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Real Americans
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fiction (2024) Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love.
In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than answers.
In immersive, moving prose, Rachel Khong weaves a profound tale of class and striving, race and visibility, and family and inheritance—a story of trust, forgiveness, and finally coming home.
Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome?
From the award-winning author of Goodbye, Vitamin: How far would you go to shape your own destiny? 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?
In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than answers.
In immersive, moving prose, Rachel Khong weaves a profound tale of class and striving, race and visibility, and family and inheritance—a story of trust, forgiveness, and finally coming home.
Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome?
From the award-winning author of Goodbye, Vitamin: How far would you go to shape your own destiny? 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?
399 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2024
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About the author
Rachel Khong
12 books1,339 followersRACHEL KHONG is the author of the novels Real Americans, a New York Times bestseller, and Goodbye, Vitamin, winner of the California Book Award for First Fiction. From 2011 to 2016, she was an editor of Lucky Peach, a quarterly magazine of food and culture. In 2018, Rachel founded The Ruby, a work and event space for writers and artists in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her story collection, My Dear You, will be published by Knopf in April 2026. Since 2021, she has mentored emerging writers with the Periplus Mentorship Collective. With friends, she teaches as The Dream Side (www.thedreamside.com).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,817 reviews
August 19, 2025
How do you rate a book that doesn't quite deliver on its promise, and yet is still a riveting read?
Told through the perspectives of three generations of a family, Real Americans follows Lily as she finds the love of her life, Nick through his high school and college days as he gains independence, and Mei in her old age as she recounts what really happened all those years ago.
Of the three accounts, I feel like Lily's and Nick's boil down to coming-of-age stories, no matter how you try couch it in fancier, more racially-interesting terms. And I think that's where my mismatched expectations resulted in some disappointment. I was expecting more of a deep dive into what it means to grow up Chinese-American, but this only just scratches the surface.
The book tries to tackle so many worthwhile subjects—what it means to belong, a mother's love and expectations for her child, immigration and assimilation, having wealth and privilege, affirmative action, racism. You name it, it feels like it's in this book. If you're thinking to yourself, wow that's a lot, yes it is. And maybe that's the problem.
With so many topics, how do you achieve a meaningful look into any one of them? Well, I'm not sure you can. You can only superficially acknowledge them for a few pages, or even just a paragraph here and there, and that's about it. Every time I came across an interesting observation, I'd get excited, only to have the book immediately abandon it and move onto the next thing.
Throughout the whole story, there is this feeling that the good part is coming and I'm imminently about to stumble upon it. And this feeling propelled me through the book. I kept turning the pages, waiting with anticipation at what were sure to be astonishing revelations. But they never really materialized to my satisfaction.
I did find Mei's portion to be the most interesting and compelling. Hers was more than just a coming-of-age tale. She talks about what it's like to grow up during the Cultural Revolution, at a time of famine, when neighbor turned on neighbor, and every sort of intellectual aspiration was viewed as a punishable offense. I can't help but be drawn towards this part of Chinese history. It was the defining event of my parents' youth, yet they hardly ever talk about it.
The other interesting part of Mei's tale is the focus on the science that is central to this book, especially the ethics of gene editing and selection. But here again, it feels like the story got just close enough to tantalize, then immediately backed off, as if afraid to take anything other than a superficial stance on a potentially controversial topic.
I did want to mention the writing style. It came across as rather choppy at first, with lots of random observations and intense bursts of information, all the while keeping the reader at arm's length emotionally. It was a bit jarring initially, but then I hardly noticed anymore after a few chapters. So either I acclimated to it or the writing smoothed out. Either way, if you're having trouble at the start, don't let it prevent you from going a little further.
The entire time reading this book, I could feel the potential. There was this electric buzz that at any moment, this was going to become an amazing read. And it almost got there, but then somehow it didn't. Underneath this riveting story, there is a missed opportunity to really say something new and insightful about a host of worthwhile topics. Instead, this book skirts around them, giving brief nods to all but never more than that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
✧ This was a pick for my BOTM box. Get your first book for $5 here.
Told through the perspectives of three generations of a family, Real Americans follows Lily as she finds the love of her life, Nick through his high school and college days as he gains independence, and Mei in her old age as she recounts what really happened all those years ago.
Of the three accounts, I feel like Lily's and Nick's boil down to coming-of-age stories, no matter how you try couch it in fancier, more racially-interesting terms. And I think that's where my mismatched expectations resulted in some disappointment. I was expecting more of a deep dive into what it means to grow up Chinese-American, but this only just scratches the surface.
The book tries to tackle so many worthwhile subjects—what it means to belong, a mother's love and expectations for her child, immigration and assimilation, having wealth and privilege, affirmative action, racism. You name it, it feels like it's in this book. If you're thinking to yourself, wow that's a lot, yes it is. And maybe that's the problem.
With so many topics, how do you achieve a meaningful look into any one of them? Well, I'm not sure you can. You can only superficially acknowledge them for a few pages, or even just a paragraph here and there, and that's about it. Every time I came across an interesting observation, I'd get excited, only to have the book immediately abandon it and move onto the next thing.
Throughout the whole story, there is this feeling that the good part is coming and I'm imminently about to stumble upon it. And this feeling propelled me through the book. I kept turning the pages, waiting with anticipation at what were sure to be astonishing revelations. But they never really materialized to my satisfaction.
I did find Mei's portion to be the most interesting and compelling. Hers was more than just a coming-of-age tale. She talks about what it's like to grow up during the Cultural Revolution, at a time of famine, when neighbor turned on neighbor, and every sort of intellectual aspiration was viewed as a punishable offense. I can't help but be drawn towards this part of Chinese history. It was the defining event of my parents' youth, yet they hardly ever talk about it.
The other interesting part of Mei's tale is the focus on the science that is central to this book, especially the ethics of gene editing and selection. But here again, it feels like the story got just close enough to tantalize, then immediately backed off, as if afraid to take anything other than a superficial stance on a potentially controversial topic.
I did want to mention the writing style. It came across as rather choppy at first, with lots of random observations and intense bursts of information, all the while keeping the reader at arm's length emotionally. It was a bit jarring initially, but then I hardly noticed anymore after a few chapters. So either I acclimated to it or the writing smoothed out. Either way, if you're having trouble at the start, don't let it prevent you from going a little further.
The entire time reading this book, I could feel the potential. There was this electric buzz that at any moment, this was going to become an amazing read. And it almost got there, but then somehow it didn't. Underneath this riveting story, there is a missed opportunity to really say something new and insightful about a host of worthwhile topics. Instead, this book skirts around them, giving brief nods to all but never more than that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
✧ This was a pick for my BOTM box. Get your first book for $5 here.
May 30, 2024
I loved everything about this novel. Engrossing, well-structured, with compelling characters. I can’t ask for more from a novel.
July 23, 2024
family drama family drama family drama!
i grew to really care about these characters, a compliment i can give best by saying i'm a multiple perspective hater and yet enjoyed reading from each of this book's three points of view.
unfortunately, this swap — from mother to son to grandmother — left a few gaps that felt inexplicable. we leave one character having abandoned one parent and embraced the other, and return to the opposite with no explanation. things i thought we'd find resolved by character development — the mother's reliance on the son, the son's unwillingness to love, the grandmother's ambition and stubbornness, relationships to power and to wealth, the grandfather and father themselves — we similarly find either magically fixed or unchanged by the end. the story's central theme, revolving around genetics and race and money and class and what makes us who we are, similarly stuttered out.
while i liked a lot about this, i thought it didn't register the whole point of family dramas. i knew these characters in some ways, but i didn't know the bonds between them.
and as a family drama stan, i can't get over that!
bottom line: a lot to like but not the stuff i wanted to.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
i grew to really care about these characters, a compliment i can give best by saying i'm a multiple perspective hater and yet enjoyed reading from each of this book's three points of view.
unfortunately, this swap — from mother to son to grandmother — left a few gaps that felt inexplicable. we leave one character having abandoned one parent and embraced the other, and return to the opposite with no explanation. things i thought we'd find resolved by character development — the mother's reliance on the son, the son's unwillingness to love, the grandmother's ambition and stubbornness, relationships to power and to wealth, the grandfather and father themselves — we similarly find either magically fixed or unchanged by the end. the story's central theme, revolving around genetics and race and money and class and what makes us who we are, similarly stuttered out.
while i liked a lot about this, i thought it didn't register the whole point of family dramas. i knew these characters in some ways, but i didn't know the bonds between them.
and as a family drama stan, i can't get over that!
bottom line: a lot to like but not the stuff i wanted to.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
June 4, 2024
Very mixed feelings on this book, more like a 2.5 rounded to a 3. I’ll start with what I liked, which is that I think Rachel Khong did a nice job of showing how parents both do their best with and fail their children. It was interesting and engaging to read about how children interpreted their parents’ “failures” across multiple generations and the extent to which children choose how to engage with their parents: to be similar, to be different, to have contact, to have no contact, and all that’s in between. I found the second part of the book the most compelling and was hooked on Nick’s coming-of-age story. In this section of Real Americans I found the prose particularly appealing; in part 2 Khong’s writing had me pretty hooked, as well as in part 3 though to a lesser extent.
