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A review by teeclecticreads
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
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
5.0
Yellowface is about the strained relationship between June Hayward and Athena Liu that tragically ends with Athena dying by pancake suffocation. Both authors, with Athena having tremendously more success, June sees an opportunity for herself by releasing Athena’s unpublished novel, The Last Front, but as her own. The rest of the plot follows the tumultuous results of such an action.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been 2 days since I’ve finished this book and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t like writing reviews with spoilers because I want everyone to be able to enjoy my review, so it took me a while to come up with the right words. So I will say that Rebecca Kuang wrote an entertaining piece of satire that also critiques the varying levels of privilege.
I’ve never read a more frustrating, delusional, self-concerned, manipulative main character than Juniper Song Hayward. This was a buddy read with @adannareadsandplans and a few others on StoryGraph and the whole time all we could think was, “Is she serious?” Or “Wow June, that’s stooping low.” The constant need for justification and praise only made her more determined to stick to her script.
However, Athena was no angel either as we find out in the novel. While June was a covert type of narcissistic, Athena was more overt under the guise of being artistic. It doesn’t make what June did okay, but it does give us a bit more insight.
Some of the scenes were so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The slow spiral into madness was as pitiful as it was hilarious. And that one character? MVP. They really did what needed to be done.
I also really loved the insight we got into the publishing world because as readers, we don’t really see that aspect so much. The process from draft, to editing, to selling the manuscript, to the actual publishing is really so detailed and intriguing. Thank you Rebecca for taking us into your world.
Honestly? It’s not for everyone I can say that. You either love it or you hate it because June was really so overbearing. However, I personally enjoyed it a lot and would be interested in reading more of Kuang’s work (when I have the mental capacity to do so 😂)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been 2 days since I’ve finished this book and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t like writing reviews with spoilers because I want everyone to be able to enjoy my review, so it took me a while to come up with the right words. So I will say that Rebecca Kuang wrote an entertaining piece of satire that also critiques the varying levels of privilege.
I’ve never read a more frustrating, delusional, self-concerned, manipulative main character than Juniper Song Hayward. This was a buddy read with @adannareadsandplans and a few others on StoryGraph and the whole time all we could think was, “Is she serious?” Or “Wow June, that’s stooping low.” The constant need for justification and praise only made her more determined to stick to her script.
However, Athena was no angel either as we find out in the novel. While June was a covert type of narcissistic, Athena was more overt under the guise of being artistic. It doesn’t make what June did okay, but it does give us a bit more insight.
Some of the scenes were so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The slow spiral into madness was as pitiful as it was hilarious. And that one character? MVP. They really did what needed to be done.
I also really loved the insight we got into the publishing world because as readers, we don’t really see that aspect so much. The process from draft, to editing, to selling the manuscript, to the actual publishing is really so detailed and intriguing. Thank you Rebecca for taking us into your world.
Honestly? It’s not for everyone I can say that. You either love it or you hate it because June was really so overbearing. However, I personally enjoyed it a lot and would be interested in reading more of Kuang’s work (when I have the mental capacity to do so 😂)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault