Lily Chen falls in love when she’s a student and becomes a single parent. When her son Nick is a teen, he decides he wants to find his father and learn about his heritage, which his mother has kept secret. Mei, Lily’s mother, came to America as an immigrant. Her story of surviving the Chinese Civil War is powerful and reminiscent of the nonfiction book Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden by Zhuqing Li. The details of her life in China are fascinating and her escape from oppression is riveting. It’s her relationship with her daughter that comes across as strained and complicated, but without much explanation. Mei’s background includes other missing details that cloud her story.

Nick’s quest is relatable as it deals with a young man yearning to learn about his biological father. But once again, there’s a lack of rationale concerning Lily’s reluctance to share any details with her son. There are other instances of Khong’s failure to flesh out reasoning behind actions plus sudden changing alliances. Nick’s relationships switch back and forth with little explanation.

What could have been a powerful story ends up weakened by the absence of justification for actions and grudges. The title implies the story is about what it means to be a real American. Either it failed to deliver on that issue or was too obscured for the point to be clearly made. In general, it’s what’s missing that left me frequently questioning “why?”

*Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review*

I loved Rachel Khong's first book and enjoyed this one a lot as well! The characters are so well-developed and I was really invested in the relationship between the parents (it reminded me of Free Food for Millionaires, but much better). The book is split roughly into thirds: one focused on the mom, one on the child, and one on the grandmother. I was less interested in the child's and grandmother's perspectives but that's a personal preference. I appreciated the genetics plotline but found it difficult to follow at times and wasn't sure if it accomplished what it set out to do.

I love a good multigenerational tale and Real Americans doesn't disappoint. We start with Lily Chen at the turn of the 21st century and later get the POV from her son and her mother. The third section lagged quite a bit for me but the beginning and middle more than made up for it. One of my favorite fiction reads of the year.

This book was fantastic. I hadn’t read anything else by this author before Real Americans but it made me want to read more. I loved how the different parts made the family tree have more depth and dimension.

Fascinating story! The author weaves a tale of differing generational impressions of a Chinese family. So many themes are touched upon--luck, class, attitudes, and so much more. It is one of those narratives that makes you ponder about the immigrant experience.
The writing was terrific, but I do think the second half wasn't as strong as the first.

For me, this book was a mixed bag.

The novel contains three parts, all interrelated. It begins with Lily, a Chinese American whose parents raised her to be "American." She doesn't speak any of the Chinese languages, and has numerous identity (and personality) issues. She eventually marries Matt, a white man who is from an extremely rich family, and they have a child, Nico, who looks completely white, with blonde hair and blue eyes - so white that he questions his own Chinese identity and does a DNA test to ensure that he is, indeed, 50% Chinese. The next section of the book features Nico, now Nick, who has grown up without his father. He chooses a college, far from home, and goes through his college years trying to figure out life, unsuccessfully reconnecting with his father.. Finally, the last section of the book is about May, Lily's mother, who, come to find out, engaged in genetic manipulation in an attempt to mold humans. Not only had she been involved in this pursuit, but she had done so with Matthew's father, Otto. (Yes, this is super confusing). Long story short, Lily's genetics were negatively impacted, as was her relationship with Matthew, once she came to find out all that had happened unbeknownst to her. May is sorry for the strife she caused not only Lily, but others, and spends her last years trying to reconnect with her daughter, from whom she has been estranged.


The writing in this book is excellent, as is the character development. I am left somewhat confused, especially regrading the genetic manipulation; I still do not know if what they did is a real thing, to any extent, or if this was an element of science fiction, inserted into the book. At least in my case, as I read, I had to consciously try to make sense of what was going on, as each section ends kind of abruptly. The themes that are explored in this book: family, identity, race and ethnicity and forgiveness, are all compelling.


#netgalley

Everyone has been buzzing about this book.
I picked it up even though the cover doesn't give anything away about the content of the book.
This family story drew me in and kept me reading.
I am recommending this book to library patrons who like family sagas.

I wasn't sure if this book would live up to all the hype online, but I loved it! Families are so complicated, and I think this book handled it beautifully. It took me a while to get into it, but then I sped through it. Some storylines were better than others, but I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and have recommended this book to a lot of people since finishing it. I can't wait to see what the author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow. Real Americans is a book that truly hits home. From the very first page, I was hooked by its raw, honest portrayal of what it means to be American today. The author’s storytelling is nothing short of brilliant, blending stories with larger social issues in a way that feels incredibly real and relatable. It’s one of those reads that makes you pause and think, sparking deep conversations long after you’ve put it down. If you’re looking for a book that digs into the heart of American identity and leaves you with a new perspective, this is it. It’s an unforgettable journey that I can’t recommend highly enough.

This book is great. Told in multiple points of view in a Chinese-American family: second generation Lily, her son Nick who looks nothing like his mother, and her immigrant mother, Mei. The first two portions of the book, with Lily as the narrator, and then Nick, were very different stories of identity and coming of age. Mei's story was by far the most interesting, told at the end of her life, spanning her entire life. There are a lot of themes and ideas in this book, and I would have happily read another hundred or more pages.

Although I initially received an eARC of this book, I ended up purchasing it on my own after publication....

Yet another book I had an eARC of, didn’t get a chance to get to before it came out, only to end up with a physical copy after seeing so much praise for it. It was actually one of my contenders for book club a few months ago during AAPI heritage month (we went with Kaikeyi, in the end) and I kept meaning to get to it soon and @lauras.library reading it in July and giving it a great review was the push I needed to commit.