What I really did not love about this novel was just… the complicity in whiteness and white supremacy. Ugh. It always disappoints me when I write about this in relation to Asian American writers’ work. But the overwhelming entrenchment in whiteness in this novel just bothered me so much. In fact, reading part 1 of the book, I was so annoyed I was sure I was going to give this book two stars, which speaks to how parts 2 and 3 redeemed it enough for me to round to three.
What I didn’t love in part one of the book was the main character’s unresolved, unaddressed desire for whiteness and white men, as well as her self-dislike of her Asian traits. Here’s part of a specific passage, where she writes about herself in relation to her white male romantic partner:
“When he held me I looked, instinctively, to our reflection. It was like pressing a bruise, wanting to see if the pain lingered. I wanted to see how contradictory we were, as a pair, the difference of our physical bodies: him blond, built, tall; me with my plain black hair and average height and face that didn’t look good, I believed, unless I wore makeup. It was a face that made people ask: Where are you from?”
I was just like… omg, yikes. And I get that some Asian American people struggle with internalized racism, I get it, but this dynamic of glorifying white men (e.g., implying that being blond and tall are attractive traits, describing her own Asian features as “plain”) does not get addressed in any meaningful way in the book. There are also several passages in part 1 that directly name how the main character and her Asian friends all choose to date white men, but then that pattern is also never addressed in any thorough or thoughtful way. So that was highly disappointing.
I also really questioned the author’s intentions related to racial justice and alignment with white beauty standards during a specific moment in part 2 of the book. In part 2, we follow Nick Chen, who starts off as a senior in high school and we follow him into his college years. Even though he’s part-Chinese, he passes as a white man. I actually found Nick a sympathetic and three-dimensional character and enjoyed reading about him. However, there’s an odd passage in the book where Khong basically writes about Nick’s white-passing privilege as if he’s oppressed by it? I understand that biracial/multiracial people have unique experiences of oppression, but this passage was more about like… Nick basically feeling sorry for himself that he looks white because his ex-girlfriend was annoyed at his racial privilege (which he does have) and Khong implying that we should feel sympathy for tall blond white men, even though we’re already socialized within the United States to view these people as attractive? Idk, it was weird in a negative way and didn’t sit right with me.
Anyway, this book is titled Real Americans but it was more like… Chinese Americans navigate intergenerational (mis)communications while spending a lot of time with white people. Some parts I liked and others I really didn’t. I’ll also just leave some novels I’ve really enjoyed over the past few years by Asian women with three-dimensional Asian female characters whose lives don’t revolve around whiteness: Yolk by Mary Choi, Sea Change by Gina Chung, and Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan. I’ll also recommend Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou that takes a more racial justice-oriented approach to matters of Asian Americans and internalized racism.
What I really did not love about this novel was just… the complicity in whiteness and white supremacy. Ugh. It always disappoints me when I write about this in relation to Asian American writers’ work. But the overwhelming entrenchment in whiteness in this novel just bothered me so much. In fact, reading part 1 of the book, I was so annoyed I was sure I was going to give this book two stars, which speaks to how parts 2 and 3 redeemed it enough for me to round to three.
What I didn’t love in part one of the book was the main character’s unresolved, unaddressed desire for whiteness and white men, as well as her self-dislike of her Asian traits. Here’s part of a specific passage, where she writes about herself in relation to her white male romantic partner:
“When he held me I looked, instinctively, to our reflection. It was like pressing a bruise, wanting to see if the pain lingered. I wanted to see how contradictory we were, as a pair, the difference of our physical bodies: him blond, built, tall; me with my plain black hair and average height and face that didn’t look good, I believed, unless I wore makeup. It was a face that made people ask: Where are you from?”
I was just like… omg, yikes. And I get that some Asian American people struggle with internalized racism, I get it, but this dynamic of glorifying white men (e.g., implying that being blond and tall are attractive traits, describing her own Asian features as “plain”) does not get addressed in any meaningful way in the book. There are also several passages in part 1 that directly name how the main character and her Asian friends all choose to date white men, but then that pattern is also never addressed in any thorough or thoughtful way. So that was highly disappointing.
I also really questioned the author’s intentions related to racial justice and alignment with white beauty standards during a specific moment in part 2 of the book. In part 2, we follow Nick Chen, who starts off as a senior in high school and we follow him into his college years. Even though he’s part-Chinese, he passes as a white man. I actually found Nick a sympathetic and three-dimensional character and enjoyed reading about him. However, there’s an odd passage in the book where Khong basically writes about Nick’s white-passing privilege as if he’s oppressed by it? I understand that biracial/multiracial people have unique experiences of oppression, but this passage was more about like… Nick basically feeling sorry for himself that he looks white because his ex-girlfriend was annoyed at his racial privilege (which he does have) and Khong implying that we should feel sympathy for tall blond white men, even though we’re already socialized within the United States to view these people as attractive? Idk, it was weird in a negative way and didn’t sit right with me.
Anyway, this book is titled Real Americans but it was more like… Chinese Americans navigate intergenerational (mis)communications while spending a lot of time with white people. Some parts I liked and others I really didn’t. I’ll also just leave some novels I’ve really enjoyed over the past few years by Asian women with three-dimensional Asian female characters whose lives don’t revolve around whiteness: Yolk by Mary Choi, Sea Change by Gina Chung, and Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan. I’ll also recommend Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou that takes a more racial justice-oriented approach to matters of Asian Americans and internalized racism.
February 16, 2025
this was and also was not what i was expecting.
this story delivers on the complicated intergenerational drama it promises, but the reason for it all was not something i would have ever guessed or even really liked. the narrative is structured in a way that individually examines the different asian-american experiences in the family, but it fails at fully resolving any of their issues. commentary on racial injustice is provided for some of these experiences, but there are sections where that commentary doesnt rightly address internalized racism.
this story does a good job at portraying a mothers desire to do right for their children, how the children may not always appreciate or understand their parents actions, and the difficulties of coming-of-age in a country where you are perceived as different. but i also think the story doesnt quite fulfill its commitment to certain themes, characters, or writing decisions.
so again, this both was and was not what i was expecting.
↠ 3.5 stars
this story delivers on the complicated intergenerational drama it promises, but the reason for it all was not something i would have ever guessed or even really liked. the narrative is structured in a way that individually examines the different asian-american experiences in the family, but it fails at fully resolving any of their issues. commentary on racial injustice is provided for some of these experiences, but there are sections where that commentary doesnt rightly address internalized racism.
this story does a good job at portraying a mothers desire to do right for their children, how the children may not always appreciate or understand their parents actions, and the difficulties of coming-of-age in a country where you are perceived as different. but i also think the story doesnt quite fulfill its commitment to certain themes, characters, or writing decisions.
so again, this both was and was not what i was expecting.
↠ 3.5 stars
May 14, 2024
Audiobook: perfection with 3 narrators!
*great book club pick!
Loved it so much!!
We'll see if I can make this review make any sense, and maybe it'll just be another review for you to be convinced to pick up Real Americans. This review is different because I think the story really came alive on audiobook. The story is broken up in 3 parts and each part has a different narrator. Each had their own way of reading through the story, but what they all had in common was emotion in their voices. As the listener, you could really feel the pains, joys, challenges that Lily, Nick, and May faced come out in the narration. Couldn't recommend it enough.
There was a science bit to Real Americans that I wasn't expecting and honestly I let it kind of go over my head, but I enjoyed the development and the family relationships and the challenges each of them faced over the generations throughout the book. This book is for anyone who loves a complicated family drama and who can appreciate the nuances and layers that brings. The things not said. This is a pretty surface level review, but I really did love it and think the story was absolutely beautifully done. The last 20% really came together for me. Highly recommend the audio!
*great book club pick!
Loved it so much!!
We'll see if I can make this review make any sense, and maybe it'll just be another review for you to be convinced to pick up Real Americans. This review is different because I think the story really came alive on audiobook. The story is broken up in 3 parts and each part has a different narrator. Each had their own way of reading through the story, but what they all had in common was emotion in their voices. As the listener, you could really feel the pains, joys, challenges that Lily, Nick, and May faced come out in the narration. Couldn't recommend it enough.
There was a science bit to Real Americans that I wasn't expecting and honestly I let it kind of go over my head, but I enjoyed the development and the family relationships and the challenges each of them faced over the generations throughout the book. This book is for anyone who loves a complicated family drama and who can appreciate the nuances and layers that brings. The things not said. This is a pretty surface level review, but I really did love it and think the story was absolutely beautifully done. The last 20% really came together for me. Highly recommend the audio!
March 30, 2025
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. (Karl Marx)
In other words, we all make many choices in our lives, but many things are already chosen for us. This might be down to where in the world we’re born, to which family, or a whole bunch of other elements, including inherited health conditions. It's is a theme that runs throughout this excellent novel, and yet it took me me quite a while to identify this.
It’s starts with Lily meeting Matthew. The former is a Chinese-American woman of very limited means, and the latter is most definitely a born and bred American, and not short of a bob or two. He quickly whisks her off to Paris, seemingly on the spur of the moment, and soon after they’re a couple. I thought this would be the beginning of the story but I was to learn that this was actually the mid-point, we’ll learn how the story truly begins, and then how it ends, later in the book.
There are, in fact, three generations covered here. Their stories are complex and interweaving. But because of the way it’s structured, it isn't initially clear where it's all heading. The story of Mai (Lily’s mother) is the most harrowing section, documenting the chilling regime imposed by Mao Zedong and the very limited options open to all but the party leaders and their families. The final section brings everything together and finally makes sense of the piece as a whole.
There’s a good deal of philosophising here, and lots of science, too. But the central theme is how luck, or fortune, plays such a key role in determining what sort of life it is we will be allowed to lead. Unless we are able to load the odds in our favour, that is. Is it possible that modern science has a card up its sleeve that will enable us to improve our odds? There is a science fiction element to this tale, but based (I presume) on what might one day be possible. It was always there in this story, in the background, but it wasn't intrusive, and I didn't spot it for the most part. It crept up on me, and actually not in a bad way. In truth, I was always more engaged in the people: their stories, what they desired, and what was driving them.
There are small things here that I could pick at, but really it’s a tale that had me gripped pretty much from the start. It’s superbly written and imaginatively created. I loved it and was really sad to finally finish this slow-moving but hugely thought-provoking tale.
In other words, we all make many choices in our lives, but many things are already chosen for us. This might be down to where in the world we’re born, to which family, or a whole bunch of other elements, including inherited health conditions. It's is a theme that runs throughout this excellent novel, and yet it took me me quite a while to identify this.
It’s starts with Lily meeting Matthew. The former is a Chinese-American woman of very limited means, and the latter is most definitely a born and bred American, and not short of a bob or two. He quickly whisks her off to Paris, seemingly on the spur of the moment, and soon after they’re a couple. I thought this would be the beginning of the story but I was to learn that this was actually the mid-point, we’ll learn how the story truly begins, and then how it ends, later in the book.
There are, in fact, three generations covered here. Their stories are complex and interweaving. But because of the way it’s structured, it isn't initially clear where it's all heading. The story of Mai (Lily’s mother) is the most harrowing section, documenting the chilling regime imposed by Mao Zedong and the very limited options open to all but the party leaders and their families. The final section brings everything together and finally makes sense of the piece as a whole.
There’s a good deal of philosophising here, and lots of science, too. But the central theme is how luck, or fortune, plays such a key role in determining what sort of life it is we will be allowed to lead. Unless we are able to load the odds in our favour, that is. Is it possible that modern science has a card up its sleeve that will enable us to improve our odds? There is a science fiction element to this tale, but based (I presume) on what might one day be possible. It was always there in this story, in the background, but it wasn't intrusive, and I didn't spot it for the most part. It crept up on me, and actually not in a bad way. In truth, I was always more engaged in the people: their stories, what they desired, and what was driving them.
There are small things here that I could pick at, but really it’s a tale that had me gripped pretty much from the start. It’s superbly written and imaginatively created. I loved it and was really sad to finally finish this slow-moving but hugely thought-provoking tale.
April 30, 2024
Every once in a while a book will sneak up on you and you know it will be one that you will think about for a long time afterwards. This book is beautifully written, will have you immediately interested in the characters and where this story will take them. It is told in multiple POV's, Lily, Nick and Mei with my favorite being Lily’s though all three are wonderful in their own way. Lily was so ambitious and hardworking that I wanted to reach out and give her a hug. I felt so bad for Nick in parts and I wanted him to be able to find his own life and a way to be happy with how things were. Mei's story was sad and reflective but also filled with hope and wonder.
I will say that this book is not at all what I expected but in a good way and I ended up liking it more than I initially thought I would. I love that even though the book is told from multiple POV's and multiple timelines, they all come together in the end and you have a new perspective on each character. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf and Rachel Khong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 4/30/24
I will say that this book is not at all what I expected but in a good way and I ended up liking it more than I initially thought I would. I love that even though the book is told from multiple POV's and multiple timelines, they all come together in the end and you have a new perspective on each character. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf and Rachel Khong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 4/30/24
April 21, 2024
4.5 stars
I just finished a major project for class, so I’m hoping to have some time for catching up on my leisure reading over the next couple weeks. I decided to pick up Rachel Khong’s Real Americans next because of an author talk I plan to attend (which I’m very much looking forward to!).
I will start off by saying that, admittedly, this was one of those books that I found a little bit hard to parse at times, mostly because of the “science” element — which, even though it remains largely in the background throughout most of the story, it does play a pretty significant role in advancing parts of the plot. That said however, I feel that the way Khong structured the story is brilliant — there are 3 parts to the story, each told from the first person perspective of 3 different characters: Lily in 1999, Nick in 2021, and Mei in 2030. All 3 voices felt distinct to me, which is an admirable feat, no doubt, given how different it is to pull off. The first part of the story, told from Lily’s perspective, reads like a romance, as it is the love story of how Lily — the daughter of Chinese immigrants who struggles to make sense of her life working a dead-end job that she’s not even getting paid for — meets Matthew, the rich heir of a pharmaceutical conglomerate -a and how they ultimately fall in love and start a family together. Part 2 fast forwards 22 years later — Lily and Matthew are separated and Lily is raising their son Nick, who is 15 years old, alone in a remote part of Washington. Told from Nick’s perspective, this part feels like a coming of age story, as Nick (who, though biracial, looks more like his father than his mother) struggles to come to terms with his own identity as well as that of his estranged father, whom his mother refuses to tell him anything about. Part 3 takes place 9 years later, in 2030, but actually provides the backstory that explains many of the things that happened in parts 1 and 2. This last section (which reads like historical fiction) is told from the perspective of Lily’s mother Mei, as she recounts what her life was like growing up in China in the 1960s, at the height of the country’s Cultural Revolution, and how she ended up fleeing to America. What I found interesting about this structure is that all 3 parts, at times, read like 3 different stories (albeit with the same characters), and interestingly enough, the 3 timelines never truly converge like most multiple timeline stories do, yet the overarching story as a whole never felt disjointed. As I was reading, I was continually engaged with the story, even though oftentimes, not a whole lot was actually happening plot-wise. All the characters in here were also well-drawn, realistic, and relatable — especially the 3 characters who narrate the story.
Another interesting thing to note with this story is that it’s not one of those stories that ties everything up neatly (and not just the ending). There are gaps in all 3 timelines that are never fully explained, yet the story still feels complete somehow (not sure how to explain this properly but I think those who’ve read this will know what I mean).
Overall, this was an engrossing read that I absolutely recommend. The story itself is definitely the slow burn type — quiet, subtle, and rarely makes any major waves — yet it also never felt boring to me (case in point, I read this in 2 days because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down). Part of this was due to Khong’s writing, which the blurb to the book already describes perfectly as “moving” and “immersive.” I haven’t yet read Khong’s debut novel Goodbye, Vitamin , but given how much I enjoyed this new one, I will definitely have to go back and read that one.
Received ARC from Knopf via NetGalley.
I just finished a major project for class, so I’m hoping to have some time for catching up on my leisure reading over the next couple weeks. I decided to pick up Rachel Khong’s Real Americans next because of an author talk I plan to attend (which I’m very much looking forward to!).
I will start off by saying that, admittedly, this was one of those books that I found a little bit hard to parse at times, mostly because of the “science” element — which, even though it remains largely in the background throughout most of the story, it does play a pretty significant role in advancing parts of the plot. That said however, I feel that the way Khong structured the story is brilliant — there are 3 parts to the story, each told from the first person perspective of 3 different characters: Lily in 1999, Nick in 2021, and Mei in 2030. All 3 voices felt distinct to me, which is an admirable feat, no doubt, given how different it is to pull off. The first part of the story, told from Lily’s perspective, reads like a romance, as it is the love story of how Lily — the daughter of Chinese immigrants who struggles to make sense of her life working a dead-end job that she’s not even getting paid for — meets Matthew, the rich heir of a pharmaceutical conglomerate -a and how they ultimately fall in love and start a family together. Part 2 fast forwards 22 years later — Lily and Matthew are separated and Lily is raising their son Nick, who is 15 years old, alone in a remote part of Washington. Told from Nick’s perspective, this part feels like a coming of age story, as Nick (who, though biracial, looks more like his father than his mother) struggles to come to terms with his own identity as well as that of his estranged father, whom his mother refuses to tell him anything about. Part 3 takes place 9 years later, in 2030, but actually provides the backstory that explains many of the things that happened in parts 1 and 2. This last section (which reads like historical fiction) is told from the perspective of Lily’s mother Mei, as she recounts what her life was like growing up in China in the 1960s, at the height of the country’s Cultural Revolution, and how she ended up fleeing to America. What I found interesting about this structure is that all 3 parts, at times, read like 3 different stories (albeit with the same characters), and interestingly enough, the 3 timelines never truly converge like most multiple timeline stories do, yet the overarching story as a whole never felt disjointed. As I was reading, I was continually engaged with the story, even though oftentimes, not a whole lot was actually happening plot-wise. All the characters in here were also well-drawn, realistic, and relatable — especially the 3 characters who narrate the story.
Another interesting thing to note with this story is that it’s not one of those stories that ties everything up neatly (and not just the ending). There are gaps in all 3 timelines that are never fully explained, yet the story still feels complete somehow (not sure how to explain this properly but I think those who’ve read this will know what I mean).
