Real Americans is an intergenerational Chinese-American novel following multiple family members throughout a period of time. The first section is following Lily, a young woman living in New York in the early 2000's. She's not the closest with her parents. She doesn't feel like they understand a lot about her life. She meets a man named Matthew who ends up being everything her and her family are not. His family owns a huge pharmaceutical company that plays a pivotal role in this story. This novel really examines how the choices our ancestors made can still have a lasting impact on our lives today.

I was immediately invested in all of our characters and their stories. I love a family saga spanning years of time. Because every section is told from a different POV you truly feel empathy for everyone and why they made the choices they made. This is probably my favorite book I read in 2023. It was beautiful, captivating, and the most emotional read of the year for me. Rachel Khong has done it again and I know I will pick up everything she writes in the future. She can tell a story about a family like no other. I highly recommend this one!

Having loved Khong's debut work of fiction, Goodbye, Vitamin, I was thrilled to read an early edition of her sophomore novel. Still, I was worried that the shifting time periods and different character points of view would weaken the narrative or feel confusing and/or disruptive. However, Khong manages her characters and pacing in a manner that is laudable. The characters are quirky and interesting, and the focus on epigenitics (a career interest for multiple characters) is handled intelligently yet clearly (and never dry). I even enjoyed the last segment of the book, set in the near future, something I would typically detest. I did wish the book was a bit shorter and that some of the characters had interacted more/sooner but overall this is a fabulous novel that I think will be a favorite of 2024.

There were so many things I enjoyed about this story. The writing is beautiful and its depiction of eros love was written so convincingly it felt like the characters were people I knew and their heartbreak was my own. The story is biting (as most intergenerational cross-cultural tales of trauma tend to be, think Pachinko). It left me feeling deep anguish and bitterness at the characters and the ways that they dealt with the traumas they endured but I think that is the beauty of the novel and it's ability to allow us to feel such empathy around morally gray characters.

I can definitively say I enjoyed the story (albeit reading its entirety in one sitting in the middle of the night due to insomnia), yet there were definitely ways I found myself yearning for more. I think it may have benefitted from being 600-700 pages (as ~400 pages to cover 3 generations felt a bit rushed). One aspect that had initially drawn me to the book was the fact that I, like Lily, was raised by two Chinese immigrant scientists. I ended up finding the book to be less relatable than I expected (perhaps this just speaks to the diversity of the Chinese Am child of scientists experience) but I found myself itching for Lily (and Nick to some degree) to explore more of their Asian Americanness but this moment of catharsis was never reached. In many ways Lily felt underdeveloped, never inching past the stage of racial identity development where one assimilates or shrinks themselves to fit into white society.

The book also touches but doesn't flesh out numerous other topics on race and class such as the WMAF relationship dynamic that Lily (and all of her Asian female friends) is in. This is a topic I find myself thinking about a lot but I think in Lily and Matthew's relationship class seemed to be the main element that was explored (which was often "overshadowed" by their love). I found the theme of epigenetics and eugenics to be an interesting aspect of the story, but more as an element of the story used to exemplify the social construct of race and how people present (rather than anything perhaps super meaningful about class and gene editing for rich tech bros).

REAL AMERICANS is an absolutely fascinating book that I’m still processing. The book is broken into 3 parts, the first being the one that drew me in the most. Lily is an NYU student in the 90s, a Chinese-American who meets a rich White man and falls in love. Seems pretty straightforward at first, but as the book slowly unravels, we realize their families have a secret past who interferes with their life and relationship in ways I would have never guessed.

So, I must say, I was taken by the story but I didn’t love the writing. I think it felt a bit lifeless, and there were some elements of the plot (no spoilers but there is some magical realism that I don’t fully understand) that felt under developed. But using science as a way to dig deeper into the Asian-American experience, and what it means to be a “real american” was interesting and I feel like this book will be highly discussed next year.

i absolutely loved this book. love story, generational trauma and story, the connections made between the characters and family members was brilliant.

Excellent multigenerational family story. It really captured me and held my attention the whole time. I couldn't put it down, highly recommend!

Lily lives in NYC and is feeling very unmoored by her unpaid internship and her lack of career trajectory. When Matthew expresses an interest in her, she feels very inadequate in many ways and initially pushes him away. Eventually, they reconnect and start to form a real relationship. Khong deftly addresses the prevalence of Asian women coupling with Caucasian men - the reasons why and the nuances of these types of relationships. She also illustrates the unique dilemma that Asian-Americans face, not fully belonging in either the US or in China. When Lily visits Beijing, even though her appearance blends in with the crowd, her inability to communicate singles her out as an outsider. The differences in Lily's and Matthew's upbringings and family backgrounds creates a rift, and secrets that have been kept for years threaten to be exposed.

