Reviews with content warning for Cultural appropriation - Yellowface

reads almost like an episode of black mirror, where it makes you sick to your stomach but you can’t look away. excellent commentary on loneliness, cancel culture, race dynamics, and the professional rat race. I don’t think i’ve ever read such a remarkably unlikeable narrator and yet I couldn’t stop. the irony of my morbid curiosity in June’s POV, in a book about the exploitation of others’ trauma for your own gain is not lost on me. I’ll be thinking about this for a long time

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drawahardline's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am really impressed by the art of writing a main character that is so utterly disgusting und racist in her actions and thoughts, and despite all still having enough empathy to paint her out as a main character full of complex insecurities, passions and motives that seem realistic. normally, i despise books in which i hate the main character, yet this one had me really intrigued - by great use of the first-person narrative, rebecca f. kuang amazingly portrays a white role of victim and (sadly) thoughts and entanglements of an average white person in a system that favors exactly that narrative.

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oproy's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The only reason I didn’t give this is a higher rating is because RF Kuang is honestly so good that she made me hate Juniper too much.

The story was interesting but the true beauty in this book like in the unconscious bias that shines through in the main character. It’s thought-provoking without being over the top in regards to the themes of racism and social media. It also reads almost like a horror when I think about what I would do if I was Juniper’s shoes. And RF Kuang also writes exactly what she preaches in that EVERY character is flawed.

I would highly recommend this book.

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