This novel covers 50 years in the lives of three generations. It begins with Lily, a first-generation Chinese American who meets her future husband, Matthew. Lily soon becomes aware that Matthew comes from a very wealthy family, unlike Lily.

Part 2 is narrated by Nick, the son of Matthew and Lily who is living his single mother in very remote part of the US. The third part is the story of May, Lily's mother who immigrated from China with her husband and Lily's father. May is a scientist working in a laboratory alongside Charles on break-through discoveries that may or may not enhance life and genetics.

I didn't love each character's parts equally, but each part contributed to more understand of the other two points of view.
The book was well written, and I will definitely read more of her works!

I received Real Americans as an ARC through Netgalley. I enjoyed the magical realism mixed in the historical fiction of the rise of Mao. Following May's family through the decades really showed the hardship and difficulties it took to physically and mentally escape communist China. Rachel Khong did a masterful job of weaving all the characters lives together and I enjoyed all the different perspectives.

The way this tied together! I loved a multigenerational story and this did not disappoint. This book has stuck with me long after reading it - I'm still mulling over the ways our decisions impact those of our descendants. I loved that none of these characters were perfect but I was rooting for all of them just the same.

I ended up eventually listening to this, which was a good choice - the narrators were very good. I loved the story and the way it spanned generations.

Not as good as I was hoping for but I still enjoyed my time with these characters. I don’t think I read enough fiction about Asian characters.

This was the first book that I have ever read by Rachel Khong. I was not sure going into this book how I feel about it. I enjoy the storytelling aspect. The story follows three characters who are related and their story in different decades of time. It is a story of the grandmother, daughter and grandson. The grandmother story, which is the last of the one that I love the most. It is the story that I wanted more of and connected the most with. I thought it was genius that the author saved it until last because it ties all the other pieces together and made me rethink my earlier character trait boxes I had put certain characters in based on their actions at different times. Reading thsisbstoey created empathy when I didn't see it coming. I look forward to future book from this author. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read the ARC of this book.

One of my favorite book s of the year. I wish I had read it earlier. It was outstanding. I thought it might be stuff and important, but it was nothing like that. Pick it up!

One of my favorite books of 2024! I really enjoyed how it spans a long period of time and the character development. It is character driven but with a plot which I really enjoy.

I didn't finish this one. It dragged and I had some issues with the plot and pacing. I can definitely understand why others would love this one, but it personally wasn't for me. I'd definitely try the author's future books though.

On a roll with the reading so far this year. My first weekly challenge prompt is ‘Something You Meant to Read in 2024’. I was 70% of the way through Real Americans, so I finished it. While it was interesting and well-written, for some reason it didn’t make me ‘feel’ anything so I can only give it a 3.75. It didn’t make me think, so there’s that, but I really prefer a feeling book or one that can do both! This one has 3 timelines and is multi-generational. I had a little trouble with the skipping timelines…just as I got to know one character, we switched to her mother or son. Most of the names were English (though this is the story of a Chinese family) but I still had trouble remembering who was who…which tells me that the characters weren’t as vivid as I would have liked. The ending is satisfying and the science thought-provoking. I guess I just like my family sagas to be a bit more on the emotive side! No regrets about reading it. If you can enjoy a mg family saga without ‘all the feels,’ I highly recommend this one!

This is like 3 separate books. The first is a bit of a romance novel with Lily. The second is a sort of coming of age tale about Nick. The third is the backstory by May. There are twists of sci-fi and historical fiction in this as well.

I was excited to read this one after seeing it named a Read with Jenna pick!

An wonderful story tackling subjects such as family, culture, privilege, race, and identity. There are three parts that almost feel like three short stories, but they somehow ended up coming together at the end.

Thanks so much for the digital copy of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so wonderful -- I loved Goodbye Vitamin too, but she really leveled up in terms of a complicated plot with this one. Glad to see it's been such a success.

I was eager to read Real Americans by Rachel Khong, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The first and last thirds of the book were strong, drawing me in with their engaging storytelling and emotional depth. However, the middle section felt like it lost focus and didn’t resonate as much as I’d hoped.

There’s a touch of magical realism woven into the narrative, but not overwhelmingly so, which I appreciated. Perhaps I had hyped it up too much going in, and that heightened anticipation left me more critical of its weaker moments. This sometimes happens with celebrity book club titles because there’s so much buzz around them, and it can set expectations sky-high.

That said, I’m glad I gave it a chance. Real Americans has moments of real insight and beauty, and for readers who love Rachel Khong’s unique voice or enjoy thought-provoking stories with a touch of magical realism, it may still resonate. It’s not a perfect read, but it offers enough to make it worth checking out!

Thank you to Knopf for my free review copy.

