An interesting scenario of life changing choices. Two intellectuals who managesto escape Mao's China and get to America. They are scientists. Their daughter, Lily later ends up in New York trying to make her own way and is in an intern job when she meets the son of a Pharmaceutical empire. All is fine until she introduces her mother to Matthew's family. Then the past is unveiled gradually as the mother and Matthew's father know each other from past work together.
Lily's son Nick year's later start asking about his absent father, more questions result.
Quite the story of 3 generations and how decisions can have repercussions years later.

I was very quickly immersed in this novel, the initial chapter was easy to get into felt like this was going to be a comfortable read. The story starts in present day America and at a American Chinese girl and her relationships. It broadens to let us discover her family story.
Story about the manipulation of genetic material in in vitro fertilisation, which I personally feel believable,. Without giving too much away, it is found to be possible to manipulate a babies jeans so that they take after one or other of their parents more than would happen by chance. if I allowed myself to suspend my disbelief, I enjoyed the story more and after all this is really what reading novels is about isn’t it?
I loved the way that you learn more about the historical story as you go through the novel in time and from different members of the family so that ultimately you get the full story.
Initially, although I was enjoying reading the story, I thought that there was something lacking I was very glad to discover, therefore that that something, proved to be the historical Chinese sections which elevated the novel significantly
The author has a clear easily read writing style and the book was an easy enjoyable read.
I read an early copy of the novel on a NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 30th of April 2024 by random house, UK Cornerstone.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog, bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication, it will also appear on Amazon, UK.

Dnf at 54%

Pacing was completely off for me, and I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. In the end decided it wasn’t worth pushing through.

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.

Real Americans is a multi-generational story about what it means to be American if you were born in China, born to Chinese parents or born white to a Chinese mother. The story is told in three parts and begins with Lily Chen’s experience of living in New York and meeting a rich all-American boy called Matthew. As her story comes to a close, the reader realises that this is not a simple boy meets girl story and there are much more complicated aspects. I loved this book - I loved the style of writing, the different time periods and the voice of the different characters. My only criticism is that the final third is told in a much slower pace but covers a massive timeline and I’m not sure that change in momentum suited concluding the story for me personally. Overall, an excellent, original family saga.

Oof! This book is why I love reading!

I was totally caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this one, it has so much depth and layers. The blurb gave an inkling to a multigenerational tale filled with betrayal and forgiveness but it's so much more than that.

This ticks many boxed for me, a literary novel, multi POVs and timelines with elements of futuristic science and historical fiction combined and a tiny dash of fantasy for good measure. I know that sounds like a lot going on but it isn't one bit confused about itself, it is simply put a very smart and intelligently told story, perfection for me.

The novel starts out focussed on the blossoming relationship between Lily and Matthew who come from very different backgrounds and cultures. Lily has always felt like a disappointment to her mother and Matthew is ashamed of the wealth of his family. By the time you reach the end of Part I you realise there's a lot more than meets the eye here and hints to more sinister undertones to the story.

Khong does an incredible job of portraying her main characters, Mei, Lily and Nick. She absolutely nails the complexities of familial ties including the fine lines between wanting the best for your child's future and being overbearing and interfering, all while weaving a story with complex themes pertaining to modern societial questions regarding race, immigration and ethics in science as well as the age old question of nature v nurture.

The language is gorgeous, the philosophical viewpoints of the characters make you pause for thought and in my case, highlight extracts for reflection. I can also say I learnt about Chinese culture and modern history.
A genuinely beautiful and also clever book that is going to be a smash hit this year, so take my word for it and stick it on the pre-order list as it is out at the end of April this year.

Many thanks to Random House UK for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

5 stars!

Whatever I expected after reading the book blurb of Rachel Khong's novel, it wasn't a 'poor girl meets rich guy relationship bridging the cultural divide' scenario, told in such a clichéd, saccharine chick-lit fashion. Instead, I think, I hoped for a vibrant, realistic depiction of a reasonably intelligent second generation Chinese girl finding her place in American society.

