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!

I can’t deny Rachel Khong’s talent— it’s obvious within a few paragraphs of REAL AMERICANS that she can weave an expansive, flowing story, which posits itself neatly in the category of great-American-novel.

In her sophomore release, Khong plays with a quintessential Asian American— “real American” — family narrative spanning three generations and distinct perspectives: Lily, her son, Nico/Nick, and the matriarch, May. In this, Khong deftly illustrates the cyclical nature of trauma as it is passed down from parent to child, as well as the difficulties to break what is essentially like a self-fulfilling prophecy. She questions what is pre-determined versus enacted with agency through each narrator’s ability to stop and start time.

While I enjoyed many elements of this, I can’t help but also wonder on the recent reliance on the White-Man-Asian-Woman pairing that feels excessively prevalent in current Asian America media at this time. Does Khong introduce something new to the conversation? Or is this a rehash of an ongoing tension whose flames are being fanned? I’m not sure, exactly, if I see the value outside of what feels, to me, like a specific gaze which Khong is attempting to engage.

The author grabbed my attention from the first page and had me right through to the last page. Each of the main characters seemed real and their experiences drew me in completely.

You know when you start reading a book and you just know it’s going to be good? And also that it would be a great book club pick?

That’s this book! This was SO good.

This book covers three generations of a family, it jumps from Lily, to her son Nick, and then to his grandmother.

The writing was amazing, I was hooked immediately by the story and all the characters, and the way this ended 🥹.

This will most likely be in my top book list for the year, and I think it would be a great book club pick, so much to discuss!

Thank you @netgalley and @aaknopf for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Goodbye, Vitamin is a favorite book of mine so I was eager to get my hands on Rachel Khong’s newest novel. I adore multigenerational stories. I thought this one was okay. The story is split into three narratives and I wish we would have gotten to come back to some of the characters.

REAL AMERICANS was my first experience with Rachel Khong’s work and it was so good that I’m now a forever fan! (And don’t worry, GOODBYE VITAMIN is now on my list). While it’s literary fiction that’s smart and layered, it’s incredibly readable.

The novel opens with Lily in 1999 — she’s about to graduate from college and is trapped in a cycle of unpaid internships when she meets Matthew, a wealthy heir who becomes enamored by her. They ultimately fall in love and start a family together. Cut to 2021: we meet Nick. He’s 15 years old, living with his single mother Lily. He believes she’s hiding something from him, so he sets off on a quest to find his biological father. In the final chunk of the novel, a third perspective comes in to answer several of the questions that arose in the first two parts.

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a family saga (see my love for books like THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD). I can confidently say that REAL AMERICANS will become one of my new go-to recs in the genre. Khong covers three different generations of one family, and every POV is deeply essential, especially as their narratives peel back each other’s layers. The first two parts of the novel feel very straight-forward, and the third section helps to fill in missing pieces and allows the different narratives to coalesce. Khong explores themes like luck, class, family, and race.

In terms of technique and craft, I’m just gonna say it: Khong is an absolute genius. Although the three-part structure initially feels straightforward, the way she connects them all is masterful. On a sentence level, the writing is mesmerizing. The three different POVs feel distinct and the voices unique, which I’ve come to learn is often hard to pull off. There’s a slight sci-fi/magical realism bent to this book, but it feels very accessible, even for rookies to the genre.

CLEARLY I adored this. 5 shining ⭐️.

"Why did he want a family? He believed it would grant us legitimacy. He believed it would knit us together, make us a real American family."⁣
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Summary⁣
An exhilarating novel of American identity that spans three generations in one family and asks: What makes us who we are? And how inevitable are our futures? ⁣
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Overall I really enjoyed Real Americans. I think it paled in comparison to Goodbye, Vitamin but it was a very different novel so they really shouldn't be compared. I love multigenerational sagas but this one fell short. It is broken down into three sections, one of which felt like a completely separate book even though it was probably my favorite, it just didn't feel cohesive. I still gave it a 3.5/4 because it was still really thought provoking and propulsive -- it just didn't hit that multigenerational magic that would have made it five stars.⁣
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Have you read this? What did you think of the three sections?⁣
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Thank you @netgalley for this free copy in exchange for my honest review.