Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Published by Doubleday on June 2013
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
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4 Stars

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.

Review:

Fun fun fun.

I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up at Target, thinking I would have a hard time getting a copy of it as the movie is coming out this year. And I was right. I’m glad I bought my copy because I’m sharing it with all of my friends.

Rachel doesn’t know what she’s gotten into when she goes to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family. And we’re along for the ride. I really like Rachel’s character who seems really normal and is surprisingly very level headed through it all. The girls she encounters are equal rich crazy and crazy mean. The pages turned fast fast fast and I read the whole book in only a few days, not wanting to put it down.

I really enjoyed the way it opened this whole world I was unfamiliar with. Not just the crazy rich parts but also the culture and setting of Singapore.

I have to admit I am disappointed in the ending. It’s the first book in a trilogy and while I really enjoyed the first book, I wasn’t totally prepared to read the other two. So the open ended last pages were frustrating for me. I thought I would get some closure at the end, but no. They’re gonna make me read the whole trilogy. (I opted for the wiki pages to catch me up.)

Overall, it’s the perfect book for the summer, a modern day fairy tale (kinda) with a twist. I was super invested in all of the secondary characters too, enjoying their stories and drama as much as Rachel’s. Read the book before the film!