A review by jdamae11
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark funny tense fast-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.5

A thoroughly enjoyable satire that has elicited very strong reactions! Had me laughing out loud at times. This book was so chaotic and absurd, and as someone pretty immersed in online book fandom spaces, the indictment of the publishing industry here was great just given the things we see and hear BIPOC and other marginalized authors go through. Given the recent very public racism-fueled author scandals at the end of this year, I felt like this was another reminder of how this book was so spot on. A truly unlikable and unreliable narrator that made the whole reading experience feel like a trainwreck you can't look away from. I thought this was an incredible portrayal of the way liberal white women be white-womening, the ridiculous lengths they will go to sabotage others who they deem less deserving than them when push comes to shove.