The word “Yellowface” is rooted in the practice of white actors changing their appearance to imitate East Asian features. In Hollywood there is a history of white actors telling stories from other cultures, manipulating the context to create something that is more easily digestible to their audience. A similar situation is depicted in the novel, “Yellowface” by R.F Kuang. This satirical thriller explores the ethical complexities of storytelling and the consequences that come from deceit as it delves into the darker side of the publishing industry.

June Hayward and Athena Liu were best friends. They bonded over their shared love of writing and ambitious goals for success. But while Athena became critically acclaimed and established her place as a literary darling in the publishing industry, June stayed unknown. She faded into the background, watching with envy as Athena only grew in popularity. June fantasizes about becoming Athena, taking her place in the spotlight. She says she has a “bizarre urge to stick my fingers in her berry-red-painted mouth and rip her face apart, to neatly peel her skin off her body like an orange and zip it up over myself.”(Kuang, 3). June feels as though Athena's role as an Asian American plays a role in her success. After all, who would want more stories written by a white woman? Her chance comes when Athena dies in a tragic accident, leaving June the perfect opportunity to steal her unpublished manuscript. She edits her dead friend's words, manipulating the storyline to better suit her tastes, then sends it to her editor passing the work off as her own. In just a few days June Hayward become Juniper Song. An ambiguous ethnic woman who is sharing an untold story. But as her career progresses, June gets further entangled in her web of lies, facing the ethical repercussions of her actions.

Every word on every page had me guessing its truth. June narrates the story in a paranoid manner, and it is easy to see how over time she succumbed to her guilt. It was interesting how she kept trying to prove her innocence, either trying to convince the reader or more likely, herself. If readers aren’t attentive to certain dog whistles of white ideologies, they might also agree with some points June presents as she persuades the reader to come onto her side. Although June was presented as a terrible person, she wasn’t the only one who was flawed. It is shown that throughout the book, the people around her feed into her delusions. Due to her fame, she was able to get away with a lot. After all, she was making a lot of money for her firm. They allowed her to continue her bigotry, not realizing the damage she was causing all for the sake of money. The people supporting her decisions were in the wrong as much as June was.

There have been arguments that Athena stole from June as well, taking her traumatic story and profiting off it. So what makes June's actions any different? The difference lies in the experience. Athena stole a story that she could’ve experienced as well. June stole something that she could never experience, therefore not only did she take Athena's story, but she also took from the culture itself. Furthermore, June rewrote the story in a way that made her more comfortable. She didn’t accurately portray the truth. Instead, due to her editing, she spread false information and downplayed the severity of the situation. Her stubbornness and pride made her refuse a sensitivity reader, which incriminated her even more. 

“Yellowface” is more than just a well-composed novel. It is a mirror held up to the literary world, reflecting the current issues that are widely ignored by society. It shines a light on our struggles with authenticity and identity, showing us just how flawed the industry can be. This satirical masterpiece will resonate with readers even after the last word is read and the book is put down. It serves as a reminder of the complexities in the art of writing, and the ethical concerns with storytelling.