Reviews with content warning for Violence - Yellowface

June Hayward is an absolute trainwreck of a protagonist, like a teen in a horror movie who makes incomprehensible decision after incomprehensible decision.

That said, some of June’s emotions—her anxiety, her grief, her feelings of inadequacy—are relatable. I think that’s what makes this book readable despite being about someone so awful. It’s also part of what makes it uncomfortable.

This is hard to rate because I don’t know if I can say I fully enjoyed reading this, but it was well-written and I was engrossed. A wild ride for sure.

Content Warnings

emilymax21's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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

3.5

I am very conflicted on this book. I appreciate the social commentary it makes, I find a morally bad character intriguing, and I was compelled to keep listening because I wanted to know how it all ended. It is a good representation of the problem that is white people who think they can’t possibly be a bad or racist person because they vote democrat and happen to know some people of color

That said, I think a good indicator of a well done social commentary and “bad” character is when the reader feels conflicted about the main characters intentions and quality. I felt this was about Athena, but not Juniper. Juniper’s terribleness was so heavy handed it was borderline unbearable and incredibly annoying, which made it hard to keep going at times as I had nothing to latch onto

I also understand this is a modern book in a modern setting, and know there will be some modern references. When there are so many that it makes the reader cringe and dates the book drastically, it makes it hard for this book to ever been seen as a classic.

Overall it was compelling, but definitely not what I hoped

Content Warnings

aj_langley's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny sad tense medium-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

5.0

Content Warnings

bibliobrittish's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious 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

4.75

Content Warnings

jayden_314's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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

5.0

This book was an incredible read! Rebecca F. Kuang perfectly writes such a hateable main character, and by hateable I mean that this insane white woman goes off the rails by the end. Kuang gets you to sympathise with her for a chapter or two before throwing right back in your face that June is completely unhinged. This way of writing is so similar to emotional abuse and gaslighting in real life and the quality is unmatched. You get to see the way that June justifies her actions and how she positions herself as the victim. I have not read anything like it and it was amazing. If you are reading this novel, be prepared to be gaslit out of your mind and just remember, June is a psychotic racist who will go to any lengths to cover up her plagarism.

Content Warnings

More...