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casira's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Violence and Alcohol
karydiazc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I don't even know what to say about this book...
It has so many important messages woven through it's pages.
I love how June was portrayed as the villain and at the same time as the victim. What she did was definitely not good, but, did she deserved everything that came her way at the end of the book?
I think this book is an important portrayal of how social media and cancel culture can affect someone mentally, wheter they deserve it or not. Also it shows how the industry operates, not really caring if they are doing a good job and being actually inclusive, all they care about is appearing as if they cared and publishing what the people want, not necessarily what the society needs.
It has so many important messages woven through it's pages.
I love how June was portrayed as the villain and at the same time as the victim. What she did was definitely not good, but, did she deserved everything that came her way at the end of the book?
I think this book is an important portrayal of how social media and cancel culture can affect someone mentally, wheter they deserve it or not. Also it shows how the industry operates, not really caring if they are doing a good job and being actually inclusive, all they care about is appearing as if they cared and publishing what the people want, not necessarily what the society needs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide
ninajune's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Cyber bullyingibeau's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Really interesting book. 100% recommend. Very interesting and complicated character. It' so interesting to see the nuances of racial issues in a modern world, both real and precieved. Incredibly realistic in showing how people can convincing themselves that they are right even when they break their own moral codes and accurate anxiety portrayal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
katherineshawwrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I pre-ordered Yellowface as soon as I knew it was a thing, and I can't believe it's taken me this long to finally read it!
R F Kuang's writing is intelligent, engaging and compelling, and I found myself whizzing through this book much quicker than I expected. The main character, June, is incredibly unlikeable - but that's clearly the point! You're supposed to dislike her jealousy, her pettiness, her casual racism and privileged bad takes, and her complete denial she has done anything wrong. Somehow, though, R F Kuang's writing gets you hooked, and you can't help but devour page after page as everything goes right and then very, very wrong for June.
I see some people take issue with this book, and that's to be expected, and kind of the point. R F Kuang is provoking us and forcing us to consider our own biases and privilege, our own jealousy and nastiness, our own reaction to discourse, rumours and scandals, and that's bound to feel uncomfortable in places for people. It makes for an interesting an unexpectedly addictive read.
My biggest critique is that the pacing is off. The book starts relatively fast-paced, slows right down and then jumps to a bit of a silly climax right at the end. After such a solid 75% or so, the sudden escalation and weirdly tropey and kind of stupid standoff was a bit jarring for me. It didn't ruin the book, but definitely prevented it from hitting that 5 stars.
Still, a solid read that I recommend giving a shot.
R F Kuang's writing is intelligent, engaging and compelling, and I found myself whizzing through this book much quicker than I expected. The main character, June, is incredibly unlikeable - but that's clearly the point! You're supposed to dislike her jealousy, her pettiness, her casual racism and privileged bad takes, and her complete denial she has done anything wrong. Somehow, though, R F Kuang's writing gets you hooked, and you can't help but devour page after page as everything goes right and then very, very wrong for June.
I see some people take issue with this book, and that's to be expected, and kind of the point. R F Kuang is provoking us and forcing us to consider our own biases and privilege, our own jealousy and nastiness, our own reaction to discourse, rumours and scandals, and that's bound to feel uncomfortable in places for people. It makes for an interesting an unexpectedly addictive read.
My biggest critique is that the pacing is off. The book starts relatively fast-paced, slows right down and then jumps to a bit of a silly climax right at the end. After such a solid 75% or so, the sudden escalation and weirdly tropey and kind of stupid standoff was a bit jarring for me. It didn't ruin the book, but definitely prevented it from hitting that 5 stars.
Still, a solid read that I recommend giving a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide
zock_06's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racial slurs
brainwave_caravan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Bullying
joooos's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
kteliza28's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve seen so many mixed reviews on this book but I actually enjoyed it. I listened to it as an audiobook. That being said, I think I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much reading plainly. I loved the choice to tell a story from a villains point of view and how her inner monologue causes her to spiral and come undone. Though the story line and progression were fairly easy to guess, I was still completely sucked into what was going to happen. I also really liked how much the process of writing, editing, and publishing was portrayed in this book.
The ending for me was a bit of a miss, though.I kind of wish it was Candace at the end. Even though I forgot about her for a bit, when it turned out to be her stalking June I wasn’t surprised at all. There was a period of time I was secretly hoping it was Athena’s mother behind it all. I think it would’ve made for a more interesting twist, but I don’t think that would have aided the story being told. It wasn’t about “who done it” but rather why.
The ending for me was a bit of a miss, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Racism
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Stalking
my_weird_bookish_heart's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation