First of all, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

After tackling translation studies in Babel (published in 2022), Rebecca F. Kuang discusses the publishing industry in Yellowface, which was first published on May 25th, 2023. In this standalone, we follow June "Juniper Song" Hayward as she steals her dead bestselling author's novel and deals with the consequences of publishing it under her own name.

This book was a page-turner. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did, but it was a huge success for me and I read it in less than four hours. Similarly to when I was reading Babel where I had some experiences with translation studies (five years in university), I also have that kind of link to Yellowface as I work in the publishing industry. I really enjoyed the fact that the author described what it is like to publish a book, what happens with editors and the publishing house, and the whole process (auctions, deciding on the cover, how to promote a book).
The plot was fantastic with a kind of predictable end, but it was really difficult to pinpoint the literary genre of the book: it is a contemporary fiction mixed with a satire and mystery/thriller, and it is unlike everything I have read before. Although we only follow one character, I appreciate the fact that we get to see the point of view of different "kinds of' authors: the debut author who does not sell a lot of books and who could be considered as a "failure", the bestselling author, and the cancelled/criticised author.

While Yellowface is a fiction book, it raises the question around and deals with plagiarism, cultural appropriation, racism and grief in a brilliant way.

I highly recommend this book!

Wow, this book is everywhere. Everyone I know is either reading it, had read it,, or has it on their TBR. As a publishing human, I was keen to read. It's so terrifically accurate about our world, and the machinations within it. I was wrapped up in this most of the way along, however it lost me a bit in the second half. I love that it's cracked whatever that thing is that gets everyone intrigued. It's a fun, smart, blistering read.

This was my first Kuang book, after having her novels on my shelves for years and just never getting around to picking them up. And I have to say, I LOVED it. The writing instantly captured me, it was easy to read without feeling too slow. I found myself physically cringing at certain points because of what June would say, which I'm sure was the intention. Personally, as someone who has both white and Asian parents and heritage, this was so interesting and validating, and I can see how it can spark important conversations. Reading Athena's point of view, framed by June's narration, was both frustrating and eye-opening, and I think Kuang balanced the satire and seriousness well.

I think June was the perfect level of annoying and ignorant to dislike her, without it ruining the story. There were multiple points were my jaw dropped and I had to take a second before reading again. From start to finish, the entire story was well written, plotted, and overall brilliant, entertaining and unsettling in parts.

Billed as a literary thriller about a stolen manuscript and a satirical look at the darker side of the publishing world, the premise of Yellowface drew me in immediately. I haven’t read R.F. Kuang's previous books for no reason other than their blurbs never appealed to me.

Yellowface is an intense and compelling read, but for me, it tried to do too much and fell flat as a result. The tl;dr is that I loved the premise, but not the execution!

June Hayward's debut novel wasn’t exactly a hit. Athena Liu is a bestselling author and literary darling. Their relationship is complicated. They are not quite friends but not quite colleagues either. When Athena dies (it's in the blurb, so not a spoiler), June steals her unpublished manuscript and sets out to have the career she feels she should have from the beginning. Say goodbye to June Hayward and hello to Juniper Song.

I don't subscribe to the notion that everything a fictional character does or says is rooted in the author's beliefs. But here, I found it difficult to separate what I know about Kuang's opinions on people writing whatever they want instead of solely writing what they know regarding race, gender, sexuality, etc. Yellowface didn't feel like an exploration of racism in publishing, cancel culture, and white privilege so much as being whacked over the head repeatedly by 'the point'.

There is nothing wrong with an author setting out to make a specific point; I love a good issue-focused novel. But with Yellowface straddling two genres – literary fiction and satire – the balance between them got lost, which left me wishing the story was wrapped up much sooner than it was.

In the weeks since reading it, I have returned to one question; who was Yellowface written for? The novel is an international bestseller, so it has an audience. However, I'd love to know what people who aren't terminally online or knowledgeable about the publishing industry discourse of the last few years think about social media's role in the story. Some of Kuang's best writing is during the online cancellation campaign. But does that seem as equally far-fetched to people not in the know as the rest of the novel? Even though the accuracy of Kuang's portrayal of social media cancel culture is the novel’s strength.

It is also fascinating to watch the publicity campaigns around Yellowface and how they echo some of what Kuang discusses in the novel about how publishers decide to put their money into massive PR campaigns for X novel versus barely promoting Y novel.

Yellowface is the first non-fantasy novel of RF Kuang, who’s already written brilliant books in the form of Babel and the Poppy Wars series.

Please note: The following mentions early plot points, available in the summary of the novel’s plot on the publisher’s website and others.

Athena Liu is the star of the literary world, young, sparkling and just the right side of eccentric to be interesting, and not offputting. She only writes in specific notebooks, and uses typewriters to create her novels. June Hayward, her classmate and not quite friend, has published a novel but has not made anywhere near the splash that Athena has. Sidelined, overshadowed and slightly awed by her, she finds herself in Athena’s apartment one night, as they challenge each other to ridiculous and alcohol fuelled dares. It doesn’t end well for Athena.

With the darling of contemporary fiction out of the way, June is temporarily in the limelight as the person who last saw her alive. Cast as her friend, her experience of the fame Athena knew opens her eyes to the benefits, and she doesn’t want to give that up.

Kuang writes a tight, well thought out mystery thriller which details out the publishing world and process, sometimes to uncomfortable levels. As June gets sucked into the whirlwind of publishing the next big thing, and the pressure of writing something else which is just as magnetic, we as the readers follow along with her. I raced through this - it’s enjoyable, mainly because all of the characters are just awful human beings. I wouldn’t want to go drinking with any of them, but I did enjoy reading about their lives.

It reminded me of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, but while that played it reasonably seriously, this is peppered with dark humour which makes it fun to read. As June gets deeper into her new life as Juniper Song, she finds her mental health crumbling. This reminded me of Poe’s The Tell-tale Heart, driven mad by your own thoughts and deeds.

I found it interesting that, as it’s written from June’s point of view, I was rooting for her to succeed, even though her actions were far from honourable or morally correct. You can almost imagine yourself doing the same thing in her position. Almost.
Recommended for anyone who likes thrillers and/or the publishing world - this is a must read for 2023 (and I think most people will have read it by now, so time to read it again!)

What a book!

This was unlike anything I’ve read before. It is almost sarcastic in the way it talks about the publishing and writing industries. If it wasn’t true, you wouldn’t believe these things could happen. I also found out some interesting publishing facts.

I did feel like the ending was part of a different book as it felt more thriller and the begging more literary but I could understand why the book needed to go in that sort of direction.

Yellowface was a captivating mix of genre and themes. As someone being a part of the book industry as well as being active in the online book community, I found a lot that really hit the mark. June as an unlikeable protagonist worked well: seeing how dellusional she was at points made it aggravating and fascinating at the same time.
After reading Kuangs Babel I was interested to see how her writing would translate into contemporary fiction and am happy to say, that I thought it fitting. Her themes of racism, classism and cancel culture worked together with the plot focussing on authorship, plagiarism and trying to become and stay relevant in a fast moving social world.

A great thriller set in the publishing world. It brings to light a lot of issues with the publishing industry.
Personally I thought it could dive a little deeper below the surface level but still it's really great for what it is. Definitely a book to read in one sitting!

Completely unputdownable! I love reading but in the modern age with all the distractions that come with it rarely do I get so absorbed by a book that I read it in a day.

Yellowface deserves the hype. It's a thriller, a commentary on: cancel culture, the publishing industry, ambition, fame, and social media.

Kuang's June is envious of former classmate Athens and is soon provided with the opportunity to experience similar success. Her actions are reprehensible but Kuang's skillfully enables you to continue to root for the protagonist.

I am now moving Kuang's earlier novels higher ip my TBR pile.

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yellowface is an uncomfortable, fascinating and thrilling read!

This is not a breezy beach read, just so you are warned. It is well written, with characters that I found to be well constructed. I highly recommend you pick it up, preferably with a friend that you can message. Personally, I sent quite a lot of messages as events in this book unfolded!

Rebecca F. Kuang is also known as R F Kuang, the author of Babel and the Poppy War series, which are fantasy novels with dark themes.

I was given this in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins.

This book is hard to describe, I don’t think you get an actual feel for the story through this synopsis but I will try to coney some of it in this review! We follow June Hayward, a not so successful author. She is ‘friends’ with Athena Liu, they studied at Yale together and published their debut in the same year. But Athena is actually very successful and beloved.

At the start of the story June is quite bitter about her life and her friendship with Athena. As she watches Athena die unexpectedly, she takes Athena’s newest manuscript home with her. June decides to edit the manuscript and sends it to her agent as her own original work.

The manuscript is about Chinese laborers ’employed’ by the British and French during World War I. While June edits the novel, you can already tell she is shifting some of the narration. June doesn’t think she is racist at all but there are a lot of micro aggressions in basically everything she does, thinks and says. It was so interesting being in her mind. And it also made me think, there were a lot of moments where she was clearly in the wrong, but I think as a white person, a lot of us have had similar moments unfortunately. We don’t like to think we have, but if we’re being brutally honest with ourselves we definitely have. A lot of that is learned so I’m determined to unlearn all of it. And I think being aware is the first step. So like I said, this story definitely made me think, it held up a mirror that I hope more readers will look into.

Both June and the publisher are committed to make the novel work, they publish the book under the name Juniper Song and keep showing their racism through (micro) actions. At some point there is a threat of people finding out that June didn’t write the story herself and we see how far she is willing to go to keep her success.

June is an unreliable narrator and not a great person. She isn’t a loud racist but shows the deep rooted racism through small things and I think that does speak loudly in the end. You won’t like her, or any of the other characters haha. To me that wasn’t a problem at all. This book was more about the story and the commentary than anything else.

I’ve seen this described at satire a lot, I wouldn’t really say this is satire to be honest. Usually, I find satire books hilarious, and while I really liked this book I wouldn’t say I laughed out loud a lot. I wanted to keep on reading and reading and was really hooked, but I can’t say this was funny. And that is okay! I don’t think that was the aim of the book and like I said, I still enjoyed reading it a lot.

If you take a look at the reviews on Goodreads for this one, you see ratings and reviews all over the spectrum. Some readers loved this while others couldn’t stand the writing style or the message. It’s so interesting seeing the different reactions and I think this is something everyone has to decide for themselves. All I can say is, I liked the book a lot and would highly recommend it! It isn’t my usual genre but I’m very happy I picked this one up!

This one didn't impress me as much as R.F. Kuang's Poppy Wars. The narrative was dry and one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The writing felt like a compendium of Twitter rants focused on only one aspect, derailing the credibility of the protagonist which is clearly established in the first few chapters. So the rest felt like an unnecessary stretch without much going on to add any interesting twists. Overall, the premise of the book is interesting but not intriguing enough. Still, kudos to the author for such a singular fiction that gives us a glimpse into what might happen in the world of writers and publishers.

If you followed the recent literary-Twitter scandals surrounding American Dirt and Kate Clanchy, this satire about plagiarism and cultural appropriation is for you. It reminded me a lot of The Other Black Girl, though a bit less supernatural and silly, and was similarly addictive to read. I did have qualms about how June was portrayed as a stereotypical Karen ("That's been the key to staying sane throughout all of this: holding the line, maintaining my innocence" and "I feel like a meme of a clueless white person"), but there's a reason for it. Kuang keeps pretty tight control of the whiplash turns of plot and tone, and it goes without saying that it's sophisticated work for a 26-year-old, even one on her fifth novel now. I'd say this lives up to the hype. (3.5 stars)

Going in to reading this, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. I devoured this book. It was engaging and fast paced whilst also exploring deeper societal issues.

What happens when you take something that doesn't belong to you? What if it's a novel? Then complicate it by adding race to the mix. Not only does Yellowface discuss plagiarism but Kuang layers this with conversations about who can tell a story about people from different ethnic backgrounds. We follow June as she steals her friend Athena's manuscript and passes it off as her own. The descent into anxiety as she questions every shadow on her downward spiral. The public backlash against June, a white woman, telling stories about Chinese workers uncovers more than is comfortable as her popularity and infamy increases. Whilst neither June or Athena are very likeable, you must question your own ethics. June manages to make every situation worse. This feels like watching a car crash in action. Intriguing, uncomfortable and you can't look away!

Anyone thinking of a career as a novelist shouldn't read this book. From the friendship jealousies, the flaky publishing industry with editors, sensitivity readers and resentment, to the horrors of social media cancellation - it really is a scary ride. That's before we even get to the infamous writer's block.

This isn't the first book I've known that starts with someone stealing someone else's manuscript and passing the work off as their own, plagiarism is nothing new after all. That is just the start of being fake and dishonest as the interviews and speculation dig very deep, a whole life story has to be fabricated too. Somewhere along the way, fact and fiction merge - and not just in the novel.

The other major theme is racism, hence the book title. The author never claims to be Chinese but the inference is there in terms of the subject matter of the novel and her social circles. Book clubs invite the author based on her perceived ethnicity, for example and cultural appropriation is a persistent topic. But as a white author, she expects to garner more sympathy and understanding more than her peers from other ethnic identities.

The story is told in an informal, brisk manner, with references to current popular culture, significantly social media. Told in the present tense in the first person keeping the tale fresh and immediate, although it did drag a bit towards the end. Despite that, Yellowface is a fast read, similar to a young adult book in style and pace, with many thought provoking features, mainly concerning authenticity, identity, guilt and reality. A witty, satirical and interesting read.

I was hooked from the very first line. This author has a way of telling stories that makes you doubt yourself and your beliefs. Juniper is not a likeable character and Athena is not that great either and that's one of the reasons that makes this book so gripping. Plus, the whole inside view of the publishing world makes everything even more interesting. I loved the author writing style and definitely will read more from them!

Athena Liu has everything June Hayward wanted out of an author's career, so when Athena dies in a freak accident in front of June, leaving her just-finished manuscript behind, June decides to edit it and send it to her editor as her own work, to publish under a new, more ambiguous name-Juniper Song. June convinces herself that she's doing the right thing, Athena's work deserves to be published regardless of what name it's under, but it seems not everyone agrees. Things take a turn for the worse when someone begins threatening June, claiming they know her secret. What lengths is she willing to go to to protect it?

This was a really entertaining read, Kuang's writing is so enjoyable. I was captivated throughout despite the fact that June as a "protagonist" was absolutely insufferable, Kuang manages to make her a compelling narrative voice. She was fascinating in her ability to make genuine astute observations of the industry and its faults, and take the to far every time, push them until she was the victim of every situation - almost impressive.
She also manages to write very realistic online interactions and depictions of discourse as it evolves and devolves- it didn't feel arbitrary, it was always used to serve the plot and the characters.
The pacing was pretty good overall, although the ending felt anti climactic. And as someone who reads a lot of thrillers and a fair amount of litfic, the writing didn't do anything new or exciting for me genre-wise, but in Kuang's handling of its subject matter it's a standout.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

This book is WILD.
I really wasn't sure about this book, I love Rebecca F Kuang's past books, but there was something about this that didn't interest me.
I was wrong, I picked up the audiobook for this and what a wild ride that was,

June is a car crash that you just can't look away from, this was hilarious whilst also touching on some very important topics in the publishing industry.

If in doubt, do pick it up.

Thank you NetGalley for the earc

"Yellowface" is the first novel I've read by R. F. Kuang. And I think I made the right choice in starting her bibliography with this one. "Yellowface" speaks to me on different levels: as an Asian woman, as an Asian author (even if I'm not published yet) and as an Asian woman who has worked in publishing. It's hardly an exaggeration to say that this is a novel that has echoed many of my experiences.

With this novel, R. F. Kuang offers her readers a quick read - a page turner, as far as I'm concerned. If I wasn't as obsessed with "The Sims" as I am now, I'd have finished this book in a day. The author has mastered her subject and the way she tells it. In a short interview for her Canadian publisher's TikTok account, she explains that this book contains her frustrations, the scandals and interesting encounters that have crossed her path since she became a published author. I can imagine some people thinking, on reading this book, that many passages are exaggerated, especially when it comes to June's racism. "Yellowface" is certainly a satire on the publishing world/book industry, but it's nonetheless a true representation of what Asians go through all the time because this industry is saturated by whiteness.

While reading this novel, I remember sending messages to my friends, telling them that R. F. Kuang had a definite talent for writing the audacity of white women. And, after closing the book, my opinion hasn't changed. June Hayward (because I'd rather eat my foot than use the pen name she calls herself) is the epitome of white audacity. From the first page to the last, her case only got worse. Her audacity was so great that I ended up laughing at it - a bitter laugh, because I've come across such audacity many times before. While the book opens with June suffering from immense jealousy, we soon realize that this is more than just a human feeling. I even found that her jealousy had racist roots.

June Hayward's audacity knows no bounds. From the moment she steals Athena's manuscript and publishes it under her own name, we can follow her in a downward spiral. The very fact that she was able to publish this manuscript (a novel about the forced labor of 140,000 Chinese sent to the front by the British army during the First World War) is worth mentioning because it shows the racism embedded in this publishing industry we love so much. Indeed, at no point do June's literary agent, her publisher or the communications/marketing people ask the right questions. On the contrary, they enable this racist imposture at various levels. They are the ones who suggest June take a pen name, a name that is confusing because it can be mistaken for a Chinese (or even Korean) surname. But, good thing for June, no one said anything about it - on the contrary, the explanation given was that her first novel hadn't worked and she needed to rebrand herself. So much the worse if readers are taken for a ride.

With this racist imposture enabled by the publishing world, R. F. Kuang also shows the very fragile position in which the few employees of color of publishing houses find themselves. She shows the fragility of their position and their future, and that it is possible to take this away from them the second they make the choice to stand up against racism and the perpetuation of such behavior. Sadly, however, these "warnings" are rarely heeded, as the publishing world prefers to pat racist authors on the back. And, in the end, the real losers are always the same (people of color). Funny how it's so easy for this white-favored system to take advantage of people of color, their work and their stories, but just as quick for them to abandon them and prevent them from continuing to work in the field the second they show how racist this industry is.

Yellowface is also a breathless thriller: I turned the last few pages at breakneck speed because I wanted to discover the conclusion of June's story. If I had just one "negative" thing to write here, it would be my hint of disappointment with the novel's ending itself. I think I would have liked something more "explosive". But when I think about it, I think it fits June's character perfectly.

Several tiktoks made to promote the book :
- https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJVCc2ey/
- https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJVX2bxp/ (in french)