I'm so late on write-ups! Apologies... but I really enjoyed Yellowface. I think it sparked a debate that reached far and wide as to the ethics of publishing and writing from different cultural perspectives. It was a thriller to read that offered so much more too.

I liked this booka and obviously it was wildly successful but I think the e-ARC I received was too early. It was full of errors and I found it difficult to be swept away. It was incredibly insightful and a brilliant perspective on the publishing industry and I look forward to reading the finished text.

This is my second book by RFK, and although I liked this one a lot better than Babel, now I must admit to myself that her novels are simply not my cup of tea. There was no problem with the story itself, yet I found the main character annoying and the whole reading experience disturbing - and not in a good way.

Thank you Harper Collins for this very anticipated release of mine. Even though it took me almost two years to get into it I loved all the more as if I had read it when it was released.

Another favorite from R.F. Kuang. This book was such a rollercoaster, full of plot twists that constantly kept you on the edge of your seat.
The main character was so engaging even if she was also a very unlikable MC she felt even more real because of that.
One of the reasons why it’s not a 5 stars was the ending, it just felt way too rushed and open ending… I really needed to know how it all finishes (even if deep down we all know she will never change her attitude).

Such a powerful, clever book about being an author, the competitiveness, the isolation, the pitfalls and the plus points. As an author, there were a lot of passages that were almost panic-attack inducing. It's brilliant and sharp, darkly funny and unpredictable. I know I am hugely late to the party but it definitely deserves all the hype.

Considering Kuang is one of my favourite authors, it is no surprise that I loved this book. I think this style of book is a welcome change within the industry and the fourth-wall breaks were very insightful. June as a main character was a really interesting view to read from, and how dislikable she is even from the first few pages makes watching her scramble to keep up a lie so much more entertaining. Having been very familiar with Kuang’s other books, it was nice to see them woven into this new story. My biggest issue with this, however, was that many of the criticisms that Kuang’s previous works have faced were written off within this and dismissed because they were spoken through June’s voice, and most of what she says is meant to be showing how intrinsic her racism and hatred are. It discredits those who have been vocal in their issues with Kuang’s writing in the past. Regardless, I think this novel opens up important questions about the publishing industry and it is done in an engaging and entertaining way. June is thoroughly dislikable but Kuang makes her story something from which I found myself unable to look away. It is her most accessible book so far in that the writing is less dense and the content less heavy than the events in both the Poppy War and Babel so I think it’s a great starting point for her work, despite how clearly both other works shine through. Now that I have reread this book I have found myself wishing for more from some of the characters but overall an enjoyable book which helps lead into further discussions about racism within the publishing industry.

Book 9 of 2025 - Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang

Book Review
I have been wanting to read this book with an age. I've been reading glorious reviews along the way so I was thrilled when my local bookclub chose it for its March read...
I wasn't too sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed it..
It gives us a huge insight in to the whole world of publishing. My god the pressure of it all...
My heart wouldn't take it...
I liked the main character June Hayward, I didn't like her, I couldn't quite decide.
She acted appallingly the night her friend Athena died, stealing her friends work and going on to pass it off as her own. Athena had just completed the first draft of her latest manuscript and before June leaves her apartment she manages to grab the manuscript and put it in her bag.
Athena's work ethic was to complete her work before telling anybody in her life about any part of it. Which suited June completely when she was passing it off as her own.
It felt as if June was stepping in to Athena's shoes, Athena's life really and I guess when someone's professional life has been very successful, a person can want some of that success.
June's guilt however at what she was doing was difficult to overcome and ultimately nearly destroys her life. It was hugely evident throughout that it was going to be her demise.
An entertaining and perhaps addictive read...

I read a review on amazon where someone described the book as "A biting exploration of identity, privilege, and the complexities of cultural appropriation" and I couldn't agree more...

Worth your time...

I really enjoyed this one as my first read of 2025. I buddy read it with a friend and it was easily devoured. A rollercoaster of emotions throughout with the majority of it with me being angry at the main character. She just didn't give up did she. It's probably a story that happens more regularly than we think in the publishing industry. Eye opening. Page turner. I awarded four stars out of five. My first book by this author.

Absolutely incredible. I have never so eagerly anticipated a characters downfall. This was so much fun to read. I loved every second of it.

An absolute page-turner with a unreliable narrator that makes you want to crawl into the page and claw her eyes out, but with certain weaknesses.

