The Collective tells us about three Asian American friends who meet in college: Eric, Jessica and Joshua. The three couldn't be more different, and yet couldn't be more the same. Where Joshua is self-centered and a bit of a fake bully, Jessica is free-spirited and Eric wears his heart on his sleeve. However, all of them are struggling with their place in society as many college students do. Only they are all Asian American college students who, to varying degrees, have failed to live up to the standards set by their family, society and even themselves.

The book starts some twenty years after the trio has met where Joshua, the most tortured of the three, seemingly commits suicide while running on the side of the road. As if the suicide wasn't haunting enough, his death causes the death of two others who were in the car that swerved to hit him. There are no specific clues as to what led directly to Joshua's ending it all, but through stories of the past we learn there were many signs that would have almost made it surprising if Joshua never had attempted something so bold.

At its core The Collective is a coming of age story. It's a story of change, or lack thereof. As we get older do we stand on our own or do we conform? These are questions we all face to varying degrees in those twenty or so adult years that make up out twenties and thirties, just waiting for full-fledged adulthood to start.

Parts of The Collective came across as a bit narcissistic. All three friends, especially Joshua, had a "woe is me" attitude towards the world, as if it owed them something. They all wanted to be known for something great and didn't mind if it meant standing up for a cause, but sometimes what they stood for and what they really wanted seemed to be in direct conflict. Also there was the underlying current of what it felt like to be going through discovery AND being a minority. Admittedly I could not relate to this facet of the story and yet, I don't think that such discovery excused some of Joshua's deplorable actions. Since Don Lee himself is Asian, however, he clearly subscribes to the adage write what you know, and that he does. As a result, I'd be willing to be Asian American readers would see The Collective through new eyes, but still be able to appreciate some of its universally great moments all the same.