I couldn’t get into this one. The characters didn’t stick with me at first, and I found it a bit tedious to read about them. None were particularly likable, which made it harder to stay engaged. I was also busy and kept starting and stopping—so it was a little hard for me to follow.

That said, the observations were sharp and vivid, and by the end, there’s more going on than you expect. It just took a while (and a bit of patience) to get there.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

Bad Asians by Lillian Li is a sharp, emotionally layered exploration of friendship, identity, and the disillusionment of adulthood. As a first-time reader of Li’s work, I was immediately struck by her ability to blend biting humor with poignant social commentary. The novel follows Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian, four Chinese American friends who, after graduating into the 2008 recession, find themselves back under their parents’ roofs in a hypercompetitive community. When Grace, a former golden child turned Harvard Law dropout, proposes a documentary about their lives, they agree, assuming it will go unnoticed. But when the video titled “Bad Asians” goes viral, their private frustrations and insecurities are broadcast to millions, unraveling their relationships and sense of self.

The characters are richly drawn and painfully relatable, each grappling with the weight of cultural expectations and personal failures. Diana’s quiet ambition, Justin’s simmering resentment, Errol’s emotional fragility, and Vivian’s biting wit form a dynamic that feels both intimate and combustible. Grace, the catalyst, is enigmatic and provocative her presence forces the group to confront truths they’ve long buried. Li captures the nuances of Asian American identity with precision, portraying how the pressure to succeed can fracture even the closest bonds. The twist isn’t just the viral fame it’s how each character responds to being publicly reduced to a stereotype, revealing the cracks in their carefully curated lives.

The conclusion is both sobering and tender. As the friends drift apart and attempt to rebuild, Li doesn’t offer easy redemption but instead a quiet reckoning with adulthood’s complexities. The novel asks: what happens when the people who shaped you no longer fit the life you’re trying to build? Bad Asians is a compelling meditation on the cost of visibility, the fragility of friendship, and the search for authenticity in a world that demands performance.

Characters feel deeply human, flawed, and resonant enhance the emotional core, while incisive observations about identity and entitlement root the story in our current moment. I liked this book. It reminded me of a more simplistic version of Crazy, Rich Asians.

I was sadly disappointed with this book, especially since I loved Lillian Li’s “Number One Chinese Restaurant.”

Notable lines:

“He suddenly felt tired of retreading the same topics. He sounded like the parents, repeating gossip and stories until they were no different than a herd of cows mooing in a field. He didn’t want to talk about the past anymore. He wanted to start anew.”

“What I said was that it’s easy to think we know someone because we hear one story about them. Or we see one moment in their lives. The same reason people are outraged is also what made them look up to you in the first place . . . It’s a terrible thing we do to other people when we turn them into the side characters of our own stories.”

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Asians had an extremely compelling start. I loved the first few chapters and the way that the group's friendship dynamics were set up. I grew up in a suburb in Southern California and it reminded me a lot of high school relationships then. Lillian is an extremely talented writer and describes dynamics masterfully. I loved the writing style. The only reason I could not finish is because I did not know what I was reading for after the 60% mark. I was not sure what the goal of the plot was anymore and it did make me lose interest as a result. The alternating perspectives were interesting but after a while, I became less invested in each character.

Overall a good read, but would have been better if I knew what the individual or collective goals of the characters were.

I was thrilled to receive this ARC—a novel that felt very personal to me, following first-generation Asian Americans from the DC area graduating into the recession. Diana, Vivian, Errol, and Justin grew up inseparable, with Grace always on the periphery. When an unexpected burst of internet fame derails their paths, we dive deep into each of their lives.

What I loved most: there’s no single main character here. Each friend gets a fully fleshed-out backstory, unique challenges, and inner demons—making them all both loveable and infuriating. The story moves between post-grad life, flashbacks to childhood, and the messy decade of your 20s,.

