Yellowface

Oh no, where do I begin. I don't understand the haters, or maybe I just haven't seen what RF Kuang can do yet. First book of hers, went in completely blind.

Thought it'd be a satirical comedy about racism against Asians. The premise is there, but it's more than that. Through the story of a white author plagiarising her Asian friend's manuscript, Kuang lays bare all the quiet, under-the-skin racism that gets felt but rarely named.

What I find interesting is that June Hayward, the main character, is a Yale graduate. Why can't she believe in her own talent? Why does she assume the publishing world only wants "exotic diversity"? She's capable of more than copy editing.

Don't want to give too much away, but RF Kuang is good at pulling you in. The easygoing narrative, the suspense, the constant "what will June do next" kept me hooked the whole way. There's always a glimmer of hope that June might actually get away with it, enjoy the fame and money, before another twist threatens to unravel everything.

Kuang gives a voice to authors who feel boxed in by their identity, pushed toward certain genres, never just writers. It's a real problem, and she doesn't let you forget it.