Overall, this was an engrossing read that I absolutely recommend. The story itself is definitely the slow burn type — quiet, subtle, and rarely makes any major waves — yet it also never felt boring to me (case in point, I read this in 2 days because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down). Part of this was due to Khong’s writing, which the blurb to the book already describes perfectly as “moving” and “immersive.” I haven’t yet read Khong’s debut novel Goodbye, Vitamin , but given how much I enjoyed this new one, I will definitely have to go back and read that one.
Received ARC from Knopf via NetGalley.
June 2, 2024
5 ⭐️
Truly incredible. Need to process before I write a full review, but wow this blew me away
Truly incredible. Need to process before I write a full review, but wow this blew me away
April 9, 2025
There is a piercing scene about halfway through this book, capturing its main theme of our powerlessness in the face of biology. A mother is watching her son at a high-school graduation party:
* * * * * *
So few novelists are willing to take risks that I do not enjoy wagging a finger at a novel for being too ambitious. Khong writes individual scenes the elicit emotions very well, but too much of the book is setting up mysteries that are eventually resolved. Given the length of time required to read this, it would have perhaps benefited from a smaller cast; I sometimes found myself confused because minor characters named Jenna and Jenny and Jimmy kept popping up and I couldn't keep them straight. It wasn't until page 115 that an intriguing plot point was introduced. Having finished this and pondered it for a while, I still don't know what the title was intending to communicate; if you're looking for some sort of political slant, you should look elsewhere.
Here's something interesting, though: In most books, there are characters we like and characters we don't. In this book, all the characters were unlikeable in young adulthood, which is the period most of them are introduced; lovable as children and teens and a mixed bag later in life; some have owned up to their mistakes and earn our sympathy, others remain monsters until their dying day. This seems like an obvious approach but I don't think I've seen an author tackle it systematically in this way before.
To rate this is a struggle. I'd slog through pages and pages of fairly uninteresting plot development, but then a dying mother says, "I wonder if you can understand this: that the way I loved her was different from the way she wanted to be loved. Every day of my life -- and there are not many more now -- I will regret this." Scenes like that hit their marks and hit them hard.
My mother held a glass of champagne. She seldom drank. On occasion I caught her staring at me, with love in her expression that was a little too much to bear.When I read that, I thought it was a nice illustration of the central mystery of the book, not realizing that it was only one of them. Khong describes three generations of two entangled families and each generation has their own mysteries, their own hurts, their own moments of supreme happiness. The pain each generation inflicts on their parents and/or children is a central part of this book, and made me sad. These cruelties stemmed not from malice but from an attempt to do "what is best for them." Only later in life, when the consequences of their decisions are revealed, do they acquire the wisdom that could have saved everybody a great deal of misery.
She was staring, again, when I tilted my head to eat an oyster. When I looked back at her, her face had lost its color. Her expression said she didn't know me at all, but recognized me completely.
* * * * * *
So few novelists are willing to take risks that I do not enjoy wagging a finger at a novel for being too ambitious. Khong writes individual scenes the elicit emotions very well, but too much of the book is setting up mysteries that are eventually resolved. Given the length of time required to read this, it would have perhaps benefited from a smaller cast; I sometimes found myself confused because minor characters named Jenna and Jenny and Jimmy kept popping up and I couldn't keep them straight. It wasn't until page 115 that an intriguing plot point was introduced. Having finished this and pondered it for a while, I still don't know what the title was intending to communicate; if you're looking for some sort of political slant, you should look elsewhere.
Here's something interesting, though: In most books, there are characters we like and characters we don't. In this book, all the characters were unlikeable in young adulthood, which is the period most of them are introduced; lovable as children and teens and a mixed bag later in life; some have owned up to their mistakes and earn our sympathy, others remain monsters until their dying day. This seems like an obvious approach but I don't think I've seen an author tackle it systematically in this way before.
To rate this is a struggle. I'd slog through pages and pages of fairly uninteresting plot development, but then a dying mother says, "I wonder if you can understand this: that the way I loved her was different from the way she wanted to be loved. Every day of my life -- and there are not many more now -- I will regret this." Scenes like that hit their marks and hit them hard.
September 14, 2023
Part 1 - Lily: 2 stars
Part 2- Nick: 3 stars
Part 3; May/Mei: 4 stars
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD
This book was very uneven for me. It feels like Khong spent so long on the third part of the novel that she didn't flesh out the beginning. I considered abandoning the story when it centered on Lily because it was so light on characterization. Lily meets and falls in love with Matthew, but he is little more than an archetype of a rich, white man who wants to distance himself from his wealthy family. His father, Otto, is similarly painted with a very light brush. They don't seem like characters but narrative necessities to get where we're going.
The plot moved briskly in the first third, likely because the other parts were far more interesting. When Lily gives birth to her son with Matthew, the child looks nothing like her. "The baby who wasn't my baby was brought to my breast, and I let him eat," Khong writes. That is the briefest description of a mother's first experience breastfeeding that I've ever read. It's like Khong knew the rest of the book was meatier and wanted to get there as soon as possible.
The book gets much richer in the second part, as we delve into Nick's life. His character is much more fully fleshed-out than his parents', though we do learn a bit more about Lily and Matthew in part two.
The final third is where the book really soars--when you learn about the hardships Mei endures to make her way from China to the United States. Yes, it gives you insight into why she did what she did and how the revelation of her sins blew up Lily and Matthew's marriage. Matthew remains little more than an absent father archetype, but at least we understand the first part a little bit more.
The "magic" part of the book never worked for me, and I don't really understand its purpose in the story. So Mei swallowed a magic lotus seed that gave her, Lily, and Nick the gift of time? A gift no amount of money can buy. This ability to stop time allows Nick, who was struggling badly to understand anything in his college classes, to suddenly become a straight-A student? It seemed out-of-place and awfully convenient.
One loose thread--how did Ping's letter to Mei come into Nick's possession, and why did we never get her modern-day reaction to seeing a picture of her long-lost love? She now knows for sure that he lived. And thrived.
Part 2- Nick: 3 stars
Part 3; May/Mei: 4 stars
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD
This book was very uneven for me. It feels like Khong spent so long on the third part of the novel that she didn't flesh out the beginning. I considered abandoning the story when it centered on Lily because it was so light on characterization. Lily meets and falls in love with Matthew, but he is little more than an archetype of a rich, white man who wants to distance himself from his wealthy family. His father, Otto, is similarly painted with a very light brush. They don't seem like characters but narrative necessities to get where we're going.
The plot moved briskly in the first third, likely because the other parts were far more interesting. When Lily gives birth to her son with Matthew, the child looks nothing like her. "The baby who wasn't my baby was brought to my breast, and I let him eat," Khong writes. That is the briefest description of a mother's first experience breastfeeding that I've ever read. It's like Khong knew the rest of the book was meatier and wanted to get there as soon as possible.
The book gets much richer in the second part, as we delve into Nick's life. His character is much more fully fleshed-out than his parents', though we do learn a bit more about Lily and Matthew in part two.
The final third is where the book really soars--when you learn about the hardships Mei endures to make her way from China to the United States. Yes, it gives you insight into why she did what she did and how the revelation of her sins blew up Lily and Matthew's marriage. Matthew remains little more than an absent father archetype, but at least we understand the first part a little bit more.
The "magic" part of the book never worked for me, and I don't really understand its purpose in the story. So Mei swallowed a magic lotus seed that gave her, Lily, and Nick the gift of time? A gift no amount of money can buy. This ability to stop time allows Nick, who was struggling badly to understand anything in his college classes, to suddenly become a straight-A student? It seemed out-of-place and awfully convenient.
One loose thread--how did Ping's letter to Mei come into Nick's possession, and why did we never get her modern-day reaction to seeing a picture of her long-lost love? She now knows for sure that he lived. And thrived.
March 13, 2024
A true intergenerational Chinese-American novel that spans decades and cities and POVs, sitting somewhere between reality and fantasy (my favorite kind of place). This felt like PACHINKO for a newer generation -- reminiscent of the way Sanjena Sathian's GOLD DIGGERS talked about the intertwining of family trauma, or how Gabrielle Zevin's TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW took on love and technology in a coming of age tale.
(Got flagged for not saying i got a free review copy so this is my disclaimer that this is an ARC review lol)
(Got flagged for not saying i got a free review copy so this is my disclaimer that this is an ARC review lol)
August 4, 2025
This engaging novel covers 50 years in the lives of three generations. It begins with Lily, a first-generation Chinese American who meets Matthew, a tall blonde man who shares her goals. When Lily meets his family, it is soon apparent that Matthew comes from a very wealthy family, the opposite of hers. They marry, and together survive the unimaginable horror of 9/11 when they live in NYC. Their lives are further enriched by the birth of their son, Nick.
Part 2 is narrated by Nick, who is living alone with his mother in very reduced circumstances. What happened? The third part is the story of May, Lily's mother who immigrated from China with her husband, Charles. May is a brilliant scientist working with Charles on break-through discoveries that may or may not enhance life. Her story is heartbreaking and skillfully told. The history of Mao's impact on life in China is difficult to read.
As with Goodbye, Vitamin, Khong has skillfully created characters in an interesting plot. Readers are able to see the characters from both a first-person view and then the opportunity to see them as others see them. This is an impressive talent.
