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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Before going to see the movie I wanted to read the book. It was interesting and kept my attention. Basically it’s the story of old money billionaire families living in Singapore. The secondary characters were so shallow and petty and snobbish and mean. So focused on family lines, designer clothing, private jets and islands and such. Fortunately the main characters were more grounded and not so absorbed with money. I liked Nick and Rachel and appreciated their struggles with family in their relationship. I also appreciated the author’s footnotes at the end of each chapter explaining Chinese words and cultural references in the story. I hope the movie does a good job of bringing this story to life on the big screen. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a not do deep read!
Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1) is a fabulously entertaining book! The characters are quirky and eccentric and I found myself laughing over their exploits. This is a book I will come back to again for a feel good read!
At first it was hard to keep all the characters straight. Do believe it was in overload with story lines. About 3/4 of the way through it started getting tedious. Started the 2nd book but put it down after 4 chapters. Just not a fan.
I absolutely love this book. The characters and plot are very well developed. People will love all the drama that goes on!
This book was something new for me. It isn’t just romance but also about family, prestige, Asian culture, and so much more. In Crazy Rich Asians you get to read about a lot of characters and what they are thinking. It feels like reading from a sort of storyteller POV – this way you get to know every character and read about their lives and how crazy rich everybody really is.
In my opinion the whole book could have been written better. The ending was really abrupt and the story was more about drama, family and a detailed version of everybody’s lives then the romance book about Rachel and Nick that I expected. I would have liked to read more drama between Rachel, Nick and his Mother (or family).
Nevertheless I really enjoyed reading Crazy Rich Asians. I loved Rachel, Nick and even Astrid and their drama. The storylines of each character were unique and thought through and I really liked it. Although I couldn’t connect with some characters it was still a really great read and I’m intrigued to know what’s next in this world of family drama, prestige and crazy rich Asians.
This book was a dazzling insight to Singapore’s elite, the richest of the rich. Characters were well developed and charming, especially Rachel Chu, who holds her own despite being very much thrust into a completely different world. Nicholas Young is a heartthrob rivaling Mr. Darcy (much more polite and much more rich!). I can’t wait to read the next in the series to find out what happens!
How many ways can one downplay the fact that they are so very rich, while demonstrating that they are richer than anyone else on the planet? The lengths that this family goes through to demonstrate their wealth, are comical, creative and all done in the spirit of love and concern. This book will demonstrate how one have their cake and eat it all.
I decided to read this after I saw the movie preview…..I think it will make a fun movie but it is not very well written, all the excess of the characters was blown out of proportion, got to be redundant. I think the author could have been a bit more subtle. Won’t be reading any of the sequels but will see the movie.
I couldn’t put this book down. It was funny and a bit surreal. The ridiculous amount of wealth these characters are accustomed to is mind- boggling. After completing this book I had to immediately buy the second book in the series.
Laugh out loud funny while being truly touching at the same time; and they are crazy rich Asians!
I loved this book and can’t wait for the movie to come out
I just finished the trilogy of these books by Kevin Kwan. They kept me highly engaged and entertained while recovery from an accident–I laughed out loud and went on to friends and family about how they were just “fluffy” reads–nothing to thought provoking or mind expanding about them. But when I finished, I find they really did expand my thinking–about the importance of family and tradition and how to balance that with finding your own path in life. Really wonderful characters–I am almost sad I’ve finished the series!
This book took me into a world of which I have no knowledge. Even if I felt the
characters were “over the top” I was entertained until the end. I even want to read the next two books in this series.
I don’t know how accurate this book is, but a funny look at what life is really like on the other side. Having money doesn’t make life any easier and you see how the best way to maintain your sanity is to move away from your crazy, rich, asian relatives!
I’m reading this book and loving it. The movie is coming and I’ll be ready.
This was a fun and easy read.
I usually don’t read books like this – funny, sometimes satirical, focused on twenty somethings – but a friend whose reading tastes I respect said it was a very interesting book about the Chinese in Singapore so I ventured in. Kevin Kwan is a very entertaining writer and managed to keep the cast of 1000 actually easy to follow. For this he gets a gold star! If he set out to write a mini series for TV, he hit the mark. Instead of a TV series, we’ve got a motion picture coming! I can’t wait to see the movie and I’m sure there will be a sequel because there are two more books in this series.
Kwan draws his characters so well that the reader can see and hear them. Their ability to spend crazy amounts of money really bowled me over. Despite my initial reaction of – no one would spend a million dollars on an outfit – I realize that there are indeed many “crazy rich” people out there who live just as Kwan describes. He, however, makes them laughable and therefore palatable to the ordinary reader. Of course, we do live vicariously through reading so some readers may find themselves channeling some of these wild women.
If you want an easy on the emotions, fun filled adventure story that will make you laugh until it hurts, definitely pick up this book. I’m looking forward to the reading the next in the series.
So rich, so very crazily rich. If you hate label-dropping, this is not the book for you. I’ve never heard more fashion designers names than in this book.
So I will preface my review with how I stumbled upon this series. A co-worker mentioned the much-reported controversy surrounding casting of the male MC, which intrigued me as a POC. Then other friends talked about how rich you have to be to get Google to hide your property on Google Maps. Turns out crazy rich. I just HAD to read this book!
As I said in my reading progress notes, I don’t understand how they could cast anyone other than someone Asian in the role of Nick for the movie. I don’t know if the controversy was around Henry Golding or if they had someone in mind before then, because I think Golding would work in this role. But the movie is one thing, the book is another, so let’s get to the book.
Nick Young grew up in Singapore; Rachel Chu is American-born Chinese. Now they are in New York, in love, and headed to Singapore for Nick’s best friend’s wedding. This story brings us into a world of mansions, jewelry, stocks, real estate, and most importantly, Asia’s wealth power. I learned a lot about specific Asian cultures (Malaysia, Singapore, others) and confirmed a lot of things I already knew. What’s fascinating to me is the level of social hierarchy among the different cultures, even though there are so many cultural overlaps.
I had some trouble getting into the book at first, possibly because I was put off by the wealth of these people and their “rich people problems” (which I think is the title of the last book in this series?) Normally, I’m disgusted by these kinds of things, but here, I had to let it go. After all, the book is called “Crazy Rich Asians.” As I got past all the introductions and exposition of the families and the cousins and got into the story, it sailed along. I’m ready to tackle book two.
As a writer of contemporary fiction, part of the appeal of a book to me is how it’s written. This one was quirky funny (especially in the footnotes) with great flow and good use of language–all the languages spoken. Hence, the 4 stars instead of 3.
In general, the novel just felt like a bobblehead: heavy and bobbling in the top half, solid story in the bottom half. But it was solid enough that I’ve requested the next book.
Love, love, love this!
This is a funny, light romantic comedy, and despite reading it in the winter, it’d make a perfect beach read. Can’t wait for the movie to come out next year.