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A review by kassielovestoread
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was certainly a rollercoaster of a read! The lengths that June would reach to get the fame, notoriety, financial and blockbuster successes she desperately yearned for was both absurd and yet completely grounded in truth/reality. And I know this to be especially true because on any given day, I will learn about the most horrific publishing drama and it is always on (or very close to) the same level of June's crimes! Now I'll always compare it to this book- and how many authors could really stand to learn a thing or two about this story.
What I found particularly engrossing about this novel is that June is not meant to be a likable character, you should NOT root for this girl to win. She is not deserving of a HEA or a redemption arc in the slightest. It's like stopping your commute to watch a fight happen; you can't look away from June, you just have to see how it'll play out! The reader can feel deep in their bones how true that is; even when faced with multiple opportunities to tell the truth and make the horrible situation better, June viciously defends her right to be a plagiarist and will jump through multiple hoops to be deserving of her place in the industry. It's astounding but again, this is rooted in personal knowledge of how these people work and the author more than exemplifies that. June makes no earnest apologies and will emotionally manipulate the memory of Athena to serve her interests. June is a straight up villain, through and through.
If you wanted to watch a movie with a similar plot, check out Not Okay! I kept referencing this movie throughout this novel and I wanted to share that in this review. This book was very good and extremely thought provoking. I'd say this is most certainly a must read for EVERYONE!
What I found particularly engrossing about this novel is that June is not meant to be a likable character, you should NOT root for this girl to win. She is not deserving of a HEA or a redemption arc in the slightest. It's like stopping your commute to watch a fight happen; you can't look away from June, you just have to see how it'll play out! The reader can feel deep in their bones how true that is; even when faced with multiple opportunities to tell the truth and make the horrible situation better, June viciously defends her right to be a plagiarist and will jump through multiple hoops to be deserving of her place in the industry. It's astounding but again, this is rooted in personal knowledge of how these people work and the author more than exemplifies that. June makes no earnest apologies and will emotionally manipulate the memory of Athena to serve her interests. June is a straight up villain, through and through.
If you wanted to watch a movie with a similar plot, check out Not Okay! I kept referencing this movie throughout this novel and I wanted to share that in this review. This book was very good and extremely thought provoking. I'd say this is most certainly a must read for EVERYONE!