Yellowface

Yellowface is a brilliant satire on the publishing industry. It's very meta, RF Kuang is writing in the first person as a white woman who stole her Chinese friend's manuscript. Our main character June flips between victim and perpetrator, ally of diversity and aggrieved white person (Karens have feelings too!). Athena is no saint either and meets her share of posthumous controversy. Throw in social justice warriors and clout-chasing allies to get an unhinged take at cultural appropriation, performative diversity, and racism. At some points it reminded me of real life, but in a much more exaggerated and entertaining way.

Kuang is a master in building up to big scenes, but not everything paid off. I thought Athena's notebooks or Mrs. Liu were going to play a bigger role in the truth coming out. I was also expecting more from the aftermath of Candice's confrontation. There were some parts that felt underutilized or like a loose end that left me wanting more. 

Just in case you need another reason to read this book there's a Babel easter egg.