Join Rachel Khong, author and California Book Award winner to celebrate the publication of her highly anticipated book, Real Americans.

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.

In conversation with writer and editor Helena Lee, Rachel will share how, through Real Americans, she has been able to explore the two narratives that have been ever-present in her own life: the immigrant dream, and the American dream. Within this profound story of betrayal and forgiveness, ask yourself what makes us who we are? And how inevitable are our futures?