Yellowface: A Novel

Written by:
R. F. Kuang
Narrated by:
Helen Laser

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
232
Narrator
69
Release Date
May 16, 2023
Duration
8 hours 39 minutes
Summary
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

“Hard to put down, harder to forget.” — Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author

White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel. 

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable. 
Reviews
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Kimberly B.

Hard to stay engaged in the story. Won’t listen to this author again. Loved the narrator, she was the ONLY reason I finished the book.

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Lila S.

A enjoyable thriller you can stop to hear, lots of insight about editors and writers being pressure for another book. The desire of being a best seller book.

Loved it. It was simultaneously entertaining and insightful.

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deszra

RF Kuang has done it again

More than I wanted to read about the world of publishing/cancel culture/cultural appropriation. All very good subjects but it was just on and on and on. The protagonist really became overwhelmed by the whole writing to be successful and popular cycle . This is one of those books that I wish I was reading as a hard copy so I could skim over the protagonist’s times of going down the rabbit holes of social media and her ongoing desperation to be a star in the publishing world

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Daniela A.

Very Millennium problematic. If you are not in that generation might be a hard listen .

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Julia B.

I saw a review about it not being easy to follow, I thought this was super easy to follow for an audiobook. I loved how there was no character that you could get attached to. It was a very interesting story line and I couldn’t put it down

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Kenlyn H.

Average

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Sally M.

Beware that author takes multiple stabs at and insults “Republicans”, anyone who watches Fox News and conservatives generally. Could have told story without the self-righteous preaching. Overall a good tale but overwrought with hand-wringing on cultural appropriation and racism in publishing. Narrator pretty good but… had to read all that angst and did so, with much….angst Won’t purchase any more of this author’s books, having been insulted for my political views.

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Bianca1976

I wasn’t going to read this book because of all the hype but I decided to listen to the audiobook. Wow this was dark but so juicy. Other than the main characters being completely unlikable, the story was really good and super enjoyable. Wasn’t what I was expecting but in really enjoyed it

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Todd N.

Free and easy on the commentary about Yellowface… fun and easy, fun and easy!!

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Andrea R.

One of my favorite books of the year.

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Cindy L.

great, keep up the good work. yellow face has a great intro

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Leslie J.

Great book!

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Connie E.

Boring and annoying

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Laura O.

While satire is not my favorite genre I really enjoyed this book!

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Eileen F.

Funny and well-written. Lots of interesting insight in the publishing industry

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