Yellowface — R. F. Kuang

Summary

"Yellowface" by R. F. Kuang is a novel that delves into themes of racial diversity and appropriation within the publishing industry, blending satire and metafiction with social media elements, particularly Twitter. The story includes:

• June Hayward, an unsuccessful author, feels intense jealousy towards her more successful friend, Athena Liu, a celebrated Chinese-American author.
• After Athena's accidental death, June seizes Athena's unfinished manuscript about Chinese laborers in World War I, edits it, and publishes it under her own name, using a pseudonym.
• June faces allegations of cultural appropriation and plagiarism, but the book, titled "The Last Front," becomes a hit.
• Accusations of plagiarism escalate, particularly on Twitter, but June manages to quash these accusations temporarily.
• A new scandal arises when June publishes a novella using another piece of Athena's work, causing further outrage.
• June's career spirals downwards, leading to a physical confrontation with Candice, who exposes June's actions.
• In the aftermath, June plans to write a pseudo-autobiographical account of her relationship with Athena, intending to use her white privilege to regain public sympathy and redeem her image.