This was the first book I have read of Kuang's, and I went in completely blind, having not read the blurb or anything about it, and what a wild ride it was.
Whilst I didn't particularly get on with our protagonist (and was constantly conflicted on if I should I like her or not), I found this book hard to put down and read it in one day.
This story was so morally grey, it was honestly fascinating reading about and deciphering whether some people's arguments online were just performative (as is the case for many "keyboard warriors"), and the language they use.
An insightful and comic commentary on the modern day world of publishing and the impact social media and cancel culture; this was a short and sharp book that kept me gripped until the end.

I finished Yellowface a few weeks ago and still haven't been able to articulate just how incredibly well Kuang executed this. There is so much to unpack in Yellowface; themes of white privilege, performative social justice, the exploitative nature of the publishing industry and the wider discussion around who should be allowed to tell which stories. All of this is explored within a plotline that had me GRIPPED from the very first page to the very last. Juniper is an unlikeable protagonist but I couldn't help but feel second-hand anxiety for her when all her lies threatened to come crashing down on her. I am eagerly awaiting the release of this book because I have bitten off everyone's ears about it and I need them to read it so they can understand why. R.F. Kuang has proven once again that she is an exceptional author and has a masterful command over storytelling. Highly recommend.

Simply amazing K.R Kuang has a way with words. She crafts words like a blacksmith with mental. Creating a beautiful object. Full review to come
3.5 stars

Kuang is a literary genius, there’s no disputing it.

This book about the inherent racism and judgements in the world is both a refreshing read and a rather meta horror.

As a minority I found this book confirmed all my terrible concerns and tied them up in a clever and enticing way.

I feel slightly strange leaving feedback on a book which is largely about feedback in the publishing world! I enjoyed this, it was a very different story line although I felt that there was a lack of depth and the story needed some more detail or believability. It felt as though it was trying to make a point more about discrimination in publishing and life rather than focusing on story telling which was a bit distracting and took away from the potential strength of the story.

Author Rebecca F Kuang really taps the into zeitgeist with Yellowface, a book in which a white woman steals the authorship of a novel written by her deceased Asian American friend and rides a privileged wave to publishing glory. The pitch may sound extreme, but "yellowface" is nothing new in the world of artistic cultural production. Throughout my reading of Kuang's novel, I repeatedly thought of writer Jenny Zhang's excellent article for Buzzfeed, "They Pretend to be us While Pretending we Don't Exist," which responds to White poet Michael Derrick Hudson's use of the Chinese pen name Yi-Fen Chou, and recounts Zhang's own experiences as an Asian American woman working to become a published author in America. While Hudson published his own work under a Chinese name and the protagonist of Yellowface publishes her friend's work under her own (slightly altered) name, the underlying dynamic is the same. As Zhang writes, "White people have always slipped in and out of the experiences of people of color and been praised extravagantly for it."

Aside from this broader cultural context, Yellowface as a novel has both successes and flaws. Kuang has created a classic villain protagonist, a narrator whose subjectivity we sit within throughout the plot and therefore cannot help but root for even as we dislike or even despise her. While June Hayward (or, to use her problematic authorial pseudonym, Juniper Song) is no talented Mr. Ripley or Humbert Humbert, she balances our attraction and disgust in similar ways. The novel is at its strongest when we find ourselves sympathizing with June, only to have to remind ourselves that she is in fact a terrible person. But June is also in fact a talented writer, and her experiences as a woman struggling to succeed in an unfair world are relatable and on point. Kuang never gives us the comfort of absolutes, and it is to the book's credit. Where the novel is less successful is its focus on social media; there is a tendency to moralize about it in ways we've all heard many times before, and on many occasions throughout the text I found myself wishing the book would show me more and have June tell me less.

Regardless, Yellowface is an engaging read that keeps the reader turning the pages by stoking the emotions of terror and glee that June will finally be caught out. 3.5 stars and I look forward to seeing more from Kuang in the future.

This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
Juniper and Athena are Yale graduates and some time "friends" but pursuing a writing career since Childhood. Now in their 20s Athena is riding on the crest of literary fame and acclaim while Juniper plods along in an SAT prep school after the failure of her debut novel.. After a night celebrating Athena's latest success turns tragic,
a split second decision by Juniper catapults her to success but is plagued by suspicion and doubt.

