I found this book to be a very enjoyable and unique read. There were complicated stories of love and family embedded across the three different time periods along with themes as wide-ranging as immigration and genetic engineering. I appreciated this narrative that was multi-layered in several ways and really immersed the reader into the lives of the characters at each time period. The one thing I would change about this book was the ending, which I found to be a bit abrupt and unsatisfying. Perhaps that was the point though, and I overall really enjoyed reading this one.

Thanks to Knopf for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

Real Americans follows three generations of a Chinese American family. A mother and daughter as well as the grandson. We see their love lives, their careers and their struggles. Each generation has some strain with the previous one they must confront and find a way to overcome.

I really liked the mix of multi-generational historical fiction with cutting edge science. So many books these days explore the need for belonging that nearly everyone struggles with. In each of these generations, the character we are with is not enough of something (Chinese, American, rich, socially adept etc). The ease with which you could immerse in each generation was really well done, I often struggle with time leaps but the way this was told was really compelling for me. I really cared about each character and was sad when their chapters were over and yet the way the generations are laid out just works so beautifully. It's just a book dripping with the complex realities of humanity and our need to be perfect balanced with the lifelong realization that we are not and will never be.

Okay, this book really wasn’t for me and I am I am going to attempt to explain why in a fair, cohesive way.

1. I felt like the characters were extremely underdeveloped, and a book that is meant to be a multigenerational family story needs fully developed characters. I would be hard pressed to describe any of the main characters beyond a few superficial observations. I felt as if I was kept an arms length away from them, as if they were hiding something from me.
2. This is told in three parts, in three different perspectives, and each part felt like a different genre…which COULD be cool, but these just felt disjointed. It felt as if the author didn’t want to fully commit to anything, resulting in the book feeling all over the place. I also didn’t like that each POV section ended right as something big happened - that ties back into character development. We never see the development because the section ends right when it might happen.
3. There is a really misplaced, underdeveloped aspect of magical realism that really took me out of the story.
4. Lots of telling. Very little showing, very little feeling. Some lovely sentences & observations! But ultimately, I just felt bored and uninvested.

So yeah, this one was just not a good match for me. That’s not to say it’s a bad book, just not one that worked for me.

3.5 multi-layered stars, rounded up to 4
“I didn’t even know what language it was. If I could speak it, I would have asked for her story, and would have listened. Hearing a story – what did it accomplish? Nothing and everything.”

While easy to read, Real Americans is a multi-layered story that dives into eugenics, genetic research, racism, women in science and Asian immigrant stories. It provides many interesting topics for a book discussion, while centering on three generations of a Chinese family now living in the United States.

Part One focuses on Lily, a poor young Chinese American woman in New York City. She falls in love with a rich white man, Matthew, marries and becomes a mom. Her son Nick gets the starring role in Part Two. He grows from a smart teenager to a sometimes-insecure college student to a young man. I thought the grandmother’s (May) story the most interesting, especially her early life in China. Her story fills decades, from desperately poor young girl in China to hard-working driven student to reluctant mother to grandmother. The family dynamics in Real Americans are strong, decisions affecting generations.

If you like books about family relationships, functional and not, you will enjoy Real Americans. For those looking for an exciting plot, look elsewhere. I sometimes grew frustrated at the selfishness in some characters, though Khong did a thorough job of helping the reader understand character’s behavior was linked to their life experiences. If you’re looking for a feel-good, all-will-be-well hopeful book, this isn’t it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Maybe loneliness is in our genetic makeup, though, and no matter what I did, who I met, I would always be alone."

#realamericans has been sitting in my TBR pile for a few months, but when I saw that @readwithjenna has chosen it for her May book, I jumped in. I really liked it. I appreciated the multiple POV (Nick, May and Lily, in that order) and that everything isn't spelled out for the reader. @rrrrrrrachelkhong asks lots of tough questions, and lets us figure out the answers on our own, b/c for each of us, they are different.

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

This book sucked me in right away. Maybe it was the coming of age around the same time as myself, with the turn of the century talk and 911, and the writing kept the story moving along and really only gave you what was needed and not a lot of extra fluff.
When I got to the end of Lily's section, ending on a cliff hanger, I was annoyed that it started over from her son's POV 17 years later, so I knew I wasn't going to find out what happened with her mom. Not long after my frustration I was again sucked into the story. It was predictable enough but at the same time a bit unbelievable with what Nick had and didn't have and what would be hidden from his mom. Again, with a cliff hanger at the end lead into May's story.
I'm not sure the title or the synopsis I read before starting gave me an idea of what to expect. It did give a lot of real examples of where we are today, how we got here, and what to be cautious of when wanting a future for our country and world. The messaging was subtle which I enjoy. Nothing felt forced, the story kept moving. I would and have been recommending this to anyone who loves to read.

