Yellowface

_Yellowface_ is a satirical novel about the complexities of identity, cultural ap-propriation and the dark side of the publishing industry. The story follows June Hayward, a struggling white author who witnesses the sudden death of her former classmate, Athena Liu, a successful Chi-nese-American writer. Seizing the opportunity, June takes home Athena’s unpublished manuscript, a groundbreaking novel about Chinese labourers’ contributions during World War I and eventually passes it off as her own. Under the name Juniper Song, June basks in the glory of her success, but her deception comes at a high cost. June is haunted by Athena’s legacy and the growing suspicions of those around her. Someone is about to expose her. What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault. Kuang’s sharp narrative captured my attention from the very first page and I just couldn’t stop reading. The novel raises important questions about who gets to tell certain stories, and the lengths people will go to achieve success. With its blend of dark humour, suspense and social commentary. Yellowface is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of race, identity and the power dynamics within the literary world.