Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang
Whenever I mention Asian literature, this title comes up. It is one of those books that crossed over from the lit world into wider conversations, partly because of the story and partly because of what it says about publishing itself.
What It’s About
June Hayward has always been the friend in the background. When her more successful friend Athena Liu dies suddenly, June takes her unpublished manuscript and publishes it under her own name. The fallout is about more than theft. It is about race, who gets to tell certain stories, and how the industry rewards the image it wants to see. Who has to stay in their lane and which lane that is.
What Stuck With Me
The voice. June is insecure, angry, and sometimes almost funny in her delusion. Reading her thoughts felt uncomfortably real. The way she justifies herself sounded like conversations I have actually heard. That made it sharper than a thriller. It was satire that cut close to the bone.
What stayed with me was how easy it was to believe. The publishing industry’s response felt exaggerated and true at the same time. That balance is what made the book work for me.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, though not to everyone. If you want a fast twisty plot, you might be frustrated. If you are interested in publishing, identity, and the question of who gets to tell what story, it will pull you in.
Where to find:
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Available on Amazon or Bookshop.org. First time on Bookshop.org? Click here for a discount code.
Read this if you liked:
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee — ambition, identity, and the cost of trying to belong
Severance by Ling Ma — biting satire of capitalism and cultural collapse with a sharp narrative voice
Set the Mood for Yellowface
Sleek coffee press — for long nights of writing or rewriting
Aesthetic annotation kit — tabs, pens, and sticky notes for marking the messy truths
Soft oversized hoodie — comfort wear when the internet is not on your side
Sharp citrus candle — clean, cutting, impossible to ignore
Looking for your next read?
My Asian Era is where literature meets culture through thoughtful reviews, quiet voices, and stories worth slowing down for.
