Wow! Yellowface is a dark satire that takes an uncomfortable look at who gets to tell which stories, how the publishing industry rewards certain narratives, and the psychological unraveling that happens when ambition outruns integrity. When June (“Juniper Song”), a struggling white writer steals the manuscript of rising Asian American star Athena Liu, she is pulled into a spiral of self‑justification, online scrutiny, and identity confusion. I love a book that makes you think and challenges your own perceptions. Yellowface definitely accomplishes that goal.

Identity and cultural appropriation are the main themes presented in Yellowface. June’s stealing of Athena’s manuscript and passing it off as hers exposes how easily cultural appropriation can be rewarded when publishers value optics over authenticity. Treating marginalized stories as commodities rather than lived experiences. I would add that Candice’s point at the end– that marginalized authors get pigeonholed and are only “permitted” to write niche books – was a valid one.

I was also intrigued by the portrayal of publishing’s dark workings — its competitiveness, its obsession with “marketable diversity,” and its willingness to elevate the wrong people if it serves a narrative. Publishing becomes as a place where talent, ethics, and representation are often secondary to branding and controversy.

Kuang’s talent showed in that she crafted two wholly unlikable characters that pulled you into the story. I found myself both hating and sympathizing with these characters at various points in the story which felt entirely odd. And I'm always interested in studying the psychological reasons behind characters' actions which is what we get in spades in this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book (even the parts that seemed to drag). I don't think my review does this book justice because I'm still processing.