Real Americans

Paperback Published on: 20/03/2025
Price: £9.99
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Synopsis

How far will we go to belong?

On the precipice of Y2K, unpaid intern Lily Chen is attempting to live the American dream in New York City. But her scientist parents imagined so much more for her when they fled Mao's cultural revolution, hoping for a better life. Despite the glamour of her media job, Lily can barely make rent - until she falls into the arms of Matthew. This young financier can give her a fairy tale life of luxury, and for the first time her dreams appear within reach.

High school student Nick Chen and his best friend Timothy are plotting to break free. College promises escape from an isolated and close-knit island in Washington State, space from his strict and secretive mum Lily, and the chance to finally fit in. But when Nick sets out to find his long-lost father, a world of questions opens, and it is one unexpected member of the Chen family who holds the key to it all.

Real Americans is a family epic about identity, sacrifice, choices and fate. It is a wildly imaginative and profound story of betrayal and forgiveness that asks us how far we should go for those we love.

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Cornerstone
  • ISBN: 9781804945360
  • Number of pages: 416
  • Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 28 mm
  • Weight: 294g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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Real Americans
Ambitious tale of family across cultures, with an interesting scientific slant
Three generations, well meaning but misguided science, and the years of poverty and terror in China all add up to a wide ranging and complicated story of f... READ MORE
Sandra Morgan
Real Americans
Utterly gripping, an incredible novel!
This book was absolutely PHENOMENAL. It has occupied my thoughts and all of my brain space whilst I’ve been reading it and as a result I have achieved very... READ MORE
Sarah Thomas
Real Americans
A ambitious and wonderful novel
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 availa... READ MORE
H Bloomfield
Real Americans
Fascinating American-Chinese multigenerational saga
This is an American-Chinese multigenerational story. Told in three parts by Lily, Nick, and Mei, in that order and not in a linear timeline. Mei and Char... READ MORE
Lynda’s Book Reviews
Real Americans
Superbly written and thought provoking
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... READ MORE
Andrew Smith
Real Americans
Wonderful
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 beautifull... READ MORE
Renee_Reads
Real Americans
Fascinating generational story
“Real Americans” tells the story of three generations of one family. Lily is an unpaid intern in New York in the late nineties. She can’t afford her rent, ... READ MORE
JosieG
Real Americans
Heartbreaking and heartwarming read
A beautiful intergenerational story woven with philosophical reflections of what it means to use your time on this earth well. I thought the perspectives o... READ MORE
Shaheena Sachedina
Real Americans
A captivating story...
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 tha... READ MORE
Alina Macarie
Real Americans
A Future Classic
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 ... READ MORE
Tilly Latimer
Real Americans
How cultural alienation is felt - a powerful study and a good read...
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, Mat... READ MORE
Jim Sweetman
Real Americans
Big issues within this strong family drama
Here’s a contemporary contender for the title of The Great American Novel, a rich three generation family saga which tackles some big issues in a highly re... READ MORE
ReadbyPhil
Real Americans
A multi generational story of belonging and finding our path in life.
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... READ MORE
Mary Pilkington
Real Americans
Something really different
I requested this ARC because the blurb appealed but I was shocked at how immediately I became invested in this character, so removed from my personal frame... READ MORE
jane philipson
Real Americans
Really wish we'd gotten May's story first
Three generations grapple with identity and culture through life challenges that pull them apart and push them back together again. Along the way, each per... READ MORE
Ekta Garg
Real Americans
A multi-generational story
Huge thanks to Hutchinson Heinemann for this gorgeous proof. 'Real Americans', written by Rachel Khong, is a multi-generational Chinese-American family... READ MORE
@what.zana.does
Real Americans
A satisfying multi-generational story
As a multi-generational family story, this was done so incredibly well. I was wrapped up in each story and the writing flowed easily. The book's pacing was... READ MORE
Natasha | @literarydumpling
Real Americans
Novel set in USA and BEIJING
Real Americans by Rachel Khong tells a familiar story, of first-generation children of immigrants and the efforts they need to make to fit in, but also the... READ MORE
TripFiction