I knew I was going to adore this one. Khong has immense talent, I already can’t wait to reread. There were lines SO beautifully written and so poignant. the cycles in this book were magnificent. I could’ve spent infinitely longer with every character, would take full novels about their journeys. in some ways, I feel like we only scratched the surface, something I usually find dissatisfying. but in others, isn’t that the point? To have spent a moment and feeling like the time you have isn’t enough? To want more, to stretch it out, to burrow into every facet of someone’s life? Selfishly, I do want it, to see how Lily and Matthew ended, to hear Nick and Lily reconnect, to know Lily and May’s final conversations. I almost googled Matthew Maier to see what happened to him and Lily, that’s how good this was.

Rachel Khong’s new novel Real Americans is thought-provoking, elegant, compelling, and beautifully written from start to finish. In concise but evocative prose, Khong raises of questions of what makes us who we are—are we defined by identities we choose for ourselves, by our heritage, our DNA, our upbringings, our choices, or some combination? Can we choose our destinies, as individuals, as families, as humanity?

Real Americans is told in three parts: first, Lily, a Chinese-American young woman scraping by in NYC as an unpaid intern at the dawn of the millennium, when she meets and falls for the rich, handsome, and white nephew of the owner of the newspaper where she works. The middle third of the book is in the perspective of her son, Nick, a teenage boy raised by his single, Asian-American mother on a remote island in Washington state. As he moves through adolescence and starts college, he wrestles with and discovers his heritage and his racial identity as a mixed race person. Finally, Lily’s mother Mei completes the book, telling the story of her life as a young scientist during the Chinese Cultural Revolution through her present as an isolated older woman in America, looking back on the choices that defined her life.

I am a big fan of any intergenerational family story, and Khong delivers on the heart and depth that define the format. She also imbues the story with some sci-fi or magical realism elements that deepen and strengthen the important questions at the heart of the book.

In all, this is a terrific read, that fans of Pachinko, Homegoing, Crying in H Mart and more would love. This is a great choice for book clubs and for reading with your family. 5 stars!

I have been waiting for a new Rachel Khong novel since reading Goodbye Vitamin back in 2017. This novel exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I love that it was divided into three parts, but a part of me wanted to follow Lily throughout the entire novel.

An interesting novel, the story represented three generations of an Asian and Asian American family. Lily has always felt she was a disappointment to her scientist mother. When she meets Matthew, a handsome wealthy man, their story begins. Flash forward to their son Nick’s story. Nick also feels like he doesn’t belong, living with his Asian mother yet he is blonde, blue eyed and white. Not knowing who his father is, while Nick embarks in a college tour he also pursues DNA testing to discover his father. The last third of the book details the story of Mei, and her journey from a poor home in China, to university, to America. Estranged from Lily, she never did get the chance to explain herself, yet finds herself close to Nick. I liked the book, and felt the characters were unique and said a lot about class, race and family in America. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Rachel Khong's Real Americans is the story of Lily, a Chinese-American woman living in New York in the early 2000s. Lily graduates college with an art history degree, works as a poor unpaid intern for far too long, and then falls in love with Matthew, whose family is obscenely wealthy in one of those incomprehensible American ways.

Lily struggles with her identity as Chinese-American, as a woman, a professional, and ultimately as a mother. I loved her character so much, (perhaps because I identified with her in many ways), so when Lily starts to learn there may be a connection between her family and her husband Matthew's, I was all in. I was a little sad when the book changes to her son Nick’s perspective, and then ultimately her mother Mei, but I was impressed with the result. Real Americans is ultimately a family saga with some interesting science fiction and magical realism pieces that together provide a reading experience unlike any I've had in some time.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I think Khong is a fantastic writer. Her characters are well-developed and intriguing, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

QOTD: If you could change one thing about your genetic makeup, what would it be? I mean, I won’t get too deep here because, duh, anxiety, but on a surface level, I wish I didn’t sunburn so easily. What a PITA!

Real Americans by Rachel Khong follows three generations of a Chinese-American family across time as they navigate particular time periods within each of their lives. The story is split into three parts and told from the perspectives of each family member - Lily in 1999, her son Nick in 2020 and, finally, her mother Mei in 2030. This was my first novel by Rachel Khong and it was absolutely brilliant. The writing was captivating and deftly addresses many social topics, including the idea of altering our genetic destiny.

A few reviews implied that there was a heavy science aspect to the book, so I thought the material would be challenging for me to understand, but this wasn't the case at all. Instead, I was engaged in the theories that were presented and the perspectives that were shared about fate/destiny or predetermining the outcome of our lives.

Overall, this was a completely engaging and captivating read that I would recommend to readers who enjoy family stories that span generations. Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Well I am loving reading more lit fic this year, but it’s wild how long it takes me to gather my thoughts on the books. I finished this one more than a week ago and I’m still thinking on it — I didn’t like it as much as Goodbye, Vitamin, but I LOVED Vitamin, so that’s not really a fair comparison. This one is a lot wider in scope and more ambitious. I loved each one of the characters and enjoyed spending time in each of their stories. But structurally I struggled a bit as the movement back and forth in time felt a little jerky. The reflections on family and all the complications that come with that will be relatable to everyone, and I loved how the different perspectives shed light on what being an American and an “outsider” meant to each of them. And of course the writing is top-notch.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I devoured this book. I absolutely loved it. The interwoven story narrative is one of my favorite and Rachel Khong has done a tremendous job with this novel.

