I really enjoyed this well-written multigenerational family story. There are thoughts on what makes us who we are, particularly regarding genetics and genetic manipulation that I found interesting. I also appreciated the author's thoughts on belonging, assimilation, mother/child dynamics, and the responsibility and consequences of being born rich and privileged. I thought the characters were well developed, especially Lily and Nick. While I preferred the first 2 sections, I did enjoy Mei's perspective of what it was like to grow up during China's cultural revolution. The ending was a bit of a disappointment-- I was anticipating something bigger that brought everything together but alas that did not happen. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-galley of this book. 4 stars

Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a novel that will sweep you away through time in three parts, each a new point of view in different time periods.

I thought this book would strictly be about the Chinese American experience, period. I did not realize that there would be an underlying a scientific aspect that tied all three parts of the book together. I loved that! What an unusual and unlikely surprise. Books that have genetic sub-plots are fascinating to me.

Because I listened to this on audio, I wasn’t aware that the book was told in parts. It was interesting to learn what information each character was privy to and how they interpreted it. Although each part was well-written, I think I related to Nick and Mei the most, which is odd because they are the youngest and oldest characters.

There were many themes running through this novel: privilege, classism, belonging, assimilation, racism, damning secrets, complicated mother/daughter relationships, gene experimentation and more. Yep, there was a lot to take in. Some of these themes got much attention, while others just skimmed the surface. I guess if the author went deep for all the touchstones mentioned the book would be way too long.

Overall, this is an original and complexly layered story. I think the consequences of how we see ourselves and how we assume others see us will be a huge talking point for bookclubs.

I didn't write a formal review but gave it four stars on Goodreads. Since it's a "Read with Jenna" book pick - I think it will do great without my meager review.

This was one of the best books I've read in awhile. Told in three different parts, it is not chronological, which I enjoy, and reading all three stories or perspectives really enlightened the story.

Ultimately, the novel tackled class and privilege, along with many other topics. I highly recommend this one, and I'm so happy I read it!

This is an exceptional family drama from a Chinese, intellectual perspective. It is packed with ideas that are engaging and thought provoking. Three familial viewpoints, each told in third person in a sequential timeline, no overlapping of times, encourage the reader to fill in the gaps as to how the other characters are reacting.

While the story mainly revolves around mysteries, the reader is immersed with windows into child/parent relationships, choices, love, forgiveness, racism, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, pursuit of the American dream and advances in epigenetics. The myriad of topics make for an highly engaging read. Strongly recommend!

This is a terrific story. Told from three points of view and three generations, it addresses so many issues. The writing is top notch and the story is well constructed. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

"Real Americans" by Rachel Khong is a compelling exploration of identity, class, and family that earns four out of five stars from me for its immersive storytelling and emotional depth. The novel begins on the cusp of Y2K, where Lily Chen, a broke intern in New York City, meets Matthew, the heir to a pharmaceutical empire. Their unlikely romance unfolds against the backdrop of their vastly different backgrounds.

Fast forward to 2021, and we meet Nick Chen, Lily’s fifteen-year-old son, who feels out of place on a secluded island in Washington. His quest to find his biological father opens a Pandora’s box of secrets and challenges his understanding of his own identity.

Khong's writing is both moving and thought-provoking, delving into complex themes such as race, visibility, and the impact of our genetic and cultural heritage. Her characters are richly drawn, each grappling with their past and the societal pressures that shape their lives. The juxtaposition of Lily’s struggles with Nick’s search for belonging creates a poignant narrative that resonates deeply.

"Real Americans" is a socially insightful novel of speculative fiction, which asks profound questions about destiny, creation, and the possibility of transcending our origins. Rachel Khong masterfully weaves a tale that is both exuberant and reflective, making it a must-read for those who appreciate nuanced family dramas and social commentary.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

Overall, I enjoyed this. This novel follows 3 generations of chinese-americans: lily, her mother may, and her son nick as they grapple with their identities as immigrants, people of color, and the circumstances of their birth.

My favorite was the first section which focuses on Lily, which left me super engaged and excited for the rest of the book. I really loved reading and learning about all the characters. For the rest of the book, I was eagerly awaiting something big to happen, which is most likely a personal problem because it ultimately did not happen.

What prevents this from being higher rated for me is that I was looking for a bit more focus. I think the story wants to explore a lot of different aspects of identity, inter-generational trauma, nature vs. nurture, etc., and it should, but it often left me feeling like we just scratched the surface of the topics without diving deeply into any of them. I definitely need to think about this book more but overall I thought it was well done and incredibly compelling.

