A review by natlwlyn
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark informative tense medium-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

4.75

i've been putting this book off for a while but i've finally managed to pick it up. i can't rate it a '5 stars' simply because june is unbearable at times and i've had to put the book down, stand up, and take a deep breath before continuing.

that being said, june is meant to come off as unlikeable. right from the start, she is written to be this insufferable, seething with jealousy, and overall filled with self superiority, kind of character where she's just easy to hate! (+ she's an unreliable narrator from her biases & personal vendetta against athena) but at the same time, i can't get myself to actually HATE her. her character is complex and can't simply be watered down to being this unlikable character. her strings of thoughts; her background; her traits; are all humane and realistic to me (and in a way makes her relatable)

moving on to athena, i thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she isn't 100% a saint either! she has her wrongs as well. june describes her as (also) a thief; taking people's words for her own benefit (such as june's experience with SA). but that still doesn't justify june's actions! june is still a problem!

rf kuang's narratives on june spiraling into madness as she's slowly haunted by the ghost of athena was exceptional! it can make you feel as if you're inside her mind going through these episodes as well ...

i feel that this book brings lights to the ugly side of book publishing and how books that we've read was made. i think it's interesting to think about the backstage when producing these books and it makes me wonder if there are actual cases like these.

all in all, it makes me want to pick up another rf kuang book!
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