A layered, character-driven read that lingers long after the last page.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **
Lillian Li’s novel is a witty, big-hearted look at friendship, ambition, and identity in the internet age. The plot follows four recent grads—Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian—who move back home during the 2008 recession, only to be thrust into unwanted fame when a former “golden child,” Grace, films a documentary that goes viral and caricatures them as “bad Asians.” The book shines in the dynamics between friends under pressure, capturing how love and resentment can coexist when everyone feels left behind. Li balances humor with tenderness, and the barbed observations about online notoriety feel painfully true. A few sections meander, but the character work is strong enough to carry the quieter stretches. Overall, it reads like a solid, thoughtful four-star: warm, incisive, and resonant without pretending to have easy answers.

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) As an Asian-American, while obviously we are not a monolith and not all of our experiences are/will be the same— this book hit super close to home for me! The concept of being a "Good," "Perfect," and/or "Successful" Asian is one that will most certainly vary depending on you ask.... but it's also an unspoken pressure that is definitely felt one way or another. I liked how this book explored all of the different dynamics and complexities that come with trying to meet/come to terms with this expectation, as well as the hardships that may follow (whether it be from our own family; racism directed towards us by others; etc). BAD ASIANS is a propelling read about ambition, identity, and how the bonds and duties placed upon us at childhood and that we may feel compelled to uphold shape us.

Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian live in a competitive Chinese American community. They come together in elementary school, and graduate during the 2008 recession. They find that the narrative they were raised with – just work hard – does not pay off the way they anticipated. Navigating the challenges of moving back home and figuring out where to go next is complicated by Bad Asians, a YouTube documentary style video uploaded by another of their peers, Grace.

Bad Asians explores identity and growing up within an Asian American community. It takes that pivotal time in life when you're supposed to transition from student to employed, setting it against the recession. Add YouTube, and you find your most tender moments exposed to others. Bringing the pieces together, Bad Asians is a story of finding yourself, figuring out who your friends are, creating your own story while others try to create it for you, and figuring out different ways to define success in unexpected times. Li’s voice shines through, breathing life into each character. While it felt a bit jumpy in the beginning, it came together in such a satisfying way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for the digital ARC for review.

We meet Diana, Vivian, Errol, and Justin. They are 4 friends who got dragged into a "documentary" about themselves by their "friend" Grace and suddenly their lives are upturned. They have to face a lot of personal issues as well as parental pressure issues. You seem them grow up and change as well. I know most Asian Americans can relate to their story. I think the ending did redeem the book for me. It did end quite abruptly, but it's nice to have a semi-conclusion. Sometimes I would get confused between the past and present during a character's POV. I did get annoyed during the middle of the book when the characters would sometimes make such stupid decisions, but I know Ive made some bad choices too. It's real life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for supplying this arc to me in exchange for an honest review.

Unsure if it was the writing style ? the characters? but couldn't connect with this read.

Don't think a reader necessarily needs to identify with a character or a character's journey, but, do think that the reader needs to be sufficiently engaged that the reader cares about what happens to the characters. I didn't. And this feeling negatively impacted the read.


This ARC was provided by the publisher, Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co., via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

BAD ASIANS REVIEW
RATING: 4
GENRE: Literary fiction

Li’s Bad Asians is an introspective look at a group of childhood friends whose lives get turned upside down by a former classmate’s release of a documentary they had filmed post-college. With a tongue in cheek title, Bad Asians, it takes a look at what it means to be to be a child of immigrants and the expectations of Asian culture.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it’s set up in 3 parts and told through the perspective of our main leads. We initially are not sure if we should be rooting for Diana, Vivian, Errol, and Justin but their lives have been exposed due to Grace’s vindictiveness. The longtime children hood friends attempt to navigate those this period of notoriety and how it affects their friendship. Each of the four main leads have always played a specific role in the friend group - but now, it seems those roles are the things that are stifling them as they are shown and dissected by the public.

