Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Series: Crazy Rich Asians, #1
Author: Kevin Kwan
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication date: June 11, 2013
Length: 546 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:

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.

Having seen the movie version of Crazy Rich Asians back when it was released in 2018, I wasn’t sure that I ever needed to read the book. The movie was a blast, but I assumed the book would just cover the same ground — and there are always so many other books to read. This year, Crazy Rich Asians came up as an option for a reading challenge I’ve committed to, so I thought, why not finally give it a try?

I’m so glad I did. While yes, the book does cover much of the same plot points as the movie, it’s just so much fun to see it unfold on the page — and the ending goes off in very different directions, leaving the door open for whatever comes next in the book trilogy.

In Crazy Rich Asians, New York college professor Rachel Chu is in for the shock of her life when her boyfriend (and fellow professor) Nick Young invites her to come with him to Singapore for his cousin’s wedding and to spend their summer vacation. Rachel agrees, and is thrilled at this next step in their relationship. From the moment they book their flights and Rachel sees the level of luxury she’ll be traveling in, she starts to realize that there’s a lot about Nick that she just doesn’t know.

Meanwhile, the gossip instantly spreads among the billionaire class of Singapore: Nick Young is bringing home a girlfriend! But who is she? Is she perhaps related to the Taiwan Plastics Chu family? (She’s not.) Before Nick and Rachel even board their flight, Singapore society — and especially, Nick’s family — are in a tizzy of worry and speculation.

Rachel is not at all prepared for what life amidst true wealth looks like, and she’s bombarded by opulence and designer clothing from the moment she arrives. Meanwhile, she starts to meet Nick’s vast family as well as others in the social circle, and it’s overwhelming. Plus, she’s given the mean girls treatment by an assortment of cruel and catty women, and it’s clear that Nick’s mother has no intention of giving her a chance.

Other storylines focus on Nick’s cousin Astrid and her troubled marriage, as well as assorted other friends and relatives. The cast of characters is huge, and it’s a challenge to keep track of them all. (A family tree is provided at the beginning of the book… but even that is only marginally helpful).

The story itself is lots of fun. Rachel and Nick’s relationship, their turbulent ups and downs as they navigate the hostility of an exclusive world that doesn’t allow outsiders, Rachel’s close friend from college who provides a safe haven for her — all add depth to the characters and the “crazy rich” world they inhabit.

Of course, seeing the world of billionaire-level wealth is entertaining all on its own. From the sightseeing aspect of Nick and Rachel’s time in Singapore to Rachel’s shopping outings to make sure she’s properly outfitted for the social whirl of the wedding, it’s nonstop luxury and casual spending of outrageous amounts of money. I did get a little weary of the constant designer names, which really mean next to nothing to me. At some point, it feels like overkill: We get it. These people are richer than the gods. But hey, let’s see what else their money can buy!

Having seen the movie, I was surprised by the final 20% or so of the book, which goes in a different direction, presents unexpected complications and revelations, and sets the stage for new storylines in the next book. I appreciated the fresh dose of conflict, although certain revelations come in one big info-dump crammed into the final chapters, and it might have been nice to have a few hints earlier in the book.

All in all, Crazy Rich Asians is a very entertaining, escapist bit of reading. Based just on page count, it would appear to be a very long book — but as I discovered, there are a lot of footnotes, and those explain the length. The story actually goes very quickly, and the pages just fly by.

Crazy Rich Asians is the first in a trilogy. While I’ll don’t intend to continue immediately, I do want to read the other two books this year.

And now that I’ve read the book, I’m dying to rewatch the movie and see how it holds up!