper Song.
As the book climbs bestseller lists, June basks in fame but soon faces growing suspicion, internet backlash, and accusations of cultural theft. Caught in a web of lies and self-deception, June must fight to protect the success she knows isn’t truly hers.
The novel is a biting commentary on racism, cultural appropriation, identity, and the dark side of the publishing world, told through a sharp, suspenseful narrative that blurs the lines between ambition and morality.
My Thoughts
Yellow face is a bold, sharp, and thought-provoking novel. Through the eyes of a deeply flawed narrator, it explores cultural appropriation, racism in publishing, and white privilege with biting satire. R.F. Kuang cleverly exposes the dark side of the literary world, forcing readers to question who gets to tell which stories—and why.t
It’s uncomfortable, powerful, and impossible to forget. A must-read for anyone who loves books that make you think.
My Review
A brilliant and brutal take down of the publishing world wrapped in a sharp, unsettling thriller
R.F. Kuang delivers a fearless, satirical masterpiece with Yellow face. The book doesn’t just tell a story—it exposes the underbelly of the literary industry, where race, privilege, and power collide. Told through the voice of June Hayward—a white author who steals an Asian writer’s manuscript—the novel pulls readers into a morally twisted, fascinating journey filled with self-justification, denial, and paranoia.
June is both despicable and compelling. You hate her, but you can’t stop reading her. That’s where the genius lies: Kuang makes you complicit, forcing you to sit with the discomfort and question your own biases.
It’s dark, bold, deeply relevant, and surprisingly funny in its cynicism. A book that entertains while making you uncomfortable—and one that will stay with you long after the last page.
✨__Firdos_Abdul__✨