The weight in which each character battles for their self-identity from the group that they known their whole lives is beautifully written. The four have been forever tied by their families and circumstances, yet we find that it is not enough to sustain through difficult times. I recommend this book for those who are looking to find their own voice and those who enjoy a coming of age story.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I recommend this book for those who are looking to find their own voice and those who enjoy a coming of age story.

Bad Asians is sharp, funny, and painfully real—a pitch-perfect snapshot of what it felt like to come of age in the shadow of the American Dream crashing down. Lillian Li nails the messy mix of ambition, cultural pressure, and internet fame with a cast of friends you’ll love, cringe at, and root for all at once. It’s a story about growing up, burning out, and figuring out who you really are when everything you were promised falls apart. Honest, raw, and unexpectedly tender.

A Sharply Observed Take on a Generation's Struggle
Lillian Li's Bad Asians offers a wry and insightful look at a specific generation grappling with the harsh realities of the Great Recession and the burgeoning internet age. The premise is immediately engaging: four Chinese American friends, meticulously following the traditional path to success, find themselves unemployed and living back home after graduating into a dismal 2008. Their reluctant participation in a documentary, "Bad Asians," which then goes viral, serves as a fantastic catalyst for examining their individual and collective struggles.

The novel truly shines in its sharp capture of a generation shaped by the rise of the internet and the end of the American dream. The friends' journey from carefully curated lives to public caricatures is both relatable and cringeworthy, highlighting the pitfalls of viral fame and the external pressures they face. The way the video's popularity strains their friendships and forces them to confront "harsh truths about themselves and coming of age in the new millennium" is particularly well-executed. Li effectively poses the central question: "Can the same people who made you who you are end up keeping you from who you're meant to be?"

While the character development is strong and the themes are resonant, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, occasionally drawing out certain scenes more than necessary. However, this is a minor point in what is otherwise a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. Bad Asians is an epic tale of friendship and coming of age that offers a unique and often humorous perspective on ambition, disappointment, and the messy process of finding your own way.

Lilian Li writes about 5 Chinese American friends who grew up together in West Potomac, a neighborhood featuring relatively wealthy first and second generation Chinese. The story unfolds as a video is released on social media where the friends’ angst against their culture was recorded. Their lives all take different turns as the video is watched by an increasing number of viewers.
While I enormously enjoyed the culture dimension of the book, it was sometimes hard to understand how a video could disrupt their lives as much as it did. It also wasn’t always clear what was taking place at different points in the story. I had to reread certain paragraphs to figure things out so it took a bit of effort. With that being said, all of the characters were interesting and relatable and I enjoyed learning about them.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

An intriguing premise. I was immediately pulled into the world of the novel which opens in 2009. As more and more characters were introduced, I struggled a bit to keep track of their connections to one another. I did not get the sense that the group of friends liked each other very much which made it difficult for me to root for any of the characters. I think readers interested in coming of age/finding your place in the world plots (that also intersect with the rise of the Internet and social media) will enjoy.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

***Bad Asians*** by Lillian Li is a poignant and deeply moving literary debut that examines family, identity, and the legacy of grief through the lens of an Asian American experience. Following Tiff, a middle-aged daughter returning home to care for her ailing parents in a Midwestern suburb, the novel slowly reveals the emotional truths beneath a quiet, everyday existence. Li writes with a graceful economy, capturing the unsaid tensions and tender moments of caregiving, cultural dislocation, and sibling dynamics. The narrative unfolds in understated but powerful vignettes that explore the weight of expectations, the complexity of intergenerational bonds, and the small acts of compassion that hold families together even in heartbreak.

What stands out is Li’s ability to create resonant emotional depth without melodrama—her characters feel entirely real, their regrets and desires quietly devastating.

Bad Asians was not what I expected. A group of friends (of Asian descent) graduate from college and have trouble with 'launching' and then their past (in the form of a video made by another friend) seems to be--I don't know, their 'way out' or a fun thing to do while they're figuring out their lives? The characters were all fairly unlikable and they were not good friends. The second half was a huge slog for me.

