Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a novel brimming with potential. I went in blind and, at first, was a little disappointed. It looked like it might be a generic romance where a billionaire inexplicably falls for an intern. Thankfully, it grew into something richer and more satisfying.

Told in three distinct voices, the book spans generations: Lily, the daughter of Chinese immigrants; her son, Nick, who does not look Chinese at all; and Lily’s mother, May, who recounts her harrowing experiences during the Maoist revolution and her journey to America.

Through these perspectives, Khong explores identity, belonging, time, and how much control we truly have over either. The story was immersive, and I found myself pulled into each perspective. Full disclosure, there was a stretch during Nick’s young adulthood where I was ready to throw the book out the window. Khong’s prose is sharp, detailed, and layered, and she ties the narrative threads together in a way that left me satisfied, even if I wished for more.

My critiques: the book gestures toward big ideas but sometimes stops short of fully landing them. The inherent racism within gene editing is explored, but the theme felt somewhat poorly tied into the obviously related narrative arcs. Similarly, a major mystery introduced at the end of Lily’s section is resolved later with very little fanfare, which left the pacing feeling uneven.

And yet, despite these quibbles, I enjoyed this family saga. The characters lingered with me long after finishing, and I think that is the true mark of a story that matters.

While Netgalley provided me with an arc, I purchased the audiobook with my own money so I could get through it. The audiobook was narrated beautifully by Louisa Zhu, Eric Yang, and Eunice Wong.

This multigenerational novel combines the lives of three characters—Lily, her son Nick, and her mother May—to explore identity, class, and the elusive nature of belonging in America. Not only is this an engaging and emotional story, but Khong provides keen insight into the ethics of genetic engineering, immigrant ambition, and the forces that shape us across generations. This book moves between genres on a whim which keeps the reader on their toes but also leads to occasionally losing cohesion of the story. I absolutely loved this book and with a bit tighter storytelling it would have been a 5-star favorite.

I LOVED this book! It was one of my favorites for 2024. I love that the story was told in three distinct parts and I enjoyed all the character's story. I highly recommend this one. The writing was superb!

Rating: 4 ⭐️ - I Liked It

This one has been on my netgalley shelf for SO LONG! I am so happy I finally picked it up! A stellar book club pick & @readwithjenna backlist selection!

❤️ for my LOVERS of dynamic FAMILY dramas, multi-generational stories, multiple POVs, stellar FULL CAST audiobooks, complex THEMES, COMING OF AGE stories

❤️ this story is broken out into three parts - Lily’s story in the early 2000’s, her son Nicks life as a teenager/college students, Lily’s mother May’s story growing up in communist China - while I loved the first two parts, the third felt a little long and slightly disconnected? but I also understand and appreciate its role in the book and themes around race, genetics, class

❤️ I loved all the different layers that made up this book - COMING OF AGE is strong in the first two parts, the themes of RACE, CULTURE, CLASS SYSTEMS, the role of genetics and genetic engineering - lots happening in this complex story!

❤️ I loved this one on AUDIO! It’s definitely the way to go - full cast who executed this brilliantly!

I liked parts of this book, but it was too long. The great mystery/surprise that affects this family is such a minor part of the novel. It has such huge philosophical significance and was only the most minimal of side plots.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This book, told from three POVs from the same family and multiple timelines, was perfect IMO.
The story was captivating , the writing was wonderful, and I did not want it to ever end. I can’t wait to read Rachel Khong’s next book.

Engrossing, well-thought out and compelling characters. I’ll be thinking about this story for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Real Americans by Rachel Khong in exchange for my honest review and opinion. WOW this was an amazing book. Really makes you stop and think and will stay with you long after you finish it. You will find yourself telling all your friends and family to read this the first chance they get.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a multi-generational story that starts in 1999 with Lily Chen, a broke intern in NYC who falls for Matthew, a wealthy guy from a powerful family. Fast forward to 2021, and Lily’s son Nick is a teenager living on a remote island with her. He starts to wonder about his past and sets off to find out who his father is, but the answers aren’t so simple.

