Bad Asians by Lillian Li ~ a Review

by MK French

Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian followed the checklist to success: They worked hard, got A's, and attended a good university. Because of the Great Recession of 2008, they're unemployed and back in their hypercompetitive Chinese American community. So when Grace—once the neighborhood golden child, now a Harvard Law School dropout—asks to make a documentary, they agree, not thinking it would go anywhere. The video “Bad Asians” goes viral, and now millions of people know them as cruel caricatures, each full of pent-up frustrations with the others. Attempts at damage control don't work, so now the friends must face harsh truths about themselves and coming of age in the new millennium.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2026; Henry Holt and Co.; 978-1250363626
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); Asian American Lit

The children of immigrants are often told about the sacrifices that their parents made to come to America, and they shouldn't squander those opportunities. In Asian cultures, the family name and prestige are more important than individual desires. The main group had been held to impossible standards, and take almost gleeful joy in Grace dropping out of law school. Her documentary is videotaped conversations where she draws out confessions from each that they'd never admit to each other, stitched together and eventually posted to YouTube. The more they tried to control the situation, the more it spun out and created new problems. It fractured the group, and they didn't take any of the paths they thought they would. 

The story is definitely influenced by their parents being Chinese immigrants and growing up in an area where most residents were also Chinese. They didn't undergo the devastating cruelty of racial bullying, only the ordinary kind that causes children to band together to ride it out. Their heritage pushes them and makes them feel like anything less than perfection is unacceptable. It also means they don't talk to their parents about problems and can't get emotional support. I think that led to a lot of their bad decisions. Reading the first half of the book is like watching a car wreck, knowing something bad is going to happen. I enjoyed the last third the best, actually. Once the group grew up a bit and were less judgmental and terminally online, they were better people and friends. I found the characters easier to read about at that point, and the ending felt more hopeful. 

Buy Bad Asians at Amazon

 

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.