A review by yourbookishbff
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Yellowface is wry social commentary meets laugh-out-loud satire meets genuine horror with a psychotic break thrown in for good measure. I loved it. For bookish folks who enjoy sardonic commentary on the publishing industry, this is a book to be inhaled - all the little sly digs at various media personalities, authors and other public figures made every page feel like a new reveal. I particularly loved the use of an unreliable first-person narrator and the complexity in how both June and Athena are fleshed out for the reader. Kuang resists easy stereotypes (except where they're impossible to avoid, because white women certainly aren't unpredictable) and constantly rides the edge between just right and too far, making even the most absurd moments feel believable. If you love a slow descent into madness that excoriates book publishing, white feminism and Western media more broadly, Yellowface is an excellent read. 
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