Synopses & Reviews
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
"Kwan's debut is a fun, over-the-top romp through the unbelievable world of the Asian jet set, where anything from this season is already passé and one's pedigree is everything....A witty tongue-in-cheek frolic about what it means to be from really old money and what it's like to be crazy rich." Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week
Review
“Kwan’s debut is a scintillating fictional look into the opulent lives of fabulously wealthy Chinese expats....From its delightful opening scene onward, this sleek social satire offers up more than a few hilarious moments as it skewers the crafty, rich schemers who populate its pages.” Booklist
Review
“Mordantly funny....In Kevin Kwan’s winning summer satire, Crazy Rich Asians, a young woman discovers her boyfriend belongs to a milieu of unimaginable splendor — and snobbery.” Vogue
Review
“A juicy, close anthropological read of Singapore high society and its social and mating rituals...Kwan’s satirical portrayal rings so true, I fear he’ll need to bring a bodyguard next time he lands at Changi Airport. He gets the idiosyncratic details right: the market-savvy wives who day-trade and invest in poverty;...the encyclopedic fashion knowledge; the Bible-study get-togethers; the way the whole milieu is interrelated by blood or marriage. And he does a particularly good job of illustrating the divide...between mainland wealth and establishment money — an uneasy tension that is very real.” Janice Y. K. Lee, Elle
Review
“Jane Austen, or maybe Edith Wharton, goes to Singapore, turning in this lively, entertaining novel of manners....Kwan’s characters are urban sophisticates par excellence....A diverse set of characters and a light, unstrained touch move Kwan’s story along....An elegant comedy and an auspicious debut.” Kirkus (starred review)
Review
“Merit[s] a place on the must-read list of every development exec in town....Aimed at Bridget Jones lovers and those who got the satire behind Psy’s Gangnam Style.” Andy Lewis, Hollywood Reporter
Review
“High-quality first-time fiction....[An] instant favorite....Opulence and zaniness reign when one of Singapore’s richest bachelors invites his American-born girlfriend to travel from New York to vacation in his native country.” O, The Oprah Magazine
About the Author
Kevin Kwan was born and raised in Singapore. He currently lives in Manhattan.
Crazy Rich Asians is his first novel.
Visit Kevin Kwan at www.kevinkwanbooks.com.