The first-person present voice was at times quite off putting and the plot had a tendency to jump from scene to scene in a way that was supposed to be fast-paced but just came across more rushed. It also, especially around the middle, had a tendency to stare too long into the swirling Twitter gyre and go into too much detail about published discourse and drama.

However - the last section of the book turns Yellowface from a sharp satire into an almost gothic paranoid thriller, and completely brought the novel together for me. Without going into spoilers, the narrator completely descends into insanity and the novel goes full-tilt with her. The last paragraphs in particular are just absolutely brilliant and really ties together what the whole book is trying to achieve.

A rare perfect ending that elevates a flawed book, absolutely worth the read.

An intriguing premise and tackled important themes, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations. The exploration of cultural appropriation and the publishing industry was compelling, yet the protagonist’s narration felt grating at times, making it harder to stay engaged. While the book had moments of sharp insight and a unique perspective, the execution didn’t quite land for me.

“Athena, the dead muse. And I, the grieving friend, haunted by her spirit, unable to write without invoking her voice.
See, who ever said I wasn’t a good storyteller?”

Fun and poignant at the same time. The ending was too long and I almost lost interest at some point, but I would highly recommend this to everyone that’s interested in knowing more tidbits concerning the publishing industry.

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
I liked the flow of this book and it was an intriguing concept. Disliked the main character quite a lot but felt compelled to carry on reading - was amazed at the delusion she managed throughout- such arrogance.
Only other book I read where I disliked the main character was American Psycho but I read it anyway.
Very clever writing.

I was so intrigued about this book, and it was a really great insight into the publishing industry and writers in general, but it also showcases the realistic side of racism and cancellation culture in this modern world.

R F Kuang has also been an amazing storyteller, and Yellowface is no different. It is so well written that it was an enjoyable read, even if I did dislike and was very conflicted with the protagonist.

Thank you so much for the e-arc. Sorry this review was so delayed.

R. F. Kuang shows us one more time how it is done. It is no accident that she has risen to such heights in such a short time.

Having read all her previous books, I knew what to wait for. However, with every book her writing seems to get better and better. And it is not only that the writing is skilful, it is also that her stories divide, unite, raise questions, answer others and in general create a sensation that is discussed every time for a long time.

In this particular one, the plot is about a writer that steals her fellow writer’s work and presents it for her own.

Through the story, we see the characters dilemma and moral questioning. We also witnessing one aspect of publishing that is a bit shady (if I’m alllowed to say so). The issues raised in this book are going beyond the story told in it. A number of controversial matters regarding the publishing industry and the bookish community are addressed and brought to the surface. I won’t go into this here but it is very, VERY interesting to see the discussions this book has started.

I read and will continue to read R. F. Kuang’s books until the end of time.

Yellowface is a slick and sharp satire of the publishing industry with Kuang in full savage mode. No one is getting out of this one unscathed.

The story is part psychological thriller, part social commentary. It's filled with all of the sass, wit and unbridled rage that I've come to expect from Kuang when commenting on the wrongs of our society that desperately need righting.

Kuang once again proves her ability to be daring and disruptive with her work, all the while remaining a total darling of the very industry she's torn to shreds in her latest offering.

Whilst I did enjoy this I felt a little disappointed by the end. It was nicely written and had an interesting premise but it just felt a little lacking but I can’t quite put my finger on why. Overall a good read.

WOW. No need for me to add to the many, many (many) voices praising this book, but of course I loved it. Absolutely brutal about the publishing industry in a way that made me cringe in recognition.

June's writing career hasn't done as well as she was hoping, however, her long time 'friend' Athena had reached soaring heights.

Athena is notoriously secretive about her new projects but after a few drinks, she announces she has finished her latest book and invites June to read it. Shortly after this, there is a tragic accident and June is unable to save Athena... and also accidently ends up taking the manuscript home with her

Upon reading, June decides this might be her chance, she could rejig Athenas work in an attempt to make it her own and get the recognition she has always wanted

Can she get away with such a big misrepresentation, and even if she can, can she live with it....

Great story and told perfectly. Kept you interested in how June was juggling it all and the moral arguments about not just the plagiarised book but the way the content changed based on the teller

This book stressed me out and manipulated all the emotions. Like reading it caused me genuine anxiety. That said, I love Kuang’s prose and writing but this honestly took it all to a whole other level and I devoured this in a matter of hours.