The cover of the novel Yellowface was no mistake. Against the plain mustard background, two human-sized eyes face the reader, foreshadowing the content. June Hayward, plain and white, is casual friends with the beautiful and Asian Athena Liu. They are both authors – though Athena has seen bright success and June has seen none. One night over drinks, Athena dies suddenly in front of June, leaving a first draft of her latest manuscript sitting on her desk. June calls 911, but not before stuffing the manuscript in her bag.

June struggles to come to terms with her theft, appropriation, plagiarism, and jealousy.