What do you say about Juniper? Kuang has created a wonderfully complicated protaganist. Juniper is gifted in playing the victim, someone else is always at fault and never seems to accept accountability for any decision in her life. Granted you empathise with her for the vitriol she experiences online and it is hard not to feel sorry for her at points you almost want her to get away and you feel every bit of tension and anxiety she experiences. Echoing how manipulative a person she is, that she ALMOST draws you in before you have to remind yourself that she is a racist thief capitalising from a so called friend's work and from the exploitation of other people's suffering.
The story hits on so many topical points; the debate on the appropriateness of authors writing and profiting from other culture's experiences and tragedies, the power of cancel culture particularly within the realms of Book Twitter and cultural representation and pigeon holing in the literary world.
This is quite a fast paced book and extremely witty and darkly funny a times. I didn't enjoy the closing chapters of the book. The plot regarding the Instagram posts I found a bit ridiculous and the twist just didn't hit home for me. With that said it is an enjoyable read and would definitely be a book I'd like to discuss with others.

As always, R. F. Kuang’s prose is deliciously exquisite, with sentences that feel like they’re constructed for a higher purpose than *just* a book. I can’t begin to describe how exhilarating it was to read Yellowface, a novel so steeped in truth, disgust and disturbingly meta that I now feel guilt every time I open Twitter and see book related beef.

Junie was a nightmare. The kind of author I hoped I would never come across in my publishing career, but unfortunately I’ve encountered too often (I work in editorial and I am a black woman). She is the kind of white woman I cannot stand - the kind that feels slighted because they’re not a hot commodity despite their glaringly obvious whiteness, the kind that cannot see past themselves. The kind that you can say “hey I did this!” and they’d redirect you to when they also did this, or that, or when they ate a burrito because that’s more important than someone else’s achievements. The kind of liberal whiteness that parades behind vagina hats and #bekind without ever really confronting their privilege or their repressed beliefs. They don’t care. Their world really does revolve around them and their own makeshift dreamland. Selfish without the self awareness to change, learn and grow.

While I had no sympathy for her, Junie’s anxiety was so visceral, so choking. So direct and alarming. I felt it becoming my own, especially at the end, where the manuscript felt like a pressure machine that kept building until it burst. I only took deep, irregular breaths while reading. My head still aches now I’ve finished.

Yellowface is going to make waves. A lot of people aren’t going to like this book - whether they don’t like lit fic and expected something akin to Kuang’s other works, or they simply felt this book hit too close to home. Maybe they see themselves in the mobs of people online, and hate the reflection in the mirror, I don’t know. But I do know I loved it, right to the bitter and messy end.

This is a really intriguing book! It was a really funny and well-written satire. It addresses what it means to be a published author, and a certified bookworm, I love books about books. It also looked at some quite serious issues such as diversity in publishing.

The story was gripping which certainly kept the pages turning, I just had to read on! The main character, by design, was really quite unlikeable but I think that this just added to the story, and at certain points made me wonder if June was ever going to get her comeuppance. There was some kind of unease or uncomfortable vibe at some points in the book, but as with the dislikability of June, it makes perfect sense.

R.F. Kuang is a brilliant writer and i think everyone should read this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

This isn't my favourite genre, but RF Kuang is a brilliant writer and that continues to be incredibly true here.

Yellowface examines the dynamics of privilege and prejudice that go into storytelling and, more specifically, getting a book published in a way that is devastating, honest, and stays true to her tendency for writing characters that are hate-able in the most delightful way. Juniper Song is, in the most generous of terms, yet another stunning morally grey character by an author who specialises in emphasising moral ambiguity (or just total corruption, let's be honest).

Whatever else this review could say, it's already said better in the book. If you want to know about some of the most serious conflicts, debates, and fundamental problems at the heart of today's publishing industry (or just want to read some really excellent writing) pick up this book as soon as you can.

This was fantastic, a spearing of publishing, of social media, and a really realistic-feeling insight into being "cancelled". I really enjoyed this, how unreliable but how honest too that Junie was, how she talked things through and explained her thoughts – whether you ever would or wouldn't, it is a fascinating insight.

This was a riveting read! June steals her dead friend's manuscript and you read it with a sense of dread as you know this surely will not go well. It's told from June's point of view and she's an unlikeable narrator that you can't decide if you are rooting for but you are certainly invested. Loved the details of the publishing world too. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Yellowface' by R.F. Kuang.

I am a big fan of R.F. Kuang and I dont hide that so when I recieved this ARC, I sat on my couch crying tears of excitement.

'Yellowface' is what it says on the tin: June steals her bestfriend's story and publishes it as her own. Of course, people realise this through cancel culture and social media but we see what occurs through June's point of view. June is not a likeable main character and that is obvious through Kuang's writing style. The story kept me gripped to my seat making me want to hurry up and read the story faster just to see what will occur.

