If I had a nickel for every novel I’ve read about a failing author who steals a manuscript / plot only to have that bite them in the ass, I’d have two nickels- which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. Thankfully, I consider yellowface to be the better of the two, largely in part because unlike ‘the plot’ it actually had a lot to say.
I say this with no exaggeration, but June has to be one of the most insufferable main characters I have ever had the displeasure of reading monologues from. As RED says in the quotes before the book begins, she’s a “character you’ll love to hate” - an individual so egotistical, self-serving and vile who’s even worse to read about with the knowledge that I have met many white women in modern society that exhibit much of her same behaviour. She is not the Machiavellian type of a racist but rather the type that is implicitly biased and ignorant- the type that sees herself as a victim in every scenario rather ever having the capability to accept she’s wrong. Even in the end she’s scheming and trying to get herself back on the top, blissfully unaware of how royally fucked her entire perception of everything is. She is fascinating, she is humane, and she makes my blood boil. Fun fact, I was reading this in a room with my friend and there were numerous moments where I had to stop and read out paragraphs to her so she understood just how deeply this woman pissed me off