Three generations of the Chen family deal with issues common for minorities and immigrants as well as some complicated ones. Told from three POVs, we first learn the story of Lily and Matthew. Lily is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and because Matthew has changed his name to distance himself from his family of pharmaceutical giants, she is unaware of his wealth until they get engaged. Next, we fast forward many years to hear from Nick, the son of Matthew and Lily who knows nothing of his origins. As he finds Matthew on his own and learns of family secrets, he struggles with his identity and lack of ability to maintain relationships. And finally, we hear from Mei, Lily’s mother, who escaped communist China under Mao’s rule and immigrates to the US to pursue her scientific endeavors.
While this novel addresses so many interesting issues, it was just a lot to unpack. The racism and opposite racism aspects alone made the story complicated and the family drama was really hard to follow at times. I think the author’s writing style was interesting but I wasn’t crazy about it. The switching between POVs and timelines with no introductions created some confusion for me. I would have liked better character development but realize that this would potentially make the novel too long. I really couldn’t keep up with who was not speaking to whom at any given time. Another entire book could probably have been developed alone on the impact of the genetic science on the family and this had so much potential but I never did really understand it. I think all the topics being addressed in one novel was just too ambitious and I just didn’t enjoy most of it.

I adored this book. We are halfway through 2024, and I already know it will make my top 10 list. It’s the book I put into the hands of strangers at bookshops.

I enjoyed Khong’s debut novel, but this was next level. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

There was a lot I enjoyed about Real Americans. I liked the writing, the characters, and how Khong slowly laid out the pieces of the story for the reader to start fitting together. I loved the first two sections of this book, but I did feel like the third section was weaker. I was glad to get answers but I didn’t feel nearly as invested in May’s story as I was in Lily and Nick’s. I noticed that the book was divided almost exactly into thirds, which is impressive that she made the narrative fit so equally into each section, but I felt like the book fizzled out a bit. Still, it was an impressive multi-generational family saga.

I went into this book totally blind, and I'm so glad I did. I was thoroughly surprised by some of the twists and turns the novel took. What I was most impressed by was the propulsive, pithy writing. It felt like every single sentence was so intentional and moved the story along in a decisive direction. I can tell that Rachel Khong was in full command of this novel and what she wanted to accomplish with it. All three parts/POVs were equally strong, in my opinion. I was so touched by how Nick Chen navigated his complicated situation with so much integrity and wisdom. I was rooting for all of the main characters so find closure and peace.

Even though I was completely engaged with this story from the beginning, I am feeling as if I could possibly re-read this book one day, knowing what I know now about its contents. I bet I'd discover details that I missed the first time around. I never read Khong's previous book, Goodbye, Vitamin. But I'm definitely planning to check it out now, and I'd happily read anything Khong publishes in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher Knopf for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong is so beautifully written and weaves together a multigenerational story in a way that makes you hungry for more. This book simultaneously wove together decades of story while still digging deeper into character development and detail. Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for a digital ARC of this book!

This is not what I expected when I saw the title of this book. I expected the part how immigrants left their country (and the circumstances they were under) and tried their past to feel as they belong to the US; however, I didn't expect the other half of the book. I understand the sentiment behind wanting better for your child and the generation that will come after. But, I have a big but following that sentiment.

Otto probably wanted to save his son from mental illnesses that found him through his genes, but also he probably wanted to go for ubermensch too. It's kind of what was expected from a white, rich guy. Mei wanted to give her daughter "a better life" by trying to mask what would have came from Charles' side. That was her initial task, but then her obsession with being "real American" left a bitter taste in my mouth, especially when Otto and she took it further by not leaving much Chinese features in their grandson's make up. I wanted to believe that Mei only meant well and tried to erase the trauma left from an oppressive regime.

With its three distinct parts and narrators, the story explains how one event shaped lives of these three narrators so drastically. One generation's sentiment does not resonate with the other one's and it becomes tragic when it resulted in wasted years.

Told in 3 parts with 3 separate, though connected, POVs. I really enjoyed all 3 POVs: Lily, her son, and her mother. I was engrossed by each of their stories. The only part of this story I didn't totally love was the genetics storyline. That part was a little boring to me and didn't seem like a realistic reason to create such a big divide between Lily and her mom. I also didn't totally understand the whole "pausing time" thing with Lily's mom, and found it unnecessary. Other than those 2 minor quibbles, I really did enjoy this story a lot!

