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Crazy Rich Asians

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013

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Book Brief

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Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013
Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Singapore • 2010s

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

950L

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Super Short Summary

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan follows Rachel Chu, a young Asian American professor, who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young, for Colin Khoo and Araminta Lee’s high-society wedding. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Nick belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Asia, plunging her into an opulent but treacherous world filled with jealousy and scrutiny. The book includes themes of family secrets, class disparity, and betrayal.

Humorous

Romantic

Nostalgic

Playful

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

562,865 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians offers a vivid, humorous, and satirical glimpse into the lives of Asia's ultra-wealthy, sparking praise for its entertainment value and cultural insights. However, some critics feel the plot can be predictable and the characters occasionally stereotypical. Overall, it's an engaging, albeit exaggerated, take on opulence and familial dynamics.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Crazy Rich Asians?

Fans of opulent lifestyles, intricate family dynamics, and sharp social satire will revel in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians. This novel appeals to readers who enjoyed the social intricacies of Pride and Prejudice and the glamorous escapades in E.L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey.

4.1

562,865 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Character List

Rachel Chu

A Chinese American economics professor at NYU who accompanies her boyfriend, Nick Young, to his home in Singapore, where she discovers his family’s immense wealth.

An heir to a wealthy Singaporean family who lives modestly as an NYU professor, Nick is Rachel’s boyfriend and brings her to Singapore without revealing his family’s riches.

Nick’s cousin admired for her beauty and fashion sense, known for her kindness despite her wealth, and is struggling with her marital issues.

Nick’s mother who is very concerned with family status and is initially disapproving of Rachel due to her ancestry and perceived social standing.

The matriarch of the Young family and one of Asia's wealthiest women, known for her adherence to tradition and strict social values.

Rachel’s college friend from a wealthy new-money family in Singapore, known for her loyalty and style, though often preoccupied with social status.

Rachel's resilient mother who fled a difficult past in China and raised Rachel alone in California, ensuring her a good education and future.

Nick's best friend from a wealthy family, whose wedding brings Rachel and Nick to Singapore, and who is supportive of their relationship.

Colin’s friendly and fashionable fiancée from a wealthy family, known for her generous spirit and genuine kindness toward Rachel.

Astrid’s husband, who comes from a less privileged background and struggles with feelings of inadequacy in their marriage.

A wealthy and unruly party boy who throws a wild bachelor party for Colin, exemplifying spoiled extravagance.

An image-obsessed cousin in the Young family, focused on appearances and wealth, often displaying narcissistic behavior toward his family.

Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Singapore • 2010s

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

950L

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