Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Juniper Hayward Made Me Furious – And That’s Why Yellowface Is Brilliant

Reading Yellowface left me angry, flabbergasted, and deeply uncomfortable — and that’s exactly what makes it a masterpiece.

R.F. Kuang doesn’t just write a story; she holds up a mirror to the publishing industry, white privilege, and the twisted ways people justify their entitlement. Juniper Hayward, the main character, is one of the most insufferable, believable narrators I’ve ever read. And I don’t mean that in a negative way — I mean she’s written so well, it’s disturbing.

There are probably readers out there who sympathize with Juniper, and honestly, that’s what makes this book so haunting. Kuang shows us how easy it is for people like Juniper — white, ambitious, and self-absorbed — to twist narratives to center themselves while erasing others. She constantly ignores context, history, and other people's valid emotions. She steals, gaslights, and frames herself as the victim every step of the way.

One line that especially got under my skin: when Juniper tries to suggest her theft was a kind of reparations. Reparations?! Girl, you are white. How detached from reality do you have to be?

And when white supremacist groups began siding with her, instead of reevaluating her position, Juniper just… shrugs. She claims not to agree with their ideology, yet willingly accepts their support — completely blind (or willfully ignorant) to the hypocrisy. It’s so real it’s nauseating.

This book doesn't just tell a story — it calls out the real-world dynamics that let people like Juniper thrive. It made me furious not just at her, but at the publishing industry itself. Especially given what we’re seeing now — like the “Australian influencer with no writing experience landing a 2-book traditional deal” — Yellowface feels more relevant than ever.

If you’re looking for a thought-provoking, rage-inducing, brilliantly crafted read, Yellowface is it. Kuang didn’t just write a novel — she lit a fire.