“This was a family gathering, not a networking opportunity. These people were so completely at ease, so well mannered.”


Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Published: 11th June, 2013
Pages: 403
Rate: 3 ⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Synopsis
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.

“You know, when there’s always been money in your life, it’s not something you spend much time thinking about.”

My Take

If I’m being honest, I didn’t have that much expectations for this book. My main reason of picking it up was because I wanted to watch the adaptation.

Crazy Rich Asians is an easy book to get through. I loved some of the characters, especially Astrid and Rachel who at least have interesting plot lines. Some were so annoying and forgettable I could care less about their roles. I equally love how Kevin Kwan uses language and at the same time, dislike it. I didn’t see the point of explaining every foreign word. It broke the flow of the prose. If one does not understand what it means from the following sentences, then there’s Google. We didn’t need every translation.


The plot and story line is easy to follow and is interesting enough but it has a such a slow start that I was bored all through part one I almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t though because it did pick up and I ended up enjoying it.

Something to note, as a true testament to the title there’s an excessive display of luxury and it can get to be a lot and boring. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it either.

Crazy Rich Asians is a fun contemporary read but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series. From what I gather, the movie is much better than the book.

Have you read Crazy Rich Asians? What did you think about it?