Crazy Rich Asians review

Hi all!

My name is Chiara and I am a Bookworm.

So today I have just finished reading Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

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 picked this book up mostly because of the film. In fact I saw the film first when I was in Sainbury’s hopping and I thought it looked interesting.

Let me tell you something about me. I love Korean dramas. My friend introduced me to them when I was in sixth form. She had been raving over this DVD she had just received and was telling me all about the story, which sounded interesting and then about a week later I wasn’t very well and I asked her for the name of that series and with two days I had watched the entire series and I couldn’t get enough. I aven’t stopped watching Korean dramas since. I expanded a few years ago into Taiwanese dramas and occasionally the odd Chinese one, though I’ve never been able to get into Japanese dramas.

That’s what drew me to the film. Then afterwardI found out about the book and since then I have been wanting to read it.

The film reminded me of everything that I had seen in Korean families. Super rich men falling for poor, but amazingly beautiful, girls and their families disapproving and them finding a way to make it work. Defying his family and usually somewhere along the way hers.

I couldn’t get enough of this book. From the moment I picked it up in Waterstones, to the moment I slammed it down and screamed because it was finished. (I love and hate cliffhangers!)

Rachel is brilliant and like every female heroine who encounters a rich guy. She automatically doesn’t want his money. She likes him for who he is.

Nick … what to say about Nick? I think that guy is seriously deluded. He’s been dating Rachel for two years. Of course she is going to be shocked when she finds out that is family is CRAZY RICH!

Astrid! Astrid is by far my most favourite character. Mostly because she loves Paris. Anyone who loves Paris is good in my book.

I would recommend this book to anyone. I can wait to read the next one. A trip to Waterstones may be in my near future!