The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Kuang, R. F. Yellowface. HarperCollins Publishers, 2023.

R. F. Kuang's novel Yellowface is written from the first person point of view of the protagonist June Hayward. The novel is presented in the present tense and takes some liberties with form and structure. The following summary abides by a more linear mode of explanation.

For as long as June Hayward can remember, she has wanted to be a writer. Although her mother does not believe in her and her sister tries to convince her to earn another degree, June does not give up on her dreams. After high school, she begins undergrad at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. During her freshman year, she meets a girl named Athena Liu. Athena lives in June's building and is in some of her courses. After June is raped at a party, Athena seems to be the only person who senses that June is not okay. She therefore comes to like and trust June. Not long later, June is shocked to discover that Athena has used her sexual assault in a short story she published in the literary journal.

Years later, June and Athena are both living in Washington, DC. Although June has published her debut novel, it has not done well. Therefore, she is jealous of Athena, who has achieved the success and fame in the publishing world that June has always wanted.

June and Athena go out one night to celebrate Athena's recent Netflix deal. They are adapting one of her stories. Although June is tired of Athena when they leave the bar, she agrees to accompany her back to her apartment. June is awed by Athena's space and envious of her writing studio and enigmatic writing process. Athena asks June to look at her recently completed manuscript. From a cursory skim, June can tell Athena has written something special. However, she withholds her praise, pretending to be too drunk to read it.

The friends spend the night drinking, laughing, and talking together. For the first time in years, their connection seems authentic. Not long later, however, Athena chokes to death on her food. After the EMTs arrive and before June leaves, she steals Athena's manuscript.

June toys with Athena's draft. The manuscript is about the Chinese Labour Corps during World War I. June manipulates the writing to make the story more accessible and relatable. Her edits also convince her that the pages are as much hers as they are Athena's. She sends the draft to her agent and has a book deal with Eden Press just weeks later.

After the publication of the book, The Last Front, June feels as if she has gotten everything she has ever wanted. However, not long later, a slew of people online start accusing June of whitewashing the Chinese and Chinese American experience and of exploiting these narratives for her own gain. Shortly after this debacle passes, new rumors begin to spread. Twitter users call the authenticity of June's work into question. June soon discovers that Athena's ex Geoff is the one accusing her of plagiarizing Athena. Once she quiets Geoff, the scandal dissipates. However, June has grown so accustomed to the noise and attention, she misses it.

June steals another fragment of Athena's work to publish her next project, Mother Witch. Not long later, a blogger accuses June of plagiarizing yet again. June's entire career and identity feel flimsy and endangered.

Fearing that she will lose her connection with the publishing house, June sets to work on a lightly fictionalized account of her and Athena's story. Although she is excited about the project, Athena's ghost will not leave her alone. She is particularly disturbed by the Instagram account who is pretending to be Athena. June finally contacts the user and agrees to meet up.

Believing that she is conversing with Athena's ghost, June confesses everything. Then an ex-Eden employee named Candice emerges. Candice blames June for losing her job at Eden, and thus has wanted revenge.

Not long later, Candice reveals the truth of June's fraud to the public. Instead of letting Candice win, June decides to challenge Candice's version of reality with her own story. She sets to work on yet another project.