Part 2 is narrated by Nick, who is living alone with his mother in very reduced circumstances. What happened? The third part is the story of May, Lily's mother who immigrated from China with her husband, Charles. May is a brilliant scientist working with Charles on break-through discoveries that may or may not enhance life. Her story is heartbreaking and skillfully told. The history of Mao's impact on life in China is difficult to read.
As with Goodbye, Vitamin, Khong has skillfully created characters in an interesting plot. Readers are able to see the characters from both a first-person view and then the opportunity to see them as others see them. This is an impressive talent.
May 31, 2024
I read Real Americans for a Barnes and Noble Book Club discussion. I am so glad I attended the meeting. There is a lot to consider and question, and hearing others’ thoughts and opinions made me like the book more than my initial reading. The group felt part one and two went very quickly and there was “no meat” on the bones of the story. My feeling was they were very surface level romance and coming of age stories. The “real” story was Mei’s, which was the focus of part three.
I loved reading her story. Mei’s character had real depth and stayed true to her core belief throughout the story. I love learning about countries and time periods through the lens of a strong character. We see rural and urban China through Mei’s eyes, pre-revolution and during the communist revolution. I found this to be very interesting and powerful. I liked the history, cultural significance, and metaphor of the Lotus throughout the story. The hardcover book’s exterior pages are painted red with white lotus buds surrounding it. It’s absolutely beautiful. There were two bracelets that were threaded throughout the narrative. They were used as a means to connect family members across generations and a way to bring characters together.
There were several big topics to discuss or ponder. The first is time. If you could “freeze” time, but yet still use the time, how would you? The idea of freezing time produced three different interpretations of the ending, which I found enlightening and interesting. The second major theme explored is the destructive power of holding back truths or keeping family secrets. Another is the debate of nature, nurture, or a combination of both being responsible for how we turn out as people. The title is derived from the question of “Who is a Real American?” and idealizing the answer. Clearly, some Americans have different experiences based on how they look.
The biggest topic in the novel is that of in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization and genetic engineering/manipulation play a HUGE role in the narrative. Real Americans does a wonderful job delving into the science side, and a decent job exploring the impact on people when they find out about the role of in vitro in regards to their being. If you would like an in depth look and deep dive into the impact on people conceived through in vitro without knowing (truth withheld or family secret), I strongly recommend Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami.
I loved reading her story. Mei’s character had real depth and stayed true to her core belief throughout the story. I love learning about countries and time periods through the lens of a strong character. We see rural and urban China through Mei’s eyes, pre-revolution and during the communist revolution. I found this to be very interesting and powerful. I liked the history, cultural significance, and metaphor of the Lotus throughout the story. The hardcover book’s exterior pages are painted red with white lotus buds surrounding it. It’s absolutely beautiful. There were two bracelets that were threaded throughout the narrative. They were used as a means to connect family members across generations and a way to bring characters together.
There were several big topics to discuss or ponder. The first is time. If you could “freeze” time, but yet still use the time, how would you? The idea of freezing time produced three different interpretations of the ending, which I found enlightening and interesting. The second major theme explored is the destructive power of holding back truths or keeping family secrets. Another is the debate of nature, nurture, or a combination of both being responsible for how we turn out as people. The title is derived from the question of “Who is a Real American?” and idealizing the answer. Clearly, some Americans have different experiences based on how they look.
The biggest topic in the novel is that of in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization and genetic engineering/manipulation play a HUGE role in the narrative. Real Americans does a wonderful job delving into the science side, and a decent job exploring the impact on people when they find out about the role of in vitro in regards to their being. If you would like an in depth look and deep dive into the impact on people conceived through in vitro without knowing (truth withheld or family secret), I strongly recommend Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami.
April 30, 2024
My taste in recent years have drifted towards lighthearted books, but every once in a while I come across something like this with a little more meat on its bones that reminds me of how good it can be read something more literary. All that being said, Real Americans might end up being my favorite book from all of 2024. It's the kind of book that I loved so much, it's hard to put it into words without falling over myself saying, "It's so good, just read it, it's so good."
It's 420 pages, give or take, and I read it in 24 hours, give or take. I read the first half of it on a six-hour drive from Maryland to Ohio, thankful that my husband didn't mind that I stayed in the passenger seat the whole time. I thought it would last me the entire three days, but I stayed up late that first night to keep reading it and woke up early to finish it before going to spend the day with my nephew. It's that kind of book.
The story is hard to summarize, but it's broken into three parts following three generations of the same family. We start with Lily in the late 90s. The daughter of Chinese immigrants who grew up primarily in Florida, Lily is interning for a media company in New York City, struggling to get by when she meets Matthew at a company holiday party. His uncle runs the company where shes interning and he uses his wealth to sweep her off her feet. Turns out his father is the head of one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the country, so flying to Paris on a moment's notice is nothing for Matthew. It's an adjustment for Lily, but eventually the two fall deeply in love.
The second part of the book picks up in 2021 when their son, Nick, is in high school in Washington State. Lily's life looks a little different these days, as she is no longer with Matthew and has largely kept Nick from knowing who his father even is. We don't know exactly what caused the fallout, but Lily and Nick are now living an isolated life on a remote island outside Seattle. Nick is a lonely teen with a single friend whose dreams of an Ivy League future is really the only thing that pushes Nick himself to think beyond his sheltered world - and to begin a search for his biological father.
The third part is ostensibly set in 2030, when Lily's mother Mei is an old woman looking to make amends at the end of her life, but it really fills in a lot of the missing pieces from the past. Mei lived a hard life in China and her story focuses heavily on her escape from Mao's Cultural Revolution to the US in the 70s. At times, the three threads of the story, and especially this last piece, feel disparate, but they all come together to tell a haunting family drama full of secrets.
I will say I was initially drawn to this book because it's tagged here as magical realism and I was a little disappointed that this played a relatively small role in the story. Mei is a scientist and there is quite a bit of talk in her portion of the narrative that is focused on her work in genetics. We see a little bit of the physical effects that her work had on Lily, but the thrust of the book is really the effects that Mei's work has on the relationships within the family. This is ultimately a story about family dynamics and how choices can have rippling effects across time. I adored the characters, I loved the structure, and I was blown away by Khong's prose. It's absolutely incredible.
It's 420 pages, give or take, and I read it in 24 hours, give or take. I read the first half of it on a six-hour drive from Maryland to Ohio, thankful that my husband didn't mind that I stayed in the passenger seat the whole time. I thought it would last me the entire three days, but I stayed up late that first night to keep reading it and woke up early to finish it before going to spend the day with my nephew. It's that kind of book.
The story is hard to summarize, but it's broken into three parts following three generations of the same family. We start with Lily in the late 90s. The daughter of Chinese immigrants who grew up primarily in Florida, Lily is interning for a media company in New York City, struggling to get by when she meets Matthew at a company holiday party. His uncle runs the company where shes interning and he uses his wealth to sweep her off her feet. Turns out his father is the head of one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the country, so flying to Paris on a moment's notice is nothing for Matthew. It's an adjustment for Lily, but eventually the two fall deeply in love.
The second part of the book picks up in 2021 when their son, Nick, is in high school in Washington State. Lily's life looks a little different these days, as she is no longer with Matthew and has largely kept Nick from knowing who his father even is. We don't know exactly what caused the fallout, but Lily and Nick are now living an isolated life on a remote island outside Seattle. Nick is a lonely teen with a single friend whose dreams of an Ivy League future is really the only thing that pushes Nick himself to think beyond his sheltered world - and to begin a search for his biological father.
The third part is ostensibly set in 2030, when Lily's mother Mei is an old woman looking to make amends at the end of her life, but it really fills in a lot of the missing pieces from the past. Mei lived a hard life in China and her story focuses heavily on her escape from Mao's Cultural Revolution to the US in the 70s. At times, the three threads of the story, and especially this last piece, feel disparate, but they all come together to tell a haunting family drama full of secrets.
I will say I was initially drawn to this book because it's tagged here as magical realism and I was a little disappointed that this played a relatively small role in the story. Mei is a scientist and there is quite a bit of talk in her portion of the narrative that is focused on her work in genetics. We see a little bit of the physical effects that her work had on Lily, but the thrust of the book is really the effects that Mei's work has on the relationships within the family. This is ultimately a story about family dynamics and how choices can have rippling effects across time. I adored the characters, I loved the structure, and I was blown away by Khong's prose. It's absolutely incredible.
June 5, 2024
2.5 -- u cant just haphazardly toss magical realism into ur book to try and make it interesting. shit just makes me take a slightly more speculative nap
August 31, 2024
I was underwhelmed with this book. The idea was there but I found the pacing was so off I couldn't get into the book at all. At half the length the plot would've worked for me. This book was trying to hit on some questions of autonomy and family, but because of the pacing and lack of character development, I never felt like it got there. There were a lot of cliff hangers to try and make the reader care, but none of them paid off because the character's motivations made little sense. I needed more in the form of details and less in the form of vibes. There was also some serious stuff in this book that was handled so poorly. I don’t want to spoil but certain topics must be treated with depth and that didn’t happen here.
May 31, 2024
Told through three timelines, Real Americans is a sweeping family saga and I was all in!
The story first follows Lily, a recent college graduate in NYC in the late 90s who meets Matthew, her complete opposite. Despite their seemingly endless differences, the two opposites attract. The story then follows Nick, a 15 year old in 2021, who is curious about his biological father and will pursue information, with or without his mother’s help. After that, a third perspective is revealed, bringing answers to many of the family’s long lingering questions.
