Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Yellowface

Such a well written book that had me squirming and uncomfortable with how I felt about the characters, situation, context and choices. Was it an easy feel good read? Not at all. Was it meant to be? Not at all, and that’s why it was so good.
Not a full 5* in my opinion because it started to drag a little with repetitiveness towards the end, and
*not a spoiler but if you don’t want to go into the ending with possible preconceived notions stop here*
the direction the penultimate chapter goes in felt oddly out of place and served cliché soap opera vibes that didn’t feel like it matched the caliber of the rest of narrative.
It was, overall though, a memorable read that I think will stick with me for a long time to come.

Content Warnings

navayiota's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Brilliant, like everything else she writes. I felt pulled to continue the story at every second of the day.
Kuang inspires me to write, every word she lays on the page is like a string pulling at my heart, urging me to follow along. Her work makes me believe, for a second, that I too, could create something amazing. And at the same time I feel unbelievably silly and inexperienced. That's all I have to say. A Must-Read.

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nicolinebl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Even nurturing a reading slump and several migraines, I flew through this book. If that doesn't tell you how good and compelling it was, I don't know what will.

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casira's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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miayukino's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Many people can contribute to a conversation, but less can help change it. This book manages to cram so much self awareness, brutal transparency, and incisive depictions of the reality the power of white women’s tears through sharp satire with balance, rage, and eloquence. So good. I’ll have to buy a hard copy.

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soph_mills's review against another edition

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challenging reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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drawahardline's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am really impressed by the art of writing a main character that is so utterly disgusting und racist in her actions and thoughts, and despite all still having enough empathy to paint her out as a main character full of complex insecurities, passions and motives that seem realistic. normally, i despise books in which i hate the main character, yet this one had me really intrigued - by great use of the first-person narrative, rebecca f. kuang amazingly portrays a white role of victim and (sadly) thoughts and entanglements of an average white person in a system that favors exactly that narrative.

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jennifermreads's review against another edition

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challenging reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow. Wow. Wow! I tend to shy away from books that are hyped. They almost never live up to expectations and I end up feeling like a pariah because I do not agree with the masses. With Yellowface, it took an audiobook narrator, Eunice Wong, personally DM’ing me and saying “You should really read this.” to get me to pick up the book. I do not think “loved it” is the correct description. Maybe the words enthralled, intrigued, and captivated do a better job. Regardless of the descriptors, Eunice was right: I needed to read this book!

As a white woman, I am not sure how much value can be put in my thoughts here. But I was fascinated with the dialog on cultural appropriation. As I was listening to the audiobook, I replayed these lines several times: “I think it’s very dangerous to start censoring what authors should and shouldn’t write. … I’d hate to live in a world where we tell people what they should and shouldn’t write based on the color of their skin. I mean, turn what you’re saying around and see how it sounds. Can a Black writer not write a novel with a white protagonist? What about everyone who has written about World War Two, and never lived through it? You can critique a work on the grounds of literary quality, and its representations of history—sure. But I see no reason why I shouldn’t tackle this subject if I’m willing to do the work.” Is there an answer? I think it is a “conversation in progress” and these lines do an excellent job of explaining the dynamic. Yes, I whole-heartedly believe that traditionally underrepresented authors need to be heard and given a spot on the bookstore and library shelves. But to categorically say a story cannot be told unless it is told by an author of the same background as the character(s)? I think that takes representation too far.

I also was especially taken with June’s fall into the social media quagmire. Ah, the pros and cons of putting yourself out there as an author. It pains me to see that social media has become a place where things are said without thinking, without a care as to if a comment or post is factual and with no thought as to how it will affect the subject. Before I post, I try to always think “Would I say this to my grandmother?” and “Am I saying something that is factual or questionable? Am I citing my sources or stating my uncertainty?”

Overall, Yellowface was a book that made me think about so many current topics while I was being thoroughly entertained. June made for one hell-of-a unreliable narrator. I am in awe that I swung back and forth between being categorically, hands-down convinced that “June stole a manuscript” to “Well…maybe she stole the idea?” On finishing the novel, I am still left wondering exactly what I do believe about June’s story. It is rare for me to feel satisfied at the end of a book when so many questions remain. But the story was all about the questions—and pondering the many facets of the answers.

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