This book was absolutely sickening in the best way. The actions and inner-monologue of the main character, paired with the building stakes, create constant discomfort and anxiety for the reader.

I skimmed some reviews for this book after reading it, and while I understand the mixed feelings, if you go in expecting a very meta dark satire book with a very unlikable main character and just roll with it, you'll be able to appreciate the story a lot more. If references to real-world companies and social media sites bug you, I don't recommend Yellowface—the author references these companies, platforms, and cultures to weave in commentary on the modern publishing industry. She addresses many aspects of it: "cancel culture," the racism of "token diversity," and the loneliness of the job, to name a few. (The last one there felt very exaggerated for the point of this book; that, or the real world is just very depressing.) If you do enjoy that "meta-ness", or if you're willing to accept it as part of the satire and social commentary (like me), then this book is pretty damn good. R.F. Kuang never disappoints.