I thought this book was incredible. I seriously couldn’t put it down. There’s a kind of mystery running through the whole story that kept me totally hooked. I love books that follow multiple generations. They give such interesting perspective on how families change over time. And there’s even a little bit of magical realism that I wasn’t expecting but really loved. It’s one of those books that makes you think about where you come from and how much that shapes who you are.

Mix one part multigenerational family saga with trauma and magical realism wrapped around an immigration tale adn you have Real Americans. I enjoyed this story and really got into the characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Real Americans is available now.

I loved this. It was told in 3 separate POVs. A grandmother, mother, and son. However, the first story line (lily the mother) was my favorite. I wish I would have been able to see a little bit more with her and Matthew. I always enjoy these family saga books. I really enjoyed the New York vibes. I will be purchasing a copy for my shelf.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The interplay between the generations was great. There was just enough science entwined through the plot -- but not so much that dragged down the book. As a high school teacher, I generally have a pet peeve with books that include the college application process. Author's never seem to understand how it really works. There needs to be a special editorial assistant who reviews any book that includes college applications as a plot device.

An excellent, powerhouse, intergenerational novel about family and secrets! I cannot recommend it enough!

Khong weaves a multigenerational saga that explores identity, immigration, and the hidden choices that shape families. Her prose is spare yet emotionally resonant, pulling the reader through decades with grace. A deeply introspective look at what it means to belong—to a place, a history, and to one another.

I love a good family generational story. Real Americans is exactly that with a dash of magical realism. Told through three different generations of a family, Real Americans examines what people will do for their children and also better lives for themselves. I don't think the magical realism element was essential, but it did help to link some things together throughout the three storylines without the fact they're family. I found Khong's sophomore novel a lot stronger than her debut. She'll be an author I will definitely be reading of more in the future.

I enjoyed this book. It was a great explanation of immigrants and explores the trauma and changes families incur through the generations. I think this is a good read.

This story follow a mother, Lilly, in the 1990s, her son, Nick, in the present day, and the grandmother, May, back in the 1970s/present day.

We are introduced to Lilly when she is a senior in college. She meets Matthew, a man a bit older whose family owns a drug manufacturing empire. The first part of the story is essentially their love story up until Lilly gives birth to Nick.

We then transfer to Nick, who is living with his mother in a remote area in Oregon. We follow Nick as he finishes high school, goes to college, and begins a career.

We finally end with May in 2030. May is telling Nick her life story, starting in China where she studied biology, to her escape to Hong Kong during the Mao era, her marriage to Charles despite loving another, her move to America - becoming employed as a scientist, and the birth of Lilly.

The story is about understanding the choices we make and how they impact our futures. May makes a lot of decisions that lead to the birth of Lilly, and Lilly makes a lot of decisions that impact Nick’s life.

I enjoyed most of the story. I felt Lilly was very selfish and Nick and May’s stories were a bit too long.

Rachel Khong's Real Americans was a treat to read. Having read Khong's Goodbye, Vitamin, I was a bit apprehensive (I found the first one a bit meh). Real Americans tackles issues of race, gender, and class and forces a consideration of what happens when a parent's desire to give the best to their child is pushed to the extreme. Khong's characters are in China, New York, Seattle, San Francisco (among others), but I found the selections in China to be the most informative. Best of all, Khong manages to give her readers a bit of a "happy ending" without it being cheesy.

I don't say "certified page-turner often," but REAL AMERICANS easily earns that distinction. Three generational stories woven into one, characters I still think about months after reading, and stunning prose that balances an intensely immersive story with powerful philosophical questions about fate and the human condition. This one has a permanent spot in my heart.

I'm sorry to report, this book doesn't live up to expectations. The family drama just doesn't really have enough drama. Khong does a lovely job of introducing all teh characters, but I just didn't grow to love or care about them as much as I hoped to. This is perhaps because Khong tried to tackle too much in one book. I would have preferred to read each of their stories separately and a bit more deeply.