I was hooked on Real Americans from the start. It’s a story that explores identity, success, science, culture, and more. I was invested in all three parts of the story though it took longer for the final section to grow on me and keep my interest like the first two did. I highly recommend this engaging family saga.
The story first follows Lily, a recent college graduate in NYC in the late 90s who meets Matthew, her complete opposite. Despite their seemingly endless differences, the two opposites attract. The story then follows Nick, a 15 year old in 2021, who is curious about his biological father and will pursue information, with or without his mother’s help. After that, a third perspective is revealed, bringing answers to many of the family’s long lingering questions.
I was hooked on Real Americans from the start. It’s a story that explores identity, success, science, culture, and more. I was invested in all three parts of the story though it took longer for the final section to grow on me and keep my interest like the first two did. I highly recommend this engaging family saga.
March 6, 2025
⭐ Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 Opening Round - Readers' Favorite Fiction
Lily
I'll be honest. I didn't think I was going to like this. I'm still not entirely sure I do, but it gave me a lot to think about. I wouldn't say this part was my least favorite, but Lily wasn't my favorite.
By now, you know the r/WMAF discourse. There are obviously pros and cons to dating outside your race, but when the balance of power is this unequal, I don't think you can truly thrive.
Matthew is supposed to be easygoing and easy to love. I don't see it. I had a feeling this was going where I thought it was going. His family, while not outwardly terrible, is terrible. It's not shocking, and it's not supposed to be.
Nick
I clearly didn't read the premise or anything, because I was shocked when POVs changed. This, surprisingly, was my favorite part. Poor little secretly rich boy has issues.
Nick is Lily and Matthew's son. He looks exactly like Matthew. I know genetics are weird, and this is actually explained later, but as a white passing multiracial person, he feels invalidated by this, and many other things.
A loner, his one friend is Timothy, who is a bit of a sad boy himself. By this point, Lily and Matthew have divorced. Nick has no contact with his father, and doesn't even know his name. Timothy suggests buying a DNA kit. All goes well. Just kidding.
May
I truly thought I would love May's story best. I felt a bit disconnected from her, even more so than with Lily, which shocked me. The choices she had to make in Communist China are obviously not her fault. She did the best with what she had at the time.
By the time she and Charles make it to the US, I felt a modicum of sympathy, but some things still felt unexplained and misinterpreted.
Not sure I enjoyed the wrap-up, but as a character-based novel, this shines. There are plenty of books I love where I hate nearly all of the characters, and I think this will have to be included. What is life, if not people with inherent flaws?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf
Lily
I'll be honest. I didn't think I was going to like this. I'm still not entirely sure I do, but it gave me a lot to think about. I wouldn't say this part was my least favorite, but Lily wasn't my favorite.
By now, you know the r/WMAF discourse. There are obviously pros and cons to dating outside your race, but when the balance of power is this unequal, I don't think you can truly thrive.
Matthew is supposed to be easygoing and easy to love. I don't see it. I had a feeling this was going where I thought it was going. His family, while not outwardly terrible, is terrible. It's not shocking, and it's not supposed to be.
Nick
I clearly didn't read the premise or anything, because I was shocked when POVs changed. This, surprisingly, was my favorite part. Poor little secretly rich boy has issues.
Nick is Lily and Matthew's son. He looks exactly like Matthew. I know genetics are weird, and this is actually explained later, but as a white passing multiracial person, he feels invalidated by this, and many other things.
A loner, his one friend is Timothy, who is a bit of a sad boy himself. By this point, Lily and Matthew have divorced. Nick has no contact with his father, and doesn't even know his name. Timothy suggests buying a DNA kit. All goes well. Just kidding.
May
I truly thought I would love May's story best. I felt a bit disconnected from her, even more so than with Lily, which shocked me. The choices she had to make in Communist China are obviously not her fault. She did the best with what she had at the time.
By the time she and Charles make it to the US, I felt a modicum of sympathy, but some things still felt unexplained and misinterpreted.
Not sure I enjoyed the wrap-up, but as a character-based novel, this shines. There are plenty of books I love where I hate nearly all of the characters, and I think this will have to be included. What is life, if not people with inherent flaws?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf
September 25, 2023
i enjoyed most of this novel. it is very well written, but the first section was absolutely my favorite. lily is such a compelling woman, and her struggles with motherhood after birth are so heartbreaking and brilliant. i didn't care much for nick. i cared even less for mei's story. the magic aspect of this novel just doesn't work. it's thrown in so haphazardly and takes away from the original theme of chinese folks trying to assimilate/survive/be accepted into a terribly racist america.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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April 23, 2025Znakomicie skonstruowana powieść o tym, co dziedziczymy — z krwi, z wyborów naszych rodziców, z historii, którą niesie nasze nazwisko. Rachel Khong snuje wielopokoleniową opowieść o odosobnieniu, utracie tożsamości i samotności, które pojawiają się tam, gdzie najsilniejsze jest pragnienie przynależności i bycia kochanym. To książka o migracjach, o dziedziczeniu traum, ale także o ambicjach i marzeniach, które próbujemy wypełnić, czasem za wszelką cenę.
Rok 1999. Lily jest Amerykanką, bo urodziła się w Stanach i mówi po angielsku. Ale czy wygląda jak „prawdziwa” Amerykanka, skoro ma chińskie korzenie? Przyzwyczajona do tego, że jest albo niewidzialna, albo egzotyzowana, z dystansem reaguje na zainteresowanie Matthew — pięknego, beztroskiego spadkobiercy farmaceutycznego imperium. Pomimo dzielących ich klasowych przepaści, Lily wpuszcza go do swojego życia, pozwalając, by zmienił jej codzienność. Nie spodziewa się jednak, że pewnych rzeczy nie da się zmienić — a sekrety, które pozostają w cieniu, potrafią zatruć nawet największą bliskość.
Rok 2021. Nick dorasta na odizolowanej wyspie w stanie Waszyngton, wychowywany przez samotną matkę, Lily. Coraz mocniej czuje, że coś w tej układance nie pasuje. Dlaczego nie jest podobny do swojej matki? Skąd bierze się jego poczucie obcości, nawet wobec samego siebie? Jego historia to opowieść o wchodzeniu w dorosłość, o odkrywaniu własnej tożsamości, cielesności i miejsca w świecie. Nick marzy o dostaniu się na prestiżowe studia — i niespodziewanie dostaje szansę, która wydaje się otwierać wszystkie drzwi. Ale czy nazwisko, pieniądze i status rzeczywiście mogą zagwarantować szczęście? I jaką cenę trzeba za to zapłacić?
Rok 2030. May wraca myślami do Chin, do czasów rewolucji kulturalnej, do momentów, od których wszystko się zaczęło. Jej opowieść splata całą historię, domykając ją w bolesny, ale pełen zrozumienia krąg. To właśnie w tej części najmocniej wybrzmiewa pytanie, jak wiele możemy wybaczyć sobie i innym — i czy istnieją decyzje, których nie da się już odżałować.
Khong zaskakuje — nie boję się napisać, że eksperymentuje z niektórymi wątkami, wyciągając fabułę w rejony, których się nie spodziewałem. Ale robi to z wyczuciem. Jestem fanem tej odwagi.
„Prawdziwi Amerykanie” to nie tylko opowieść o przetrwaniu, ale też ważny głos w dyskusji o klasowości w Stanach Zjednoczonych i o tym, kto ma prawo nazywać się „prawdziwym Amerykaninem”. Czy dostosowanie się do kapitalistycznych oczekiwań, wybielenie się — dosłownie lub symbolicznie — to jedyna droga do akceptacji? A jeśli tak, to jakim kosztem?
Rachel Khong tka tę historię z dużą czułością dla swoich bohaterów. Tworzy wiarygodne portrety ludzi w różnym wieku, pokazując, jak wielkie i małe decyzje kształtują całe pokolenia. Potrafi uchwycić społeczne napięcia i niepokoje, a między wierszami zostawia nam pytania... i może nawet pewne odpowiedzi.
Rok 1999. Lily jest Amerykanką, bo urodziła się w Stanach i mówi po angielsku. Ale czy wygląda jak „prawdziwa” Amerykanka, skoro ma chińskie korzenie? Przyzwyczajona do tego, że jest albo niewidzialna, albo egzotyzowana, z dystansem reaguje na zainteresowanie Matthew — pięknego, beztroskiego spadkobiercy farmaceutycznego imperium. Pomimo dzielących ich klasowych przepaści, Lily wpuszcza go do swojego życia, pozwalając, by zmienił jej codzienność. Nie spodziewa się jednak, że pewnych rzeczy nie da się zmienić — a sekrety, które pozostają w cieniu, potrafią zatruć nawet największą bliskość.
Rok 2021. Nick dorasta na odizolowanej wyspie w stanie Waszyngton, wychowywany przez samotną matkę, Lily. Coraz mocniej czuje, że coś w tej układance nie pasuje. Dlaczego nie jest podobny do swojej matki? Skąd bierze się jego poczucie obcości, nawet wobec samego siebie? Jego historia to opowieść o wchodzeniu w dorosłość, o odkrywaniu własnej tożsamości, cielesności i miejsca w świecie. Nick marzy o dostaniu się na prestiżowe studia — i niespodziewanie dostaje szansę, która wydaje się otwierać wszystkie drzwi. Ale czy nazwisko, pieniądze i status rzeczywiście mogą zagwarantować szczęście? I jaką cenę trzeba za to zapłacić?