After dinner on only their first date he flies her from New York to Paris with both only wearing the clothes on their back. I mean — seriously??!!

The writing and style, then, sits uncomfortably somewhere between Danielle Steel and Cinderella — nothing wrong with either of those genres — merely a sense that in this case the novel's marketing went slightly awry.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

Real Americans is a multigenerational story about relationships, friendships and search for identity. The scope is diverse, moving from the China of Mao’s Cultural Revolution to modern America and Rachel Khong has woven an intricate plot around the lives of three generations. In essence, a Chinese couple, scientists, flee China and settle in America. They want the best for their daughter and when she dies well and falls in love with a rich American, it seems the American dream is coming true. However, that’s really the start of the problems as the central character tries to find her place in society, but feels increasingly alienated. Their son also struggles and the narrative moves across each of these three main characters and their lives.

It’s a slow burn story; I had no idea at the outset how it would all end and it is very much character driven as we follow the lives and hope of the Chinese couple. The depiction of Mao’s China and their reasons for flight are chilling and I really enjoyed that part of the story. The parents are strong people and come across well and I was invested in their future. The whole gives a fascinating glimpse into the conflict of doing pg well but never quite feeling like you belong. Fitting into a Western culture with strong Eastern roots has its own difficulties and I found Rachel explores these with honesty and sensitivity, The writing is fresh and vibrant and this is packed with interest. I really enjoyed it.

At the start of this absorbing novel, Lily, a Chinese-American girl, is working as an intern in a New York media company where she meets a rich banker, Matthew Allan, at a Christmas party. He whisks her to Paris and begins an exciting relationship. However, Lily feels out of place and things falter between them, perhaps because of her confused heritage and her sense of alienation, neither Chinese or American.

Then, there is 7/11 and the destruction of the Twin Towers after which she meets up with Matthew again but still feels like a fish out of water among his friends and associates. In fact, she feels out of place full stop! Eventually, she and Matthew marry and have a child.

Then, years later, there is the story of their child Nick who is similarly alienated from his father and his past and, finally, the story of Lily’s mother, May, who fled from China during the cultural revolution. What all of these stories have in common is that the main character is not only culturally displaced but also unable to be honest about their past, or comfortable in their present.

Matthew and his family, the Maiers, seem to be in the novel as representing American society and culture even at the same time as they are creating it and controlling admission. The Chinese Americans in the novel could easily be Black, Irish or Italian and still be excluded from the culture and that is a bleak message – despite the vaguely happy ending to the story where a lot of people lose their jobs, courtesy of the obliging Maier family, of course!

It’s a complex story and the structure doesn’t always work to facilitate it but the overall theme of the impossibility of a successful and happy life without being embedded in a shared culture of some sort is a powerful message.

DISCLAIMER - This was an ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I acknowledge that I am probably not in the author's target demographic for this novel and that could be why it didn't really resonate with me.

There were some aspects of the three sections of the novel that I found interesting and others that felt like they had no reason to be there and were never fully explored or explained. The reader was just left to accept that these things were what they were.

This was pretty well written. I enjoyed quite a few aspects of it and I think the writer is talented. Definitely keen to read more by this author.

Real Americans is a smart read with a legitimate feeling of family trauma, sadness and longing.

However, this novel includes a cast of seemingly joyless characters and it felt somber through its entirety leaving me struggling for connections

The beginning is set in rural China and I found this fascinating, but really the story centers more around the characters and a number of dramatic plot twists.

The story crosses generations, starting with a pair of Chinese scientists moving to America to start a new life and doing their best to forget all their roots. They raise Lily as the perfect American, their only disappointment is her lack of interest in science.

Lily finds herself in the perfect Hollywood love story, falling for wealthy financier Mathew. It appears he is the solution to all her problems, but perhaps he is actually the start of her real problems,

And tying it all up, is there son, looking for answers to why his family has been splintered and why there are so many lies.