Fabulous!! I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters were engaging and I loved how the three stories intertwinded. I am a forever fan of this author!

I loved Rachel Khong’s debut novel, Goodbye, Vitamin, so I was so excited to read her latest work, Real Americans. This novel, though very different from Goodbye, Vitamin is a resounding success, and Kong has cemented herself as an important voice in American literature.

This multigenerational family saga tells the story of one family over the course of three generations. After a brief prologue, readers are introduced to Lily Chen, an Asian American woman whose story begins on the outset of Y2K. She is a young woman just starting adulthood when she meets and soon falls in love with Matthew, the Caucasian heir to a massive fortune.

Their relationship seems almost charmed at first, but things change when Lily gives birth to a son. While this is, of course, a happy occasion, the family cannot help but notice that their son, Nico, looks so much like his father that he is white-passing. And when Lily begins to suspect that there is more behind her son’s appearance than simple luck of the draw, she takes her son and leaves Matthew and his money behind.

Years later, Khong introduces Nick. He is a high school student with his eyes set on college, but he struggles with some aspects of his identity. His mother has not told him anything about his father, and without any information forthcoming, Nick feels unmoored. His confusion is only compounded by the fact that, despite his appearance, he identifies as biracial, and he struggles to build senses of community and belonging. So, when Nick’s best friend convinces him to take a DNA test, he agrees. Although nothing happens for some time, the test eventually yields results, and he is connected with his father Matthew.

The novel takes off from there, and readers soon learn that there is more behind these events than meets the eye. We learn that the story’s true beginning has its roots in Communist China, from which Nick’s grandmother fled. What is more, this story and the secrets that go along with it have potential future implications, and this compelling novel about a complicated family is sure to capture readers’ attention.

When I initially finished Real Americans, I thought that I preferred Khong’s debut, which has a surprising and poignant twist, but having gained some distance, I have realized that Real Americans has stayed with me in an indelible way. I love a novel in which family secrets impact characters even generations later, and that is exactly what Khong delivers here. We see how the secret impacts their relationships and how the family has fractured over the years. The inverse of that, however, is that, over the course of the novel, there is a lot of healing and growth,

Khong also looks at some interesting themes, such as identity, time, genetics, and eugenics. I have read many novels looking at these themes before, but Khong brings something fresh and new to conversation. It is safe to say that I have never read anything quite like Real Americans, and I doubt I will again. Original, thought-provoking, and poignant, Khong’s latest is sure to win her many new readers.

This review originally appeared online in FXBG Advance

The scope of this novel--covering three generations' worth of family history and trauma--is vast, so naturally there are so many topics to cover that it would be impossible to go into depth about all of them. Despite my knowing this, however, I was disappointed that the novel didn't quite deliver on that front. Nonetheless, I'm impressed Khong's storytelling and enjoyed the distinct voices of the three characters (Lily, May, and Nick).

Real Americans (ARC)
Rachel Khong
4⭐️

Pub Date: 4/30/24

This was so interesting to read. It's family drama, romance and also some science/genetics. The book is divided into 3 parts, with each having a different POV, character, and generation. I really adored part 1, Lily's POV. This is where the romance is, how she met, dated and married. The relationship was too perfect that I was so anxious that it would fail. This part also showed how Asian parents vs American parents show their love to their children. I'm grateful for the relationship I have with my mom but I know a lot of people who are having difficulties with their relationships with their Asian parents. Lily's mom doesn't even try to be affectionate with her. It got me very upset. The secrets were slowly introduced and it kept things very interesting to read. Part 2 is Nick's POV, Lily' child. There's growth in Lily's character as a mom and it shows how affected she was with her mom's treatment of her. This part has more of a coming-of-age feel. Nick reconnects back to his roots and this part answers the secrets and mystery about his birth partially. Part 3 is Lily's mom's POV, her struggles growing up in Mao's China, escaping, dealing with her own heartbreaks, that shaped her decisions and mistakes.

All 3 stories and POVs were heartbreaking. Part 1 and 2 were really good but I felt like it slowed down a bit on part 3 when i expected it to ramp up. I liked how it ended, it didn't feel rushed to me but that last sentence was a big win for me.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a multigenerational Chinese American family saga with three timelines and three narrators. The writing is wonderful and the characters are flawed. I really love how the different timelines weave together to bring the story together. Explores themes of dysfunctional families, genetics, and ethics.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced digital copy of the book for my honest opinion.

This is a Read with Jenna Book Club pick.