Rok 2030. May wraca myślami do Chin, do czasów rewolucji kulturalnej, do momentów, od których wszystko się zaczęło. Jej opowieść splata całą historię, domykając ją w bolesny, ale pełen zrozumienia krąg. To właśnie w tej części najmocniej wybrzmiewa pytanie, jak wiele możemy wybaczyć sobie i innym — i czy istnieją decyzje, których nie da się już odżałować.
Khong zaskakuje — nie boję się napisać, że eksperymentuje z niektórymi wątkami, wyciągając fabułę w rejony, których się nie spodziewałem. Ale robi to z wyczuciem. Jestem fanem tej odwagi.
„Prawdziwi Amerykanie” to nie tylko opowieść o przetrwaniu, ale też ważny głos w dyskusji o klasowości w Stanach Zjednoczonych i o tym, kto ma prawo nazywać się „prawdziwym Amerykaninem”. Czy dostosowanie się do kapitalistycznych oczekiwań, wybielenie się — dosłownie lub symbolicznie — to jedyna droga do akceptacji? A jeśli tak, to jakim kosztem?
Rachel Khong tka tę historię z dużą czułością dla swoich bohaterów. Tworzy wiarygodne portrety ludzi w różnym wieku, pokazując, jak wielkie i małe decyzje kształtują całe pokolenia. Potrafi uchwycić społeczne napięcia i niepokoje, a między wierszami zostawia nam pytania... i może nawet pewne odpowiedzi.
March 30, 2025
This is the story of three generations of the Chen Family.
The first part is told by Lily who was born in the US on Long Island, NY. Lily starts out as an unpaid intern in 1999 and meets Matthew who wines and dines her. Matthew is an heir to a huge pharmaceutical company. Lily’s parents were scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. She falls in love with Matthew and they marry, but something is not right.
She discovers a devastating secret. It was a game changer.
In the second part 2021 we meet Nick, Lily and Matthew’s son. He is living on in isolated island in Washington State, with his mother. Lily divorced Matthew and ran as far as she could from him and his family. Nick never knew his father. He does a dna test to find his father. He finally connects with him. He discovers that he looks exactly like his father. He can’t understand why his mother kept him from his father all these years. Matthew whats to be part of Nick’s life. Can Nick adjust to Matthew’s life style?
Part three is May’s story. She tells of her life in China during the Revolution. How she became a bio genetics scientist.
She did extensively research which she brought with her when she escaped from China. May is Lily’s mother. Nick has never met her. He was told she was dead.
This was the most interesting part of the book it brings the other two stories together.
This is the compelling story filled with secrets. It was very well written. I just would have liked to have known more.
What happened to Matthew and Lily?
This book is about race, science, relationships and betrayal.
May’s story was the heart of the book as it pulled it all together.
This book would be a very good book club discussion. Have one coming up.
The first part is told by Lily who was born in the US on Long Island, NY. Lily starts out as an unpaid intern in 1999 and meets Matthew who wines and dines her. Matthew is an heir to a huge pharmaceutical company. Lily’s parents were scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. She falls in love with Matthew and they marry, but something is not right.
She discovers a devastating secret. It was a game changer.
In the second part 2021 we meet Nick, Lily and Matthew’s son. He is living on in isolated island in Washington State, with his mother. Lily divorced Matthew and ran as far as she could from him and his family. Nick never knew his father. He does a dna test to find his father. He finally connects with him. He discovers that he looks exactly like his father. He can’t understand why his mother kept him from his father all these years. Matthew whats to be part of Nick’s life. Can Nick adjust to Matthew’s life style?
Part three is May’s story. She tells of her life in China during the Revolution. How she became a bio genetics scientist.
She did extensively research which she brought with her when she escaped from China. May is Lily’s mother. Nick has never met her. He was told she was dead.
This was the most interesting part of the book it brings the other two stories together.
This is the compelling story filled with secrets. It was very well written. I just would have liked to have known more.
What happened to Matthew and Lily?
This book is about race, science, relationships and betrayal.
May’s story was the heart of the book as it pulled it all together.
This book would be a very good book club discussion. Have one coming up.
April 19, 2024
“Hearing a story — what did it accomplish? Nothing and everything.”
So much of our lives are out of our control, from where we are born to who our parents are. We didn’t choose to take after our father's eyes or our mother’s height. We didn’t choose to be born in a country with inherent privilege, while others were born in a country of immense repression and political turmoil. Or a family where I love you is said naturally without hesitation, while for others, it can only be expressed through tough love.
All of these things make it difficult to accept how little agency we have in our lives. How much is fate, and what is within our control?
In ‘Real Americans, ’ we see what happens when one decision to claim control of your family sends a rippling wave of consequences that question what lengths are justified and what is exercising control beyond the boundaries of ethics.
The story is split into three parts, following three generations within a family: grandmother, daughter, and grandson. We are taken across 70 years—from China during Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward to New York during Y2K and 2030, a not-so-distant future. I’m intentionally keeping the plot and characters vague, as I think this story is best told by knowing as little as possible and experiencing and uncovering as you go.
This story is why I get so much fulfillment from multigenerational family sagas. In real life, we do not know all the decisions and circumstances that led to who our parents and grandparents are. We are forced to find answers to the secrets kept and the untold stories. So, it feels like a refreshing opportunity to be presented with a full lineage and see each generation blend into the next. My compassion often expands, and my criticisms are reduced. As we see with this family, we all deserve to give our loved ones more empathy because even if we disagree with their decisions, everyone is doing the best with the cards they've been dealt.
“But what if I’d been born someone else, a place where, whoever you were, you could make your own choices? That was all I wanted. Not a grand wish, just a fair one.”
So many things stood out to me—starting with the relationship with time and whether intentions can redeem the harm of one's actions. Hearing someone’s intentions makes you feel so much but changes so little. The veil and consequences of propaganda are strong in every country, whether we realize it or not.
This story has a lot of love, and all the different forms and shapes were hopeful and heartbreaking. Lastly, as the daughter of immigrant parents, the immigrant experience I always feel very emotional reading, and in this case, hearing about the Chinese diaspora was equally emotional and very layered.
“But it was a mistake, believing you could choose for someone else, no matter how well-intentioned you might be.”
I don’t think I’ve universally felt so much empathy for each main character in a story before. I have only positive things to say! I loved the ending. Every time I reflect, I pick up on something else I love. The structure, science elements, full-circle moments, and plot twists all worked for me. I cannot wait for more people to read.
Thank you so much for the ARC. Rachel, congratulations! It's cemented as one of my favorites of the year.
So much of our lives are out of our control, from where we are born to who our parents are. We didn’t choose to take after our father's eyes or our mother’s height. We didn’t choose to be born in a country with inherent privilege, while others were born in a country of immense repression and political turmoil. Or a family where I love you is said naturally without hesitation, while for others, it can only be expressed through tough love.
All of these things make it difficult to accept how little agency we have in our lives. How much is fate, and what is within our control?
In ‘Real Americans, ’ we see what happens when one decision to claim control of your family sends a rippling wave of consequences that question what lengths are justified and what is exercising control beyond the boundaries of ethics.
The story is split into three parts, following three generations within a family: grandmother, daughter, and grandson. We are taken across 70 years—from China during Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward to New York during Y2K and 2030, a not-so-distant future. I’m intentionally keeping the plot and characters vague, as I think this story is best told by knowing as little as possible and experiencing and uncovering as you go.
This story is why I get so much fulfillment from multigenerational family sagas. In real life, we do not know all the decisions and circumstances that led to who our parents and grandparents are. We are forced to find answers to the secrets kept and the untold stories. So, it feels like a refreshing opportunity to be presented with a full lineage and see each generation blend into the next. My compassion often expands, and my criticisms are reduced. As we see with this family, we all deserve to give our loved ones more empathy because even if we disagree with their decisions, everyone is doing the best with the cards they've been dealt.
“But what if I’d been born someone else, a place where, whoever you were, you could make your own choices? That was all I wanted. Not a grand wish, just a fair one.”
So many things stood out to me—starting with the relationship with time and whether intentions can redeem the harm of one's actions. Hearing someone’s intentions makes you feel so much but changes so little. The veil and consequences of propaganda are strong in every country, whether we realize it or not.
This story has a lot of love, and all the different forms and shapes were hopeful and heartbreaking. Lastly, as the daughter of immigrant parents, the immigrant experience I always feel very emotional reading, and in this case, hearing about the Chinese diaspora was equally emotional and very layered.
“But it was a mistake, believing you could choose for someone else, no matter how well-intentioned you might be.”
I don’t think I’ve universally felt so much empathy for each main character in a story before. I have only positive things to say! I loved the ending. Every time I reflect, I pick up on something else I love. The structure, science elements, full-circle moments, and plot twists all worked for me. I cannot wait for more people to read.
Thank you so much for the ARC. Rachel, congratulations! It's cemented as one of my favorites of the year.