The author does a great job of weaving all these story lines and maintaining the mystery while still keeping it interesting, before she drops her bombs in the plot twists. She raises fascinating themes about identity and culture and progress. Its beautifully written and entirely captivating.

Real Americans is a multigenerational novel and I loved it. I loved the story of Lily the most and I wanted more from her but I am happy that she chose that path of life because not everyone has to be a scientist. I loved how this story analyses the idea of parents wanting more for and from their children but sometimes more is too much. It's a story about love and sacrifices but what it means to be an American and finding oneself in life and the purpose someone may have. I loved Lily's story the most but Nick's story about finding himself was interesting enough to keep me going and I loved reading about Lily's mother life too and how she survived and escaped Mao's cultural revolution.

Two years ago I read Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong and it was one of my favourite reads of 2022. When I saw her latest novel, Real Americans, was available, I didn’t hesitate to request it.

Real Americans, a story told in three parts, explores the lives of a grandmother, mother, and son, and the choices they make in their lives. I loved the first part where we meet Lily and spend time in her life as she navigates postgraduate life in New York City. The second part focuses on Nick and his life as a college student. This section perfectly captures what it feels like to be trying to keep up with friends and first love. The final part features May and takes us on a journey from her childhood in China to emigrating to the USA. If you enjoy reading about families, relationships and how our choices may affect not just our own lives, but those closest to us, then you will love this book. An ambitious and thoroughly readable second novel, it did not disappoint!

A multi generational story of a Chinese American family and belonging. The story begins with Lily, born to a couple of Chinese scientists but reared in the all American way. Working as a low paid intern in a New York firm and meets the wealthy nephew of her boss. This section of the book was my least favourite part. Came across as the same old poor girl rescued by a billionaire and trying to adjust to spending money. But stick with it as part 2 tells the story of their son, Nico or Nick as he became known and the best was kept until last. The story of Lily’s mother May. Born and raised in China and studying biology as the communist era began.
This is a remarkable story of family dysfunction, belonging, friendships and science. Each story draws in the reader but didn’t quite satisfy. There are large jumps in the story that left me a little perplexed and I would have liked to find out more about Matthew’s take on the situation.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This is a ranging, multi generational book which deals with themes of racism, science betrayal and belonging. I absolutely loved every word, and this felt like a future classic. A really great book, which is very much worth a read.

The science elements really lost me at parts, but I really enjoyed the view of different members of the family. Overall a really good read that I will be recommending!

This is the story of Lily, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, and Matthew, the son of a millionaire. They meet in New York and fall in love and have a son Nick. The story is told backwards and forwards about Lily's parents lives, her life, and Nick's life. There's a lot of sadness for all of them because of actions taken in the past. An interesting read.

Real Americans is a multi-generational novel about science, belonging and family. It opens with Lily Chen, an unpaid intern in New York City on the cusp of the millennium, not living up to the dreams of her scientist parents who fled China and raised her to be all-American. When she meets rich, privileged Matthew, her life changes, but secrets from the past complicate things. Next, there's Nick Chen, plotting his escape to college with his best friend Timothy, away from his mother, but then he finds his long-lost father. And finally, in a future of gene-editing ethical dilemmas, the family come back together again.

I don't always like the kind of novel that does time jumps across generations, because you can feel like you don't know the characters, but that isn't the case with Real Americans. The family forms a core centre to the book that weaves throughout the different narratives and it all feels like one story, rather than a few tagged together. The parts are quite different, too, with the first one more of a coming of age romance across class divides, then the second more about family and secrets against a backdrop of a US college, and then the final part combines a story of Mao's China with a future of biotech startups. This makes the book varied and interesting, but does mean that there's a lot of unanswered stuff by the end, most notably the somewhat magic/unreal element of time stopping that some of the characters experience, which felt like it didn't quite come together with the rest of the book because it would disappear for ages and only be mentioned occasionally.

An epic exploration of the choices family make that pokes at questions about what science should and shouldn't do, Real Americans is a gripping read that gives plenty to think about and is ideal for people who like multigenerational novels that do keep following the same characters.