The second section is told from the perspective of Nick, the son of Matthew and Lily, 20 years later. I really enjoyed reading about Nick's friendship with Timothy, and the unbridled love he received from his mother. When he goes to college, he becomes much less likable, letting his anger and resentment take over and making poor choices. His outrage towards his mother and then his father later on seemed very unwarranted and excessive. The part about the Skull and Bones society was also very random - I did not understand the purpose of the organization or the role it played in the story.

The last section shared May's life story and the difficult years in China with Mao in power. We get a much better understanding of why she made the choices she did and how that impacted the lives of Lily and Nick. The story comes full circle and wraps up very nicely.

"Real Americans" is a heart-wrenching and deeply moving portrayal of the immigrant experience. It's a story that resonates with every fiber of my being, as it echoes the struggles and triumphs of my own family's journey to America.

The characters' experiences are so vividly rendered that it feels like looking into a mirror, seeing my own family's story reflected back at me. The pain of leaving behind everything familiar, the struggle to adapt to a new world, and the resilience that comes from within - it's all here, laid bare in these pages.

This book made me cry, it made me laugh, and it made me feel seen in ways that few books ever have. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to heal, to connect, and to remind us that we're not alone in our struggles.

Khong's writing is masterful, weaving together themes of identity, belonging, and family with a deft hand that's both delicate and powerful. The characters are so fully realized that they feel like family, their struggles and triumphs achingly familiar.

"Real Americans" is more than just a book - it's a gift, a reminder, and a tribute to the countless immigrant families who have shaped this country into what it is today. It's a reminder that our stories matter, that our struggles are worth telling, and that our resilience is something to be celebrated.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a must-read for anyone who's ever felt like they don't belong, for anyone who's ever struggled to find their place in the world. It's a book that will break your heart and put it back together again, leaving you forever changed.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and publisher for generously providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

QUICK TAKE: this multigenerational family drama/mystery is so well-done. I honestly couldn't put it down, and the final act is heartbreaking and so emotional. I can't wait to discuss this one with other readers when it publishes in April.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this advanced reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. "Real Americans" delves into a multi-generational family narrative, raising profound questions about the intricate navigation of individual identity amidst challenges such as class, racism, cultural identity, and inheritance. Divided into three parts, the book unfolds through distinct perspectives within the family, inviting readers to ponder profound concepts and engage with thought-provoking questions.

Khong's prose vividly paints a detailed picture, offering a clear window into the characters' inner thoughts. Although the choice to tell the story in three parts adds depth, it does make for an uneven reading experience as there are some stories or characters that will suck you in more than others. For me, May’s story, while I sought that context and closure, it didn’t grip me as much as the first two parts, leaving the book to end on a bit on a lower note. Despite those considerations, the exploration of themes related to inheritance and forging one's path offers compelling food for thought. The author demonstrates a keen understanding of these themes, with well-defined emotions portrayed by the characters. The inclusion of magical realism, while not fully realized, did not significantly detract from the overall reading experience.

In summary, "Real Americans" is a worthwhile read, especially for group discussions, as it provides ample material for unpacking layered themes. Recommended for literary fiction enthusiasts and those drawn to family sagas.

I read 69% of this book, so just over two-thirds of the novel. The first third was really very good, Lily finding her place in the world and finding love with Matthew. The second third, Lily and Matthew's son discovering himself despite never having known his father, was pretty good. The final third seems to skip to the future where Lily's mother is explaining her history in China and how it led to Lily and Matthew's son not knowing his father.

It's kind of an odd set-up for how to tell a story and it's left me not all that interested in the resolution. I loved what I read though, and I only wish the potential had been more fully realized.

I loved the multigenerational and immigrant perspectives of this book! It had a really strong start and middle with Lily’s and Nick’s stories, though the momentum got lost in the end. I thought there would be a more magical aspect to the stopping of time from Lily’s and Nick’s perspective (maybe there was but I missed it in Mei’s story?) The themes of science and ethics were interesting. Overall good story but ending was okay.

This is one of those stories that made me feel lucky to be born where I was. I felt that the beginning of the story was really strong and things started with a bang. It had a lot of depth and there were so many directions that things could go. However, as we got into Nick and Mei’s stories, things fell apart for me a little bit. Nick’s story felt a little disjointed and discombobulated for me. I felt that there was a lot of filler that was included that didn’t really add to the overall plot or give meaning to the story. Mei’s story was good, however I wanted a little more from certain aspects of it, so I don’t think that it was developed enough. I think that this book did highlight the unique and complex tapestry that makes up a family and it was an interesting family saga however things got so speculative and that is where I stopped enjoying.

I do think that this is an interesting read, I just wish that I would have enjoyed it more. I appreciate the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I give this one a strong 3.5 stars from me.