A unique, almost magical realism take on a generational story. I had high hopes for this one given all the acclaim but something about the pacing and style prevented me from ever getting hooked. I’m happy I read it and see how well-researched and well-written the text truly is.

An interesting story that tackles many subjects including family, culture, privilege, race, and identity. The story has three parts that almost felt like three short stories yet come together at the very end. The family dynamics between all the characters were quite interesting and enjoyed the drama as well as look into how parents shape and affect the lives of their children. The first two stories are coming of age stories in a way following Lily and Nick who both seek to find meaning and identity and navigate cultural norms as well as fraught relationships with their parents. I found Nick's story the most compelling. Lastly, I found the addition of biology and genetics a fascinating aspect to the storyline. Enjoyable read but felt as if it took on too much.

Rachel Khong wowed me with her debut, Goodbye, Vitamin. I had hoped to be as enraptured by this intergenerational family drama, which promised a story sweeping decades and continents, unearthing the complexities of one family's rich identity and history.


The story strongly opens in 1999 with Lily, a 22-year-old Chinese American trying to find her footing in New York City. Her romance with the dazzlingly wealthy Matthew seems like the stuff of dreams, complete with a first date that ends in a spontaneous trip to Paris.


Khong masterfully threads their relationship with a palpable imbalance, hinting at deeper rifts beneath their glittering veneer as this relationship progresses. Dinner scenes, for example, are racially charged as Lily questions her place in a world of ultra-wealthy white people who seem to use Asian women as props in their lives.


The narrative then leaps forward to 2021, centering on their teenage son, Nick, who navigates a fractured family history in which his mixed race makes it difficult to connect to either side of his family, especially as his appearance aligns closest with his absent white father. Disconnected from his roots, Nick's quest for belonging pulls him westward to San Francisco, where a chance encounter with his grandmother, Mei, unlocks a new layer of understanding to his heritage.


Mei's 1960s narrative, set in the third section, takes readers to the politically volatile atmosphere of China's Cultural Revolution, showcasing the sacrifices made for her descendants' struggles in America. In this section, Khong throws in some magical realism and a light science fiction bend to her story, taking it in sometimes surprising and unusual directions.

If all that sounds overwhelming, it was. It was a kitchen sink of a book filled with many themes that aren't always fully fleshed out for the reader, keeping me at arm's length for much of the 416-page narrative. I had hoped to see this on my best books of the year list, but the pacing felt uneven. There were moments I loved and moments that slogged. It felt like I was reading three different books, and the sections never fully came together as I had hoped.

I'm not sure who to recommend this novel to except those who appreciate Khong's perceptive prose, knowing this novel might not deliver a cohesive reading experience. Ultimately, I'm glad I read it, even if it didn't reach the heights I expected.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a beautifully written, poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience in America. Through sharp, heartfelt prose, Khong delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the search for meaning in a fractured society. As a Read with Jenna pick, this novel’s introspective narrative and emotional depth make it a thought-provoking and memorable read.

I like the first third and the last third. The middle kind of missed the mark for me. There was a little bit of magical realism, but not too much. Overall it missed the mark and I think I was maybe just hyping it up too much.

Sparks fly and lives change drastically when Lily and Matthew meet and fall in love in Real Americans by Rachel Khong. What starts off as a love story on the brink of Y2K becomes a sweeping saga, involving three different lives all intersected with one another during different time periods. As different as Lily and Matthew are, they're drawn to each other. Years later, you meet their teenage son Nick and wonder what happened to divide the star-crossed lovers and why Nick embarks on a quest to find his father.

This book took me by surprise. It sounded intriguing in Nick's search for his father and why his parents parted, but it goes much further than this simpler plot. There are secrets to uncover and life-changing scenarios that irrevocably change the dynamics of families that once seemed unbreakable. Some events arise that will cause you to pause and reflect on what's happening.

I felt that the emotions of the characters were so well-rendered. You understand why they make the choices they make but also cannot understand why they couldn't take an opposite path. In fact, you may deeply wonder what could have happened if they switched gears and opted for the alternative. Three different characters lay out the events that took place years before Lily and Matthew meet. Some of which could seem implausible but makes so much sense when you read the story. I like how you receive wildly diverse perspectives to fully understand the meat of the book.

While some aspects of the novel may feel like science fiction and/or magical thinking, that's not what the book is about, and it shouldn't dissuade you from reading this book. It's more of a family drama but done in such a unique way. You can fully believe all of these events could happen, so you get carried along as you read every page.

The ending totally satisfied me with being a very simple yet profound close to the book. I liked this book enough that I really want to read the author's previous novel. The characters resonated with me despite the fact that most of the events do not reflect my own life. Each character receives enough attention that you understand them while not exactly agreeing with the choices they make. So many of the parts of the novel will make you think and feel and wonder, and I really loved it.