Crazy Rich Asians

Kevin Kwan takes a well-educated, confident Chinese-American woman and shows us how different her partner’s culture in Singapore is when she goes home with him and his family doesn’t accept her. I love how she doesn’t give up without a fight. I also enjoyed the side story about Aster and her husband. Nick and Aster were two of my favorite characters because of the humbleness they exude.

Beyond the characters, the clothing, the homes, the cars, the parties—it all blew my mind. I felt like I was Rachel, and all of it was happening to me. As soon as I… show more.

This book is a bit different from my other recommendations.

When the book opens, the hero and heroine are already a couple. I loved seeing how their relationship is tested against the backdrop of the hero’s colorful, sometimes eccentric family. Again, humor! Ohmigosh, there are so many absolutely hilarious moments. For me, the book was a fascinating peek into a culture I knew little about.

Families can be a handful for young lovers. When you come from two completely different backgrounds, the pressure of expectations can cause the couple to crack. I loved Kevin’s deft storytelling and the lack of… show more.

Kwan’s book is an introduction to the life of Chinese migrants in Singapore. Nicholas takes his American Chinese girlfriend, Rachal, to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. Rachel discovers the lavish lifestyle of the Young family in Singapore and the excesses of crazy rich Asians. It is a story of prejudices, from Rachel’s American attitude that going back means witnessing poverty and from Nick’s mother that Rachel’s single parent modest upbringing will never fit with Nick’s wealthy upbringing. It is a story of arranged marriages, a family’s influence on children’s lives. It is about wealthy upper-class Chinese families and their… show more.