I was really excited to read this book. Growing up, all the examples I had around me were good Asians, Asians who were successful, who gave their parents bragging rights, who were absolutely perfect, the model minority. That pressure to not mess up and be perfect is so stifling and suffocating. <i>Bad Asians</i> was so perfect in creating these imperfect characters with imperfect lives who succumb to imperfect human emotions and desires. It created that stifling, suffocating environment perfectly. The author Lillian Li is such a genius writer; her words have such a distinct voice, it can go from booming to pleading in an instant. The characters were both hateable and loveable, I could understand them, yet I was like "Omg you're so stupid for making this decision" or "If I were you, I would've been so grateful for that opportunity." But that's what made this book so good and so true to its theme. It makes the reader feel like the characters and pushes us back out of the book to reflect on these thoughts and feelings. I think this book will resonate with a lot of people. But also, there was something so comforting in knowing that you can mess up and keep messing up but end up in an okay place as long as you try. Nothing is ever going to be the perfect state that we or our parents envision, but honestly that's okay. If we focus on that, we're never going to escape this shallow way of thinking. The book was really good in addressing that even though it's not pronounced, but it's softly there, guiding the narrative.

Also I really loved the nostalgia that the early YouTube days brought back! I think this is a really good summer read. It captures that post-grad feeling, but also I loved the spiraling of all the characters and how they keep being pushed to their brinks. I couldn't put this book down, I feel like I was totally drawn to the gossip of each character: Diana and her self-righteousness driving her on the path to picture-perfect success, Errol and his addiction to shallow pleasure to block out his brain-of-a-genius, Vivian and her people pleasing tendencies molding her idea of love, Justin and his indecisiveness bleeding through all his relationships, and Grace and her reckless and artistic approach to cutting people open.

Random Thoughts with Spoilers:
<spoiler>There's a lot of interesting things in this book. But I keep thinking about the parents in this book. They love collecting secrets about other families int he neighborhood. Even though it sucks to be gossiped about, the ending really prompted me to focus more directly on why the parents did this. When we're in the lowest parts of our lives, it's much easier to escape that depressing feeling when we look for people worse off than us. It validates us and tells us that we are doing good. But I think that maybe, we are doing good, not in comparison to others but just as we are. But it's hard to notice, and it's especially hard for these parents who are keeping their sufferings a secret from their kids.

One character that really stood out to me was Master Yi. As an adult, he doesn't really participate in the shallow gossip about the families, but he reads people's fortunes. It's like he understands the main pivots, low, and high points of these kids, and he seems right about their fortunes too. Our current state of life affects how we read a book, and currently I feel like being seen for your entire story rather than small shallow blips is such a gift. Being a bad or good Asian, a good or bad daughter/son is such a shallow label, it doesn't encompass that person at all.
</spoiler>

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the e-ARC!

Bad Asians is a sharp, heartfelt, and painfully funny portrait of a generation caught between expectations and reality. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 recession, this novel brilliantly captures the disillusionment felt by many high-achieving young adults who did “everything right” only to find themselves stalled at the starting line. Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian are complex, flawed, and instantly recognizable—especially to anyone who’s ever wrestled with cultural pressure, family expectations, or the gnawing question of “what now?”

When Grace re-enters their lives and their post-grad aimlessness is captured on film, the fallout is hilarious and devastating. Bad Asians' viral success becomes the catalyst for a profound unraveling—not just of their public personas but also of their self-perceptions, friendships, and long-buried resentments.

The author deftly navigates themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of representation in a digital age while delivering biting commentary on the Asian American experience. This is more than a coming-of-age story—it’s a snapshot of a generation raised to believe in the American Dream, only to discover how elusive and conditional that dream can be.

Insightful, timely, and emotionally resonant, Bad Asians is a must-read for anyone who came of age in the era of YouTube, hustle culture, and economic instability—and for anyone still trying to figure out what success looks like.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.