I received a copy of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever I am about to pick up a R.F. Kuang book, I know that I need to be emotionally, mentally, and physically ready. Each and every time, I am thrown into an immersive world created by R.F. Kuang - filled with characters that have so much depth and humanity. The stories pull me in, latch on, and then refuse to let me go until the end. Sometimes, not even after the story has technically finished on the pages as it continues to linger in my mind.

In Yellowface, we are introduced to two writers - June and Athena. The two started together but before they knew it, their writing careers went on two different trajectories. While Athena rose as the the darling of the literary world, June is struggling to even hold on to her publishers' interests in her books. When Athena suddenly dies, June finds Athena's unpublished work in her hands - and with some tweaks here and there - decides to publish it. For the world, for Athena, and maybe for herself as well. Suddenly, attention that she never got is being directed her way and before June realizes it, she is tangled in a web of her own lies trying to maintain her new image. 

Having June as the unreliable narrator is such a trip for the reader. I found myself nodding along - like yes I can see why you would think that - while simultaneously wanting to strangle something (not someone as we are not murderous over here) because how can June even justify her decisions and actions in the way that she does? The story and narration was, at once, perfection, frustration, and completely engrossing. 

Once again, R.F. Kuang has done it again. And if you came upon this review, and still haven't read any of her books - who are you? How are you even following and reading my reviews - of which I have reviewed all of R.F. Kuang's books - and still haven't picked up her books? Go read all her books even if they are the only books you ever read.