About the book
Yellowface is a 2023 novel by R. F. Kuang. It is a satire of the publishing industry told in the first person by June Hayward, a writer who feels overlooked next to her more successful peer, Athena Liu. The book follows what June does after a shocking event and examines questions of who gets to tell whose stories, how books are marketed and how reputations are made and broken online.
The questions below are grouped by theme. The first sections avoid major spoilers. The final sections do discuss the later part of the book, so they are labeled.
Main characters
- June Hayward. The narrator, an aspiring novelist who has published little and resents others’ success. Much of the book’s tension comes from how much a reader trusts her account.
- Athena Liu. A celebrated young writer and June’s former college acquaintance. She appears mostly through June’s perspective.
- Publishing figures. Editors, agents and marketing staff appear throughout, and are used to show how the industry operates.
- Online communities. Readers, critics and social media users function almost as a character, shaping the story’s reputational stakes.
How long does it take to read?
Reading speed varies a lot, and editions differ, so treat any estimate as rough. Many readers find the book fast-paced because of its short chapters and first-person voice, and it is typically finished in a few days to a couple of weeks by a casual reader. If your group has less time, set a clear midpoint so no one falls behind.
Content notes
The novel includes themes of racism, plagiarism, harassment online and a death. Let members know ahead of time, and remind them that discussion of race and identity should be respectful.
Discussion questions
Opening reactions
- What was your first impression of June as a narrator? Did it change as you read?
- Did you find the book funny, uncomfortable, or both?
- How did the first-person voice affect how much you sympathized with June?
June, Athena and unreliable narration
- June often explains and justifies her choices. Where did you notice the story she tells herself diverging from what she does?
- How does the novel present Athena, given that we mostly see her through June’s eyes? What might we be missing?
- Is June a villain, a victim of a flawed system, or something more complicated?
- Which small moments reveal June’s character most clearly?
Authorship, identity and appropriation
- The book asks who has the right to tell a story. What is your view, and did the novel shift it?
- How does the book treat the difference between inspiration, borrowing and taking?
- How are authors’ identities used in marketing, and what does the novel suggest about the cost of that?
- Does the book offer answers, or does it mainly raise questions?
The publishing industry
- What did the novel make you notice about how books are chosen, packaged and promoted?
- Which industry figures seem most responsible for what happens, and why?
- Do you read differently now when you pick a book because of buzz or an author’s background?
Social media and public opinion
- How does online attention drive the plot? Which moments felt most realistic?
- What does the book say about the speed at which reputations rise and collapse?
- Did you feel pulled to take sides while reading? Who were you rooting for?
Spoiler section: later chapters and the ending
- How did the final stretch of the book land for you? Did it feel earned?
- What does the ending suggest about accountability?
- If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
Before you choose it, you can read our take on whether Yellowface is a good book.
Tips for hosting
- Start with a quick poll: love it, hate it, somewhere between. It sets the tone and shows where the disagreements lie.
- Agree on a spoiler policy, especially for online groups. Our guide to how online book clubs work covers this.
- Because the book touches on identity, invite members to speak from their own reading experience rather than generalizing about groups of people.
- Consider pairing the discussion with a conversation about other recent books that deal with fame and ambition.
What to read next
If your club enjoyed the sharp, discussion-heavy style of this novel, other cluster guides may suit it, such as The Hate U Give for a book that also provokes strong conversation about identity, or Classics for book groups for an older-contrast pick such as Frankenstein or The Picture of Dorian Gray, both of which also deal with ambition and its consequences.