Lillian Li

This novel explores worlds familiar yet foreign to most of us in our Chinatown visits: front and back of the house at the elegant, traditional style Duck House of Rockville, MD. Owned by brothers Jimmy and Johnny Han, yet with strings pulled tight by their mother and her gangster accomplice, there's drama when Jimmy decides to open a new and more modern establishment and becomes entangled in arson. Servers and relatives are trapped in Jimmy's ambitions to escape his late father's legacy and show more fate. There's a touching passage where young Jimmy goes to work as a line cook in a blazingly innovative Asian establishment, but falls victim to his strong need to be perceived as a talented chef rather than as a privileged owner's son. There's also the side dishes of a few hopeless romances to add some spice.

Quote: "He was like a wind chime, blown by gusts of emotions that made him sound out wildly, whipping about, only to round back to a hollow silence." show less

**reviewed from free ARC courtesy of the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers**

fiction - follows a group of "over-achiever" friends through the Recession of 2008, when they find themselves unexpectedly unemployed and move back home (much to their competitive Chinese-American parents' disappointment) and through the roller coaster of internet notoriety when an unflattering video of them goes viral. Takes place mostly in North Potomac, Maryland, with an unfortunate trip to NYC.

I loved show more the delightfully complex characters and interesting, ever-changing group dynamics -- each character had their own multiple issues and I liked that we got to see beyond their stereotyped images. There was a lot that was relatable (every school has that one 'genius' kid whose name all the parents knew) and even though this was a very extreme example of what *could* happen among a group of friends, it didn't feel impossible. show less

I wish I had loved Bad Asians by Lillian Li

Why, oh why, did all of the characters have to be so utterly unlikable?

This lament began to echo in my head very early on, within the first few chapters of the book. I wanted so badly to like it, so why was I not only disconnected, but rather repulsed by the entire novel? The simply truth is that I couldn’t find any reason to be invested in a story where everyone is, debatably, a bad person.

There are redeeming elements to this book, there’s no show more doubt about that. The premise — what happens to four previously successful students after the 2008 recession + a documentary film that portrays them at their worst — is fantastic. The representation of Asian culture, particularly the pressure placed on children, is authentic and powerful. Yet ultimately, I was unable to sympathize with any of the characters due to their actions, especially how they would treat each other as so-called friends. Combined with unnecessary language and a meandering plot, this made for a tough read. To end on a positive, there’s a fun heavy dose of millennial nostalgia, and book clubs could have deep discussions about the theme of repercussions, particularly in how every little choice and action leads to an equally potent reaction. Essentially, I’m sure some readers will love this book, but it wasn’t for me. show less

I won an advance copy of "Bad Asians" from the September Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Li's novel follows a friend group fractured by a viral-video-gone-wrong circa 2009. The overnight success of the titular video, "Bad Asians," alters the trajectories of all those involved, for better and for worse.

Millenials will connect with the depiction of the rise of social media and the post-recession jockeying for entry-level jobs. But the novel's core commentary centers show more the expectation of "success" for first-generation Chinese-Americans. Who defines your success? Do you have an obligation to succeed? How does the pursuit of success dominate the choices you make? Particularly in its third act, the novel speaks gracefully and empathetically on bridging the cross-generational understanding of success.

The novel is structurally tidy, bringing its characters full circle, and may strike some readers as contrived. Overall, it keeps a swift pace and well balances its ensemble cast. 4/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ show less