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dejanira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Rape, Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Racism, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
bekkah_co's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yellowface was a fast read. Kuang blended suspense well with her commentary on racism, institutionalized issues within the publishing communities, and cancel culture. June Hayward was a character that you love to hate and hate to love. She is complex but ultimately has some of the most upsetting, but genuine actions and reactions. June, despite trying her best to integrate herself as an AAPI ally, always seems to fall short in the eyes of the internet (and, depending on your perspective, Yellowface 's readers). Her actions throughout the book are a combination of "That makes sense." and "What the actual hell? Why would you do that?" June is, like most of Kuang's characters, painfully human.
Kuang refers to this book as "the roiling schadenfreude of watching a Twitter meltdown", and I could not agree more. There were times I had to stop myself and try to think if this had actually happened on Twitter. Every interaction in this book feels alive. It feels like you're watching this happen in front of you, refreshing the Twitter feed for the latest piece of hot gossip. It's fascinating being with the "Cancelled" and seeing their interactions to being "Cancelled". Yellowface had me questioning where my stances are regarding who can or cannot write what. It is one of those books meant to challenge and to give you an opportunity to look at a reality of a world often shrouded away by mystique and consumerism.
The one thing I believe that Yellowface struggled a bit with is the usage of mouthpieces. Outside of June, the rest of the characters mentioned in this book fell flat. They were merely the personification of their internet sect. This book was very much so spelled out for you. A lot of that is due to June living the experience and literally spelling out what is happening, and why she has issues with the "Twitterati". While sometimes, it is necessary to be heavy-handed with what is happening, sometimes it's good to leave some subtext.
Despite these critiques, I found myself enjoying Yellowface immensely. This book was witty and uncomfortable. It was a prosed trainwreck I could not pull my eyes away from. I loved every minute of it.
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death
j_emerson18's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I enjoyed the main character being both easy to sympathize with and easy to be disgusted with. Incredibly complex. June Hayward was greedy, distraught, hurt, betrayed, frustrated, and overall conflicted. I loved her inner turmoil while also going over all the ways she could move past wrongdoings (either done by her or to her). The ways she couldn't tell that she was micro-aggressive to minorities even though she was giving them a voice. The double edged sword of being supportive of minority authors/narratives but having those passing thoughts about the individuals she came across in public. So well done!
The overall plot was great. I particularly found myself enthralled with the way cancel culture and reasonable doubt were used as weapons. Both by the main character and those surrounding her.
Also want to show my appreciation for the audiobook narrator. Oh my God she was phenomenal. Her inflictions, emotions, changing her tone when in the final scene. You could hear June spiralling and it was made believable by Helen's talent. 10/10 job well done.
I would absolutely recommend this to others. It's a narrative that isn't widely discussed that needs to be. No matter what side of the fence you're on. Publishing and the art world are vicious, and it's foolish to think otherwise.
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, and Cursing
Minor: Racial slurs
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Death, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit
marina_michelle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Bullying, Rape, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Grief, Xenophobia, Racism, Cursing, and Vomit
Moderate: Stalking and Classism
Minor: War and Colonisation
britbreeze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Death, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Rape, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Mental illness
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Stalking, Classism, Death, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Sexism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Medical content, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, War, Drug use, Grief, Biphobia, Classism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Rape
The entire narrative of this book is about a White American woman excusing and justifying her actions against a college friend and writer colleague who is Chinese American plus the varying moods and swings in action to conceal what she is doing. We are in the mind of the white woman character the whole time and it’s intentionally uncomfortable to be in this character’s head. Pace yourself if you need to though this novel isn’t that long.te_ss_i's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Death, Classism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, Vomit, Mental illness, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Racism
elliya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts