annabananadel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic. Writing is creating something out of nothing, is opening doors to other lands. Writing gives you power to shape your own world when the real one hurts too much.
Okay, hear me out. I’m probably not their target reader especially since I’ve been just reading romance nonstop - hence, my rating. I can see why it’s a cult favorite recently but it just didn’t appeal to me as much as it did for other people - BUT, a big but there, I actually enjoyed reading through it eventhough it took me some time. I don’t know what’s up but whenever I read thrillers, there’s usually a writer involved. But this one is a big writer story because it’s how Yellowface came to be, maybe?
I love how R. F. Kuang told June’s story and how she let us dive into her mind throughout the whole story - from her friendship with Athena, her writing process in how she evolved Athena’s story, to how it went downhill for her. It’s actually intense the last few chapters where you’re actually feeling the craziness coming out from the book to real life because she wrote it in a way that you’re going thru it with June. It’s actually mesmerizing just thinking about it. Just the story for me is what let me down a bit or maybe okay, thinking about it now while writing this review, it made me think how we’re in a villain FMC. I just didn’t know it was a thing before this book. Plus points for that. I guess that’s why I’m actually hating June more than any FMC I’ve ever read.
Made me want to read more R. F. Kuang books, tbh. And actually writing this review + thoughts about buying more of her books, made me feel like one of those people online June is reading about…
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Rape
Minor: Islamophobia and Suicidal thoughts
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and War
butlerebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
scruffie's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
choicepotatoes_20231023's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
---
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death and Racism
Minor: Rape, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and War
emfass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
We are trapped in June's head for first-person present-tense narration the whole way through, and sometimes it's hard to breathe in there. She is a decidedly unlikable character, and hearing her inner thoughts as the majority of the storytelling we get was both fascinating and horrifying, but it was hard to look away. I kept wondering how this white woman was going to get her comeuppance after stealing her recently-dead Chinese-American friend's story about Chinese laborers in World War I and passing it off as her own. She twists herself into the knots justifying her actions, and only doubles down harder whenever someone gets close to the truth.
Kuang uses June-as-narrator to deftly point to injustices in the publishing industry and everyday racism of white people/white women who think they are owed something and feel indignant at the rise of BIPOC voices being given space to tell their own stories. There are also examinations of cancel culture and different forms that revenge can take.
I was rather bothered at how alone June was throughout the story. She has no friends, she has family members she briefly visits with on page but I didn't think it was clear why she didn't have a deeper relationship with her sister, at least. It makes it easier to understand her actions when she has literally no one to talk to, but...it also seemed like rather extreme circumstances.
Helen Laser did a truly fantastic job as the audiobook narrator.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
hue's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was, however, dissatisfied with the ending. It came too abruptly, almost hurriedly. I wished for a more "tying frayed ends together" sort of ending.
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Author: R.F. Kuang
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 25, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Icky • Juicy • Insightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Athena Liu is a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories by basic white girls anyway?
But now Athena is dead. And June has her unfinished manuscript...
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd added Yellowface to my list of possible 2023 releases to explore after attending an online event with the author. The premise had me apprehensive, yet the author did a fantastic job selling me, so when it became available as a 'quick read' through my library I scooped it up.
The fact satirical stories are not my thing is something I knew going in, and yet I picked it up anyways. Another thing I don't care for are stories centered around social media and cancel culture, both of which are central here. So it's clear this novel was not meant for me.
With that said, Kuang's writing is incredible. She delivers a no holds barred account of the ins and outs of the publishing industry - a bold move that paid off. While not for me, I understand all of the love it is receiving. What this book does really well is give readers lots to think about, making it a fantastic book club selection, sure to spark interesting and engaging discussion.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for something fast-paced
• fans of the unlikeable narrator
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic."
"Reading lets us live in someone else’s shoes. Literature builds bridges; it makes our world larger, not smaller."
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Classism, and Islamophobia