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 … 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.
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My friends recently laughed at me for describing this book as “like candy.” But it’s true — it’s sweet and quick and keeps you wanting more! Kwan is funny enough to keep the book light and perceptive enough about family dynamics to keep it engaging. Definitely recommend it.
Desperately needed something to read on Friday’s commute home, so I grabbed Crazy Rich Asians from a #BBbookshelf and got sucked in immediately. Super silly, super fun. One hundred percent recommended if you like disapproving family members, descriptions of food, or vicariously experiencing the spending habits of billionaires. Not recommended for hungry people — will make you hungrier.
The mothers in this book are about as controlling and awful as the mothers in my books. Kevin Kwan and I should definitely do lunch.
(Have I mentioned lately that my own mother is amazing? She’s totally not to blame for my mother issues in fiction.)
“Crazy Rich Asians” was a great read, I wish I’d been sitting on a beach with it! It was fun and superficial, nothing too deep but with a great ending I wasn’t expecting. The character development was strong and Kwan has a knack for description. I’ll definitely pick up the sequel!
Loved this inside look at the life of Singapore’s “crazy rich.” So different from the movie, and—as usual—better than the film it inspired.
This is a lovely book, and series, to read whenever I’m stuck in a reading rut. It’s a hilarious look at the secret lives of the 1% of the 1%—opulent and messy all at once.
I cannot believe this is Kevin Kwan’s debut novel, it’s fantastic. There were times when I wanted to take a few of the characters out for a long walk on a short pier but the main characters, Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young were awesome.
When Rachel’s boyfriend Nicholas asks her to go to Singapore for summer vacation and his best friend’s wedding, she is expecting a humble family, sight-seeing around the island and spending time with the man she believes she might one day marry. She has no clue that Nicholas Young is one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia or that his best friend’s wedding is the wedding of the century. She should have a target on her back, it would make things easier for the catty witches gunning for her position.
This hilarious insiders’ look at the Asian Jet Set shows the ridiculous clash of old money versus new, and overseas Chinese versus Mainland Chinese. Crazy Rich Asians is a fun, young romantic romp through one of the most exotic places on earth with its blend of future, history and what it means to be in love and deliriously rich.
Seemed too stereo-typical and silly to finish! But I guess many people did!
Did you see this year’s super popular Rom-Com, Crazy Rich Asians? It was a great movie, but it’s an even better book… Make that *book trilogy!* I highly recommend reading all three. I enjoyed them so much!
I read this quite some time ago and passed it along to friends. After seeing the very enjoyable movie (Golding is great), my friend said she want to read it again now.
This is on my summer reading list
Wow! I’m so glad I read this book. It’s so well written and the culture aspect was EVERYTHING. I enjoyed all the characters, every aspect of them and by the end I totally understood why they were the way they were. It’s all about your surroundings and the way society deems you to present yourself. Everyone portrays themselves to be someone they are not or they portrayed themselves to be an exaggerated version of themselves! If I’m not mistaken the Asian culture goes back so far and there are so many social norms and unwritten rules that people abide by that to outsiders looking in it’s insane! That’s why I think it was so awesome that we got to understand each characters perspectives especially Rachel and Micheal! By the end, I would say around 80% onwards we really get down to the nitty gritty and that last 20% was so amazing I couldn’t get enough, I couldn’t read those pages fast enough!! A book has never made me want to visit anywhere as much as Crazy Rich Asians. I HAVE to visit Asia at least once in my lifetime the world building was amazing, the description was on point and I could imagine ever scene in my head perfectly! Everyone should really read this, I am a strictly romance reader but this book has really opened my eyes! I’m going to read the next two books as soon as I can which probably won’t be for a while but I have to see how the story continues after this Happy for now ending!
Addictive. Way to get wrapped up in.
Only made it through 37 percent of the book (according to my Kindle) before I gave up. If this is being super-rich…no thank you.
Great cast of characters. Funny and well written. Totally a joy to read
It was funny. It was a sociological study of a group of people with vastly different values from my own. It was meant to be a light treatment of both cultural and financial differences from the average reader. It expanded my world view. All the author’s footnoted asides were very entertaining
There were so many characters thrown out in the first chapter I gave up. Will try again later
I loved this book so much I read the entire series!
This book was insane. It was so so good. I spent a good bit of the time so mad at some of the characters and I felt so bad for others. I just love Rachel and Astrid! I will be continuing the series.
It is hard to believe that, amid a drumbeat of snobbism, name-dropping and insane opulence, the author manages to slowly bring the timeless virtues of honesty, hard work, and trust to victory. It takes a while, but the good guys do win.