January 15, 2025
The reviews for this book among my friends were all over the place, so I didn’t know what to expect. But I really liked this one. I would teach this book if I were a college professor. I love contemplating existentialism and ethics in conjunction with each other and some of the biggest what ifs of our lives.
March 8, 2025
Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a Historical Fiction with some coming of age novel about Lily, Nick and May. It was more of a coming of age for Nick, or perhaps it is bc that is the part I connected with. I really wanted to love this book. Lily tells of how she meets the love of her life and her start in America. It was an okay part. If the novel ended with her. I would give a 3✨I really got involved when Nick took center stage. It told of his struggles growing up without a dad. As a Chinese American. His bond with his best friend. His first encounters into manhood. His love of his mother and her betrayal. I really enjoyed this section. If this was a stand alone it would be a 3-4✨. Then it was Part three: May: 2030. It seemed like a whole separate book. I was lost. Who is May? What did I miss? I feel like I fell into an abyss of randomness looking for my way. WTF? Just happened here. Third part just did not fit. I wanted everything to circle back and fit. Instead it ended with Nick, wondering what comes next. Then it drops to May…loose ends just hanging. I would have given 2✨close to giving up. Instead I give the author kudos for her attempt. Just too many loose ends. I miss Nick. So a 3✨is where we are.
December 23, 2023
Although I was initially excited to receive an advanced copy of this book, and, as much as my interest was piqued by the first section (albeit it minus the romantic elements, which I could take or leave), as the novel SLOWLY progressed, sadly so too did my interest.
Real Americans had so much potential for being another great, epic, multigenerational saga. Expertly weaving issues of race, class, age -and uniquely (or at least, not as widely written or represented within such genre) science and technology.
However, and it truly does sadden me to say this, as I think with the removal of certain sections (I’m looking at you Nick) -or even if they were written more fluidly, and interwoven better within each characters story, this could have been said toted saga.
Underdeveloped and inconsistent, Real Americans is almost like an unsatisfying sandwich.
Hear me out.
Top layer (1st part) solid stuff to set the groundwork, filling (2nd part) sloppy, slimey (metaphor definitely does work here for Nicks love life lol) almost leaves you with a sour aftertaste in the mouth. Which then brings me onto our bottom layer (part 3). A section which has been done a major disservice due to its predecessor, and as a result, has gone rather stale (aka, boring and unengaging).
Though on reflection, evaluating said sandwich overall (lol maybe this metaphor doesn’t work), this (part 3) should’ve been the strongest element. Much like the top layer (our part 1), holding -and even bringing “it” all together.
Weird choice in metaphor aside, it’s a 2 star from me.
Part 1 -3
Part 2 -1.5
Part 3 -1.5 (due to part 2) but if I wasn’t so bored and desperate to finish, I reckon this would’ve at least been 3.5
Real Americans had so much potential for being another great, epic, multigenerational saga. Expertly weaving issues of race, class, age -and uniquely (or at least, not as widely written or represented within such genre) science and technology.
However, and it truly does sadden me to say this, as I think with the removal of certain sections (I’m looking at you Nick) -or even if they were written more fluidly, and interwoven better within each characters story, this could have been said toted saga.
Underdeveloped and inconsistent, Real Americans is almost like an unsatisfying sandwich.
Hear me out.
Top layer (1st part) solid stuff to set the groundwork, filling (2nd part) sloppy, slimey (metaphor definitely does work here for Nicks love life lol) almost leaves you with a sour aftertaste in the mouth. Which then brings me onto our bottom layer (part 3). A section which has been done a major disservice due to its predecessor, and as a result, has gone rather stale (aka, boring and unengaging).
Though on reflection, evaluating said sandwich overall (lol maybe this metaphor doesn’t work), this (part 3) should’ve been the strongest element. Much like the top layer (our part 1), holding -and even bringing “it” all together.
Weird choice in metaphor aside, it’s a 2 star from me.
Part 1 -3
Part 2 -1.5
Part 3 -1.5 (due to part 2) but if I wasn’t so bored and desperate to finish, I reckon this would’ve at least been 3.5
July 6, 2024
**** 7/3/24 **** Finished, and not at all what I was expecting! This is a 3-part, 3-generation book, told from the perspective of Mom, then son, then Grandma. The book melds themes of culture (China), race/racism (do you look like your identified race?), education/acquisition of knowledge (language, STEM, philosophy), romance/relationships, and a final theme that is STEM related, which was a surprise to me and I won't disclose spoilers, but was pretty interesting.
I loved the book, and loved the characters for the most part. Rachel Khong can really write some great characters and stories in a high-literature contemporary style that is not overly serious! I disliked a couple of choices that some primary characters made, but I still enjoyed the ride. The section on Nick and his friend being accepted to multiple Ivy colleges given their backgrounds was completely ridiculous and virtually impossible. I've read Khong attended Yale, so maybe she wanted to represent?
Anyway, the minor quibbles I had don't matter that much to me and I would recommend this book. 5-stars.
****6/28/24**** Just got a copy of this on the New Releases shelf at my local Los Angeles Public Library - yay! This has been on my TBR list, so am excited to get a copy. One of my 2024 reading goals is to be more spontaneous with my reading - when I see a book, I grab it and dive in. Am already 30% in and intrigued. There is just the slightest hint of a mystery that I look forward to learning more about. So far, I LOVE it.
I loved the book, and loved the characters for the most part. Rachel Khong can really write some great characters and stories in a high-literature contemporary style that is not overly serious! I disliked a couple of choices that some primary characters made, but I still enjoyed the ride. The section on Nick and his friend being accepted to multiple Ivy colleges given their backgrounds was completely ridiculous and virtually impossible. I've read Khong attended Yale, so maybe she wanted to represent?
Anyway, the minor quibbles I had don't matter that much to me and I would recommend this book. 5-stars.
****6/28/24**** Just got a copy of this on the New Releases shelf at my local Los Angeles Public Library - yay! This has been on my TBR list, so am excited to get a copy. One of my 2024 reading goals is to be more spontaneous with my reading - when I see a book, I grab it and dive in. Am already 30% in and intrigued. There is just the slightest hint of a mystery that I look forward to learning more about. So far, I LOVE it.
June 13, 2024
I really enjoyed Lily and Nick's POVs but Mei's was a little harder to follow for me. On the one hand I wasn't a fan of Mei's parts but on the other hand it also went to show that Khong can give different characters their unique voices and flairs which is always impressive.
Sprawling family sagas aren't my thing but it was done exceptionally well here and with such a reasonable number of pages I'm really impressed with how organic and unrushed the storytelling came across as. Seriously, with the topics this book approaches I expected it to be on the ponderous and slightly pretentious side but it was neither, I found it almost charming (oddly enough) and entirely unpretentious. On a technical aspect I would absolutely give this one a 5/5.
It was my first time reading this author and it will certainly not be the last.
Sprawling family sagas aren't my thing but it was done exceptionally well here and with such a reasonable number of pages I'm really impressed with how organic and unrushed the storytelling came across as. Seriously, with the topics this book approaches I expected it to be on the ponderous and slightly pretentious side but it was neither, I found it almost charming (oddly enough) and entirely unpretentious. On a technical aspect I would absolutely give this one a 5/5.
It was my first time reading this author and it will certainly not be the last.
September 25, 2024
"Real Americans" looks at three different generations of a Chinese American family, but in a nonlinear way. First, we meet Lily Chen, who in 1999 is 22 years old. She is working as an unpaid (and financially struggling) intern for an arts magazine in NYC. She had been raised in Florida by two genetic scientists, who had escaped Communist China in the 1970's. At a company party, Lily meets Matthew, who seems handsome, romantic and impossibly rich. Theirs is a Cinderella story.
The book then focuses upon their son Nick, fifteen years later. At that time, Nick and Lily are living on a remote island in Washington state. Lily and Matthew have divorced; She is raising Nick without any knowledge of his father, for reasons of her own. Nick has become a troubled teen (although not acting out). He aches for connection with his unknown dad.
Finally, in Part 3 of the novel, we get to know May. It is 2030. She is 80 years old and living with a room-mate in San Francisco. Estranged from her daughter (Lily) and grandson (Nick), May arranges to meet Nick. In her conversations with him, May recounts her life and choices, some of which she regrets.
This is a rich tapestry of a story with many threads. Some deal with family; Some threads look at history, culture, and self identity. Woven throughout is a theme of gene therapy and how it can both enrich and hurt lives.
The novel will be on my list for Best Books of 2024.
The book then focuses upon their son Nick, fifteen years later. At that time, Nick and Lily are living on a remote island in Washington state. Lily and Matthew have divorced; She is raising Nick without any knowledge of his father, for reasons of her own. Nick has become a troubled teen (although not acting out). He aches for connection with his unknown dad.
Finally, in Part 3 of the novel, we get to know May. It is 2030. She is 80 years old and living with a room-mate in San Francisco. Estranged from her daughter (Lily) and grandson (Nick), May arranges to meet Nick. In her conversations with him, May recounts her life and choices, some of which she regrets.
This is a rich tapestry of a story with many threads. Some deal with family; Some threads look at history, culture, and self identity. Woven throughout is a theme of gene therapy and how it can both enrich and hurt lives.
The novel will be on my list for Best Books of 2024.
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