2021: #41 – Crazy Rich Asians (Kevin Kwan)
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Series: Crazy Rich Asians #01
Published by Doubleday on June 11, 2013
Genres: women's fiction
Pages: 403
Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back.
Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should—and should not—marry.
Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.
I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this! I really enjoyed this “fish-out-of-water” story, despite the fact that most of the characters do some really terrible things. I can’t imagine not only not *telling* your girlfriend that your family is rich and powerful, but actually *bringing* her to meet them without telling her what to expect. That’s where Nick was terrible in this. But some of the characters are much worse (Eddie could be thrown straight into the ocean, thank you very much).
I watched the movie right after reading, and I actually preferred the movie ending to the book ending. The book ending was fine, but the movie really hit that “happily ever after” note that you want after a story like this.
I read this for the following reading challenges:
- 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge — a book featuring three generations
- 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a selfish character
- Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — romance by a male author
Other reviews:
- “I would definitely recommend this book. It has everything that I wanted within a book, laughs, tears and great characters. There was such a nice pace with this book and I have to say this book was definitely not ruined by the fact that I watched the movie in fact if anything it enhances it. Which was not something I ever thought I would say about a film about a book.” — The Book Blog Life
- “Like I mentioned above, I enjoyed the drama, multiple POVs, and the romance in this book. Do I recommend it? Yes. However, there may be a few things that others may be put off with.” — Under the Covers Book Blog
- “This book is opulent, theatrical and utterly crazy and I enjoyed every single moment.” — Rums the Reader
