The No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling book from literary sensation R.F. Kuang ‘A riot’ PANDORA SYKES ‘Razor-sharp’ TIME ‘A wild ride’ STYLIST ‘Darkly comic’ GQ ‘Satirical and humorous’ COSMOPOLITAN ‘Unforgettable’ WOMAN & HOME Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody. White lies When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song. Dark humour But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves. Deadly consequences… What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault. R.F. Kuang’s book ‘Yellowface’ was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 04-06-23 R.F. Kuang’s book ‘Yellowface’ was a #5 New York Times bestseller w/c 04-06-23 R.F. Kuang's book 'Babel' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 09-01-2023.
I loved the way the author writes her prose is sharp and engaging. She powerfully captures the racism embedded in the publishing industry and how difficult it is for POC writers to break in, let alone be truly heard. The themes of cultural appropriation and the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression are explored with nuance and boldness.
The dynamic between the two women each from different racial backgrounds was especially compelling. Their relationship felt tense, complex, and deeply rooted in unspoken histories and power imbalances. Kuang also touches on feminism, generational trauma, and the aftermath of war, layering the narrative with rich social commentary.
The ending felt somewhat flat, but I understand its intent. It reflects the messy reality of these issues unfinished, unresolved, and uncomfortable. (3.5)
Intriguing story, easy to read, loved the racism-reverse racism commentary and a peek into the publishing industry and really gripping at the end! 3.8 star