You KNOW a book is going to be good when:
-The editor has a note in the beginning saying they don't have a cover for this one yet but they wanted to send it to ARC readers ASAP because it's so good.
-The person in charge of publicity for the book emails you to tell you about it and says they spent the whole weekend reading it despite it being the weekend of their baby shower.

So, needless to say, expectations were HIGH. But my goodness, they were MET.

Real Americans is the story of family. It splits into three parts: Lily, her mother, May, and Nick, Lily's son.

Lily is a recent graduate living in NYC, unsure of what life holds for her. She struggles with her parents, who are immigrants from China. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life and feels like she is perpetually letting her mother down. When she meets Matthew at a party, she's brought into a world that seems unreal--spontaneous flights to Europe, dazzling parties, more money than she's ever imagined. But when something comes to light that she didn't expect, Lily's life changes immensely, and she must make a decision that affects her entire family.

I loved this book. Every page contained beautiful descriptions and lush prose. I found myself sympathizing with all of the characters, even when they made bad decisions.

Khong did a masterful job of weaving together the complexities of immigration, family, and what we get to choose for ourselves vs. what is chosen for us.

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

This novel is so lovely, and it also feels like three novels in one. The multigenerational story of a family about genetics, love, and ambition. I was hooked from the first chapter onward, and it's the kind of novel I plan to return to again, knowing the characters so well afterward. Gorgeous prose.

I’m a big fan of both multigenerational stories and stories that are written from different perspectives and narratives and I feel like this book did both with grace! I really enjoyed this book and thought it really does have a little of everything and it’s all written really well and keeps you interested the whole time. I felt like it did drag at times, but overall, I thought it was a fantastic read!

Inherited trauma is a popular literary theme as of late. Real Americans explores the idea of inherited drama through three generations of a Chinese-American family. Lily is the daughter of two Chinese scientists who fled China under Mao's rule. Lily's son, third generation Chinese, tries to connect with his father, a wealthy white American. Lily's mother, born in China, deals with choices she made in a communist country she no longer believed in. Kong definitely blends the themes of racial identity and inherited trauma. Humans do not choose their ethnicity or genetic makeup. We are forced to live every day with other people's perceptions of race and culture. Choices of generations before us are in our blood, especially the choices made under circumstances beyond anyone's control. Family shapes our identity as well as our experiences. Real Americans conveys the idea that the past may be our blood, but family is our bones.

Preface: thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC ahead of the release date of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book because I love a multigenerational saga, but I have to give it a 3 star rating because of a few things that fell short for me. The beginning of the story was incredible, I became really invested in Lily’s story and her journey of meeting Matthew and giving birth to Nick. Things took a turn for the worse when bringing in Nick’s and Mei’s stories. Nick’s experiences with Timothy and different girls were overall irrelevant to the plot and his story flattened completely when we get to Mei’s perspective. I enjoyed hearing Mei’s story but I didn’t feel like there was enough discussion on the ethics of what she got involved in, no resolution to the story about Mr. Ping, and generally a lot of plot points left unresolved. I also didn’t like how Lily totally flattened out after her part of the story. I would have liked to see more interweaving of all of the stories and less focus on the in-moment happenings for each character. I would have liked to see more insight into Matthew’s and Otto’s lives. In the end I felt like it was “almost” an amazingly epic multigenerational saga but just felt incomplete and the wrong parts were emphasized. Also, I didn’t understand the “time standing still” trope and maybe I missed it but that, too, felt unresolved.

Overall I love the idea. Some key parts should be reworked to develop some of these great characters more and remove the fluff and unnecessary stuff. Once that’s done, you’ll have a masterpiece!

I greatly enjoyed this multigenerational family story. Rachel Khong has filled it with interesting and thought provoking themes - from biotechnology to race to family and communication and questions of identity. I was invested throughout the novel. I do wish the book had circled back more to the earlier stories of certain characters. It shifts to different narrators and tells of past narrators from the other narrators' perspectives, but I kind of wanted to know more from the original narrators' viewpoints. Yet as a whole, this was a very good read and I am very glad I had the opportunity to read an early copy!

I have mixed feelings on this book but, ultimately, I think it's a solid 4-star read. To me, it read like three separate books and I didn't enjoy them all equally, so that was tough. I LOVED the first section (Lily). And I enjoyed Nick's section enough, but was a bit confused as to why Lily left Matthew in such an extreme way when he apparently didn't have much to do with what happened. That did not seem believable. I wasn't that interested in the final section (May/Mei) because we pretty much already pieced together what happened and this just confirmed it, so it felt a bit repetitive. One plot point that continues to bug me: I thought for sure that the meeting/relationship of Matthew and Lily was arranged, but it doesn't seem that was the case... so we are left to think their first encounter is a coincidence? I also didn't love the magical elements with the seed... too little was said about this so it felt random and underdeveloped. I did enjoy the book as a whole and felt it was a compelling read. It just had some problematic elements. Also, it read a bit long toward the end.