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beckaboo181987 's review for:
Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yellowface was a sharp and immersive read, though not without frustrations. The opening hooked me with its pace, but as June spiraled further into paranoia, the believability slipped and the story dragged, leaving the ending more annoying than satisfying. Character development started strong, layered and believable, but the descent into chaos felt less intentional and more like the author herself was unraveling.
What really stood out was Kuang’s writing style and tone, biting, satirical, and incredibly immersive. The backdrop of the publishing industry, the insular literary circles, and the rise-and-fall nature of social media were executed with precision, grounding the story in a world that felt both authentic and essential.
The themes were where the book had the most impact. Kuang’s exploration of race, cultural appropriation, privilege, and cancel culture was refreshingly nuanced and deeply relevant. It was thought-provoking to see Asian identity centered in this discussion, and the depiction of cancel culture’s brutal highs and lows added a timely edge.
Overall, Yellowface was frustrating in its execution but powerful in its ideas, worth reading for the conversation it sparks, even if it falters as a fully satisfying novel.