This book follows Lily, a second generation Asian-American, who is lost post graduation with her art degree from NYU. And then, she meets her boss’s nephew at a holiday party and her life is changed.

I know it sounds like this book will be a romance—but it’s so much more. The phrase “genre-bending” perfectly encapsulates how this book has a little of everything. It follows 3 generations in a family and how their lives weave together but also explores ideas like race, class, medical ethics. I’m hesitant to say more because I went into this book knowing nothing except that it was about an Asian-American family, and I think this is all you need to know.

Being the daughter of immigrants myself, I resonated with a lot in this book. But also, this book challenged me to re-examine how I approach that identity and everything that comes with it. I also learned about The Cultural Revolution- a piece of history I admittedly knew little about.

I think the biggest thing about this book I didn't like is that at multiple points, I felt like the book was building up for something huge to happen and when that thing happened, I kind of felt like "oh that's it?" but I don't think that necessarily made me dislike the book overall. I also wonder if the ~hype~ around the book set my expectations too high.

Thank you for the eARC, regardless!

For the size of this book, it reads very quickly. I liked that it was sorted between three time periods and three main voices, but stayed committed to the same narrative throughout. I was shocked by the events and things revealed, and the ending really pulls the whole story together nicely. I can see why this was a Read with Jenna choice!

From my experience of the first third of the book, I was not expecting this story to become the generational saga it turned out to be. I especially like that we weren't given the generations in chronological order—the journey from daughter as a solo narrator to a shared narrative between grandson and grandmother was unique and added dimension to the story. I will need to sit with this longer to determine if this will be a favorite for the year, but it was certainly a memorable story with a lot of rich nuance. I especially like the interwoven conversation about inherited traits, as both a scientific topic and a more intimate one. I'm not sure whether to fully classify this story as science fiction, or even speculative fiction, but the dip into the near future was believable as well as quietly upsetting.

Thank you to Knopf for the opportunity to read and review! I can see why everyone has been raving about this book, and I can't wait to see more from this author.

I really liked the first half of this book so it was a total disappointment when it totally lost me in the second half! I felt like it left a really strong story unfinished. I do really like Rachel Khong's writing style though, and as a 20 something some of Lily's experiences definitely connected with me.

The first part of this book was great but about half way through I started to lose interest. Family drama. Dynamics between parents and their children. And the struggles all families
Go Through. The authors style of writing also started to deter me. Short, choppy sentences that I didn’t mind at first but that eventually started to bother me.

I really enjoyed reading Real Americans. I appreciated the various timelines and seeing how one character's actions affect others later. I would read more from Khong.

Easiest 5 star I’ve read in a long time. I loved how the storylines were woven together. It packed an emotional punch and left me thinking about the ethical questions of IVF and gene manipulation. Entertaining, thoughtful, and one of the best books I’ve read all year.

I loved part one and was riveted. I liked part two for the most part, and I’m glad the big reveal didn’t turn out to be what I thought it was going to be. As an Asian-American who passes as white, I really related to a lot of the imposter syndrome felt by both Lily and Nick. But I think the reason for Lily’s estrangement from her mother is a bit odd. I also found Mai’s section dull, which is the only reason this isn’t 5 stars.

Rachel Khong's "Real Americans" is a captivating and profound exploration of the intricate web of choice, chance, class, race, and genetic engineering within a Chinese American family. Khong's sophomore novel showcases her growth as a storyteller, weaving a rich tapestry of interconnected lives across three generations. Structured as three linked novellas, each with its distinct yet intertwined narrative, "Real American" creates a multifaceted portrayal of family dynamics and societal pressures.

The plot development is meticulously crafted, beginning in 1999 in New York City with Lily Chen, who encounters Matthew Maier, a wealthy heir, in a seemingly chance meeting at an office party. This serendipitous event sets the stage for their whirlwind romance and subsequent family life. The narrative then shifts to 2021 on a remote island off the coast of Washington state, focusing on Lily and Matthew's teenage son Nick, who grapples with his father's absence and his own identity. The final section, set in 2030 in the San Francisco Bay Area, is narrated by Lily's elderly mother, May, whose reflections on her youth in China during the Cultural Revolution, and her fascination with genetics, provide a poignant backdrop to the family's saga. Khong deftly interweaves these timelines, creating a cohesive and compelling story that spans decades.

Characterization is a standout feature of this novel. Each character is vividly drawn and deeply human, with their strengths, flaws, and idiosyncrasies laid bare. Lily, Matthew, Nick, and May are all compelling figures, each grappling with their own challenges and making significant, sometimes flawed, choices that reverberate through the family. Khong's ability to elicit empathy for her characters, despite their mistakes, is a testament to her nuanced writing. The ripple effects of their actions, causing anger and estrangement, are portrayed with such authenticity that readers can't help but feel a mix of dismay and hope for their futures.

The pacing of the novel is perfectly balanced, allowing readers to immerse themselves in each character's journey without feeling rushed. Khong's prose is both bold and delicate, addressing life's biggest questions through artfully crafted scenes and dialogue. The themes of genetic engineering, race, and class are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, prompting readers to ponder the complex interplay between nature and nurture.

Overall, "Real Americans" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that explores the essence of what it means to be human, making it an immensely enjoyable and enriching read.

This book was truly incredible to me. After finishing Lily’s section, I was sad to start another character’s POV (something I’ve never really experienced before) and by the time I finished that character’s POV the same thing happened.

The New York setting, not to far from the future genetics, social commentary on race and class, and the characters (!!!) made this such an unforgettable read

Real Americans is an engrossing, magical, lyrical, and unique work of fiction that will appeal to so many readers. I’m so excited to see what Khong writes next!!