I am blown away by this book, and I live for this feeling now – having no expectations of going into a book and only being pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous the writing is.

Real Americans is an immersive multi-generational story, and I think it's best to go in blind for the best reading experience. I enjoyed all three parts of this book and couldn't pick a favorite because they all have their place in the story.

This book will definitely be one of my top reads of the year. It was powerful and insightful. The author evoked so many feelings that I, as a reader and a daughter of immigrant parents, can relate to. Real Americans will take you on a ride of emotions and leave you thinking about it long after you finish it.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

For a while I thought I was going to really like this book, but the final third was just…blah.

The story starts with May, and stealing a lotus seed from a library in China, then moves forward to her daughter, Lily. I struggled with Lily, as she was extremely negative and pessimistic for the majority of the book. She meets Matthew, a white man, and though they fall in love, she doesn’t believe he should be with her. Time eventually brings them back together, and this time it sticks and they marry. It is through the birth of their son that Lily learns of some hidden family secrets that change the entire trajectory of not only her life, but also her son’s.

I feel like the final third of the book was confusing and somewhat rushed and just…I don’t even really know how to explain it.

Thank you so much for an advance copy of this book. Lilly is a young woman at the edge of Y2K living in NYC trying to figure out her life. Job, relationships, family. She meets Matthew and its an instant whirlwind love affair that shapes her future for years to come. At the same time she is trying to make sense of her complicated past with her parents...their history, their Western lifestyle, etc. As she digs deeper and deeper after her son is born, she learns more about herself and her parents than she was prepared for. I loved learning about this unsure, insecure Asian girl as she finds her way. Her character was annoying, depressing but still I cared for her and rooted for her to sort things out. This drama kept me turning the pages and I couldn't put this down. Very well written and thoughtful.

This story is told in three parts - Lily; her son, Nick; and her mom, Mei. Lily is a twentysomething at the start of the new millennium working as an intern at a job she hates. She meets Matthew and they begin dating. Eventually they marry and have a baby, Nick.

This book is difficult to review because I don't want to give any of the story away. It was easy to get lost in this book. I wanted to spend time with the characters, especially Lily. She has so much hope for her future and wants to live differently from how her parents raised her. Her mother was very critical and Lily does not feel close to her. Eventually a secret is revealed that makes Lily stop speaking to her mother. The reader is shown how this secret changes her life through the eyes of her son, Nick. Then we are introduced to her mother, Mei, who is now elderly and looking back on her life and her choices.

If you like family dramas, stories told from various points of view, or stories with vague hints of science fiction this is a great book for you! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Rachel Khong's "Real Americans" is a sweeping novel that explores themes of class, race, identity, and the impact of family across generations. Spanning three timelines and narrated by three distinct voices, the novel delves into the lives of a Chinese American family.

Strengths:

Compelling Narrative Structure: The story unfolds through the perspectives of a young Chinese immigrant, her American-born daughter, and her biracial grandson. This structure allows for a nuanced exploration of cultural identity, societal expectations, and the challenges of belonging.
Vivid Characters: Khong crafts characters that feel real and relatable. Their struggles, hopes, and desires resonate with the reader, making for an emotionally engaging experience.
Thought-provoking Themes: The novel tackles big questions about family, heritage, the American Dream, and the role of genetics in shaping who we are. These themes provide ample material for discussion and reflection.
Points to Consider:

Shifting Pacing: The novel is divided into three sections, and some readers might find the pacing uneven. The middle section, focusing on the daughter's story, may feel less developed compared to the other two parts.
Genre Exploration: "Real Americans" blends elements of social realism with a touch of science fiction. This blend may not appeal to everyone, and readers expecting a more traditional narrative style may need to adjust their expectations.
Overall:

"Real Americans" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a rich tapestry of human experience. Khong's beautiful prose and insightful exploration of complex themes make this a rewarding read for those who appreciate character-driven stories with depth and nuance.

Recommendation:

This book would be a great choice for readers who enjoy multigenerational family sagas, stories that explore cultural identity, and novels that tackle big philosophical questions. If you've been a fan of works like "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee or "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi, then "Real Americans" is likely to resonate with you.

Wow, I loved this so much. I loved Rachel Khong's debut, Goodbye Vitamin, so I was so excited to read an arc of her sophomore novel, and she did not disappoint.

This is one of those books that seems simple on the surface, but has so many layers. It's one that I can see myself rereading and gleaning different things each time. A multi-generational story of family, identity, what it means to be "American,"

I was so invested in Lily's story, it did feel jarring when we switched the her son Nick's POV, and then again I was so invested in Nick's POV that it felt jarring when we switched to Lily's mother, Mei's POV. But I think what Khong did with it, for the story, was excellent. The little sci-fi elements also threw me off at first but they came through in the end and again, I think what Khong did with it was incredible.

It's hard to talk about this book without spoilers! Just go read it!