This was a hyper-ambitious novel, but with so many hard-hitting topics to cover, I'm unsure it fully accomplished what it set out to do. After so many glowing reviews, I was sure this book would be a contender for my best book of the year, but the execution didn't jive with me. 

Split into three multi-generational POVs, the novel follows Lily, Nick (her son), and Mei (her mother) throughout the decades. I wonder if the book would've had more impact if we started from Mei's perspective as it had incredible depth throughout her heartbreaking journey to America from China. Lily's POV struck me as odd and a bit whiny. It also seemed like right as I finally was getting into one POV, it dramatically shifted to another. The same was true for Nick, which I was enjoying until his section abruptly ended. 

While trying to tell their multifaceted stories, Khong also threw in lots of sci-fi, ethical dilemmas, and magical realism (which was not needed nor fleshed out well). This is in addition to tackling topics like racism, class, white privilege, authoritarian governments, hate crimes, divorce, difficult family dynamics, and so much more. It was just... a lot. 

Overall, I don't regret picking this book up, but it's not the home run I was hoping for. 

CW: rape (mild scene on pg 279, mention on pg 284), hate crimes, torture, political crimes, death of a loved one, internalized racism

I enjoyed the life stories of Lily, May, and Nick; however, the topics of racism, poverty, immigration, social stigmas are all heavy and cannot be touched on long enough in the novel. It is a good read and once you reach Part II of the novel you won’t be able to put it down.

Real Americans is easily the best book I've read so far in 2024 (and I think it's book 55). The fractured relationships over multiple time lines, with answers you really only get in the final section make a beautifully woven story with three flawed, and not always likeable, main characters.
I Will definitely be recommending this to as many people as I can.