Yellowface by R. F. Kuang is a satirical literary thriller book about writers, the publishing world and stolen manuscripts. It follows Juniper Hayward, a struggling writer who witnesses her friend, a celebrated author, die and steal her manuscript.
The events that follow are shocking and June’s narration is a chilling, hilarious commentary on her motivations and actions. As June’s success skyrockets, so do the social media comments that pull apart the carefully constructed new image she has created for herself.
Haunted by Athena’s ghost and her own warped guilt, June is on her way to destruction. Dealing with important and prominent themes of cultural appropriation, diversity and racism, Yellowface is fast-paced, entertaining and full of drama.
If you have already picked up this compelling novel then you might be looking for something similar to delve into.
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10 Books To Read After Yellowface
The Other Black Girl, by Zakiya Dalila Harris
The Other Black Girl is a book that follows two young black women navigating the book publishing industry in New York City.
Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant at Wagner Books and is tired of being the only black employee, victim to all sorts of microaggressions. But then, Hazel joins the team and Nella is thrilled to have another black woman who can truly understand her.
But before a true friendship can be struck, Nella is left alone again when Hazel becomes the office darling. Messages left on her desk threaten her career and suddenly, Nella has never felt more unease within her workplace.
If you enjoyed the publishing aspect of Yellowface then this book will be right up your street!
The Subtweet, by Vivek Shraya
The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya is an enticing novel that takes the same themes of social media and the damage it can do to those in reality from books similar to Yellowface.
A wonderful friendship emerges between two music artists when one posts a viral cover of the other’s song. When Rukmini’s cover is a gateway to stardom, Neela’s career plateaus, and she is overwhelmed by jealousy and bitterness.
A single tweet destroys the friendship between the pair and leaves one of their careers in ruins. A thrilling look into female friendships, the music industry and art in the modern age, this book is sure to have something for everyone.
The List, by Yomi Adegoke
A book to read after Yellowface is The List by Yomi Adegoke which explores the nuances of social media and how public knowledge of one’s actions can have devastating effects.
Ola Olajide has the perfect life. She has a successful career as a journalist at Womxxn magazine and in one month, she’ll be getting married to the love of her life. But all this falls apart when The List is published.
The List is a collection of anonymous posts about allegations against members of the public, calling for them to pay for their actions. So, when Ola wakes up and finds her fiancées name on The List, her life falls apart and she knows writing an article won’t solve things for her.
The Guest, by Emma Cline
If you loved Yellowface, then The Guest by Emma Cline should be next on your TBR list! Similar to Kuang’s bestseller, it follows another young woman who pretends to be someone she isn’t for her own ambitions.
Alex has spent the summer staying with an older man on Long Island but after a misstep in her behalf, she is sent from his home only with a train ticket to the city and a water-logged phone.
In her determination to stay on Long Island, Alex floats from home to home, pretending to be someone she isn’t to gain the trust of others.
Alex devastates each place she visits in the week leading up to Labor Day in hopes when she returns to her older man, he will welcome her back.
Romantic Comedy, by Curtis Sittenfeld
Another book that is a hilarious but observant novel about a writer, Romantic Comedy is for readers who love a bit of romcom!
Sally Milz is a comedy sketch writer for a Saturday late-night live comedy show who has sworn off love. The last person she imagined reigniting her love life was the swoon-worthy handsome pop star who is meant to host the latest show.
Sally hits it off with Noah Brewster straight off the bat and they collaborate on sketches one after the other. But why would someone as huge as Noah who is renowned for dating stunning models want her?
Romantic Comedy is an addictive book that explores romance and gender norms in our modern day.
None of This is True, by Lisa Jewell
Alix Summers is a well-known podcaster who ends up finding herself a victim to a true-crime episode-worthy plot. When she meets Josie Fair at the local pub, a woman who is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday, it seems like a happy coincidence.
Then, they bump into each other again outside her children’s school and Josie suggests she might be a good subject for Alix’s podcast.
The more Alix learns about Josie, she begins to realise Josie is hiding something dark and terrifying and somehow, she’s wiggled her way into Alix’s home. So, when Josie goes missing, Alix finds herself and her family in mortal danger.
None of This is True is a fast-paced mystery that is perfect for fans of Yellowface!
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
Similar to Yellowface, this novel by Gabriella Zevin is centred around the friendship of two people with a determination to succeed in their chosen careers and a friendship spanning childhood to adulthood.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow follows Sam and Sadie through their childhood days spent in a hospital games room and the thirty years beyond as they go through college and create their first game and then their own video game company.
But working together isn’t exactly how they imagined and soon cracks begin to form in their friendship until neither are sure they can be made whole again.
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books to read after Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow!
Big Swiss, by Jen Beagin
If you liked Yellowface, then Big Swiss will be right up your street!
Greta is a middle-aged woman who abandons her life to live in a small town where she becomes a transcriber for a sex therapist’s counselling sessions.
Greta becomes obsessed with a woman who she only knows through her initials, FEW, who she names Big Swiss in her head. When Greta meets Big Swiss in a local dog park, an unexpected relationship is born – one that is not entirely honest.
It is something that will change both of their lives… but for the better or worse? This queer literary phenomenon will have readers speeding through the pages.
Already read this? Browse our list of more books similar to Big Swiss!
I Hope This Finds You Well, by Natalie Sue
This hilarious and witty comedy is set in an office environment. I Hope This Finds You Well stars an admin worker who accidentally gains access to her colleague’s private emails and messages and decides to use this knowledge to save her job.
Jolene doesn’t understand how her colleagues don’t understand that when work ends, so do her interactions with them. She vents about her irritations in her emails but changes the text colour to white so no one can see.
Until one day the secret messages are exposed and her punishment is dealt in the form of sensitivity training and strict email restrictions. But when she unexpectedly gains access to everyone’s messages due to an IT mix-up, she can’t resist taking a peek and using the knowledge for her own gain.
This funny debut novel is the perfect book similar to Yellowface which has a more lighthearted tone and content.
Verity, by Colleen Hoover
Lowen Ashleigh, just like Yellowface’s antihero June Hayward, is a struggling writer whose chance at success comes with completing another author’s unfinished manuscript.
Lowen is hired by bestselling author Verity Crawford’s husband, Jeremy, to finish writing the remaining books in her series. Arriving at the Crawford home, Lowen expects to find notes and book outlines but instead finds an unfinished autobiography that recalls the shocking truth behind her daughter’s death.
Lowen begins to have feelings for Jeremy and begins to wonder whether she should reveal this truth to him about his injured wife who he is so devoted to. For if he knew the truth, he could never stay by her side and instead, Lowen could have him to herself.
Pick up Verity by the infamous Colleen Hoover for a book with terrifying twists and turns.
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books similar to Verity!
These books are full of characters making mistakes and getting themselves into sticky, tense situations, whether we like them for it or not. In each of the above novels, you will find characters navigating difficult situations and it is up to you, dear reader, whether you’ll love or hate them for it!
Are you looking for more books like Yellowface? Have any recommendations that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments!