The final thing I want to mention is the ending. Kuang has always been a master of endings but this one stunned me. This book is a masterpiece from start to finish and I am just in awe.

A hilarious and brutal satire - it's sharp, funny and self-aware. It's often uncomfortable, but never veers away from its subjects. It portrays jealousy, ambition, and the muddiness of the publishing industry and social media in a brilliant way.

Loved this book! It feels thriller-like in quality but was a great novel about what it means to be a recognised author and all that comes with it. I love books about books and felt that Kuang explored the insecurities authors have when it comes to writing and being published really well, as well as tackling issues in publishing around diversity, authenticity, and what success really means. There was a sense of unease and uncertainty throughout the book that kept me on my toes and wondering when it was all going to come crashing down for June. I flitted between rooting for her to do the right thing and get some sense of closure and wondering why on earth she was continuing to build on her lies.

I needed to take some time after finishing this book to really think about what I thought of it because I found myself somewhat conflicted. What I have realised is that the Author did an incredible job making the reader question their response to the main character.

There is so much to discuss within this story, such as the publishing industry and public reaction. I felt quite stressed at times as things developed, which is why I can't say that I enjoyed this book. However, I do think it's worth reading and would recommend, it.

Overall, I liked this book, although some factors did distract from my enjoyment.

I felt the beginning was not as engaging as I’d hoped, and the flow of the story was interrupted by too many explanations of publishing/editorial terminology and processes. I see how they were necessary but the execution was jarring.

Additionally, whilst I understand the political points being made by the book, I felt the author’s voice was too prominent in the way the book read. As the novel was told from the point of view of the antagonist, I think this was a detriment to the potential of the book.

By the end of the novel these things became less noticeable, and I felt the plot and pace really picked up. I really enjoyed the ending and felt it was true to June’s character. Although a few things felt unresolved, the main plot was satisfactorily tied up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The truth is fluid. There is always another way to spin the story; another wrench to throw into the narrative".

Kuang produced an extremely unlikeable protagonist who, following her acquaintances untimely death, steals her manuscripts and publishes them under her own name. The only problem? The stories are focused on the Chinese community, and she is white. The solution? Racial ambiguity.

"Who has the right to write about suffering?" - The book explores authors who profit from the traumatic events of other communities and the conflicting public opinion of whether this is okay. Especially, those authors who choose to use the techniques of obscuring their own backgrounds or claiming loose ties to the events they write on. As a Jewish reader, I disagree with the protagonist who feels it falls to the most qualified versus those with lived experience, as I continue to see non-Jewish authors romanticise and profit from tales of Jewish suffering in the Holocaust without contributing in any way to the community or the modern-day struggles faced. Ultimately, anyone can become qualified, but not anyone is directly impacted by what is published and therefore it is important to consider who benefits most from being published.

Kuang also explores the struggles authors of colour face when it comes down to their own creative freedoms, problems with the perception of authors of colour in general and the most overarching theme - the unrealistic expectations of employees involved at every stage of the publishing period. We always need the next thing. You need to be entirely, 100% committed to your employer both inside and outside of work. You are as much a product as what you produce and consequently lose the right to privacy and will be scrutinised by everyone for everything you have ever done. Cancel culture is always around the corner.

There is a great look into many themes here, but most shockingly to me, was an insight into the publishing industry. My awe and admiration for authors has only grown significantly more after reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.

* 4.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this-- darkly funny, extremely meta and scathing observation of the realities of the publishing industry all wrapped into one story. I was very impressed that even with such an unlikeable protagonist, I was engaged the whole time reading and invested in the story. I haven't read any of the author's other books but having heard such good things and loving this book, I will definitely be picking them up soon.

(Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC.)

Yellowface is one of those books that will stick with me for years to come. I was already a huge R F Kuang fan from her fantasy books, but it's quite different seeing her write in this sphere. Yellowface hit differently than most books because of the grey morality found in its characters, which we all know Kuang is great at from the Poppy War series. I spent so much of the book hoping for good things for the main character but then realising she is pretty terrible and she doesn't deserve success. Also, as someone who works in publishing, it's both exciting and cathartic to read about the truly horrible parts of publishing from this POV. Overall, Yellowface is a story that will quite rightly shock many readers, and galvanise them to help make change. Though I prefer Kuang's fantasy writing, Yellowface shows she can try her hand at anything and weave gold from straw.